Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

24/7 Youth Worker for our Year 7/8 students

This term we are embarking on an exciting new partnership with 24/7 Youth Work.  24/7 is an organisation that coordinates funding from trusts, churches, and schools to provide youth workers in schools.  We are very lucky to be welcoming Dave, a youth worker, to our Intermediate hub, in partnership with the Cashmere New Life Church.  Dave has qualifications in Adventure-Based Learning and has been a builder so will add real strength to our Year 7 and 8 hub.  24/7 has an out-of-class, extracurricular emphasis that supplements and supports existing hub activities so Dave will be able to work within the existing passion time, help with building sets and props for production, take sports teams, support lunchtime games and activities, etc.
Dave will begin in the Intermediate hub in week 2 and will build his hours, over time, to 10 hours a week.

Upcoming Events

We are working hard to get events onto our Community Calendar with plenty of lead-in time so that parents can keep abreast of upcoming events.
If you use a digital calendar, you can import our Community Calendar onto yours and it will automatically update. You can do this by going to the Calendar page on our school website, and then clicking on the appropriate import button for your device, at the bottom of the calendar.


Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings
Principal/Tumuaki

Citizen of the Week

Eli McGuigan - Year 6

Eli, you enthusiasm and love of learning is infectious. You have many ideas and enjoy sharing them with others. Your maturity sees you making sensible choices and being in charge of your own learning. You are a great role model to others. Tino pai Eli!

School Notices

Mana Ake - providing support around the mental health and wellbeing of our tamariki

We will be commencing Mana Ake "drop-ins" this coming Wednesday morning (31/7) from 8:30 - 9:30am.  These will be held every second week.  These drop-in sessions are here to provide parents with an opportunity to have a private, informal conversation around the well being of their child with one of our Mana Ake workers (kaimahi). If you feel like you would like to attend a drop in session, please book in a time via the link here: Mana Ake booking  The code to use is ku2j6. Alternatively, you can contact Jacky in the office and she will make a booking for you.

Anna Dawson - Mana Ake Liaison worker

Incredible Years - Parenting Support Programme

Incredible Years Parent is a 14-session programme for parents of children aged 3–8, which provides parents with skills to better manage children with behavioural problems, creating a home environment that is conducive to positive social and educational outcomes.

The programme is delivered by the Ministry of Education, Special Education staff and by 69 non-government organisations (NGOs). Many of these NGOs also provide a range of social services to families funded through the ministries of Health or Social Development or other agencies.

The Ministry of Social Development ran a pilot study to evaluate the programme and the results showed sustained improvement in both the parenting practices and the children’s behaviour. Read the evaluation report published by the Ministry of Social Development.

What is involved?
Parents across the country come together each week for around two hours and develop approaches to use at home with problem behaviours, such as aggressiveness, ongoing tantrums, and acting out behaviour, such as swearing, whining, yelling, hitting and kicking, answering back, and refusing to follow rules.

The programme looks at:

• making time to play and spend quality time with children and letting children lead the play
• encouraging the behaviours parents would like to see, through setting clear rules and boundaries and using praise and encouragement
• selectively using consequences, such as ignoring, loss of privilege, and time out.

Parents learn from each other and support each other.

Scholastic Book Club

Issue 5 of the Scholastic Book Club is now available and will be coming home soon.
Opening date for orders Monday 22nd July 2019
Scholastic recommend you return your orders to Scholastic (Online) by Friday 2 August 2019.

ICAS Assessments 

The University of New South Wales is offering your child to take part in the ICAS assessment programme.
ICAS is an independent, skills-based assessment program which recognises and rewards student achievement. ICAS is unique, being the most comprehensive generally available suite of academic assessments for primary and secondary school students.
Entries are administered at school. For further information, please consult the ICAS website - https://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/about. Each participant will receive a certificate and a detailed report of their performance.
This year, we will be offering

• Digital Technologies
• Science
• English
• Maths.

