Monthly Archives: February 2024

Week 2

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Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

On Friday we came together for our first Celebration Assembly for 2024. We acknowledged the way all tamariki are using the Kete Values as they transition to the new school year - meeting new teachers, settling into hubs, and in the way they have welcomed tamariki who are new to Beckenham in 2024.

We also shared the changes to Senior Leadership for the year. Sandy Hastings is seconded to the Ministry of Education for 2024 in a Leadership Advisor role and will be working with many Principals around Canterbury, so Jo Smith will be Acting Principal whilst Sandy is on leave. The Senior Leadership team will be Jo, Sue Leadbetter (Deputy Principal/SENCO), and Katie McFarlane (Acting Deputy Principal).

Following on from the start of year conferences the focus for the start of the year in Hubs is getting to know each other. Spending time getting to know the staff and the other tamariki in the hub, how the spaces will work and the routines that support the team working collaboratively. This is part of setting up for the year ahead. Along with this is a reminder to all our whānau that the Home Group teachers are always happy to be contacted throughout the year if there is anything you would like to share or discuss about your child. The home/school relationship is important and communication plays a large part in this. So please see your child's Home Group teacher in the first instance. 

If at any stage your whānau contact details change, please contact the school office with these changes so our records can be updated. This includes the emergency contacts we have for your child.

This year, to streamline communication, school newsletters will be published every second week and will alternate with Team Blog posts. Communications through Hero will continue as required.

Ngā mihi nui
Jo Smith - Tumuaki (Acting Principal)

Important Dates

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

Wed 28 Feb - BoT Meeting, 5.30-7.30PM, Staffroom
Wed 28 Feb - PTA Meeting, 7.30-9.30PM
Thu 29 Feb - School Swim Sports, 12.30-3PM, Wharenui Pool
Mon 11 Mar - Zone Swimming, 9-12.30PM, Wharenui Pool
Wed 27 Mar - Canterbury Swimming
Wed 27 Mar - BoT Meeting, 5.30-7.30PM, Staffroom
Wed 27 Mar - PTA Meeting, 7.30-9.30PM
Fri 29 Mar - Good Friday (kura/school closed)
Mon 1 Apr - Easter Monday (kura/school closed)
Tue 2 Apr - Kura/School closed
Fri 12 Apr - Last day of Term 1
Mon 29 Apr - First day of Term 2
Fri 3 May - Welcome Assembly, 9.15-9.30am, Hall
Tue 14 May - School Cross Country TBC
Wed 22 May - PTA Meeting, 7.30-9.30PM
Wed 29 May - BoT Meeting, 5.30-7.30PM, Staffroom
Fri 31 May - Staff Only Day (kura/school closed)
Mon 3 Jun - King's Birthday (kura/school closed)
Wed 26 Jun - BoT Meeting, 5.30-7.30PM, Staffroom
Wed 26 Jun - PTA Meeting, 7.30-9.30PM, Staffroom
Fri 28 Jun - Matariki (kura/school closed)
Fri 5 Jul - Last day of Term 2

Term Dates: Click here to view  2024 term dates

Citizen of the Week

Myka Orchard - Year 4

Myka, you are a role model student, demonstrating the school values each and every day. You are kind, patient, thoughtful, and a loyal and trustworthy friend. You put every effort into your learning and you readily help others too. Keep doing what you're doing, Myka. You are an absolute star!

School Notices

Bounce and Skip

We love Bounce and Skip! Thank you to our school community for taking such great care of our monkeys when they come to your house for sleepovers! We love hearing about their adventures. This fantastic bag was made by the grandparent of one of our children, to ensure they make it home and back to school safely - how awesome! 

Scholastic Lucky Book Club - 2024 Issue Out Now!


Issue 1 is out now, please follow the link below to look at the catalogue online, and to order. Orders close Friday 5 April.

Whānau Evening - Attitude Presents (for the whole school)

We are hosting a whānau evening run by a group called Attitude entitled 'Parenting in the Digital age' This will be held in the school hall on Tuesday 20th February 6pm-7pm. The evening is open to all parents/whānau of Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.
The presentation covers how whānau can help their young people navigate the adolescent years in a rapidly changing world. If you are concerned with the impact of technology, social media, gaming and their safety online then this presentation will give you the tools and insights you need to confidently raise happy and resilient children.

The content is adult appropriate, please leave children at home.

Please watch this video to find out more:

Want to Try-An-Instrument at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto and join the  Wind and Brass Concert Band? 

At Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto, your child can learn to play an instrument with the Christchurch School Of Music (CSM) Outreach Band Programme. Children who learn music build confidence, increase their learning abilities, sharpen organisational skills and gain valuable social, physical and academic skills. Most importantly, learning an instrument in the band programme is fun!

In our band programme we teach clarinet, flute, trumpet, trombone, electric bass guitar, percussion/drums and saxophone. Students in Year 4 and above can choose their instrument and join a band. After a few lessons, children join the Da Capo (beginners) band. They rehearse together on Tuesday mornings and have an individual 15-minute lesson (or a 30-minute lesson in a group of two).  Our Tutti Concert Band will rehearse in the hall on Tuesday afternoons from 3pm. Come along, have a listen and see what we are all about.

You can sign up for lessons now by clicking on the enrol button.  For more information email: office@csm.org.nz or the Outreach Band Coordinator at outreachband@csm.org.nz

Lunch Orders

Lunchonline is a lunch delivery service that our families are able to access for their children, which is available on Wednesdays (Subway) and Fridays (Sushi Factory). Please ensure that you update your child's details on their database so lunches can be matched up with your child more easily when they are delivered.

To access this, you will need to set up an account with LunchOnline here.

Pop Up Reminder – To Change Classroom
 
When families first log on in 2024 they will see a “pop up” on the screen to remind them to change their child’s classroom to their new room for 2024.  This pop-up feature will also be used for any other important notices.


We are really hopeful that this pop up screen will prompt most families to update their classrooms, saving time for the office staff.  Many schools also remind parents to do this in their first newsletter.

Sushimeetsdumplings is a local lunch delivery service that our whānau can access on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday. 

Trailblazers

Trailblazers is a sports based youth development programme, developed and led by Snr Constable Jo Ryder (youth aid officer, school community officer, parent of neurodivergent tamariki, qualified teacher and certification in Dr Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Sport (an approach that integrates core principles of neurodevelopment and traumatology to inform work with children, focusing on how the brain works, develops, changes, and is impacted by developmental adversity, including trauma)

The programme has an emphasis on connection, belonging and movement for mental health.
 
The focus is on fun and friendship, the running is nearly incidental as our packs explore set trails together – supporting one another and often conquering mini challenges as they go!
 
We have a strong number of fabulous volunteers resulting in increased safety and mentorship for tamariki.
 
Priority is given to those impacted by trauma, neurodiversity, or mental health conditions - particularly when those experiences act as barriers to participation and inclusion. We also seek tamariki that are positive supporters of others – the uplifters and leaders in your kura.

Transport may be able to be supported in some instances (please enquire).

The programme starts next Tuesday 13th February and further information will be sent out on receipt of completed enrolment form, or simply phone Jo (number below) for a kōrero to learn more.


Please pop into the School Office to pick up, and complete an enrolment form for Trailblazers.

For any questions, please phone Snr Constable Jo Ryder on 021 192 6674.

PTA News

PTA Picnic

We were gutted to have to cancel the Community Picnic AGAIN! The weather just doesn’t seem to be cooperating with us. We’ll be in touch soon with an alternative plan. 

Uniform Shop

Our second-hand uniform shop hours are changing next week. 
New opening hours:
Monday 2.45 to 3.15pm
Friday 8.45 to 9.15am

Weetbix Tryathlon

There are less than 3 weeks until the Christchurch Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon and that makes it the perfect time to start getting your kids TRY ready with the Get Ready Guide! Entries are now closed!

Community Notices

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

Festival of Girls and Women in Science

Free tickets for Sunday 11/2/24 at Turanga. Run by UC, Canterbury Museum, CCC libraries etc.
https://events.humanitix.com/festival-of-women-and-girls-in-science-2024





Kauri Whānau update: Term 1, Week 2

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IN THIS POST:

  • Leadership Week
  • Attitude 
  • Memories
  • Quiz Night
  • Young Writers workshop
  • Passions
  • Swimming Sports
  • EOTC for 2024

Leadership Week:
We are excited to announce that Leadership week is going ahead in Week 4. This is a leadership programme which has been run and perfected at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto over many years. The activities throughout the week are based upon The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. Students' have started learning about these habits and how they can help us in our daily life. 
The Year 7 programme focuses on them working as a small group to plan and implement an activity that they can teach to our younger tamariki. Over the week they will be scaffolded through the process of how to do this.
Our Year 8 students will particpate in a variety of challenges where they will have to draw on their knowledge and use the 7 Habits to help guide them. This is all about co-operation and working as a team. As part of this the Year 8 students will have an evening excursion to Margaret Mahy playground and a day out at Spencer Park. More information to come.

