Principal's Patch
Kia ora koutou
First week of Term 4 and we enjoyed seeing everyone back after the break and hearing stories of travel, 'staycations' and relaxation!
On Friday we welcomed our new whānau and their tamariki to Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. Welcome to our kura and we look forward to our time with your whānau.
This week we also have school athletics. Please see the notices below for more information.
Also, read the PTA notices, they have been very busy! We appreciate the work they do in support of the tamariki and our kura.
As we begin our final term for the year a reminder, please feel free to contact your child's Home Group Teacher at any stage. They are more than happy to hear from you to celebrate successes and about any questions or wondering you or your child may have.
Staffing update
In 2025 we will welcome Hugo Weaver to our staff. Hugo will be the Kauri (Year 7 and 8) Team Leader. Hugo is excited to be joining us and working with the Kauri team.
Congratulations to Sarah Angelo. Sarah has been appointed to a permanent teaching position here at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. Sarah is currently working in the Kahikatea team.
Our Team Leader Structure for 2025:
Koru - Katie McFarlane
Kahikatea - Sarah Junghenn
Kōwhai - Anna Reid
Pōhutukawa - Steve Cooke
Kauri - Hugo Weaver
Our thanks to Amber Donovan and Stacey McLachlan for so capably filling the roles of Acting Team Leaders. Thank you for stepping up and supporting the school in this way for 2024.
2025 Enrolments - do you have a 4 year old!
We welcome enrolment forms for any New Entrant students who may start with us in 2025. It is never too early to pre-enrol your child, and having this data early will help us in the coming months when we begin to organise teaching staff for the following year.
If you know of any in our area, please encourage them to enrol.
Enrolment forms can be collected from the Office or can be found
online here.
Upcoming Curriculum Day
The Ministry of Education has allocated a curriculum day for all schools to work on the English and Mathematics curriculums in preparation for implementation in 2025. A reminder that our Curriculum Day is on Monday, November 18th. The school will be closed for students on this day.
We are fortunate to have BOSCO open and available to book on this day. If you wish to sign your tamariki up for BOSCO on this date, please either head to
Considerations for home-group placement for 2025
As we start to put together home groups for 2025, we know that you may hold particular information or insight that you want to share that will support the placement of your child for next year.
While our teachers hold a lot of knowledge and understanding around the needs of our children, we are keen to also know if there is anything particular you think we should be aware of as we make these decisions.
As you will appreciate, putting home groups together is a hugely complex puzzle where the needs of all children need to be carefully considered. This means that we are not asking for 'requests' for teachers or for friendship groups as we would never be able to meet all of those. What we are seeking, is to be made aware of anything important you think we need to consider that we might not be aware of. We will add your thoughts to ours, and do the best we can to make sure that everyone's needs have been considered in our process.
If you have anything you want us to know, please email me (not the teachers) so that I have all the information in one place. I will need this information by the end of Week 5 - Friday 8th November.
email: principal@beckenham.school.nz
Ngā mihi nui
Jo Smith - Tumuaki (Acting Principal)
Important Dates
Upcoming Events
Mon 21 Oct - Fri 25 Oct - Walk or Wheel to School Week
Wed 23 Oct - PTA Meeting, 7:30-9:30PM, Green Room
Wed 23 Oct - BOT Meeting, 5:30-7:30PM, Staff Room
Thu 24 Oct - School Athletics
Mon 28 Oct - Labour Day (kura/school closed)
Fri 1 Nov - Kauri Sausage Sizzle
Thu 7 Nov - Strings Concert, 11:00am in the Hall
Sat 9 Nov - PTA Bingo Night, in the Hall
Fri 15 Nov - Canterbury Anniversary Day (kura/school closed)
Mon 18 Nov - Curriculum Day (staff only - kura/school closed)
Wed 27 Nov - PTA Meeting, 7:30-9:30PM, Green Room
Wed 11 Dec - BOT Meeting, 5:30-7:30PM, Staff Room
Fri 13 Dec - Final Celebration Assembly, 9.45-10.30am, in the Hall
Mon 16 Dec - Year 8 Graduation
Tue 17 Dec - Last day of Term 4, School finishes 12.30PM
Term Dates
Citizen of the Week
Molly McGuigan - Year 4
Molly, you are a great example of someone who demonstrates all our school values. Molly, you have a beautiful, kind and caring nature. You are loyal, empathetic and considerate. Thank you for the positive impact you have on those around you. Tino pai, Molly!Maadev Samaratunge - Year 4
Maadev, you are a very kind, caring and positive member of the hub. You consistently demonstrate our school values on a daily basis and you are an outstanding role model to others. Well done, Maadev!BOT Update
Principal Appointment
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Cade Englefield as our new Principal. With nearly 30 years of experience in education in both New Zealand and the UK across all primary school year levels, Cade will be joining us from his current role as Associate Principal at Christchurch South Karamata Intermediate School. He will officially start with us on Monday, 27 January 2025. We are confident that Cade’s experience and leadership will be a great fit with the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto culture and values.
