2018 T4 W2 in Pōhutukawa

Pōhutukawa Pitch Perfect choir performance this Friday

Good luck to the Pōhutukawa Pitch Perfect choir who are performing at Horncastle Arena on Friday 26th October.

The choir will be attending a massed rehearsal on Friday morning. They will bus from school to  Horncastle Arena in the morning, and will return to school by lunchtime. Whilst there they will be shown where to meet when they are dropped off that night (they enter through door 1) and where they are being seated in the arena when not performing.

We ask that parents please do not visit their child/ren during the performance. The performers are to be picked up at the end of the show from where they are sitting, so they are able to be signed out.

The children are required to be at the arena by 6:15pm, in clean and tidy school uniform .

Tickets are available through Ticketek. Adult tickets cost $22.00 and school age children are $10.00.

We welcome back our trainee teacher, Lisa Griffith



Pōhutukawa Whānau has been very fortunate to have had Lisa Griffith as a part of our team, for three weeks at the end of last term, and four weeks of this term. Lisa is in her last year of training to be a teacher, and when she finishes this placement will graduate, ready to begin her career as a teacher. She is mainly based in Beach, with Tracy and has been a valuable contributor to our team.

School Athletics Day

Our school athletics day is next Thursday, 1 November. The students will be participating in field events - shot put, discus and high jump, along with sprinting races.
They have an option of signing up for long jump, which will be held at Hillview Christian School, on an alternative day (Friday 2 November), and opting into mid distance (1000m) running, which is being held first thing on athletics day (9:15am).
The children should wear sports shorts and house shirts or their school shirt on athletics day. They have the option of wearing running shoes or bare feet when competing.
We will supply sunblock during the day, and it would be great if the children came to school with sunblock already applied to their face and torso.
A wide brimmed sunhat is essential for the day, along with a named water bottle. The children will be unable to compete if they do not have a hat. They will be carrying their water bottle with them from event to event.

Sexuality Road Programme: Parent meeting

In week 6 we will be starting our health unit: The Sexuality Road. This topic addresses, changes that happen at puberty (physical and emotional), communication and decision making, reproduction and where to go to for support. We will teach the Year 5 programme and the Year 6 programme separately. If you would like to find out more about what the programme involves, we will be holding a parent information evening for Year 5 - 8 families in the staffroom on Thursday November 2nd, starting at 7pm.

Living Springs Camp 13 - 15 November

We are very much on the countdown for camp. The teachers are finalising details, and intend to send home an information newsletter, gear list and medical form by the end of the week. If you have any concerns or questions about camp, please contact any one of the teachers in the hub.





Kauri Whānau Weekly Update: Term 4 Week 2

Many thanks to the parents who have signed up to help with events we have planned for this term. If you have yet to do this, please click on this link.  30 of our Year 7s have expressed an interest in being a House Captian or on the Student Council Exec in 2019! If your child would like to apply for a position and has yet to complete the form, here is the link. They have until this Friday to apply. Please read on for important messages.

Sexuality Road: Parent Meeting

In week 4 we will be starting our health unit: The Sexuality Road. This topic addresses, changes that happen at puberty (physical and emotional), communication and decision making, reproduction and where to go to for support. We will teach the Year 7 programme and the Year 8 programme separately. If you would like to find out more about what the programme involves, we will be holding are parent information evening for Year 5 - 8 families in the staffroom on Thursday November 2nd, starting at 7pm.

Long jump this Friday

Unfortunately, we do not have a long jump pit at Beckenham, and therefore need to hold our long jump event at Hillview. This Friday afternoon, we would like to give the children the opportunity to practise at Hillview. We are looking for two parents to accompany this group, with Jenny. Please email Jenny if you can help out between 1:20 and 3pm.

Year 8 Pool Party

As has become tradition, we will be holding a Year 8 pizza and pool party on Monday December 17, from 4pm until 6pm. This year Georgie's family have offered to host the party at their property. More details, including address, will be provided closer to the time.

Basketball singlets and other sports tops to return

If your child played in a basketball team, or for a winter sport team, please make sure that their uniforms are returned to school this week.

