Team Kahikatea SLT Trainees

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Kia ora e te whānau,


We are lucky to have two University of Canterbury speech-language therapy students with us this term, Lilly and Sarah. They are on their final placement before joining the workforce! Lisa Collier is a registered Speech-Language Therapist (SLT) as well as a teacher, and will be supervising the students. 


Lilly and Sarah will be working with many of our Kahikatea learners over the course of the term, in varying capacities. If Lisa currently works with your learner, then it is likely the students will also be part of their learning programme.


Please see a brief introduction from Sarah and Lilly, below.


If you have any questions, please contact lisa.collier@beckenham.school.nz


Ngā mihi nui,

The Kahikatea Team

Sarah & Lilly


Kia ora everyone, 

I am Sarah a speech-language student in my fourth and final year of study. I am looking forward to working with Lisa, and meeting many learners during this experience. 

Before this placement, I have most recently had the opportunity to work with adults and children who have voice and fluency disorders, which allowed me to grow my knowledge and develop interest in areas that I did not have previously. 

I have great interest in working with children with complex needs; specifically, autism, and individuals requiring an AAC device. I look forward to the time that I will be spending at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto, and everything that I will learn and take away from this experience, which will allow me to grow as a speech-language therapist.

Ngā mihi,

Sarah Keppel


Kia ora,
 
My name is Lilly and I am a 4th Year speech and language student at the University of Canterbury. I have experience working in a variety of different areas with both children and adults. I am very excited to be doing my final placement at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto and working alongside the team. 
 
Thank you, 
Lilly




Kauri Whānau Weekly Update: Term 3 Week 1

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 In this post:

  • Cantamath home learning underway
  • Relationships and Sexuality meeting
  • Cheese roll success
  • Ski trip
  • Term 3 in Kauri overview
It was fabulous to see everyone back today. The children quickly settled back into routine. We have a busy term ahead and really appreciate you reading these posts and completing any required forms so that planning can happen as smoothly as possible. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any queries. 

Cantamath Home Learning Project

All children should have come home today with a 2-sided sheet outlining their options for a Cantamath project. This is to be worked on at home over the next two and a half weeks. There will be some brainstorming and sharing of ideas at school early this week. These projects are to be the work of the children and adults can help with advice and any skills that the child needs support with. All projects are due at school on Thursday, August 11th. If your child is struggling to get started this week, please email their maths teacher for some support. Every child is expected to complete a project.

Relationships and Sexuality

This term we will be teaching our health unit on sexuality and relationships education. On Wednesday, August 10th, we will be having a parent information afternoon, starting at 3:15pm in our hub. If you would like to attend this session, please fill in this form.

Cheese Roll Fundraiser

All the cheese roll bills have been paid and the money has been counted. We have raised just a smidge under $2500! This money will help pay for upcoming outdoor education trips. Many thanks to everyone who ordered and helped with the production of the cheese rolls. 

Ski Trip

We now have just over half of the ski forms filled out. Many thanks to those who have done this or emailed us. Here is the link for those who still need to.

Term 3 Overview

We shared and discussed this slideshow today.

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto School Newsletter, Rāmere, (Friday) 22 July

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Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

I hope that you have all managed to get some time with whānau for rest and relaxation. The weather has been particularly challenging, and there will be some for who the 'holiday' was anything but. If you can take a couple of minutes to read through the important information below, it will help to ensure that you and your child are well-prepared for school on Monday.


COVID-19 

Please remember to let me or the office know if your child has contracted Covid either during the holidays or going forward into Term 3. We are still advising the Ministry of Education of our case numbers. We continue to see both staff and students testing positive for Covid, and we know that other winter illnesses are still prevalent. Based on information to date, 61% of our staff have had Covid, along with 46% of our students. 

Reminder about our Mask-wearing policy

Public health advice clearly shows that mask-wearing is a strong tool in the defence against the transmission of COVID-19 and other airborne respiratory viruses. Masks are effective at preventing transmission of COVID-19 to a contact or preventing transmission of COVID-19 from a case. Masks work alongside other measures to protect students and staff.




The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education strongly recommend that all schools and kura require mask wearing indoors for students Year 4 and above, where it will not have a significant impact on teaching and learning. For us at Beckenham, this is simply a continuation of the policy that we have had in place all year.
All students from Year 5-8 need to wear masks when inside at school. Younger students are encouraged to wear masks if they are able to.

If your child is going to be absent from school...

