Kauri Whānau Weekly Update: Term 4 Week 1

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It is soooo good to be in our new hub. The children are adapting well to new routines. These include shoes off inside, feel free to have a set of school slippers, and storing lunch boxes in our maker-space, so that they don't heat up in the outside lockers.


There is lots happening this term. Here are a few key dates for your dairy:


  • Wednesday October 18: Orana Park field trip
  • Thursday October 26: Sports Day
  • Monday November 13: Zone Athletics
  • Thursday November 16: Top Team
  • Thursday November 30: Carisbrook School visit for sports competition
  • Monday December 4: First performance of 'The Trials of Alice in Wonderland'
  • Wednesday December 6: Canterbury Athletics
  • Thursday December 7: Second performance of 'The Trials of Alice in Wonderland'
  • Thursday December 14: Corsair Bay fun day
  • Monday December 18: Leavers' Assembly starting at 11am. Year 8 finish at 1pm.
  • Tuesday December 19: School year ends for Year 1 - 7 at 12:30

We are still to schedule our Victoria Park walk and the Year 8 pizza and pool party.


Orana Park:

We are off to Orana Park tomorrow to kick off our science / literacy study around endangered species. The weather forecast is telling us the day will be cold, possibly with some early rain. Children need to come prepared with the following:

  • wear school uniform, preferably with long pants and a thermal layer under their school shirt
  • bring a jacket to go over their school jacket, preferably waterproof with a hood
  • school sunhat
  • beanie, warm hat
  • lunch and water bottle
  • asthma and other required medication, to be handed to home-group teacher, except for inhaler
Children are to be at school at the normal time. Our buses depart at 9:15 and we will be back by 3pm. Parent helpers please meet in our hub at 9am.

Athletic Sports:


Thursday the 26th of October is our School Athletics Day. We welcome all parents to come and support our children as they compete in field and track events throughout the day. 

Friday the 27th of October is our Long Jump event, which is being held at Hillview Christian School as we do not yet have our own long jump pit here at Beckenham. This is an optional event for the children and entries were made at the end of last term. We are looking for parent helpers to support us in walking the children to Hillview and supervising them in between jumps. Please email Jenny if you are able to provide assistance with this event. 

Long Distance Running will be held the following Wednesday at Beckenham Park.

These events will decide which children go on to represent our school at our Zone's event at Hanson's Park on the 13th of November. 

Finally, it was great to see nearly everyone at school on time today, Tuesday, to catch the bus to South for technology. Everyone needs to meet for roll call at 8:30 on a Tuesday.


Beckenham School Special Edition Newsletter Friday 13 October

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Special Edition - Welcome back to Term 4 at Beckenham!

Kia ora koutou

As you will all no doubt be aware, we will have ALL of our students back on our Beckenham site on Monday for the start of Term 4.

Getting around our site has changed again this term with the building progressing and the office now in another new, but temporary, location.

Below is a map that will hopefully help you find your way around.

The Office and staffroom will be located in the old NE classrooms, backing onto the staff carpark. The pedestrian entrance to the office, and to the East Hub (from Sandwich Road) will be via the staff carpark.
The Year 7/8 team have moved into the East Hub, and the Year 5/6 team are in the Sandwich Road end of the West Hub. Both teams have worked tirelessly over the past three days preparing their new learning spaces for the students on Monday.

We will begin classes at the normal time of 8:55am on Monday, then we will all meet in the courtyard between the East Hub and the Office (weather permitting), for our first whole school WELCOME ASSEMBLY since the start of Term 1!
We would like to invite any parents who are able to attend to join us in this assembly.

All of the staff are looking forward to being back on the same site together again after a year of working on two sites. We are very excited about welcoming all of our students back to school and a fabulous term of learning ahead.

Best wishes
Sandy Hastings
Principal - Tumuaki

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Mon 16 Oct
Term 4 starts.  Classes begin at 8:55am.  Everyone at Sandwich Road site.
Welcome Assembly in the new, East Hub courtyard. EVERYONE very welcome!

