Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Schoolwide Newsletter, Rāmere (Thursday) 11th September 2025

Principal's Update

Kia ora koutou

As we reach the end of another busy term, I want to take a moment to thank you all for the energy, encouragement, and support you give to our kura.

ERO Review

On Tuesday and Wednesday this week, we welcomed the Education Review Office (ERO) team as part of their normal review cycle. It was a very positive experience and a wonderful opportunity to share all the great things happening across our school to support student success. We expect to receive the finalised report in the coming months.

Kapa Haka Celebration

This evening our kapa haka group will make their first performance in their new costumes at the Pō Whakangahau celebration at Cashmere High School. A huge thank you to Cath, Paerua, and Georgia for all the mahi/work they have done to support the success of this group.

Property Projects Over the Holidays

It will be another busy holiday period at school, with several projects scheduled to take place:
  • Installation of the new public address and bell system
  • A full internal repaint of Parenga - Year 5 - 8 classrooms (including Ferndale)
  • Electrical testing of all school-owned equipment

Staff Only Day

I also want to thank our community for your support of tomorrow’s Staff Only Day, and for spending an additional day with your children while our staff extend their professional knowledge and strengthen their teaching practice. Your support enables us to keep improving learning outcomes for all students.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our kura as we continue to create a safe, engaging, and inspiring environment for our learners.

Have a restful weekend. 

Ngā mihi nui,
Cade
Principal / Tumuaki
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

WEEK 9
Fri 12 Sept - Staff Only Day 

WEEK 10 - Last Week of Term 3
Tue 16 Sept - Wed 17 Sept - Board of Trustees Election Results Declared & Board Takes Office
Fri 19 Sept - Last Day of Term 3
Fri 19 Sept - Celebration Assembly
Fri 19 Sept - BGT - 'Beckenham's Got Talent' Show

WEEK 1 - Term 4
Mon 6 Oct - First Day of Term 4
Wed 8 Oct - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)
Fri 10 Oct - Welcome Assembly (9:10-9:40am in the Hall)

WEEK 3 
Wed 22 Oct - Thu 23 Oct - Huxster Mountain Biking Event
Wed 22 Oct - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)

WEEK 4
Mon 27 Oct - Labour Day - School Closed
Wed 29 Oct - Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm)
Fri 30 Oct - Athletics Day

WEEK 6
Thu 13 Nov - Staff Only Day
Fri 14 Nov - Canterbury Anniversary Day - School Closed

WEEK 7 
Fri 21 Nov - PTA Colour Run (1:30pm-3:00pm Fundraiser Event)

Citizen of the Week

Sofia - Year 7
Sofia, you are a kind, conscientious student. You apply yourself consistently in every learning area and you are a true role-model of our school values. You stand out as a leader through your actions both in your kindnesses to all students and staff. Thank you for being awesome!! Ka Rawe.

BOT Update

2025 Triennial Elections

Voting in our school board elections has now closed.

Keep an eye out for the announcement of the parent representatives elected to join the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto School Board coming soon. 

Thank you to all of our whanau and families who took part in the school board elections this
year.

Term 3 Policy Review - SchoolDocs

  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.

School Notices

Sunhat and Drink Bottle - Reminder for Term 4

As we near Term 4 and warmer weather, it is very important that every child attends school with a named sunhat and water bottle. Sunhats are compulsory when outside during Terms 1 and 4. Please also remember to send your child to school each day with sunscreen applied as well.


Absences From School

With the ongoing winter ills that many of our whānau are suffering from, it is really important to let the office know, in the first instance, when tamariki (children) are going to be absent from school.
If you wish to provide extra information to their home group teacher, please feel free to email them as well. On some occasions their home group teacher may not be the person who marks the roll, so it is very important to let the office know every time your child is going to be absent from school or will be turning up late. If your child is unwell, please support their recovery and others' health by keeping them at home. If they have had the vomiting bug they need to be away from school for 48 hours.
You can email office@beckenham.school.nz, send a text 021 0279 4107, or leave a voice message on 03 337 1404.
Please note: when children are collected from school, whether unwell or not, they must please be signed out at the office.

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.

Parking over Driveways 

We have received several complaints from surrounding residents about cars parking over their driveways.
Please ensure you leave 1 metre from any vehicle entrance (as is required by law) so that residents can access their driveways at any time during the day. This is especially important in case there is an emergency and residents need to exit their property or emergency services need to enter.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter. We get there together!

