Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter Rāmere (Friday) 10 February 2023

Posted on by

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

We are all getting back into the rhythm of school again. With two short weeks now behind us, we can see lots of great routines being established by tamariki (children), whānau (families), and kaiamahi (staff) around getting to school, being at school, and managing a Monday-Friday school pattern again.

Being in a 'House' at our school...

We have four Houses at Beckenham, and each child is put into a House when they start at school. Children who are part of the same family are put into the same house, and they usually stay in that house for all the years they are at Beckenham. All of our new students have now been allocated a House. If you are not sure which house your child is in, please contact Jacky or Reihana at the office.

House Shirts: Fisher, Waimea, Heathcote and Tennyson

We have a House Shirt as an optional part of our school uniform. The House shirt can be worn every Friday, and on days when there are going to be House activities such as 'House Games', Athletic Sports, Cross Country etc. On other days, regular, red school tops should be worn. House shirts are able to be purchased through the office for $25 each.

Each house has four senior students who lead the house - two House Captains and two Deputy House Captains. During the year, we have different events where children compete or participate in activities in Houses. The House Captains and Deputies often run these events. At our Celebration Assembly this week, our House Captains and Deputies were introduced.

Early Finish on Thursday 2nd March - please fill in the survey link below

As you may be aware, the teachers' union, NZEI, are still in negotiations with the Ministry of Education around a new collective agreement. There is going to be a paid union meeting that all union members are expected to attend, on the afternoon of Thursday 2nd March. As the vast majority of our teachers belong to the union, we need to stop classes at 1pm on this day.
If you are NOT able to arrange for your children to be collected at 1pm on Thursday 2nd March, we will arrange supervision here at school. If your child normally attends BOSCO on a Thursday, we will make sure they get to BOSCO as usual.

EVERY FAMILY needs to fill in this survey, please, to let us know what your plan is for this day so that we know where every child is going to be at 1pm, and we can plan adequate supervision for those who need to stay at school.

Laura and Baby Max

Congratulations to Laura Williamson and her partner Steve on the birth of baby Max at the end of November last year. Some of our staff and students had the pleasure of meeting Max when Laura popped into school for morning tea last week.

2023 Whānau feedback on reporting through Hero



During 2022 student reports were provided to whānau through Hero. As this is a new process for our school community, we would appreciate your feedback as we look for ways to improve the experience.

We would appreciate it if you would be able to take a few minutes to complete this survey (click here).

If you are new to Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto in 2023 there is no need to complete the survey.

Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki (Principal)

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Term 1

Wed 22 Feb - PTA Meeting; All Welcome (7:30 – 9:30pm in The Green Room)
Thu 23 Feb - BOT Meeting (5.30-7.30pm- Staffroom)
Fri 24 Feb - Celebration Assembly (10.00 - 10.30am in the Hall)
Mon 27 Feb - Year 5-8 Swimming Sports - Wharenui Pool 12:30-2:30pm
Thu 2 Mar - School Closes at 1pm for Teachers to attend Paid Union Meetings
Mon 6 - 10 Mar - Walk or Wheel to School week
Mon 6-Fri 10 Mar - Year 7/8 Camp - Wainui
Fri 10 Mar - South Zone Swimming Sports (Y5-8), Wharenui Pool
Wed 22 Mar - PTA Meeting - All Welcome (7:30 – 9:30pm in The Green Room)
Thu 6 Apr - Last day of Term 1
Fri 7 Apr -  School Holidays begin (School closed)

Term 2

Mon 24 Apr - Staff Only Day (School closed)
Tue 25 Apr - ANZAC Day (School closed)
Wed 26 Apr - First day of Term 2
Mon 1 - Wed 3 May - Year 5/6 Camp - Living Springs
Mon 5 Jun - King's Birthday (School closed)
Fri 30 Jun - Last day of Term 2

Term Dates

Citizen of the Week

Amelia Soppit  - Year 4

Amelia, you are an exemplary role model in the Kōwhai hub. You put every effort into your learning and show great persistence even when you are finding it tricky. You are such a kind, thoughtful and loyal friend too, and an amazing helper, be it helping others with their learning or helping to keep the hub tidy and clean. What an amazing Beckenham citizen you are!

School Notices

Temporary Road Closure Tennyson Street 15/02/2023 for 6 weeks until 3/04/2023 

On Wednesday 15th February 2023 Tennyson Street will be closed for approx. 6 weeks to all traffic between Norwood Street and Southampton Street as shown in the image below.


Note - this is AS WELL as the existing road closures on Birdwood Avenue and Eastern Terrace.

This is required to undertake new water trunk main works for Christchurch City Council.

There will be large disruptions to traffic during peak times and it is advised that you allow more time for travel and planning.