Each assessment costs $15.00 to enter (please note that this has increased from previous years, due to the transition from paper-based assessments to an online test). Payment for these competition fees will need to be paid in full by Friday 2 August 2019. You can pay with EFTPOS at the school office or online school's bank account (ASB 12-3148-0131641-000) with the reference ‘ICAS’ and child’s name as the code. If you wish to enter your child, please fill out the form here - ICAS Registration  2019.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email -
hannah.elliott@beckenham.school.nz.

Ngā mihi,
Hannah Elliott

Bakery at school this coming Thursday lunchtime

On Thursday this coming week, August 1st, a group of our Year 7 & 8 students are setting up a bakery in the Hall Foyer. This is part of a Cantamath project they have been working on. Cupcakes, cookies, doughnuts, rice-bubble slice and fresh apple juice will be on sale. All profits from the sale will be going to charity. Items will be sold for $1 each.  Check out the website that the children have created by clicking on the following link:
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Bakery

Congratulations to...

Maria who competed at QE2 over the holidays in trampolining. She was placed second in her category.

Board of Trustees Update

During June, we had Board Elections and, as has already been advised, three new trustees were elected onto our Board.
At the June board meeting, Ester Vallero was elected to be the Board Chair, replacing Michael Balmer who went off the board.
Our thanks again to our retiring Board of Trustee members, Michael Balmer and Raewyn Davis for six years of service on the board, and Miranda Knapton for three years.

Scrumptious Cheese Rolls

They are back, an old favourite: Southland Sushi, aka Cheese Rolls.

Nothing beats a warm cheese roll on a cold day oozing melted cheese. They make fantastic snacks for after school & are great for sharing while watching the upcoming Rugby World Cup - order online now  & pop a dozen or two in the freezer to enjoy throughout the rest of winter.

These cheese rolls are guaranteed to be delicious & are economic. At $8 per Pack (one dozen cheese rolls in a pack) or $30 for four Packs, how can you resist such a scrumptious treat? Check those school bags for an order form heading home to assist you with collating multiple orders. Orders need to be in & paid for by Thursday 15th August & your order will be ready for collection from Sunday 18th August.

Yum!!

Clubbercise is back in Beckenham

Our last Clubbercise session sold out & was enjoyed by all who attended, so we are offering another session! Beckenham PTA are excited to co-host with Clubbercise Christchurch NZ with Chloé

Lock this date in-Wednesday 21st August at 7pm
Hall doors open at 6:30pm
Tickets are $10 each. Book Now!

Clubbercise is a group fitness class held in the dark with disco lights, laser lights, UV lights, neon face & body paint and the Clubbercise branded reusable LED glow sticks.

Clubbercise is exercise in disguise!

Come along, dance, get fit & let's glow!

Due to licensing requirements, participants need to be aged 16 years or over

Beckenham Booty

Beckenham Booty Car Boot Sale is this Sunday- come on down, we have loads of car boots booked in, all heaving with treasures just for you. Open from 9-11am in the school car park. The weather forecast looks great & a delicious bowl of posh porridge will be available to warm you up! Boot spots still available at the special Winter Discounted rate of $15, book now!

Plastic Free July 

The PTA are proud to announce that Birdwood Eatery & Pizzeria will be offering a free coffee with every ‘We Care/Birdwood’ reusable takeaway cup purchased from them & will also offer an ongoing discount of 80c for every coffee ordered in the future.  These cups not only look good & reduce the number of disposable cups in the landfill but are BPA free & NZ made.

We also have Jute Bags, String Vege Bags & Beeswax Wraps to assist you with your war on plastic.  Order Online OR pop on down to the Beckenham Booty Car Boot Sale.

Save the Date- Sunday 22nd September

Calling all Craft Beer Enthusiasts, the PTA in conjunction with Three Boys Brewery will be offering a Brewery Tour this term. For more exciting information check out the PTA Facebook Page for updates.

Coming Soon: PTA Bulletin

Look out for the mid-year PTA Bulletin out next week. This bulletin will be chocka with all the events happening this term & the latest news from the PTA. An enthralling read guaranteed!

“Children in the Screen Age”

Friday, 9 August, 2019 7.00 – 8.30 pm, Christchurch Rudolf Steiner School Hall.
Presentation by : Dr. Mary Redmayne. PhD, PG Dip.Teach., PG Dip Env. Stud., BA, Adjunct Research Associate, Victoria University, Wellington and Monash University Melbourne, Independent Researcher, Consultant, Wellington.

