Principal's Patch
Kia ora koutou
The recent rain that caused so much flooding and damage to Mid and North Canterbury areas also had the potential to cause flooding in our Beckenham part of the world too. However, it would seem that the work that has been done over the past few years on improving the river has paid dividends. It was quite extraordinary to experience that much rainfall, and to see the Ōpāwaho stay largely within its banks around the loop. We at school were very grateful for that, as no doubt many local homeowners were too.
Some of our Year 5/6 students put together a 'thank you' video which has been sent to the Council...
Celebrating PRIDE week
This week has been PRIDE week in New Zealand Schools. It has been interesting seeing the growing interest in this conversation at a primary school level across New Zealand. I believe that this demonstrates our growing understanding of the critical importance of being inclusive and valuing diversity, rather than merely tolerating it, or worse, fearing or condemning it.
Celebrating Pride in Every School
Whakanuia te uenuku ki ia kura
Supporting rainbow young people and their whānau to have a sense of belonging in their schools and communities.
Thanks to Anne Chin and the Diversity group for the fabulous displays in the library to support Pride week.
Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki - Principal
Important Dates
Upcoming Events
Week 8:
Tue 22 Jun - Structured Literacy Parent Seminar (7-8pm)
Wed 23 Jun - Canterbury Cross Country (Halswell Quarry 9am-2pm)
Wed 23 Jun - PTA Meeting (7.30 - 9.30pm)
Thu 24 Jun - South Zone Winter Sport
Thu 24 Jun - Structured Literacy - Parent Seminar (9-10am)
Thu 24 Jun - Board of Trustee's meeting (5.30 - 7.30pm)
Fri 25 Jun - Celebration Assembly (12.00-12.30pm)
Fri 25 Jun - PTA Sausage Sizzle (1:20pm)
Week 9:
Mon 28 Jun - Winter Tournament (Hagley Park North)
Tue 29 Jun - Year 0-4 Cross Country Challenge (Hillview Christian School, 12-3pm)
Wed 30 Jun - Whānau Rōpū Hui and Hangi (5-7pm)
Thu 1 Jul - Postponement date for 0-4 Cross Country Challenge
Thu 1 Jul - South Zone Winter Sport
Week 10:
Thu 8 Jul - South Zone Winter Sport
Fri 9 Jul - Celebration Assembly & Band Concert (11:50am -12:40pm)
Fri 9 Jul - Last Day of Term
Fri 9 Jul - Celebration Assembly & Band Concert (11:50am -12:40pm)
Fri 9 Jul - Last Day of Term
Term Dates
Click here to view 2021 term dates.Citizen of the Week
Charlie Price - Year 6
Charlie, it is always heartening to see that you show the "We care' and "We get there together' values by giving help to others, often without being asked. You are always in the right place at the right time and are a role model in this area. The effort you put into your learning shows a great desire to always be and do the best you can. Kia ora mo to mahi!School Notices
Teachers Paid Union Meetings - Next Thursday 24th June
Next Thursday all of our teachers who are union members (almost 100%) will be attending one of two paid union meetings that are being held (conveniently for us) in our school hall. The first meeting is at 10am and the second will be at 2pm. This means that we have booked a number of relievers for that day to release the teachers for one of the two meetings.
As the meetings will also be attracting many teachers from other schools in the area, car-parking in the afternoon is likely to be very hard to find.
Structured Literacy Parent evening
We are very pleased to have Caroline Morritt, our Resource Teacher of Literacy working in our school over the next two weeks. Caroline is going to run parent sessions around Structured Literacy over this time.
Structured Literacy Parent sessions:
Tuesday 22 June - 7:00 – 8:00pm
Tuesday 22 June - 7:00 – 8:00pm
Thursday 24 June - 9:00 – 10:00am
Access To Period Products Initiative
The access to period products initiative aims to provide free period products to children and young people in all state schools and kura across New Zealand during 2021.
Access to period products is a necessity, not a luxury. The need to access period products exists for every young person who experiences menstruation including young women, girls, transgender, and gender diverse youth, in ways that meet diverse needs and cultural perspectives.
If you have a young person who is in Year 5/6 or Year 7/8 who experiences menstruation, we would appreciate you getting together with them and taking the time to complete this form.
More information to come.
Access to period products is a necessity, not a luxury. The need to access period products exists for every young person who experiences menstruation including young women, girls, transgender, and gender diverse youth, in ways that meet diverse needs and cultural perspectives.
If you have a young person who is in Year 5/6 or Year 7/8 who experiences menstruation, we would appreciate you getting together with them and taking the time to complete this form.