For updates as works progress please visit the SEIPP Facebook page


For cyclists using this road, it is requested that cyclists dismount in this area, and walk along the footpath past the work site. Whānau, please ensure you discuss this with your tamariki if they are biking or scootering to school and may be impacted by this closure.

Accessible Staff Car park and Accessible parking

We have one accessible car park in the staff car parking area.  We have at least 3 different whānau who need to use this park at various times during the school day.  We need to have this space left available for those who need to use it please.

The only vehicles that should be entering the staff car-parking area are Ferndale vehicles, Staff, and whānau eligible to use the accessible car park. Please be considerate by not using or entering this car park or driveway. In addition to this, please ensure you do not drop your children off or walk your children through the Staff car park as this is very unsafe. Please teach them to use the footpath and surrounding gates to get to their classes. This includes before and after school and helps us keep everyone safe!"

We appreciate there are so many factors that can make school drop-offs harder - road works, delays, running late, and even just getting out the door with tamariki some days! With all of this considered, please try to consider the added and unnecessary level of difficulty we shift onto someone else when we make a quick decision, that may seem harmless at first - such as parking in the accessible car parking spot. These exist for a reason, for when there is a genuine need. 

Please be kind and considerate to each other - and don't forget the "Kiss & Drop Zone" on Sandwich Rd is a 3-minute parking area perfect for quick drop off before 8.55!

Please use the Crossing on Sandwich Road at ALL times

When you cross with your child at another part of Sandwich Road, you are teaching them that it is safe to cross anywhere. Please get into the habit of ALWAYS using the crossing area, even if there are no patrollers on duty. Cars are more likely to slow and watch out for children at this point of the road.

Cell phones and Smart Watches

If a child needs to bring a cellphone to school for any reason, it needs to always be handed in at the office (Year 1-6) or in the hub (Y7/8) at the start of each day. The cellphone can then be collected again at 3pm. Cellphones should never be left in children's bags or used by children during the school day.


We have had a number of queries this week from whānau about Smart Watches. We are aware that the availability of these is increasing and that children may have been given one to wear to school. Because Smart Watches have the ability to be ‘connected devices’ they come under our cybersafety guidelines. Whilst some of you may not have activated the ‘connected’ features of your child’s Smart Watch, teachers are not able to make individual dispensations for these devices. We prefer that these devices stay at home, however, if you need your child to bring them to school so that you can contact them after school then, like cell phones, they need to be handed into the office at the start of each day, and collected at 3pm. 

Thank you for your understanding and support in this matter.

Chewies

All humans have sensory needs that we regulate throughout the day. A great way for children to gain the feedback they need is via the oral/motor sensory system. If your child tends to chew/suck on clothing, fingers, ends of pencils etc, or if your child tends to lack concentration or becomes restless in the day, a chewy could be a great sensory tool. Chewies are mobile, they are fun, and child friendly, and can help organize, calm, soothe, and regulate their sensory systems. We have a stock of chewies at the Office and are selling them for $8.00 each. 

Sports News

Swimming Sports

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Swimming Sports is being held at Wharenui Pool on Monday 27th February (Week 5). This is an optional event open to children in Years 5 to 8.
Races are held for freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. For each stroke, there will be a 25m and 50m event. 

To take part, students must be confident and competent swimmers for the stroke and distance they enter. 

Students who enter the 50m events will be eligible to be considered for zones. The zones swimming sports clashes with the Y7/8 camp at Wainui this year. If your child qualifies for zones and they want to attend they will need an adult to collect them from Wainui camp.

We will need some parent helpers for this event to take place.
If you have any questions or are able to come as a parent help please email: sarah.junghenn@beckenham.school.nz

Community Notices

(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)

Community Reo Classes for Beginners 

Coding NZ


Census 2023.

Census Day will be Tuesday 7 March 2023. The census is a nationwide survey that happens every five years. Every person who is in the country on the night of Tuesday 7 March 2023 will need to do the census. 

By taking part in the census, you help create a better understanding of your community and what it needs. People’s responses are combined to produce statistics that provide a picture of life in Aotearoa New Zealand and how it is changing. Your identity is kept private and confidential.

Census data is incredibly useful to schools like ours. Iwi, community groups, local and central government, and businesses use this census information to make decisions about funding and providing services that affect you, your whānau, and our community. 

Stats NZ is doing some things differently for the 2023 Census.
There will be more census collectors and more assistance for people who want help filling out their census forms. You will have more choice about how you take part too. You will be able to fill out census forms either online or on paper, and there will be more alternate formats to support disabled people. 

Stats NZ will deliver instructions about how to do the 2023 Census to every place where people live or stay. Look out for these instructions from February 2023. To learn more about the 2023 Census, visit www.census.govt.nz

Posted in Weekly Newsletters.