Principal's Patch
Ngā mihi e te whānau,
It’s hard to believe we’re already nearing the end of Week 4! The term is well underway, and it’s great to see so much positive learning happening across the school. Our new staff and students have been warmly welcomed by our community, which has been wonderful to see.
This newsletter is packed with important updates, and we hope you take the time to read it through.
Kauri Camp
Next week, the Kauri team will embark on their exciting camp adventure at Wainui, departing on Monday and returning on Friday. This camp is a fantastic opportunity for students to step outside their comfort zones, embrace challenges, and build resilience. We wish them all the best and extend our gratitude to Hugo, the Kauri team, and the dedicated parents who are joining them for the duration of the camp - your support makes this experience possible.
PTA
Joining the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is a fantastic way to get involved in your child’s education and make a meaningful impact on the school community. The PTA provides a platform for you to contribute to school events and fundraising efforts that support important school initiatives. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to connect with other parents and stay informed about what’s happening at school.
The first PTA meeting of the year will be held next Wednesday, February 26, at 7:30 p.m. in the Green Room, adjacent to the school hall. We would love to see you there.
If you are unable to attend meetings regularly but would still like to contribute, consider joining the PTA support group. This group assists the PTA by helping at events throughout the year. A strong support group is essential for the PTA to successfully organise events that benefit our school.
To join the PTA support group click on the link below:
Weetbix TRYathlon
This weekend, more than 60 students from Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto will be participating in the Weet-Bix TRYathlon. We wish them all the best for the event and look forward to hearing about their experiences and results next week.
Celebration Assembly
Thank you to the whānau who attended our celebration assembly last Friday. It was great to come together and recognise our students’ achievements. Congratulations to those who received certificates for demonstrating our school values.
As a reminder, the values that are central to our schools vision are:
Arohaina te tāngata me te taiao - We care about people and the environment, fostering an inclusive community.
Nau mai te wero - Bring on the challenge.
Nā mātou he rerekē te ao - The world is different because of us.
He taonga te ako - The treasure is learning.
Mā tātou katoa te waka e hoe - We are all rowing this waka together.
Thank you for your ongoing support in role modelling and reinforcing these values with your children.
Uniform
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto requires students to wear a school uniform. Our uniform expectations outline what students can and cannot wear at school and when representing the school. Staff are actively reminding students about the correct uniform, particularly regarding tracksuit pants, shorts and hats. The imagery below provides a clear guide on these uniform expectations, which you can use at home to support your child’s understanding.
Open and transparent communication is at the heart of a successful school. We value building strong learning partnerships with whānau. From time to time, you may have questions or concerns about your child’s learning at school. This is completely normal, and we encourage you to raise these promptly by following the steps below.
Step 1 - First point of contact
Home Group Teacher: Your child’s Home Group teacher should be your first point of contact for any important information or worries. They are best placed to understand your child’s individual needs and address your questions directly.
Step 2 - Second point of contact
Team Leader: If you feel the matter requires further attention after speaking with the Home Group teacher, please contact the relevant Team Leader. Contact details can be found on our website,
linked here.
Step 3 - Third point of contact
Senior Leadership: If the issue remains unresolved at the Team Leader level, Senior Leadership can be contacted for further support.
We also want to hear about any celebrations, cultural traditions, or achievements outside of school. Please share these with your child’s Home Group teacher so they can be acknowledged at school.
