Monthly Archives: July 2026

Koru Team News: Term 3 Week 2

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Kia ora, e te whānau,

A very warm welcome (back) to you all, and we especially welcome the families of our newest tamariki. The children have settled beautifully, and we are truly impressed with the way the older children are showing such care and kindness towards the children who had their first day at school last week. 

We have a busy term ahead, and will be keeping you up to date with our whiteboard notices, as well as through our blog posts. Also, please make sure you read our school newsletters as they are sent out to you via Hero. Another way to keep up to date is by checking our school website where you can find our school calendar. Here you will find all the details you will need to know, about what's coming up in the days, weeks and months ahead.


Matariki Evening:
Thank you to those of you who were able to attend our Matariki Evening during the first week of term. What a fabulous event, with a wonderful selection of workshops on offer (see photos below). This evening was coordinated superbly by Kate Meder from our Pōhutukawa team. Thank you so much for a truly wonderful evening, Kate.

What's coming up: 

On Friday, August 7th, a 'Scooter-athlon' is being held at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. This will involve Koru team tamariki running a short distance, scooting around a course which will be well-marked for the children and finishing with another short run. Teachers will take their Home Groups out to walk the course, prior to the event itself. There will be several marshalls at points around the course, to ensure that children follow the correct route. The running parts of the course are in the park, and the scooting part is around the edge of our junior playground and also includes the courtyard area on the river side of the hall.

If you happen to have a spare scooter and helmet, we would be very grateful if you were willing to lend them for use during the event. Please see your child's Home Group teacher if this is the case.

If your child would like to participate, however doesn't have a scooter and a helmet, please let your child's Home Group teacher know and we will endeavour to match your child with a spare scooter and helmet.

Please note that this is a fun event and there is no compulsion for children to participate.

Those children participating will do so in house groups:

  • 2:25 p.m.: Fisher and Heathcote
  • 2:35 p.m.: Tennyson and Waimea

Literacy links:
For our new whānau, please find below some Literacy links which we hope you will find helpful.
Photo Gallery:












Have a fabulous weekend ahead, everyone, and we look forward to seeing those beautiful, wide smiles back at school on Monday morning!

Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou,
Stacey, Nicola, Kendall and Elizabeth



Year 7 & 8 Team @ Beckenham 2026-07-31 15:27:38

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Kauri Team Update – Term 3, Week 2

Materials Needed

Mixed Media Art: We are looking for donations of old magazines for our Mixed Media Art classes. If you have any to spare, please drop them off in Megan's classroom (Hangere One).

Cereal Boxes: We are also collecting empty cereal boxes for upcoming art projects. Please drop these off in Sarah's classroom (Hangere Two). Thank you for your support!

Intermediate Open Evening – Tuesday 5 August

Next week, Kauri will be hosting our Intermediate Open Evening. Our Year 8 students will proudly represent the Kauri Team, sharing what it is like to be an intermediate student at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.

They will introduce visitors to our intermediate programme, the exciting opportunities available throughout the year, and answer questions from prospective students and their whānau. Dinner will also be provided for our student presenters. We are looking forward to welcoming our future Kauri students.

Silent Reading

Kauri students continue to enjoy Silent Reading after lunch at least three times each week. This provides a calm, relaxing break in the day and encourages a love of reading. Many students have been making the most of the beautiful winter sunshine while enjoying a good book.

Math

Our mathematics focus for the first half of the term is Measurement and Geometry. Students have been applying their learning through practical investigations. One activity involved measuring the speed of sound across the school field using distance, time and teamwork.





Students learning about the speed of sound. 

Structured Literacy

Structured Literacy continues throughout Term 3 as students build on their existing knowledge and skills. Learning includes:

  • Morphology (how words are built)

  • Etymology (the origins of words)

  • Spelling patterns

  • Reading fluency

  • Vocabulary development

  • Comprehension strategies

It has been fantastic to see students growing in confidence as readers and writers.


Matariki Celebration

During Week 1, our whole school celebrated Matariki with a wonderful community evening. It was fantastic to see so many whānau and community members joining us to celebrate together.

A highlight of the evening was watching our talented Kapa Haka groups perform. Thank you to everyone who came along and helped make the evening such a success.

Languages

Language groups have changed this term. Students in Sarah's and Hugo's classes are now learning Spanish, while students in Megan's and Kate's classes have begun learning French.

