Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter, Friday 17 September, 2021

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Principal's Patch

Kia kaha te reo Māori!

‘Kia kaha’ is well understood in New Zealand English with its meaning of ‘be strong’. We often talk about languages as if they are people – talking about language health, strength and revitalisation. So when we say ‘Kia kaha te reo Māori’ we’re saying  - ‘Let’s make the Māori language strong'. 
This week has been Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) here in Aotearoa and I have been really impressed by how much more te reo Māori I have heard and seen through the media this year than ever before.

At our kura (school), each hub participated in their own way in celebrating and learning more te reo Māori. 
The display below was put up in the Whare Pukapuka (library) by Anne, our amazing librarian. 
Our goal is always to make te reo Māori a language that our tamariki (children) understand and can use with confidence. This is a challenge when none of our staff are fluent in te reo, and there is a shortage of fluent te reo teachers throughout the motu (nation). We have a team of kaiako (teachers) at school who support us to upskill one another and make sure we keep our focus in this kaupapa (matter)!
We encourage you as a whānau (family) to ako (learn) together, and to add te reo Māori into your daily conversations!



It's been a week of fairly cold mornings at the gate this week, so a huge thank-you to our staff who work the entrances every morning. Thank you also to our road patrol team who are there each day, morning and afternoon, making sure we all get across the road safely. We do appreciate that it is tricky not being able to come onto the school site each day and we thank you all for your patience.

Enrolments for 2022



Do you, or one of your neighbours, have a pre-schooler turning five during 2022? 
Are they enrolled yet? If not, please contact Jacky in the office about enrolment as soon as possible. It helps us significantly with our staffing and planning if we know in advance who to expect at school the following year! 
You can find enrolment information and forms here on our website.

​Toys and trading cards at school

We have noticed an increase in children bringing both toys, and trading cards (especially Pokemon cards) to school recently. We know that all of these items are extremely precious and that if they get lost, or accidentally given away or misplaced, it causes very real distress.

Our policy ​has always been to ask that toys (including trading cards) are left at home. 

Whilst we are at Level 2, please don't bring the trading cards to the gate for your child to trade at 3pm, as this is causing quite a lot of additional congestion at the gate which is already very busy. Thanks for your support of this.



Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki (Princpal)

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Week 10:
Fri 01 Oct - Last day of Term 3
Fri 01 Oct - Celebration Assembly (if we are at Level 1 - 12-12.30pm)
Term 4
Week 1:
Mon 18 Oct - First day of Term 4
Fri 22 Oct - Welcome to School Assembly (9.15 - 9.30am followed by Morning Tea for whānau)
Week 2:
Mon 25 Oct - Labour Day (School Closed)
Tue 26 Oct - Staff Only Day (School Closed)
Wed 27 Oct - PTA Meeting ( 7.30 - 9.30pm )
Sun 31 Oct - PTA - Halloween Picnic in the Park

Term Dates

Click here to view 2021 & 2022 term dates.

Citizen of the Week

Cahlen Stace - Year 6

Cahlen, your enthusiasm for learning is second to none! You share your excellent general knowledge and well-thought-out ideas with others in a positive manner. Your exuberance is infectious. Cahlen, you take action when the need arises and this helps the whole hub tick along. Tino pai rawa atu to mahi!

PTA News

Lockdown is over and the PTA is back!

The Readathon has been a bit disjointed thanks to COVID, but let's start where we left off! We will be at the main gate on Sandwich Rd every day next week collecting any cards that have been completed or money you still have to donate. We will have cool bookmarks to give in return.


We will still run the popular prize draw at the assembly on Friday 24th September. Everyone who did the reading goes into the draw, so let one of us at the gate know if you lost the card or donated online, alternatively email pta@beckenham.school.nz or message us on Facebook.

We won't be having the book character dress-up day but there will be a chance to dress up at our Family Picnic in the park on the 31st of October! We did have our ever-popular quiz scheduled for the 30th, but due to COVID uncertainty, we have decided to change it from a fundraiser into a BYO picnic in the park on Sunday 31st. More details will follow soon!

