Monthly Archives: August 2023

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter Rāmere (Friday) 25 Aug 2023

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Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

Keeping all of our children safe is a shared responsibility of us at school, of all of our families, and of our wider community. We need to work together to help them develop the skills and strategies they need to engage in safe and positive relationships with others, and to know how to deal with challenges safely and constructively.

Reporting harmful online content or behaviour

If your children use online social media platforms, would you please talk with them and remind them that posting photos or videos of other people, without their consent or knowledge, is not OK. We are also doing this at school. This is particularly important if the purpose of the post is to make fun of, ridicule, or diminish the mana of another person. Our children have enough to manage in terms of learning how to negotiate appropriate face-to-face interactions, without having to deal with the knowledge that people are talking about them in negative ways online. This is behaviour that can cause lasting and serious harm, particularly for our young people.

A reminder again that anyone can report any concerning content that they see to the platform itself, and also to Netsafe by clicking here.

Thank you all for your support in this. We Get There Together! If the adults in our community are aligned in the conversations and expectations that we all have of our children, that will be hugely supportive of all our tamariki.

Consent for Kids - Keeping Ourselves Safe (KOS).

As part of the Keeping Ourselves Safe programme that is being taught across the school, there are discussions happening about consent. Our children need to be empowered to say 'no' to touch, behaviour, or words that worry or confuse them or that they don't want.
This video has been used for some of the classes and you might find it useful to watch. It's under 3 minutes long.



Ngā mihi nui

Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki - Principal

Important Dates

NB: You can find our Community Calendar on our school website. You can embed this calendar into your own digital calendar and stay up-to-date with events and information.

Mon 28 Aug - Year 7/8 Ski Trip (5:50am start time)
Wed 6 Sep - Strum Strike Blow - Wolfbrook Arena
Fri 8 Sep - 10am Celebration Assembly
Fri 8 Sep - PTA Calendar Art order forms sent home
Wed 13 Sep - Year 5-8 Choir - Music Festival Rehearsal
Thu 14 Sep - am - Year 8 entrance testing at Cashmere High
Fri 15 Sep - School Photos
Wed 20 Sep - 5:30pm - BOT Meeting - Staffroom
Fri 22 Sep - Final day for PTA Calendar Art orders
Fri 22 Sep - 10am Celebration Assembly
Fri 22 Sep - 1:45pm Beckenham's Got Talent!
Fri 22 Sep - Final day of Term 3

Term Dates: Click here to view 2023 & 2024 term dates

Citizen of the Week

Scarlett Aitken- Year 8

Scarlett, you have made exceptional growth as a leader within the Kauri hub this year. You have continuously taken on increased responsibilities and been involved in many ways. You have shown improvement in class due to your focus and determination to improve, especially in mathematics! You are a remarkable team player with a positive attitude which we see on the basketball court. Ka pai tō mahi!

School Notices

Scholastic Book Club - Issue 6 Out Now

Please click the link here to view and order from the Scholastic Book Club

Sports News

Duathlon

Thank you to everyone who played a part in organising and running our school duathlon this week. It was really appreciated the way we pulled together to make this event happen. There were lots of moments for children to feel success through participation, leadership and camaraderie. 

BOT Update

Policy Review

From time to time we ask you to review one of our policies that come up on our review cycle. A policy for whānau review is the Māori Educational Success, and the Inclusive Education policy. You will find it under Current Review on School Docs at this link. 

The login details are:
Username: Beckenham  Password: pride 

Instructions for reviewers:

Follow the link to the policy.
Read the policy.
Click the 'Start Review' icon at the right-hand top corner of the page. A new screen will appear.
Select your role (board member, staff member, or parent/caregiver) from the drop-down list.
Enter your name (optional).
Submit your ratings and comments.
If you don't have internet access, school office staff can easily provide you with printed copies of the policy and the review form. 

Helplines: 

1737 - free text and phone counselling 24/7 
Youthline – 0800 376 633 or free text 234 
Depression Helpline – 0800 111 757 or free text 4202
Anxiety New Zealand - 0800 269 4389
What's Up – 0800 942 8787 (5–18 year olds).
thelowdown.co.nz –or email team@thelowdown.co.nz or free text 5626

Community Notices

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

Enrol To Vote

The General Election is on 14 October 2023. To vote, you need to be enrolled and your details need to be up to date.

