Monthly Archives: November 2023

Kōwhai News Term 4 Week 7

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Kia ora e te whānau

Welcome to the Kōwhai team's week 7 blog.

Science

Recently, our students had a visit from Kerry, a representative from the Department of Conservation. Kerry taught the children lots of valuable information about kea. During the visit, the children participated in a tracking exercise where they used a device to locate a toy kea in the park. This hands-on experience allowed them to connect with nature and learn more about conservation work.




Measurement

In our mathematics lessons, we've been delving into the world of measurement. Students have been mastering the use of a ruler and exploring concepts of perimeter and area. These practical lessons not only enhance their mathematical skills but also provide a real-world context for understanding the importance of accurate measurements in various situations.


Instruction Writing

Another exciting aspect of our curriculum has been instruction writing. Students have been engaged in crafting clear and concise instructions in a variety of ways such as, writing programming instructions for Bee-Bots and creating delicious recipes!



Transition Visits

As part of our ongoing efforts to support students in their educational journey, Year 4 students have been making transition visits to the Pōhutukawa Team during their Learning Through Play sessions. These visits are designed to familiarise them with the environment and routines they will encounter next year. It's a positive way to ease the transition and ensure a smooth start to the upcoming academic year.





Have a great weekend!

The Kōwhai Team

Koru Team News: Term 4, Week 6

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 Kia ora, e te whānau,

Believe it or not, we are well over halfway through the term! We have had our school Athletics day, our second house games session and our tamariki continue to work very hard in their Literacy and Maths groups, as well as in the other learning areas such as Aotearoa NZ Histories, Science and Digitech, and with a further focus over the next few weeks in the areas of Visual Art and Wellbeing. 

Another plea to ensure that your child has a sunhat every day, please. If you can also apply some sunscreen before school, that would be much appreciated.

As the weather warms up, we have been engaging in some amazing water play during Learning Through Play. Our tamariki are really enjoying this and it would be great for them to have a spare change of clothes in their bags.

Some important dates for this term are as follows:

  • House games afternoon - Monday, 20th November and Monday, 4th December (wear your house T-Shirt, if you wish)
  • Celebrate Diversity and Culture Dress Up day - Friday, 1st December
  • Tamariki meet their 2024 teacher and final day of school for the year - Tuesday, 19th December

Koru Athletics Morning:

What an amazing event, and even the wind wasn't able to stop us from giving it our full effort. The tamariki displayed our values of 'We Get There Together' by supporting and encouraging their peers, and 'We Love Challenge' by giving 100% to all activities. The gumboot toss, sprints and high jump were all a huge success. Well done to everyone!







House Games:

Every fortnight our wonderful Senior House Captains have been organising house games for the whole school. Students are put into teams within their house groups and participate in a variety of outdoor physical activities. So far we have been involved in playing Octopus, Duck Duck Goose, parachute games, egg and spoon races, potato sack races and All In Tag, just to name a few. The tamariki are loving it and they are encouraged to wear their house T-Shirts on these days. The next house games afternoon is tomorrow, Monday 20th November, with the final house games afternoon for the year being on Monday, December 4th.





Reminders:

Sun hats need to be brought to school every day. These will stay in your child's bag whenever the children are indoors. Unfortunately, no hat means no play.

If you use the sandpit at the end of the day after school, can you please make sure to put the cover back on before you leave. We really appreciate seeing that you are already helping us with this. Thank you!

Literacy folders need to be brought back to school and unpacked from schoolbags every day, so that they can be used during our Literacy sessions.

Library folders and poetry books need to be brought back on or before Fridays, so your child can get a new poem for their poetry books and some new books from the library. 

We hope you all have a fabulous week ahead, and we look forward to seeing you at drop off and pick up times!

Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou,

Georgia, Sarah, Elizabeth and Stacey


Kauri Whānau Update: Term 4, Week 6

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In this post:

  • Production Costumes
  • Year 8 Pool Party
  • Parent help: Cass Bay & Vic Park
  • Graduation RSVP
  • Cashmere High School Whānau Hui
  • Relationships and Sexuality Education

Production Costumes

Our aim is to keep costumes for the production simple and effective. We have chosen a colour scheme that reflects the original illustrations of Oh The Places You'll Go. It is our hope that whānau can source costumes from clothes that children already have, can borrow, or can cheaply buy. We also have a large collection of clothes from previous productions, and so may be able to help out if needed. If you get stuck or have any questions, please let us know.

