Principal's Update
Kia ora whānau,
Changes to Student Reporting in 2026
This year, schools across Aotearoa New Zealand have begun implementing the refreshed curricula for Mathematics and Statistics, English.
As a school, we are currently transitioning from the previous curriculum to these new learning frameworks. This means that teachers are using updated teaching approaches, assessment practices, and learning expectations to support student progress and achievement.
We would also like to acknowledge the significant work our teachers have undertaken as part of this transition. Over the past 18 months, staff have engaged in extensive professional learning to develop their understanding of the refreshed curriculum and adapt their teaching, assessment, and reporting practices. This has involved reviewing programmes, learning new approaches, and carefully considering how best to support student progress within the new curriculum framework. We are grateful for the commitment and professionalism our teachers have shown throughout this process.
What will reports look like?
This year, reports will include progress descriptors for Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. These descriptors indicate how your child is progressing in relation to the expectations of the refreshed curriculum for their year level.
For other curriculum areas, teachers will provide learning stories that celebrate your child's learning, growth, strengths, and next steps. These learning stories are designed to give families a rich picture of the experiences, skills, knowledge, and competencies their child is developing across the curriculum.
What does this mean for my child?
Because the new curriculum has only been in place since the beginning of 2026, you may notice differences in your child's reported achievement or progress compared with previous years. In some cases, these differences may reflect changes in curriculum expectations rather than changes in your child's learning.
Teachers use a range of evidence when making judgements about student progress, including classroom observations, learning conversations, assessment tasks, and formal assessment tools. These sources help build a comprehensive picture of each learner's strengths, needs, and progress.
Understanding the Progress Descriptors
Schools across New Zealand are now using common progress descriptors to show how students are achieving in relation to the expectations for their year level.
Emerging
Students at this stage:
Are beginning to understand some learning ideas for their year level with significant support.
Can sometimes use what they have learned but usually need assistance.
Are making meaningful progress that aligns with their individual strengths and needs.
Developing
Students at this stage:
Are beginning to understand key learning concepts, often with some support.
Can recall and apply learning in familiar situations with guidance.
Are making progress towards the expectations for their year level.
Consolidating
Students at this stage:
Are increasingly able to use learning strategies independently.
Are becoming more confident at remembering and applying their learning.
Are beginning to transfer their learning to new situations.
Can reflect on their learning and identify ways to improve.
Proficient
Students at this stage:
Consistently use effective learning strategies independently.
Can apply their learning successfully in a variety of situations.
Often transfer their knowledge and skills to new contexts.
Explain their thinking clearly and contribute ideas that support the learning of others.
Exceeding
Students at this stage:
Demonstrate advanced understanding and thinking.
Make connections across different learning areas and situations.
Extend and deepen their ideas independently.
Apply their learning creatively and thoughtfully to complex challenges.
Critically evaluate and test ideas to build deeper knowledge.
Questions?
We recognise that curriculum and reporting changes can raise questions for families. If you would like to discuss your child's progress or achievement in more detail, we encourage you to contact your child's teacher. They will be happy to explain how your child is progressing and the evidence used to make these judgements.
Thank you for your ongoing support as we work together to ensure the best possible learning outcomes for every child.
Ngā mihi
Cade
Principal / Tumuaki
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto
Principal / Tumuaki
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto
Important Dates
2026 Term Dates - Linked Here
Citizen of the Week
Sarah - Year 8
Sarah, you make a positive impact at school through your kindness, reliability, and thoughtful approach to others. You lead by example, helping to create a supportive and inclusive environment for your peers. Kia manawanui, Sarah.
Aelara - Year 3
Aelara, your kindness is infectious. Your gentle and caring nature makes you a pleasure to be around. You are a loyal and supportive friend who consistently looks to includes others. You have a focused work ethic and you approach every challenge with a positive, fun-loving attitude. Tino pai Aelara!
School Notices
40 Hour Challenge: Go Offline. Make a Difference.
19–21 June | Be Part of Something Bigger
This year, World Vision are inviting young people across Aotearoa to take part in the 40 Hour Challenge and make a real difference for children and communities in the Solomon Islands.
Through this year’s challenge, participants will raise funds to help children access enough nutritious food to grow up healthy and strong. Fundraising will support families with tools, seeds, and training to grow crops that can survive a changing climate. It will also help communities protect gardens from rising sea levels and support efforts to bring fish back closer to shore.
Your support can make a real difference:
- $30 will train a mother in nutrition.
- $98 will provide seeds and farming tools so families can continue feeding their children despite rising seas and unpredictable crops.
- $178 will help a young person start a business with their peers, building skills and earning income.
Our Year 5–8 students had the opportunity to sign up during Week 5. We would love your support in helping them sign up, choose a challenge, and begin their fundraising journey. Click the link here to join our school's fundraising page.
Whether students decide to go completely offline for 40 hours or create a challenge of their own, every effort helps create change.
40 Hours? Challenge accepted.
Sign up. Switch off. Stand up for Pacific kids.
Not taking part in the 40 Hour Challenge but would still like to support our school fundraising efforts? Here is the link to our school fundraising page.
You can also view the video link here.
