Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Schoolwide Newsletter, Rāmere (Friday) 16 May 2025

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Principal's Patch

Opportunity for Feedback – Health Curriculum Delivery at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.
Click here to see what is covered in our Health programme and give your feedback. 

Kia ora koutou,

It is hard to believe we are already a third of the way through Term 2. Thank you to all the whānau members who attended our welcome assembly last Friday. We are privileged to have your children as students at our school, and we look forward to building positive relationships with you over the coming years.

Today, the Readathon culminated in our much-anticipated Book Character Day. The variety of creative costumes on display was truly impressive! A huge thank you to our dedicated PTA for their ongoing efforts to raise funds for our school. We hope everyone was able to get behind the Readathon as our first fundraiser of the year.

Book Character Day

Learning Conferences 

At Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto, we’re looking forward to connecting with you at our upcoming learning conferences, which will take place after mid-year reports are shared on Friday 6 June. These meetings are a valuable opportunity to celebrate your child’s progress, talk about their current learning and next steps, and explore how we can work together to support them both at school and at home.

During the conference, we’ll check in on how you found the school report and answer any questions you have about this. Your child will also share some of their learning and focus areas in class. There’ll be time to discuss general wellbeing, social or medical matters, and any support we can offer.

We’ll also take a moment to ensure you’re receiving all school and team newsletters, and that you can consistently access Hero. 

Lastly, we welcome anything else you’d like us to know - things that are especially meaningful to your child, or any updates to your contact information. If there’s anything you’d prefer to discuss without your child present, you’re welcome to email their home group teacher directly.

Learning Conferences will take place on:

Tuesday 10 June – between 1:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.

Wednesday 11 June – between 1:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.

On both of the above days, classes will finish at 1:00 p.m. We thank you for accommodating this change to support the facilitation of learning conferences. Limited supervision will be available at school until 3:00 p.m., and we will be in touch over the next couple of weeks to confirm arrangements for those who require it.

To make a booking, please click the link here, or go to:

https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code and use the following code: r3wt9

Or, use the QR Code below:
Booking QR Code

Parent Portal - Ministry of Education 

You may have seen in the media that the Ministry of Education has launched a new Parent Portal designed to help you better understand what your child is learning at school or kura, how they are progressing against the curriculum, and how you can support their learning at home.

This site offers a range of helpful resources, including information about the recent curriculum changes that we are currently working through at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.



Ngā mihi
Cade 

Principal / Tumuaki
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Fri 16 May - Readathon Ends
Thu 22 May - Y5/8 Winter Sport Begins
Fri 23 May - School Cross Country
Wed 28 May - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)
Thu 29 May - Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)
Fri 30 May - Staff Only Day (School Closed)
Mon 2 Jun - Public Holiday, School Closed (King's Birthday)
Fri 6 Jun - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Tue 10 Jun - Learning Conferences (school closes at 1pm)
Wed 11 Jun - Learning Conferences (school closes at 1pm)
Tue 17 Jun - Matariki Evening (5PM-7PM)
Thu 19 Jun - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Fri 20 Jun - Public Holiday, School Closed (Matariki)
Wed 25 Jun -  Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)
Wed 25 Jun - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)
Fri 27 Jun - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Fri 27 Jun - Last Day of Term 2
Mon 14 Jul - First Day of Term 3

Citizen of the Week

Oscar Wood - Year 8

Oscar, you are an outstanding role model for all of our school values. You embrace challenges with enthusiasm, across the curriculum. You are proving to be a very confident and organised chairperson for our student council. Your ability to work with a wide range of people, with great focus on the task, is an example of your fabulous leadership. Tu meke, Oscar!

Cora Nuttall - Year 5

Cora, your bubbly personality is truly infectious and your passion for learning radiates in all that you undertake. As a fantastic self-manager and a positive role model, you lead by example. Your willingness to always lend a hand in class and take on extra responsibilities makes you such a valuable and inspiring member of our team. Tino pai tō mahi, Cora!

School Notices

Parking in the 3min area on Sandwich Road

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.

PTA Book and Clothing Sale

BOSCO

BOSCO is looking for new members to join our committee. If you are interested or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Harriet Takamore via email or pop on in when you have the chance to chat.

You would be joining a lovely bunch of volunteers who are passionate about the service BOSCO provides and being a part of its future.

BOSCO currently has availability each day for before and after school care for regular or casual bookings.