Attitude:
The students' participated in a wonderful session with Christian from Attitude. The sesion was titled 'Tackling Technology' and was all about how to cope in the realm of social media. He gave them some great advice and tips.
A reminder that we are having Attitude back to present a parent and whānau evening on Tuesday 20th February from 6pm-7pm. This is open to all parents of Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto and will be held in the school hall. Children need to stay at home please.


Memories:
Thanks to all of those who have brought an object to school and shared a memory with your home group. There have been some really interesting tales being told! Please bring in a memory next week if you haven't already.


Quiz Night:
We are hosting another fabulous Kauri Quiz night fundraiser. This is to be held in the school hall on Saturday 23rd March 7-10pm. All proceeds will go to education outside of the classroom for the Kauri hub. We will needs all hands on deck so please if you can help, let us know by filling in this google form.

Young Writers Workshops:
The Write on team is ready to support out budding authors with a range of oppurtunities:
Masterclasses: This is for Year 7-13-classes are limited click here to find out more.
Workshops in schools: working with small groups for either weekly or 1 or 2 day workshops. Click here to learn more.
Write on: Saturday classes, Years 4-13 click here for more info.

Passions:
Passions has started off with a bang! The kids had their first session today and were fully engaged and excited. Here are a few pics from our coding club run by Kate:




Swimming Sports:
Swimming sports is coming up on Thursday 29th February. If your child would like to enter please make sure they have filled out the google form located in our Kauri hub google classroom.

Education Outside the Classroom for 2024:
This year we have planned a variety of EOTC (education outside of the classroom) opportunities for our Year 7 and 8 students. This is due to what this cohort of students missed out on during Covid times and with the transition to camp being every second year. The majority of EOTC is funded through school donations. Any overnight stays through the school will have an additional cost. Due to the extra activities planned for this year,  we will need to do some fundraising as a team to contribute to the cost. Your support with this is much appreciated, and we will provide more information about these efforts later this term.




Kauri Whānau update: Term 1, week 1

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 IN THIS POST:

  • Welcome
  • Workshops
  • Passions
  • Maths Club
  • Team Sports
  • Memory Object
  • Parent Evening

Welcome Back!

A very warm welcome to all of our students' and their whānau, we thouroughly enjoyed meeting you all and connecting with you at our recent Learning Conferences. It was a great way to kick of the school year! We have been very impressed by the leadership that is already being displayed by our Year 8 students' and many of our new Year 7 students' also. Our Senior students' did an amazing job of being the flag bearers and presenters in our Welcome Assembly this morning. Please feel free to contact your child's homegroup teacher by email if you have any questions or are unsure about anything.

Workshops:

We are underway with our start of the year workshops, these are Setting up a Kete site for blogging, Art-making bucket labels, Leadership-investigating and learning about what it is to be a good leader and choosing the Kauri hub leadership jobs and an introduction into this term's Inquiry topic which is Identity. The students' will rotate and spend three sessions doing each of these things over the next two weeks.

Passions:

Everyone made a first and second choice for their passion today! There was a lot of excitement around this. We aim to begin our passion's sessions next Friday so we are busy sorting students' into groups.

Maths Club: 

For those who are needing some Maths extension and challenge this is for you! Nicky is running Maths club on Thursday mornings starting next week. Be at school at 8:20am to join in!

Team Sports:

Our team sports sessions have kicked off with a bang, student's have impressed with their demonstration of our school values and fair play!


Memory object:

Based upon the book Wilfred Gordan McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox students' have been asked to bring in an object connected with a memory that they can share with their home groups. Thanks to those that have done so already, they have been super engaging and interesting to listen to.

Parent Evening:

Our students are participating in a workshop with a group called Attitude. They learning about Tackling Technology-Social Media, Technology and Bullying.  We are also hosting a Parent, whānau evening presented by Attitude around Parenting in the digital age. It will be held in our school hall on Tuesday the 20th February 6pm-7pm. Please watch the promotional video below.





Kōwhai News Term 1 Week 1

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Kia ora whānau,

Welcome to 2024! We are so excited to be back and we are very much looking forward to getting to know all your tamariki over the next few weeks. 

In the first two weeks, we are focusing on getting to know each other and establishing routines. We will mostly be based in our homegroups initially but we will also be mingling as a team during Discovery every morning.

Below are some photos of some of the activities we have been doing over the first two days: Everyone has been having lots of fun as they reunite with friends and get to know new ones.




































Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Schoolwide Newsletter, Rāmere (Friday) 2 February 2024

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Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

The school has been a buzz over the last week. It has been great to see whānau catching up with each other, with friends, and with staff.