Sustainability - We Care! We Make A Difference!
Along with Cashmere High School students, an initiative started by the sustainability club at Cashmere High School, a group of 7 Beckenham students helped recently with planting along the Cashmere stream.
It was an awesome group effort of about 40 people on David Attenborough’s 100th birthday. Our students did a great cleanup of the banks, as well as helping with planting and putting the equipment back. The grasses will help to cool the stream for the eels, absorb runoff, and the draping leaves provide some habitat for small aquatic life.
Kupu Māori o te Wiki
Chicken Chat 🐔
'Our Chickens' Page on the School Website
Our chickens now have their own page on the school website! Please feel free to take a look - more regular chicken updates are to come.
Our chickens now have their own page on the school website! Please feel free to take a look - more regular chicken updates are to come.
Chickenstock 2026
Last Saturday, 23rd of May, a large and passionate crowd gathered at the Climate Change Campus to support the chickens and trainers selected for Chickenstock - Christchurch’s premier chicken athletics event.
One of the largest teams competing was made up of Silkies and their dedicated trainers from Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto, led by Director of Chickens, Sue Leadbetter. The team and its supporters stood out for their care, commitment and determination to help their chickens put their best foot forward, and in the right direction.
A standout performance came from Waffles, expertly supported by Ryland. For just under two minutes, on the obstacle course and in front of a large crowd, Ryland and Waffles appeared to become one as they navigated obstacles placed in their way. As Waffles stepped onto the finishing stump, the crowd erupted, with chants of “We love Waffles!” ringing through the venue.
Thank you to all members of our school whānau who attended and supported the event. It was a wonderful example of community spirit, encouragement and pure joy.
Results:
- Seth and Potato - 1st place in the high jump
- Ryland and Waffles - 1st place in the obstacle course
Here are some highlights from the day:
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The Sports Corner
Kia ora koutou,
This section of our newsletter will be 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
Pōhutukawa & Kauri Weekly Winter Sport: Player of the Day
What a wonderful first week of Weekly Winter Sport! It was fantastic to see our students representing our kura with enthusiasm, teamwork, and positive attitudes across all venues.
A special congratulations to our Players of the Day, who were recognised not only for their skills and effort, but also for the way they demonstrated our school values throughout the afternoon. We are incredibly proud of the sportsmanship, resilience, and encouragement shown by all of our teams.
Thank you to our whānau and volunteers for your ongoing support — we couldn’t do it without you!
- Year ⅚ Hockey - Elsie S, Aubrey, Freya, Nataly & Finn
- Year ⅚ Netball - Ross, Emma D, Sage & Carice
- Year ⅞ Flag Football - Nick
- Year ⅞ Football - Josh
- Year ⅞ Hockey - Woody, Constantin & Daniel
- Year ⅞ Netball - Grace, Britta & Jacob
Year 7/8 Warriors Celebrate First Pioneer Basketball Win 🏀
A huge congratulations to our Year 7/8 Warriors basketball team, who secured their first win of the Pioneer Basketball competition on Friday night!
The boys showed fantastic teamwork, determination, and resilience out on the court, and it was awesome to see all their hard work pay off. A special shoutout also goes to their coach, Dom from Cashmere High School, who is doing an incredible job supporting and developing the team each week. We really appreciate the time, energy, and enthusiasm he brings to the role. Well done team — we can’t wait to see what the rest of the season brings!
South Zone Cross Country Success
Yesterday, we sent 44 students to Hansen Park to compete in the South Zone cross country and came away with some phenomenal results. A big congratulations to the following 12 racers who have qualified to represent the South Zone at the Canterbury Cross Country:
- Year 5: Amelia
- Year 6: Laurien, Chloe, Laurence & Ethan
- Year 7: Haydn & Clara
- Year 8: Laura, Misha, Ben, Zach & Jacob
PTA News
Save the date - Saturday 27th June - Bingo night!
The PTA and Kauri team are hosting a fundraising Bingo night! If you have a business and can help with any silent auction or bingo prizes, please let us know by completing this form:
Any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at pta@beckenham.school.nz
As always, thank you for your support!
Our Next PTA Team Meeting
We are meeting tomorrow night, Wednesday, 3rd June, at 7.30pm in the staffroom. Newcomers are always welcome!
If you would like to help the PTA but can’t make the meetings, please join the PTA Supporters Messenger Group.
BOT Update
Term 2 Policy Review Now Open - SchoolDocs
- Visit the website https://beckenham.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
- Enter the username (beckenham) and password (pride).
- Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
- Read the policy.
- Click the Start your review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
- Select the reviewer type.
- Enter your name (optional).
- Follow the prompts to show that you've read the topic and enter your feedback if you'd like to comment.
- Agree to the privacy statement and click “Submit review”.
If you don't have internet access, our school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.
- Visit the website https://beckenham.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
- Enter the username (beckenham) and password (pride).
- Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
- Read the policy.
- Click the Start your review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
- Select the reviewer type.
- Enter your name (optional).
- Follow the prompts to show that you've read the topic and enter your feedback if you'd like to comment.
- Agree to the privacy statement and click “Submit review”.
Community Notices
(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)