If you have thought about using BOSCO for your tamariki but aren’t 100% sure what we're about or how we work, please feel free to pop in for a chat with Harriet or send through an email with any questions you may have.

A trial session is welcome if you would like your tamariki to give it a go first.

Harriet Takamore
Programme Leader
BOSCO Incorporated
office@bosco.org.nz
027 645 6632

Kupu Māori o te Wīki:

These are our Whakataukī (phrase), Instructions, and Kupu (words) for the last couple of weeks. Give them a go! 

Whakataukī:
- Whakarite ngā kete mō te haerenga! - This means filling our kete for the journey.
- Ahakoa he iti kete, he iti nā te aroha - This means it’s the thought that counts. 

Instruction:
- Titiro mai - this means look at me.
- Whakarongo mai - this means listen to me.

Kupu:
- Aroha - this means love.
- Hīkoi - This means walk.

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.

Matariki Evening - 17th June

Is your child cycling to school? Take the survey!

My name is Jaimita de Jongh, and I am an MSc student at Lincoln University. As part of a research project into cycling to school, I am conducting a short survey (approximately 5 minutes) among parents whose children cycle to school. Some of you may have already seen me at the school gate this week conducting  the survey among parents cycling with their children. However, I would also like to survey those parents whose children bike independently, without their parents. 

If you are happy to take part in this short survey, you can email me on the email below for a survey link:
jaimita.dejongh@lincolnuni.ac.nz

Or go to the survey directly:

Results will be used to better encourage cycling to school among other parents.

I will also be handing out leaflets about the survey to children biking independently to give to their parents.

Thank you!
Jaimita

BOT Update

Policy Review

  1. Visit the 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, 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.)

Coming up for kids and families at the Isaac Theatre Royal in June and July

The Isaac Theatre Royal is gearing up for an exciting lineup of events this June and July, perfect for kids and families. Two standout shows you won't want to miss are the Matariki Glow Show and the Aunty Claus’ Mid-Winter Christmas Kids Gala

Matariki Glow Show

On Sunday 8 June, the Matariki Glow Show will light up the stage with its giant-scale, glow-in-the-dark puppetry. This year, the show tells the magical story of Matariki, sharing the magic behind the Māori New Year. The Matariki Glow Show brings the mythical tale to life with its unique puppets, which glow under UV lights in a black box theatre.

The performance is told in both te reo Māori and English, weaving together themes of whakawhanaungatanga, friendship, and family. It offers a truly uplifting and positive experience for all, making it a must-see event for children and families.


Aunty Claus’ Mid-Winter Christmas Kids Gala

On Saturday 19 July, join Aunty Claus (Santa’s Big Sister) for a merry Mid-Winter Christmas Kids Variety Gala. This fabulous cabaret extravaganza promises to warm your heart and tickle your funny bone. In collaboration with the Isaac Theatre Royal, the multi-award-winning Tessa Waters, the “Undisputed Queen of Stupidity” (TimeOut London), leads this rollercoaster of fun, featuring the best in comedy, cabaret, circus, and drag the country has to offer.

Aunty Claus and her mate Jeff Parsnips invite the whole family to a joyful afternoon of songs, games, circus tricks, bubbles, and maybe even a sheep herding lesson! Fun is guaranteed for all ages, making it an event you won't want to miss.

Both events are set to provide unforgettable experiences for the whole family. Be sure to mark your calendars and get your tickets early to enjoy these fantastic shows at the Isaac Theatre Royal!

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Isaac Theatre Royal website.

Workshop for parents from Allen Hou, Asian Community Transformation Trust

Opportunity for young orchestral players

Listening to Families

Listening to families site - https://www.listeningtofamilies.co.nz/

Listening to Families website has a series of videos which provide answers to everyday questions about health and wellbeing challenges facing children and adolescents. The questions the videos answer are real - they come directly from families. The answers are provided by trusted specialists.

Kōwhai News Term 2 Week 2

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Kia ora whānau, 

A big welcome back to school for Term 2! We have begun the term in full force with the extreme weather last week. Our students managed very well being indoors for a longer period of time. Here is an update on what has been happening in the last two weeks.

Technology Inquiry


This term, we have begun our inquiry learning on how technology has changed over time. We have been exploring the types of technology that we see in our classrooms and this has produced some exciting conversations. Our students have been working on using their imaginations to create illustrations and labeled diagrams of what a classroom might look like in the future with new technology.



