Monthly Archives: October 2023

Kura News Website

Posted on by

 Ngā mihi e te whānau,

In the Pōhutukawa team this year we are thrilled to have some budding journalists, Billy, Chester, Jensen, and Tom.

These keen reporters have created a news site, that they keep regularly updated with news articles about latest comings and goings at kura. We're really pleased to be able to share their mahi with you here.  https://sites.google.com/beckenham.nz/kuranews/home  

Well done, team, you are really living our Kete values with your contributions to school life. Tau ke, awesome!


Pōhutukawa Update, Term 4, Week 3

Posted on by

 Ngā mihi o te ahiahi e te whānau, warm greetings to you all,

It's been a wonderful start to the term as we settle back into our routines. Term 4 is a very busy term, and we have some exciting events coming up that require your attention, and parent help. Please read the information below. Thank you as always for your support, and for speaking with your tamariki about these events to prepare for, and look ahead to what will be a busy, active, and fun-filled end to the year!

Athletics Day Tomorrow

We have enjoyed the warm weather of the first 2 weeks and have been busy preparing for our school Athletics Day tomorrow. The students have been learning and practising 4 events: high jump, sprints, shotput, and discus. All the students have had 2 sessions of each discipline to ready them for the big day tomorrow.

It looks like it will be a very hot day, so thank you for remembering to prepare your child to be out in the sun for most of the day. We look forward to seeing many of you here to cheer them on. The schedule for tomorrow is as follows:

TIMEYEAR 5YEAR 6
9:20Mid-Distance Race (optional)Mid-Distance Race (optional)
10:00High JumpShotput
11:00SprintsHigh Jump
11:50DiscusSprints
1:20ShotputDiscus
2:00Sprint Finals and House RelaySprint Finals and House Relay

Cycle Safe (Year 6 Only)

During weeks 6 and 7 of this term our Year 6 students will be involved in the Cycle Safe Programme provided by the Christchurch City Council. Cycle Safe is a cycle skills education programme for schools. Students learn the benefits of cycling and how to ride with confidence and be road-wise. All Year 6 students will participate in this course and the instructors cater to all cycling abilities.

You can find out more information about the programme here https://ccc.govt.nz/transport/getting-around/getting-to-school/resources-for-schools/cyclesafe/

If your child is in Year 6, they will be coming home with a permission slip today to be returned to school by Monday 30th October.

If you have any questions about the programme, please get in touch with your homegroup teacher.

Kōtuitui Football Programme

Starting next week and running on Monday and Tuesday afternoons for the next 3 weeks we are excited to be offering the students a football programme coordinated by New Zealand Football. Kōtuitui is an integrated unit of work that supports ākonga (students) to use the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™ as a context for connecting to others in our bicultural and multicultural society. The programme will provide ākonga with the skills and knowledge to connect to cultures other than their own, both in Aotearoa New Zealand and across the globe. There is no preparation needed for this, and the students will just have to wear their normal school uniform and running shoes. If students would like to bring along their football boots and shin pads, they are welcome to do so, however, the programme will be delivered as an introduction to the 'beautiful game' with no experience or special gear required.

MASH Tough Kid - Delivered by Primary Sports Canterbury

On Wednesday 6th December from 12 pm - 3 pm, the Pōhutukawa team will be traveling to South Brighton Domain to take part in a fun-filled obstacle course along with other schools from all around the Canterbury region. MASH Tough Kid is an urban-style obstacle course for primary & intermediate-aged students. Obstacles include tire runs, hurdle jumps, water slides, hay bale climbs, and more. This will be a fantastic way to celebrate the end of a wonderful year with the tamariki. Our focus for the trip will be on participation and will be doing everything we can to support all the tamariki to partake in the course up to wherever their point of challenge lies. Here is a short introductory video that we watched with the tamariki today to whet their appetite.

In order for this trip to go ahead, we will need the support of whānau. If you are able to come along and help us on the day, (or would even fancy taking part with your tamariki in the race itself!) please email your home group teacher. Thank you in advance for the tautoko, support to ensure this is an awesome end-of-year celebration for all. We look forward to hearing from you!

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto – School Newsletter Friday 20 October 2023

Posted on by

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

We have been watching with horror, the events that have been unfolding in Israel and Gaza over the past two weeks and recognise that this conflict is likely to continue to take a significant toll on lives in that region for some time to come. Our thoughts go out to all of you who have whānau, friends and colleagues in this area. 