Mon 23 Oct
Labour Day - school is closed.

Wed 25 Oct
BOT Meeting - 5:30-8:00pm
PTA Meeting - 7:30-9:30pm

Thu 26 Oct
Yrs 5 - 8 Athletic sports in Beckenham Park.

Wed 1 Nov
Yrs 5 - 8 Long distance races, 1000m & 1200 m

Thu 9 Nov
Special group photos & Hubs 12 & 13.  1:15-3:00pm

Mon 13 Nov
Zone Athletics at Hansens Park

Fri 17 Nov
Canterbury Anniversary Day - school is closed.

Wed 6 Dec
Canterbury Athletics in Ashburton

Mon 18 Dec
Year 8 Leaver's Assembly

Term Dates
Click here to view 2017 and 2018 term dates.

School Notices

Sun Hats are required from Monday

During Term 4 students are required to wear an approved school sun hat (red or black).  Caps are not permitted.
Bucket style sun hats are available from the office for $10 each, sizes M & L.  Wide brimmed hats are available from The Warehouse for $18.

PTA - Sunscreen offer:

Summer is just around the corner and we're all looking forward to some warm days, barbecues, games of cricket, trips to the beach and lots of sunshine!
The Beckenham School PTA is fundraising and promoting sun safety by selling handy 50g tubes of Cancer Society SPF 30+ sunscreen.
Click on the link below to place your order and be sunsmart!
http://bit.ly/2hrlokd

Lunchonline

Hello Lunchonline Families!

We have let Lunchonline know that ALL of our students are now at our Beckenham site so they will be delivering all of the lunches here from Monday.

For your information!  Can you please note that Pita Pit Sydenham has a new menu and it is set up slightly differently – take a look when you next order.

The kids’ sized pitas are now priced at $5.65 which includes three fillings and sauce. The three fillings and sauce are chosen separately.  Previously, there was a charge for each filling and sauce.

This menu is loaded and effective from the first week of term 4.  Have a great break over the holidays.

Community Notices

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

Christchurch School of Music

Come and join us for this exciting, FREE performance of a childhood favourite story, My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes. This performance is based on the much-loved book by Eve Sutton and Lynley Dodd and is filled with visually and aurally engaging percussion music with dancing cats from all over the world.

Presented by the Christchurch School of Music with the world percussion ensemble, colourful dancers, a naughty box-loving pussy cat and narration by Celia Stewart, this performance will engage the children in wonderful music and storytelling.
Most suitable for 3-8 year olds but all welcome.

When: Friday October 20th
Cost: FREE
Show times -
10am-10.50am
11.30am-12.20pm
1.30pm-2.20pm

Where: Charles Luney Auditorium, St Margaret’s College, Winchester St.

Please register your interest and preferred show time with Roanna Funcke:
roanna@csm.org.nz

Building the ADHDvantage

Building the ADHDvantage 3.30-5.30pm Saturday 14th October, St Marks church Hall Opawa.
Guest speaker Dr Sarah Watson - a conference to support and inform parents and adults living with ADHD, as well as teachers and specialists.
 By joining us you'll get:
• greater awareness and education of ADHD
• factual information on ADHD
• to understand what proper assessment and multimodal treatment of ADHD by trained professionals means, and
• understand the resources required for assessment and treatment of ADHD in adults.
 Find out more at http://www.adhdnewzealand.co.nz/adhd-nz-awareness-month.html 



Koru Term 3 Week 10

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Thank you
Thank you so much for all your support this term.  We appreciate the parents who come in to help in a variety of ways including sorting and putting books away, helping make and sort resources, listening to children's reading, coming on trips, offering resources that support our prgrammes and all the positive comments you make that help make our days brighter.  We have had a fabulous term in our new learning spaces.

Specialist coaching at Olympia Gym 
The children  had a fabulous fun filled time at Olympia Gym. They were divided up into stations which included  beam, trampoline, rebounder, mat work and  swinging rings. 
Our children were proud of their achievements and the coaches mentioned how well behaved they were. Everyone showed our school value of "We love challenge" and "We get there together".  A huge thank you to Charlotte Verity who spent many hours organising this trip and to our lovely parent helpers.




















