Kahikatea Team 2026-08-02 09:22:36

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Kia ora te whānau, 

We hope you have managed to stay warm this chilly week!

Term 3 has started off with a flurry of activities and the tamariki have got straight back into the swing of learning. They are so familiar with our routines and daily tasks by term three it doesn't take very long at all for everyone to settle into their roles and begin engaging in their learning. Here are just a few photos of all the wonderful learning which has occurred this week!


Recorder sessions - This term our tamariki have a wonderful opportunity to engage on a weekly basis with Rachel our visiting music teacher. Every Wednesday they get to learn how to play the recorder through tuition, games and playing the instrument. The tamariki really enjoyed this activity, and we look forward to seeing them grow in confidence and skills as the weeks progress. 






Cricket - Another exciting addition to our timetable in weeks 2,3 and 4 of this term is the opportunity to learn about cricket and how to play. Canterbury Cricket have provided some wonderful coaches who are supporting our tamariki to gain a love of the sport and pick up some new skills through games and practice. It was fabulous seeing how engaged the tamariki were, trying out something new and showing great sportsmanship.














Numicon - Numicon continues to be a very popular mode of learning in the Kahikatea hub. This week our focus has been based around the concept of measurement and in particular, centimeters and how we use estimating when we are comparing and ordering objects. The tamariki have been engaged and focused in their learning. 






Learning Through Play - Learning Through Play is a very important part of our curriculum in the Kahikatea hub and is something our tamariki look forward to every week. This week we focused on International Friendship Day by creating friendship bracelets, a joint art project, and we talked about what it means to be a good friend. 




Reminder - Scooter-athlon 

Next week, our Kahikatea Team will take part in an exciting Scooter-athlon on Friday 7th August from 1:30 pm – 3.00 pm. Parents are invited to come along and cheer on the tamariki.


The Scooter-athlon will follow a run → scooter → run format, giving students the chance to experience a fun, active, multi-stage race. Students are encouraged to wear their House T-Shirts, bring their own scooter and helmet, wear closed-toe shoes, and follow safety rules. Year 7/8 students will act as marshals to help run the event safely. Please note: If it is raining, the Scooter-athlon will be postponed. Any changes will be shared with parents via Hero.


Please let your classroom teacher know if your child does not have a scooter or if you have a spare one you are happy to lend. Your child will need to provide their own helmet. We can’t wait to see the tamariki scoot, run, and have fun – nau mai te wero! We love challenge!


 


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