These lessons are taught by teachers from Cashmere High School, and students are enjoying the opportunity to learn a new language and explore different cultures.


Passions

Our Passion groups this term include:

  • Cooking

  • Movie Making

  • Origami

  • Board Games


Smoothie bowls


Students have enjoyed choosing an area of interest and developing new skills while working with students from across the Kauri Team.


Winter Sport

We are now into the second half of our Winter Sport season. Thank you to all of our families for supporting students with practices, transporting them to games, and keeping uniforms washed and ready each week. Your ongoing support is greatly appreciated.

Art Rotation

Students have begun exploring a range of artists and artistic styles during our Art Rotation. They are learning new techniques while developing their own creative ideas.

This term's art focuses include:

  • Mixed Media

  • Anime Drawing

  • Layered Art

  • Mosaic Art





We are looking forward to sharing some of the amazing artwork students produce throughout the term.



Celebrations

Congratulations to all those students who received their Kete Badges this week. Thank you for your mahi. 

Diversity Group

The diversity group have designed a badge which is for sale to Kauri students for $1. Each letter has been designed by a different student. Thank you to those students for all their work on this project. 


Upcoming Dates and Events

Opening Evening for Year 6- week 3, August 5

Cantamath week 5

PTA, disco, week 5

Ski Trip, week 7,  September 3

Staff Only Day, week 7, September 4

Speech Competition, week 9

Koro Games, week 10



Kōwhai News Term 3 Week 2

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Welcome to Term 3!

The children have made a great start to what is shaping up to be a very busy and fun term in the Kōwhai hub! Our timetable has changed this term to cater for the exciting opportunities on offer to our learners. Each homegroup is now taking part in weekly lessons or sessions in Dance, Cricket and Recorder.

Dance

Every Tuesday, the children take part in a half-hour dance session, lead by Theresa. Each homegroup is learning choreography to a different song, with all four classes preparing their own dance.The dance sessions start with a warm up, including some stretches, and then the children work together on their dance number. These sessions will culminate in an end-of-term performance. Watch this space for more details!


Cricket

For the next three Wednesdays, we all now join Dan from Canterbury Cricket for a half-hour cricket session on the field. Dan will be teaching key cricket skills such as batting, bowling and fielding. The children loved the first session and showed great active listening and participation skills. 





Recorder

Rachel comes in every Wednesday to teach us recorder. The children have all been provided with a recorder to use which is labelled and will be theirs to use for the term. So far, the children have learnt how to hold their recorders, how to make a sound on their recorder and use their thumb and index finger to play a short song. 



Scooter-athlon

As mentioned in our previous blog, the Scooter-athlon will be held next Friday 7th August from 11:30am. We will be doing a walk through of the course next week, prior to the event, and go over expectations to ensure this event goes smoothly! We look forward to seeing you all there, supporting your tamariki.

Cybersafety

Staying Safe Online: Scams

People in New Zealand are losing millions of dollars to scammers each year – and this is just the figures reported to Netsafe so the actual figure is likely much higher!

It’s important that you and your tamariki know what to look out for to avoid scams. Netsafe have put their best advice together to help you stay safe online and stay away from scams.


Read their scam tips here. 



Have a great weekend!

From the Kōwhai team

Pōhutukawa Team News Term 3 Week 2 2026

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Wow, what a fabulous start to the term we have had! We hope you all had a lovely break and have transitioned back into school routines. 


Matariki

Mānawatia a Matariki! As a school, we celebrated Matariki together last Wednesday. It was a fantastic evening of connection, celebration, and fun, with activities running across the school for everyone to enjoy. A huge well done to all our Pōhutukawa students who performed - you did an amazing job!


Canterbury Cricket Sessions


For the next three weeks, classes will be participating in cricket sessions run by Canterbury Cricket. These sessions will focus on a range of skill-based games designed to encourage trying something new and having fun!



South Zone’s Basketball Tournament


On Wednesday, a group of Pōhutukawa students proudly represented our school at the South Zones Basketball Tournament at Hillview. Despite the early morning start, the students brought great energy and played exceptionally well! Well done to everyone who participated.



40 Hour Challenge


We are blown away by the efforts Pōhutukawa and Kauri put into this year’s World Vision 40 Hour Challenge. Collectively, we raised $7,564 to go towards communities in the Solomon Islands. A massive shoutout to Leo D who raised $535!! On Friday during Celebration Assembly, Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto was presented an award recognising our fantastic efforts. 



