Well, hasn't it been wonderful to finally see the sun again! The start of June thus far has been a bit dreary and we hope that the sunshine continues!
Sleep Research:
Recently we have been learning about the benefits of getting a great sleep and what factors contribute to sleeping well. We are now entering the sleep science phase.This involves the children recording the time they switch their light out to sleep and the time they wake up in the morning. Over the next few days, your child will be bringing home sleep slips to fill in, along with a small clock, which is theirs to keep. The sleep slips are part of the sleep inquiry we are working on at the moment, which comes under the bigger umbrella of 'sustaining our well being'. The students are required to fill out three consecutive slips in order to analyse their sleep patterns and formulate a goal to do with sleep. We would love these slips to be returned to school the next day so that each child has a record of how they slept and how they felt when they woke up. Here is a link to a video which explains how to programme the sleep clock. Here is a copy of the sleep slips for your reference.
Literacy Learning Across the team, the children have been inspired by both Rudd and Riley's visit last Friday. This has resulted in many children learning about insects and caring for the environment. Some of the children have been creating short movies during literacy to share their findings. There are more clips to view on google classroom, however here are a select few. Bugs- By Quinn, Fergus and Freya Insects- By Cleo, Zoe, Emma and Taylor Bugs- By Vida and Dahlia Insect Art- Mikes Home Group Reminder: Tuesday 26th June - School will close for formal instruction at 12:30pm
Due to the Paid Union Meeting for teachers in Christchurch that will be happening on the afternoon of Tuesday 26th June, we will be skeleton staff (Principal and Teacher aides only) from 12:30pm due to our teachers all needing to attend the union meeting. We are requesting that you pick up your children at 12:30pm that day, or contact the office to let us know they will be staying at school so we can arrange supervision. Bringing Toys/PE Gear to School We have started to notice an increasing number of children bringing toys and sports equipment with them to school each day. Please be assured we have plenty of sports equipment for your children to play with. When a child's ball or toy goes missing it can be very upsetting. To avoid this happening, we are asking that all toys and sports gear stay at home. If your child forgets this rule we will store the item in our "think tank" and it can be retrieved at the end of the day. Thank you for your support. That's all for this week. Make sure you scroll through the blog to see other posts about our Art Extravaganza Day and our Friday Sport. Have a wonderful week ahead! Kōwhai Teaching team
We had a fabulous time creating artworks last week. Check out the animal faces at the bottom of this post. This week we are getting underway with our sleep investigation. Please check the details under sleep research below. I have heard that the camp books are in transit and expect them to arrive within the next week. As usual, it is all go in the Intermediate Hub!
Volleyball:
If your child is doing volleyball for their passion choice, and you haven't filled in the form about going to Cashmere High, please click this link now.
Sleep Research:
Recently we have been learning about the benefits of getting a great sleep and what factors contribute to sleeping well. We are now entering the sleep science phase. This involves the children recording the time they switch their light out to sleep and the time they wake in the morning. Today they will be bringing home a timing device and a sleep slip. They need to complete the sleep slip and return it to school tomorrow morning. New sleep slips will come home three days each week until the end of term. Please encourage / support your child to complete this and return it to school the next day. There is some time calculation required and some children may need help with this. If your child is having trouble setting their timer, there is a link on google classroom showing them how to do this.
Choir:
Well done to the choir. I have heard such good feedback about their singing and conduct last night. Many thanks for supporting them at home to learn their lyrics.
PJs and canned food tomorrow: Thursday
Tomorrow the student council are running a pyjama day to celebrate winter solstice and our current sleep inquiry. A porridge breakfast is available in the hall from 8am, BYO bowl, spoons are provided. Please bring a can of food to donate to Methodist Mission. This will go in food parcels to single mothers.
Reminder: Tuesday 26th June - School will close for formal instruction at 12:30pm
Due to the Paid Union Meeting for teachers in Christchurch that will be happening on the afternoon of Tuesday 26th June, we will be skeleton staff (Principal and Teacher aides only) from 12:30pm due to our teachers all needing to attend the union meeting. We are requesting that you pick up your children at 12:30pm that day, or contact the office to let us know they will be staying at school so we can arrange supervision.
Living our Kete:
Each week we allocate 40 minutes to working on kete badges. Many of our children are doing great things in and out of school that count towards their kete badges. These include:
scouts and guides etc
sports teams
dancing
40 hour Famine
representing school at zone sports
singing in a choir
helping at Treemendous...