It's easy to enrol, check or update your details online: vote.nz/enrol

More information and additional resources are available on the Electoral Commission's website here: https://vote.nz/2023-general-election/resources/resources-to-share-with-your-community

Beckenham Tennis Club



Luminaires Charitable Trust brings to the stage
Beauty Within the Beast
A tale as old as time, with a twist or two

A not very princessy Princess Charlie becomes caught up in a battle between the Fairies of Winter and Spring, resulting in Charlie being cursed to be a Beast for all time unless true love can be found. 

In the Village of Tawdryville, Beauty and her energetic siblings farewell their Papa who is called away to last minute business. Papa gets caught up in the fairy battle and is forced to take shelter in a seemingly empty castle.

And so, the classic tale of old plays out with many comical twists along the way. Featuring a hilarious youth cast of fairies, hobgoblins, bickering sisters, talking cutlery and much more! Will the fairies ever resolve their differences? Will Beauty’s love and friendship be enough to help the Beast become Charlie again? 

Tickets $11-$25 McCombs PAC, Cashmere High 

During the next school holidays Thursday 5th - Sunday 8th October




Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter Rāmere (Friday) 18 Aug 2023

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Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

Our staff had a big day on Friday, working with two different teams from the Ministry of Education. In the morning, we were working through a Ministry of Education programme called 'Understanding Behaviour and Responding Safely'. In the afternoon, we were looking at the overview or introduction part of the new Curriculum Refresh.


Over the next 4 years, each of the eight areas of the curriculum will be refreshed. 

Ngā mihi nui

Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki - Principal

Important Dates

NB: You can find our Community Calendar on our school website. You can embed this calendar into your own digital calendar and stay up-to-date with events and information.


Wed 23 Aug - 5:30pm - BOT Meeting - Staffroom
Wed 23 Aug - 7:00- PTAG=AGM following by regular meeting - Green Room
Fri 25 Aug - Final day for returning Readathon Money
Fri 25 Aug - 10am Celebration Assembly 
Mon 28 Aug - Year 7/8 Ski Trip
Fri 8 Sep - 10am Celebration Assembly
Thu 14 Sep - am - Year 8 entrance testing at Cashmere High
Fri 15 Sep - School Photos
Wed 20 Sep - 5:30pm - BOT Meeting - Staffroom
Fri 22 Sep - 10am Celebration Assembly
Fri 22 Sep - 1:45pm Beckenham's Got Talent!
Fri 22 Sep - Final day of Term 3

Term Dates: Click here to view 2023 & 2024 term dates

Citizen of the Week

Lily Hale - Year 4

Lily, you are a shining example of someone who lives our school values on a daily basis. Your effective self-management skills, the kindness you show for your peers along with your willingness to help out around the hub make you a positive role model in the Kōwhai team. Ka pai tō mahi, Lily!

School Notices

Head Lice Treatment - free through your pharmacy

Head lice is able to be supported through the minor ailment services, under Te Whatu Ora, Community Pharmacy Minor Ailments Service.

This means pharmacies can now provide a free consult and offer free treatment for a number of conditions, including head lice.

Our Beckenham Elmer Update 



Our school has signed up to participate in "Elmer's Ōtautahi Elephant Trail" and many of you will have seen our 'undecorated' Elmer sitting in the office. Like the penguin and giraffe trails of previous years, the Elmer project will result in a temporary sculpture trail around Christchurch, then the artists will have their elephants returned to them to display in their local environment. Money will be raised for the Laura Fergusson Trust as a result of the trail.

Students have had input into the choice of a name for our Elmer, and what that name is inspired by

Name: Rainbow Bloom

Inspired by: Growing to your full potential and showing your true colours.

Brief description of sculpture: Rainbow Bloom represents our school values, especially 'We Get There Together: Mā tātou katoa te waka e hoe'; inclusivity and how it is OK to be different. Above Rainbow’s diversity socks are a selection of flags from the nationalities at our school. Our school's cultural narrative has strong ties to the Ōpāwaho River, so we have represented this on their trunk. We want Rainbow Bloom to bring a smile to people's faces, even when it is the toughest of days. 

The next step: drafting our design on Elmer!

Kahikatea and Kōwhai Gymnastics

The Kahikatea team enjoyed six sessions of gymnastics at Olympia during Weeks 2, 3, and 4. Tamariki had a great time exploring the various apparatus, including the beam, vault, bars, and trampoline. It was wonderful to see the progress children made during these sessions. A huge thanks to the parents who came along to support us with this!