Students taking part in the dramatic speaking group will wear block colour shorts, and will be making Dr Seuss "Thing" characters at school to pin onto their tops. They can wear black shorts/pants and will have crazy "Thing" hair, so either a wig or crazy hairstyle will do.

Students who are part of the singing group will be wearing a plain pastel-coloured top with black pants.

Students who are part of the Geometric Dance group will be wearing a black short-sleeved top or singlet and black leggings, shorts, or trousers.

The Giant and Lovely dance group will be wearing pastel shades and colours as much as possible, though white would also be fine. This should be a plain t-shirt or singlet and leggings, shorts or trousers.

The students who are supporting with sound and lighting will be wearing black or similarly dark colours.

Pool Party

It has become one of our traditions to have a low key pool party for our Year 8s one afternoon in the last week of school. We organise pizza and drinks along with games. We are hoping for it to take place in Week 10, on Wednesday December 13th, from 4pm to 6pm. It is optional for children to attend. Those that are there need to be picked up at 6pm, or teachers notified that they are walking home.

Each year this has taken place, it has been generously hosted by school whānau. Is there anyone with a suitable property who would be willing to host this year?y

Parent Help Needed

We have two outdoor education events planned for this term and will require parent help for them to go ahead. Please fill in this form to indicate where you can help.

Wednesday December 13th: Vic Park Walk

This event involves leaving school by 10am to walk to Victoria Park where we students will take part in some game and activities before returning to school by 3pm. Parts of the walk are quite steep, so good walking shoes (and some fitness) will be required.

Thursday December 14th: Cass Bay Trip

We will leave school by 11am and once at Cass Bay, students can swim, explore, chill, and play in the environment. There will be a guided walk to neighbouring Corsair Bay for those interested.

Previously this has been at Corsair bay, with a walk to Cass bay. We have switched this around due to water quality advice.

Graduation Invitation

On Monday December 18th, in just over a month, our Year 8 students will be completing their primary and intermediate education. We would like to warmly invite whānau to their graduation assembly. Please click this link for the invitation and to RSVP.

Cashmere High School Whānau Hui

Cashmere High School has formally invited our Ākonga Māori and their whānau to attend the CHS Year 8 hui to welcome them to their kura. It's a great opportunity to meet some of the CHS ākonga and kaiako before they are welcomed with a pōwhiri next year. 

Date/Time: On Thursday 30th November at 5:30pm
Where: Wharenui, Cashmere High School


Relationships and Sexuality Education

We will be keeping you informed as we work our way through the Relationships and Sexuality Education curriculum on the content of our lessons.

Our first session focused on creating shared expectations for these lessons. The children identified what would make them feel safe during these conversations, which included sentiments such as respecting everyone’s contributions and questions, laughing along with someone, not at them, and being mindful of your own boundaries and the boundaries of others. 

Rights and Responsibilities

We reflected on how our rights and responsibilities changed as we matured. The children thought about what rights and responsibilities they would have in the future and how some of these would occur automatically while others would occur according to individual readiness. 

Stereotypes

In these sessions we identified the different stereotypes that we see in society today and how these have changed over time. We also looked at how stereotypes may be reinforced in the media and how these are being broken down. We talked about the influences that stereotypes have on people's lives and how can can stand up to these and be our own person. 

If you have any questions about anything that's been covered so far in Relationships and Sexuality Education, please get in touch with your child's homegroup teacher in the first instance.




Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Schoolwide Newsletter, Wednesday 15 November, 2023

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Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

School is closed tomorrow for a Staff Only Day and on Friday for Canterbury Anniversary Day. 

Tomorrow our teachers will be spending the day familiarising ourselves with the draft English and Mathematics Curriculum refresh documents that have been recently published by the Ministry of Education. During the afternoon, teachers will be working in the 2024 teaching teams for the first time, looking at initial planning for next year.

Our teaching assistants will be spending the day at Te Waka Unua School participating in Ministry funded professional development in Digital Fluency. This will significantly support them in the work that they do to support teachers and learners across our school.

I hope that you all have a safe weekend and are able to take some time to relax over the long weekend.

Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings
Principal - Tumuaki

Important Dates

(you can also find the Community Calendar on our website here)

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, 9:10-9:50am, in the Hall
Fri 24 Nov - PTA School Community Picnic, 5.00-7.30pm, Beckenham Park
Fri 1 Dec - Student Council - Celebrating Diversity and Culture Day (non-uniform)
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 8 Dec - 12:15-3pm, Kahikatea Team trip to Isaac Theatre Royal, Southern Ballet
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
Mon 18 Dec - Year 8 Leavers' Lunch 12:30-1:30pm
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

Hamish Zinzan - Year 8

Hamish, you do a fantastic job of displaying our kete values on a daily basis, with your friendliness and sense of humour shining through the Kauri hub. You willingly take on and persevere through challenges in and outside of the classroom, clearly demonstrating your love of learning. Hamish, it's been a pleasure to see all your hard work result in such great growth in your learning this year. Tau kē koe!

School Notices

Year 8 Whānau Hui for Ākonga Māori

Cashmere High School has formally invited our Ākonga Māori and their whānau to attend the CHS Year 8 hui to welcome them to their kura. It's a great opportunity to meet some of the CHS ākonga and kaiako before they are welcomed with a pōwhiri next year. 

Date/Time: On Thursday 30th November at 5:30pm
Where: Wharenui, Cashmere High School

Year 5-8 BYOD Programme

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto has an optional Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programme for students in Years 5-8. This programme is very popular and has been in operation since 2014. 

If you want to find out more about our BYOD programme, please watch the video on our BYOD website. If you have any questions, please view our Frequently Asked Questions page, email your child’s homegroup teacher or email Nick, our ICT lead teacher.

If you choose to get a device for your child, we generally recommend that it is a Chromebook. You can see our standard BYOD offering from PB Tech here. All models on the linked page are suitable for learning. It is also fine to get a device from another supplier if you prefer. If you choose to use PB Tech, please use “beckenham” as the promo code to get a discount.

End of Year Reports - now live on HERO

End-of-year reports are now available through the Hero portal. The end-of-year report reflects aspects of your child's learning for the second part of the year. 
 
Please take the time to sit with your child and share their report with them, celebrating their learning and reflecting on their next steps.
 
To find your child's report open Hero, click on their name and then click '2023 report'. 
If you need any help accessing the report through Hero please contact your child's Home Group teacher or come into the office for assistance.

Drink Bottles



We have very generously been donated a number of metal drink bottles.  If your child needs a drink bottle please send them to the office with a note and we will provide them with one to keep.
Please ensure you name these drink bottles as there may be quite a few that look the same!

Health Update

A reminder that we still have a steady number of cases of; conjunctivitis, vomiting, tummy bugs, and flu/COVID across the school.

If your child is sick, please keep them home, and practice good hygiene.
Staying at home if you are feeling unwell helps to reduce the spread.
If your child has been vomiting, they need to stay home for 48 hours since their last episode/event.

Congratulations to...

Christopher McCracken-Shannon
Years 7&8 Speech Cup Winner (Beasley Cup)

Christopher wrote a wonderful speech on modern learning environments. He presented it with wonderful gestures and great confidence in front of the Kauri hub last term. Congratulations, Christopher.

Rose Bethwaite
Radcliffe Award for Special Contribution to Drama

Rose, your delightful sense of humour brings positivity and charm to captivate and entertain your audience, all while staying within the guidelines of Theatre Sports. This truly highlights your dedication and talent in this field. Your relaxed demeanour and sharp wit make you a true master of improvisational activities. Congratulations Rose.

Lilian Shelku
Literacy Cup

Lilian, you produce exceptional work in literacy. You have a natural talent and can write beautifully across numerous genres. You have a flare for weaving in fitting language features and using your extensive vocabulary to your advantage! You have sophisticated and thought-provoking ideas that you develop throughout your writing. You put a lot of thought into your speech this year and wrote a fantastic piece that you presented well in front of the class. It has been a joy to see your confidence improve and develop over time. Congratulations on this well-deserved award, Lilian!

Staff Profiles

Just as we recognise the strengths of our tamariki, it is also exciting to share in the success of our kaimahi, who all bring their individual strengths and interests which enrich our kura greatly. Thomas Woodfield has done this with his contribution to our Music & the Arts this year, and it is very exciting to share with our whānau some of his extra-curricular endeavours! Thomas is the Musical Director of this choir, and the concert below will be a great event!

PTA News

Let the PTA help you out with your holiday shopping! We've curated a collection of yummy treats that everyone on your list will love and helps raise funds for our school! 

Order forms have been sent home in children's bags or you can order online using this link: Christmas Goodies Fundraiser.  Spare paper forms in school office. 

