Kōwhai News Term 4 Week 6

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Kia ora everyone!

Welcome to the Kōwhai blog for Term 4, Week 6! The term is rapidly disappearing and while we have achieved so much already, there is still much to do.

Production

Over the next few weeks, we will be very focused on putting our production together. We have been busy rehearsing our dances and preparing props and costumes and it is now time to put it all together into one big extravaganza!

This is a reminder that you are all invited to come and see our performance on Thursday 4th December at 11:30am in the hall.

Ukulele

Everyone is continuing to enjoy their dance and ukulele lessons every Tuesday. In our ukulele sessions, the children have been helping to make up a song about the school, contributing lots of great ideas. We look forward to hearing the end result!

Chicks Hatching

As you may have already heard, we have some chick eggs incubating in our very own school office! They have been carefully guarded by Sue, Jo and Cade over the last weeks. We have all had the opportunity to visit and see the eggs and Sue has been telling us all about the kind of chickens that will hatch and what we are going to do with them. Thank you, Sue! 

And now the chicks have started hatching and it is very exciting! We have starting thinking about names for them all. What do you think? Can you think of any good ones?



Colour Run

The PTA have organised a Colour Run event to take place next Friday afternoon. So far, the PTA have raised around $9,000 which is absolutely amazing! If you would like to help raise money for this fundraising event, just click on the following link and hit the red “Set Up a Fundraising Page” tab: 

In order to drum up some more support for this event, we are also sliming teachers, one teacher per $1,000 raised. Yesterday, at the end of the school day, we slimed 8 teachers in total with Chris getting slimed twice! The children absoltuely loved witnessing this and are looking forward to seeing more teachers get slimed next Wednesday. We will have to see if any Kōwhai teachers get included next time round! 






Have a great long weekend!

From the Kōwhai team

Kahikatea News: Term 4, Week 6

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Term 4, Week 6 


What a whirlwind week we've had with just three days! We are zooming through our final term of the year, and there is some great learning going on in the hub. The arrival of our first school chicks has been very exciting. All of the children have had a chance to pop in and see them in the office. We got to pet the wee chicks and feel how soft they are. 


Paired Reading 

This week, we began using a new strategy during our reading sessions. The "Paired Reading, Paragraph Shrinking" strategy focuses on reading fluency and comprehension. The children work in pairs to read through passages of text. We have practiced how to help each other when the reading gets tricky. The children are settling into the new routine, and we hope to hear smoother, more fluent reading in the coming weeks. 









Kapa Haka

Our children have been working really hard to learn a haka with Whaia Cath during our Friday Kapa Haka sessions. We are ready to share this with you and will be performing in the assembly on Friday, 21st November. Assembly starts at 10am and is usually finished around 10.30am. We hope to see you there. 

We hope you all have a lovely long weekend!

Kendall, Amber, Sarah and Talia

Pōhutukawa News Term 4 Week 6 2025

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Pōhutukawa Team News Term 4 Week 6 2025 

Ngā mihi e te whānau, welcome all to what has been happening in the Pōhutukawa Team for Weeks 5 and 6 of Term 4 for 2025, kia pai ngā rā whakata.

Transition Visits

As busy as it is at the end of the year, we are also preparing our students for next year with 'Transition Visits'. Next week we will be giving the 2025 Year 6's a chance to be with our incoming 2025 Year 5's as a cohort and have a Learning Through Play session together. As well as this, our outgoing Year 6's will be spending a morning in the Kauri team to learn about their programme and will spend a morning with next year's Year 8 students. These visits are a valuable chance for the tamariki to reconnect with some of their friends, and ask some questions they may have about 2026. We encourage you to talk with your tamariki about these visits and start the conversations about 2026 if you feel they're ready. Any momentum we can build now to set everyone up for a successful start to next year is gold. Mā tātou katoa te waka e hoe, we are all rowing the waka together.

Navigating the Journey

Our Navigating the Journey programme continues to roll along next week, we are into Growing and Changing - Te tipu me te huri o te tangata now, and our key concepts. Thanks as always for your continued support in continuing the discussions we have at school at home, too.