Here are some reminders as we head into a new term:

  • Mud & Shoes: Shoes need to be removed before entering learning spaces to reduce mud coming in from the fields. We really appreciate everyone showing "We Care" for our environment. Students are welcome to bring slippers to wear indoors if they prefer not to walk around in socks/bare feet!

  • Winter Sports: Winter Sports continue this term, with the final session taking place in Week 6. Please ensure students arrive at school in their winter sports uniform with all appropriate gear (mouthguards, shin pads, etc.).

  • Trading rules for Ooshies (Woolworth’s current promotion)  in Pōhutukawa: Trading is banned during school hours. Trading can happen before and after school. Ooshies must be kept away in bags or placed on top of pencils as intended—not carried around during class. Trades must be strictly 1-for-1, and both students must fully agree. No Backsies! We will trial these trading rules, however if it does not work out we will remove Ooshies from school altogether. 



This term is already off to a fantastic start, and we look forward to the next eight weeks of learning, fun and growth!


Ngā mihi nui,

The Pōhutukawa Teaching Team

Chris, Chloe, Rae, Nick, Kate, Laura and Megan




















Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Schoolwide Newsletter, Rāmere (Friday) 24th July 2026

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Principal's Update

Kia ora koutou

It has been a great first week back at school. Our students have settled quickly into their routines and have been engaging really well in their learning. We are looking forward to another successful and exciting term at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.

Matariki Celebration 

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Matariki celebration this week. It was a wonderful evening and a fantastic opportunity to come together as a school community.

A special thank you to our staff, our Ferndale colleagues, and Kate and Cath for the time, care and effort they put into organising such a meaningful event. Thank you also to our PTA for providing the delicious sausages and hot chocolates, which were enjoyed by so many.

Matariki is a time to reflect on the past, celebrate the present and look with hope towards the future. It reminds us of the importance of whanaungatanga/coming together, strengthening relationships and supporting one another. Seeing so many students, whānau and staff connecting, sharing stories and celebrating together was a wonderful reflection of what makes Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto such a special community.

Welcome Assembly

Today we welcomed our new students and staff to Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto at our Term 3 Welcome Assembly. It is always a special occasion, and one that reminds us of the richness and diversity of our school community.

One of the highlights of the assembly is seeing each new student's country flag proudly carried through the hall. The pride shown by our students and their whānau is something truly special and reflects the unique journeys that have brought them to our school.

We are incredibly fortunate to have families from many different countries and cultures as part of our community. This diversity enriches our learning, broadens our perspectives, and strengthens our sense of belonging. It is something we value deeply and celebrate as an important part of who we are as Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.

Every Day Counts

At Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto, we want every child to thrive. One of the most important factors influencing a student's success at school is regular attendance. Every lesson builds on previous learning. Whether students are learning to read, mastering mathematics, developing friendships, or building confidence, each day provides valuable opportunities that are difficult to replicate when they are absent.

Research consistently shows that students who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve academically, develop positive relationships, and feel a stronger sense of belonging. Even missing one day every fortnight can add up to around four weeks of learning over the course of a year.

We understand that children will sometimes need to stay home when they are unwell, and we appreciate families making this decision when appropriate. However, if your child is well enough to attend school, we encourage them to be here every day. Establishing strong attendance habits in primary school lays the foundation for future success.

If your family is experiencing circumstances that are making regular attendance difficult, please let us know. We are committed to working alongside whānau to support every child to attend, participate and succeed.

Thank you for your continued partnership in ensuring every child has the opportunity to make the most of their learning. Every day really does count.

