Monthly Archives: December 2025

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Schoolwide Newsletter, Rāmere (Friday) 5th December 2025

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Principal's Update

Kia ora Whānau,

Celebrating the Arts - Memories That Last

A huge congratulations to our Kōwhai Hub Year 3/4 students and staff for their vibrant and entertaining production of Jukebox Journey, and to our Kauri Hub Year 7/8 students for their creativity and humour in Diary of a Beckenham Kid.

Both productions showcased the hard work, collaboration, and talent of our students and staff, supported by whānau and our wider school community. These experiences are not only a celebration of performance but an important part of the New Zealand Arts Curriculum, building confidence, creativity, storytelling, and teamwork. For many children, these are the memories that stay with them long after they leave primary school, and we are incredibly proud of the opportunities our learners have embraced.

The Great Migration - We Need Your Help!

As we prepare for our new hub configurations and learning spaces for 2026, we will be moving resources, furniture, and equipment across the school and we would love your help!

When: Thursday 11 December
 Time: 3:00pm - 4:30pm
 Who: Adults and children welcome: even 10 - 15 minutes makes a big difference!

Please report directly to the hub of your choice, and our staff will guide you on what needs to be moved and where it needs to go.

WE GET THERE TOGETHER!

Staffing Update for 2026


We would like to acknowledge Katie McFarlane, who will be taking one year of leave in 2026 to work as a Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour (RTLB). This is a fantastic professional opportunity, and we wish her all the very best for the coming year.


We are pleased to announce that Kendall Skelton will join our Koru Team in 2026, teaching our newest learners in Homegroup 1.


Our full teaching teams for 2026 are listed below.

2026 Teaching Teams

Koru

  • Homegroup 1 (NE): Kendall Skelton

  • Homegroup 2 (NE): Elizabeth Drummond / Nicola Reddecliffe

Kahikatea

  • Homegroup 1 (Year 1/2): Sarah Junghenn (Team Leader Koru/Kahikatea)

  • Homegroup 2 (Year 1/2): Sarah Spence

  • Homegroup 3 (Year 1/2): Amber Donovan

  • Homegroup 4 (Year 1/2): Talia Garrick

Kōwhai

  • Homegroup 1 (Year 3/4): Anna Reid (Team Leader)

  • Homegroup 2 (Year 3/4): Gayle McNaughton

  • Homegroup 3 (Year 3/4): Georgia McKenna

  • Homegroup 4 (Year 3/4): Jordan Pollock

Pōhutukawa

  • Homegroup 1 (Year 5/6): Chris Gaut (Team Leader)

  • Homegroup 2 (Year 5/6): Chloe Wilson

  • Homegroup 3 (Year 5/6): Nick Bruce

  • Homegroup 4 (Year 5/6): Kate Meder

  • Homegroup 5 (Year 5/6): Rae Marsh

Kauri

  • Homegroup 1 (Year 7/8): Hugo Weaver (Team Leader)

  • Homegroup 2 (Year 7/8): Megan Culver

  • Homegroup 3 (Year 7/8): Kate McGregor

  • Homegroup 4 (Year 7/8): Sarah Angelo

Additional Support

  • Literacy Support: Lisa Collier

  • Maths Support / ESOL: Georgie Jones

Release teachers: Nicky Dunlop, Rowe Barker, Megan Harris, Cat Noakes-Duncan, Stacey McLachlan


Wishing you a great weekend and an enjoyable final week and a half of school.


Ngā mihi

Cade

Principal / Tumuaki

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto

Important Dates

Upcoming Events - Term 4

WEEK 10

Mon 8 Dec - Kauri Victoria Park Walk

Mon 8 Dec - Year 8 Waltham Pool Party (4:00-6:00pm)

Wed 10 Dec - Kauri Cass Bay Trip

Fri 12 Dec - Final Celebration Assembly (9:45am-10:30am)

Fri 12 Dec - Pōhutukawa Team 'Big Day In' (12:00-2:45pm)


WEEK 11

Tue 16 Dec - Year 8 Graduation Assembly (11:00-12:00pm, Leavers Lunch: 12:00-1:00pm)

Wed 17 Dec - Last Day of the Year, School finishes at 12:30pm


2026 Term Dates

Fri 30 Jan & Mon 2 Feb - Learning Conferences
Tue 3 Feb - Term 1 Classes Start

Citizen of the Week

Archie - Year 8

Archie, you are a fantastic role model in our school community. You approach each day with enthusiasm, kindness, and a genuine willingness to help others. Your positive attitude, friendliness, and sense of responsibility make a real difference in the classroom. Ka mau te wehi, Archie - keep shining!