As you will have seen from the attendance your child's report, we are required to categorise absences as either Justified or Unjustified. If you don't let us know why your child is absent from school, their attendance is automatically classified as Unjustified. 
Please ALWAYS let us know if your child is going to be absent by emailing, phoning or texting the school cellphone and also letting us know the reason why they are away. With high numbers of absences at the moment with both COVID and winter illness, this also saves Jacky and Reihana a lot of time that is spent having to contact families when children are not at school.
Phone: (03) 337-1404
Text Message: 021 027 94107
Email: office@beckenham.school.nz

Sandwich Road and ongoing Road Works

Unfortunately, SEIPP have still got another day of work to do on Sandwich Road next week, which means that Sandwich Road will be closed at the Norwood intersection on Monday. Please allow extra time, and we strongly urge you not to drive into Sandwich Road unless it is absolutely critical. Large volumes of vehicles trying to turn around will make the street very dangerous for our children. Please park away from Sandwich Road and walk if possible.

Emotional Literacy & Wellbeing 

Our word of the week for Week 1 is upstander. An upstander is a person who speaks or acts in support of an individual or cause, particularly someone who intervenes on behalf of a person being attacked or bullied. As part of our Health education curriculum, we teach children how to practice being an upstander, showing that they can do something active to counteract negative behaviour or bullying, rather than being a bystander and doing nothing.
We will be exploring an excellent resource this week, particularly with our Year 1-4 students, called "Oat the Goat". This resource is available online for families too and includes good resources for families to use to address bullying in various forms. 



Fencing around the school

When you return to school on Monday you will notice that the last phase of our fencing project has begun and we are close to being 'securely fenced' for our younger and more vulnerable students. We expect that the gates and final panels will be going in over the coming week. Please ALWAYS leave gates shut behind you. If we all practice this ALL THE TIME, we will make sure that we build good habits and ensure that the fences do the job of keeping children safe.

Free Flu Jabs For Kids 

Tamariki are at risk of getting very sick from the flu, and of passing it on to their whānau. All children from 6 months of age can benefit from getting the flu vaccine every year. It is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Flu jabs are now free for tamariki (kids) aged 3-12 years, and with winter upon us, it is a good time to book in for your flu vaccination at your local GP, a covid vaccination centre, and some pharmacies.

For more information on influenza vaccinations, see the link below: 


Ngā mihi mahana
Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki - Principal

Community Notices

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

South Library Community Feedback Opportunity



If you would like to have your say on the future of the South Library and Service Centre building, you have until this Monday 25 July. 

Your feedback will help shape design, feel, and functionality, as we explore plans for a rebuild.


Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter Rāmere (Friday) 8 July 2022

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Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

I write you this final message for the term from home, as I have been in isolation this week due to having caught Covid. Unfortunately, it was from a social situation outside of school where no masks were being worn and those kinds of situations continue to be our biggest challenge in keeping Covid numbers down. I have been fortunate to have had a relatively mild dose, however, anything that keeps you away from work is disruptive to life in general and adds to the workload of colleagues and general pressure in the workplace. With Jacky also having been away for the past two weeks, I would like to particularly thank our two Deputy Principals - Jo and Sue, and our two office staff, Reihana and Rachel, for the extra load they have carried in our absence.

I believe that we have done the best job we can at school of trying to keep everyone safe from Covid and general illness, and the continued practice of wearing masks and staying away when symptomatic of any illness is keeping our attendance pretty high under the circumstances. We will continue with mask-wearing until further notice, in a continued effort to keep everyone well.

You can see our current Covid numbers in the graph below. We had a spike in Weeks 8 and 9, however, numbers are currently tracking down again. We do hope that you are all able to stay Covid-free during the holidays. If any students do test positive during the holidays, PLEASE continue to let us know, either by texting me on 021 899 429 or by emailing principal@beckenham.school.nz
We are still reporting daily case numbers to the Ministry of Education. At this point in time, 37% of our students have reported having Covid, along with 43% of our staff.


Thank you to everyone who attended learning conferences this week. I know that it was a huge week for our teachers with two very long days on Monday and Wednesday and that they really appreciated the time to meet with you, one on one. I want to thank them all for the professional and tireless way that they undertake these conferences and the commitment that they have put in, this week in particular. For those of you who missed a conference on Wednesday due to the teacher being away, please keep an eye out in your email for a new booking option for early next term.

I wish you all a safe and healthy two weeks of school holidays. I know that our staff are very much looking forward to a break to relax and rest, and I hope that you are able to get some time as a family to do the same.

Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings - Tumuaki

Important Dates

Friday 8 July - Last day of Term 2
Monday 25 July - First day of Term 3

Term Dates

Citizen of the Week

Madeleine Dougherty - Year 6

Madeleine, you are such a joy to have in our hub! You are a kind and hardworking student, always ready to help those in need, whether it be with learning or jobs around the hub. Your love of learning shines through daily and you never shy away from a challenge.  Ka rawe, Madeleine.