We would also like to sincerely thank Deputy Principal Jo Smith, who has done an outstanding job as Acting Principal since January. Whilst Jo opted not to apply for the permanent position, her leadership, along with support from the wider team, has provided valuable continuity and speaks to the depth of experience and commitment across our kura leadership team.
We look forward to welcoming Cade as he joins us in continuing the great work at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.
School Notices
2025 School Term Dates
Staff Only Days
Monday 27, Tuesday 28, Wednesday 29 & Thursday 30 January
Term 1
Friday 31 January to Friday 11 April
NB: Learning Conferences all day Friday 31 January and Monday 3 February. Supervision will be provided for families who have requested it. Classes start Tuesday 4 February.
Waitangi Day Tuesday 6 February - School Closed
Term 2
Monday 28 April to Friday 27 July
Term 3
Monday 14 July to Friday 19 September
Term 4
Monday 6 October to Tuesday 16 December
These dates will be added to the website in further detail next week.
Food Allergy Guidelines
Across our school, we have a number of children with different food allergies.
To support the wellbeing of these students we have the following guidelines in place which we ask you to follow
- All students should only eat lunches and snacks that have been provided by their caregivers.
- Bottles, other drinks, and lunch boxes provided by caregivers should be clearly labelled with the name of their child. Home group teachers and caregivers will decide where the children’s bottles and lunch boxes will be kept during the day to ensure no cross contamination occurs.
- Parents are asked not to bring food into school to be shared with other children. Whilst we understand that there are times you want to celebrate special events for your children with their friends at school, e.g. birthdays or being awarded prizes, by bringing food and treats for them to share, we have a policy of children only eating the food that their whānau have prepared and sent with them. We have a number of students with food allergies and also need to respect the wishes of some families who want to monitor what their children are eating and prefer their children just to eat food they have prepared. From time to time, there may be an event that teachers have organised that will involve food (cultural or learning activities) and they will have advised families in advance that this will be happening.
- At the beginning of each year caregivers will need to check the expiry dates on any medication to be held at school.
- On the first day of school, caregivers will need to bring their child’s medication to the school office. Caregivers will need to sign a medicine authority form (School Docs). The responsibility of monitoring the expiry dates of medications rests with the parent.
- Caregivers may be asked to come and talk to staff about their child’s specific health needs and ways we can support them at school.
We will inform you during the year if specific guidelines for your child’s hub change.
If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them in the first instance with your child’s home group teacher.
Walk or Wheel to School Week (starts Monday)
In Week 2, from
Monday 21st October to Friday 25th October 2024, our school is participating in Walk or Wheel to School Week, brought to you by the Christchurch City Council. This fun and action-packed week is to promote walking and wheeling to school. There are daily themes and prizes up for grabs for students who participate. For more information head over to the
Christchurch City Council webpage. We can’t wait to get started next week!
If students walk or wheel to school 3 mornings or more during the week they will go in the draw to win spot prizes. Cards that students need to fill out if they are participating will be sent home (pictured below). Tamariki (children) need to write both their name and hub on this card.
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Healthy Lunches
Good nutrition is essential for fueling the body and brain for optimal learning and wellbeing. It is so great to see so many healthy, balanced school lunches coming to school.
We have noticed a number of children are growing and needing extra protein and carbohydrates. An easy way to provide this is the addition of a cheese sandwich or similar.
Please also ensure that your child has a full bottle of water each day.
Below are some reminders and hopefully some inspiration from
NZ Nutrition Foundation to support you with your children's lunches.
Lunchbox Ideas
Lunchboxes can be a real challenge – you want to make sure your children eat a variety of healthy foods, but you also need to know the lunch will be eaten! By including foods from each of the four food groups you will help ensure they get all the necessary nutrients. Asking your children what they would like, or involving them in preparing their own lunchboxes, will reduce the likelihood of the food being thrown away or coming home uneaten.
