Principal's Patch
Kia ora koutou
Welcome to Term 3! It has been lovely catching up with everyone over the week about how the school holidays were for them.
We got back into learning and school events this week, beginning with the mid-winter breakfast. Thank you to the PTA for organising this. There were lots of positive comments about the delicious porridge.
As we begin a new term 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
Welcome to Mikyla Campbell. Mikyla is relieving in Rae Marsh's Home Group for the next few weeks while Rae is on medical leave. Welcome to the team Mikyla.
Welcome back to Nicola Reddecliffe. Nicola is the Home Group teacher for our next New Entrant class.
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.
Ngā mihi nui
Jo Smith - Tumuaki (Acting Principal)
Important Dates
Upcoming Events
Wed 31 Jul - PTA Meeting (AGM), 7:00-9:30PM, Green Room
Fri 2 Aug - Celebration Assembly, 10:00-10:30am, in the Hall
Wed 14 Aug - Year 7 and 8 (Kauri) Open Evening - 7-8pm
Fri 15 Aug - Celebration Assembly, 10:00-10:30am, in the Hall
Mon 26 Aug - Staff Only Day (kura/school closed)
Wed 28 Aug - PTA Cookie Time Fundraiser Collection in the Hall (2.45-3.15 & 6.00-6.30pm)
Wed 28 Aug - BOT Meeting, 5:30-7:30PM, Staff Room
Wed 28 Aug - PTA Meeting, 7:30-9:30PM, Green Room
Fri 30 Aug - Celebration Assembly, 10:00-10:30am, in the Hall
Tue 3 Sep - School Duathlon, 12:15-3:00PM
Wed 4 Sep - Kauri Ski Trip TBC
Fri 13 Sep - Celebration Assembly, 10:00-10:30am, in the Hall
Thu 19 Sep - New Entrant and Year 8 Photos, 9:00-10:00am
Wed 25 Sep - PTA Meeting, 7:30-9:30PM, Green Room
Thu 26 Sep - BOT Meeting, 5:30-7:30PM, Staff Room
Fri 27 Sep - Celebration Assembly, 10:00-10:30am, in the Hall
Fri 27 Sep - Last day of Term 3, School finishes 3pm
Mon 14 Oct - First day of Term 4, School starts 8:55am
Citizen of the Week (Term 2 Week 10)
Jessica Crump - Year 6
Jessica, you consistently show all of our school values every day. You are always lending a helping hand whenever needed. You are kind, caring and very respectful. You are a self-directed, independent learner which is admired. Tino pai, Jessica!
Citizen of the Week (Term 3 Week 1)
Xanthe Hills - Year 3
Xanthe, you are a positive role model who embodies our school values. You have a thirst for knowledge and your industrious nature helps you achieve great things. We love having you in the Kōwhai team! Tino pai, Xanthe.
School Notices
Year 7 and 8 Intermediate (Kauri) Open Evening
Wednesday 14th August - 7 to 8pm
We would love for you and your child/ren to join us to learn more about our amazing Intermediate Team. Come and find out more about the learning programmes, leadership opportunities, Education Outside the Classroom and so much more!
Sensory Tools
All humans have sensory needs that we regulate throughout the day. A great way for children to gain the feedback they need is via the oral/motor sensory system. If your child tends to chew/suck on clothing, fingers, ends of pencils etc, or if you child tends to lack concentration or becomes restless in the day, a chewy could be a great sensory tool. Chewies are mobile, they are fun and child friendly, and can help organize, calm, soothe, and regulate their sensory systems. We have a small stock of chewies at the office that we are selling for when your child's teacher and you feel your child may benefit from this.
Coffee Cart
If anyone in our community has connections with a Coffee Van or Cart, who may wish to work with us to provide a school gate 'pick me up' service a couple of times each week, we would be interested in hearing from you. Please contact the Office. Thanks in advance.
Whānau Junior Playground Support Roster
We have a wonderful group of whānau, parents and grandparents, who come along to school during lunch play to support our tamariki in the junior playground. We have had a couple of time slots become available for Term 3. The benefits of being on the 'parent supervision roster' include the opportunity to be a part of the school community, and getting to know other whānau, parents and your child's friends. Please email Katie if you would like to offer your help for Term 3.
katie.mcfarlane@beckenham.school.nz
Cellphone Policy
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto does not recommend that students bring personal digital devices to school. Personal digital devices include cellphones, which we manage according to government regulations, and other devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartwatches.
If a parent or caregiver needs to contact their child during school hours, they should call the office.