We have the following delicious range:

Honey from Beebro: 100% NZ Honey - $15.00 each 
Authentic, small-batch honey direct from the farm. Beebro will donate $1 for every jar of honey sold to Mike King's Nutters Club, a nationwide radio show and mental health support group. Three varieties to choose from. 

Naked Baker Fudge Gift Boxes - $6.50 each 
Delicious, creamy fudge available in four flavours and packed in lovely gift boxes. 

Naked Baker Christmas Tarts - $6.00 pack 
A six pack of crispy pastry available in two tasty varieties Traditional or Berry. 

Orders close at 6pm 22 November 2022. 

We will be collecting forms from the flagpole before school Mon-Wed 20-22 November. 

Collection of your yummy treats will be on 8 December at the school hall. 

The PTA thank you for all your support this year

We are also selling delicious panforte again, now in four yummy flavours.  Order panforte here and collect at school on 8th December.

Community Notices

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

BNZ Breakers

The school holidays are nearly upon us – keep the kids entertained by taking them to an action-
packed game of basketball.
The BNZ Breakers have 8 Auckland games remaining this season and every single game promises
plenty of fun, giveaways, and entertainment for the whole family. Choose the dates that suit you
and get behind the BNZ Breakers. Tickets are on sale at www.ticketmaster.co.nz

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto School Newsletter, Rāmere (Friday) 10 November, 2023

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Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

Short Week ahead

Please remember that this coming week is a three-day school week, with a Staff Only Day this Thursday 16 Novermber and Canterbury Anniversary Day this Friday 17 November. 

Board Parent Mid-Term Election 2023 - 3 Vacancies

Instruction on how you vote electronically has been distributed by email to eligible whānau. If you have any problems with this process, please contact our Liaison Officer for the Board Election at reihana.dougherty@beckenham.school.nz

Please take the time to read the candidate statements, and cast your vote. Your participation in this process is hugely appreciated, and essential in the appointment of our representatives to our Board, that represent our school community.

Please note that voting closes this coming Wednesday 15 Nov - 4pm

Staffing Update

We are able to share with you now the staffing plan for 2024 (noting that this is always subject to change if individual staff circumstances change between now and the start of the new school year).

We congratulate Bridie Harris on winning a new position at Elmwood Normal School. We have really loved having Bridie on our Year 7/8 Team this year, and we wish her all the very best going forward.

Thomas Woodfield has decided to relinquish his leadership role next year, so we are very pleased to announce that Sarah Junghenn will return to the Year 7/8 team next year as the team leader.

Elizabeth Drummond is 'retiring' from her full-time, permanent teaching role at the end of this year, after over 25 years. We are very fortunate that Elizabeth has agreed to come back during next year in a fixed-term role, to start a New Entrant class as those numbers increase.

Teams for 2024:

Koru NE Team
Stacey McLachlan - Team Leader (no home group)
Georgia McKenna - Home-group Teacher
Elizabeth Drummond - Home-group Teacher (Term 2?)

Kahikatea Year 1/2 Team
Katie McFarlane - Team Leader & Home-group Teacher
Amber Donovan - Home-group Teacher
Ella Rainbow - Home-group Teacher
Quynh Nguyen - Home-group Teacher
Lisa Collier - Literacy Support across the school (no home-group) 

Kōwhai Year 3/4 Team
Anna Reid - Team Leader and release teacher (no home-group)
Rowena Barker - Home-group Teacher
Nick Bruce - Home-group Teacher
Krystal Hunt - Home-group Teacher
Anna McNeill - Home-group Teacher
Charlotte Verity - Home-group Teacher

Pōhutukawa Year 5/6 Team
Steve Cooke - Team Leader & Home-group Teacher
Megan Culver - Home-group Teacher
Rae Marsh - Home-group Teacher
Gayle McNaughton - Home-group Teacher
Laura Williamson - release teacher

Kauri Year 7/8 Team
Sarah Junghenn - Team Leader & Home-group Teacher
Jenny Diggle - Home-group Teacher
Nicky Dunlop - Home-group Teacher
Thomas Woodfield - Home-group Teacher
Georgie Jones - release teacher

Ngā mihi nui

Sandy Hastings
Principal - Tumuaki

Important Dates

(you can also find the Community Calendar on our website here)

Wed 15 Nov - 4pm Voting Closes - Board Elections
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, 9:10-9:50am, in the Hall
Fri 24 Nov - PTA School Community Picnic, 5.00-7.30pm, Beckenham Park
Fri 1 Dec - Student Council - Celebrating Diversity and Culture Day (non-uniform)
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 8 Dec - 12:15-3pm, Kahikatea Team trip to Isaac Theatre Royal, Southern Ballet
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
Mon 18 Dec - Year 8 Leavers' Lunch 12:30-1:30pm
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

Soren Durrant - Year 4

Soren, you are an outstanding role model in the Kōwhai hub. You quietly get on with your work and show great focus on any task at hand until it is complete. You are extremely respectful to your peers and teachers alike and you are a loyal and caring friend, always looking out for others' wellbeing. Thank you and ka pai tō mahi, Soren!