School Notices

Community Dental Service - July 2022 Holiday Clinics

The Community Dental Service will be providing limited appointments during the school break at;
  • Woolston Community Dental Clinic, 11, Hopkins Street, Christchurch
  • Hornby Community Dental Clinic, 2 Hei Hei Road, Christchurch
You can access these appointments by calling our Contact Centre on 0800 846 983, noting that priority is given to children with immediate dental needs.

For any dental advice please call the Contact Centre on 0800 846 983 or email commdental@cdhb.health.nz

Parent Supervision Roster

We have a wonderful group of parents who support active supervision in the junior playground each day during lunch play. If you are interested in being added to the roster for this, please email katie.mcfarlane@beckenham.school.nz

Gifted Learners News

Over the next 2 - 3 years we will be working on the next part of our Strategic Plan around our inclusive practices - diverse learners and specifically focussing on our gifted learners.

During terms 1 and 2 of 2022 Senior Leadership has been working alongside the RTLB service and have begun to explore how the NZCGE (New Zealand Centre for Gifted Education) can support us in our review and planning process.  We have been gathering information and reflecting on where we are with our programmes, understandings and knowledge.

In week 4 of term 3, we will share a survey with our school community and add the information gathered to the big picture of gifted education at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.  During terms 3 and 4 we will look at our definition of giftedness and the way we identify our gifted learners. 
We would like to share regular updates in the school newsletters, so stay tuned.


It is widely accepted that gifted education is not just for students who need academic extension in the traditional areas of Reading, Writing and Maths. 

Tracy Riley, a leading scholar in Gifted Education from Massey University and an advocate for gifted learners, and her colleagues identified the following 6 areas of gifted learning:
  • Intellectual / Academic
  • Creativity- problem-solving, innovative thinkers
  • Visual and performing arts
  • Social/ Leadership- inter and intra-personal skills
  • Culture-specific abilities and qualities- traditional arts, pride in cultural heritage, language, and service to culture
  • Physical / Sport
Different cultures have different understandings of what it means to be a gifted learner. Māori believe that there is an inherent expectation that a person’s gifts and talents will be used to benefit others. 

In the next newsletter, we will share an overview of the different characteristics that a gifted learner may present with.

Congratulations to...


"Sustainable Ōtautahi Christchurch, Speaking 4 the Planet" finalist - Ashlyn Taffs

Don't Just Sit There Help!
By Ashlyn Taffs 2022

The ocean has become a tumbling commotion,
Our land has become a bland brand.
Our planet is shifting into a gadget too fragile to lose.

There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean.
Don’t just sit there, help!

Last year, it was reported that 60 percent of Aotearoa New Zealand's rivers carry pollution above acceptable levels.
Don’t just sit there, help!

Don’t just sit there watching the news believing things are getting better.
Because they’re not. But they can.

In 2020, volunteers removed more than 2381 tonnes of plastic from beaches around the world in a single day.
Don't just sit there, help!

If all 8 billion of us picked up at least 10 pieces of rubbish a day
Then 80 billion pieces of rubbish would be gone just like that.
Is 10 pieces of rubbish really that hard to pick up?
Don't just sit there help.

Last week, when I walked my dog
I picked up a whole bag of rubbish in 25 minutes.
Don't Just sit there, help!

Don't just say I’ll start tomorrow.
Don’t just sit there watching that wrapper float away.
Don't just walk past that used face mask.
Don't just think ‘Someone else will deal with it.’
Don’t just sit there, help!

Do start today.
Do pick up that piece of rubbish.
Do pick up that used face mask.
Do be that person to deal with it.

Please. Don't just sit there, help!

Sports News

Zone Swimming

Last Monday, tamariki from our kura represented us at the South Zone Swimming Sports. Our zone is known for being a competitive one, especially when it comes to swimming. Our tamariki absolutely held their own in the water against the strong competition. For many, this is a testament to the mahi put in outside of school at swimming schools and clubs. 

The award that I personally hold most dear, is the unofficial one of Most Enthusiastic Supporters! I'm always impressed at how loudly and enthusiastically our Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto tamariki cheer on their fellow competitors, and this year was no exception. There may have been a few lost voices that afternoon as a result!  

A huge congratulations to everyone who participated. 
Jenny Diggle

Canterbury Cross Country

Last Wednesday, a group of runners represented our kura at Canterbury Cross Country, held at Ngā Puna Wai. 

Congratulations to all our runners who qualified for this event. 