Congratulations to ALARM 

Recently, A.L.A.R.M — Alex, Letta, Alfie, Robbie and Mark — took part in Rockshop Bandquest, Aotearoa’s live music event for primary and intermediate students. Now in its fifteenth year, the programme brings hundreds of young bands to stages around the country to showcase their talent.

A.L.A.R.M impressed the judges and secured 2nd place on Canterbury Day 4, winning $300 in NZ Rockshop credit for our Music Department.

We are incredibly proud of their achievements and of the legacy they are leaving for other students to follow!

Community Book Swap

Need a good book to read, but can't get to the library? Need a good book to read but the prices are just too steep? We have the solution! 
Conveniently situated just behind the admin desk is a wide-ranging selection of books that have either been donated by staff or just somehow arrived at school. This is a book swap, so if you take one, it would be great if you could bring one too, but don't let that stop you if you're short of books you want to give away.
Come and have a look, you might just find that very something you've been looking for!

Kupu Māori o te Wiki

Give these a go! Nau mai te wero - We Love Challenge!


Kīwaha: Kei runga noa atu koe! - this means You're awesome!

Kupu: Māra - this means garden

Waiata: Ki Mau Ki Tō Ūkaipo - Don’t Forget your Roots, Six60

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFHaEuep5eI&ab_channel=M_Y_S_T_I_K  


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.

BOSCO

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

Lunchonline Orders

Lunchonline now has a QR code for easy account creation and ordering of school lunch deliveries. 

Sports Highlights

We Love Challenge

It was amazing to see Nathan having an incredible time on the snow at Mount Hutt last week. After a few runs on the beginners slope, he asked when he was going on the lift!

Such a brilliant attitude and showing "We Love Learning" and We Love Challenge".

Kauri Mt Hutt Ski Trip

A fabulous day yesterday, Wednesday 10th September, on the slopes, with many happy and tired skiers!

PTA News

Calling All Business Owners and Local Legends! 

The Beckenham School PTA is excited to announce our very first School Colour Run, happening in Term 4! This vibrant community event will raise funds for a brand-new playing turf for our tamariki.

Do you run a local business, or work for a company that loves giving back to the community? We’re looking for sponsors to partner with us. In return, sponsors will receive promotion through event signage, social media, school newsletters, and more!

If you or someone you know is interested in supporting this exciting event, please click the link here to register your interest. 

KIDS TRYathlon

We have signed up a school group for The Weetbix TRYathlon and we’re looking forward to seeing as many of you there as possible! Early bird entries are now open for the TRYathlon on 22nd February 2026 at Jellie Park

Last year our school won the prize for most students signed up, so let’s do it again! The TRYathlon is all about giving it a TRY and is a rewarding, fun day out for you and your child. Every child gets a t-shirt and medal. We will have the school gazebo set up, where children and parents can gather while waiting. 

Distances are approximate and are as follows:

6 year olds 50m swim / 1.5km run
7 year olds 50m swim / 4km cycle / 1.5km run
8 – 9 year olds 100m swim / 4km cycle / 1.5km run
10 – 15 year olds 150m swim / 8km cycle / 1.5 km run

Entry Options
  • Splash & Dash - 6 year olds only. Swim and run.
  • Individual TRYathlete - 7-15 year olds. Swim, cycle and run.
  • Teams of Two - 7-9 year olds (Juniors) and 10-15 year olds (Seniors). One team member does the swim, the other does the cycle, and both do the run.

If you have any questions please contact the PTA via pta@beckenham.school.nz 

Next PTA Meeting

Our next meeting has been rescheduled due to the school holidays and will now take place on Wednesday 8th October, 7.30pm to 9.00pm in the Staff Room.

Entertainment Membership

This month, your Entertainment Membership has double the power - because Entertainment is gift-matching every donation from your Membership purchase. That means your impact for our cause is instantly doubled.

And it gets even better. With your Membership, you’ll also unlock:
  • $20,000+ in yearly savings
  • Up to 50% off dining and activities
  • 15,000+ offers ready to use anytime, anywhere
Your Membership isn’t just about benefits—it’s about creating memorable experiences while giving back twice as much. Make your Membership go further today! Every 25 Memberships sold raises $350 for our cause.


Community Notices

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


Neurodiversity 101

Date: Tuesday, 16th September 2025

Essential Information for Parents

Join us in understanding Neurodiversity! The Cashmere Parents Group is pleased to present this event in partnership with The Collaborative Trust. Emma Read will lead this informative Parent Talk, accompanied by a Youth Tutor. Emma is an Educational and Developmental Psychologist.

