Kahikatea Team Newsletter Term 4 Week 3

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Kia Ora whanau

This term is already zooming by and we can't believe it's the end of the third week already! It is certainly an action packed and exciting term.

Art Gallery and Botanic Gardens 


Hub 1&2 had a fantastic time at the Art Gallery and Botanic Gardens today learning about different types of art and the message they portray. Then we made our own 'Clay Beasts'. We are so proud of the children! They represented Beckenham School brilliantly and we even had some people walking past ask what school we are from as the children are so well behaved. Certainly an excellent example of living our school values.

Here are some snippets of what we did:










"My favourite part in the trip was when we made the clay animals because we got to shape the animals and use tools." Maggie.

"My favourite part was when we got to climb the tree because it was super hard but I managed to do it. I'm showing that 'I love challenge'." Hari.

"When we did the clay beasts we got to learn how to do art and try out new things." Briar.

"When we made the clay beasts we made mistakes and then we could make them into different things." Sophie M.

"My favourite part about the trip was that we got to see all different paintings and we got to answer questions." Cayla.

"I liked every part!" Lola T.

"My favourite bit was when we made the clay beasts because my Mum helped me make a clay turtle and it was really hard. I had to mould it into the right shape." Lauren.

"I liked making the clay beasts because it was fun and it was hard to do." Sophie C.






Demolition Writing

Here are some more pieces of writing from our impressive author's:

School Rebuild

It is big! It is loud! It's a digger... with a claw! That claw is like a tyrannosaurus-rex mouth - teeth! The claw went smash, bash, crash! The boom swung around like a dinosaurs neck!

By Ben Scallan

Demolition

Ahhhhhh! Beckenham School is being demolished by a dinosaur (the digger). He has sharp teeth and ferocious eyes. Thud went the couch into the yellow container. It was soo amazing! I thought it was going to come out but luckily the fence was there to keep us safe. 

By Cayla Digan

Wearable Art


We have launched into our exciting Arts topic this term, focussing around seasons and wearable art. We are starting to learn dances related to the seasons and will be starting to design wearable art costumes to perform to you all in. The team of Kahikatea teachers will be making a visit to Creative Junk to find some costuming items. It would be fantastic if you started talking with your child about what they would like their costume to look like, which season they are focussing on and what they need to consider when designing it to dance in. Please feel free to send costume items from home as well. We will let you know when we will be calling for resources. This is just the planning stage for now. 
We will be having our performance in Week 9 this term - more details to follow. 


Kauri Whanau Update: Term 4, Week 3

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Week three and things are humming in the Intermediate Hub at Champion Street. The children have adapted really well to the new normal.


This Week:

Writing:

Most of the children have made a great start to their 'Tale with a Twist' writing. During Wednesday and Thursday they will have a 15 min workshop and 60 mins of writing. By the end of Thursday their writing should be finished. Please ask your child to show you their writing and encourage them to work at home, if needed, to meet the deadline.

Next Week:

Athletic Sports: 

At the moment the long range forecast is looking good for our sports day next Monday, Oct 31st. A reminder that we stay at Beckenham all day for this event.

Big Day Out:

On Thursday Nov 3rd we are off to the city for the day. The children will be rotating around three activities in their home-groups: Medal Art at the museum, Quake City and the botanical gardens. We will send out a message with more specific details early next week. At this stage we are looking for two parents to accompany each home-group. Please fill in this form if you can help. We will be leaving from Beckenham at 9am and will return by 3pm.

Maths home-learning:

Due in on Friday Nov 4th.

Future Events: 

We will send home a paper planner for your fridge with these dates.

Wednesday November 9: Zone athletics at Hansen Park

Thursday November 10: Rapaki Marae trip - all day

Wednesday November 16: Summer tournament for slow pitch and kiwi tag teams

Thursday November 17: Year 7 doing 'People Savers' first aid course at school

Thursday December 1: Year 8 doing 'People Savers' first aid course at school

Friday December 2: Top Team competition at Beckenham in the afternoon (parent help required)

Monday December 5: 'A very Kauri Christmas' matinee performance for school

Tuesday December 6: 'A very Kauri Christmas' evening performance at 7pm. All children involved.

Wednesday December 7: Canterbury athletics

Friday December 9: Walk from school to Victoria Park - all day (parent help required)

Monday December 12: Year 8 pool and pizza part at Tracy's from 4-6pm

Tuesday December 13: Corsair Bay trip - from 10:30 - 3:00 (parent help required)

Thursday December 15: Leavers' assembly and lunch. Year 8 may arrive at Beckenham at 10:30am. Year 8 finish school for the year after the shared lunch.