St Johns in Schools 

In Week 6 we had Nikki from St Johns come to deliver a course aimed at up-skill students in possible emergency situations! We had a great time and thanks to Nikki for delivering a fun, interactive and information packed seminar to the Pōhutukawa home groups. 

















Beckenham's Silkie Chickens! 


As of Tuesday 11th of November we have 8 Silkie Chickens hatch! Super exciting! Many children have been over to the office to see the new arrivals and even experience some chicks emerging from their shells! We look forward to the hub visits over the next couple of weeks and of course the naming process! 


Pōhutukawa Team Year 5 and 6 Summer Tournament 

Wednesday 5th November 2025

Futsal

Results

GOLD Team 4th place. (by count back, 1 goal away from 3rd!)

Sportsmanship Award: Louis English

  • Game 1 V Avonhead Black: W 4-2
  • Game 2 V Avonhead Red: L 6-2
  • Game 3 V Paparoa Street Blue: D 3-3
  • Game 4 V St Martins Kickers: L5-1
  • Game 5 V St Martine Strikers: W 4-2


RED Team 9th place

Sportsmanship Award: Jayme Scott

  • Game 1 V St Michaels Girls: L 4-2
  • Game 2 V Paparoa Street Green: L 7-2
  • Game 3 V Emmanuel: L 7-1
  • Game 4 V Paparoa Street Red: L 9-1
  • Game 5 V Ao Tawhiti 2: L 4-2










Orienteering 

Results

Open Grade - Rogaine (Mixed Team) 
1st: Lucy Lee, Sedas Muthukumarana, Aubrey Gardiner, Sam Hudson

Open Grade - Boys Team
1st: Laurence Blane, Leo Davies, Ethan Sayer, Eli Gardyne

Open Grade - Boys Team 
2nd: Toby Johnston, Woody Hayes, Joseph Wright, Corben Blackburn

Open Grade - Mixed Team 

2nd: Terence Lee, Rosi Barta, Nina Simpson, 

Open Grade - Mixed Team
3rd: Sam Hudson, Sedas Muthukumarana, Lucy Lee, Aubrey Gardiner









Special Mention




Well done to Lucy and Aubrey for demonstrating all the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto kete values during the orienteering competition at the 2025 Summer Tournament. 

Mid-race, these outstanding students stopped their own competition to help a student from a different school who was having an asthma attack. Showing courage, they quickly assessed the situation: one stayed with the student while the other ran back tot he start line to fetch a teacher. They communicated clearly, executed a sensible plan, and then guided the teachers directly to the student in need. 

Well done, Lucy and Aubrey! Your actions were brave and show true leadership in keeping yourselves and others safe. Tino Pai! 



AVAILLL (Audio Visual Achievement In Literacy, Language and Learning) Programme.

Pōhutukawa Team Reading Programme for weeks 7-10, term 4


We are excited to be able to offer our students the AVAILLL (Audio Visual Achievement In Literacy, Language and Learning) Programme.


“It taps into the student’s enjoyment and comprehension of popular media in order to advance reading ability.  …….. In the programme, many of the activities include the technique of what is termed to “ReadWatch” a movie. This is often followed by reading sections of the movie’s novel which are not included in the film. The programme is oriented to the key skills of reading comprehension, fluency, vocabulary and spelling.”


All movies are rated G or PG.


"You’ve READ the movie, now SEE the book!"



Top Team Challenge: Parent Volunteers


Kia ora e te whānau,

Team Pōhutukawa and Kauri will be participating in the Top Team Challenge in Week 8.

Students across both teams will be split into groups of approximately eight and will take part in activities that encourage cooperation, physical skills, and problem-solving.

To make this event successful, we need the support of our community through parent volunteers to help explain the activities to students and ensure fair play.

When: Monday, 24 November, 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Where: Beckenham Park.
What: Act as a parent helper running a station, providing instructions, and ensuring fair play (no special skills required).