Ngā mihi,
Cade

Principal / Tumuaki
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto

Important Dates

2026 Term Dates - Linked Here

Upcoming EventsTerm 3
Wed 29 - Thu 30 JulyCanterbury Cricket Sessions (Yr 0-6)
Wed 29 JulySouth Zone Indoor Basketball Tournament (Yr 5/6)
Fri 31st JulyCelebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am, Hall)
Wed 5 - Thu 6 AugustCanterbury Cricket Sessions (Yr 0-6)
Wed 5 AugustIntermediate Hub Open Evening (6:30-7:30pm)
Wed 5 AugustPTA AGM Meeting (7:30- 8:30pm, Staff Room)
Fri 7 AugustKōwhai & Ferndale - Scooter-athlon (11:00-12:30pm) and
Koru & Kahikatea - Scooter-athlon (1:30-3:00pm)
Wed 12 - Thu 13 AugustCanterbury Cricket Sessions (Yr 0-6)
Fri 14 AugustCelebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am, Hall)
Sat 15 AugustBingo Night! (Doors open 7:00pm, Hall)
Mon 17 - Fri 21 AugustPōhutukawa Cycle Safe Week
Wed 19 AugustBoard of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)
Fri 21 AugustPTA School Disco (Glow Party, Neon Theme!)
Wed 26 AugustSchool Duathlon Event (Yr 5-8)
Fri 28 AugustCelebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am, Hall)
Wed 2 SeptemberPTA Meeting (7:30- 8:30pm, Staff Room)
Thu 3 SeptemberTeam Kauri Mount Hutt Ski Trip
Fri 4 SeptemberSchool Closed - Staff Only Day
Sat 12 - Sun 13 SeptemberPTA Book and Clothing Sale (Hall)

Citizen of the Week

Imogen - Year 4

Imogen, the positivity and enthusiasm that you bring to Kōwhai Hub every day is infectious. You always lead by example, displaying our school Kete values in all that you do. Your caring, empathetic nature, sense of humour and willingness to help out whenever you see a need make a difference to our hub. Tēnā rawa atu koe Imogen, keep shining!

Jos - Year 5

Jos, you are a positive and caring member of our school community who always gives 100% to everything you do. You are a role model for others and consistently demonstrate our school's Kete Values. We love seeing your creativity shine! Keep up the excellent work, Jos!

School Notices

School Timetable

TimeActivity
8:30 am – 8:55 amStudents arrive at school and prepare for the day
8:55 am – 9:00 amStudents go to class, and the morning roll is taken.
9:00 am – 10:30 amLearning time
10:30 am – 10:50 amPlay time
10:50 am – 11:00 amKai time (morning tea)
11:00 am – 12:40 pmLearning time
12:40 pm – 1:20 pmPlay time
1:20 pm – 1:40 pmKai time (lunch eating); the afternoon roll is taken.
1:40 pm – 3:00 pmLearning time
3:00 pmHome time
3:15 pmClearing bell rings (any children that are not collected by this time report to the office)

Cellphones, Smartwatches, and other personal digital devices 

Please avoid bringing personal devices to school where possible. If students have to bring them to school, please turn them off, drop them off at the school office, and collect them again at the end of the school day.

Please refer to our school's policy relating to ‘cellphones and other personal digital devices’ through SchoolDocs, linked here.

Within the policy document, it states:

Personal digital devices include cellphones, which we manage according to government regulations, and other devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartwatches. Devices that are part of a school-approved Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programme have separate conditions for use.
and
If students bring personal digital devices (including cellphones) to school, the following requirements apply:
  • Students may be able to take devices on EOTC events, but should check with the teacher or person in charge whether the device is allowed before the event starts.
  • Students must turn their devices off and keep them in the office during school hours.
  • If devices are used for a learning activity, this must be approved and supervised by teaching staff.

Kupu Māori o te Wiki

Kia ora koutou! This term, we are continuing to learn a Kīwaha (saying), and a new Kupu (word) each week, as well as a waiata. Have a go at learning the words and singing these!
Give these a go! "Nau mai te wero - We Love Challenge! He taonga te ako - We Love Learning!"
Mauria te ponoBelieve in yourself and give it a go!
KīwahaPaia!This means Awesome!
KupuMakaririThis means cold.
WaiataMāori Alphabet - linked here
If you are unsure of the pronunciation of a word, have a look at Te Aka (the Māori dictionary) where you can hear how the word is spoken correctly.

Staff Profiles

Welcome Back Laura Morrison!


Welcome back to Laura, who has returned from maternity leave and is working in the Pōhutukawa team.

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

Speed Skating Success for Laurien

Congratulations to Year 6 student Laurien, who recently competed in the Canterbury Alpine Ice Skating Club (CAISC) Cup in short track speed skating. 
Laurien achieved an outstanding result, winning the Women’s Junior D category. She also set two New Zealand records in the 222m and 333m events, with the records currently awaiting official ratification. This is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of Laurien’s dedication and hard work. Well done, Laurien!

Cycling Success - Year 7 / 8

Congratulations to our cycling team on an outstanding performance at the South Island School Road Championships! Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto claimed Gold in the Team Time Trial, crossing the finish line in an impressive 19:15.47.