Year 8 photos when I was 5

The Year 8s have until next Friday to write their memories for the Graduation Year Book. We like to include photos of when they started school, as 5 year olds, in this book. It doesn't matter if their first school wasn't Beckenham. Parents please locate and email me a photo file, or send a photo for scanning (I promise to return it the same day). We need to get these photos in by next Friday too. Many thanks for your help with this. nicky.dunlop@beckenham.school.nz

Ōtakāro Orchard visit

Last term, Peter from Ōtākaro Orchard visited our hub to talk about their project to create an urban food forest in the centre of Christchurch. At the end of his visit, Peter invited us to come for a working bee to see what the project is all about. On Monday 5th of November, we will be heading into town to do just that. The hub will be split into two groups, with one at the Ōtākaro Orchard site while the other group learns some research skills at Tūranga, Christchurch's brand new central library. The groups will meet at Margaret Mahy Playground for lunch and then swap so that both groups get to do both activities.

In order to make this trip a possibility, we need three parent helpers. If you are able to help, please email hannah.elliott@beckenham.school.nz.

Donations to cover expenses

The following requests for donations will come out on your next school account:

  • Ōtakāro Orchard: $5.50
  • Corsair Bay: $7


Kōwhai News Week 1 Term 4

Welcome to the final term of the year! We hope you had a great two-week break.  This term we have two new students in the Kōwhai Team, Levi Currey and Temaera Ripia. We would like to extend a very warm welcome to their whānau. 

This term will be a busy one, so keep an eye out on the newsletters to keep up to date with events.

Firewise
Over the next couple of weeks, we are working on a ‘Firewise’ unit as part of our Literacy programme. This unit will help the children to learn facts about how to keep fire safe.


Image result for firewiseEach year the New Zealand Fire Service attends 5,000 house fires. Around a quarter of the housefires start in the kitchen from unattended cooking. Once a fire has started in a room, people have 3 minutes to get out of the room before they breathe in poisonous smoke and die.
There are three things that you can do to get out quickly and safely if a fire occurs on your home:

  1. Install working smoke alarms in lounges and family living areas, halls and bedrooms to alert you to the fire. If you are asleep, you can’t smell smoke.
  2. Have an escape plan so that every family member knows two ways to get out of every room and knows where to go to a safe meeting place.
  3. Practise getting out of every room FAST when the smoke alarm goes off or if someone shouts FIRE, FIRE, FIRE.


During this unit, your child or children will also bring home a Firewise Booklet. We highly encourage you to read the story in the booklet with your child or children and watch the DVDs using this link. These videos will help you have discussions on how to make your home fire safe. We also encourage you to practise what to do if a fire starts anywhere in your house.
In this unit, there is a lesson about how to keep safe with matches and how matches and lighters are tools NOT toys. The Fire Service recommends that children feel safe with matches so each child will be given the opportunity to light a match under the careful supervision of a teacher. We are in no way promoting children playing with matches.


So far the children are really enjoying learning about fire safety and are making very thoughtful contributions during our sessions.

Gardens Trip Next 25th and 26th October
Next week, on Thursday 25th October (Mike and Paulette and half of Susan's home group) and Friday 26th October (Anna and Rebekah and half of Susan's home group) will be going to the Christchurch Botanical Gardens. On this day, the children will have a session in the Gardens, completing a Park Detective lesson and spending time in the Museum learning about birds and also in the Discovery Centre.
On these days, the buses depart school at 9:05 and will return to school by 3pm. Please make sure your child has a packed lunch and a jacket and drink bottle on this day. Thank you to all the parents who have kindly given their time to support this trip.


The Great New Zealand Shake Out


Our school has signed up for the Great NZ Shakeout School Challenge. Each person that completes the 8 challenges with their families will be in to get some cool prizes.
Some of the challenges include...

  • Show someone how to drop cover and hold – inside and outside.
  • Check your tsunami zone and plan where to go.
  • Store water for three days or more.
  • Identify which key household objects need to be secured or made safer through Fix. Fasten. Don’t Forget.
  • Find out which natural hazards could affect your family.
  • Work out what to pack in a getaway bag for your family.
  • Make a plan which includes who will pick up the kids if the adults can’t get to school.
  • Make a list of who can help in an emergency
The students will be been given a booklet to take home on Tuesday. If your child would like to participate by completing all of the challenges, they just need to bring the booklet back with each challenge signed to say it was completed and they can collect a small prize.

Athletics
Athletics training has started this week and it is very encouraging to see the students improve in many of the athletics disciplines.

This year the Year 4s have been given the opportunity to compete in the Year 4-8 Athletics Day which is in week 3, Thursday 1st November. This is completely optional and we will send out an email to let you know if your child has chosen to participate on this day.
The Year 1-4 Athletics Day will be held on Wednesday 21st November from 11-12.40pm. You are most welcome to come and support your child on this day.

