Principal's Patch
Kia ora koutou
Big celebrations - today the builders have departed from Beckenham and our building renewal is officially complete. We will be in the 'defects' period for a number of months, and there are some of still some landscaping issues to be sorted out, and final work to be finished off, but, to all intents and purposes, we are done!
This project began on Friday 23rd September 2016, when the first team arrived on site to prepare Rooms 5,6,7,14 & 15 for relocation to Hornby High School.
On Monday October 10th 2016 (Term 4) HRS moved on site.
For the next four terms we were operating from two sites, with our Year 5-8 students and staff busing to Champion Street every day.
Finally, October 16th 2017 (Term 4 last year) we returned to having all of our children and staff back on the same site.
We have been a building site for 18 months, which included 65 school weeks! It certainly was very challenging at times, and our staff, students, whānau and community have made accommodations and put up with noise, vehicles, dust, ground shaking and traffic congestion, knowing that the long goal of a rebuilt school needed their support and patience.
Today what makes me feel really proud about our school, our staff and our students is that, during that time, we didn't just survive, we thrived! Thank you all for the way that you have each, in your own way, supported our staff, our children and our school over these past months.
Our Board have been a constant support and strength, showing their commitment to ensuring our rebuild would be the best possible one that we could achieve for our school.
Our PTA have been incredible throughout, always supporting the teachers, and the admin team, with practical help when it was needed. They are currently planning the first School Fair for four years, so it was really disappointing to see that six of their Fair posters were all stolen from around Beckenham earlier this week. It would be a great help to the PTA if each one of our parents on Facebook would offer your help through the Ways You can Help at the Beckenham School Twilight Fair link, and 'share' the Fair event with all of your friends and family, so that we have the most amazing fair ever and the PTA can reach the fundraising target of $115,000 they have set for our outdoor spaces.
Whilst today mostly felt like any other Friday, I will be driving home today with a very warm feeling of satisfaction in knowing that we are (largely) through the building process. It is an honour and a privilege to be the principal of Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto, and I thank each and every one of you for your support of me and our staff, as we work together each day to make this school amazing for our children.
Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki - Principal
Congratulations
... to Tracy Inwood and her husband Phil who were at Parliament in Wellington today, receiving a special award. You can read about it here on STUFF:https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/102101455/the-christchurch-foster-parents-who-have-cared-for-nearly-200-children
Important Dates
Upcoming Events
Mon 12 Mar - School duathlon Y5-8. Racing starts at 1:30pmTue 13 Mar - Zone swimming sports for Y5-8 at Jellie Park. 9am-3pm
Wed 14 Mar - Kōwhai Top Team Event. 9:30 - 11:00am
Thu 15 Mar - Yr 5/6 Girls Futsal Festival. 8:45am - 3:00pm,
Thu 15 Mar - Kauri Air Force Museum Trip - 10:00am - 3:00pm
Fri 16 Mar - Celebration Assembly. 2:20 - 2:50pm
Fri 23 Mar - Twilight Fair. 4:40 - 7:30pm
Term Dates
Click here to view 2018 term dates.Citizen of the Week
Meg Macdonald - Year 7
Meg, you live and breath citizenship in our Kauri Whānau. You enthusiastically embrace leadership opportunities, using your initiative to go above and beyond expectations. Your positive, considerate attitude makes a difference to those around you. You have a growth mindset in the face of learning and challenge, making you an outstanding role model in our kura.William Pooch - Year 4
Will, you are an highly engaged learner that embraces any challenge. You have an inquisitive mind, where you have the self confidence and persistence to make anything possible. You constantly make connections to your learning and help to teach others. Thank you for always being an outstanding role model in our team!School Notices
Scholastic Book Club
This year Scholastic Book Club brochures will be sent home with students. Parents and Caregivers can order their chosen books online with Scholastic. http://www.scholastic.co.nz/No orders or sales are able to be made at the School Office. The books will be delivered to Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto and sent to your child’s classroom for pickup.