Please email your child's home group teacher if you are able to help

Ngā mihi nui,
Team Pōhutukawa and Kauri Staff


All You Need to Know About TikTok


Tiktok is one of the fastest growing social media apps. It’s a platform for creating, sharing and discovering short videos – and many young people love it! From new dance crazes to funny clips to animal videos, Tiktok can inspire creativity and bring joy.


But it’s important that parents and whānau help their tamariki navigate Tiktok safely. Today we’re sharing the Netsafe Tiktok Family Safety Toolkit so you can help guide your whānau to a fun and safe digital experience.


Ngā mihi o ngā rā whakatā, enjoy your weekend everyone!

The Pōhutukawa Teaching Team

Chris, Gayle, Nick, Megan, Rae, Georgie, Viv, Stacey, Lucy and Laura

Kauri- Term 4, Week 6

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 Kauri- Term 4- Week 5


First Aid- Drs ABC

Kauri this week has learnt about CPR, strains, stroke, seizures, asthma, panic attacks, emergency protocols and more. This was a great time to brush up on our knowledge and learn about first aid.


 


Athletics

 What a fantastic day we had at our athletics event! It was great to see all students giving their best and showing enthusiasm. A huge thank you to our whānau for your support, it really makes a difference to our day.




Trees for Survival

Kauri have been busy potting up Trees for Survival with our buddy classes from Kahikatea. Our students truly showed “We care” as they guided their buddies through the task; showing kindness, patience, and care for both others and the environment.








Myth Writing

Kauri have been working hard on some amazing myth writing! Students have been retelling old myths with exciting twists as well as creating entirely new stories. The creativity and imagination on display has been fantastic. It is great to see the increase in confidence in writing especially with use of vocab. 

Limericks

 We’ve also started exploring fun poetry, beginning with limericks. Here’s a sample from one of our students:

 "There once was a cat from the bay,

 Who loved to go out and play.

 It chased a bright kite,

 All through the night,

 And napped till the break of day!"

(R.U)

 We can’t wait to see more humorous and clever limericks from Kauri!


Summer Tournament

Congratulations to our Summer Tournament Teams who all achieved great results in each of their sporting codes. 



Passions – Cooking

In Passions, students have been exploring the joys of cooking. Following recipes step by step helps reinforce sequential thinking, just like working through a task list! Some of us had a minor mishap with forgetting baking powder, but that’s all part of the learning.






Production- Legends Unleashed

Production is underway, and there’s a real buzz of creative energy in Kauri! As students collaborate and take on new challenges, we’re seeing fantastic teamwork and growth in social and emotional learning. This is an exciting time, and we can’t wait to share the results with everyone.

Kauri Production Evening - one night only!!!

Wednesday 3 December 4.30pm-6.30pm.

















Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Schoolwide Newsletter, Rāmere (Friday) 7th November 2025

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Principal's Update

Kia ora koutou

Colour Run

This week I attended the PTA meeting and heard about all the fantastic work underway to support our school.

As I’m sure you can appreciate, running a school is an expensive business, and we often have to make careful choices about resources within tight financial constraints. The PTA plays a vital role in providing additional fundraising that enables projects which would otherwise not be possible.

Currently, the PTA is seeking grant funding and running fundraising events to create an all-weather turf surface on the court beside the Kōmanawa building. To help raise funds for this project, they are also facilitating a Colour Run.

If your family hasn’t signed up yet, this is a great opportunity to get behind the PTA and support a project that will benefit all our tamariki. Apparently, if enough funds are raised, I’ll be getting slimed!

To register your family’s support for the Colour Run, please use the QR code or link below.

Staffing News - 2026 

Next year we will have two new teachers joining our team at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.

Kate Meder will be joining us from Christchurch South Karamata Intermediate, where she is currently teaching. Kate brings eight years of teaching experience and a wide range of skills and strengths.

Sarah Spence is joining our team from BestStart Barrington, where she is currently a Head Teacher. Sarah brings diverse experience and particular expertise in supporting pathways to school for our youngest learners.

We look forward to welcoming Kate and Sarah in the new year.