Finally: keep your eye out for our Calendar Art Fundraiser. The students have been busy creating masterpieces, which are soon to be turned into easy Christmas gifts! We are hoping to be able to open orders before the end of term - watch this space (and your children’s bags).

School Notices

Kōwhai miniball T4 2021



If your Year 3/4 child is keen to play Miniball at the Pioneer Stadium inter-school competition next term, please click on this link for more information and register their interest by next Friday 24th September.

NZ Mental Health Awareness 

Next week is NZ's mental health awareness week, 27 September - 3rd October.
This year, the focus is on making time to kōrero through our joys and challenges. Talk with your children about the benefits of talking through problems, and who they might go to.
More resources, ideas and stories are featured here online. 



The model describes health and wellbeing as a wharenui/meeting house with four walls. These walls represent taha wairua/spiritual wellbeing, taha hinengaro/mental and emotional wellbeing, taha tinana/physical wellbeing and taha whānau/family and social wellbeing. Our connection with the whenua/land forms the foundation.

When all these things are in balance, we thrive. When one or more of these is out of balance, our wellbeing is impacted. 


The parts of the wharenui:

TAHA WHĀNAU

Taha whānau is the people we care about, who recharge us and make us feel we belong. Whānau isn’t just our immediate relatives. It includes our friends, hoamahi/colleagues, iwi or community – the people who are close to our hearts. 

TAHA WAIRUA 

Taha wairua is about taking notice and appreciating the beauty around us. It’s about rediscovering things that make us feel awe, hope, strength, unity and connection. For some, wairua is faith or a higher power. Sometimes our wairua isn’t strong and we encourage you to think about what wairua means to you and ways to strengthen it. When your wairua is strong, it’s easier to feel good, cope with challenges and build strong whānau relationships.

TAHA TINANA 

Taha tinana is about how your body feels and how you care for it. Refuelling your body helps you to feel mentally well. Sometimes your tinana might not be where you’d like it to be and this might be beyond your control. What’s important is that you do what you can to nurture it.

TAHA HINENGARO 

Taha hinengaro is your mind, heart, conscience, thoughts and feelings. Just like your physical health, your hinengaro needs to be nurtured. Hinengaro is what you do to stimulate and refresh your mind so you can better cope with the ups and downs of life.

WHENUA 

Whenua is our connection to the land. It’s soil, plants, animals and people – tangata whenua. It’s the earth through which you are connected to your tūpuna/ancestors. Whenua is a place of belonging and it’s comforting that it is never too far away.

Update from Scholastic

"Scholastic New Zealand’s Auckland warehouse is currently closed due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
 
We have received a number of queries from schools and parents enquiring as to the status of their orders. Due to the lockdown, we have a number of unfulfilled orders stuck in our warehouse. As books are deemed non-essential items, we are not able to operate and ship any of these orders to school or homes.
 
I’m sure that you will understand that this situation is beyond our control, as it is for many New Zealand organisations and we thank you for your patience and understanding.  

Rest assured, we will be prioritising these orders as soon as Auckland reaches level 3 and our fantastic team gets back to our warehouse. Auckland orders will be dispatched to schools as soon as Auckland reaches level 2 and students return to in-person learning.
 
In the meantime, if you have any questions related to your order please email bookclub@scholastic.co.nz. Our Customer Services Team are working from home and will reply to your email with an update as soon as they are able to.
 
Please stay safe during the lockdown.
 
The Scholastic Team"

BOSCO

BOSCO’s October Holiday Programme is now open for bookings. We are very excited about the variety of crafts, baking and sport activities we have planned these holidays. We will also be visiting Ferrymead and playing a fantastic round of minigolf at Caddyshack. Pony Parties will bring their amazing animals to visit us and the boys from Cheapskate Skateskool are ready to come and teach us a few tricks again! We have limited spaces available so email Juanita now at office@bosco.org.nz to find out more or make a booking online via Aimy Plus.