More information to come.
Whānau Rōpū Hui and Hangi
We would like to welcome you to our first Whānau Rōpū hui of 2021. The hui will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. on Wednesday, 30th June, in the Kōwhai Hub.
Nau mai haere mai! Come along, get to know other tamariki and whānau, enjoy some kai, and get involved in this important aspect of our kura. Come to the staff room first and get a cup of tea to bring over to the Kōwhai hub if you would like. The hui will coincide with Matariki, a time of renewal and celebration in Aotearoa New Zealand. We are going to come together to connect, celebrate and learn. All welcome, for more information please click here.
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.
Guinea Pigs in the Library
Our furry friends were being well looked after in the library, by our kind and caring students. They were well educated on all things Minecraft - and provided with a little kai (food) too.
Literacy Learning and Dyslexia
“Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.”
Ashraf Samsudin, spoke at the Sounds-Write Symposium in June 2021, delivering a webinar called
‘Dyslexia, Working Memory and Literacy’. He discussed what dyslexia is, working memory and dyslexia, and simple strategies for effective literacy learning.
Ashraf stressed that in order for a person with dyslexia to learn literacy effectively, there are certain criteria that need to be met in their reading and writing instruction. These include:
-explicit and systematic instruction in phonemic awareness
-phonics instruction that is systematic and sequential
-oral reading that is supported with specific, consistent error correction and feedback to aid fluency
-repetition/ repeated exposure
-explicit instruction in vocabulary, reading comprehension, spelling and writing
These areas are illustrated in Scarborough’s Rope (pictured on our science of reading page).
Structured literacy is a term to describe evidence-based approaches to reading and writing instruction. Our structured literacy programme at Beckenham Te Kura ō Puroto, addresses the areas mentioned above, and is crucial for learners with dyslexia. This programme is also beneficial for all other literacy learners, as you can see on The Ladder of Reading infographic. Following a specific scope and sequence helps to ensure our tamariki don’t have gaps in their reading and spelling knowledge, and helps us create a solid foundation to continue to build upon.
We have had an exciting and busy structured literacy journey so far and are continuing to develop our skills and knowledge!
Mā tātou katoa te waka e hoe, we are all rowing this waka together.
Speaking 4 the Planet...
... is an art based competition for students to address sustainability issues creatively.
The live event was held last Friday at Tūranga. The theme of Ecosystem Restoration was explored through prepared speeches.
Zoe placed second and Cleo was highly commended in the Year 7/8 category.
Zoe placed second and Cleo was highly commended in the Year 7/8 category.
Otis placed second overall for his visual art submission in the Year 7/8 category.
The consideration and application of the theme was acknowledged in the success of these students.
Congratulations!
Staff Profiles
Congratulations to...
...the students from Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto and their families who came out to Ilam to warm our hearts with their music on the 12th of June.
Samson N, Bonnie H and Lillie N played confidently on a big black grand piano. Tahere T played the guitar and sang.
Thank you to all the families for joining us and supporting the Modern school of Music concert.
Regards Margot
PTA News
Mid Winter Breakfast
Thank you to the parents, teachers and the student council who helped out with the Mid Winter Breakfast this morning.
It was wonderful to see our Tamariki in their snuggly PJ's while enjoying a yummy warm bowl of porridge.
We collected a huge amount of cans which have been donated to the Christchurch City Mission.
Midwinter Breakfast!
Sausage Sizzle
The PTA will be holding a sausage sizzle at lunchtime on Friday the 25th of June.
Sausages will be $2 – children who want a delicious hot sausage in bread for lunch can order and pay at the flagpole in the morning before school on that Friday.
Community Notices
(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)
Camp Wondergirl is an organisation that inspires, empowers and educates girls ages 8-12 to explore mindfulness, embrace uniqueness, and express their superpowers. Our mission is to make sure every girl knows she is a Wondergirl - powerful, loving, and unique. We offer the tools, support, and community girls need to grow their superpowers so they can flourish into the Wonder Women they are destined to be!
Our signature 5 Day Leadership Programme, Project Wondergirl, runs every School Holidays in Christchurch and the next one is on 19-23 July. Project Wondergirl is a one-of-a-kind, transformative experience for girls to rise up as a leader by expressing themselves fully to make a difference. The girls discover their unique Superpowers and work as a Superhero Squad to create a Video Project that will empower girls all over the world. Activities include Yoga, Meditation & Breathing, Friendship Games, Creative Art Projects, Wondergirl Costume Making and so much more.
Parent to Parent
StarJam Community Disco