Considerations for home-group placement for 2024

As we start to put together home groups for 2024, we know that you may hold particular information or insight that you want to share that will support the placement of your child for next year.
While our teachers hold a lot of knowledge and understanding around the needs of our children, we are keen to also know if there is anything particular you think we should be aware of as we make these decisions.
As you will appreciate, putting home groups together is a hugely complex puzzle where the needs of all children need to be carefully considered. This means that we are not asking for 'requests' for teachers or for friendship groups as we would never be able to meet all of those. What we are seeking, is to be made aware of anything important you think we need to consider that we might not be aware of. We will add your thoughts to ours, and do the best we can to make sure that everyone's needs have been considered in our process.
If you have anything you want us to know, please email me (not the teachers) so that I have all the information in one place. I will need this information by the end of Week 4 - Friday 3rd November.
email: principal@beckenham.school.nz

Challenging Online Behaviour out of school...

Outside of school hours, a number of children in our community are continuing to experience online bullying behaviour on social media platforms including TikTok and Fortnite, and this is causing extreme distress to both the children and their families.
Families have many steps that they can take if their child is being bullied or threatened online.
Depending on the nature of the incident, will depend on where you might go for support:

Self-Reporting Content
Report harmful accounts to the platform directly. By reporting in-app, platforms are able to see previous engagement with the accounts and other contextual information. Reporting through these channels is often the fastest way to get content reviewed and acted on.
For Tiktok: You can report a video or account to TikTok for abuse by following the instructions here. 

Report to the Police any incidents of immediate concern, especially around threats of physical harm.

Netsafe deals with online harm advice, and have several helpful resources:
We encourage you to continue to engage with your child around their online behaviour, and to ensure that you are able to monitor and support their interactions in this challenging space.

Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings
Principal - Tumuaki

Important Dates

Mon 23 Oct - School Closed, Labour Day
Wed 25 Oct - PTA Meeting, 7.30pm
Thu 26 Oct - School Athletics Day
Fri 3 Nov - Celebration Assembly, 10am, in the Hall
Fri 3 Nov - CHCH Schools Music Festival Beckenham Performance Night
Wed 8 Nov - BOT Meeting, 5.30pm, Staffroom
Fri 10 Nov - Zones Athletics, Hansen Park
Thu 16 Nov - School Closed, Staff Only Day
Fri 17 Nov - School Closed, Canterbury Anniversary Day
Mon 20 Nov - Mon 27 Nov - Year 6 Beckenham Cycle Safe
Wed 22 Nov - PTA Meeting, 7.30pm
Fri 24 Nov - Celebration Assembly, 10am, in the Hall
Fri 24 Nov - PTA School Picnic, 5.00-7.30pm, Beckenham Park
Fri 1 Dec - Celebration Assembly, 10am, in the Hall
Thu 7 Dec - BOT Meeting, 5.30pm, Staffroom
Fri 8 Dec - Celebration Assembly, 10am, in the Hall
Mon 11 Dec - 7-8pm Kauri Production, in the Hall
Tue 12 Dec - 7-8pm Kauri Production, in the Hall
Fri 15 Dec - Final Celebration Assembly, 9:45am, in the Hall
Mon 18 Dec - Year 8 Graduation, 11am-12pm
Tue 19 Dec - Last Day of Term 4, School finishes at 12.30pm

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

Citizen of the Week

Alicia Colquhoun - Year 6

Alicia, we have seen such positive growth in you as a learner this year! You put a lot of thought and effort into all of your work and you are showing more confidence in sharing your ideas with others. You are a kind, caring person and inclusive of all. We look forward to seeing you blossom in all that you do. Ka pai tō mahi, Alicia!

School Notices

Important Health & Safety Reminder

Please ensure all school gates are shut behind you until 3pm. Please do not use items to hold the gates open, and if you notice a gate has been propped open by something, please help us by closing this.

The gates surrounding our school have been added to ensure the safety of our tamariki. 

Well done to...

Jenna Sitompul
O'Sullivan Cup for Excellence in Art

Jenna, you have a great talent for drawing. Your style is full of fun and vibrancy with strong lines and great use of colour. You have been involved in many art projects over the past two years, including the design of our House murals and supporting the painting of Elmer. At the start of this year, you co-created our art club which a lot of students enjoyed participating in. You also designed a fabulous Cantamath motif in your trademark style. Thank you for all of your artistic contributions and for inspiring others. Congratulations Jenna.

