Monthly Archives: December 2018

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter Wednesday 19th December 2018

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Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

This will be our final newsletter of 2018. Another very busy year is almost over. Today we farewelled our Year 8 leavers with their graduation assembly. It was a wonderful celebration of their achievements and successes at Beckenham over the past years. Some have only been with us from part way through this year, through to others who started as far back as 8 1/2 years ago. We wish them all the very best as they head off to high school in 2019.

Staffing update

In our 23rd November newsletter, we noted that we had decided to restructure our leadership team and were advertising for a second deputy principal. In the last newsletter, we advised that Michelle Maule, our current Deputy (on secondment to the Ministry) has won another leadership position. This left us with two Deputy Principal positions to fill.

We were fortunate to have an excellent field of candidates and are very pleased to have been able to fill both positions, ready for the start of 2019.

Sue Leadbetter (who has been the Acting Deputy Principal this year) has won one of these positions. We are delighted that she will be able to continue the wonderful work that she has been doing this year.
Sue Leadbetter
We are also pleased to announce that Nigel Easson (past principal of Kaikoura School) will be joining us as our other Deputy Principal. Nigel and his family will be moving to Christchurch over the holidays.
Nigel Easson

As some of you will have worked out, Sue being appointed to Deputy Principal leaves us with a teacher and team leader position vacant in our New Entrant / Year 1 area. We are very pleased to have Jo Smith taking up the role of Acting Team Leader for the Koru Team for 2019. Jo has been working in our New Entrant team this year, and also in 2016, and she brings previous leadership experience to this role, and to our Leadership Team.


So - to clarify, here are the teams (with the home group teachers) again for 2019:

Koru (New Entrants and Year 1)
Jo Smith (Team Leader)
Stacey McLachlan & Elizabeth Drummond (sharing a learning group)

Kahikatea (Year 1-3)
Amber Donovan (Team Leader)
Charlotte Verity
Jules May
Anna Reid

Kōwhai (Year 3/4)
Paulette Newton (Team Leader)
Rowena Barker
Nick Bruce
Kate Swan

Pōhutukawa (Year 5/6)
Tracy Inwood (Team Leader)
Gayle McNaughton
Katie McFarlane
Steve Cooke
Rae Marsh

Kauri (Year 7/8)
Nicky Dunlop (Team Leader)
Jenny Diggle
Hannah Elliott
Megan Culver

Reports and start of year information

Tomorrow your child will come home with their end of year report in an envelope. Also inside that envelope will be their 2019 stationery list and a letter explaining who their home learning group teacher and the teachers in their team will be. Also in that letter, will be the important information you need to book your start of year learning conference with your child's teacher for 2019!

Our staff have earned a very well-deserved break and are looking forward to taking some time out from tomorrow with their own whānau.

The office will be closed until Monday 21st January.

Our best wishes to you and all your whānau for a safe and relaxing summer.


Sandy, and the amazing team at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.

Important Dates

Upcoming Events


Thu 20 Dec - last day of term 4.  School finishes at 12:30pm
Thu 31 Jan - Learning Conferences
Fri 1 Feb - Learning Conferences
Mon 4 Feb - Classes start, 8:55am

Term Dates

Click here to view 2019 term dates.

Citizen of the Week

Marlonique Wolmarans - Year 8

Marlonique, you bring positivity and tranquility to our Intermediate Hub. Throughout the year, you have demonstrated diligence that has supported your growth as a learner. Thank you for the thoughtfulness and consideration that you show each day. Your kind and caring nature makes a difference to others.

Sophie Macdonald - Year 4

Sophie, you are an outstanding role-model  learner in the Kōwhai team, where you always put in 100% to all you do! You are always eager to learn new things and have a genuine interest in space, wildlife and the environment, where you love to share your learning with others. You always show that you care for others by always being a courteous and kind friend, making you a delight to be around. Thank you for all your wonderful contributions that make our hub a wonderful place to be.

Max Graham - Year 6

Max, what a joy and inspiration you are to the Pōhutukawa team. You display impeccable manners, always holding the door open for us to enter the hub. Your creative and humourous comments entertain and often enlighten us. Max, you are kind, caring and so very flexible and you make a difference in our hub. 

School Notices

Dental Care over the School Holidays

The Community Dental Service will be providing emergency dental appointments on the 20th and 21st December 2018.
 A service will also operate Monday, 7th January – Tuesday, 29th January 2019.

This service will operate by appointment only and if we are unable to see your child, alternative options will be given. If your child has dental pain as a result of an accident please contact your dentist in the first instance.

You can phone and make an appointment for these clinics by ringing 0800 846 983.