Levi - Year 6

Levi, you set an amazing example to your peers and consistently demonstrate a mature, thoughtful attitude in the classroom. You work incredibly hard, always striving to do your best in every subject and challenge. Coupled with your truly awesome sense of humour, you make learning a fun and positive experience for everyone around you. He tangata whakamiharo koe!

Year 8 Kete Awards

WE CARE - Isabella

Isabella, your kindness shines in everything you do. You are a loyal friend, a thoughtful helper, and someone who always notices when others need support. Your dedication as a pet carer and your work with the flag notices team show your responsibility, reliability, and quiet leadership. You bring calm, empathy, and positivity to every space you enter. You live our school whakataukī, “Arohaina te tāngata me te taiao” — loving people and caring for the environment. Congratulations, Isabella!


WE CARE - Tish

Tish, every day you show the school value of We Care. You support others with kindness, patience, and a willingness to step in whenever someone needs a hand. Your involvement in a wide range of extracurricular activities shows your commitment, but it’s your genuine care for people that makes the biggest impact. Many students and staff appreciate your quiet presence, your thoughtful actions, and the way you look out for others without ever expecting recognition. Thank you for the compassion and steadiness you bring to our kura. You illustrate the School Value of We Care.


WE LOVE CHALLENGE - Mark

Mark, you represent our School Value of “We Love Challenge”. This year, you’ve embraced opportunities across Year 8 with enthusiasm and determination. We have seen you active in leadership roles, sports, Band Quest, String Ensemble, passions and in your academic work. You also inspire those around you, encouraging friends to step out of their comfort zones and take on new challenges. Thank you for the energy, courage, and commitment you bring to kura. You take on challenges with enthusiasm.


WE LOVE LEARNING - Zakhar

Zakhar, you are always eager and prepared for learning, and this shines through in everything you do. Your willingness to problem-solve, help others and share your own learning is wonderful to see. You are a clever and engaged learner, always seeking feedback and using it to strengthen your work. Your great attitude and commitment to growing as a learner are truly outstanding. Thank you Zakhar, for bringing such positivity and dedication to our kura.


WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE - Annabelle

Annabelle, you consistently show what it means to Make a Difference. Across the curriculum, you approach every task with determination and curiosity, consistently achieving excellence through hard work and contribution. As Waimea House Captain, you’ve shown reliable leadership by encouraging others and helping your team. Thank you for the leadership, effort, and positivity you bring each day. You make our school a better place simply by being part of it. You demonstrate We make a difference.


WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE - Abigail

Abby, you are a motivated and dynamic member of Team Kauri. Throughout the year, you have shown a strong commitment to supporting our kura — not only through your thoughtful contributions as part of the Student Council Executive, but also in the way you consistently role-model our school values each day. Thank you for the energy, positivity, and enthusiasm you bring to kura, Abby. It truly makes a difference. Nā mātou he rereke te ao.


WE GET THERE TOGETHER - Benjamin

Ben, you have been a stand out team player and leader in Team Kauri this year! Every day you are prepared to offer your energy and time for the team. Whether this is in the form of cleaning the PE shed, carrying sport equipment, arriving early to setup for Cross country and Athletics day or running lunchtime games for younger students. You exemplify “We Get There Together” by your willingness to support your peers and this Kura. Thank you for all your hard work, Ben! Mā tatou katoa te waka e hoe.


WE GET THERE TOGETHER - Archie

Archie, you are an outstanding team player and leader. Your calm confidence and positive attitude allow you to work effectively in any group, whether as the Heathcote House Captain, a Theatre Sports leader, or kapa haka performer. You actively contribute to a wide range of school activities, including numerous sports events, always giving your best and encouraging others along the way. Mā tatou kātou me te waka e hoa — together, we all paddle the waka. Congratulations, Archie!