Jemma Sunderland / Timon Spill
Janne Rowson ICT Award

Jemma, your leadership is on show when it comes to using technology to support the school. You willingly give your time and effort into making sure that events run smoothly through the use of ICT. You find solutions and troubleshoot any problems - especially when they unexpectedly come up in the middle of something! When we had our tree planting ceremony for the coronation of King Charles III, you worked hard to ensure that the outdoor speakers were set and that the music would work perfectly. You approach every task with the desire to get things right from the outset. Thank you for your ICT contributions. Congratulations, Jemma. 

Timon, you naturally excel when it comes to technology. You can always be counted on to reliably and efficiently set up ICT equipment for all manner of events, whether whole school or for a small group. In particular, your consistent dedication and invaluable contributions have made you an integral part of the ICT crew for production. Timon, you approach every task with a calm and focused attitude and you willingly problem solve. Your trustworthiness, proactivity and expertise make you a natural go to person whenever there is a need for support with ICT. Thank you for your ICT contributions. Congratulations, Timon.

Elijah Hakeagaiki, for his results, and contribution to his team at his recent rugby league tournament.
Elijah had a great break at his league tournament. They had an awesome time, played 5 games, and won all of them. He was very proud to do his haka before every game and also to support the other teams that were there. 



Scholastic Lucky Book Club - Issue 7 Out Now!


Issue 7 is out now, please follow the link below to look at the catalogue online, and to order. Orders close Friday 1 December.

Staff Profiles

Welcome to another of our new Teaching Assistants, Karen Glithero, who started with us this term.
Karen will be working primarily supporting students in the Kahikatea Team. 

PTA News

This coming week we have our monthly meeting, on the 25th of October at 7.30pm in the staff room - it’s always great to see new faces!

Almost one month until our Community Picnic, we’re looking forward to seeing everyone on Friday the 24th November.

AND! Look out for our 2023 Christmas Goodies fundraiser, we’ll have Christmas cakes and honey this year, which should make fabulous presents. More info coming soon! 

BOT Update

Board Parent Mid-Term Election 2023 - 3 Vacancies

Instruction on how you vote electronically has been distributed by email to eligible whānau. For those without valid email addresses - you have been mailed voting papers for a paper vote. If you have any problems with this process, please contact our Liaison Officer for the Board Election; at reihana.dougherty@beckenham.school.nz

Voting closes at 4:00 PM Wednesday, November 15th.

Thank you to all of our candidates who have expressed interest in supporting the governance and success of our kura. Please take a look at the candidate statements below:

Community Notices

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

Sunday 5 November - Commemorative Events for Parihaka



Warm greetings from our Parihaka Network Trust. The New Zealand History Curriculum offers wonderful opportunities for sharing the Parihaka story. Our Trust is here to help. Our mission is to 'promote Parihaka philosophy, ideals and beliefs of peace and reconciliation through non-violence.' 

This coming Sunday 5 November, we are providing three opportunities for people to connect with the story of Parihaka. You may wish to share this with your teaching staff or school community and share the Facebook link below.

5 November 2023
  • 10.30am - Parihaka Commemorative church service @ St Mary the Virgin, Church Square, Addington, followed by silent walk to old Addington Prison for karakia and laying of flowers.

  • 2.30pm - Silent Hikoi starting at Lyttleton Rose Garden: a pilgrimage walk from the old gaol around the coastal track to Rāpaki and the Parihaka Memorial*

  • 5pm - Memorial service at Rāpaki Church and karakia at the Parihaka Memorial, followed by light refreshments 
*wet weather alternatives will be posted on Facebook www.facebook.com/ParihakaOtautahi/ and Instagram www.instagram.com/parihakaotautahi/ 

Swimming Canterbury West Coast

After a successful events in March and June, Swimming Canterbury West Coast is excited to announce our third dedicated "Have-a-Go Carnival" event for 2023.

The event is open to any swimmer (of any age) who is not currently registered as a club or competitive swimmer with Swimming New Zealand and is capable of swimming 25m without assistance.

Participation is free, and registration is on the day. Swimmers are welcome to swim in 25m, 50m, kick, and relay races!