Friday December 16: Last day for Year 1- 7, finishing at 12:30


Hub 5/6 Reading Karate Challenge

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This week Paulette and Mike have set up a, Reading Karate Challenge for the children in Hub 5/6 to promote reading. To achieve the various reading belts, your child will need to complete a variety of reading challenges (books). 

Each child in the hub has been given their first challenge to achieve the white belt. To receive the white belt, your child will need to read two picture books. This will take two nights to complete as you can only read one book per night. Once your child has read the two picture books, you need to sign that they have done so and they then need to complete the reading response sheet- "My favourite book." 
This is in their Home Learning book.
Your child can then show this to either Paulette and Mike and they will sign it off and give your child their first karate belt.

The aim of Reading Karate is for the children to read a variety of books of differing genres, and the home reading (chapter book or school book) is for personal reading and enjoyment. Today the children all took out a chapter book from the school library that will be their nightly reading this week. Your child still needs to read for 10-15mins per night. Please continue to fill in the reading log at the front of their Home Learning book. 

The children were really excited about beginning the Reading Karate programme and many have already set the goal to be readying EVERY night! It counts to read on the weekends too! 

Happy reading everyone!





Kahikatea Newsletter Term 4 Week 2

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Writing focus

Our writing focus throughout the past week has directly related to the demolition activity which we've been surrounded by recently.

Building Demolition

The builders put dynamite in the building, then ... Wow! It fell down.
Dust everywhere.
by Flynn

Police Station Demolition

The explosion experts are quietening down.
The boy was excited.
The explosions sounded like fireworks.
It slid. It fell.
There was dust everywhere.
The trees survived.
There was some rubble that was white.
Everyone was shouting in joy!
by Ben

Police Station Demolition

The demolition experts have put the TNT into the building, then we heard big explosions.
They blew a hole in the side of the building.
It made the building fall over.
There was a big cloud of dust, then there was a pile of gravel.
There was glass everywhere.
There were pieces all over the place.
by Josh

Breaking Ground 

Some of us made it into school early on Friday morning to be part of the Breaking Ground ceremony. Witnessing the big digger taking the first bite of earth was a very moving experience for us all...

First bite

Discovery Stations 

The children continue to arrive at school with an enthusiastic and energised attitude, eager to get started on the Discovery Station of their choice.
Teachers are asking their students such questions as:
  • Why have you chosen this Discovery Station?
  • What new skills are you learning?
  • Are you completing a challenge before moving on to a new station?
  • How are you showing respect for your own and others' work?
  • Are you being wasteful or caring of resources? How are you showing care?
  • Which of our school values are you displaying at this station?
  • How do you actually know if you are learning?

Word Wheel challenge
Boat building
Will it still float when carrying weight (70 grams)?
Detail of painting
Care and attention at the water colour painting station
Making 3D shapes using plasticine and toothpicks 
Collaborative block modelling
The Eiffel Tower
Working together to create a Duplo marble run


Oh, how we love Discovery Stations!

Art Gallery outings

Hub 1 and 2 children are looking forward to their outings to the Art Gallery and the Botanic Gardens this Friday. 
Hub 4 children will be having their outing on Thursday, November 3rd, and Hub 3 children will be going on their outing on Friday, November 4th.
Many thanks to those parents who have been able to commit to parent helping on this outing. We appreciate your support! 

PTA Tip Top Fundraiser

The PTA are working hard to try and fill all the shifts for the Tip Top Ice Cream sales fundraiser at the A&P Show in November. Please click on this link to find more information and book a slot: Tip Top A&P Show Fundraiser

Hats

Please remember - to keep our children safe during the summer months, we ask that all children wear a brimmed sunhat while outside during learning or play time. This is now compulsory throughout Term 4, and again at the start of each year in Term 1. Children who do not have a sunhat will be asked to play in the shade during break times. Please support your child in remembering to bring their sunhat every day.




Beckenham School Newsletter October 21 2016

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Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

Week 2 done already! Time is certainly going to be flying by this term.

Thank you to all of those who turned out, at very short notice and in threatening weather, for the 'Ground Breaking' Ceremony that we held this morning at 8:10am. Our site is officially in 'building' mode now - rather than just 'relocation and demolition' so we have entered another exciting phase.






We are looking forward to the fencing of the access road on the edge of the park being completed on Tuesday. The gate system will then be put in so that access and separation of vehicles and pedestrians is assured.

I hope that you all enjoy the long weekend - we look forward to seeing everyone back on Tuesday.

Ngā mihi

Sandy Hastings
Principal - Tumuaki

Important Dates

Upcoming Events


Wed 26 Oct
Yr 5 & 6 Summer Tournament, Teeball & Futsal. 9am-3pm
PTA Meeting 7:30-8:30pm in staffroom.

Thu 27 Oct
Music Festival Rehearsal at Horncastle Arena. 9am-12:30pm
Celebration Assembly at Beckenham, 2:30-3:00pm, All Welcome.
Yr 5 & 6 Glee Club perform at Music Festival 6:00-9:00pm

Fri 28 Oct
Hub 1 & 2 Kahikatea - visit to Art Gallery & Museum

Mon 31 Oct
PTA Uniform room open 2:45-3:15pm

Thu 3 Nov
Yr 5 & 6 Visit to Rapaki Marae.  9am-3pm
Hub 4 Kahikatea - visit to Art Gallery & Museum

Fri 4 Nov
Hub 3 Kahikatea - visit to Art Gallery & Museum

Wed 9 Nov
Zone Athletics at Hansen Park.  9am-3pm

Thu 10 Nov
Yr 7 & 8 Visit to Rapaki Marae.  9am-3pm.


Fri 11 Nov
Show Day - school is closed.

Term Dates

Click here to view the 2016 and 2017 term dates.

Citizen of the Week

Name Ailie Robertson - Year 8

Ailie, it has been fabulous to watch you grow into such a capable, conscientious and caring young leader over the past two years.  Your love of learning, engagement and enlightened contributions, enrich both your learning experience and the experience of others. Ailie, you have a big heart, which sees you walking and talking our 'We Care' value on a daily basis. Your confidence is growing, enabling you to take on challenges, applying your perseverance and 'I can do it' attitude. Tino pai Ailie.

Sharing our Learning

Koru Team

On Monday the whole school watched a show in the hall presented by Playhouse called #The Fairest Of Them All. There was great excitement and engagement across the crowd. This has inspired many of Koru tamariki to write about the character from the show.

The troll is under the bridge.
By Oliver

I like the princess! I like snow white! She was dancing with the shelf.
By Ava

I cheered for her, she is so sweet. She waved at me. She is friendly. I love Snow White.
By Frankie

Snow White you were terrific. You were very good. Where did you practice?
By Layla

The Troll was funny. The Troll was cool.
By Roman

Snow White was the best play. I loved Snow White.
By Scarlett

I liked Snow White and she is sweet. She high fived me and it was on Monday.
By Aidan 

School Notices

ICAS Mathematics

Congratulations to all the children who sat the ICAS Mathematics test.
The following children achieved outstanding results:
Year 5: Kate Cornfoot - Merit
Year 6: Adam Barton - Credit
Year 7: Alex Braun - Credit, Amelia Cannon - Credit, Kaia Joergensen - Credit, Isaac MacDonald - Distinction, Daisy York - Merit, Rosie Zinzan-Dickie - Distinction
Year 8: Dominic Gorny - Credit, William Hanlon - Distinction, Henry McMecking - Merit, Kristy Winchester - Merit.

PTA News

It’s Calendar Art Order Time again!   Order need to be in by 27th October 2016.

Our children were busy at the end of last term working on their Art for the School Abacus Calendar Fundraiser.  This week your children should have brought home the order form for this year’s Abacus Fundraiser.  You can order Calendars, Diaries, Cards, Notepads and Mouse Mats.  These range in price from $12-$17 and make great Christmas presents for the extended family!  A sample of these item can also be found in the office foyer.
The children’s art is also on display in the School Foyer, by class.
You can also choice between putting your children’s art on the calendar etc, or upload a photo to the website, or a mixture of both.  
Orders close 27th October 2016 and need to be dropped into the school office.  Our aim is to have all the orders back by then end of November, so that you make the international Christmas post.
Thanks for supporting another wonderful PTA fundraiser with all profits going back into the school community.



Community Notices

(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)
Act 2 Drama Group: Audtion Call for the SummerTimes production of Charlie & the Chocolate Factory.  Audition date: Sun 30th October at St Albans Community Centre, 1047 Colombo Street. Performance dates : 15-21 Jan 2017.
Call Fay on 6660164, 0210431108 to book an audition time.

Cashmere High School: October Music Competition Finals are being held on Oct 20th at 7pm in the McCombs Performing Arts Centre at Cashmere High School. Free entry.

IMAGINATION YOGA: TERM 4
TUESDAYS 3:45-4:45pm at the Huntsbury Community Centre, 30H Huntsbury Ave, Huntsbury.
Imagination Yoga is Children's Yoga. Give your 6-12 year old the opportunity to learn fun, everyday self-care exercises, relaxation/meditation techniques, connect with others and stretch their whole mind, body & imagination! Rejuvenating & Empowering.
Drop in after school $14 or $99 for Whole Term Passport
Call Louise on 0226 250 321 or hello@siouxiesolar.com.
More info at: siouxiesolar.com/classes