School Notices

EZlunch

From Term 1, 2026 our school will be using Ezlunch, part of the Kindo platform, for all online lunch orders.
Ezlunch offers a simple, mobile-friendly way for families to order fresh, tasty lunches from the same local providers you already know and love. The ordering process is quick, payments are secure, and delivery to school is reliable and easy.

Parents can order using the Kindo app (iPhone and Android) and choose from a range of convenient payment options, including card, bank transfer, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and more. The system also includes helpful allergen alerts and automated reminders, so no one misses out on lunch day.
Ezlunch is free for schools, reduces admin time, and makes it easier for families to stay organised.

We’re excited to bring this service to our school community and look forward to launching with Ezlunch in Term 1, 2026.

Are you missing a Scooter? Could one of these be yours?

We have 4 x scooters sitting in our school office waiting to be claimed by their owner(s). If you recognise these or know who they may belong to, please drop into the office and take a look or phone the office on (03) 337 1404.

Reminder - Sunhat and Drink Bottles

As we enter into the warmer weather, every child must attend 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.

Student Council

Cupcake Fundraiser

Our Student Council were excited to announce a cupcake fundraiser, with all proceeds going to Big Brother Big Sister, an organisation that provides long-term mentoring for young people across New Zealand.

To show the impact this charity can have, here’s a short story from one of their mentors:
“When I first met Jordan, he was a tiny seven-year-old with no front teeth who could barely reach the pedals on his bike. Nine years later, he’s almost as tall as me, shaves daily, and is asking me to teach him to drive. Watching him grow from a shy, quiet boy into a confident, focused young man has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. I joined BBBS thinking about what I could give, but I’ve ended up receiving so much more. The time we’ve spent together has created ripples of positive change in both our lives.”

We’re proud to support a charity doing such powerful work and appreciate your support with this fundraiser.

Ngā mihi - Oscar Wood & The Student Council Team

Chicken Chat

Our school chicks are growing! They have been spending time in various hubs around the school and enjoying getting to know the ākonga!

The Sports Corner

Kia ora koutou,

This section of our newsletter is dedicated to highlighting the successes and challenges our students are experiencing in sports outside of school. We love seeing our ākonga (students) showing our school values, especially We Love Challenge Nau Mau Te Wero in the community. If your child has had a sporting success that you’d like to share with our community, please email me with a short blurb and photo to: kate.mcgregor@beckenham.school.nz - We’d love to feature it in our next newsletter!


Ngā mihi nui,

Kate McGregor

Sports Coordinator


Mason - Equestrian Success!

Congratulations to Mason, who won his in-hand Purebred Welsh Pony class showing at Courtenay A&P Show. This was his pony's first ever show - a huge well done to Mason and his pony Peanut!

Canterbury Athletics Success

On Wednesday, 28 November, 18 ākonga proudly represented the South Zone at the Canterbury Athletics, following their success at the South Zone event earlier this month. Not only did they display outstanding effort and uphold our school values throughout the day, but many also achieved highly commendable results that we are delighted to share.

A special congratulations to Laura Stoney (Year 7) and Levi Bunting (Year 6) who both placed first in their events — the Year 7 Girls’ 1500m and the Year 5/6 Boys’ AWD Shot Put, respectively.

Ngā mihi nui and congratulations to all of our ākonga who competed, and an extra well done to those who placed in the top three of their events. Ka mau te wehi!

  • Boys’ 60m AWD Year 5/6: Levi Bunting (3rd Place)

  • Boys’ 60m AWD Year 7/8: Jacob Hamilton (3rd Place)

  • Boys’ 60m Year 7: Jensen Spence (3rd Place)

  • Girls’ 1500 m Year 7: Laura Stoney (1st Place)

  • Boys’ Discus AWD Year 5/6: Levi Bunting (2nd Place)

  • Boys’ Discus AWD Year 7/8: Mitchell Trotter (2nd Place)

  • Boys’ Discus AWD Year 7/8: Jacob Hamilton (3rd Place)

  • Boys’ Shot Put AWD Year 5/6: Levi Bunting (1st Place)

  • Boys’ Shot Put AWD Year 7/8: Mitchell Trotter (3rd Place)

Touch Rugby Team Shout Out - Beckenham Eels

We received some incredible feedback about one of our Thursday night touch rugby teams, the Beckenham Eels (Year 7/8), that we wanted to share with our community. Well done to this incredible group of tamariki, you have done our school, and yourselves, proud.