For more information, head to our website:
Facebook Event: t.ly/tdhZA

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto School Newsletter Term 4 Week 1

Posted on by

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

First day of Voting in the Library
... happened this week, to support our students with the concept of using a voting system to have a voice. They were voting on which genre of books they would like more of: Fiction (novels), Non-Fiction, Picture Books or Graphic Novels.

Our tamariki used their vote to provide us with crucial feedback for our purchasing! This is "Youth Voices Matter" in action!

Early indications show Graphic Novels are in the lead. Voting will continue for another week. The students have been very enthusiastic with several discussing the NZ Elections whilst queuing to vote.

Important Dates

Sat 14 Oct - Election Day, Voting Open in the School Hall 
Fri 20 Oct- Celebration Assembly, 10am, in the Hall
Mon 23 Oct - School Closed, Labour Day
Wed 25 Oct - PTA Meeting, 7.30pm
Thu 26 Oct - School Athletics Day TBC
Fri 3 Nov - Celebration Assembly, 10am, in the Hall
Fri 3 Nov - CHCH Schools Music Festival Beckenham Performance Night
Wed 8 Nov - BOT Meeting, 5.30pm, Staffroom
Fri 10 Nov - Zones Athletics, Hansen Park
Thu 16 Nov - School Closed, Staff Only Day
Fri 17 Nov - School Closed, Canterbury Anniversary Day
Mon 20 Nov - Mon 27 Nov - Year 6 Beckenham Cycle Safe
Wed 22 Nov - PTA Meeting, 7.30pm
Fri 24 Nov - Celebration Assembly, 10am, in the Hall
Fri 24 Nov - PTA School Picnic, 5.00-7.30pm, Beckenham Park
Fri 1 Dec - Celebration Assembly, 10am, in the Hall
Thu 7 Dec - BOT Meeting, 5.30pm, Staffroom
Fri 8 Dec - Celebration Assembly, 10am, in the Hall
Fri 15 Dec - Celebration Assembly, 10am, in the Hall
Mon 18 Dec - Year 8 Graduation, 11am-12pm
Tue 19 Dec - Last Day of Term 4, School finishes at 12.30pm

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

Citizen of the Week

Emily Christensen - Year 4

Emily, you are a wonderful role model in our hub. You are always positive, caring and helpful. You put your best effort into learning and have outstanding self-management skills. Thank you for always demonstrating our school values in everything that you do. Well done, Emily!

School Notices

The sun is out, and our tamariki have been enjoying our newly installed surfaces in the Junior Playground! Don't forget hats are required in Term 4. Please ensure your child's hat is clearly named. 

Earthquake Drill

Next week on Wednesday 18th of October at 12.30pm is our scheduled termly evacuation drill. This term will be an earthquake drill. Drills are held once a term and most of our children are familiar and confident with the process. 

Teachers have been supporting learning and discussions on natural disasters in preparation for this, and there are discussion starters in the daily notices which are read each morning with all tamariki. 

If you are collecting your child early on Wednesday for any appointments etc. Please ensure they are signed in and out at the Office, as usual, to assist in the accuracy of our drill.

Staff Profiles

Please join us in welcoming one of our new Teaching Assistants who started with us this term.

Laura Stewart-Cameron joins our Learning Support Team as a Teaching Assistant and will be working primarily in Kahikatea. 

Laura Stewart-Cameron

"Kia ora. I’m Laura. I enjoy sewing and creating and love spending time with my two children and two dogs. I have a background in early childhood teaching and ballet teaching. I am looking forward to supporting the students at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto."

While we welcome Laura to her new role, we also farewell Amanda Kay who has given her time to our kura, and Ferndale. Amanda is making the move back to the North Island with her whānau, and we wish her all the best with her move and future endeavours!

PTA News

Thanks for all of your calendar orders - orders closed at midnight on Friday 13th October so we can get all the orders out in time for Christmas. 

Planning for our Community Picnic is coming together, we’re looking forward to seeing everyone on Friday 24th November.

Look out for our 2023 Christmas Goodies fundraiser, we’ll have Christmas cakes and honey this year, which should make fabulous presents. More info coming soon! 

And finally, we have our monthly meeting next week, 25th October at 7.30pm in the staff room - it’s always great to see new faces!