If students bring personal digital devices to school they must turn their devices off and hand them in to the Office during school hours.
The device will be kept in the office and can be collected by the student at the end of the day.
We recommend students do not bring unnecessary valuables to school. If an insurance claim for damage or loss to personal property is made, any insurance excess is payable by the student or their parents who own the property.
Full policy can be found on SchoolDocs,
here. (Username: beckenham Password: pride)
Hauora: Health, Wellness & Winter Bugs
Please find
linked here, a guide to managing communicable diseases for schools from Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand). This guide provides information on serious infectious diseases you may come into contact with and what actions may be required to stop them spreading.
It covers influenza, gastroenteritis illnesses (including norovirus), measles, meningococcal disease, mumps and pertussis (whooping cough).
For each of these information is provided on:
- Common symptoms and how the illness spreads
- How to protect your community and prevent illness
- What to do if someone has the disease or illness (or if you suspect they have it)
- Where to find more information
Conjunctivitis
We have a number of noted cases of conjunctivitis throughout the school currently. Thank you for keeping your tamariki home if they are showing symptoms, as this helps reduce the spread.
Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is a very common condition in children. It causes red, irritated and sticky eyes, and can be extremely contagious.
Children with conjunctivitis should not go to school or daycare until their eyes are better. Thank you for your continued support with this.
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. 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.
Year 0-4 Cross Country Challenge
This week, the top-placed students in our Year 0-4 cross country event which was held last term had the opportunity to take part in the Cross Country Challenge. This is held at Hillview Christian School every year with many other schools participating and is usually at the end of Term 2 but had to be postponed due to inclement weather. Luckily, the rain held off on Tuesday and, although it was cold (brrr!), we were able to go ahead with the event this time. The children successfully took part in their cross country races, putting every effort into doing their best. It was fantastic to see the determination on everyone’s faces as they strove to get to the finish line. Well done to you all! Following the races, the children then attended an award ceremony and enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea. It really was a fantastic experience for our tamariki. Thank you to all the parents and parent helpers who came along to support. We couldn’t have done it without you!
PTA News
Cookie Time Fundraiser
BOT Update
Policy Review Term 3
We would welcome your feedback on our policy topics, and subtopics, that are up for review this term. These topics can be found at the link below. Please follow these intstructions below to submit your feedback.
- Visit the website https://beckenham.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
- Enter the username (beckenham) and password (pride).
- Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
- Read the policy.
- Click the Start your review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
- Select the reviewer type.
- Enter your name (optional).
- Follow the prompts to show that you've read the topic and enter your feedback if you'd like to comment.
- 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.
Principal Appointment Update
The Board of Trustees would like to update you all as to the progress on appointing a new principal after Sandy’s departure. Thank you so much for all your feedback. It was hugely appreciated and we took on board your comments and suggestions, as well as those from the staff and children, when we put together the application pack. The position is currently being advertised and we expect to hold interviews later in September.
Community Notices
(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)
UNDER 5's DANCE CLASSES IN SYDENHAM
Get your tiny dancer twirling in our fun Mini Movers dance classes. These classes are aimed at building the children's confidence while incorporating the use of props and introducing basic ballet, jazz and hip hop skills. We love to use our imagination too. Mondays at 9.30 - 10.00am, 76 Hawdon Street. Contact thatdancestudio@gmail.com for more information.
The Muse Community Music Trust
Does your child love music? Would you like to give them the best possible musical start?
Music classes for children will begin in term three at Somerfield Community Centre on Wednesdays. The classes are based in the Kodály approach, an approach that helps all learners become confident musicians who can play, sing, read, write, improvise and compose. Instead of focusing on just one instrument, the approach uses singing games within a well planned sequential programme, to develop strong aural, memory and kinesthetic skills, while developing understanding of the language of music . Children who learn through this approach become lifelong musicians, with strong agency over their musical practice.
The classes are delivered by The Muse Community Music Trust who provide scholarships for parents where finances would prevent participation.
The first class is a free trial. Bookings are essential.
TERM 3 Weekly Singing and Acting Workshops!
Phillipstown Community Hub
Register by 19th July to ensure your place (late enrolments limited, email us to check)
Or email luminairescharitabletrust@gmail.com
Ages 8+
Want to learn how to sing? Or develop acting skills?
4-5pm Singing / 5.15-6.30pm Acting
Weekly workshops Thursdays 25 July to 26 September
Plus a combined afternoon showcase Saturday 28 September
$150 per term / $120 (CSC Holders)
Sign up for both workshops and get 15% off
Scholarships available.
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