For your diary:
Oct 22:  Labour Day (school closed)
Oct 25: Botanic Gardens/Museum Trip
Oct 26: Botanic Gardens/Museum Trip
Nov 1:  School Athletic Sports Y4-8
Nov 16: Show Day (School closed)
Nov 26: Staff Only Day
Dec 20: Final day for the year. School closes at 12:30pm.


That's all for now.

From the Kōwhai Team





Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter October 19th 2018

Principal's Patch

Kia ora e te whānau

What a great start we have had to the term! It's been lovely to see everyone back and to welcome seven new tamariki and their whānau to our school. Along with that, the sun has shone for much of the week!

A group of learners from Pōhutukawa enjoying learning outside in the sun...

Learning this term includes preparations for athletics, Pōhutukawa Camp, Intermediate Hub Production, Firewise programme, and excursions out of school for all teams. On top of teaching, teachers will be busy with assessments and end of year report writing.

Organisation for 2019 is well underway too. As part of this organisation, we are looking at the learning groups for 2019. Because we work so collaboratively, this is a much less complex task than it was when we had teachers and children operating in individual classes in isolation from one another. We can support different social groupings within a collaborative team, without worrying about which 'class' a child in a team is in as the whole team will be working in collaborative space and the groupings will be be fluid and needs based.
If there is a consideration you would like me to be aware of when we are putting learning groups for 2019 together, please email me by Friday 2nd November. We will add your considerations to the considerations we have for all of the children.

We are pleased to have two trainee teachers working in our school at the moment. Lisa Griffiths is in the Pōhutokawa Hub being mentored by Tracy Inwood, and Alicia Northe is in the Kauri Hub being mentored by Hannah Elliott. We value the contribution that they make to our children's learning and we think it is important that our school and staff contribute to the ongoing development of the profession by having teacher trainees in our school.

We have a vacancy in the school office...

Due to an unexpected offer of a job with more hours and more responsibility that she would have been crazy to turn down, our financial officer, Vicki Renwick, will be leaving us in four weeks.
As you will all be aware, the role of a financial officer is critical in the smooth running of a school!
A brief description of the role is below, with more details available on the Vacancies page of our school website.
If you know anyone who is interested in this type of role, please ask them to make contact.

Financial Officer - Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto

Role Purpose
This is a key administrative role in a progressive and busy, full primary school where efficiency, flexibility, collaboration and initiative are key attributes for success.  The support this role provides to the leadership team enables student learning to be upheld as the primary focus of the school. 
This role is responsible for ensuring all aspects of the school's financial management complies with sector best practice, defined delegated authorities, statutory requirements and policies.  By completing all financial administration tasks efficiently and effectively, this role assists the school to manage its resources competently and responsibly.

Our Values
We care
We get there together
We love challenge
We love learning
We make a difference

We are seeking a special person to become part of our school family.

This is a key administrative role in our school, responsible for ensuring all aspects of our school's financial management complies with sector best practice, defined delegated authorities, statutory requirements and policies.   Key tasks include accounts payable and receivable functions, budgeting, financial reporting, payroll, HR administration, and maintaining the assets register.
Ideally we are seeking someone who can 'hit the ground running' through their experience and knowledge of financial administration practice, and their commitment to innovate and improve systems and processes.   We are seeking someone who combines an analytical, systematic and accurate approach to their work together with a genuinely warm, positive, flexible and approachable manner.
If this sounds like you, and you'd love to join our school family then we'd love to hear from you…
Applications close 4pm, Monday 12 November, 2018


I will be in Wellington next week at the New Zealand Principals Federation Conference.
I hope you all enjoy the upcoming long weekend. I am looking forward to a busy and exciting term ahead and hope you are too.

Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings - Tumuaki

Important Dates

To see upcoming events, you can also access them through the School Calendar
This will allow you to check in on events and get up to date information about what is going on.

Upcoming Events

Mon 22 Oct - Labour Day.  School is closed
Wed 24 Oct - PTA meeting, 7.30pm, Hall Foyer
Thu 25 Oct - Kōwhai trip to the Botanic Gardens (half of hub)
Fri 26 Oct - Kōwhai trip to the Botanic Gardens (other half of hub)
Fri 26 Oct - Pōhutukawa Choir in the Christchurch Schools Music Festival, Horncastle Arena
Wed 31 Oct - Whānau Hui, Staffroom, 5:30-8pm
Wed 7 Nov - Kapa Haka Groups all performing in the school hall, 6:30-7:30pm
Thur 8 Nov - Board of Trustees Meeting, 5:30 - 8pm
Mon 26 Nov - School closed - Staff Only Day

Term Dates

Click here to view 2018 and 2019 term dates.