Community Notices

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

Bush Farm Education

https://www.bushfarm.org.nz/our-programme-offerings

CodeCamp

CodeCamp allows kids from the ages of 7-12 to develop 21st century skills in a fun and action packed environment. Develop confidence & initiative through design, creativity, solving problems, presenting & collaboration. Creating games, websites and apps as well as robotics.

4th - 8th October 

Learn to Sail

This Learn to Sail program based out of Naval Point Club Lyttelton, is a 10 week course that will teach children aged 8 +  how to sail and the basic principle of the sport

The Program starts on Saturday the 25th of September with the option to sail either on a Saturday or a Sunday morning from 9 – 12

The program come’s at a cost of $150 for the 10 weeks and this includes boat hire.

A wetsuit, warm clothes that will get wet and a lifejacket are necessary

For further details and registration please go to

Learn to Sail Level 1 & 2 - Oct-Dec 2021 (Saturday's) - Naval Point Club Lyttelton

Learn to Sail Level 1 & 2 - Oct-Dec 2021 (Sunday's) - Naval Point Club Lyttelton

Or email: sailing@navalpoint.co.nz

We also have on offer our school program running from the 11th – 14th of October for anyone who wants to give sailing a try

School Holiday Sailing Camp - Naval Point Club Lyttelton

 Write Like an Author - Holiday Writing Camp

Learn to write stories like a published author, with a published author!

Write Like an Author is the internationally acclaimed writing course for students aged 8-14 that shows you how to write stories the way authors do.

On a three-day, school holiday writing camp, award-winning author Maria GIll will take you on a journey of fun and discovery, learning how to create, develop and write awesome stories, guiding you every step of the way.

The course has been developed by international award winning author and writing coach Brian Falkner and proven for over a decade in classrooms in Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

The cost of the three day camp is $195 at the early-bird price.

https://www.writelikeanauthor.com/



Act2 Drama Group Auditions

Studio One Performing Arts

Your local dance school, is currently giving Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary 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

Kōwhai News Term 3 Week 8

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Kia ora whānau, 

What a wonderful first full week back learning at school! It has been great to see all the students back on campus and we are looking forward to everyone coming back on site when we reach Level 1. 

Over the last three weeks of term, our inquiry is "Travelling the World via Art" where we look at different cultures around the world and how art is made and celebrated. This week various homegroups have travelled to Mexico, Egypt, Australia, Vietnam and the UK. Over the next few weeks all of the students will get to learn about art from these countries and create different art using pastels, paint, sketching and clay. 

As Sandy mentioned in the newsletter on Friday, over the next two weeks we will be completing various assessments. This means that your child won't necessarily bring home reading books with them. Please help us by continuing to read books of their choice at home with them. 

Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori 

This week we have been celebrating the Māori language during Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori. Here is an activity you might like to try at home.

Paki Whitu Game


Have some fun with PAKI WHITU - This game requires the use of your hands.

Term 4 Miniball

Please read and fill out this survey if your child is interested in playing Miniball in Term 4.



Kōwhai Hub activities

We have loved getting back in and exploring our learning through play. Here are some pictures of learning through play, and learning throughout the day in the Kōwhai hub this week. 












Have a lovely weekend. 

The Kōwhai Team 


Koru Term 3 Week 8

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Kia ora koutou, 
We have loved catching up with the children over the course of this week, and hearing all about their lockdown experiences! It has been lovely to see the enthusiasm about being back at school, and to see friendships continue to strengthen. 
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your flexibility and efforts throughout the lockdown. We have noticed improvements across many areas, and the children have come back with an engaged attitude to learning. 
We would like to introduce Leonor, Terence and Stella who have joined the Koru team following lockdown. We are delighted to have them join us. They have settled in beautifully and are already developing new friendships. We welcome Charlie back following his trip to see family in France. 

