Monthly Archives: February 2024

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



Koru News 1/02/2024 Term 1 Week 1

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Kia ora e te whānau,

We have had the most amazing first day in Koru today! Our team is called 'Koru' and our hub/building is called 'Hangare'. We are so proud of how the children independently unpacked their bags and said their goodbyes today!

Our day has been filled with lots of fun, excitement, getting to know each other and our learning space. We have spent lots of time together on the mat talking about what we do at school, how we do things and where things are. You could ask your child what they do if they need to go to the toilet, or where they go when the bell rings at the end of Little Play and Big Play?

We have gone on lots of adventures to explore around the school and where we can play; like Treemendous and the Junior Playground. We also visited Jacky in the office and looked in the Hall to see where the Welcome Assembly will be tomorrow morning.

We always have a teacher available before school to greet you and support the children in settling into the hub. We appreciate your support in having quick and quiet goodbyes and then we can help the children find something to play with. This is really helpful in creating a quiet and calm space for children to begin their day, especially as more children start school and our hub gets busier. 


















We are super excited for our year ahead in the Koru team!

Ngā mihi nui,

Stacey, Georgia and Paul

stacey.mclachlan@beckenham.school.nz

georgia.mckenna@beckenham.school.nz