A special congratulations to Daniel, who also won Gold in the Individual Time Trial with a time of 5:23.19, before backing it up with a fantastic 3rd place finish in the Road Race. Strong performances also came from Dylan, who placed 8th, and Vinnie, who finished 9th in the U14 Boys Individual Time Trial; Haydn, who placed 4th in the U13 Boys Individual Time Trial and Jayme, who placed 5th in the U13 Girls Individual Time Trial.

We'd also like to acknowledge former Beckenham student Ben W, now attending Cashmere High School, who earned the Silver Medal in the Individual Time Trial.

What an incredible day of racing—well done to all of our cyclists on representing the school with determination, teamwork, and pride!

Gymnastics Success for Florence!

Congratulations to Florence (Year 6) on an outstanding achievement at a gymnastics competition in Auckland over the weekend! Competing in the Women's Artistic Gymnastics Programme at STEP 4, Florence was awarded the Artistry Award for her floor routine. This prestigious award recognises the gymnast who received the fewest artistic deductions across the day and delivered the most memorable performance for the judges. What an incredible accomplishment—well done, Florence!

Year 7/8 Basketball Teams at South Zone Tournament

Our Year 7/8 basketball teams represented the school with determination and great sportsmanship at the South Zone Tournament on Wednesday. Both teams finished the day in equal 5th place, capping off the tournament with two impressive wins each. Throughout the day, our players showed resilience, teamwork, and plenty of skill on the court. It was fantastic to see both teams finish strongly and support one another in every game. Well done to all of our players on a great tournament!

Pōhutukawa & Kauri Weekly Winter Sport: Player of the day

Another fantastic week of Weekly Winter Sport! It has been great to see our students continuing to develop their skills, work together as teams, and represent our kura with pride each week.

Congratulations to this week's Players of the Day, who were recognised for their effort, determination, and the positive way they demonstrated our school values throughout the afternoon. We are incredibly proud of the resilience, sportsmanship, and encouragement shown by all of our students as they continue to grow in confidence and capability.

A huge thank you to our whānau and volunteers for your ongoing support and commitment. Your encouragement on the sidelines and assistance behind the scenes help make these opportunities possible for our tamariki.

Year ⅚ Football - Daniel, Mati & Reuben
Year ⅚ Hockey - Amelia, Aubrey, Summer, Moana & Maadev
Year ⅚ Netball - Maya, Florence & Sanvi
Year ⅞ Hockey - Walter, Sedas & Savannah
Year ⅞ Netball - Charlie, Sofia, Julia & Seb

PTA News

It's a busy term for the PTA! 

We're having our AGM on Wednesday 5th August, all are welcome.  

Then it's on to the Bingo night on Saturday 15th August. It's promising to be a hilarious night with some great prizes, so book a babysitter and don't forget to grab your tickets here. 
On the 21st August it's the annual PTA Disco - this can't happen without plenty of parent help, so look out for a Hero post to sign up!
We're currently collecting books and clothes for our mega book and clothing sale on the 12th and 13th of September. There are collection boxes in the office!

If you have any spare SMEG stickers from New World, they would be gratefully received - we really need some new knives in the hall kitchen!

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please don't hesitate to get in touch at pta@beckenham.school.nz 

If you can't make it to one of our meetings but would like to help out with other PTA activities, join our supporters Messenger group.

BOT Update

Term 3 Policy Review Now Open - SchoolDocs

  1. Visit the SchoolDocs website: https://beckenham.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
  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, our 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.)

Guitar & Bass Lessons - Students Wanted!

'My name is Francis Laurie, and I am a 16-year-old Cashmere student offering lessons for both guitar and bass guitar. I am grade 8 in guitar, and I’m studying for grade 7 in bass guitar. 
I charge $20 for a half-hour lesson and can either host lessons or teach at your house. I have some experience in teaching, as I have already taught multiple students for over a term. I would also be able to let you borrow an acoustic guitar for the lesson.

Text or call 028 464 5605 to discuss further details.' 

Experience Professional Basketball This Sunday

The Canterbury Rams have one regular season game left before their chase for a championship begins! Get behind the team for a Rodeo-themed night of basketball as they take on the Franklin Bulls. As always, if you purchase a bronze adult ticket, you'll get a complimentary bronze kid's ticket for free!

When: Tipoff: 6:00pm | Sunday, July 26
Where: Parakiore Recreation & Sport Centre
https://premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/Show.aspx?sh=RAMSFRA26