Citizen of the Week

Arran Robertson - Year 7

Arran, you exemplify our value 'we care' in the way that you interact so positively and willingly with a wide range of people. From working with the preschool children at Cherry's (who absolutely adored you), to sharing a friendly word with those who need it, you show your emotional intelligence on a daily basis. Thank you for making our hub and school a brighter place. Tino pai Arran.

School Notices

Fridays are House Shirt Days!

A reminder that children are able to wear House Shirts on Fridays, especially with the warmer weather approaching! House Shirts are available from the office. 
We have four houses in the school: Tennyson, Heathcote, Waimea and Fisher.


Children are placed in a house when they start school and stay in that house all the way through their time in the school. Houses are a vehicle for helping children to engage in activities in a different grouping to their year, team or learning group, as each house includes children from every year group in the school. During the spring and summer terms, we have House/Whānau Games every second Friday. These games and activities are organised and run by our House Captains and Sports Captains. They provide a wonderful opportunity for children to buddy up with younger/older students and build relationships across the school.

Hats are ESSENTIAL every day in Term 4 and Term 1



Please ensure that your child has a school sunhat (red or black wide-brimmed or bucket style hat) at school every day. Bucket hats are available from the office. Wide-brimmed hats can be purchased from The Warehouse and other retail outlets.

Mana Ake - a new resource for schools to support the Mental Health and Wellbeing of children and their whānau



Mana Ake - Stronger for Tomorrow was established in March 2018 to promote wellbeing and positive mental health for children in school years 1-8 across Canterbury.  It was the result of additonal funding provided by the government in response to the ongoing effects on children of the Canterbury Earthquakes.

The initiative aims to provide early intervention and support for teachers, families and whānau when children are experiencing ongoing issues that impact their wellbeing. The service can support individual children and groups of children and provide advice, guidance and support for teachers and parents/ whānau.

This term our school, along with the other primary schools in our Community of Learning (St Martins, Waltham, St Marks, Opawa, Diamond Harbour) will be working together to develop systems for accessing this resource. We will have a team of five dedicated 'kaimahi' - workers, who come from a range of NGO backgrounds involved in supporting mental health and wellbeing of children and families.

We are looking forward to being able to have these people able to engage with our children and families. If we think your child might benefit from some support through this resource, we will always discuss this with you first, and you will be able to decide if you feel this is appropriate for your child and family.

We are missing some sports uniforms - please bring them back to school!

We are aware that a small number of sports uniforms in each of the different sports codes have not been returned to school at the end of the season. We desperately need these returned please, no questions asked! The PTA have been responsible for funding most of these uniforms and we need to have every one returned so that they are available for other children to use the following season.
Please return any items you may have still have at home to the school office next week! Thank you.

Future of Education Seminar

Frances Valintine, founder of MindLab, will be presenting about the Future of Education, Tuesday 30 October, 5pm. St Francis of Assisi School, Innes Road, Christchurch. This is for principals, teachers, board and PTA members, parents and local businesses. RSVP here.
You can find out more about Francis Valintine, founder of MindLab here.


The Great New Zealand Shake Out

Yesterday we engaged as a school with the Great New Zealand Shakeout Earthquake Drill and Evacuation and the children were very calm and evacuated out onto the field with no fuss.


We are also able to take part in the Great NZ Shakeout School Challenge.
Each person who completes the 8 challenges with their families will be in to get some cool prizes.

Some of the challenges include...

  • Show someone how to drop cover and hold – inside and outside.
  • Check your tsunami zone and plan where to go.
  • Store water for three days or more.
  • Identify which key household objects need to be secured or made safer through Fix. Fasten. Don’t Forget.
  • Find out which natural hazards could affect your family.
  • Work out what to pack in a getaway bag for your family.
  • Make a plan that includes who will pick up the kids if the adults can’t get to school.
  • Make a list of who can help in an emergency

The students have been given a booklet to take home. If your child would like to participate by completing all of the challenges, they just need to bring the booklet back, with each challenged signed to say it was completed, to collect their small prize.

PTA News

A favourite event is returning this year-

TOP TEAM FAMILY PICNIC  

Sunday 25th November.

A great family- friendly end of year celebration, the Top Team Family Picnic, with the assistance from Sports Canterbury, is an event that will bring a smile to our families faces & strengthen the amazing community spirit we enjoy in Beckenham. Make sure you block this out in your calendar & if you don't know what Top Team is- check out these photos from our last event in 2016!