                                         

Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori:

This week the children have enjoyed listening to Māori Myths and Legends, including 'How Maui Slowed the Sun.' Children were encouraged to retell different parts of the story during whole class shared writing. They talked about how Maui and his brothers felt throughout the story and how they worked together to solve the problem of their days being too short. 

Children have created some amazing Māori art work, both collaboratively and independently. They have also been given opportunities to sing, count to 10 and say simple sentences and answer questions in te reo Māori such as, "Kei te pehea koe?" (How do you feel?), "Kei te pai ahau" (I am good). 

We have continued with our Wellbeing program and this week our focus has been 'Taha Tinana' which is our Physical Wellbeing. It is about how our body feels, moves and how we take care of it. The children have come up with many ways they can keep fit and healthy. They have participated in physical class games and yoga. 

We hope you enjoy looking at the photos of our children in action throughout the week. 

How Maui Slowed the Sun

Independent Art



We Get There Together


Children have continued with their Structured Literacy learning and it is fantastic to see their proud faces when they learn a new letter sound, complete a stage or read their book independently. We want to thank you for helping your child with their letter sounds, heart words and reading each night. It really makes a huge difference with their confidence and momentum. 


Thank you for your patience and preparing your child for the Level 2 drop off and pick up. We are very impressed with how well the children have adapted to this and have quickly eased back into school routines, with an independent skip in their step! We love sparking the children's curiosity and creativity during our learning through play. We will continue to nurture this aspect of their learning throughout the remainder of this year. 
Have a lovely and relaxing weekend together. 

Ngā mihi mahana, 

The Koru Team: Elizabeth, Tracey, Nicola, Chelsea and Stacey

Kauri Whānau Weekly Update: Term 3 Week 8

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 In this post:

  • Technology
  • Choir
  • Speech finals
  • Cashmere High Testing
It was fabulous to welcome the children back to our hub last week. After the initial excitement of reuniting with everyone, the children have quickly settled back into learning.

Technology

Technology classes at Christchurch South Intermediate continue in level 2. The key difference is that the canteen is not running. 

Choir

Choir also continues in level 2. The choir meets at 8:15 am on Mondays.

Speech Finals

We were impressed with how adaptable the children were to presenting their speeches via Zoom or videoing themselves. Finalists were named at the end of last week. Our team speech competition will take place this coming Friday, September 17, between 11:00 and 12:40. 
Year 7 finalists are Lola, Tahere, Fergus, Quinn, Freya, Billy, Richelle, Lachy, Stella and Oliver.
Year 8 finalists are Fergus, Mila, Tabea, Mahli, Thomas, Marcellus, Zoe C, Rory, Lane and Andi.
Unfortunately, parents cannot be part of the audience while we are at level 2.

Cashmere High School Testing

Year 8 testing at Cashmere High has been rescheduled to take place on Thursday, September 30th. Those who have children enrolled will receive details from Cashmere High. The children make their own way to and from testing and are expected back at Beckenham by 1:20pm. 

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter, Friday 10 September, 2021

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Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

We were so thrilled to see all the children back at school yesterday and today. In fact, yesterday we only had 17 children absent out of 508 - a better attendance rate than usual for this time of the year! We had seven new children start school yesterday and today - a very special welcome to them, and their whānau.

Thank you to all of our whānau who have supported the dropping off and collecting of children at the gate each day. This will continue whilst we are at Level 2. The children were well prepared yesterday and even our newest students managed this very successfully. As of today, all of the Chromebooks that we loaned out have been returned - thank you very much for that.

Whilst we can't have whānau on site at the moment, it doesn't mean that you can't talk with your child's teachers. If you would like to talk to a teacher, please email the teacher or email the office (office@beckenham.school.nz) and they will be happy to call you back.

With only three weeks left of this term, teachers will be doing quite a bit of assessment over the next three weeks, in preparation for report writing from the start of Term 4. We expect to have reports out to you (via HERO for the first time) at the end of Week 5, and we will be offering Learning Conferences during Week 6 (23rd and 25th November).