The Kōwhai team also had a wonderful time during their trips to the Christchurch School of Gymnastic over the past weeks. The instructors were very kind and helpful. The children had lots of fun and completed lots of challenging activities including swing ropes, trampolining, swing bars, balance beams, rolling, foam pit and rock crawl. It was lots of fun!

Before School

Please remember that classrooms are open to children from 8.30am. This is to allow teachers time to prepare for the day.
Prior to 8.30am there is no supervision of children. 

If you need to drop your tamariki off before 8.30am BOSCO provides before-school care. 
Please contact them for more details 
Website  https://www.bosco.org.nz/
Phone 027 645 6632
Email office@bosco.org.nz

Enrol To Vote

The General Election is on 14 October 2023. To vote, you need to be enrolled and your details need to be up to date.

It's easy to enrol, check or update your details online: vote.nz/enrol

More information and additional resources are available on the Electoral Commission's website here: https://vote.nz/2023-general-election/resources/resources-to-share-with-your-community

Sports News

School Duathlon

We are looking forward to our school duathlon next Wednesday afternoon (23rd of August). A group of children will be showing their love of challenge by running and biking around our winter duathlon course. Nau mai te wero! Races will start at 1:40 and finish by 3:00. 

I have attached the course map (linked here) for your reference. 

Ngā mihi
Jenny

Congratulations to...

Coleman and Mirren, who recently competed again for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and managed to secure another gold medal each. This was a huge milestone as it was an in house competition against their friends and also their competitors who are a whole belt grade above, so very tricky. We are super proud of them managing a gold and showing their progression and love for the sport. It's also great experience for their Gold Coast championships in November.

Ka mau te wehi Coleman & Mirren! Fantastic work.

PTA News

We are holding our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 23rd August at 7pm in the staff room. This meeting is open to all. It will be followed by our regular monthly hui, all welcome and the more the merrier! 

Thank you to everyone who has returned their readathon cards and sponsorship! Don’t forget to return those readathon forms next week to collect a fabulous bookmark, as well as go in the draw to win a Paper Tree voucher. We will be around before school again next week (Monday to Thursday). The voucher winners will be drawn at assembly on Friday 25th August so get those forms back to us please!

You are welcome to pay online to the PTA Bank Account: 12-3148-0244558-000

BOT Update

Policy Review

From time to time we ask you to review one of our policies that come up on our review cycle. A policy for whānau review is the Māori Educational Success, and the Inclusive Education policy. You will find it under Current Review on School Docs at this link. 

The login details are:
Username: Beckenham  Password: pride 

Instructions for reviewers:

Follow the link to the policy.
Read the policy.
Click the 'Start Review' icon at the right-hand top corner of the page. A new screen will appear.
Select your role (board member, staff member, or parent/caregiver) from the drop-down list.
Enter your name (optional).
Submit your ratings and comments.
If you don't have internet access, school office staff can easily provide you with printed copies of the policy and the review form. 

Helplines: 

1737 - free text and phone counselling 24/7 
Youthline – 0800 376 633 or free text 234 
Depression Helpline – 0800 111 757 or free text 4202
Anxiety New Zealand - 0800 269 4389
What's Up – 0800 942 8787 (5–18 year olds).
thelowdown.co.nz –or email team@thelowdown.co.nz or free text 5626

Community Notices

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

Beckenham Tennis Club



Kahikatea News Term 3 Week 5

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 Kia ora koutou!


Wow, it is incredible to think that we are at the halfway mark of the term! Some fantastic things have been happening in our hub. 

Word of the week - Respect


Maths Week

Last week was NZ maths week. Our tamariki enjoyed many maths activities designed to engage and promote maths within our schools. We created giant graphs and even Mondrian Style artworks - linking maths with art. 

Here are some photos:
















Book Week 

Last week was book week, so to celebrate and share our love of reading we had an awesome whole-school book character dress up day. Can you guess who some of us dressed up as?



















Calendar Art

Kahikatea has been busily working away on their calendar art creations. We can't wait for you to see them! The order forms and the link to your child's artwork will be sent home soon.

































Have a wonderful weekend,

Team Kahikatea

Kauri Whānau Update: Term 3, Week 5

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 In this post:

  • Choices & Keeping Ourselves Safe
  • Cybersafety
  • Cantamath
  • Ski Day
  • Duathlon
  • Speech Finalists
  • DigiFest

Choices & Keeping Ourselves Safe

Next week, we will begin teaching Choices and Keeping Ourselves Safe, two programmes from the New Zealand Police. These lessons will be taught by your child's homegroup teacher, with support from Constable Meg Moynihan, our local Police School Community Officer and will continue through to the end of Term 3.

