Kauri Whānau Weekly Update: Term 4 Week 1

 Bumper Issue!

  • Camp
  • Uniform
  • Athletics
  • Cultural Festival
  • Penguin
  • Gear list

Camp

Just five sleeps and we will be on our way. Are we excited or are we excited!  Below are final important reminders for Monday:

All gear needs to be well labeled and securely packed. We have spare gear lists in the hub if your child has lost theirs or you can find a digital copy of the gear list at the very bottom of this post. We haven't heard from anyone who needs a waterproof coat - let us know ASAP if your child needs to borrow one.

Children will need a day pack containing; their lunch, drink bottle, entertainment for the bus, waterproof coat, sun hat and warm top.

Please bring baking on Monday and take it to the maker-space. Many thanks to those who have offered to prepare meals. We still need a few more offers, especially for cottage pies. Please click here if you can help. We have had plenty of chilly-bin offers. Hannah will be emailing everyone who has offered to prepare meals or supply chilly bins with further information tonight.

Any medication needs to be in a labeled bag with name and dosage/frequency. This is to be handed in to your child’s home-group teacher on arrival to school on Monday.

Electronic devices on camp are just for use on the trip there and back. Devices will be collected in for the duration of camp. Individuals will be able to use phones to call home in the evenings if they really need to. On the bus, there is to be no messaging or posting to social media. The device is simply for playing games, listening to music etc. Please also remind them to name and pack their charger.

Teachers will have cellphones on us at all times. If you need to make contact call Nicky on 0276229403.

We will send camp news and photos when we can so you can have a peek at what we are doing.

Children need to be at school by 8:00 on Monday. They take their bags to the buses on Sandwich Rd, and it doesn't matter which bus gear goes on. They keep their day packs with them. They take baking and meals to the maker-space and then go straight to their homegroup meeting place.

We plan to get back between 5 and 5:30 on Friday. Keep an eye on your emails for a more accurate arrival time on Friday.

Most days the children will have a packed lunch. We would like them to bring a lunchbox, wax wraps if they have them, or a zip lock bag, etc to keep a roll or wrap in. We will have glad-wrap as a backup for children who need it. It is really important that everyone has a named drink bottle.

While we would prefer not to have additional sugar on camp, we understand that some children would like to bring sweets to camp. If you decide to send sweets to camp the children will be able to consume these in their bunkroom. If they bring more than a 200-250gm bag, these will be taken off them and given back to them at the end of camp. Remember that we will also have home baking every day and that we don't get to sleep until your children are asleep - excessive sugar can prevent that. No gum!!  

Below is the slideshow we have been going through with the children this week. It provides a good overview of our camp.


Wearing correct uniform

Hoodies are not part of our school uniform. Children should be wearing school jackets. We understand that for Year 8s, replacing a missing jacket at this stage is out of the question. If this is the case for your child, please let us know. A plain red or black sweatshirt / jacket will be fine, however if they have a school jacket - this is what they need to wear. Please email your child's teacher if they need to be wearing a non-school red or black jacket.

This is the term of the sunhat. Please make sure your child has a named wide-brimmed sunhat at school each day. 

Athletics Day

Whole Kura Athletics Day - Friday 30th October

Postponement Date: Tuesday 3rd November

This event will go ahead as planned if we are at Alert Level 1. If we are at Alert Level 2, Years 5 - 8 will compete without spectators and events for Years 0 - 4 will be postponed to a time when we are in Level 1.  

Our whole kura athletics day provides an opportunity for our tamariki to participate in an athletics event. Our PE focus in the lessons leading up to this event is on the movement skills required to participate safely and to the best of our ability. The focus of the event is on fun and inclusion. Years 0 to 4 will be participating in a range of games that develop the fundamental movement skills of run, jump and throw, while the year 5 to 8 children will be participating in more traditional track and field events. 

On the day

  • Children may wear their house top or their red polo.
  • Children should also wear shoes and clothes that will be suitable for running and jumping, (running shoes and shorts/leggings are ideal). 
  • Please ensure that your child has their sun hat and water bottle at school. 
  • Year 5 - 8 athletics run all day long, starting with the optional mid-distance event and followed by track and field rotations. Sprint finals conclude the day. 