Thank you to our whānau for your participation in Learning Conferences. The connections made have set such a wonderfully positive tone for the start of the year and continue to strengthen our relationships between our kaimahi (staff), whānau and the community.

A reminder that next week we recognise Waitangi Day on Tuesday the 6th of February. The school will be closed on this day.

2024 Staff

Koru Team (NE -Year 1)

Stacey McLachlan (Team Leader)
Georgia McKenna

Kahikatea (Year 1 - 2)
Katie McFarlane (Team Leader)
Amber Donovan
Quynh Nguyen/Lisa Collier
Ella Rainbow
Sarah Angelo
Megan Harris (across team release teacher)

Kōwhai (Year 3 -4)
Anna Reid (Team Leader)
Nick Bruce
Rowena Barker
Charlotte Verity (across team release teacher and learning support)
Krystal Hunt
Anna McNeill

Pōhutukawa (Year 5 - 6)
Steve Cooke (Team Leader)
Gayle McNaughton
Rae Marsh
Megan Culver
Georgie Jones 
Laura Williamson (across team release teacher)

Kauri (Year 7 - 8)
Sarah Junghenn (Team Leader)
Nicky Dunlop
Jenny Diggle
Thomas Woodfield
Megan Harris (across team release teacher/Nicky's Homegroup on Fridays)

Across School Literacy Support Teacher
Lisa Collier

Teaching Assistants
Denise Colville
Faine Kelly
Karen Glithero
Kate Packer
Kerilea Quinn
Laura Cortes
Laura Stewart - Cameron
Matt Hastings
Nathalie Doering
Paul McKinnel
Stacey Hart

Librarian
Anne Chin

Caretaker
Tony Lee

Accounts & Payroll
Rachel Higginson

Office Manager
Jacky Sargent

Leadership PA & Board Secretary
Reihana Dougherty

Senior Leadership Team
Sandy Hastings - Principal on leave
Jo Smith - Acting Principal
Sue Leadbetter - Deputy Principal
Katie McFarlane - Acting Deputy Principal

Ngā mihi nui
Jo Smith - Tumuaki (Acting Principal)

Important Dates

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

Tue 6 Feb - Waitangi Day (kura/school closed)
Fri 9 Feb - PTA School Picnic, 5-7.30PM
Wed 28 Feb - BoT Meeting, 5.30-7.30PM, Staffroom
Wed 28 Feb - PTA Meeting, 7.30-9.30PM
Thu 29 Feb - School Swim Sports, 12.30-3PM, Wharenui Pool
Mon 11 Mar - Zone Swimming, 9-12.30PM, Wharenui Pool
Wed 27 Mar - Canterbury Swimming
Wed 27 Mar - BoT Meeting, 5.30-7.30PM, Staffroom
Wed 27 Mar - PTA Meeting, 7.30-9.30PM
Fri 29 Mar - Good Friday (kura/school closed)
Mon 1 Apr - Easter Monday (kura/school closed)
Tue 2 Apr - Kura/School closed
Fri 12 Apr - Last day of Term 1
Mon 29 Apr - First day of Term 2
Fri 3 May - Welcome Assembly, 9.15-9.30am, Hall
Tue 14 May - School Cross Country TBC
Wed 22 May - PTA Meeting, 7.30-9.30PM
Wed 29 May - BoT Meeting, 5.30-7.30PM, Staffroom
Fri 31 May - Staff Only Day (kura/school closed)
Mon 3 Jun - King's Birthday (kura/school closed)
Wed 26 Jun - BoT Meeting, 5.30-7.30PM, Staffroom
Wed 26 Jun - PTA Meeting, 7.30-9.30PM, Staffroom
Fri 28 Jun - Matariki (kura/school closed)
Fri 5 Jul - Last day of Term 2

Term Dates: Click here to view  2024 term dates

School Notices

Request for Corflute

Our wonderful Kapa Haka tutor, Whaea Cath, is on the hunt for some corflute to assist with Kapa Haka and waiata. If you have any excess lying around, or any extra signage / real eastate signage, we would gratefully accept any donations! These can be delivered to the Office directly, or please get in touch with us to arrange! Ngā mihi nui! Thank you!

Sunhat and Drink Bottle

It is important that every child starts school with a named sunhat and water bottle. Sunhats are compulsory when outside during Terms 1 and 4. Please remember to send your child to school each day with sunscreen applied as well.

Medication at school?

If your child needs to have any medication held and /or administered at school, we will need you to come into the office and sign a plan for us to do that. ALL medication plans need to be re-signed for the new year. 