This session is designed for those who are just beginning to explore these concepts, their meanings, and their effects on families. Deepen your understanding of neurodiversity and explore topics including autism, ADHD, and more.

If you suspect your child may be neurodiverse or has recently received a diagnosis, this presentation will give you some tools to support their journey. There are many strengths to neurodivergence, but it can also add extra challenges to the already bumpy teenage years. We'll explore some of the common struggles, look at what approaches can help you navigate those, and give you some practical tools for parenting a young person with neurodiversity.
  • Spot signs that show they are struggling
  • Learn approaches that help
  • Turn challenges into strengths
Nibbles, Tea, Coffee and Juice will be served in the foyer at 6.30pm prior to the presentation. It will start at 7pm in the Auditorium, with a Q & A session afterwards. The event is expected to end at 8.30 pm

Parking is available on school grounds; entry is through the Barrington Street entry, as the Rose Street gate is closed after hours.


Venue: Cashmere High School, Performing Arts Centre (PAC)
Date: Tuesday 16th September 2025
Time: Talk 7.00 pm - 8.30 pm (Drinks + Nibbles served in the foyer at 6.30 pm)
Cost: FREE

Gill Weavers, Chairperson  / Cashmere Parents Group
cpg@cashmere.school.nz

Storybox Drama – What’s On

School Holiday Workshops:
Join us these spring holidays for creative workshops at The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora:

Tue 23 Sep - Call of the Kraken (ages 9–12)
Dive into the mysterious underwater world of Avis and the Kraken with music, drama, and a Q&A with author Heather McQuillan!

Tue 30 Sep - Tiny Seed (ages 5–8)
Playfully explore The Tiny Seed with collage, music, and drama alongside art educator Meg Nicoll. Together we’ll bring this heartfelt story of change and courage to life!

Term 4 Afterschool Process Drama Classes
Wed 15 Oct to Wed 3 Dec (8 weeks) at Somerfield Community Centre: 

Moon Mouse (ages 5–8)
Step into the world of Moon Mouse, a shy little space mouse who finds friendship in the most unexpected places. Join us on a magical process drama journey perfect for curious adventurers!

Off the Page: Voices Uncovered (ages 9–12)
Fairytale voices with a twist. Discover the secrets the characters have been waiting to share. Poems come alive through drama, music, and imagination.

Find us on Facebook, Instagram or email us: storybox.chch@gmail.com to register your interest:


Year 7 & 8 Team @ Beckenham 2025-09-05 15:36:00

 Term 3 Week 8

Beckenham has got Talent!

Our Beckenham’s Got Talent contestants were a huge success, impressing us with their creativity, confidence, and skill. From the high standard set in auditions through to the final show, every performance shone and made the event a memorable celebration of talent. A big thank you to all of our students for sharing their talent with us.

For our final Kauri line up we have Hanna, Ben S and A.L.A.R.M. We look forward to seeing you there if you able to attend in Week 10, Friday 1.30pm.

Ski Trip

Thank you for your understanding and flexibility around the postponement and new skiing date. We know there were a lot of disappointed students and (teachers). We are exciting to be going this Wednesday the 10th instead. A big thank you to Mt Hutt for being so accommodating. 

Hikoi

In Week 7, our City Hikoi took us to several significant sites, including Margaret Mahy Playground, Quake City, and the Christchurch Art Gallery. It is always special to be able to offer these opportunities to our Kauri students, and we are grateful to our support team and whānau whose help made the trip possible. Experiences like this also provide a wonderful chance to see students thrive outside the classroom and share their learning in new ways.

















Passions- Drawing

Passions. this term is well underway. This term we have a second Felting workshop a series of S.T.E.M projects, debating and drawing. In drawing we have been looking at shading techniques and a number of different artist that inspire us. 






Cantamath 2025

Last Wednesday we had two teams competing at the annual Cantamath competition, solving 20 challenging maths problems over an intense 30 minute period. Our Year 7 team scored 75 points, coming in the top 15 of a 85-90 team field. The Year 8s came in 10th= with a score of 90 points. A fabulous result for both teams. We also had a large number of entries in the projects competition, with at least half of our entries being awarded Highly Commended or Excellence awards. 