What will children and young people learn?

1. What do I know and what do I need to know about drugs?

Students will identify what they know about drugs, what they don't know about drugs, and what they need to learn to keep themselves and their friends safe from drug misuse.

2. Drugs and the law

Students learn what a drug is, the different classes of drug and the harm caused by illegal drugs. Students explore the consequences of drug misuse and penalties.

3. The good, the bad and the ugly

Students explore the difference between drug use and misuse. They consider safe guidelines for drug use and consider the effects that bad choices about drugs may have on a positive life path.

4. Finding out about abuse

Students need to be aware of what constitutes abuse so that they can recognise if they are being abused and know how to create a safe classroom.

5. Reporting abuse

When abuse is reported, the abuser is stopped and the healing process can begin for the victim. Students learn why it is important to report abuse and to know who, and how, to tell.

What part do parents, caregivers and whānau play?

Parents and whānau are strongly encouraged to support Keeping Ourselves Safe. You can also talk with your child about what they have learnt in Keeping Ourselves Safe and help them with any KOS activities they bring home. Visit the whānau section of the NZ Police Keeping Ourselves Safe website for more information and frequently asked questions.

If you require more information about the Keeping Ourselves Safe programme or wish to discuss the learning, please speak with your child’s homegroup teacher in the first instance.

Cybersafety

During our PB4L sessions through the last couple of weeks we've spent time discussing online safety and how to respond when things go wrong. We have reiterated that with social media, the first and best thing to do is to block and report any objectionable content or accounts. Students and whānau can also make a report to Netsafe via this link who we have found have been very quick to respond to any issues.

Cantamath

The Kauri teachers have loved seeing all the completed Cantamath projects, and thank you to all the whānau who came by to see this year's exhibition. We spent a good while going through them all to make sure we were putting the best ones forward as finalists. If you're interested in viewing the finalists, they are on display at Wolfbrook Arena (formerly Christchurch Arena) on Wednesday 23rd August, from 9.00am to 8.30pm. Please note that no students are permitted at the Wolfbrook Arena on the Tuesday afternoon while judging takes place.

The Cantamath Team competition will take place on Wednesday afternoon at the Wolfbrook Arena. Good luck to our Year 7 and Year 8 teams!

Ski Day

Our trip to Mount Hutt is rapidly approaching, and this week as part of our preparations we shared this social story with students. Please make sure you go through it at home with the children, especially as some may have been away.

Duathlon

Helpers are still needed to make sure this event can go ahead. Please contact Jenny is you are able to support on afternoon of Wednesday, August 23rd.

Speech Presentations and Finalists

This week students have been presenting their persuasive speeches to teachers and peers. The Kauri Hub Final will take place on Thursday August 24th from 9.15am in the school hall, and parents are welcome to attend. After deliberating and discussing at length, the following finalists were selected:

Year 7: Bobby, Finn, Harriet, Ollie, Alex Mu.
Year 8: Christopher, Cian, Dan, Ella C, Ella T, Leo, Scarlett

We understand that some students might find the prospect of presenting their speech in this context particularly daunting, and encourage them to speak with their homegroup teacher if this is the case.

DigiFest

On Tuesday last week, three groups of four students headed to St Mark's School to participate in a learning experience which combined Aotearoa New Zealand Histories with Digital Technologies. Students were taught about the innovations of Ruapekapeka Pa, a gunfighter Pa from the musket wars. As part of this, they took a virtual tour of the site before taking on the challenge of planning and creating their own version using Minecraft Education Edition.


Koru Team News: Term 3 Week 5

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Kia ora, e te whānau,

It's been a very busy couple of weeks for us all in the Koru team: we've been completing our Calendar Art; we've had Book Character Dress Up Day; and we've continued to have fun with our Literacy and Maths learning, all the while embracing new friends into our team.

We are very excited to have welcomed Sarah Junghen as the teacher of our third New Entrant class at the start of Week 5. Most of you will have seen Sarah this past week, in the hub, but if not, please do introduce yourselves to her. Sarah has been teaching at Beckenham te Kura o Pūroto for some years now, and we feel incredibly lucky to have her with us in the Koru team!

We also welcome the new children who have transitioned or are transitioning into the Koru team, and are in Sarah's Home Group: Iyana, Lailah, Esther, Ariella, Molly and Mason. Ngā whetu koutou katoa - you are all stars!