PTA News

Let the PTA help you out with your holiday shopping! We've curated a collection of yummy treats that everyone on your list will love and helps raise funds for our school! 

Order forms have been sent home in children's bags or you can order online using this link: Christmas Goodies Fundraiser.  Spare paper forms in school office. 

We have the following delicious range:

Honey from Beebro: 100% NZ Honey - $15.00 each 
Authentic, small-batch honey direct from the farm. Beebro will donate $1 for every jar of honey sold to Mike King's Nutters Club, a nationwide radio show and mental health support group. Three varieties to choose from. 

Naked Baker Fudge Gift Boxes - $6.50 each 
Delicious, creamy fudge available in four flavours and packed in lovely gift boxes. 

Naked Baker Christmas Tarts - $6.00 pack 
A six pack of crispy pastry available in two tasty varieties Traditional or Berry. 

Orders close at 6pm 22 November 2022. 

We will be collecting forms from the flagpole before school Mon-Wed 20-22 November. 

Collection of your yummy treats will be on 8 December at the school hall. 

The PTA thank you for all your support this year

We are also selling delicious panforte again, now in four yummy flavours.  Order panforte here and collect at school on 8th December.

Weetbix TRYathlon

Don't forget we have a School Group set up for those of you who are looking to take part in the Weetbix TRYathlon that is coming around again. Click on the link below to join the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Group when you enter the TRYathlon.  You can also join our School Group, without the link, by using the School Group search functionality when entering online.

Community Picnic

And don’t forget the Community Picnic, on Friday 24th November from 5pm.  We’ll have a Sausage Sizzle, Bouncy Castle and ice blocks.  Looking forward to seeing you all there!

BOT Update

Policy Review

Your feedback on the content (the policy) and implementation (how we follow the policy) promotes discussion with staff and the Board, which helps to evaluate our processes and make changes as needed.

Thank you to all of you who have provided feedback so far on our Term 4 Policies up for review. To do this, follow the instructions below. 

  1. Visit the website https://beckenham.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
  2. Enter the username (beckenham) and password (pride).
  3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
  4. Read the policy.
  5. Click the Start your review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
  6. Select the reviewer type.
  7. Enter your name (optional).
  8. Follow the prompts to show that you've read the topic and enter your feedback if you'd like to comment.
  9. Agree to the privacy statement and click “Submit review”.
If you don't have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.

We had 65 responses on our Term 3 policies, which have been shared with the Board of Trustees, and SchoolDocs for review.

School Notices

School Uniform

Please click this link to see information on our school uniform.

Please note that Crocs and jandals are not part of our school uniform.

The tamariki are doing a great job remembering sunhats this term. Ka pai!

Science in Junior Discovery

Some of the akōnga from Koru and Kahikatea have jumped at the opportunity to learn and do science over recent weeks, during their Learning Through Play or Discovery sessions. 

As part of her science course, Charlotte (Kōwhai team) has been visiting the hubs and sharing science activities, like rocket building, parachutes and loopy fliers. Our focus has been on thinking and being like scientists by observing, sharing ideas, making predictions, testing out our ideas, creating a fair test and even recording our findings. These are key skills in the Nature of Science component of the current science curriculum. Other teachers have been super supportive and responsive to this, and enjoying learning new ways to bring science into Learning Through Play.

Real Estate Signage Needed!

We're after donations of old real estate boards (corflute) to use for Kapa Haka waiata and outside projects. If you are in the real estate industry and can help, please contact Charlotte at charlotte.verity@beckenham.school.nz. Thanks!

Community Notices

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

Want to add to a Zentangle Collaborative Art project ?

Saturday 25th Nov - Sydenham Rm South Library 10 - 3.30pm
Sunday 26th Nov - Penney Rm, Risingholme Learning 9am- 5pm (carpark ar 99 Hawford Rd)
This Community Art project, using Zentangle patterns to complete a large canvas. All materials and inspiration provided, Come along and add your creativity.