Congratulations also to Anna McNeill, who last term was appointed to a position at Halswell Primary School for 2026. Anna began her teaching career at our school, and we are very excited for her as she takes the next step in her career. We know that Halswell will benefit greatly from the experience and skill she brings to their team.

2026 Class and Team Organisation

I wanted to share an update on the decisions we’ve made regarding class and team placements for 2026. Following a review of how our teams are organised, we’ll be structuring the school a little differently next year. 

The key thinking behind this change includes:

  • Taking the next step towards establishing phase-based teams in line with the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum.

  • Creating a clearer line of sight for teaching and learning across the school.

  • Providing opportunities for our Year 7/8 learners to work in spaces that more closely reflect the environments they’ll experience at high school.

  • Aligning team sizes with available learning spaces to make best use of our facilities.

These changes are designed to strengthen collaboration across teams, support smooth transitions for learners, and set us up well for the next stage of our curriculum journey.

Koru: New Entrants, Kahikatea Yr1/2, Kōwhai Yr 3/4, Pōhutakawa Yr 5/6, Yr 7/8 Kauri

Garden Transformation 

The garden area behind Tākaka has been transformed! I’d like to give special thanks to Lucy, one of our Teaching Assistants, for her work alongside students to develop this space. It has become a beautiful area where students can learn about and interact with the natural world.

I’m also pleased to share that next week our long-awaited chicken coop will be constructed. Cook Brothers Construction, who are currently building the new South Library, have generously donated their labour for the build, and Mitre 10 is providing all the materials for the project. We are very grateful for this wonderful support of our school.

Meanwhile, the incubator in our office is counting down - only five days to go until the eggs begin to hatch! Excitement is certainly building.

Class Placements for 2026 - Reminder


If you have any considerations you would like to share for your child as part of this process for your children please email me at principal@beckenham.school.nz 


Have a great weekend. 


Ngā mihi

Cade

Principal / Tumuaki

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto

Important Dates

Upcoming Events - Term 4

WEEK 6

Thu 13 Nov - Staff Only Day 

Fri 14 Nov - Canterbury Anniversary Day - School Closed


WEEK 7 

Fri 21 Nov - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am)

Fri 21 Nov - PTA Colour Run (1:30pm-3:00pm Fundraiser Event)


WEEK 8 

Wed 26 Nov - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)

Thu 27 Nov - Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm)

Fri 28 Nov - Whānau and Volunteers Thank you (8:15-8:45am)

Fri 28 Nov - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am)


WEEK 9

Wed 3 Dec - Kauri Production (1:30-3:00pm Matinee & 4:30-6:30pm Evening)

Thu 4 Dec - Kōwhai Production (11:30-12:30pm)

Fri 5 Dec - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am)


WEEK 10

Mon 8 Dec - Kauri Victoria Park Walk & Waltham Pool Party

Wed 10 Dec - Kauri Cass Bay Trip

Fri 12 Dec - Final Celebration Assembly (9:45am-10:30am)


WEEK 11

Tue 16 Dec - Year 8 Graduation Assembly (11:00-12:00pm, Leavers Lunch 12:00-1:00pm)

Wed 17 Dec - Last Day of the Year, School finishes at 12:30pm


2026 Term Dates

Citizen of the Week

Julia - Year 6

Julia, you are a wonderfully positive student whose enthusiasm uplifts those around you. Each day, you show all our school values through your actions and attitude. Keep sharing your delightful sense of humour! Whakamiharo, fantastic!


Lena - Year 8

Lena, you consistently show confidence in your learning and approach your academics with enthusiasm. Your strong leadership and the way you support and guide your classmates make a positive difference in our school community. You truly lead by example, and this recognition is very well deserved.

School Notices

Flipbook of the Rings 

Congratulations to Noah Webster! He took part in the Flipbook of the Rings project as a part of Flipbook Fest 2025 and was selected to be one of the 1600 kids completing a section of the flipbook. 