This team is awesome — truly one of the best-mannered and kindest groups of tamariki out there. Their coach has even joked that they know more about the game than she does, yet they remain respectful, attentive, and wonderfully sportsmanlike.

The Eels have faced some tough competition this season, and while the scoreboard hasn’t always reflected their effort, they continue to show grit, positivity, and determination. With a bit more time, there’s no doubt they’ll start turning those results around. Despite challenging matches, they simply get on with it and play with heart. Another example of Beckenham turning out great humans.

PTA News

Colour Run - Thank You! 

A huge thank you to our amazing Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto community for your incredible support of this year’s Colour Run! Together, we raised an outstanding $22,787.10 – an amazing achievement that will make a real difference for our school.

From the families who gathered sponsors, to the volunteers who helped run the event, to every child who took part with enthusiasm and colour, and to the staff who reluctantly agreed to be slimed – we are so grateful. 

We also want to extend a special thank you to all our corporate sponsors. Your generosity and willingness to support our school played a key part in the success of this event, and we are truly appreciative of your contribution to our community.

Thank you for backing our tamariki and helping make this event such a fantastic success. What an incredible effort from everyone!

Last PTA Hui of 2025!

We will be holding our last PTA meeting of 2025 on Wednesday, 10th December at 7.30pm in the Staff Room. We will be making plans for next year so if you’ve got ideas or want to get involved we would love to see you!

Weetbix TRYathlon

There's still time to register for the Weetbix TRYathlon, which is happening on Sunday, February 22, 2026. Open this link to register with our school group.

Entertainment Book 

Entertainment books are still for sale and available to buy here. There are heaps of savings for lots of school holiday activities, and membership would make a great gift for one of those hard-to-buy-for family members! 20% of the cost of the book comes straight back to school, and there are bonus Visa gift cards with each purchase. 

BOT Update

Term 4 Policy Review - SchoolDocs

    1. Visit the website linked here.

    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, the school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form).

Community Notices

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

Beckenham Community Christmas Celebration - Tonight Friday 5th December!

Please join us for the Beckenham Community Christmas Celebration this coming Friday (5th December)! This FREE family event starts at 5pm on the grounds of Beckenham School Te Kura o Puroto. We will have the BBQ, market stalls, a bicycle smoothie maker, face painting, a concert by the school band, and other favourites.

Join your neighbours, bring a picnic or enjoy the free sausages, and savour the beautiful summer weather forecast for the end of the week! 
Organised by Beckenham locals and supported by the Beckenham Methodist Church, Beckenham Neighbourhood Association, and local Boys and Girls Brigade groups.
For more details, please visit the link here.
Any questions, please email betterbeckenham@gmail.com.

Relay For Life Christchurch 2026.

Saturday, March 28th at Christchurch Agricultural Park.
This event is an incredible opportunity for your students to come together, show leadership, and make a real impact in the fight against cancer. Whether through forming a team, volunteering, or fundraising, their involvement helps support the 1 in 3 New Zealanders affected by cancer.
Registration is just $10 per student. If you have any questions in the meantime, please reach out to: Cherie.roper@southerncancer.org.nz
Link to Register

STORYBOX DRAMA PROCESS DRAMA CLASSES

Ages 4-12 years

Storybox Drama classes offer a creative, playful approach that nurtures imagination, curiosity and the creative process. We encourage children to explore, improvise, and shape stories together, all inspired by quality children’s books. Our classes are well suited to children who are new to drama, with an emphasis on process that fosters confidence, empathy, and effective collaboration.  

Enrolments for Term 1, 2026 are now open! 
Follow us on facebook and instagram for news and updates

Free Live Online Fan Call & Q&A with All White & Auckland FC Footballer Jesse Randall 

Sunday, 25 January
7:00pm NZDT
Online via Zoom + YouTube
FREE for all students, families & educators
Students and whānau are invited to join a special online event with
Jesse Randall — All White and Auckland FC professional footballer.
He’ll share insights into:
  • His journey from junior football to the A-League
  • What it takes to reach national team level
  • Mindset, training, recovery, and resilience
  • Balancing school, sport, and life
  • Live Q&A — students can ask their own questions!