Julie Denton
Service Manager
COMMUNITY DENTAL SERVICE

A few reminders for the Pōhutukawa team

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Hut Day (Monday)

Hopefully you have been alerted to the fact that tomorrow is hut day! The children have chosen groups and have made lists about the materials they require to construct their hut as a group. Each child wrote on a slip of paper the particular items they are to bring tomorrow. If you haven't spotted this, it may be in the depths of your child's bag! Any items brought to school are to be taken home at the end of the day.
The children asked if they could share food whilst in their huts. We have decided that if a child wishes to share their morning tea with their group, that would be fine. They can bring food to share, food that fits with the healthy eating which we promote at school. No lollies, chocolate, chips, popcorn or any drink please.  We would prefer that they eat their own lunch. This is completely optional and by no means a requirement of the day.
Although the students believe they won't be doing any  learning tomorrow, we expect (and will discuss with them) that the NZ key competencies (thinking, relating to others, using language, symbols, and texts, managing self and participating and contributing) will be used throughout the day.

Waltham Pool (Tuesday)

We are really looking forward our a trip to Waltham Pool on Tuesday. Your child will need to bring their backpack with:

A sufficient packed lunch
Water bottle
Togs
Towel
Goggles (optional)
A warm jacket/school sweatshirt
School sunhat

Children will not be able to ride on the hydroslide or purchase food at the pool,.
We will be departing school to walk to Waltham Pool at 11:00am, and we will return by 3:00pm.
Thanks again to the large group of adult helpers supporting us on this trip.

Last day (Thursday)

On Thursday morning the children will be meeting as a team in next year's hub. There they will learn who their teacher is going to be next year, and who is in their class. 
Between 11-12 there will be water fun on the park. The children will be encouraged to bring their togs and a towel, as we will have the slip and slides available. They will also be allowed to bring water guns as there will be water gun fun on the park. There will be an inside option for those children not keen on getting wet.
School closes at 12:30.

We would like to wish all families a safe and happy holiday. We have loved teaching this team of children, and have enjoyed getting to know many families. A special mention goes out to our 10 Year 4 students, who have coped admirably in the Pōhutukawa team, and have in fact blended in so well, that we often had to be reminded that they weren't Year 5 students! Although we are going to miss our big Year 6 students, we know that most of them are going to be just through the door to next door, so we'll still get to see them. And we look forward to seeing our lovely Year 4 and 5 students again next year! 

Enjoy your break everyone!




Kauri Whānau: Term 4 Week 9

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What a fabulous day we had at Corsair Bay today. A number of children commented that we should be doing days like this more often! Many thanks to the parents who helped to supervise, especially those who went swimming. Check out the photos at the end of this post.

On Tuesday, the children will be bringing school books, artwork and stationery home. Please make sure they have plenty of room in their bags.

Victoria Park Walk on Monday:

On Monday we will be leaving school soon after 10am, on our way to Victoria Park on foot. Children may wear mufti to school. The must have a sunhat, sunscreen, water bottle, good sized lunch and any medication they may need, all packed in a backpack.

Jars:

We are still in need of jars for our inquiry learning. Any size will be greatly appreciated. Please send these along on Monday.

Year 8 Party:

 On Monday we are having a pool and pizza party for the Year 8s at Georgie's house, which is up by Cashmere Primary School. Please check the map below for how to get there, via walking through the school grounds. It would be good to come with togs on under clothes. The forecast is for a brilliant day on Monday, so it will we wonderful to make use of the Cockfield's pool. We will also have access to the basketball court at the school. Pizza and a drink will be provided. Please arrive at 4pm and arrange pick-up at 6pm. 

Walking to 79 Dyers Pass Road from Cashmere Primary carpark.













Koru News Term 4 Week 8/9, 2018

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REMINDER

Look in your bags, reading folders under the bed, in the kennel and bring back all your reading books as soon as possible please.
If you can help to put these away, please do check with your child's teacher. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Koru Year 1 and 2 Choir Trip

Wow - we had a fabulous time on Monday 10th December performing to the Cracroft Mens Friendship Group. They really enjoyed the singing from some passionate Year one and Two children. A big thank you to the parent helpers who came to help them walk to and from the event.



Koru Year 1 and 2 City Trip - Building Focus

We had a fabulous time on our recent trip into town, visiting the Christchurch City Council, Arts Centre including Rutherford's Den and the Botanic Gardens.
Enjoy the photos...



















Building our Knowledge:  Parent Talks & Discovery Play with Koru Year 1 & 2

Thank you to all the parents who came in to talk about their work to do with building. We certainly have learned a lot about Sustainable Building!!!!








 










Stationery Home Tomorrow

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Hi everyone,

We will be sending home student stationery tomorrow in your child's home learning folder. Please take the time to look in this folder as we will also be returning any unused stationery and most of this items will be able to be used in 2019. Make sure you keep them in a safe place so you know what to order in 2019!
If your child's folder is currently at home, can you please send it to school tomorrow (Friday 14th December) so we have a place for the stationery to go.

Thank you so much!
Kōwhai Teaching Team