Lily Millar placed 10th in Year 5 Girls
Jack Sayer placed 3rd in Year 6 Boys

Cross Country Challenge Y0/4

On Tuesday the tamariki who placed within the top 6 of our school cross country event had the opportunity to participate in the cross country challenge at Hillview, involving many other neighboring kura. The children all put every effort into doing their best and were a credit to the school for their efforts and good sportsmanship.

Top 5 results:

Year 0/1 Boys
5th place - Hunter Olykan 

Year 0/1 Girls
3rd place - Freya Green 
4th place - Maeve Hurford

Team Award went to Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Y0/1 Girls 

Year 2 Boys
2nd place - Alex Pauley 

Year 2 Girls
5th place - Chloe Sayer

Year 3 Boys 
1st place - Max Olykan 
5th place - Haydn O'Connor

Team Award went to Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Y3 Boys

Year 4 Girls
1st place - Laura Stoney



PTA News

Keep in touch with the PTA

To stay up to date with the PTA, please check out our Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto PTA Facebook page, linked here. Or come along to one of our meetings - all welcome.
 
Meeting dates can be found in the weekly school Newsletter, or on the school calendar - linked here.
When they are on, these meetings are usually held on a Wednesday night 7.30-9.30pm in the Green Room at kura.

BOT Update

School Board of Trustee Elections 2022

Nomination round

Our kura will be undertaking a parent election for 3 School Board vacancies. This process will start with the issuing of nomination papers to our caregiver community by Friday 15th July 2022. 

We have employed CES to undertake the election process on our behalf. This year with legislative change, our nomination form and full instruction on how to place your nomination into our own School’s Election website will be emailed to you if we have your email address in our database or you will receive it by post if we don’t have your email in our database.

Nomination papers will also be available at the school office. The school will send those on to CES for processing upon receipt from candidates. 

Nominations close on Wednesday 3rd August at 12 noon.
Election day is Wednesday 7th September.

We look forward to your participation in this process. If you are considering applying yourself, and have any questions or wonderings, please feel free to email our Board Secretary, Reihana, at pa@beckenham.school.nz with any queries you may have!

Community Notices

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

Studio One Performing Arts, your local dance school, is currently giving Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary and Acro lessons in your area. The school’s director is teacher, choreographer & ex-ballet dancer Patricia Paul A.R.A.D. (London). Ballet lessons from 3 years through to Advanced, and all levels in Jazz and Contemporary starting from age 7. For all enquiries please phone 372-9191 or email info@studioone.co.nz

From Bellies, Babies to Tweens market is for families to buy and sell pre-loved maternity, baby, kids & tweens (up to 13yrs) items all in one place. Families coming to buy can score huge savings on items needed for growing babies and kids, while families selling can earn a bit of extra cash. Families buying or selling are also doing their bit for the environment by recycling these items rather than letting them go to landfill.

Market Day: Sunday 24th July, 9am-12noon at Pioneer Stadium.
Follow us on Facebook & Instagram or email fbbtmarket@gmail.com


Kauri Whānau: End of term 2

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 In this post:

  • Cantamath projects
  • Getting ready for ski day
  • Celebrations

Cantamath

We are entering Cantamath season at the start of next term. This includes every child in the hub creating a Cantamath project. In Kauri Google Classroom there is a slideshow that explains each of the math projects and has lots of photos of past projects. This is a project that is done at home. Teachers can help with ideas and materials where needed. It would be great to look through the slideshow (I will put it at the end of this post), with your child over the holidays and start doing some brainstorming. They can even get stuck into the project now if they wish. The finished project is due at school on August 11th, the third Thursday of the term.

Ski Day: Sept 1st

We are excited about taking the children up Mt Hutt on Sept 1st. The parents are sorted, the transport is sorted and we are all booked in. The cost of this trip is covered by your activity donation and our generous PTA who are covering the cost of the buses. As part of the package at Mt Hutt, each child gets a lift pass (for lifts at their level), skis, boots, poles (if needed) and a helmet, as well as a 90-minute lesson. 

Please fill in this form to give us information about your child and to indicate if you need help with suitable clothing. We have built up a collection of clothing that we can lend to children and some children also hire clothing.  

There will be more information about how the day runs closer to the time.

Celebrations

We were enormously proud of our ShowQuest Team who competed at the Canterbury competition recently and took out first place in the junior section, as well as Best Choreography and Best Theme! Fergus Macdonald was also recognised for his superb performance with the Outstanding Rangatahi award. 


Our cheese roll-making day was a huge success. The children worked so well and were full of enthusiasm. We had a small and dedicated group of parents who made a fabulous contribution. Over 500 dozen rolls were created and we will know within the next week how much profit was made to contribute towards our outdoor education experiences this year. 

We have four more weeks of winter sport next term. The children are giving their best and enjoying the competition.