"The flipbook of the rings is a community project, hosted by the YouTuber @andymation in America. The goal of the project was to recreate the entire three-hour film, The Fellowship of the Ring, as one giant hand-drawn flipbook. Although it was hosted in America, it was open to anyone. I did a seven-second clip, and although I thought it would be easy, it still took ages. I ended up drawing eighty-eight pages, and each one took about 15 minutes, meaning that overall, I was drawing for twenty-two hours. It was a good experience, but I wouldn’t want to do it again."

See videos of this work linked below:


Reminder - Sunhat and Drink Bottles

As we enter into the warmer weather, every child must attend school with a named sunhat and water bottle. Sunhats are compulsory when outside during Terms 1 and 4. Please remember to send your child to school each day with sunscreen applied as well.




BOT Update

Term 4 Policy Review - SchoolDocs

    1. Visit the website linked here.

    2. Enter the username (beckenham) and password (pride).

    3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.

    4. Read the policy.

    5. Click the Start your review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.

    6. Select the reviewer type.

    7. Enter your name (optional).

    8. Follow the prompts to show that you've read the topic and enter your feedback if you'd like to comment.

    9. Agree to the privacy statement and click “Submit review”.

    (If you don't have internet access, the school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form).

The Sports Corner

Kia ora koutou,

This section of our newsletter is dedicated to highlighting the successes and challenges our students are experiencing in sports outside of school. It’s fantastic to already have three Kauri students sharing how they are embracing We Love Challenge - Nau Mai Te Wero beyond the classroom and pursuing their passions. If your child has had a sporting success that you’d like to share with our community, please email me with a short blurb and photo to: kate.mcgregor@beckenham.school.nz - We’d love to feature it in our next newsletter!


Ngā mihi nui,

Kate McGregor

Sports Coordinator


Hamish - Footballing Success

Following on from his invitation to the West Ham Foundation Australia National Camp earlier this year, Hamish has been selected to attend the West Ham United Development Tour in the United Kingdom. What an amazing opportunity - we wish him all the best as he takes the next steps in his football journey!

A big thank you also to all the community members who supported Hamish’s fundraising efforts by purchasing bacon - your generosity is greatly appreciated.


PTA News

Colour Run

Only 2 weeks until the Colour Run!! Sign up now!

A huge thanks to those who have already signed up and started their fundraising for our upcoming Colour Run. We are off to a great start. Don’t forget to share your link with all your friends and family! For those who are yet to sign up, please try to do so ASAP as we have some awesome prizes to give away in the coming weeks!

Sign up here to register your family!

More details for event will be out soon. Every child at the school will be able to participate and how it works is Tamariki will run/walk one lap of the field and choose to go over, under or through a series of fun obstacles while getting colour powder thrown at them. There will be some water and maybe some slime too! All parents are invited to come and watch the event or even better get involved by helping us throw dye! Sign up to help out by following this link to the google form.

Remember every $1000 we earn one teacher will be slimed! Next Wednesday at the end of the school day the first group of teachers will be slimed!!!

Thanks very much and happy fundraising!

HELP NEEDED - Year 8 Leavers' Lunch!

Each year, the PTA puts on a lunch for all of our lovely Year 8s and their caregivers, to help give them a great send-off from Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. This is usually highly anticipated by the senior students!

We need your help (provided you are not a parent/caregiver of a Year 8 student!) to prepare the lunch (just a bit of chopping) and serve the lunch (plating up, heating savouries, and helping with clearing up).

Lunch will be served after the Leavers' Assembly, in the late morning, on Tuesday, 16th December.

If you can and would like to help anytime on Tuesday morning, please complete this form.
Your support is really appreciated!

Community Notices

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


Our Kids Clothing Swap is a chance to bring along some pre-loved clothing (newborn – 12 yrs), and bless others while refreshing your own kids' wardrobes. 
While you browse, kids can enjoy activities, and there'll be space to relax, mingle, and connect over a hot drink and baking. 
Everyone is welcome, we'd love to see you there! 
Entry by koha, which goes to the charity Clothed in Love
Date: Sat 29th Nov
Time: 10am -12pm
Location: The Well Church, 364 Colombo Street (carpark on Waverley St)
Please note also that you don't have clothing to swap, you can still enter and fill a bag as we have plenty of clothing on offer!