Cross Country

In Week 4, we will be hosting our whole school cross country event on Friday 23rd May from 9am until 12pm. In preparation for this, we have been going for regular runs every day, building up our stamina for the actual event. We would really appreciate if you could make sure your child wears appropriate shoes to school for running. Thank you!


Jean Miro Art Project


We are currently learning about the Jean Miro style of art and will complete this unit by creating a sculpture in the style of Miro using recyclable items from Creative Junk. If you have any popsicle sticks, disposable spoons and forks, or any other smaller items such as buttons and bottle tops that we might be able to use, please bring them in!


Library

Just a reminder about library times:

Monday: Hazel and Rowe's Literacy groups

Tuesday: Georgia and Anna M's Literacy groups

Wednesday : Anna R’s Literacy group


New Zealand Sounds Video

Below is a link to a short video about the sounds in our spoken English language which we wanted to share with you as it relates to the structured literacy that we teach. This video discusses: 

1) What all the consonant and vowel phonemes (sounds) of NZ English are; and 

2) How to say them clearly when you are supporting beginning or struggling learners to hear and use the sounds during phonological awareness, reading and spelling.

Please click on the image below to watch.



Book Character Day

We are now one week into our Readathon fundraiser. We hope you have all been busy reading! Next Friday, we are celebrating our Readathon by having a Book Character Day when everyone can come to school dressed as their favourite book character if they want. If not, can you ensure that your child comes to school in their school uniform as it is not a day for casual dress.


Headlice

Just a heads up that we have a case of headlice in the hub so please be vigilant of any scratchy heads! If your child has long hair, we recommend that they have their hair tied up to prevent the spread of headlice. Thank you!


Random Chat Online

How do random chat websites work? And what are the risks for tamariki using them?


Random chat websites, like Chatroulette, pair users randomly through text or webcam conversations. The appeal is getting to talk to someone new that the user would nev
er meet. But these websites are designed for adults and often allow nudity and other inappropriate content from users.


If you’re concerned that your young person might be exposed to these sites or you want to introduce parental controls, you can find out more on Netsafe’s Random Chat Websites page. 



Have a great weekend!

From the Kōwhai team

Kahikatea Team News Term 2 Week 2

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 Kia ora e te whānau,

Welcome to Term Two, and a special welcome to our new tamariki and their whanau. It's a pleasure getting to know you all! 

We are looking forward to our visit to Ferrymead Historic Park next week. 

  • Your child will need to wear their school uniform
  •  A warm jersey or jacket
  • A packed lunch, 
  •  A drink bottle
  • No lunch orders, please 
Children don’t need to unpack their school bags when they get to school. 

School Cross Country 

This will be held on Friday, 23 May. Our children will run in their year groups. Teachers will walk their classes onto the big field for a warm,-up and then each year group will line up ready for their run. 
Year 1 will run at 11.20am (approx)
Year 2 will run at 11.30am (approx) 

We have daily practice runs to prepare for this event, including running on the big field and during our daily fitness sessions. Thank you for sending your child to school in appropriate footwear for running. 

Fraction Fun (MATHS) 

For the last two weeks, we have focused on fractions for our maths learning. Next week, we would like our kids to make Fairy Bread as a celebration of the end of this learning focus. If your child has specific dietary requirements (dairy/gluten), please email your child's homegroup teacher to let them know. 

Dear family and whānau,
This week, we learned about fractions as numbers. We explored the meaning of the top and bottom numbers in a fraction. Ask your child about the meaning of the numbers in a fraction like three-quarters or seven-eighths.
We used two types of material to explore fractions, circles, and rods. Challenge your child to divide circles up into equal parts and to draw a number line showing the size of fractions.


Learning Through Play 

Our beautiful tamariki still enjoy our Learning Through Play sessions with our whole hub. This week included the dress-ups and some disco dancing too! 


























Word of the Week: Honesty 


Honesty means that we are truthful in what we say and do. 

When we are honest, people in our lives know that they can trust us. Trust is an important part of positive relationships with our family, friends, and teachers.



Ferrymead Heritage Park - social story 

Here is the social story we have shared with our tamariki in the daily notices. You are welcome to go over it with your child/ren at home too. 


Book Character Dress-up Day 

Kia ora whānau,
As part of our readathon, we are excited to have a book character dress-up day on Friday, May 16th.
Students are invited to come dressed as a book character or, if they prefer, in their usual school uniform. It is not a casual clothes day.













