Principal's Patch
Kia ora koutou
Coronation Tree Planting
The sun came out today, just as the whole school assembled outside to observe the ceremonial planting of our 'Coronation Tree'. The tree is a very petite kōwhai, that we hope will grow into a tall tree that will become a home for many different animal and bird species.
Two of our students - the youngest and one of our eldest, helped Tony to plant the tree, in honour of the Coronation of King Charles III last weekend. When you next come into school, ask your child to show you where the tree is planted.
Learning Conferences 14 & 15 June
These are coming up in Week 8 of the term, on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th May.
Reports will go live on HERO at the end of Week 6, and these conferences will be an important opportunity to learn more about your child's learning progress and achievement.
School will close at the earlier time of 2pm on both days (not 1pm as indicated in a previous email). Children who are usually booked into BOSCO on those days will be able to attend from 2pm. We will provide supervision for children between 2-3pm IF NEEDED... please fill in the second form after booking your Learning Conference.
Each family need to fill out BOTH forms below, please:
First, please book a Learning Conference for each of your children by clicking on this link.
Then, please fill out this form, to let us know what you want to happen for your child at 2pm. We need this form filled out for EVERY child, please.
Celebrating Learning through Passions
This year we have been fortunate to have Kate Allen from Digital Futures NZ working with some of our Year 7/8 students on a Coding passion. This group of 6 ākonga participated in an afternoon at Tūranga with other schools to share and be creative around using digital storytelling to explore the story of Kupe and the Voyagers who first came to Aotearoa.
Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki - Principal
Important Dates
Upcoming Events
Tue 16 May - Junior Cross Country 2-3pm
Fri 19 May - Celebration Assembly 10am, All welcome
Tue 23 May - Zone Cross Country - Y5-8 qualifiers, Hansons Park 9am-12noon
Wed 24 May - School photos!
Wed 24 May - PTA Mtg 7:30pm - Staffroom
Thu 25 May - Board Meeting 5:30pm - Staffroom
Thu 25 May - Winter Sport begins for Y5-8 students
Fri 2 Jun - Celebration Assembly 10am, All welcome
Mon 5 Jun - School Closed - Kings Birthday Weekend Public Holiday
Thu 8 Jun - Cashmere High Open Day 12noon - 4pm
Wed 14 Jun - Learning Conferences - School Closes at 2pm
Thu 15 Jun - Learning Conferences - School Closes at 2pm
Fri 16 Jun - Celebration Assembly 10am, All welcome
Wed 21 Jun - Whānau Matariki Hui, followed by PTA Hāngi
Wed 28 Jun - Board Meeting, 5:30pm, Staffroom
Wed 28 Jun - PTA Mtg, 7:30pm Staffroom
Grace, we are beyond impressed with your give-it-a-go attitude in class. Nothing is ever too much trouble for you and we love the way you support your classmates. Grace, you live our values 'we care' and 'we make a difference' in the way that you lift other people up. Thank you for being such an awesome role model. Tu meke Grace!
School Notices
Junior Cross Country
We have re-scheduled our Junior Cross Country event for this coming Tuesday 16th May. Children will gather on the park at 2pm and the races will start shortly after, starting with Year 4 and finishing with Year 0/1. Please feel welcome to come along and support your child/ren if you are able. Tamariki may wear their house shirts on this day. Please ensure that they are wearing appropriate footwear.
At the end of your child's race, please stay and encourage them to support the other runners.
Thank you so much for all your support.
Ngā mihi nui,
Koru, Kahikatea and Kōwhai teachers
CCC Annual School Travel Survey
The Christchurch City Council annual School Travel Survey is now live! This 5-10 minute survey will improve understanding of school travel patterns across Christchurch. This will help with improving safety, especially for those using active transport. The survey is open to all school communities (students, parents/caregivers and one staff member per school), until 5pm Wednesday 31 May 2023. There are 10 $50 supermarket vouchers up for grabs.
The survey can be found here.
'Kiss & Go' Drop Off Area
A huge "Thank you" to all those who have supported the 'Kiss & Go' zone. This area is for whānau to pull in and drop off or pick up their children kerb side and then leave. We have noticed cars moving on more quickly which has freed up the space for drop offs, making Sandwich Road move more freely. A great help on a rainy day!
The area works best when it is just the children getting in or out of the car (on the kerb side). If whānau need to come into the school please park elsewhere on Sandwich Road or the surrounding streets.
Staff Profiles: Koru Team (so far this year!)
Elizabeth Drummond (Teacher and co-Team Leader)
Elizabeth has been teaching at Beckenham Te Kura for many, many years now and calls our school and its community her 'home away from home'! She has mainly taught at the New Entrant level and feels passionate about ensuring that the newest children to school, love coming to school as much as she does, knowing that when this is the case, all aspects of a child's learning are able to blossom and develop, without obstacles or impediments.
In her spare time, Elizabeth loves spending time with her family, her dogs, her friends, and good books.
Stacey McLachlan (Teacher and co-Team Leader)
Stacey has been a teacher for many years and joined Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto as a teacher in the New Entrants team in 2018. This year she is enjoying sharing the role of co-team leader with Elizabeth in Koru. Stacey loves welcoming and getting to know all the new entrant tamariki and their whānau to our Beckenham community each year. In her spare time, Stacey loves spending time with family and friends, going on walks, reading books and relaxing with her husband and two children.
Georgia McKenna (Teacher)
Georgia started at Beckenham in 2022, working in the New Entrants team, and supporting our newest tamariki in transitioning to school life. Georgia's favourite part about her job is seeing our youngest tamariki blossom into mature, independent and inquisitive human beings. She loves working in a team environment, and enjoys seeing tamariki strive for success, and encouraging them to be the best versions of themselves they can be.
Sonya Watson (Teaching Assistant)
Sonya is a past student of Beckenham School and grew up in the loop. Sonya has a strong background in women's mental health supporting mums, dad's, caregivers and families with postnatal distress/depression and anxiety for over 10 years in Canterbury. Sonya has a passion for wellbeing within families and has spent time educating many health professionals about mental health and the importance to listen and support effectively. Sonya brings experience after working at Ferndale base School before starting at Beckenham. The last couple of years in Kowhai and this year with our wonderful Koru children. Sonya enjoys camping with her husband Devon and 2 children Lily and Jack. As a family they spend a lot of time at basketball. Sonya also enjoys gardening, cooking and getting creative.
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| Elizabeth, Georgia, Sonya & Stacey |
PTA News
The PTA were very disappointed to have had to postpone the Disco that was supposed to be held today. We don't want to see an influx of Covid due to an event so it seemed the sensible decision to make. We also didn't have enough parents volunteer to help run the discos, so, even without the Covid factor, we may have still ended up having to postpone. Please keep an eye out for the new date, and, if you can offer to help at that time with supervision, your support will be very much appreciated!
Community Notices
(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)
