In this post:

• Film study in literacy
• Relationships and sexuality
• Corsair Bay trip, Thursday, December 9th.
• Leavers Assembly
• Celebrations

Film study in literacy

Jenny, Megan and Caitlin's literacy groups will be starting a film study tomorrow where they will be taking an in-depth look at cinematography elements, themes and characterisation. The films include Home Alone, Lion, and Soul Surfer. Each student has voted on which film study they would like to be a part of and the groupings will be decided as per their interests and a need to balance group sizes. If you have any questions or concerns about this study, please email through and we are available to discuss. 

Relationships and Sexuality

We are currently in the midst of the 'growing and changing' subtopic of our relationships and sexuality learning. This topic covers changes at puberty, conception and the reproductive systems. The next topic, which we will get into later this week or next week, is around keeping safe. This includes looking at the consequences of sexual activity and contraception, cyber-bullying, pornography and seeking support.

Corsair Bay Trip

Next Thursday (Dec 9) we are off to Corsair Bay for a day of fun. Children need to come to school in uniform.  We leave school at 11am and will be back by 3pm. Children are to bring with them:

• Sunhat
• Sunscreen
• Swimming togs (wetsuits are optional)
• Towel
• Jacket
• Water bottle
• Lunch (children are welcome to arrange a shared lunch with friends if they would like to)
• Picnic rug (optional)

Year 8 Leavers' Assembly

On Tuesday, December 14th we will be celebrating our Year 8s and their time at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. This assembly will be live-streamed to whānau, starting at 11am. After the assembly, the PTA is putting on a lunch for our leavers.  Year 8s are to come to school in their tidiest clothes. School finishes for Year 8 after the luncheon. 

Celebrations

Last Friday at assembly we presented awards for art, music, ICT and Māori culture. Below are the citations for these awards. We also enjoyed listening to the ukelele group. Thanks to our media team who are capturing these presentations and performances on video so that they can be shared with whānau. 

Music: Luca Hume-McBeath

Luca, to watch you share your love of music with people around you, is to truly know you are in the presence of something special. Your ability to captivate your audience and create an atmosphere in which everyone can escape reality is second to none. It has been incredible to see your confidence in yourself grow as an artist and to watch you embrace the absolute rockstar that you are. Whether it’s a laid-back tune on the acoustic guitar, or belting out Nirvana on the electric guitar, the possibilities are endless for you and I can’t wait to see you continue to shine over the coming years. 

Art: Rosie Day and Otis Yeoman

Rosie, I speak on behalf of all of us when I say we were completely blown away by your Learn Create Share project this year. Through the design of your own comic book characters, you brought the book to life! Thank you for your contribution to our school community through your involvement in planning and designing our sports shed mural.  It is such a joy to see you evolving as an artist as you bring originality to your work through precise detail, intricacy and a sprinkling of beautiful colours. Continue to find beauty in the world around you as you inspire, explore and create. 

Otis, you are a talented artist. Whenever you have a pencil in your hand, your hand is driven to sketch and create. From realistic pencil portraits to comical characters, you apply observational skills and attention to detail to create awesome works of art. Your artwork has been published in Toi Toi and recognised in competitions. Most memorable of all is perhaps the Kobe Bryant portrait that was featured in Te Tai’s collaboration art piece for our last school fair. Your impromptu illustrations that accompany your group’s serial story each afternoon bring joy to many. 

ICT: Joshua Welch and Brooklyn Allan

Josh, it is so amazing to see you shine when it comes to using technology. You have willingly poured your time and effort into creating fantastic settings at our school which are enhanced by the use of ICT production. We loved watching you be so involved in our ShowQuest production and it was a highlight to see you in your element balancing the lights, volume and video; you were a superstar! You approach every task with a cool, calm and collected manner and your ability to problem-solve until everything is just right, is brilliant. 

Brooklyn, you are in your element when it comes to ICT. You reliably and efficiently set up the ICT systems for all manner of events. The number of times that you have come to the rescue and troubleshooted a problem that no one else could fix is far too many to quantify. Who can forget the NCEI meeting when the microphone wasn’t working. There was a hall full of adults but it was you who saved the day and got the technology working again. You were an integral part of our ShowQuest rehearsals and performances. Thank you for all your contributions to ICT at our kura. 

Te reo Māori: Jayda Taylor and Marcellus Scott

Jayda

E kore te kūmara e kōrero mō tōna ake reka. The kūmara doesn't speak of its own sweetness. It doesn't need to!

You are without a doubt a leader by example. Your movements are graceful and full of meaning. Your face is expressive. Your voice is sweet and strong. Your mahi poi is phenomenal and your pukana would melt metal, yet you still retain graciousness and dignity in your role as a  rangatira in our rōpū. You lead by example, without needing to call attention to all the talent you have. This humbleness - hūmarie -  gives you such mana within our group and beyond.

Mana is something you only hold through your whakapapa and in how others see you, and you, Jayda, have it in spades. 

You are te hā ā kore mā ā kui mā - the breath of your tupuna.

Poho kererū mātou katoa i a koe e hine.

Mauriora!

Marcellus

Passionate, enthusiastic, and bursting with energy, ideas and joy in your mahi kapa haka, you have enjoyed your role as leader in Te Whānau Mahitahi this year. 

As a leader you have been able to inspire others in many ways. 

Your head is full of possibilities and you show the rōpū that contributing our ideas is important. 

You completely engage yourself in haka, waiata, mau rākau, mahi poi and everything we do, and demonstrate to others the value of taking risks and learning by doing. What an asset this is - both as an inspiration for others, and for you as a person and a lifelong learner. 

Because of you, the confidence of others has grown. What an amazing gift Marcellus.

Ko Tu-mata-whāura koe.

Haere tonu e tama! Hoea te waka.