Category Archives: Pohutukawa

Pōhutukawa Team Newsletter – Term 3, Week 4, 2017

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This term, the students in Team Pōhutukawa are involved in a Science/Technology/Drama/Social Studies interchange. One of the topics that the students are learning about is chemistry.

In chemistry, the students are exploring the difference between physical and chemical change by conducting a variety of exciting science experiments.

Here are some photos of their experiments:

These students are learning how soap makes things clean.

These students are studying super-absorbent polymers that can absorb over 200 times their mass in water.

These students are conducting tests to determine which substances are acids and bases.

These students are conducting a colour change experiment.

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These students are learning how chemistry applies in the kitchen.

Egg Cartons

If you have any spare egg containers, please send them in for one of our up and coming challenges. 

Stationery 

It's getting to that time of the year where pens, pencils and glue sticks generally start to deplete. Can you please talk with your child about which items they might need to stock up on and send them to school. Thank you very much. 



Ferrymead Heritage Park Trip

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Dear Parents/Caregivers,


Pohutukawa Whanau are arranging a trip to Ferrymead Heritage Park this term as part of our conceptual learning around ‘Change’. The purpose of this trip is for the children to experience life as a child in the 1900’s in an authentic township and to allow children to see the technological progress that humankind has made to improve our lives.


The trip to Ferrymead will take place over two separate days.
  • Year 6 children will attend on Thursday 24th August. Year 5 children will bus to Champion Street as per usual.
  • Year 5 children will attend on Thursday 14th September. Year 6 children will bus to Champion Street as per usual.


On both days the bus to Ferrymead Heritage Park will depart from Eastern Tce at 9.00am and will return to school by 2.30pm. Children will need to meet their teachers in the East Hub by 8.45am on the day of their trip. When we return to school, we will have some reflection time in the East Hub before heading home for the day.


Students will need to bring:
  • Water bottle
  • Lunch and morning tea (no lunch orders on the day of their trip)
  • A warm layer of clothing
  • Comfortable shoes for walking
  • Any medication they will need i.e inhalers for asthma


We will need parents who are willing to travel with us to and from Ferrymead and who are happy to be responsible for a small group of children while they are there. Please contact your child’s homeroom teacher if you are interested in attending.


To cover the cost of the lesson and bus, a contribution of $15 will be added to your school account.


Kind Regards,


Nice Bruce nick.bruce@beckenham.school.nz

Pohutukawa Team Newsletter Term 3 Week 1

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Kia ora whānau!

We got off to an exciting start to the new term on Tuesday with an awesome science experience. The whole hub was quietly settling into the day when all of a sudden alarms sounded and the screens around the hub announced that a biohazard had been detected. How exciting!


A top secret transmission then came in, in which we were told that there had been a number of biohazards found around Champion Street.


All of the special agents rushed outside and searched in the areas highlighted on the map. 


Once all of the substances had been found, they were brought inside and Agent X (Nick) explained how to conduct experiments to identify the substances. Each group got a beaker or flask filled with a blue substance. Next, children carefully placed dry ice into their vessel. The reactions were amazing!








Learning about Change

 Our conceptual unit this term is 'Change'. Children will be learning about change in a range of forms across the curriculum areas of Social Sciences, Science, Technology and Drama. When learning about Social Sciences, children will learn about the way inventions have shaped the way that we live and made improvements to our lives.


They will be following the Inquiry process to ask questions, gather information, analyse to understand this new knowledge and then present their learning. So far, topics range from anaesthetic, air travel and elevators, to internet and the first PC.


Maths - Geometry

Our maths focus for the first few weeks of this term is Geometry, with a focus on identifying and classifying 2D and 3D shapes, and representing objects with drawings and models.


Coffee Cup Collection

One of our weekly challenges this term will involve the use of a coffee cup - just the cup. If possible, can the children each bring a clean, coffee cup to school next week (it can be used). We have spares if needed. 

Grass Seed

One of our other challenges this term involves grass seed. If anyone has any available can you please let Amy know - amy.buick@beckenham.school.nz . We are aiming for approximately 240 tablespoons.  


Kind regards,
Amy, Gayle, Nick, Katie and Kat




Kauri & Pohutukawa – Showcase Rehearsal and Final Details

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Kia Ora Whanau


RE: Showcase Rehearsal and Final Details 


Next Monday 3rd July, we will be walking down to Hillview Christian School Hall to have our rehearsal. We will be leaving from Beckenham School, down by the buses, at 8:40 am to walk down. The buses will take us all back to Champion Street at 11:00 am.

On Thursday evening (6th July), we have asked all of the students to arrive at Hillview Christian School Hall at 6:40 pm to get ready for starting at 7:00 pm. Sherrilee will provide further details to Kapa Haka and Te Whanau.

During the evening presentations, we will also be including sporting event certificates.

We are still very keen to enlist some help with hall set up and pack down, as we have had no offers so far. Please let your child's teacher know if you are able to help with either of these. We will meet at Hillview Christian School at 3:15 pm for setting up and pack down after the showcase.


Main points: 

  • Monday 3rd July - Leaving from Beckenham School at 8:40 am
  • Thursday 6th July - Arriving at Hillview Christian School Hall at 6:40 pm
  • Help is still required for setting up and packing down of the hall. 


We look forward to seeing you there. 




Showcase

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Kia Ora Whanau

RE: Showcase

We welcome you to attend our Pohutukawa and Kauri Team Showcase on Thursday 6th July 2017 at 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm. This event will be held at Hillview Christian School, in their hall (150 Wilsons Road, St Martins, Christchurch).

The following items will be presented during this evening:

  • Pohutukawa Kapa Haka
  • J-Rock Performance
  • Pohutukawa Team Jump Jam Dances
  • Pohutukawa and Kauri Team Citizen of the Week certificates
  • Year 7/8 Choir
  • Band (a group will be decided upon this week)
  • Leadership awards 
  • Intermediate Hub video 
  • Te Whanau Mahi Tahi 

All of our children have been involved in learning a Jump Jam dance throughout this term to share. We are encouraging them to wear:
  • a black, red or white t-shirt or long sleeved top
  • dark shorts or pants 
  • a hat and/or sunglasses (optional). 
It is fine if this outfit is the school uniform. 

If you are available to help set the hall up and pack down, please let your child's teacher know. We will meet at Hillview Christian School at 3:15 for set up and pack down after the showcase. It will involve putting mats and seats out and then putting them away and ensuring the gym is tidy afterwards. 

We look forward to seeing you there.