To help with the running of these rotations, we are looking for adult volunteers to work alongside a teacher at our track and field stations. If you are keen to help and available, please email Jenny

We welcome spectators in Level One, but please leave dogs at home. There will be an adult team in the house relay so wear your running shoes if you would like to join in on this. 

Cultural Festival: Te Whānau Mahi Tahi

We had an awesome wānanga on Sunday - the set for our Cultural Festival performance is starting to come together nicely. Thank you very much to the parents who came along and helped. 

Cultural Festival tickets are on sale now. Te Whānau is performing on Wednesday night and if you wish to watch your child perform you need to purchase tickets. These can be purchased at https://premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/show.aspx?sh=CFESTIV20&fbclid=IwAR1tftiMtIF6xUmxpCHHeW9OeYMAzkJ1InZ14C5F0oIdw-BVMlK1zHihYkE

Pop-up Penguins

Our penguin is finally finished, wrapped up and on his way to the penguin trail. Many thanks to our penguin leaders for their hard work and Ira Kirk for her guidance. Our penguin will return to school after being out for public viewing.


Camp Gear List

◻ A warm sleeping bag (extras blanket if

needed)

◻ Pillow

◻ Waterproof Coat (in daypack)

◻ Shorts

◻ Shirts (both light and warm)

◻ Warm tops (polar fleece, sweatshirt)

◻ Socks (several pair)

◻ Long trousers/track pants

◻ Sunhat (in daypack)

◻ Pyjamas

◻ 2 X Towel

◻ Togs

◻ Thermal top

◻ Underwear

◻ Walking shoes

◻ Shoes/sandals for around camp

◻ Plastic bag (for dirty washing)

◻ Insect repellant

◻ Sunscreen lotion

◻ Sticking plasters

◻ Tea-towels (2)

◻ Beanie/woolly hat

◻ Named medication (hand in to teacher)

◻ Drink bottle (in daypack)

◻ Toiletries- toothbrush, toothpaste, soap,

shampoo, etc

◻ Pencil case

◻ Baking food donation (hand in on arrival

at school on Monday)


Optional

● Camera

● Pack of cards, board game

● Sunglasses

● Torch

● Cellphone

● Book


Not Allowed

● Pocket knife

● Chewing gum

● Money




 

Living Springs Camp Health Form and Gear List

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

 Planning is well underway for the Pōhutukawa camp at Living Springs. 

The programme is challenging, stimulating and safe. The activities include: archery tag, “Balanz” bikes, zipline, swimming (heated pool), group initiative challenges, low ropes course, bouldering wall, orienteering, animal survival and recreational activities. 

All children will be well supervised and all risks well managed in accordance with our Camp Safety Action Plan and the Living Springs Risk Management Strategies. It will be an exciting learning opportunity for your child. The children will be sleeping in carpeted bunk rooms, which can be heated if required. As well as regular meals, there are two snack times during the day. 

We will be leaving from the Pōhutukawa Hub on Wednesday 25th November shortly after the 9:00 am bell. After the camp, we will return to school between 2:30 and 3:00 pm on Friday 27th November. We will wait in the hub for you to pick your child up, along with their gear.

Essential Tasks to Prepare for Camp 

Medical Forms 

Please complete the Health Profile & Medical Consent Form by Monday 2 November by clicking on the link below and completing the online form.  One form needs to be competed for each child who is attending camp.  A separate health form will be emailed to our parent helpers soon. 



Medication 

If your child requires personalised medication on camp, please complete the Medicine Authority Form. We will print a copy of the form to be stored with your child's medication whilst on camp. Please put your child’s medicine in a small, clearly named zip lock bag or plastic container and hand the bag/container to Anne Batchelor on Wednesday, 25th November when you drop your child off at school. 

If your child has medication that should be kept with them (e.g. an inhaler or travel sickness medication), please put this in your child’s backpack and let your child’s home group teacher know where it is on the morning we leave for camp.