BOT Update

Board Parent Mid-Term Election 2023 - 3 Vacancies

At the close of nominations at 12 noon Wednesday, October 11th, the following nominations were received for the parent vacancies on the School Board. 
* Reena Brinner
* Craig Hurford
* Alex James
* Daniel Toledo
* John Richard Ussher
* Darren Webster 
We will now be proceeding to an election. Full candidate statements will be shared with you next week.

Instruction on how you vote electronically will be distributed by email this Wednesday the 18th of October. For those without valid email addresses - you will be mailed voting papers for a paper vote.

Voting closes at 4:00 PM Wednesday, November 15th.
The new Board will take office on Wednesday 22nd November 2023.

Thank you to all of our candidates who have expressed interest in supporting the governance and success of our kura. 

Community Notices

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


Team Social began with two parents who saw a need for social opportunities for young adults with special needs in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Their first event is a disco, so if you love to dance, come along. Ticket price includes food and soft drinks.

The Team Social crew will be there to supervise, but you are welcome to bring your own support person if required. We look forward to seeing you there! Jo, Gavin and Aron Harris. 0274264660 The link for tickets is below. 

Cashmere Kea's

Cashmere Kea’s for 5 to 8 year olds: spaces available for next term onwards. Fun and friendship are the cornerstones of the Kea programme. It is filled with a little bit of everything: outdoor activities, games and crafts. 

Meeting Place: Scout Den, Hackthorne Road, Cashmere, Christchurch Meeting time: Monday 5.45pm – 6.45pm Info about prices / contact details for Cashmere Kea’s https://scouts.nz/groups/cashmere-scout-group/ More info about Kea’s in general: https://scouts.nz/keas/


When:  Thursday 19th October 2023, 7:30pm - 9:00pm

Where:  La Vida Centre / CHRISTCHURCH

Presentation:  Understanding Your Brain: Building Resilience & Maximising Learning

'The concept of building resilience in our children is more and more at the forefront of parents' minds. Academic success is in fact a result of resilience and can mean very little without it. In this summary of the evidence and research around what resilience looks like, how it’s fostered and which environments do it the best, Nathan will break down for parents (in his usual ’straight from the hip’ humourous style) exactly what we can do to facilitate our children developing resilience, increase their academic ability and enjoy an overall better quality of life. We will look at how our brains work as a basis for understanding how to achieve this.'

(note: this presentation caters for parents/carers and educators who care for children of all ages.  It is also relevant for us grown-ups!)

More info/tickets available on Eventfinda NZ or by clicking on the link below:


Early bird tickets are still available - until sold out.  Get in quick!


Kauri Whānau Update: Term 4 Week 1

Posted on by

In this post:

  • Coming up in Term 4
  • Navigating the Journey
  • Year 8 Memories
  • Pepehā
  • 24/7 changeover
  • Touch Rugby

Coming up in Term 4

This week we shared a slideshow with the students that went through some of the things that they can look forward to working through this term. Please find this in PDF format here.

Navigating the Journey

This term, we will be going through our Sexuality Education curriculum, using the Family Planning resource. There will be a parent information evening on Tuesday of Week 3 (Tuesday October 24th) for anyone who would like to know more about what this will involve. If you have any questions about this learning and can't make the meeting please get in touch with your child's homegroup teacher in the first instance.


Year 8 Memories

This week, Nicky discussed the yearbook with our Year 8 students. All children have begun writing their personal memory which needs to completed by next Friday. As this needs to be done in their own time, please check in with your child as to how they're going and what they're writing. 

A big thank-you to all who have sent in 5-year-old photos. Please send them through to Nicky in the next week if you haven't already. 

Pepehā

This term, students will be working on their Pepehā. Please chat with your child about any special affiliations of family connections. In particular, children will be needing to know their marae, waka, iwi, if they have those.

24/7 Changeover

We have been incredibly fortunate to have Dave as our 24/7 worker in the Kauri Hub for quite some time, and he has had such a positive impact on so many of our tamariki. Next year we will have Andrew as our new 24/7 Youthworker, as Dave is finishing up his time with us. While we are sad to see Dave leave, we are excited to get to know Andrew, who will pop in a few times over this term to connect with the students and teachers.

Touch Rugby

The Centennial Touch Tournament at Pioneer kicked off this week, with a number of kids involved in teams. Jenny was there to see the action, and reported that there was a high degree of enthusiasm!