Monthly Archives: May 2024

Kōwhai News Term 2 Week 4

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Kia ora Whānau, we have had another busy and fun fortnight in Kōwhai! 

Cross Country

We were so proud of all our tamariki with Cross Country! Not only did they give 100% to the event on the day, they also practised diligently each day for the fortnight before the event. Well done everyone!! Thank you to parents and whānau and friends who came out to support us, or who talked to their students and encouraged them prior to the event.

Uniform

We have noticed a number of students wearing non-uniform clothing to school, such as hoodies, jackets, crocs etc. Please make sure your children are wearing correct uniform items and colours, as detailed here. Please also send children with shoes each day, and if they have gumboots for outside wear, then please still send shoes or slippers which they can wear in the hub. A number of children are also coming to school without a polar fleece or jacket. Please ensure they have both, so that they are well prepared if the weather changes.

Cybersafety - The HDCA for Parents and Whānau

The Harmful Digital Communications Act (or HDCA for short) is an act passed by the Government back in 2015

to help people dealing with serious or repeated harmful digital communications. It covers anything digital like text,

emails or social media content. The most useful thing for parents to understand about the HDCA is the way the 10

communication principles define what is good or bad behaviour online. If you’re ever concerned about your young

person (or you just want to brush up on your knowledge!) visit Netsafe’s Guide to the HDCA.


Learning about Recycling and Waste


Last week, each home group enjoyed a visit from the CCC Education Team, who taught us about recycling, compost and waste in Christchurch. We learnt about what goes in each coloured bin, how different materials are recycled and the benefits of recycling. The CCC Educators also told us about some of the amazing technology used in Christchurch's recycling plant and our city garbage and compost trucks, and that much of the gas emitted from our landfill is turned into electricity for the Council building and Art Gallery. How cool is that! Check out photos below, and you might like to play the Bin Good Game at home. Find out about what can go in the yellow recycling bin here.














Book Character Day

What an array of costumes we had today for Book Character Day! We had a lot of fun guessing the different characters as they arrived at school. Even the teachers and the teaching assistants got into the swing of things.

Have a great weekend!

From the Kōwhai team




Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Schoolwide Newsletter, Rāmere (Friday) 17 May 2024, Week 3

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Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou,

Support Staff Day 

On Friday we celebrated our support staff - Teaching Assistants, Admin Team, Caretaker and Librarian. We are grateful for their mahi (work) and the aroha (love/compassion) they show our tamariki. They appreciate what each child brings to our kura (school) and value their uniqueness.
So we say THANK YOU to our amazing support staff team!                


               
Friday was also Pink Shirt Day. As a nation, this is a day to celebrate diversity and promote kindness and inclusion.

"Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora – Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying!"

We invited tamariki to wear something pink if they wanted to and what a sea of pink there was in the playground! Homegroups started the day talking about the origins of the day and how it relates to our Kete Values and our daily life, both in and out of school

Upcoming Staff Only Day

Please note that Friday 31st of May has been confirmed as a Staff Only Day. The school will be closed while our Teachers and Teaching Assistants attend professional development with our Kāhui Ako (a learning group made up of other schools and early childhood providers in the local area).

Ngā mihi nui
Jo Smith - Tumuaki (Acting Principal)

Important Dates

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

Wed 22 May - BoT Meeting, 5.30-7.30PM, Staffroom
Fri 24 May - Book Character Dress Up Day
Wed 29 May - PTA Meeting, 7.30-9.30PM
Fri 31 May - Staff Only Day (kura/school closed)
Mon 3 Jun - King's Birthday (kura/school closed)
Tue 25 Jun - Matariki Evening at Kura
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

Dylan Batchelor - Year 6

Dylan, you are a good friend and importantly, you are an upstander and a role model in this area. Your love of learning shines through every day. It is exciting to see that you are always keen to increase your knowledge and skills. Ka rawe Dylan.

Zeke Hood - Year 8

Zeke, your determination and focus, paired with your willingness to tackle challenges head-on and seek guidance when necessary, sets you apart. You've shown initiative by taking ownership of your learning journey, and it's evident in the progress you've made. Your curious spirit shines through in your active participation and thoughtful questioning. Additionally, your friendly manner makes you a pleasure to collaborate with. Keep up the fantastic work, Zeke!