Best wishes for the first weekend at Level 2 - whatever that allows you and your family to do!
Ngā mihi nui

Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki - Principal

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Week 8:
Thu 16 Sep - Board of Trustees' meeting (5.30 - 7.30pm)

Week 9:
Wed 22 Sep - PTA meeting (7.30 - 9.30pm)

Week 10:
Fri 01 Oct - Last day of Term 3
Fri 01 Oct - Celebration Assembly (if we are at Level 1 - 12-12.30pm)

Term 4

Week 1:
Mon 18 Oct - First day of Term 4
Fri 22 Oct - Welcome to School Assembly (9.15 - 9.30am followed by Morning Tea for whānau)

Term Dates

Click here to view 2021 & 2022 term dates.

Citizen of the Week

Poppy Holton - Year 3

Poppy, you are an enthusiastic learner. You always show initiative and are willing to give it a go with everything you have been asked to do. You are also kind and caring to other members of Kōwhai hub as you make sure no one ever feels left out. We are so delighted to have you in Kōwhai this year, ka rawe!

School Notices

Lunch Ordering


Community Dental Van



Ministry of Education - Gifted Learner Awards

WHAT ARE THEY ALL ABOUT? 
The Gifted Learner Awards can be used to challenge learners to try something new, or extend them in areas they're already involved in and passionate about.
Applicants can include tamariki in early learning through to high school students. 
Applications can be for an individual or a group of learners, and can provide funding of up to $2,500 per individual or $5,000 per group (to be used within a 12-month period). 
APPLY TODAY: (Applications close at 4pm on 30 September 2021)

It's Māori Language Week next week!

Huatau | Ideas
Click this link to see some things you can do for your Māori Language Moment. It could be as easy as greeting everyone you see with 'kia ora', starting your Zoom call with "mōrena", or playing te reo Māori songs in your workplace all day. How you do it is up to you, but you can get started with some ideas linked here! (https://www.reomaori.co.nz/ideas)

Community Notices

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

Beckenham Tennis Club

Action Sports Summer Season


If anyone has any questions about Indoor Netball or Indoor Football, they can contact ACTION on:

Ph 03-366 6601
Email: football@actionindoorsports.com

Saint Albans Cricket Club 

I am Hope - Events coming up 

The Gumboot army is anyone who would like to raise money for Gumboot Friday – I am Hope charity.

Gumboot Friday – I am Hope is a charity started by Mike King, to raise money for counselling sessions for the tamariki of Aotearoa, aged 4-24 years old.

More information on this charity can be found at https://www.iamhope.org.nz/ 

Sunday 24th October - Little River Family Fun day! “Top town” gumboot competition, food, stalls, raffles and more! Find the event on Facebook at Little River Gumboot day. Two of the activities are design a gumboot and decorate a gumboot. It will be a great outing for everyone! If it doesn’t go ahead due to COVID, all prizes will be raffled and auctioned off on our FB page.

5th November 2021 – Gumboot Friday Take 2! We would love for you to get involved by encouraging your tamariki to wear gumboots and make a donation.

Vegan Expo Christchurch

Haere-Roa (UCSA, 90 Ilam Rd)
10am – 4pm
Sunday, November 7th

Enjoy great vegan food, watch top veggie chefs display their cooking secrets, learn about plant-based living and enjoy celebrating cruelty-free, pro-planet lives with Christchurch’s vegetarian and vegan community. Whether you are vegetarian or not, you will love the variety of foods and entertainment on offer, which includes a special kid’s zone, bouncy castle and activities.

Eftpos and plenty of free parking will be available.

Kids free (12 and under), adults $5 if bought online now (veganexpo.co.nz/christchurch) or $6 on the door.  


Please note: The Expo will only go ahead if we are in Covid-19 alert level 1. If the event has to be cancelled, refunds will be issued to anyone who has purchased tickets. 

Free leaflets and resources (click here).