Fibonacci

This term we explored Fibonacci numbers and their fascinating link to square roots, helping us see the bigger picture of how mathematics connects to the world around us. Students observed how Fibonacci numbers appear in nature, patterns, and art, bringing maths to life in exciting ways. Rowan Matthews also showed this in her Cantamath project on Fibonacci numbers.



Te Awa guests- some wanted some not!

Te Awa had an opportunity to take a closer look at New Zealand Predator Free 2050. As part of our science inquiry into extinct, endangered and threatened. We had some real life predators and prey from our friends at The Department of Conservation. This gave us a unique opportunity to do some close work observations and scientific drawings. 










Upcoming dates for the diary;

Week Nine- 8-12 September

Monday- Cashmere alternative testing day.

Wednesday- Ski Trip

Thursday Evening Te Whānau Mahi Tahi performance at Cashmere

Friday - Staff Only Day

Week 10- 15-19 September

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday- Koru Games

Friday- Last day of Term 3.



Kōwhai News Term 3 Week 8

Kia ora e te Whānau, 

Welcome to the Week 8 Kōwhai blog - it is hard to believe that we are approaching the end of Term 3. This week, we have welcomed spring and the warmer weather with open arms!


Gymnastics

On Thursday, the Kōwhai team was lucky to attend a gymnastics session at the Christchurch School of Gymnastics. It was wonderful to see students embracing our school value 'We Love Challenge - Nau Mai Te Wero’ and stepping outside of their comfort zones to try something new. We were very impressed with the way tamariki (children) represented our school and upheld our kete values during the trip. We are looking forward to our second session next Thursday!


If you are interested in learning more about the Christchurch School of Gymnastics or enrolling your child for sessions, follow this link: 

https://www.chchgymnastics.com/






















PB4L

Over the last couple of weeks, Kōwhai has been learning about how to strengthen our frustration tolerance as well as how to be proactive and assertive when asking for help. 


As part of the learning experience about frustration, students were tasked with the challenge of building a card tower. It was great to see how students persevered through the activity, calmly communicated their feelings, and then problem-solved as they tried new strategies. 


Asking for help

In this sequence of learning, students have been learning to reframe their thinking to view asking questions as a strength. Homegroups discussed that by asking questions, students demonstrate a curiosity to deepen their understanding, and as a result of gaining new knowledge, students are then able to build new connections and apply this to their learning 


Here is a link to the ‘asking for help’ slideshow that we have been working through, which includes some activities that you could try at home .



Performance/Inquiry

This term, we have been exploring the concept of ‘Change’ by delving into the wonderful world of dance and music. As a team, we have inquired into a range of musical genres from different eras and cultures, with a focus on how this was influenced by the current events of the time. The genres have included Rock n Roll, Disco, Futuristic, Ragtime, and Ancient Egyptian. Students have now opted into one of these genres, and with support from one of the teachers, will be working on developing a short performance. Our goal is to put these together and showcase them in a Kōwhai production. It has been fantastic to see ākonga (students) embracing this learning opportunity and letting their creativity shine through. As we progress into next term, we will keep you updated on how our performances are coming along!


Maths

Over the past two terms, students have been learning about the 5 Math Talk moves. They have been developing strategies to support them in communicating their ideas and sharing their processes in math. It has been fantastic to see how the tamariki (children) have embraced this learning opportunity. The teachers have been very impressed with the way students have been openly sharing their ideas, listening actively to others, and then responding thoughtfully. As a team, we have all been learning that there is immense value in listening, asking questions, and understanding other people's perspectives and ways of thinking. He Taonga Te Ako! - We Love Learning!


Here are some photos of Anna M's Math class. Students did a beautiful job creating patterns in nature.







Discovery

Below aere some photos of Discovery from the last 2 weeks:











Private and Social Media

Actively managing your tamariki’s privacy settings on the social networks they use can go a long way towards keeping control of their personal information.


Any information that is easily available online, whether it’s an email address, date of birth, or pictures, could end up causing harm if it gets into the wrong hands.


To help you navigate privacy on social media, Netsafe has put together a guide on How to Use Privacy Settings on Social Networks



We hope that you have a wonderful, restful weekend.


Ngā mihi nui,

The Kōwhai Team.





Pōhutukawa News Term 3 Week 8 2025


Ngā mihi e te whānau, warm greetings to you all,

Read on for news and information about what has been happening around the hub in the last two weeks!. Have a great weekend everyone, kia pai ngā rā whakata.

Christchurch City Council: Ponds Planting initiative. 