School Notices

Spare Clothing

Just a reminder as we approach wet weather, that a spare change of clothes is something you may want to pack in your child's bag if they are likely to need it.

Beckenham Out of School Care Organisation (BOSCO)


BOSCO provides before and after school care, as well as school holiday programmes.

We currently have space in the mornings and afternoons.

WINZ subsidy approved.
Located within the school grounds.

Any questions you may have please feel free to email or call
office@bosco.org.nz
027 645 6632

Lunch Ordering

Tuesday | Thursday Lunch Ordering

Monday | Wednesday | Friday Lunch Ordering
If you need a Lunchonline account... it’s simple, all you need to do is register an account at:  www.lunchonline.co.nz
  1. Login/Place an Order
  2. Create an account 
  3. Add member/s include name, school and classroom number
  4. Under Lunch Orders select student name – Start order and place your order 
  5. You will be directed to the make a payment page
  6. A pop up will confirm ‘your order has been successful’ or check ‘Order History’ tab
  7. Any queries please call us on 0800 LOL LOL (0800565565)

Community Notices

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

AUT Survey

Kauri Whānau Update: Term 2, Week 2

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IN THIS POST:

  • Hagley College
  • Quiz Night
  • Uniform
  • Cross Country
  • Pics from EOTC last term


Info from Hagley College:

We have an Open Evening coming up on Wednesday 29 May, starting in the Auripo Auditorium with presentations at 4.30 pm, 5.30 pm and 6.30 pm. Each presentation will contain the same information and will be followed by a chance to look around the College and meet some of our staff and students. BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL – interested parents/whānau should head to https://www.hagley.school.nz/enrolment/year-9-enrolment/ to book their seats if they wish to attend one of the presentation sessions.

Applications for Year 9 2025 will open online from 20 May, and close at midday on 27 June. Important information for students and whānau is available here: https://www.hagley.school.nz/enrolment/year-9-enrolment/.

 

Our 2025 Junior College Lookbook is available to download here: https://www.hagley.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2025_Junior_Prospectus-web.pdf



Quiz Night:

A huge thanks to Nicky for the amazing organisation of the school quiz night which was held last night. Such a great event and I am sure we raised a lot of much needed $$$ to go towards the Kauri ski trip in Term 3. 




Uniform:
 A reminder of correct school uniform, we are monortoring this closely as a team. As the weather is getting colder we are seeing many non uniform hoodies and jackets creeping in. Support from home is much appreciated. LINK to uniform outline on our website.


Cross Country:
Jenny has been busy organising this whole school event for Tuesday 14th May, we have been busy training! Nothing better than a jog on a crisp winter morning. We encourage students' to wear house colour T-Shirts on Tuesday.







Photo Dump-Term 1 EOTC:Waka on Avon, Rutherfords' Den, Adrenaline Forest!



















































Koru News: 10/05/2024 Term 2 Week 2

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Kia ora e te Whānau,

Welcome back to Term 2! We would also like to warmly welcome Korra, Hailey, Vincent, Archie, Elsa, Sadie, Manaia, Aurora, Marnie, Angus and Alma who have started school this term. We have got a busy term ahead of us with lots of exciting things to look forward to. Below are lots of dates and events for Term 2, there will be more information closer to the time for these.

Term 2:
  • Cross Country; Tuesday 14th May, the junior races start from 2.15pm on the field. Children will need suitable shoes, a water bottle, and they can wear House Tops.
  • Readathon PTA Fundraiser; 6-17th June
  • Book Character dress up day; Friday 24th May
  • Staff Only Day (school closed); Friday 31st May
  • King's Birthday (school closed); Monday 3rd June
  • School Disco; 2:00-2:45pm Friday 7th June
  • Learning Conferences; Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th June
  • NZ Opera; whole school performance in our Hall; Thursday 13th June
  • Koru trip to the Christchurch Art Gallery; Monday 24th June  
  • Matariki Evening at school; Tuesday 25th June 5:30-7:00pm
  • Matariki (school closed); Friday 28th June
Morning routines:
We are so proud to see the children showing We Love Challenge by carrying their own bags; putting their lunch box and drink bottles on the shelves; putting their Literacy folders in the group boxes and then settling down quietly into a game or activity each morning! 
We thank all the Whānau for the quick and calm 'good byes' in the morning. As we get more children starting school, sometimes we notice it feeling very overwhelming and busy with so many people in the Hub before school, it is really helpful when you say goodbye and leave your child with us, leaving them to have some fun with their new school friends.

