Principal's Patch
Kia ora and Assalam alaykum
Last week, during one of our Staff Only Days, our staff and one of our board members were extremely fortunate to participate in some professional development designed to increase our understanding of Islam so that we can better support our Muslim ākonga (learners) and their whānau. Alongside the session at school, our staff also had the opportunity to visit the Al Noor Mosque. Being culturally competent is an important part of our work, and when we participate in any new learning, we always seek to find broader principles of understanding, including how having faith of any kind can be an important pillar of whānau values.
This morning we welcomed all of our new tamariki and their whānau to our school with our start-of-term Welcome Assembly.
This would have to have been one of the biggest groups we have welcomed for a long time, with the broadest range of cultural diversity in its make-up. This was evidenced by the 17 flags that were brought in to represent the different cultural backgrounds of our new whānau. We feel incredibly lucky to be able to welcome and be part of such a diverse community.
Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki (Principal)
Important Dates
Upcoming Events
Term 1
Mon 6 Feb - Waitangi Day (Kura Closed)
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 6 - 10 Mar - Walk or Wheel to School week
Mon 6-Fri 10 Mar - Year 7/8 Camp - Wainui
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 (Kura closed)
Term 2
Mon 24 Apr - Staff Only Day (Kura closed)
Tue 25 Apr - ANZAC Day (Kura closed)
Wed 26 Apr - First day of Term 2
Mon 1 - Wed 3 May - Year 5/6 Camp - Living Springs
Term Dates
School Notices
School Donations and Hardship Funds
Towards the latter part of next week, you will see a request for a school donation appear on your HERO account. Each year we request a donation per child of $150. Apart from Camps, we do not ask for any other funding to support the running of the school. We know that for some families, this is something that they like to contribute to, but can't manage to make the full payment. Some families pay a small amount per week or fortnight, whilst others like to pay in small installments, or in full. Whatever you are able to manage, we appreciate very much.
Hardship Fund contributions
We also know that sometimes families, and others in our community, would like to contribute towards the costs for students whose families might be experiencing some hardship, and are not able to readily fund uniform, stationery or even lunches. To that end, we have set up a hardship account. If you, or anyone you know, would like to make a contribution to our hardship account, please let Rachel Higginson know by emailing accounts@beckenham.school.nz, or by simply depositing funds into the school a/c with the reference "Hardship donation". We will ensure that these funds are used to support those families who need support.
Getting support from our Hardship Fund
If you are a family who would appreciate some support with uniform, stationery or food, please also contact Rachel and we will do the best we can to support you. We want to ensure that all of our tamariki have everything they need to succeed at school.
Waitangi Day - Monday 6 February
Kura (school) is closed this Monday the 6th of February for Waitangi Day.
Waitangi Day is an important part of Aotearoa / New Zealand’s past, present, and future... but often we don't know how it really affects us, except for a public holiday!
Waitangi Day is an important part of Aotearoa / New Zealand’s past, present, and future... but often we don't know how it really affects us, except for a public holiday!
Here is a fantastic resource made for both adults and young people which gives a rich insight into Waitangi Day, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and The Treaty of Waitangi in a very friendly yet informative way.
We invite you, and your whānau to take a look at this comic-style storybook or listen to the audiobook together. This is a great way to engage in more learning and create space for curiosity to grow.
Link to the storybook resource here
We invite you, and your whānau to take a look at this comic-style storybook or listen to the audiobook together. This is a great way to engage in more learning and create space for curiosity to grow.
Link to the storybook resource here
"Ka mua, ka muri" is a whakataukī that many will know means "walking backwards into the future" - the idea of this is that we should look to the past to inform the future.
Once you have looked through this resource, if you have any pātai (questions), please feel free to share these with us. We are all on our own journey, but as our school values state, "We Get There Together", and "We Love Challenge". We know that reflecting on our history is a chance for us to sit with and live these values, to help us as individuals on our own journey, but also to strengthen the communities that we live in. Your questions and curiosity are welcome! Kōrero mai.
Food Allergy Guidelines
Across our kura, we have a number of children with different food allergies.
To support the well-being of these students we have the following guidelines in place which we ask you to follow:
- Students with severe food allergies should only eat lunches and snacks that have been provided by their caregivers. Bottles, other drinks, and lunch boxes provided by caregivers should be clearly labeled with the name of their child. Home group teachers and caregivers will decide where the children’s bottles and lunch boxes will be kept during the day to ensure no cross-contamination occurs.