Ngā manaakitanga
Cade
Important Dates
Upcoming Events
Mon 24 Feb - Fri 28 Feb - Wainui Camp - Kauri (Y7/8)
Wed 26 Feb - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)
Fri 28 Feb - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am, in the Hall)
Mon 3 Mar - Fri 7 Mar - Walk or Wheel to school week
Wed 5 Mar - Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)
Wed 5 Mar - School Swimming Sports
Fri 7 Mar - Kōwhai Top Team Challenge
Thu 13 Mar - Zone Swimming Sports Y5-8
Fri 14 Mar - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am, in the Hall)
Wed 19 Mar - School Photos TBC
Wed 26 Mar - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)
Fri 28 Mar - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am, in the Hall)
Wed 2 Apr - Fri 4 Apr - Living Springs Camp - Pōhutukawa (Y5/6)
Thu 3 Apr - Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)
Fri 11 Apr - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am, in the Hall)
Fri 11 Apr - Last Day of Term 1
Mon 28 Apr - First Day of Term 2
Citizen of the Week
Keira Ai - Year 4
Keira, your positive disposition shines through in everything you do. In your learning, you approach tasks with a growth mindset and are motivated to do your best. You are also a keen helper and love to make a positive difference by doing jobs around the hub and looking after your classmates. Kia kaha tō mahi, Keira! Jeremy Kemsley - Year 6
Jeremy, you are an incredible role model in the Pōhutukawa hub, in the way you consistently show all of the school values. You are a conscientious learner, keen to do your best, and you are highly organised, thinking ahead and making sure you are prepared. You are also an extremely caring friend, always looking out for others and helping where needed. Jeremy, you are an absolute star!
School Notices
PTA News
Join the PTA In 2025!
We will be having our first hui next week 26th February, 7.30pm in the room next to the hall. We’ll be planning lots of fun fundraising and school community events for the year and we’d love some more hands. Don’t hesitate to get in touch via pta@beckenham.school.nz. If you can’t do meetings but would like to help with events we would also love to hear from you.
The PTA meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm at school. We raise money for the school through a variety of fundraising efforts (new ideas welcome!) and run events such as the Disco and the Bingo night. We also run the second hand uniform shop.
We’re looking forward to seeing Weetbix Tryathlon participants on Sunday. Look out for the big black gazebo at Jellie park and don’t forget to come and get an iceblock after the run.
Communicating Absences
Our Text Line for reporting absences is currently not working. Please contact the school office if your child will be absent from school via the below methods instead:
(Press 1 to leave an absence message)
Email: office@beckenham.school.nz
When contacting us please remember to include; your name, your child's name, the reason for their absence, and how long you expect your child will be away from school.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while we sort this matter.
Garden Club
Some children put together some bags of beans last week grown with loads of aroha.
The year 1-4s hope to have more vege sales…so keep an eye out for our garden sale table in the mornings.
Any koha would be greatly appreciated to keep up the hard work!
There has been celery, apples & more beans, even some sunflower seeds in the mix!
Also if anyone has any leftover seeds at home they are happy to donate to the garden club, we would love to get growing this term.
Thank you for your ongoing support!
The munch bunch!
Financial Statements
You will have received your student's financial statement this week.
This is just a reminder that donation payments (including camp donations) are able to be submitted for the Donation Tax Credits from the IRD. This scheme entitles you to claim back 33% of your donation payments, if you meet the eligibility criteria. Payments made by 31st March, can be submitted as part of your application for the financial year ended 31st March 2025.
If you need any assistance logging into Hero to view your statement or if you wish to find out more about setting up payment instalments and claiming the donation tax credits, you can refer to the
Finance and Annual Donation page of our website.
If you have a student in Kauri, you will see the camp contribution request for the Wainui camp has now been added to your account. Thank you very much to the PTA for the kind contribution towards the buses! If you have chosen to pay your school donations in instalments over the year, please consider increasing these to allow for additional contributions towards the cost of camp.
Payments may be made in part or full to the school bank account - ASB Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Board of Trustees 12 3148 0131641 000 using your child's name as a reference.
The school office also has Eftpos facilities available.
If you have any queries, please email accounts@beckenham.school.nz
Reo Māori o te Wīki
Have a go at saying these every day, throughout the day. “We Love Learning ”, "He taonga te ako”!
Whakataukī: Ahakoa he iti kete, he iti nā te aroha - This means it’s the thought that counts.
Kīwaha: Mē he tē! - this means like a boss! An expression used to say that someone does something very well.
Kupu: Kāore - this means no.
If you are unsure on the pronunciation of a word, have a look on Te Aka (the
Māori dictionary) where you can hear how the word is spoken correctly.
CSM Band programme try-an-instrument
CSM try-an-instrument afternoon was a busy success! Thank you to everyone who came along to try out an instrument!
