Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto newsletter, Friday 30 October, 2020


Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

We urgently need three new Parent Trustees for our Board of Trustees... 

You should all have received, via email today, the information about how to nominate yourself or someone else for the position of Parent Trustee on the Board.

Nominations close this Sunday, 1st November at noon.

Our Board of Trustees are critical for the successful governance of our school and we have a very strong history of having boards that are effective and very engaged in monitoring and supporting the strategic direction of the school. 

There are no particular set of skills required for the Board - other than being a caregiver who cares about the success of all of the children in our school. 

Please do consider if this is something you could do to contribute to the success of your child's school - for three years.

COVID-19 Tracing update

Whilst we have low numbers of active COVID-19 across New Zealand, we have been reminded by the Ministry of Education of the importance of maintaining high contact tracing in the event that a confirmed case of COVID-19 should be linked to our school. Please ALWAYS sign in at the office when you come on site (other than to drop-off or collect children at the end of the day). Please do not go into hubs unless it is absolutely necessary. You can ALSO use our contact tracing app QR code to keep your own tracing diary.



Athletics Update

Due to the inclement weather this morning, the decision was made to postpone the Athletic Sports for Years 5-8 until Tuesday next week, weather permitting

The weather forecast is currently not that flash for Tuesday, so if we can't do this on Tuesday, the Athletic Sports as an event will be cancelled, and teachers will do their best to run events over the following three days, as the weather permits, so that we can identify students to go through to the Zone Athletics on Monday 9th November.

As the Year 1-4 students will be swimming every day next week, we have decided that they, and the New Entrants, will have their own Junior Athletic Sports on a new date, which we will advise next week.

More Maths learning... in Years 5/6

The Põhutakawa learners found themselves working in groups today to solve 12 problems that had been scattered across the hub. Grit and tenacity to get there together was order of the day with some groups spending 20 minutes or more determined to seek a solution. Next week our learners will discuss and defend their solutions and strategies as they delve into mathematical reasoning.



Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Mon 2 Nov: Year 7/8 Technology (bus leaves at 8:30am) Note change of date for this week!
Tue 3 Nov: Year 5-8 Athletic Sports
Mon 9th Nov: Zone Athletics, Hansen Park. 9am - 3pm
Thu 12 Nov: Celebration Assembly (our first for this term!)
Fri 13th Nov: Canterbury Anniversary Day - school closed.                                                              Wed 18 Nov: Rāpaki Marae visit Koru, Year 0 and 1.                                                                      Wed 25th Nov: Pohutukawa Camp at Living Springs
 

Term Dates

Click here to view 2020 and 2021 term dates.

Citizen of the Week

Selwyn-Jack Bayliss - Year 6

Selwyn-Jack what a year you are having!  You are demonstrating 'We Love Challenge' each day, by the way you focus beautifully on your learning and put in your very best effort.  You are acting on feedback from your teachers to improve your work, demonstrating responsibility for, and pride in, your achievements!  Keep up the brilliant effort Selwyn-Jack, you are a superstar!

School Notices

Mana Ake "Drop-Ins" are continuing...

A number of whānau have already made great use of the Mana Ake “drop-ins” that are available on Wednesday mornings from 8:30 – 9:30am. 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 88t39. Alternatively, you can contact Jacky in the office and she will make a booking for you.

BOT Update

BOT Mid-Term Elections 2020

Nominations for Mid Term positions for our Board of Trustees are closing very soon. You will have received an email with nomination details and how you nominate. Please note nominations close on Sunday 1st November. We look forward to your interest.

Wayne Jamieson
Returning Officer

Community Notices

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




Year 1 & 2 Kahikatea Swimming Update

Kia ora koutou, thanks to you all for helping to make our first 3 days of water safety lessons a success! 

As you can imagine there are a number of logistics involved with planning and implementing this type of activity. 

Consequently we have changed the departure from school times and the pick up time (from Pioneer Pool).

If you are a helper for the Year 1 students: please be at the pool to assist with changing by 12.15. Their bus will collect and return them to school at 1.15pm. 

If you are a helper for the Year 2 students: please be at the pool to assist with changing at 12.45. Their bus will collect and return them to school at 1.45pm

If you are helping with Year 3 students: please be at the pool to assist with changing  at 1.15pm. 


If you have any questions about swimming please email your child's home group teacher. 

Kōwhai Athletics and Swimming reminders

 Kia ora, 

Tomorrow (the 30th October) we have our Athletics Day. 

The Kōwhai timetable is as follows:

11:00-12:15ish - Athletics rotation of Discus, Relays, Shotput and High Jump.

2:00ish - Sprint finals (Yr 5 up - Kōwhai to watch)

2:40ish - House Relays 

Be Sun Smart

The weather tomorrow looks like a sunny day and we will be outside for much of the day. It is really important that your child has their sun hat and has sunscreen on from the beginning of the day. We will have sunscreen at school for them to reapply throughout the day.

Uniform

Children may choose to wear their house shirt or their red polo. 

They may wear their choice of leggings/shorts. Black is preferred. 

Please make sure that children come to school in footwear appropriate for sports, (running shoes are ideal). 

Parent Help

We are still looking for parent help for Friday. Please email Jenny jenny.diggle@beckenham.school.nz  if you are available. 

Swimming 
Thank you to all those parents who have helped with our swimming changing etc this week. We are fast becoming experts at quick changes! 

During this week we have worked out our timings for parent helpers.
If you are helping with Year 3 children you will need to be at the pool at 1.15. I
If you are helping with Year 4 you will need to be at the pool at 1.30. 
If you are able to help with both then that is amazing - thank you! 

The Year 4 children were organised to catch this bus back at 2.40. 
This week due to end of day traffic we have arrived back between 3.05 and 3.15. 
We  have changed our timing of being picked up to 2:35 next week so that we can get back on time, but this is something to be aware of, and we apologise in advance if we are late. 

We are looking forward to seeing you at Athletics Day. 

Nga mihi, 
The Kōwhai Team 

Kauri Whānau: Sports Day and Technology next week

Apologies for the third email this week. 

Technology is on Monday, not Tuesday next week. This is due to an exchange at South Intermediate next week. Please make sure your child is at school by 8:30am on Monday so that they can catch the bus to tech.

Athletic sports are on tomorrow:

  • sun hats are essential
  • come with sunscreen on (more will be applied during the day)
  • wear either red school polo or house top

Important Reminder – Camp Health Form to complete

Kia ora whanau, This is a reminder that our Health Profile and Consent Form needs to be completed by this coming Monday, November 2nd 2020. Many thanks to the 60+ families who have already completed this form. One form needs to be completed for each child who is attending camp. This contains important information which allows us to support the children and their health needs while we are away at Living Springs. Please click here to complete the form If your child requires personalised medication while on camp, please also complete a Medicine Authority Form here. If you have any questions, please email anne.batchelor@beckenham.school.nz