The Healthy Lunchbox
Let’s think about filling our lunchbox in terms of the four food groups:
Vegetables and Fruits
- Vegetable sticks – carrot, cucumber, and celery with an optional dip such as cottage cheese, hummus, pesto, Greek yoghurt, tzatziki
- Small (cherry) or chopped tomatoes
- Fresh fruit – chopping bigger fruit beforehand will make it easier to eat – a variety throughout the week maintains interest and ensures a variety of nutrients
- Fruit pottles
- Mini salads – coleslaw or a lettuce salad with tomato, grated carrot, and cucumber
- Small packet or handful of raisins or dried fruit
Grain foods (bread, rice, pasta, breakfast cereals)
- Sandwiches
- Cereal bars
- Plain biscuits
- Plain popcorn
- Rice crackers
- Potato or pasta salad
- Potato cakes
- Leftover pasta and rice dishes
Milk and milk products (milk, cheese, yoghurt)
- Pottle of yoghurt or yoghurt squeezable
- Plain or flavoured milk
- Cubes or slices of cheese
- Cottage cheese – add to sandwiches or use as a dip for vegetable sticks
Legumes, nuts, seeds, fish and other seafood, eggs, poultry, and/or red meat with the fat removed
- Meat or chicken sandwiches
- Egg or tuna sandwiches
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Hummus – Add some to sandwiches or put a couple of tablespoons in a container to go alongside vegetable sticks
- A small handful of nuts and seeds (unless your child's hub is nut-free)
Kauri Sausage Sizzle fundraiser
The senior students are running a sausage sizzle on Friday 1st of November.Sausages will be delivered to classrooms. Sausages are $2 each, and all proceeds are going towards the Year 7 and 8 school end-of-year trip to Cass Bay.
There will be a group of senior students collecting orders and money outside of the hall next week on Thursday and Friday before school. Limit 2 sausages per person. The sausages are Hellers brand. There are a small number of halal and vegetarian sausages available. Please make sure to order these specifically if required.
Orders will be taken outside the hall on Thursday 24th and Friday 25th of October 8:30-8:55am.
Thanks for your ongoing support of the Kauri team!
Parking Around Schools & Infringement Fee Increase
Please see the below infographics from the Christchurch City Council, which covers the most common reasons parking fines are given around schools.
These infringement fines are increasing as of 1 October 2024 because the amounts set by central government are being changed for parking fees across the country.
Please take note and ensure that you are parking correctly, to keep everyone safe, and avoid fines.
Strings concert 7th November at 11:00 in the hall. Caregivers welcome.
If you would like your child to learn the violin, viola, cello please come along and listen - there will be details of enrolments for 2025 at the concert.Anne Robinson is our itinerant strings teacher and Head of Strings for Christchurch School of Music.
Please contact Anne if you wish to find out any further details.
annejohnrobinson@gmail.com.
(021)1322604
CSM
The Christchurch School of Music is a busy and great place to learn and play music.
Sports News
Koru Games Recognition
We were incredibly humbled to receive the below email:
"As the dust settles on the 2024 Koru Games, we just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU for the part you played in making the Games such a success! We hope Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto enjoyed their time at the Games.
The Selwyn Sports Trust was very impressed with the way the students from Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto conducted themselves during the Koru Games and played within the spirit of the Games. To acknowledge your positive contributions to the Games, you have won a $1,000 Dynasty Sport teamwear voucher.
We look forward to hosting Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto at the Koru Games in 2025!"
This is such awesome recognition of our tamariki and all the coaches who fostered amazing team spirit within their teams.
Athletics
Our whole school athletics is on Thursday the 24th of October.
The day celebrates the teaching and learning of athletics and Run, Jump, Throw that has been happening across the school.
Timings
Koru - 9:15 to 10:00
Kahikatea - 1:30 to 2:20
Kōwhai - 10:50 to 12:40
Pōhutukawa and Kauri - all day
You are welcome to come and encourage our tamariki (children). Please leave dogs at home as some of our children can be afraid of dogs and this can impact their participation - thank you.
Helpers
We are looking for five adults or senior students to support us with the running of the Year 5 to 8 events. No prior experience is needed. You will work alongside one of our Kaiako (teachers) and they will explain how the event runs. If you do have prior experience or expertise, that would be a bonus!
The roles we need filling are:
1 x to support with sprint heats
2 x to support with shot put
2 x to support with discus
If you can help out, please fill out this form.
What to wear
Children can wear their house top or red polo with black shorts, track pants, leggings, or similar. For footwear, trainers or shoes that are comfortable to run in are ideal. Shoes must be worn for shot put and discus.
Please make sure that your child has their sun hat and water bottle with them on this day.