There will be a two week cut off for orders. Orders received by Scholastic after that period will incur extra cost for postage and it will be a delivered to your home not Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.
The school earns reward points from the sales made to our students which is then used by staff to purchase resources from scholastic.
Congratulations
...to our two new Junior Neighbourhood Support Leaders for 2018
Cheese Rolls
Kauri Whanau will be selling more delicious cheese rolls this term to raise funds for our camp to Dunedin in April. If you ordered some last year, we are sure you’ll be a repeat customer, and if you didn’t, don’t miss out this year, they are delicious! Please click on this link to go to the on-line order form. We will also have paper order forms available at the office. Orders and payment are required by Thursday April 22nd. Delivery days will be Wednesday April 28 for NE - Year 4 and Thursday April 29 for Year 5-8. Many thanks for your support!
Please Vote for our School
SchoolGen have a promotion on at the moment and we could win 10K, 15K or 25K towards science and technology equipment, just by you voting every day until the competition closes in April.
Click HERE to vote for Beckenham each day!
Uniform
Head lice are an ever present nuisance at many schools, ours included. In an effort to minimise their spread we would strongly recommend that all students with long hair tie their hair back. This also has the added bonus of ensuring hair does not get in children's eyes when they are leaning over their books to do work.
Please note the uniform guidelines re hair accessories - plain black/red head bands, ties, ribbons and clips are to be worn.
School Sores
We have had a confirmed case of school sores in the school. The Department of Health information on school sores can be found here. They state that these are highly infectious and children and a visit to the doctor is recommended. Children with open sores that are in the weepy stage (not crusty) need to be kept at home until the scabs have formed.Lost Property
Every Friday all of the lost property will be displayed out on the tarmac area by the flagpole. Please take a moment to check if your children have any items that need to be collected. Please name all items of school uniform so we can try and reunite the item with the owner! Lost property is stored in the office in one of our wooden seat bins.
Staff Carpark
As the asphalt in the staff carpark is new, we will not be opening it to vehicles for 4 weeks to give it time to harden. So close, and not quite yet! Thank you for your continued patience!Sports News
Duathlon
In preparation for the Year 5 to 8 duathlon next Monday (12th of March), the bike stands will be moved from their usual place to the transition area on the Western side of the park. Children participating in the duathlon should lock their bike to a stand in the transition area. Children who scooter or bike to school and are not in the duathlon can lean their bike against the building or the fence in the fenced biked area.PTA News
A big thanks to the 33 people who have volunteered to be on a Fair/Food StallTo avoid huge cues & stalls not being able to open- we need a lot MORE helpers. We currently have 25% of the number of helpers we require.
Please sign up & work on a stall if you can. The shifts are 2 hours only, enabling you to still enjoy 90 minutes of the fair. Parents often share the role- one parent does the early shift while the other does the late shift. Shift times are 4pm-6pm & 6pm-8pm
CLICK on this LINK: FAIR HELPER ROSTER OR drop in to Fair HQ open every morning BEFORE & AFTER school, Hub 22 (next to the NEW Basketball Hoop) & sign up to the rosters on display
If you have a specific stall or person you would like to be with, we will endeavour to accommodate your requests. Put requests under the ‘comments’ section
JOIN the FAIR TEAM NOW: "Teamwork, makes the Dream work"
Let’s make this the best Fair ever for our children.
For ALL information about the TWILIGHT FAIR: FRIDAY 23rd MARCH: 4:30pm-7:30pm- LIKE the Beckenham PTA Facebook Page.
See you in TWO WEEKS.
Community Notices
(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)
Fun French Beginners’ Classes Years 2-8:
A 4 session taster French course is being offered at Beckenham this term, and beyond. The major emphasis is on communicating orally through the interactive use of fun games, song, role-play and ‘real life’ activities. For more information, please email admin@Lpa.co.nz or contact us on 022 358 2211. C’est si bon!Starfish Swim School
Bookings for the April Holiday Programare now open!Week one:
16 th – 20 th April - $65
Week two:
23 rd - 27 th April - $52 (Closed Anzac Day)
$110 for both weeks.
Email: info@starfishswimschool.co.nz
Or phone us at: 03 3381795
2 Nash Road, Aidenfield
Health School Lunches in 60 seconds
School lunches. Trying to be healthy, quick, and creative can all be a bit much at times. This free public seminar hosted by St Saviour's and St Nicholas Anglican Church will give you fresh ideas and a confidence boost in your preparation of school lunches.Charlene Smith is a NZ Registered Dietitian with years of experience. She has specialised in paediatrics, diabetes, and more recently children with epilepsy. She is also a mother of two busy kids. She isn't the food police and has a practical and refreshing approach to eating well!
Friday 16th March, 7.30pm at St Saviour's, 200 Colombo St.
Let us know you are coming here, or just turn up on the night!
Halswell United Football Club
Online registrations are CLOSING SOON for ages 4 years to 50+.The season starts 7th April to end of August (early bird fees before
end of March).
Games for 4-8 year olds are held at Halswell Domain on Saturdays
with optional trainings available on Mondays for 4-6 year olds and
Fridays for 7-8 year olds.
5th/6th Grades from $70, 7th/8th Grades from $110 for the whole
season.
Teams for 9-19 years have been formed—limited spaces available
For more information please visit our website at:
www.HawkFootball.org.nz
Any questions regarding 4-8 year olds, email Trudy Murdoch:
huafcFKFF@gmail.com
All other queries email Sam Bunn: huafcGM@gmail.com
Sea2Sky Challenge on Sunday 18th March.
Held at the beautiful Scarborough Beach we have both Duathlon and Triathlon events for all ages and abilities. We encourage children from 9 years to have a go and to bring Mum, Dad and the rest of the family to race too or to share in the day.Please go on to our website and have a look at the different races available: www.sea2skychallenge.com
We hope to see many of Canterbury's children and families there.
Highland Dancing classes for Boys and Girls
Highland Dancing classes for Boys and Girls are held at the Caledonian Hall, 5 Michelle Road, Wigram from 9.30am to10.30am commencing on Saturday, the 7th April. All new entrants should be at the hall by 9.15am for a starting time of 9.30am. Boys and Girls from Age 5 years upwards will be very welcome.
The learning of Highland Dancing contributes to children’s bodily strength, musical appreciation and co-ordination, as well as providing the opportunity to socialise with their peers. Highland Dancing can become a life-time interest.
All information on our classes can be obtained by emailing caleyhighland@gmail.com or colleenscole38@gmail.com or visiting our facebook page –
Canterbury Caledonian Society Highland Dancing or the Canterbury Caledonian Society website – Highland Dancing.
For telephone enquiries please contact Colleen Cole on 3288694 or Rosemary Armstrong on 033122579. Our
Caledonian Society Classes are kept at a minimal cost to accommodate family budgets. All enquiries will be welcomed.
The Original Gypsy Fair travels NZ from September to May.
We will be in South New Brighton on the weekend of 10-11 March 2018 at Te Karoro Resreve Marine Parade, South Brighton, Christchurch.
The Gypsy Fair is a great day out for the family and it is free entry. The fair has something for everyone, handmade crafts of all types, many being made before your eyes, Clothing, a unique obstacle bounce for the kids, awesome coffee, food, face painting, candy floss, music, which you can come up and have a go too, if you feel so inclined and lots of good old fashioned toys and entertainment in the green. So come along for a couple of hours or even the day and soak up the atmosphere of the Gypsy Fair.
Chch South Community Gardens Market Day
188 STRICKLAND STREET SATURDAY 31st MARCH 10AM – 1PM~ PLANTS & PRODUCE ~ PICKLES AND PRESERVES ~ DELICIOUS BAKING ~ SOUP & SAUSAGE SIZZLE ~ BOOKS & FREE LUCKY VISITOR RAFFLE DRAW