Our Learning in Mathematics
Measurement
Hub 10 had an action packed measurement  lessons outside last week.  We all drew our own fish and measured how many footsteps long they were. The children made comparisons about the length of their fish.  e.g. Who had the shortest fish? Who had the longest fish? How many footsteps long is your fish? There was a buzz of excitement and laughter as they worked collaboratively.

Statistics and Probability
Hubs 1 to 4 have been looking at statistics and probability.  We began our term with a special challenge from Sandy.  We were asked to Conduct investigations using the statistical enquiry cycle: - posing and answering questions - gathering, sorting and counting, and displaying category data and discussing the results.  Have a look at our statistics slide show which shares the path of our learning.  
Statistics Slide Show

Our probability unit ended with a probability extravaganza.  The children were involved in playing games which explored probability and then making games of their own to share with others where they used everyday language to talk about chance and classify events as certain, possible, or impossible.


Sunhats
A friendly reminder that the children will be required to wear a named school sunhat in term four. It is really helpful to name the hats in an obvious place where the children can easily see their name. We do have sunscreen at school and the children are encouraged to put this on before play and lunch.


Gardening
There has been a lot of planting, growing and watching to see the changes as they come about.  Thanks to the many donations of 'Little Gardens.'  Tamariki have loved the thrill of seeing their efforts result in green shoots popping through the soil or cotton balls.  Gail's new entrants enjoyed trying out some science experiments with growing seeds in light, dark, with and without water.
Discovery times have also included many natural reources.  Chopping, cleaning and eating fresh carrots, making lavender bags and playing with lavender scented playdough.  Next term we look forward to more gardening.




We really enjoyed eating the Micro-greens that we grew from seeds!










Discovery
There has been so much learning and deep thinking involved across our discovery times, some children built bridges with boxes, or towers out of plastic cups.  As the images show, 'a picture speaks a thousand words!'












Making beds for bears and other craft projects in design and technology gives children the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of designing and making functional and creative products.









Term 4
We are all looking forward to having the whole school back at the Beckenham site next term, having opportunities for tuakana -teina.  The tuakana - teina relationship,  provides a model for buddy systems. An older or more expert tuakana helps and guides a younger or less expert teina. In a learning environment the tuakana–teina roles may be reversed at any time. For example, the student who yesterday was the expert may need to learn from her classmate today.  We are also looking forward to having our mediators, sports monitors and older friends to play with in the playground. 




Kowhai News Term 4 Week 10

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Wow! It's hard to believe that the end of the term has arrived. We have had the most productive term and even in the last week, the children are continuing to be involved in a variety of interesting and exciting learning challenges.



Hats 


Image result for red hatIt's nearing that time of year that the children will need to wear their hat at school. Please take time over the holidays to locate your child's hat ready for Term 4. If you need a new hat, these can be purchased from the school office.




Stationery
Some of the children need to replenish their school stationery for next term. Please ask your child if they require any more pens, pencils, rubbers, rulers or highlighters. If these could be brought to school in Term 4, that would be amazing.

MATHS - Mapping (Position and Orientation)
Over the past two weeks, the children across our team have been involved in a variety of hands on activities as they develop their knowledge of mapping skills. We have been working in collaborative teaching partnerships and have encouraged the children to work collaboratively too. This has enabled the children to support and challenge each other with their learning. The children have been learning how to read and make maps, follow and give directions and use positional language including: left, right, forward, backward, 1/4, 1/2 and full turns and compass directions, to name a few. Here we are in action:
Reading a map to find clues hidden in the hub.



Reading and creating our own maps.

Organising 'treasure' to go with our map designs.

Viewing and reading maps on Google.