What to bring to Camp
  • A light backpack for the first day containing: 
  • A snack 
  • Lunch 
  • Drink bottle 
  • A warm and waterproof coat 
  • Sunscreen 
  • Sunhat 
  • Medicine that must be kept with the student (e.g. an inhaler or travel sickness medication)

A larger bag or suitcase containing: 
  • Toiletries – soap, toothbrush, toothpaste etc.  
  • Insect repellent 
  • 2 towels (shower and pool) 
  • A pair of walking shoes 
  • A pair of slippers or inside shoes 
  • Socks 
  • Underclothes 
  • Long pants 
  • Shorts 
  • T-shirts 
  • Warm jerseys or bush shirts 
  • A warm hat 
  • Pyjamas 
  • Swimming togs 
  • Lightweight bags for dirty clothes 
  • A pillow 
  • A single fitted bottom sheet for your bed 
  • A warm sleeping bag 
  • A book to read (optional) 
  • Games (small board games or cards only) (optional) 
  • Soft cuddly toy (optional)
If applicable, a plastic container or ziplock bag containing: 
  • Personal medication for the camp medic to look after and administer 
  • Medicine authority form
The following items will not be required and should not be taken on camp: 
  • Money 
  • iPod or MP3/MP4 players 
  • Computers/iPads/tablets 
  • Handheld electronic games 
  • Torches 
  • Chewing gum 
  • Radios 
  • Cell phones 
  • Cameras 
  • Toys 
  • Knives 

Please make sure all items are clearly named and that your child will be able to carry their bag themselves. A good idea is to bring the gear list to camp so that they can be checked off when we leave. A paper copy of the gear list will be sent home closer to our departure.  If there is something you don’t have, we encourage you borrow it from someone rather than buy it.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child's home group teacher.

Kauri Whanāu: Term 4 Camp Update 1

 We trust you have had an enjoyable two weeks with your children at home. We teachers have had a great break and are busy getting sorted for our upcoming camp in week 2: Oct 19-23

Food

We appreciate everyone sending along some baking to get us through the week at camp. This will be collected on the Monday morning before we jump on the buses.

We are looking for a large number of volunteers to prepare pasta bakes and cottage pies. We are also needing to borrow some chilly-bins. Please click on this link to indicate how you can help out. 

Departure time on Monday

On Monday Oct 19, all children are to arrive at school by 8am. We have food to box up, buses to load and things to check before we hit the road at 8:30.

Bunk-rooms

The allocation of bunk-rooms is always a tricky job. We are confident that the following plan takes into account the children's requests.  




There will be another post next week with more details. We are sharing a presentation with the programme and many other details with the children on Tuesday. This presentation will then be uploaded to google classroom. The children will be able to access this at home and share it with you. 





Cycle Safety Term 4



Kia ora whānau,

If your child is a year 6 student they will be taking part in the Cycle Safe Programme at school, during week's 1-3 of term 4.

The Cycle Safe programme is run by the Christchurch City Council and is a cycle skills education programme for schools. Students learn the benefits of cycling and how to ride with confidence and be road-wise. Students will be riding their bike on the road, supervised, around Beckenham School.

Your year 6 child/ren will be participating in this course on one of the following sessions:

Session 1 - Friday 16th & Monday 19th October
Session 2 - Tuesday 20th & Friday 23rd October
Session 3 - Tuesday 17th & Wednesday 28th October

More information as to the session that your child/ren will be participating will come home via a reminder notice, with your child, at the beginning of term 4.

On these days, students should bring the following to school:

  • Their bicycle (in good working order)
  • Their helmet (in good working order)
  • A lock to secure these items to the school bike racks

Please ensure that your child/ren come/s to school on these days wearing suitable
clothing for the weather. If it rains and it is unsuitable for the children to go out on their bicycles, the remaining sessions will be either rescheduled at a suitable later date or be classroom-based.

For those who do not have their own, ten bicycles and helmets are available through the programme.

The Cycle Safe team have recently created some 3-5 minute videos about their programme. We welcome you and your students to view them.
Here is a link to a Helmet Fitting video. You can also look on the Cycle Safe page under the videos heading.