If your child is interested in learning an instrument with the Christchurch School of Music School Band Programme in 2025, we encourage you to enrol using the google form
https://forms.gle/pJ322wdRYh44hPZ77
Lunch Orders
Lunches are delivered to the school office for children to collect at 1.20pm
Monday – Sushi Factory is available through LunchOnline.
Tuesday – Subway is available through LunchOnline
Wednesday – Subway is available through LunchOnline.
Thursday – Sushi Meets Dumplings is available.
Friday – Sushi Factory is available through LunchOnline.
Lunch Online
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto uses Subway and Sushi Factory through the Lunchonline web based ordering system.
LunchOnline orders need to be placed by 8:30am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Please ensure that you update your child's details on their database so lunches can be matched up with your child more easily if they need to be delivered.
Sushi Meets Dumplings
Sushi Meets Dumplings is delivered on Thursdays.
Orders for Sushi Meets Dumplings need to be placed the night before, and latest by 9am on Thursdays.
'Kiss & Go' Drop Off Area - 3 min Parking
A reminder please, that the drop off and pick up area on Sandwich Road (by the bike stands) is a 3min drop-off zone from 8:30-9:30am and 2:30-3:30pm on school days. This means drivers are not able to sit in their cars from 2:30pm waiting for children, or to park cars in this area and go into school. If you arrive early and wait for children, or if you need to get out of your car and come into school, please find an alternative place to park. Having this area just for drop-offs means that the traffic on Sandwich Road moves smoothly before and after school, and this is much safer for our children.
Staff Profiles
As part of promoting the teaching profession, interviews were carried out with new teachers, and published on the Education Magazine - The Education Gazette.
This article features our very own Georgia.
Well done Georgia.
BOT Update
Policy Review
From time to time we ask you to review one of our policies that come up on our review cycle. A policy for whānau review is the
Recording and Reporting Accidents, Injuries, and Illness policy. You will find it on School Docs
at this link. Click on current review, start review and follow the directions.
Username: beckenham
Password: pride
Instructions for reviewers
- Follow the link to the policy.
- Read the policy.
- Click the "Start Review" icon at the right-hand top corner of the page. A new screen will appear.
- Select your role (board member, staff member, student, whānau or other) from the drop-down list.
- Enter your name (optional).
- Submit your ratings and comments.
If you don't have internet access, school office staff can easily provide you with printed copies of the policy and the review form.
Community Notices
(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)
Events/Activities: for Caregivers and tamariki
Christchurch City Libraries, what’s on: https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/holiday-programmes-events-and-activities/
Sparklers at Home: https://sparklers.org.nz/wh%C4%81nau/
www.nooknz.com : Keeping families up-to-date with ‘what to do’ : https://nooknz.com/
Community Services Quick links:
Foodbanks: https://www.foodbank.co.nz/links
Family Services Directory - The Family Services Directory is a searchable online database. It lists information about family support organisations and the services/programmes they offer to support New Zealand families (we call the organisations in the Family Services Directory "providers"). The purpose of the Family Services Directory is to connect people with providers who can help them to cope with common issues and problems. https://www.familyservices.govt.nz/directory/
Community Law: https://communitylaw.org.nz/
Wellbeing Support:
Safe to Talk: https://www.safetotalk.nz/
Youthline: https://youthline.co.nz/ Call: 0800 611 116 Call: 1737
Te Whatu Ora - Health NZ: https://info.health.nz/
Food Support:
Kairos: https://www.foodb Kairos Free Store: Mondays and Fridays 5:30-6:30, 284 Tuam St Free Store: Kairos Food Rescue foodbank.co.nz/canterbury
Christchurch City Mission foodbank: via appointment 0800 787 855
Salvation Army foodbanks and other welfare services: Central, Sydenham, Linwood, Aranui.
St Ambrose Church foodbank: 03 388 6699
Hoon Hay Foodbank: 14A, 12 McCarthy St, Hoon Hay
Lyttelton Community House: 03 741 1427
Pataka Kai:(community pantries)
The Housing First Christchurch Office: 242 Ferry Road
111 Barbour Street Waltham
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