We talked about this today and also about being reflective when you blog about what you have done. We showed the children some blog posts that have been done well, to give them an idea of what is expected. Some children are on a roll with completing great blog posts and earning badges. Others need a bit of prompting. It would be good to have a conversation about this at home and to ask your child to show you their blog.
Here are some recent blog posts from our tamariki ...
40 Hour Famine: On Friday the 8th of June I started the 40 Hour Famine. Most people started at 6pm, but I started at 8pm, until 12pm on Sunday the 10th. The 40 Hour Famine is run by World Vision, and this year they did it for South Sudan. South Sudan is the newest country in the world, separating from Sudan only on July 9th, 2011(newest countries in the world link here) and are already struggling. So that's where we come in! I did the 40 hour famine for: no furniture, living out of a backpack(except for water), no technology, sleeping on a box(I unfolded the box)on the floor, and no shouting. That's five things! I ended up getting most of my aunties and uncles to sponsor me, and my mum and dad and brother, and I ended up getting $51.80! I hope they raise enough money to give some families homes and food. I may have had a few times where I messed up, like when I accidentally sat on the couch, or ate a thing that wasn't in my backpack. When I added up all the time that I spent sitting on the couch or eating something I wasn't supposed to, it was only about 1-2 minutes. But since I felt really bad for messing up, I decided to do 30 minutes extra. Can't wait until next year's famine! (Morvern) We get there together: Football Every Saturday I turn up to my Football games excited and ready to go. I decided to play Football on Saturdays because I enjoy getting up and doing stuff in the morning and I love Football, to watch it and to play it. Football is one of those things which is good for you and fun to do as well. I play in the CTFC 12th grade green team, we play 9-a-side with 3 subs (we sub every quarter), and everytime we are subbed we make sure to cheer the team on. We go to the game 30 minutes before kick-off so we have time to warm up and practice, we always play in different positions to make sure everyone has an equal turn in all the different positions they want to play in. On Thursdays we come to training for a good 1hr 15m practice where we must show our full commitment or we won't be able to play in our favoured position. I also go to the CTFC Academy on Mondays as well to work on my skills and get better at the sport, academy starts at 4.00 and ends at 5.15, which gives me a lot of time to work on my skills. (Daniel S)
We are building up a collection of lunch boxes in the hub. Can you spot one of yours below?
The hot topic around the hub is how many sunshine hours Christchurch has had in June, or not had! Approximately one hour a day is not doing our serotonin levels much good. Fingers crossed for the sunny, clear, cold days of winter! The students have been making great choices with regards to sensible footwear and wearing jackets and coats to protect themselves from the rain and cold.
On Friday, as we usually do, the teachers wandered around the hub, picking up bits and pieces and generally tidying. Imagine our surprise we noticed a number of lunch boxes still on the shelf in the maker space, along with abandoned drink bottles. We also gathered up a selection of footwear, which is still at school. We would love to see the lunchboxes and drink bottles go home daily, and how children manage to leave footwear at school, who knows! The routine is for the children to grab their lunch box on the way to pick up their bag (they literally walk past the shelves to get their bag). A further reminder from home to do this would be very helpful.
A pyjama mufti day for tomorrow has been organised by the Student Council in collaboration with the PTA. It is in support of The Methodist Mission to help restock food banks over winter. Please bring a can or two of food to donate. This can be dropped off at the multi purpose kitchen, and in exchange you can grab a bowl of hot porridge for a sustaining winter breakfast. The PTA will be making porridge for breakfast and this will be available from 8:00 - 8:55am from the hall kitchen servery. Please bring a named bowl if you would like to take advantage of this kind offer.
We had a fabulous day last Friday, learning much from our two special guests Ruud Kleinpaste (The Bug Man) and Riley Elliott (The Shark Man). The students were entertained, enthralled and informed by these guest speakers, who were a lead up to our Treemendous Day on Saturday. Many thanks to all of the families who came down to school to help out with the planting. What a fabulous community spirited morning it was, ending with a delicious sausage sizzle!
Reminder: Tuesday 26th June - School will close for formal instruction at 12:30pm Due to the Paid Union Meeting for teachers in Christchurch that will be happening on the afternoon of Tuesday 26th June, we will be skeleton staff (Principal and Teacher aides only) from 12:30pm due to our teachers all needing to attend the union meeting. We are requesting that you pick up your children at 12:30pm that day, or contact the office to let us know they will be staying at school so we can arrange supervision.