- Parents are asked not to bring food into school to be shared with other children. Whilst we understand that there are times you want to celebrate special events for your children with their friends at school, e.g. birthdays or being awarded prizes, by bringing food and treats for them to share, we have a policy of children only eating the food that their whānau have prepared and sent with them. We have a number of students with food allergies and also need to respect the wishes of some families who want to monitor what their children are eating and prefer their children just to eat the food they have prepared. From time to time, there may be an event that teachers have organized that will involve food (cultural or learning activities) and they will have advised families in advance that this will be happening.
At the beginning of each year, caregivers will check the expiry dates on any medication to be held at school.
- On the first day of school, caregivers will bring their child’s medication to the school office where it will be stored in the Hauora Room. Caregivers will sign a medicine authority form (School Docs Username: beckenham Password: pride). The responsibility of monitoring the expiry dates of medications rests with the parent.
- Caregivers may be asked to come and talk to staff about their child and ways we can support them at school.
- Bottles, other drinks, and lunch boxes provided by caregivers, should be clearly labeled by the caregiver, with the name of the child.
- We will inform you during the year if specific guidelines for your child’s hub change.
Our full allergy policy and guidelines are available on the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto website under “Information - Policies - SchoolDocs” then search ‘allergy’. (linked here)
If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them in the first instance with your child’s point of contact teacher.
Lucky Book Club
The first Lucky Book Club for 2023 is out now. Your tamariki will be able to have a look at this with their teacher. Scholastic has provided one for each hub, in a new newspaper style, which is far more environmentally friendly. You can see the full range yourself, and place orders online, by visiting the link below and following the instructions.
Ukulele, Guitar & Bass guitar tuition at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto for 2023
Roger Hamilton - Tutor
Roger has been teaching these instruments at Beckenham as well as privately in Hoon Hay for 17 years.
He taught Primary school level earlier in his career as well as working at Glenelg Health Camp, now called “Stand” in child leadership and Field Worker roles for 14 years.
His musical background extends to learning Ukulele from age 8 and going on to the piano for 5 years learning and then on to guitar and bass guitar. He sang in numerous stage musicals and choirs including the National Youth Choir in his youth! He sings in his teaching and encourages his students to do so also if they wish.
To find out more, and to get in touch:
Email: rbhamilt@gmail.com
Cell: 027 3070466 / 03 9424619
CSM Band Lessons for 2023
Students from Years 4-8 have the opportunity to learn to play a band instrument (Flute, Clarinet, Trombone, Trumpet, French Horn, Bass guitar, Percussion) at Beckenham, through the Christchurch School of Music (CSM) Outreach Band Programme.
This coming Wednesday, from 2:40pm in front of the hall, Jody and Matt (tutors) will be busking/demonstrating outside the hall and then from 3pm they will be running a 'blow test' in the hall. This is an opportunity for you to bring your child in to try out an instrument, and to talk with Jody and Matt about the programme and how it might work for your child.
There was an information slideshow sent out yesterday to parents of students from Years 4-8.
Please note that Community Services Card holders qualify for approximately 50% discount on the cost of lessons.
Lessons and Bands will start in Week 3 from Monday 13 February.
Jody Keehan - CSM Outreach Band Co-ordinator
outreachband@csm.org.nz
Accessible (& Staff) Car Park
We have one accessible car park in the staff car parking area. At this stage, we have at least 3 different whānau who will be using this at various times during the school day. We do not want other people parking in this space. The only people who should be using this car parking area are Staff, and whānau eligible to use the accessible car park. Please be considerate by not using or entering this carpark or driveway. In addition to this, please ensure you do not walk your children through the Staff car park. 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!
Lunch Orders
At Beckenham, we have lunch orders available to be purchased each day, by two different providers. Please click this link to go to our web page which gives you all of the information on how to order, and what is available each day.
Our two providers are 'Lunch online', and 'Sushi Meets Dumplings'.
A note from Lunch Online:
Our two providers are 'Lunch online', and 'Sushi Meets Dumplings'.