Cycle Safe: Gayle and Rae's Home Groups 










2025 Keeping Ourselves Safe

From Tuesday 19th August until Friday 29th August,  the New Entrant to Year 8 teams will be teaching the personal safety programme by New Zealand Police - Keeping Ourselves Safe. We cover this programme every two years as part of our Health curriculum. 

What will children and young people learn?

They will learn:

  • to work out when their safety is at risk

  • how to keep safe when they meet and mix with other people

  • who and how to ask for help if they, or someone they know, is being abused

  • to go on asking for help until someone does something to stop the abuse

  • that it is important to make and follow personal, family and school safety rules

They will know:

  • that abuse is never okay

  • that abuse is never their fault

What part do parents, caregivers and whānau play?

Parents and whānau are strongly encouraged to support Keeping Ourselves Safe.

You can:

  • find out about abuse and what to do if you think a child you know is being abused

  • talk to your child about what they have learnt in Keeping Ourselves Safe

  • set safety guidelines with your family

  • help young children with the Keeping Ourselves Safe activities they bring home

  • give the same safety messages as the school is giving

  • look at the whānau section of NZ Police Keeping Ourselves Safe for more information

  • frequently asked questions - click here

Keeping Ourselves Safe will be taught by your child’s Home Group teacher, with support from

Constable Meg Moynihan, our local Police School Community Officer, as required. The lessons are age appropriate in content and delivery.

To be successful, Keeping Ourselves Safe needs your help and support. It is important that you

participate as much as possible and talk to your child about what they have been learning. This will

reinforce the messages the school is giving, and help your child to use their skills with confidence.

If you require more information about the Keeping Ourselves Safe programme or wish to discuss the

learning, please speak with your child’s Home Group teacher in the first instance.



Staying Safe Online: Bullying

One in five young people in New Zealand have been the target of online bullying – it can happen to anyone, and it can be hard for parents and whānau to deal with. Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto takes online bullying seriously and would encourage you to chat to your tamariki’s teacher if you have any concerns about online bullying.


Visit Netsafe’s Online Bullying Advice for Parents to read more.


Privacy and Social Media

Actively managing your tamariki’s privacy settings on the social networks they use can go a long way towards keeping control of their personal information.


Any information that is easily available online, whether it’s an email address, date of birth, or pictures, could end up causing harm if it gets into the wrong hands.


To help you navigate privacy on social media, Netsafe has put together a guide on How to Use Privacy Settings on Social Networks





Ngā mihi nui. Kia Kaha.

The Pōhutukawa Teaching Team

Chris, Gayle, Nick, Megan, Rae, Georgie, Viv, Stacey and Laura

Koru News Term 3 Week 8

Kia ora e te whānau,

Welcome to the Koru blog for Week 8. We have been enjoying the sunshine and warmer days this week... Yay for Spring! 

A reminder that we have a Staff Only Day next Friday, the 12th of September, so school will be closed.

Inquiry (Change) - Digitech

Recently, we have been exploring our Inquiry focus of 'Change' through Digitech. We have taken on the role of programmer and tester, and become familiar with the following:
The language of movement: forwards, backwards, left, right
- The different roles involved in programming: robot (or Kidbot), programmer, tester
- Bugs and debugging: When obstacles are encountered or the code isn't correct when tested, tamariki need to debug the code and then retest. Bugs support our problem-solving.








Keeping Ourselves Safe

We concluded our Keeping Ourselves Safe sessions this week with a focus on 'Unwanted behaviour or touch - Kore e hiahiatia te whanonga me te pā kino'. We learned that we can stop touch or behaviour that is inappropriate or that worries or confuses us, or makes us feel unsafe. We practised saying NO confidently, and discussed how we can move away and report when things happen that we don't like. We also learned the difference between good and bad secrets. We were very excited to have a look inside Constable Meg's Police car! We even got to try on her Police hat!






Sunflowers

Our expert gardener, Lucy, taught the Koru children about the Life Cycle of sunflowers this week. The sunflower seeds that children planted were harvested from sunflowers that the gardening club grew last year. Children had the opportunity during Learning Through Play to join in and plant their own seed. It will be exciting to see our sunflowers grow in the coming weeks!





Te Reo Māori

We have been learning how to ask someone how they feel in Te Reo Māori this week. We have also been learning the words (kupu) for different feelings and emotions. 

To ask someone how they feel, we say, "Kei te pēhea koe?"
To respond, we say, "Kei te _______ ahau."









Wishing you a lovely weekend,

Katie, Elizabeth, Niquita and Stacey