Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter 15th June 2018

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

Well - the Big Day is finally here and the sun is shining too, which is a real bonus.
Today, we have been hosting Ruud Kleinpaste (The Bug Man) and Riley Elliot (The Shark Man) at school and tomorrow, is the TREEMENDOUS MAKEOVER day!



Check out the video below, taken earlier this week, of Andy Lyons from Heathcote Valley Gallery, an uncle of some of our students, carving this huge log from our school oak tree, into a very special chair.


All of the CCC sports grounds are closed this weekend, so take the opportunity to come along to the Treemendous Makeover and help to make this area a beautiful place for our children to play!

Staffing Update for Term 3 & 4

As you know, Michelle Maule, our Deputy Principal, is currently on secondment to the Ministry of Education, working in the Special Education Team. This secondment was originally expected to be for two terms, however, the Ministry have asked Michelle to stay on until the end of the year. We are very proud of Michelle for the experience that she is able to offer at the Ministry to support other schools, and know that she will be expanding her expertise to bring back to Beckenham as well.

Sue Leadbetter, who is currently doing an amazing job of being Deputy Principal in Michelle's absence, will now continue on doing this until the end of the year. 

That leaves a vacancy for a teacher to take the next New Entrant class that is due to begin in Term 3 and we are delighted to be welcoming Jo Smith back as a full time member of our staff for Terms 3 and 4 to take this position.

I have been very fortunate to have been awarded a Ministry of Education Principal Job Shadow scholarship to travel to Adelaide for the first four weeks of next term. I will be going to a school in the west of Adelaide called Lockleys North School and working with their principal, Tyson Grinham. Tyson has been the successful Australian recipient of the matching scholarship, and he will then come to Christchurch and visit Beckenham for 3 weeks in the latter half of Term 3. This is a very exciting opportunity and I am very grateful to the Board for the support that they have given in supporting me with this. 

Ngā mihi

Sandy Hastings

Tumuaki / Principal

Morvern, your bubbly personality and enthusiasm for all that we do in the Intermediate Hub is infectious. Your love of learning is evident through the exceptional work that you do across the curriculum. We see the way you care for others on a daily basis. Morvern your sense of fun lifts our spirits in the Kauri Hub. You are a deep thinker who has great vision. Thank you for the helpful suggestions that you frequently offer. Keep being the fabulous role model that you are.

Arthur Branco Diefenthaler Year 3

Arthur, you are such an amazing member of our Kōwhai Whānau. You regularly display all of our school values in all of your learning, and you always have a big smile on your face! All of us in the hub know that you can be relied upon to do the right thing at all times. Thank you for all of the effort and enthusiasm you bring to our team Arthur, you are an absolute superstar! Tino Pai!

School Notices 

Pyjamas and Breakfast on the Shortest Day 

Lost & Found

This was found in the school playground on Thursday...we would love to return it to its owner.
Please pick it up from the office.
We also have a bundle of lost clothing items building up again in the lost property box in the admin foyer.
Please come and have a look if your child has lost any items - there are shoes, drink bottles, hats, umbrellas etc!! 

McMillan's Aquatic Centre is 7km & only 12 mins drive from Beckenham.

We are offering free assessments now for Term 3 bookings.

Location:                                    54 Wickham St, Bromley (off Dyers Rd)
Lesson Times:                            3.25 - 6pm
Adult lessons/Lane Hire:         1pm - 3pm & 6pm - 8pm
Cost:                                            $150 for 10 x 30 minute lessons.
Call Louise on 332 4617 or email bees.swim@xtra.co.nz to book in now.
www.macswimming.co.nz

Electronic Music Afterschool Programme:

PYDT are looking for young people to be part of a fresh, exciting Electronic Music Production programme at the Te Koru Youth Centre. If you're interested in learning how to make your own Music on computers in a fun, social environment at a cool Youth Centre, this is the place for you! If You would like more information about this programme, please email studio@pydt.org, or give Tom a call on 0210503237.

While we have a big focus on Music and Technology here at PYDT, our main focus is professional, holistic youth work. We put a lot of emphasis into our programmes and run them to the highest standard, but they are always seen as simply a point of leverage for us to connect with and support the young people who come through our programmes. We have already had an amazing response from the parents who currently send their young people along, so much so that we have had parents tell us that they are astounded by the change in behaviour their young person has had while at home. Parents have also expressed their excitement that their young person is surrounding themselves with people who have their best interests at heart, rather than loitering around local businesses and causing problems.

This musical endeavour is just one of the many programmes we run here at the centre, including our widely endorsed Leadership Training Course for schools, Holiday Programmes, after-school Youth Hangout spaces, Disability Youth Groups and so many others!

Get ready for flu season – protect your whānau and community

Colder weather also brings along a nasty passenger – the flu.
As you may have seen in the media, it’s been a terrible flu season in the Northern Hemisphere, which
is a possible predictor for what we may see here.
Families in the Hurunui and Kaikōura districts can once again ensure their children have the best
protection available against the flu this winter – and it won't cost a cent! Young people from six
months to 17 years of age living in the Kaikōura and Hurunui areas (within the Canterbury District
Health Board) can receive free flu shots.
Influenza infection rates are generally highest in children and healthy children are the major cause of
the spread of the virus in the community. Around 80 percent of people infected show no or minimal
symptoms so you can spread the flu bug without knowing you have it – and the elderly, pregnant
women and people with chronic health conditions are particularly vulnerable.
Canterbury District Health Board is urging you to protect your whānau and the wider community by
getting your flu shot as soon as possible. This year’s vaccines have been specially formulated for New
Zealand and are expected to offer protection against the strain that was circulating in the Northern
Hemisphere.
While flu shots are free for under 18s, they’re available for anyone for a fee from a doctor, nurse or
some pharmacists. You or your whānau may qualify for a free shot as well- check out www.flufree.co.nz for more info and flu facts.