Kauri -Term 2 Week 1-2

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 Term 2 -Week 2

Welcome Assembly Friday, 9 May. 

Te  Awa were the flag bearers for our Welcome Assembly.







VR- On Monday, we spent a session viewing coastal waters from the sea bed, around New Zealand. This explored what makes a healthy marine ecosystem and what we can do as kaitiakitanga | guardianship to protect it. 




Maths- changes to groups. 

The changes to learning groups have been deliberate and considered. Students have been placed in mixed ability maths classes. The rationale behind this is based on research and is designed to align to the refreshed New Zealand curriculum, which has shown a greater positive forecast of student capability in mathematics. 

As we transition into this new system your child's maths teacher will be reviewing work with students to gauge their depth of understanding. This will allow teachers to cater more specifically for their needs and any extension or support they may require. This may be what they are mentioning regarding the tasks being easy compared to previous work. 

However, each class has a rich routine that challenges and extends their learning. 

Passions 

Friday passions have started for term two. This is a great opportunity for students to try something new in a supportive environment.

Rugby League Workshops-Cameron Snell (Coach Cam) has volunteered his time to run these workshops for our ākonga. Some of you may remember his name from being one of our community leaders when we ran our leadership talks. 

Felting -Nicky is back in our classrooms on Friday for passions sharing her knowledge and craft of felting.

Minecraft-for our digi natives. 

Buddies-working with our younger tamariki in Kahikatea.

Board Games- enjoying some fun over the colder months. 










Inquiry- Art 

We are diving into visual arts over the next few weeks as we explore and create pieces of work. As kaiako this is exciting to see different ideas come together. You will see more on this as ideas and concepts are finalised. 

Winter Sport- parent volunteers are still needed. It's is not too late! Just email Hugo- hugo.weaver@beckenham.school.nz

Uniforms- Jackets- please remember to name jackets clearly. 






Pōhutukawa News Term 2 Week 2 2025

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 Ngā mihi e te whānau,

Warm greetings to you all. We have had a wonderful 2 weeks back in Pōhutukawa. The weather has been mostly welcoming, apart from the wet blast last week, and the students in great spirits! We've hit the ground running this term (literally) with some Cross Country practice. We all noticed how enthusiastic the students have taken to their practice. long may it last! Please read on for some news from the team, and some updates on the term. Have a great weekend everyone, kia pai ngā rā whakata.

Cross Curriculum Classes

We love alliteration in Pōhutukawa, and our "cool curriculum classes" continue with some changes for Term 2. Gayle is delving into Science and looking at The Human Brain this term, Rae is covering Digital Technology and continuing with Coding. Chris is taking a closer look into Art History with the A-Z of Visual Art, Megan is continuing with well being and Nick with his ever creative take on Digital Technology. There is a lot of learning happening over the term in CCC, so we encourage you to keep chatting about what we are covering in these courses with your tamariki. He taonga te ako, the treasure is learning.

Winter Sports

Our winter sports programme kicks off in Week 4. Every student has elected to join, and will be involved, in either competitive or non-competitive hockey, netball, or football. We still need parent assistance both on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons (approx. 1:30 pm - 3 pm) to help support our tamariki in the winter sports programme. In particular this year we have a large number of students who have signed up for the football competition and require parent help to make sure every team is supported at their games. If you think you could help us at this time, please get in touch with your home group teacher. Your support is hugely appreciated. We get there together, mā tātou kātoa te waka e hoe!

Legacy Dance Group


We are really excited to announce the availability of some hip hop dance classes, run at school for once lunchtime per week during Term 2. These dance sessions are taken by Legacy Dance Studio dance teachers. There will be a Year 3 and 4 class and a Year 5 and 6 class.

All contact information for Legacy Dance Studio can be found on the flyer attached. Please contact Tash at Legacy Dance for more information.


Book Character Day


Time to get creative and dress up as your favourite Book Character! As part of our readathon, we are excited to have a book character dress up day on Friday 16th May. We are looking forward to seeing everyone having fun and getting creative with their characters! I wonder what Cade will be this time around? Remember it is a book character dress up, not a movie dress up. If your unable to dress up, then the school uniform is to be worn, as it is not just a mufti day. 

Have a restful weekend
Nga Mihi

The Pōhutukawa Teaching Team
Chris, Nick, Rae, Gayle, Megan and Georgie