House Groups:
Our Koru children have all been allocated a 'House' to belong to: Fisher, Heathcote, Tennyson and Waimea. Children from the same family/whānau are put into the same house. Each house has its own 'chant' and tamariki learn this, so they can participate in the house chant at sports and special events, and in Celebration Assemblies, if it is their house that has won the House Points for that fortnight! You can find the House Chants here, and other are also videos that you can share with your child to help them learn their house chant. Mā tātou katoa te waka e hoe! We Get There Together!

Some Reminders:

Friendship List: If you would like your name and contact details to be added to our Koru Team Friendship List, please email Georgia by Wednesday the 15th of May. Georgia will update the list and share it with you. If your name is already on the list, please don't worry about contacting Georgia again.
georgia.mckenna@beckenham.school.nz

Lunchboxes: A few reminders about your child's lunchboxes:
  • Please ensure your child is only bringing water to school (no juice or other drinks)
  • It is also important to help teach your child how to open and close their lunch boxes, so they can do this independently at the start and end of eating times
  • It would be great if you could also either pre-cut or teach your child how to open packets in their lunchboxes (for example potato sticks, chip bags, twisty yoghurt pouches, muesli bars etc.)
Thank you for your help and co-operation with this!

Science: 
On Wednesday, we had Ben Kennedy, a volcano expert, come and talk to the tamariki in the Koru team. Ben works at the University of Canterbury and is absolutely passionate about his chosen subject! He showed us his 'pet' rock collection, which represented the lava from various types of volcanic eruptions. We passed the rocks around and were able to see and feel many differences between each of them. Ben taught the children about words such as magma, lava, extinct, dormant and active. 



We then all went outside where Ben's student, Jonathan, set up two different experiments for us: one to demonstrate the slow progress that lava makes as it flows down a mountainside and the second, to demonstrate what happens when there is more gas present and lava 'bombs' are created and then shoot up and out of the volcano, often landing some distance from the volcano itself. 





Our first two weeks:
Here are some pictures to show what we have been up to for our first couple of weeks this term, during Learning Through Play and Kinetic Letters with Bounce and Skip.











We hope you have a fabulous weekend and look forward to seeing you all on Monday.

Ngā mihi nui,
Stacey, Georgia, and Elizabeth


Kōwhai News Term 2 Week 2

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Kia ora whānau,

Welcome back to Term 2! We have an exciting term ahead of us with lots of exciting things planned, starting with our whole school cross country event next Tuesday. We have been practising every day since the start of term and the children are raring to go!

Cross Country

The weather is looking good for next Tuesday afternoon (14th May) so fingers crossed our Cross Country goes ahead! The Year 4 children are due to start at 2:15 followed by the Year 3 children approximately 10 minutes later. Please make sure that your child has a fleece to wear on the day while they are waiting to take part and after their turn. They will also need a drink bottle. We look forward to seeing you there if you are able to make it.

Health

For the first half of this term, we are focusing on health and healthy living for our Inquiry. We are looking at the importance of drinking water, physical exercise, sleep and eating the right foods. For one activity, we are planning our own healthy lunchboxes! Check out these balanced lunchbox ideas here. 

There is lots more great information about health and children on the Health Info website, including breakfast ideas, keeping active and snack foods.



Staying Safe Online

As our tamariki spend more time online, it’s important parents and whānau help them stay safe. Now is a great time to talk to them about how we use the internet and digital technology.

Netsafe has created an Online Safety Parent Toolkit so parents, families and whānau have all the information they need to talk about online safety.


If you or anyone in your whānau needs support, you can contact Netsafe.


Discovery

Discovery continues to be the highlight of our the week for our tamariki. They have been really excited about creating robots out of cardboard boxes, learning how to finger knit and making mosaic patterns with chalk and masking tape in the playground outside. See the photos below: