Principal's Patch
Kia ora koutou
We hope you had the opportunity to spend some quality time with your children over the holiday break. Our staff have had a restful break and have returned re-energised, looking forward to reconnecting with each other and our students.
Mid - Year Reporting
As you may be aware, our teachers are currently transitioning their practices to align with the refreshed Mathematics and English curricula. They have demonstrated strong commitment and a constructive approach throughout this process.
One challenge we are facing is that consistent approaches to assessment for the refreshed curricula are still being developed and will, we hope, be shared with us by the Ministry of Education in the near future. This creates some uncertainty around how we might best report to whānau about student progress at mid-year.
Our interim plan is to report progress in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics through:
- Two recent achievements in meeting curriculum expectations
- A next step toward meeting a curriculum expectation
In addition, your child will receive one learning post showcasing progress in other curriculum areas, along with a general comment outlining your child’s demonstration of our school values and participation in learning during the first half of the school year.
Following the distribution of reports this term, we will be holding learning conferences. Details about how to book these will be shared soon.
Attendance
As part of your child’s mid-year report, you will also receive information about their attendance.
Regular attendance at school plays an important role in your child’s success. There is a strong link between attending school consistently and achieving positive outcomes in the classroom. Supporting student attendance and engagement is a shared responsibility between families and schools.
As a parent or guardian, you're encouraged to help ensure your child attends school each day. If your child needs to be away for any reason, please contact us as soon as possible. It’s important to confirm your child’s absence and share the reason. You can do this through the following communication channels:
Phone: (03) 337-1404 (Press 1 to leave an absence message)
Email: office@beckenham.school.nz
Text: 02102794107
We understand that there are times when students may need to be away from school, and we recognise that each family’s situation is unique. That said, regular attendance helps your child stay connected to learning and peers, and prolonged or frequent absences can make it harder for them to keep up.
If your child is often absent or away for an extended period, we may reach out to discuss how we can work together to support their attendance and learning.
We are here to help. If you're experiencing challenges getting your child to school, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
We’ll work with you to develop a support plan that helps address any barriers to regular attendance.
More information on attendance, including your rights and responsibilities as parents or caregivers, is available on the Ministry of Education’s webpage:
Attendance
Building Work
Work on the Kōmanawa block and the building used for the PTA Uniform Shop has progressed well over the school holidays. The renovation of the PTA Uniform Room building was completed today.
We are currently awaiting the delivery of new windows and doors for the Kōmanawa block. Once these have arrived, the remaining work will be completed. The projected completion date is around the middle of the school term.
Readathon
Today marks the start of our PTA’s first fundraising initiative of the year!
Your child will be bringing home information about the Readathon, an exciting event that encourages a love of reading while helping to raise vital funds for our school.
We kindly ask for your support with this fundraising effort. The money raised by the PTA plays a crucial role in helping us provide opportunities and resources that would not be possible without this additional income.
The Readathon will conclude with our much-anticipated Book Character Day on Friday, 16 May.
Ngā mihi,
Cade Englefield
Principal / Tumuaki
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto
Important Dates
Upcoming Events
Fri 2 May - Readathon Begins
Fri 9 May - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Fri 16 May - Book Character Dress Up Day
Fri 16 May - Readathon Ends
Fri 16 May - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Thu 22 May - Y5/8 Winter Sport Begins
Fri 23 May - School Cross Country
Wed 28 May - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)
Thu 29 May - Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)
Fri 30 May - Staff Only Day (School Closed)
Mon 2 Jun - Public Holiday, School Closed (King's Birthday)
Fri 6 Jun - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Tue 17 Jun - Matariki Evening (5PM-7PM)
Fri 20 Jun - Public Holiday, School Closed (Matariki)
Wed 25 Jun - Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)
Wed 25 Jun - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)
Fri 27 Jun - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am in the Hall)
Fri 27 Jun - Last Day of Term 2
Mon 14 Jul - First Day of Term 3
Citizen of the Week
Ross Herbst - Year 4
Ross, you are such a fantastic role model in the Kōwhai hub. You show 'We Get There Together' always by lending a helping hand to both your peers and the teachers. Ross, your enthusiasm knows no bounds and you are always willing to show that you care by offering your help to others. Tino pai Ross!
Lucas Joy - Year 6
Lucas, you are an outstanding role model and friend. You have a witty sense of humor and a spot on sense of social justice in knowing when and how to do the right thing by anyone around you. Your curious nature and wanting to do a good job are a fantastic combination helping you to work in a focused and meaningful manner. You are just an awesome human being! He mea whakamiharo koe!PTA News
Readathon
It’s Readathon Time – Let the Reading Adventure Begin!
The Readathon kicks off today – check your child’s bag for their sponsorship form!
This exciting event is all about getting kids reading every day while raising funds for a great cause. Let’s make it fun and meaningful!
- Help your Tamariki set a Daily Reading Target
- Find sponsors to cheer them on
And don’t forget to Stop, Drop, and READ together as a family!
Need another form? No worries – grab one from the Office.
The Readathon runs for 2 weeks, ending Friday 16th May with Book Character Day - Come to school dressed as your favourite book character and don't forget to bring back your sponsorship form and money.
Let’s turn pages and make a difference!
Book and Clothing Sale
Time for a Clear Out? We've Got You Covered!
Our Book & Clothing Sale is happening on 7th June – stay tuned for all the exciting details!
We're currently collecting donations and would love your support:
- Gently used adult and children's clothing (no rips or stains)
- Books of all kinds
- Complete puzzles ready for a new home
Drop your donations in the box at the school office – thank you for helping us make this event a success!
School Notices
Staff Profiles
Hi, my name is Vivienne. I have lived in Christchurch for the last 30 years. I have three children and eight grandchildren. I enjoy reading, doing jigsaw puzzles and cooking. I am really looking forward to spending a lot of my time working with the children who are here at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.
Parking and driver care on Sandwich RoadWe know that everyone is keen to keep our children safe as they travel to and from school. To support this, please can drivers NOT try to undertake U-turns on Sandwich Road during the pick-up and drop-off times. We have witnessed some near misses recently and, ultimately, it is our children who are being put at risk.
Please also remember that the 3 min zone on the school side of Sandwich Road is MAX 3mins - not time enough for you to get out of your car and go into school to drop off or collect your child. If everyone can use this area as a drop-off/pick-up point, then all of the traffic will flow more smoothly.
Additionally, to keep everyone safe when arriving and leaving school, please do not walk through the staff car park. This area is for staff cars, taxis, and accessibility parking only.
Offsite Learning Agreements
We are updating our records to reflect the number of children who regularly attend Offsite learning opportunities. Could you please confirm if your child is taking part in any offsite activities by picking up an offsite learning agreement from the Office. This will then be filled out by you, signed, and returned to school so Cade is able to review and sign these off. This process is a requirement from the Ministry of Education and helps inform our attendance data for your child.
Garden Club
Here are some more gardening club photos from Last Term. The black construction is a vege pod which we won through Quizzle! Amazing!
Thanks Lucy for supporting our wonderful tamariki and helping our outdoor spaces to look so beautiful.
Kupu Māori o te Wīki
This is our Whakataukī (phrase), Kīwaha (saying), and Kupu (word) for the week. Give it a go! Remember, Nau mai te wero, We Love Challenge!
Whakataukī: He rā whatiwhati kō - This means a day of hard work.
Kīwaha: Ka mau te wehi! - this means That’s amazing!
Kupu: Nui - this means big.
If you are unsure of the pronunciation of a word, have a look at
Te Aka (the Māori dictionary) where you can hear how the word is spoken correctly.
ESOL News
The Community Partnership team arm of the Ministry of Education organises a webinar for ethnic communities which offers a closer look at an aspect of education in New Zealand.
The Term 2 webinar is 'Navigating NCEA: Literacy, Numeracy, and Your Pathway to Tertiary Study'.
We are helping to spread the word by sharing the registration link with families and community groups that could benefit from this kōrero.
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| Joseph Houghton from the Ministry will lead the discussion around navigating NCEA. |
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.
Enter the username (beckenham) and password (pride).
If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them in the first instance with your child’s home group teacher.
Community Notices
(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)
Te Puna Wai o Waipapa - Hagley College Year 9 Enrolments for 2026
Thinking about Hagley for Year 9 2026? 10 key points about us:
- We're a Designated Character School. To join us, you must agree to engage with our culture and our values of Whakamarumaru (Responsibility), Mana (Respect), Whakawhirinaki (Trust) and Tika (Integrity). We also need to be confident that Hagley has the resources to support you in your learning, that there is a programme that will meet your needs, and that there is a place for you in that programme.
- We have an inclusive and diverse learning environment.
- All Year 9 students study Te Reo Māori, Health and PE each week. They also all take English, Maths, Social Sciences and Science. Students also choose from a wide range of Kete Wana courses to complete their programmes.
- For students who may find literacy or numeracy challenging, we can provide an intensive acceleration programme within Kete Wana.
- We are a restorative school.
- Social action and student leadership are actively promoted and celebrated.
- Our Targeted Learning class is very small. Only 2-3 places will be available for new students in 2026 due to returning students.
- GATE students are able to excel in their specialty fields.
- Enrolment for Year 9 2026 opens on 19 May 2025 and closes on 19 June 2025 at midday. It is essential to apply during this time.
- A ballot is usually required and will occur in the week of 28 July-1 August 2025. Criteria for priority enrolment for those with family/whānau links to Hagley is on our website www.hagley.school.nz.
Storybox Drama - Afterschool process drama classes
Storybox Drama is a new local business in the area, offering after school drama classes to children 5-10yrs old.
Our classes are perfect for children new to drama. We provide a playful approach, with a focus on story, imagination and creative process.
Our learning is focused around a story, and we unpack the themes and ideas explored in the book over the term.
In Term 2 we will be exploring the story of Oliver and the Night Giants by Kitty O'Meara.
Find out more & enrol here:
Term 2 classes
Wed 07 May to Wed 25 Jun (8 weeks)
Wednesdays 3:30 pm to 4:40 pm, 1 hour
Somerfield Community Centre, 47 Studholme St, Christchurch
$180
Find us on Facebook, Instagram or email us:
facebook.com/storybox.chch
instagram.com/storybox.chch
storybox.chch@gmail.com
We look forward to exploring the stories with you!
Does Your Child Love Music?
The Muse Community Music Trust runs an after school music programme on Wednesday afternoons for five to seven year olds that builds general musicianship and music literacy skills, through fun games and songs. Our classes are at the Beckenham Methodist Church Hall, 52 Martin Ave from 3.45pm - 4.30pm. We welcome visitors to observe or join in for a trial class. The Muse fundraises to create a scholarship fund for families who can't afford our fee. See
themuse.org.nz/children for more information.
Maths
I'm a qualified and registered maths teacher, who is passionate about making maths fun, and teaching young people maths and logic skills.
I have spaces available for students from years 4-6 to come and learn and play games. If maths is your child's favourite subject, why not give it a go?
Contact Kirsty Frew for more details
Ph/text 0210722939
ACTT Bilingual Seminar - Emotion Validation in Parenting
School Newsletter Mandarin Version
(Title) 你吼的那一刻，孩子在怕什么？
华人父母普遍缺乏对情感发展的了解，而这种缺乏会影响亲子互动，甚至夫妻感情。
本次研讨会将帮助家长理解情绪在大脑发展中的关键角色，学习如何营造“让孩子感受
到安全”的家庭氛围，并提供适合多元文化背景的育儿策略。
主讲人：
Yvonne 博士 – 英国与新西兰注册心理学家
Judith – Aidanfield小学学校资深辅导老师
时间：5月17日（六）下午2点
地点：Halswell Library
附设5–12岁儿童看顾服务
免费参加，立即报名：
School Newsletter English Version
Title: Rising Resilient and Secure Children
Join us for a transformative seminar on; Raising Happy & Secure Children”. This seminar aims to bridge the gap between traditional Asian/Chinese parenting and modern approaches to emotional development. Learn about the importance of emotional awareness, validation, and regulation in children, and discover practical tools for nurturing a healthy, emotionally-aware environment at home. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your parenting skills to raise resilient children in a cultural
diverse New Zealand.
Presenters：
Dr. Yvonne Chow – Registered Psychologist in UK and NZ
Judith Keir – Guidance Counsellor at Aidanfield Christian Primary School
Time: 17/May (Sat) 2pm
Location: Halswell Library (Hao Hall)
childcare for 5-12 years old
Free seminar – register below：
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