Principal's Patch
Kia ora koutou
Welcome back to the start of 2018! I hope you have all managed to have some holiday time with your whānau and caught some of the wonderful weather along the way.Welcome to our 16 New Entrants who have started school this year, along with the 19 other new students from Years 1-8 who have also joined us. Welcome also to the 6 new students in the Ferndale unit, bringing their total numbers now to 12.
We also welcome new staff to the school: Hannah Elliott in the Year 7/8 team, and Jess McColl, Margaret Billett, and Sumiko Pollock in the Ferndale Unit.
Start of Year Learning Conferences
It was wonderful to see whānau and tamariki at Learning Conferences last week. We held 413 Learning Conferences over the two days for the 428 children on our start of year roll. That's over 96% - thank you all for your commitment and presence. We listened to the feedback that you shared with us from the mid-year learning conferences and, whilst the purpose of the start of year conferences is different, we used that feedback to inform and modify these latest conferences. We hope you found them informative and worthwhile.We would appreciate you taking a couple of minutes to give us your feedback on your learning conference experience, by clicking on this link.
Mathematics - a problem-solving focused approach
During our three staff only days at the end of January, we were fortunate to have a day with Dr Bobbie Hunter from Massey University. The focus of the day was on "Developing a Community of Mathematical Inquiry"Dr Hunter's research and approach was originally targeted at low decile schools with high Māori and Pasifika populations and the short introductory video below was produced two years ago. The results of this methodology have been so successful, that the Ministry of Education are now supporting schools around New Zealand to work with Dr Hunter, and to use this approach in their teaching of mathematics. As a Community of Learning, Beckenham, along with St Martins and Cashmere High School, will be working with Bobbie this year, funded by the Ministry of Education, to develop our understanding of this approach. We are very excited to be working with Bobbie and her team and introducing this mathematical inquiry approach to our teaching and learning.
Senior Leadership
As most of you will know, Michelle Maule is on secondment to the Ministry of Education for the first half of this year. I am delighted to have the leadership support of Sue Leadbetter in the Acting Deputy Principal position during this time. Sue and I look forward to supporting all of our students and staff through the year ahead.
2018 looks set to be an exciting year, and we are all looking forward to working together with you and your children.
Ngā mihi
Sandy Hastings
Principal - Tumuaki
Important Dates
Upcoming Events
Mon 12th - Thu 22nd Feb: Life Education visiting the schoolWed 14th Feb - first day of CSM band programme
Thu 15th Feb - first day of String lessons
Wed 21 Feb - Walk or Wheel Safely to School
Thu 22 Feb - School Swimming sports for years 5 - 8
Term Dates
Click here to view 2018 term dates.Citizen of the Week
Nika Turner-Germon - Year 3
Nika, you are an outstanding role-model in our team. The way you have started the year in Kōwhai has been incredibly impressive. You are kind and thoughtful and always on task. Tino Pai Nika!School Notices
Life Education
From 12th February we will have the Life Education mobile classroom at school, with Harold the giraffe visiting to help teach us about our feelings, being unique and working as a team. Each home group will have two lessons in the classroom over the two week visit.
Life Education is a charity that educates and empowers children to make healthy choices so they can live full and healthy lives. Every year they teach over 250,000 children about their body, friendships, their identity, food and nutrition and helpful and harmful substances.
'Today children and adolescents face a lot of challenges, including: obesity, substance use, mental health and well-being and bullying. The decisions we make as children can dramatically affect how we live our lives in the future – and this is why Life Education exists. Through education we help students to understand how decisions they make today can affect their future health and well-being.'
Lunchonline
Lunchonline have advised us that Sydenham Bakery are no longer able to supply lunches on Mondays and Tuesday. This is due to very low order numbers which make it not viable to continue this service. Lunch orders can still be made on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Pita Pit continues to be available through Lunchonline on Thursdays.
Sunhats
A reminder that sunhats are required to be worn when outside during the school day. Please ensure that your child's hat is named so that, in the event it is misplaced, it can be returned to them. Sunhats can be purchased through the school office.
Building Update
We are so close to being finished the excitement is electric!
It's hard to remember back to when we first began this journey over 3 years ago, and even to Oct 2016 when the builders first arrived on site, but we are, fingers and toes crossed, about 4-6 weeks away from completion now. All of our buildings are basically finished and the final work is now happening in the car park extension.
This weekend a pump is being put into the ground (in the rainwater retention system that was dug into the grass area adjacent to the junior playground) so that excess water can be pumped away. We hope that this will improve the 'swamp' that develops in this space after any rain. There will still, unfortunately, be some time where we are not yet able to access this area, as there are now stones coming up through the grass, and there are sump covers (required for the rainwater retention system) that are hazards for children running through the area. A new landscaping plan is being considered, which is exciting, and will take some time, so our continued patience is required in this area.
Our next step is to get new signage up around the school.
Bike Stands
It is great to see so many of our children biking and scootering to school. The challenge that this has created, that you are no doubt aware of, is the enormous overcrowding issues in the bike stand area. Whilst we are working on doubling the size of the bike stand area, there is no fast fix for this, and we ask for patience and care from everyone using the bike stand each day to ensure that all the spaces are used and that all bikes are treated respectfully.
Parking on Sandwich Road
There continues to be pressure on parking spaces on Sandwich Road. Please be considerate of residents on Sandwich Road and do not block their driveways. Residents need to be able to enter and exit their properties at any time of the day.
PTA News
Mark your calendars- Friday 23rd March 2018 will be our first TWILIGHT FAIR since 2014. Let's showcase our NEW school & celebrate with the best fair ever!!! Thanks to wonderful Gail Harris from Platform Design Ltd for another stylish poster design
Calling all Artists, Musicians, business owners & generous soles…..We are on the hunt for donations of prizes, vouchers, cash, food, services & acts to help us to create an amazing Twilight Fair
If you are a business/person that can help, please click on the link for more detailed information: https://goo.gl/forms/UXBCuV3Z4iURxLhB3
All funds raised from the Twilight Fair will be added to the PTA ‘OUTDOOR SPACES’ FUND
Community Notices
(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)
CHRISTCHURCH UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB OPEN DAYS
Sunday 25th February & Sunday 11th March at Spreydon Domain.11am -1pm Spreydon Domain - Domain Terrace. A welcome back to our club members and welcome to all new players.
Inflatable Pitch, Target Shooting, Fun Games, Sausage Sizzle and Coffee
Fun for all the family!
Guitar Tuition
Want to learn to play guitar? Want to play your favourite songs? Want to be able to play in a band? Joe Jutha, a qualified musician would love to teach you! Have you tried to learn before but it seemed too hard? Joe has developed many different and exciting ways to teach students so don’t give up! Give it a try! $30/Half hour (Monthly deals are available). Contact Joe for available times or to have a chat about what he can offer you!Guitar tutor Joe: 0221932976
Aquagym
459 Cashel StPh:381- 0299
Learn to Swim
& Coaching
AquaGym and Sumner Pool
Bookings still open for Term 1
Leaders in Aquatic Education