Calendar Art

Paper order forms for this will be coming out next week...check out your child's back pack so it doesn't get lost!

BOT Update

Whānau Hui - Māori students achieving success as Māori

Wed 31st October, 5:30-8pm in the staffroom

The Board of Trustees are seeking support from whānau to help guide their strategic thinking and planning in this area. We are keen to be doing more to affirm the identity and success of our Māori tamariki as tangata whenua and we need your guidance and direction in this kaupapa.

Mā tātou katoa te waka e hoe

Community Notices

(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)

Skeleton Hunt 

Have some family fun at the skeleton hunt this halloween!  Work out the clues to complete the skeleton puzzle with the pieces you find from your adventure to earn your trick or treat.  Too easy?  Each clue requires you to complete a challenge that will test your skills and keep you busy...good luck!
12pm Sunday 28th October, Cathedral Square,  $2 entry ages 5 -14.

"SPOOKED" - A Circus Spooktacular

Presented by Christchurch Circus Trust
October 27th 4pm and 7:30 pm Shows
Tickets $15 from: dashtickets.co.nz
PGR 7 yrs.

The first E Tū Whānau poster competition is now open!

The competition gives people of all ages and backgrounds the chance to win great cash prizes by designing posters expressing values that underpin the E Tū Whānau kaupapa. Their work will be judged by renowned artist, academic and educator, Kura Te Waru-Rewiri and celebrated urban artists, muralists and community art activists, Janine and Charles Williams.

E Tū Whānau, the movement for positive change, want whānau across the motu to unleash their creativity and have a go at designing A3 sized posters on:

AROHA - giving with no expectation of return , OR
MANA/MANAAKI – building the mana of others through nurturing, growing and challenging, OR
WHAKAPAPA – knowing who you are and where you belong.
“Art and design are powerful tools to communicate ideas, convey emotion, and inspire action. E Tū Whānau is all about taking action to create positive change in our whānau and our communities,” says E Tū Whānau Kaiwhakahaere, Ann Dysart.

The competition has two prize categories. The General category is open to anyone and has prizes worth $2,500 for the winners of each value. The Tamariki category is for children aged 12 years old and under, and winners will receive a $200 gift voucher for each value. A cash prize of $1,500 will also be awarded to the entry that gets the most votes overall.

Entrants may use any medium and enter as many times as they like, but each entry must focus on one value only, not a combination. The competition will run on the E Tū Whānau Facebook page and an online entry form must be completed for each entry. A jpg of the poster design must also be uploaded with each entry form. Entry to the online competition closes on Sunday October 21.

“This competition is open to everyone and anyone, whether you’re a new artist starting out, someone more experienced, or someone who just loves the E Tū Whānau kaupapa and wants to express their feelings visually. Don’t be shy. Just get in there, give it your best go and have fun,” Ann Dysart says.

For more information please contact:

Pamela Fleming, 029 2881 463,   pamela.fleming006@msd.govt.nz

Teresa McGregor, 027 2075 016, tmcgregor@maorimedia.co.nz

Love authentic Latin food? 

Interested in Art? Movies? Music? In to Latin Dancing? Want a place to chill out with Amigos?
Bring your colours!!!
Enjoy our Spanish & Latino Week  in Christchurch!
 Come and enjoy a full week of Latin events. Authentic Latin Street food,  dance performances & workshops, movies, story telling, live music, Art exhibition, and much more  in a colourful and fun atmosphere around our beautiful city.
- Spanish & Latino Week 2018 -
- Christchurch City Centre -
- 15th to 22nd of October -
Spanish & Latino week, proudly sponsored by the CCC,  brings the "LASFF" Latin America and Spain Film Festival, Latino Market Picante, Night in Pijamas at the Library, Language, Cooking and Dance Workshops, Latin Art Exhibition, Fiesta under the Stars and much more

Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival


To parents of the Pōhutukawa choir,

The Pōhutukawa Pitch Perfect Choir is all set for the Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival, which is coming up soon! We have worked really hard to learn all of the many songs that will be performed on the night.

Our performance night is Friday 26th October. Tickets are available through Ticketek. Adult tickets cost $22.00 and school age children are $10.00.

We will be attending a massed rehearsal on the morning of Friday 26th October. We will bus from school to The Horncastle Arena in the morning, and will return to school by lunchtime.

That's all for now!

Thanks,
Katie McFarlane