On Tuesday 5 June, Gayle and several parents accompanied two basketball teams to Hillview School to represent Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto at the South Zone Basketball Tournament. Both teams played very well, and now we send good luck to the boys team which will be competing in the Year 5 & 6 Canterbury Primary Schools Indoor Basketball Tournament at Pioneer Stadium on Monday 25 June: Josh Brietmeyer, Harper Ford, Ben Newton, Izaak Broughton-Wealleans, Marcellus Scott, Walter McLoughlin, Henry Hood, Thomas Lyall, Josh Welch, Cooper Reddecliffe and Tom Armstrong-Gallot (who will be unable to attend as he will be travelling to France).
It might be a good time to check in with your cherub/s about how their stationery supply is going. It has been noticed that a few children seem to be lacking a pencil, pen or even have possibly lost a book!
We would like to introduce and welcome Eve Driver to our hub. Eve is from the University of Canterbury and is in her first year of studying to be a primary school teacher. She is based with the Beach and Tracy. Eve will be with us for two weeks, observing and learning lots. She then returns in term four for four more weeks, ready to learn more and begin some teaching. We know Eve will love being in Pōhutukawa, and we love having another teacher around.
Fingers crossed that the sun hangs around a bit more frequently! I'm sure we are all in agreeance that we love it when the children can get outside and run around, as well as the rays lifting our spirits!
We had our first bug inspired art day yesterday. In home groups, the children had the opportunity to create bug or bug related sculptures. We hope to install these in the tremendous area. Here we are in action!
Well - the Big Day is finally here and the sun is shining too, which is a real bonus. Today, we have been hosting Ruud Kleinpaste (The Bug Man) and Riley Elliot (The Shark Man) at school and tomorrow, is the TREEMENDOUS MAKEOVER day!
Check out the video below, taken earlier this week, of Andy Lyons from Heathcote Valley Gallery, an uncle of some of our students, carving this huge log from our school oak tree, into a very special chair.
All of the CCC sports grounds are closed this weekend, so take the opportunity to come along to the Treemendous Makeover and help to make this area a beautiful place for our children to play!
Staffing Update for Term 3 & 4
As you know, Michelle Maule, our Deputy Principal, is currently on secondment to the Ministry of Education, working in the Special Education Team. This secondment was originally expected to be for two terms, however, the Ministry have asked Michelle to stay on until the end of the year. We are very proud of Michelle for the experience that she is able to offer at the Ministry to support other schools, and know that she will be expanding her expertise to bring back to Beckenham as well.
Sue Leadbetter, who is currently doing an amazing job of being Deputy Principal in Michelle's absence, will now continue on doing this until the end of the year.
That leaves a vacancy for a teacher to take the next New Entrant class that is due to begin in Term 3 and we are delighted to be welcoming Jo Smith back as a full time member of our staff for Terms 3 and 4 to take this position.
I have been very fortunate to have been awarded a Ministry of Education Principal Job Shadow scholarship to travel to Adelaide for the first four weeks of next term. I will be going to a school in the west of Adelaide called Lockleys North School and working with their principal, Tyson Grinham. Tyson has been the successful Australian recipient of the matching scholarship, and he will then come to Christchurch and visit Beckenham for 3 weeks in the latter half of Term 3. This is a very exciting opportunity and I am very grateful to the Board for the support that they have given in supporting me with this.
Ngā mihi
Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki / Principal
Important Dates
Upcoming Events
Sat, 16 Jun - 9am - 12noon THE TREEMENDOUS MAKEOVER WORKING BEE! Tue 19 Jun - South Music Festival at Hillview Christian School Wed 20 Jun - South Music Festival at Hillview Christian School Thu 21 Jun - Pyjama Mufti Day. Hot porridge breakfast at school from 8:00am. Thu 21 Jun - Canterbury Cross Country. Halswell Quarry Park. 9am - 1:30pm Fri 22 Jun - Celebration Assembly. 10:50-11:20am. All welcome!
Tue 26 Jun - Please pick children up at 12:30pm Fri 29 Jun- School disco. Please see PTA News for details.
Morvern, your bubbly personality and enthusiasm for all that we do in the Intermediate Hub is infectious. Your love of learning is evident through the exceptional work that you do across the curriculum. We see the way you care for others on a daily basis. Morvern your sense of fun lifts our spirits in the Kauri Hub. You are a deep thinker who has great vision. Thank you for the helpful suggestions that you frequently offer. Keep being the fabulous role model that you are.