A note from Lunch Online:
Please can you update your child’s details by clicking "members" and changing their classroom name and school (otherwise their lunches will end up in the wrong location).
Congratulations
...to the following Beckenham students who were in Year 8 last year, who have been confirmed as Scholarship Winners at Cashmere High this year:
Year 9 Leadership Scholarship: Quinn Clarke and Zoe Winsor
Year 9 Sports Scholarship: Lola Harris
Year 9 Academic Scholarship: Fergus Macdonald & Quinn Clarke
Our students made up five of the total of ten Year 9 scholarship winners. We acknowledge their success and wish them, and all of our 2022 Year 8 students who have started high school this week all the best with the year ahead.
PTA News
Thank you to the school community for your wonderful support through 2022. We just a few messages to begin 2023 with:Weetbix Tryathalon
A school group has been set up for the Weetbix Tryathalon.
Click the link to register. We will have a gazebo and a sausage sizzle going to support our wee athletes on the day. There are prizes for the school with the most participants, so do register with the school group if you are coming! We can't let St Martin's outnumber us again!
Volunteers
The uniform room is back this year thanks to some awesome new volunteers! We have new opening days this year. We would absolutely love some more help (& uniform donations!).
If you have a little bit of availability to help now and then, please do let us know on the PTA Facebook page, or email, pta@beckenham.school.nz
Term 1 2023 Uniform Shop Opening times
Tuesday afternoon 2.45 to 3.15pm
Friday morning 8.45 to 9.15am
We hope you have had a wonderful summer in the sun with your lovely tamariki.
Nā (from)
The Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto PTA
The Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto PTA
Community Notices
(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)
Community Helplines
1737 - free text and phone counseling 24/7
Youthline – 0800 376 633 or free text 234
Depression Helpline – 0800 111 757 or free text 4202
Anxiety New Zealand - 0800 269 4389
What's Up – 0800 942 8787 (5–18-year-olds).
thelowdown.co.nz –or email team@thelowdown.co.nz or free text 5626
Girls' Choir Ōtautahi
Boys' Brigade
Are you looking for an action-packed programme for your boy? If so, we have is an action-packed programme geared for Young Kiwi Men.
Boys’ Brigade 14th Christchurch is a fun-filled Christian based programme for boys aged 5-18 yrs old. We operate in three sections, Anchor 5-7 years, Adventure Section 8-10 years, and Delta Section 11-18 years old. Activities include Crafts, games, camps, outdoor pursuits, leadership training, life skills and lots more. We meet on a Friday night at Beckenham Methodist Church Hall, 52 Martin Ave, Beckenham. New members are welcome any time, for more info visit our website for more www.14thbb.org.nz
Interested contact Stephen Gregory Ph/Txt: 027 4371565, email: admin@14thbb.org.nz
Rams School
.jpg)
Registration link: https://canterburyrams.basketball/shop/bb-school/
Pouākai School
.jpg)
Registration link: https://pouakai.basketball/product/pouakai-bb-school/
Tall Blacks game
We are excited to be hosting the Tall Blacks vs Saudi Arabia world cup qualifying game at Christchurch arena on the 24th of February. The Tall Blacks have not played a game in Christchurch since 2018 so this is a great opportunity for you to see the team before they head off to the World Cup later on this year. Tickets starting as low as $20 book yours today.
Studio One Performing Arts
Your local dance school is currently giving Ballet (R.A.D.), Jazz, and Contemporary (A.P.D.A) 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 starting from age 7, and Contemporary starting from age 11. For all enquiries please phone 0220344342 or email info@studioone.co.nz
Kids Boxing Classes
Kids Boxing Classes, run at F45 Ferrymead. Every Tuesday from 4pm until 5pm.
Accessible Youth Theatre Programme starts Term 1
Glass Ceiling Arts Collective’s Accessible Youth Theatre programme starting Term 1 in Christchurch, at Showbiz Studios on St Asaph Street. Our supported program enables young Disabled people equal access to Youth Theatre alongside their non disabled peers and members of their whanau. The programme is co-designed by the participants ensuring we deliver what the group wants and needs. It could be a full-scale Musical Theatre production like Shrek Jr in a big theatre or a short film for a World renowned Film Festival….the opportunities are endless. For more information and to register please see our website www.glassceilingartscollective.com or email christchurch@glassceilingartscollective.com