Calendar Art:

The children have been working incredibly hard this term on their artworks, which will eventually be available for purchase as calendars, notebooks, cards, etc. We know that you're going to absolutely love these works of art, and we do urge you to support our PTA with this fundraiser. Please keep an eye out for more information about ordering calendars, etc. We will be adding information to our daily whiteboard notices as it becomes available.

Keeping Ourselves Safe:

This term as part of our Health Curriculum, teams are teaching the programme called Keeping Ourselves Safe, in Years 0 - 6. In the units, the Koru children will be: 

- describing where they live; identifying things that make them special and explaining when they feel safe and unsafe

- learning to use the correct names for body parts and describing whether a touch is one they like, one they don’t like, or one that is confusing

- learning to say ‘no’ to touch, behaviour and words that worry or confuse them and talking about moving away and seeking help

- identifying the difference between good surprises and bad secrets

- identifying people they trust and understanding family safety rules. 

We will be starting the teaching in Week 8 (the week beginning Monday, September 4th) and over the course of the lessons we teach, there will be some information and activities which will be coming home in your child's school bag. This is for you and your child to complete at home, and does not need to be returned to school. Please keep an eye out for more information about KOS in the weeks ahead, and if you have any questions, please just ask.

Exciting outing ahead for the Koru team:

We are very excited to be letting you know that on Monday, September 18th, the Koru team children will be visiting the Christchurch Art Gallery. 

The purpose of this outing is to give the children the opportunity to engage in discovering and exploring the work of artists whose work is held by the Christchurch Public Art Gallery. Teachers will explore the Gallery with their students, discuss a range of artists’ work and explore ideas of navigation, belonging, identity and how we are connected across time and place. During the guided tour, students will use signs and symbols to create a pictorial map of their own identity and journey through the Gallery which they will then complete, using watercolours and pastels, in the Education Centre.

Please note that there will be no cost for this outing, as your school donation covers all costs involved.

We will be needing parent help, so please do email your child's Home Group teacher or teachers, if you're able to come along with us on the day. 

Elizabeth and Stacey's Home Group will be leaving school at 9:30 a.m. and arriving back at school at 12:00 noon.

Georgia and Sarah's Home groups will be leaving school at 12:00 noon and arriving back at school at 2:30 p.m.

Beckenham's Got Talent:

We are desperately seeking all budding talents out there: singers, gymnasts, dancers, ventriloquists, magicians...!

Teachers have been talking with the tamariki about this fun whole school event, being held on the last day of term in the school hall. Prior to this date (on Friday, September 8th, for us in the Koru team), each team will hold their own team event and then one 'performance' from the Koru team will be selected, to be part of the whole school show on Friday, September 22nd.

Ideas for performances might include:

  • a dance
  • a song
  • a gymnastics performance (with accompanying music)
  • a hula hooping display to music
  • a set of magical tricks
If you would like your child to participate, do let us know. 
Please note that practices will need to take place at home and if there is to be accompanying music, it would be great if you could pass a copy on to us, or let us know exactly what it is and where we can find it.
Also, please don't feel constrained by the list above. Your child may have a talent well outside of this list, and if they feel enthusiastic and confident enough, we'd love to have them participate.

Literacy and Library Folders:

We have noticed, and many of you will have as well, that the children's folders, purchased when they first started school, are not 'hanging together' very well at all. We have noticed that the light blue folders, in particular, have been breaking down and deteriorating really quickly. We contacted Qizzle and sent photos to illustrate our concerns, and they immediately responded by saying that they were going to change their supplier, and asked how many folders did we need to replace those affected. Some folders (yellow ones, purple, red, orange, etc.) have not deteriorated as quickly but generally look as if they will, soon enough, so Qizzle told us that they just wanted to replace them all! We shall be sending home the replacement folders in the children's schoolbags next week. We thank Qizzle for responding so quickly and positively on our behalf.

Fun with Maths (we love numbers!):









...and one or two other items of interest for you:
  • click on these links and join in as your children sing one of their favourite songs, Sprinkle a Little Sunshine (here with the lyrics, and here, without, but with very cute images instead!)
  • for those new families to the Koru team, a link through to the National Anthem which we sing each morning - your children are doing an awesome job with this, participating and trying their very best each morning
  • clicking here will take you to a variety of links for those of you who would like to read more about The Science of Reading and Structured Literacy.
In the meantime, you do hope that you've had a lovely day today, and that it's an equally lovely weekend ahead for you all!

Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou,
Elizabeth, Stacey, Georgia and Sarah