Arthur Branco Diefenthaler Year 3
Arthur, you are such an amazing member of our Kōwhai Whānau. You regularly display all of our school values in all of your learning, and you always have a big smile on your face! All of us in the hub know that you can be relied upon to do the right thing at all times. Thank you for all of the effort and enthusiasm you bring to our team Arthur, you are an absolute superstar! Tino Pai!
School Notices
Tuesday 26 June 2018 - no afternoon classes
This is the date that NZEI have confirmed that there will be a paid union meeting at Horncastle Arena from 2pm, for all primary teachers in Christchurch. Because we don't have a range of dates available to send our staff to, we do need to ask you to collect your children from school this day at 12:40pm.
If you are not able to organise any alternatives for this afternoon, please contact Jacky in the office as soon as possible and we will arrange for supervision of that small group of students.
Pyjamas and Breakfast on the Shortest Day
Next Thursday (21st June), the Student Council will be holding a Pyjama Day to ring in the shortest day of the year. Students are invited to wear their pyjamas to school and eat a hot porridge breakfast, kindly provided by the PTA. The breakfast will be served in the hall from 8:00-9:00 am. In order to minimise waste, we are asking that students bring their own named bowl; these will be rinsed and returned to the students before the end of the day. Spoons will be provided. In return for breakfast and/or mufti, we are asking students to bring a can of food to donate to the Christchurch Methodist Mission, so that those in need can have a hot dinner.
This was found in the school playground on Thursday...we would love to return it to its owner. Please pick it up from the office. We also have a bundle of lost clothing items building up again in the lost property box in the admin foyer. Please come and have a look if your child has lost any items - there are shoes, drink bottles, hats, umbrellas etc!!
Community Notices
(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)
McMillan's Aquatic Centre is 7km & only 12 mins drive from Beckenham.
We are offering free assessments now for Term 3 bookings.
Location: 54 Wickham St, Bromley (off Dyers Rd) Lesson Times: 3.25 - 6pm Adult lessons/Lane Hire: 1pm - 3pm & 6pm - 8pm Cost: $150 for 10 x 30 minute lessons. Call Louise on 332 4617 or email bees.swim@xtra.co.nz to book in now. www.macswimming.co.nz
Electronic Music Afterschool Programme:
PYDT are looking for young people to be part of a fresh, exciting Electronic Music Production programme at the Te Koru Youth Centre. If you're interested in learning how to make your own Music on computers in a fun, social environment at a cool Youth Centre, this is the place for you! If You would like more information about this programme, please email studio@pydt.org, or give Tom a call on 0210503237.
While we have a big focus on Music and Technology here at PYDT, our main focus is professional, holistic youth work. We put a lot of emphasis into our programmes and run them to the highest standard, but they are always seen as simply a point of leverage for us to connect with and support the young people who come through our programmes. We have already had an amazing response from the parents who currently send their young people along, so much so that we have had parents tell us that they are astounded by the change in behaviour their young person has had while at home. Parents have also expressed their excitement that their young person is surrounding themselves with people who have their best interests at heart, rather than loitering around local businesses and causing problems.
This musical endeavour is just one of the many programmes we run here at the centre, including our widely endorsed Leadership Training Course for schools, Holiday Programmes, after-school Youth Hangout spaces, Disability Youth Groups and so many others!
Get ready for flu season – protect your whānau and community
Colder weather also brings along a nasty passenger – the flu. As you may have seen in the media, it’s been a terrible flu season in the Northern Hemisphere, which is a possible predictor for what we may see here. Families in the Hurunui and Kaikōura districts can once again ensure their children have the best protection available against the flu this winter – and it won't cost a cent! Young people from six months to 17 years of age living in the Kaikōura and Hurunui areas (within the Canterbury District Health Board) can receive free flu shots. Influenza infection rates are generally highest in children and healthy children are the major cause of the spread of the virus in the community. Around 80 percent of people infected show no or minimal symptoms so you can spread the flu bug without knowing you have it – and the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions are particularly vulnerable. Canterbury District Health Board is urging you to protect your whānau and the wider community by getting your flu shot as soon as possible. This year’s vaccines have been specially formulated for New Zealand and are expected to offer protection against the strain that was circulating in the Northern Hemisphere. While flu shots are free for under 18s, they’re available for anyone for a fee from a doctor, nurse or some pharmacists. You or your whānau may qualify for a free shot as well- check out www.flufree.co.nz for more info and flu facts.