Following maps to discover hidden clues.
READING - Plays
Reading through the play.
This last week, the children have been working on improving reading fluency through the medium of plays.  For the children to deliver an effective play, the children have worked on maintaining their focus when working in their group so they know when to deliver their line, adding expression to portray the character, use a variety of facial expressions and gestures to communicate the feelings and  actions of characters and to use a clear voice so the audience can hear what we are saying.
Practising our actions.

Adding in actions.


INQUIRY LEARNING - Change
We have been exploring the key concept: Change is inevitable and our actions can have positive or negative impacts. To enable the children to be agentic in their learning (making choices about what they want to learn), we gave them the opportunity to opt into various groups. This has seen children learning about changes with materials and changes with living things. 
One group of children have been conducting experiments to learn about chemical and physical change. We have learnt that physical change in matter is reversible and chemical change is irreversible. Our experiments include:
  • Dissolving substances into water
  • Making salt crystals
  • Making sherbet
  • Trying to prevent ice from melting
  • Floating paper clips on top of a glass of water
  • Mixing cornflour and water to make oobleck (a non-Newtonian substance).

Next term we will be investigating the effects of some irreversible changes on our environment and be looking at recycling.
Making oobleck
Oobleck

Environmental Change - Endangered Animals
Our group has been looking at environmental changes and how these can impact on animal species. Children have been investigating endangered animals to find the reasons these animals have become endangered. The children are investigating ways in which they can raise awareness and possibly fundraise to help make a positive change to save animals from being endangered.

Developmental Play

Over the last few weeks, we have started a new programme in the afternoon for those children who need a break from our normal learning routine. We thought it would be great to give them the chance to enjoy some developmental play which so far has involved building with lego, sketching and making musical instruments. The children have benefitted hugely from this programme and there has been such a calm and focussed atmosphere in the hub. As it has been such a success, we are going to continue with this programme next term. Here are a few pictures of what they have been doing:















WATER - Fresh Water Frolicking
Paulette's group have been learning about water, the water cycle, where we get our fresh water from and fresh water ecosystems. This week has seen the children investigating the creatures that are currently residing in the ponds. We have discovered the water is very stinky! We are going to conduct a water quality test next term to find out how healthy the water actually is. This week we have observed the creatures that are living in the ponds and have discovered many larvae, water boatmen, snails, bugs and even FISH!
Taking a close look.
Catching the creature to study.


Adding the creatures to our tally charts.
Identifying the creatures we find.
Hard at work learning about fresh water creatures.
Investigating the creatures.
We have fish in the ponds!


Have a wonderful break everyone!

Kauri Whānau Update: Term 3 Week 10

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Trip to University:

What an awesome morning we had at the University Of Canterbury. A huge thank you to Jenni and Simon for putting together a great morning for us. It was interesting listening to the children talk about what they wanted to study, as we walked through the university. We were wowed by a number of dazzling experiments in the science dept. After a fascinating insight into how drones are used, we experienced a number of hands on activities in the geography dept. Thanks also to Gaby, Shane and Jo for accompanying us on this field trip. Check out the photos at the end of this post.


Elections Experience:

The children have been very engaged in forming their own parties and policies as part of a student interest initiated writing topic. On Thursday they present their policies to Year 5 & 6, who will then vote. Please click this link to check out their polices. These are arranged in four groups, based on the Year 5 & 6 classes they will present to. 

Parent help required for trip in week one of next term:

We hit the group running next term, with a trip to Orana Park on Wednesday October 18th. This will be the start of our learning about endangered species, with links to the science and social studies curriculum. We need four parents to accompany us on this trip. Please click this link to indicate if you can help. A $17.60 transportation and park entry contribution will be added to your next account.


Last day at Champion St:

On Thursday we say farewell to Champion St. The children will arrive at Beckenham slightly earlier than usual, to deliver their buckets of stationery to our new hub. On Friday morning they are off to technology and will then return to Beckenham. Woohoo, can't wait to be back!


Learning about how colours are produced in fireworks.

Elephant toothpaste!

This balloon was inflated by dry ice.

Making ice-cream in less than a minute!

Learning about drones.