What to do if your child is injured
If your child is injured or can not participate for any reason and will still be at school on Thursday, please let your child's homeroom teacher know.
Children who are unable to participate may be able to take on a role where they help on an athletics rotation, take photos or support in another way. This way they still participate and contribute in the event.
House Relay
If you would like to participate in the house relay in the teacher's and whānau team, please fill in
this form.
The House Relay is the final event and the whole school comes out to cheer the runners on. The tamariki, (children) adore seeing their kaiako, (teachers) and whānau, (family) take part. Don't worry if you don't consider yourself a fast runner; the children would love for you to participate and they'd love it even more if they beat you!
PTA News
Calendar Art
All the students have been working hard to produce amazing art work.
Every child has received an ordering sheet with their unique ordering number. With that code, you will be able to access your child’s art work (on www.kidsartworks.com) and order some high-quality, personalised, christmas presents!
Orders close MONDAY 21st of October at 11.30pm.
Bingo Night 9th November 2024
Get ready for Bingo Night!!!!!
On 9 November, the PTA is hosting a Bingo Night in the hall to fundraise for Kapa Haka uniforms for our Tamariki. This event promises to be a fun-filled evening for our community.
Tickets are $16. This includes 1 Bingo card, but extra cards can be purchased on the night. Supper and snacks will be provided. We have had some generous donations come through and we are so excited about some of these prizes!
Leading up to the big event we will be selling raffle tickets for an epic raffle package! Make sure you’re following our Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto PTA Facebook Page for the big raffle package reveal over the weekend!
Gazebo
A massive thank you to everyone who bought CookieTime cookies to help fundraise for our new school gazebo. We also thank the family who made a generous donation towards this as well. The gazebo has just arrived and is looking awesome, we can't wait to use it next week for athletics.
Weetbix Tryathlon
- Entries are open for the Weetbix Tryathlon on 23rd February 2025 at Jellie Park. Early bird entries get a discount so sign up today.
- The TRYathlon is all about giving it a TRY and is a rewarding and fun day out for you and your child. Every child gets a t-shirt and medal. We have the school gazebo set up where children and parents can meet and each year the PTA usually have an offering for the children.
- Children 6 years old on event day can complete in the Splash & Dash
- Children aged 7-15 years old on event day, can complete the TRYathlon as an individual or in a team of two.
Our school has created a School Group which you can join when you enter from home. Search for Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto when prompted. By linking to our school group it will give us the chance to win some great prizes.
The direct link to register into our school group is https://raceroster.com/registration/09e74114-05e0-4912-a758-1d8430d4edc3/entry?team=697038
Community Notices
(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)
Luminaires Singing and Acting Workshops - Term 4
Our workshop participants will work towards performances at a special Christmas event!
In the workshops we focus on helping each individual to improve their skills and technique in a fun and supportive environment.
Thursdays at Phillipstown Community Hub
Singing 4-5pm
Acting 5.15-6.30pm
You can sign up for one or for both
Prices are $150 per term ($120 Community Services)
15% discount if you sign up for both
SCHOLARSHIPS available!
Follow the link to sign up and find out more (late enrolments are fine)
Free Envirokids Sessions For Kids
Envirokids is a free program for kids aged between 5-13 years old that runs every Saturday from 10am-1pm in the kiosk at the Botanic Gardens. The activities run incorporate a mix of interactive fun and environmental education.
Southern Districts & South East Ōtautahi Cricket - only a few gaps across grades!
Harcourts & NZ China Friendship Society Art Competition 2024
A copy of this poster about our upcoming Art Competition is below and also a document with all the details about the competition or for these details, click
here or scan the QR code in the poster with your phone.
Te Radar's CookBookery - A CHS Spanish Class Fundraiser
A fundraising event for the Cashmere High School Spanish class trip to South America in 2025. All profit will go towards the trip. The show starts at 7:00pm with food, beverages and other fundraising events starting from 6:00pm.
Buy tickets here.
The Show - A comedic celebration of food from the beloved and bizarre cookbooks of our past. Te Radar has sampled a century and a half of New Zealand cookbooks to find the tastiest morsels, with a side of sumptuous vintage food photography.
Bike lessons will be starting tomorrow /Wednesdays ,16 October 5-7pm , at Addington School. Please tell your friends and help us spread the word!
New students are welcome! You can start as a beginner at any class - we have lots of help available, and will support you whatever your skill level.
We are also keen to keep supporting our current students. We will help you build your skills and confidence, to help you achieve your bike riding goals, whether this is riding on the road, or just for fun!
Can't wait to see you tomorrow
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