Abstract:
Media reporting on mobile phone safety is generally either alarmist or ‘no worries’. So what is a person to believe?
Several areas of risk when using screens and how to handle them.
A beginners guide will be given as to how devices work (transmitting microwave), and some negative effects research has shown they can have.
Personal and environmental microwave exposure sources and basics of what increases/reduces the energy output of those devices and your level of exposure.
Gaming and social networking are ringing alarm bells internationally, in light of links between heavy use and its impact on mental health, wellbeing and behaviour. The likely paths of effect will be explained and ways to minimize risk for young people (and their parents!).

The talk aims to equip parents, teachers and others caring for infants through to teens for informed decision-making on staying healthy in the screen age. A guide on developing good user habits and family rules for screen devices will be presented.
Thirty minutes for Questions and Answers will follow the talk.

(The Christchurch Rudolf Steiner School can be accessed in three ways: Ombersley Terrace, Fifield Terrace, Riverlaw Terrace behind the school (over footbridge). Parking will mostly be on the street, however Hansen Park does have some car parks.)
Looking forward to seeing you there!

Hosted by: EMR Health & Safety, Christchurch

Contact and enquiries to: diedericr@tutanota.com

SCOUT Scarf Day

Wednesday 1st August 2018
On 1 August each year, we celebrate our annual SCOUT Scarf Day and encourage our members to wear their scarves (and uniforms) to school or work for the day to promote the uniqueness and many opportunities SCOUTS New Zealand can offer youth and adults alike.

With around 350 groups and more than 19,000 current members, there is a good chance someone walking down a main street in your town will be wearing their Scout scarf on SCOUT Scarf Day.

Winter Wander Saturday 3 August - Sunday 11 August

Glitterbox Pursuits, is excited to be bringing a free, week long art event to the central city. Winter Wander brings together an art exhibition, pop up installations, an art trail and sketch clubs with fabulous models and free art supplies to liven up your lunchtimes.
From Saturday 3 August to Sunday 11 August, rug up and take a wander! Shops and vacant spaces in The Crossing, The Terraces, BNZ Centre and around Cashel Mall will be host to all sorts of artworks and things to feast your eyes on.
Take part in the Art trail by tagging #winterwanderchch in your posts and be in to win prizes!
Keep an eye out for posters and flyers or follow Winter Wander on Facebook and our website.

Summer with Your Neighbours

Get together with your neighbours this summer.  Subsidies for neighbourhood events held between
25 October 2019 and 29 March 2020.

'Summer with your neighbours' is about bringing people together.  It's an opportunity to organise a small get-together or local gathering to get to know your neighbours.
The Spreydon-Cashmere Community Board is making small subsidies available towards neighbourhood gatherings in its Board area.

Apply online at:  ccc.govt.nz/GetTogether

Or request a hard-copy application form by phoning CCC Call Centre 941 8999.
Applications for subsidies close 5pm, Friday 16th August 2019

Please Note:
1.Subsidy reimbursements are paid after the gathering, on presentation and approval of receipts.
2.Subsidies are not available for alcohol, fireworks, or paid entertainment.
3.If your gathering is to be held in a public space such as a local park or reserve, you will need to contact

  Council Bookings on 941 8888 to check availability and make a booking for your chosen venue.

It's great to be back, even to this cold and wet weather!

My husband and I had an amazing time in the UK and Europe, revisiting places we had last been to 28 years ago, meeting old friends, and visiting some new places as well. In Europe we were lucky to visit the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and Denmark. We both returned home feeling very refreshed and grateful for the opportunity to have that time away. As part of the sabbatical I am also working on research to share with the Ministry of Education and other principals on how Primary Schools can better support students who are gender-diverse. I also attended the NZ Principals Conference in Auckland on our return to NZ.

 I've been meeting with our Leadership team this week, catching up on the news of Term 2, and looking ahead to Term 3. The new signs on the buildings look amazing, and I can't wait to see the children playing on the new Pūkaki playground! New asphalt went down in front of the admin building today too.