Food Allergy Guidelines

Across our kura, we have a number of children with different food allergies.

To support the well-being of these students we have the following guidelines in place which we ask you to follow:
  • Students with severe food allergies should only eat lunches and snacks that have been provided by their caregivers.  Bottles, other drinks, and lunch boxes provided by caregivers should be clearly labeled with the name of their child.  Home group teachers and caregivers will decide where the children’s bottles and lunch boxes will be kept during the day to ensure no cross-contamination occurs.

  • Parents are asked not to bring food into school to be shared with other children.  Whilst we understand that there are times you want to celebrate special events for your children with their friends at school, e.g. birthdays or being awarded prizes, by bringing food and treats for them to share, we have a policy of children only eating the food that their whānau have prepared and sent with them.  We have a number of students with food allergies and also need to respect the wishes of some families who want to monitor what their children are eating and prefer their children just to eat the food they have prepared. From time to time, there may be an event that teachers have organized that will involve food (cultural or learning activities) and they will have advised families in advance that this will be happening.  
Our full allergy policy and guidelines are available on the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto website under “Information - Policies - SchoolDocs” and then search ‘allergy’. (linked here)

If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them in the first instance with your child’s homegroup teacher.

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 child/ren off before 8.30am, BOSCO provides before-school care. 
Please contact them for more details 
Phone 027 645 6632
Email office@bosco.org.nz

Staff Profiles

A warm welcome to Sarah Angelo. Sarah will be a Home Group teacher in Kahikatea while Katie McFarlane steps into the Acting Deputy Principal role.


"Kia ora koutou! I am excited to be teaching in the Kahikatea team this year. It will be my first year at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. My favourite subjects are Maths and Art. Outside of school, I love to spend time with my teenagers, partner, and large extended whānau. This involves lots of cooking, eating, games, noise, and dogs. I am looking forward to getting to know you all."

PTA News

Uniform

Please find information about the school uniform here.
The PTA will be opening the Uniform shop at the following times:

During Term 1 2024: 
Tuesday afternoon 2.45 to 3.15pm
Friday morning 8.45 to 9.15am

We would love to have more donations of uniform items that are no longer needed and are always looking for people who could help out at the uniform shop. Please contact pta@beckenham.school.nz if you can offer assistance.

Community Notices

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

KiwiVolley


KiwiVolley is a modified game for Yr 7-8 children which can be played indoors, on grass or the sand. 
Canterbury Volleyball runs leagues in Term 1 and 4 which are open to school teams or individual children who we will place into teams.
Our leagues combine both skills and games – the first half of the sessions are skills, and the second half is for games, perfect for those starting out in Volleyball.

St Martins: Thursdays(6x sessions)
Location: Hillview Christian School Gym (150 Wilsons Rd)
Dates: Thursdays, 22nd February to 4th April (no session 21st March)
Time 4:15pm to 5:45 pm 

And our link for further information and registration



Sharpen your basketball skills throughout Term 1 at the Rams and Pouākai Basketball Schools. Join in on the fun with weekly skills & practice sessions led by Tall Black Taylor Britt or Tall Fern Lauryn Hippolite! 

Choose between Monday or Friday at Wharenui Recreation Centre. 
  • Sessions for school years 5–8 run from 4:00pm – 4:50pm.
  • Sessions for school years 9–13 run from 5:00pm – 5:50pm.
The registration deadline is 5:00pm Wednesday, 7th February.


Pouākai Basketball School: https://pouakai.basketball/camps/


Are you looking for an action-packed programme for your boy? If so, we have is an action-packed programme geared for Young Kiwi Men.

Boys’ Brigade 14th Christchurch is a fun filled Christian based programme for boys aged 5-18 yrs old.  We operate in three sections, Anchor 5-7 years, Adventure Section 8-10 years and Delta Section 11-18 years old.  Activities include Crafts, games, camps, outdoor pursuits, leadership training, life skills and lots more. We meet on a Friday night at Beckenham Methodist Church Hall, 52 Martin Ave, Beckenham. New members welcome any time, for more info visit our website for more  www.14thbb.org.nz 

Interested contact Stephen Gregory Ph/Txt: 027 4371565, email: admin@14thbb.org.nz

Singing and Acting Workshops!

Term 1 WORKSHOPS for all abilities!! 
Register for singing or acting skills or BOTH!
Have fun while developing your skills in a fun and supportive environment. Suitable for any experience level, including beginners. We will work with your skillset and take you further.
Payment plans and scholarships available. 
Email luminairescharitabletrust@gmail.com