Principal's Patch
Kia ora koutou
Just a short newsletter this week as we wait to hear the next stages of our COVID-19 Alert levels on Sunday.
Whanau Hui Pātai / Invitation - Whānau Hui
We have unfortunately had to postpone our efforts to hold a proper Whānau Hui with all of the whānau and tamariki able to attend, due to the challenges of COVID-19 Alert levels.
We would like to extend an invitation to Whānau Māori to attend an adults only hui this coming Rāapa 16 Mahuru (Wednesday 16 September) from 7-8:15pm in the staffroom. The kaupapa of this hui is to share orur goals and aspirations for our tamariki Māori, so that these aspirations can be reflected in the Strategic Plan the Board are writing for the next three years.
If you are whānau of tamariki Māori, please come along and participate in this hui.
Staffing Update
We have sadly accepted the resignation of our Pōhutukawa Team Leader, Anne Batchelor this week, effective at the end of this school year. Anne has been offered a position with the RTLB service. She will be training and working as a Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour, alongside Paulette Newton and Cath Barrie and under the leadership of Michelle Maule (all of whom were also teachers at Beckenham).
The Team Leader position for 2021 will be advertised next week in the Education Gazette.
Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week
14-20 Mahuru, 2020 - 14-20 September 2020
At school we will be joining in with others all around New Zealand at midday on Monday with the 'Māori Language Moment'. We invite all of our whānau and community to join in too. All you need to do is make a deliberate action to use some Te Reo Māori, for example you could greet someone with 'Kia ora' or 'Tēnā koe', or you could start an email with the same greeting... be part of the movement to celebrate and support the learning and reviatalisation of this language of Te Reo Māori that is unique to our country.
Everyone can contribute to te reo Māori revitalisation:
- Make te reo welcome at work and in the community
- Encourage others to use and learn te reo Māori
- Wwelcome Māori language into your life
- Pronounce Māori words correctly when speaking English
- Learn a little, use a little
- Learn more, and use what you know
- Keep improving your language, and share what you know
CleanUp Week - across NZ and in Beckenham!
Next week - 14-18 September, is NZ CleanUp week and we are joining in at school...
Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings
Principal / Tumuaki
Important Dates
Upcoming Events
Wed 16 Sep - 9:15am - CSM Band Concert for whānau at Hillview Christian School
Wed 16 Sep - 3:15pm - CSM Band Concert for whānau at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Hall
Wed 16 Sep - 7-8:15pm - Whānau Hui in the staffroom (adults only)
Fri 25 Sep - last day of Term 4
Mon 12 Oct - STAFF Only Day - SCHOOL CLOSED
Tue 13 Oct - First day of Term 4
School Notices
Peter Rabbit
It was with enormous sadness that we have had to farewell Peter Rabbit, who has been a faithful and loyal friend to hundreds of children at Beckenham te Kura over the past 9 years. Peter has been cuddled and loved by children, read to, played with, taken out to the park for time on the grass, and has helped children who have been feeling sad or upset by simply allowing them to hold him, and most children at Beckenham will know him really well. Something that Peter did incredibly well was to help children who were having trouble saying goodbye to their families at the start of the school day - Peter was worth way more than his weight in gold.
Peter Rabbit died of old age last week. In human years, he would have been about 85. He will be greatly missed, and remembered by all with enormous fondness.
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| Peter, aged nearly 9 years |
Better Beckenham Project
This project is funded by a $210,000 grant from the NZ Transport Agency in Wellington, aiming to use public spaces (roads and footpaths) to make better neighbourhoods. The project covers the Beckenham Loop, where its geographical limits (in a bend of the river), and low through traffic make some easy enhancements possible. river, and slower vehicle speeds, but we want your ideas too! The project is to be jointly run between the City Council and the residents, so please come along and have some input at our community parties in Beckenham School hall on the 4th September from 3:15 pm till 5pm and 6th September from 3 pm till 5pm. A few children from Beckenham School will have posters on display as they have been working as junior design consultants to produce ideas for the community. Looking forward to seeing you there! For more info email BetterBeckenham@gmail.com.
Mana Ake “Drop-Ins” are continuing…
A number of whānau have already made great use of the Mana Ake “drop-ins” that are available on Wednesday mornings from 8:30 – 9:30am. These drop-in sessions are here to provide parents with an opportunity to have a private, informal conversation around the well being of their child with one of our Mana Ake workers (kaimahi). If you feel like you would like to attend a drop-in session, please book in a time via the link here: Mana Ake booking The code to use is 88t39. Alternatively, you can contact Jacky in the office and she will make a booking for you.
Considerate Driving
Sandwich Road can get very congested around drop off and pick up times. Please show consideration for other drivers and ensure you are not blocking the road when you are dropping off and picking up your children. We have a designated pick up/drop off zone - we would strongly encourage you to use this area to assist with the traffic congestion.
BOT Update: Mid-Term Elections
School Board of Trustee Mid Term Elections 2020
Nomination round
Our school will be undertaking Mid Term Elections for our Board of Trustees this year. This process will start with the issuing of nomination papers to our caregiver community by Friday 9th October 2020.
The Board of Trustees have again employed CES to undertake the election process on our behalf. This year with legislative change, our nomination forms and full instruction on how to place your nomination into our own School’s Election website will be e-mailed to you by Friday 9th October 2020.
For those that do not have access to the internet, nomination papers will be available at the school office and those nomination papers should be returned to the school office. The school will send those on to CES for processing.
Nominations close on Sunday 1st November 2020 at 12 noon.
We look forward to your participation in this process.
Wayne Jamieson
Returning Officer
Community Notices
(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)
Would you like to take your school child’s younger sibling(s) to an affordable ECE centre with high adult:child ratios, and meet local families? Landsdowne Terrace Playcentre is a parent run Early Childhood Education Centre with a friendly and diverse group of local parents. We believe that child led play is central to development, and recognise the value of parents as first educators. Come and visit us in our spacious grounds at 8 Landsdowne Terrace on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday mornings 9-12, or our explorer outings on Thursdays. Email landsdowneterrace@playcentre.org.nz or message our Facebook page. Ph: 3322140
"Whānau tupu ngātahi - families growing together"
Studio One Performing Arts
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