Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter, Rāpare (Thursday) 10 November 2022

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Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

I hope that you are all enjoying the long weekend. 

Attendance Matters

You will probably have heard a discussion on the news this past week about the declining school attendance rates of NZ students, both in the primary and secondary sectors. This conversation was prompted by the release of a report by the Education Review Office this week, and you can read the summary or the full report here.
Regular attendance (90% or more) at school is something that we want to see for all of our tamariki.

Please do look carefully at your child's attendance when you get their report next week. 'Regular attendance' is classed as being 90% or more. We know that there can be specific reasons why a child's attendance may drop from time to time including illness and, this year, Covid being very likely reasons. However, when average, yearly attendance drops below 90% year after year, this has a significant impact on your child's ability to access the education they deserve and are entitled to get.
  • If a student has an average of 90% attendance, over ten years they will miss a year of school.
  • If a student has an average of 80% attendance, over five years they will miss a year of school.
  • If a student has an average of 75% attendance, they are missing a term of school each year.
  • Being at school every day matters because of the sequential nature of learning, especially in literacy and numeracy.
  • By law, students must attend school.
  • One of the highest predictors of education success is attendance levels at school.
We know that every family wants their children to be successful in learning and in life. As whānau, you play a huge role in ensuring your child attends school regularly.  If you have concerns about your child's attendance, or would like to discuss ways that we can support you to improve your child's attendance, please make contact with your child's teacher and we will be happy to meet with you.

Upcoming Roadworks - closure of Sandwich Road...

From Tuesday 15 November the intersection of Sandwich Road and Norwood Street will be closed for roadworks. This is likely for the remainder of this term.

Vehicle entry into Sandwich Road, from Eastern Tce, will be for residents, school staff, and those with accessibility needs.

To help keep the traffic flowing as easily as possible at school drop-off and pick-up times, there will be two drop-and-go zones on Eastern Terrace, on either side of Sandwich Road. The map below also highlights other areas near the school that would make good drop-off places if you usually drive children to school where you could park and walk or, for older children, drop them off.

Pedestrian access will still be available from both ends of Sandwich Road.

We encourage whānau over the coming weeks to walk or bike to school as much as possible. Alternatively, park on Fisher or Martin Ave and walk to school.

Seipp Construction Ltd is aware of the changes this will have to morning and afternoon routines. To thank the school community for their patience and understanding they are providing a prize draw next week. Everyone who walks some or all of the way to school will receive a token to go into the draw for a prize. 

The following week Seipp Construction Ltd will be providing spot prizes to be given out at the school entrances to people who are walking, scootering or biking. 

Please see the map below and the attached information from Seipp Construction Ltd.


End-of-Year Reports

These are being proof-read at the moment and we expect to publish these through HERO this coming Friday, 18 November. 

Reminder - school closes at 1pm this Thursday 17 November

Our teachers are expected to attend a paid union meeting this coming week, along with all of the other teachers in Christchurch. Due to us having almost 100% union membership, finishing at 1m on Thursday 17th will allow them all to attend at the same time; the most workable option with releivers also attending the meetings. 

Year 7/8 students are on a trip that day - they will continue with that and return to school for the usual 3pm finish. The Y7/8 teachers have the option of attending another meeting. 

If you have a student in NE-Year 6 who:
  • needs to stay at school after 1pm on Thursday, OR 
  • is being collected by someone else, OR 
  • is going to BOSCO, OR
  • you give permission to travel home independently...
...please fill in this survey so that we know which children are not being collected by you. We will provide supervision for those who are staying at school until the usual pick-up time of 3pm. 

Whole School Picnic and Kapa Haka Performances Wed 30 Nov

On Wednesday 30 Nov, from 5pm, we invite you all to attend a school picnic which will then be followed by three kapa haka performances. (NB if the weather is wet, the picnic will be cancelled but the kapa haka performances will continue as outlined below)

Everyone is welcome to attend all of the kapa haka performances and, we have scheduled each group in it's own time slot, so that families can just attend the one that their child is in if that works better for them. We also know that our hall can't accommodate everyone if we run a single concert with all of the groups performing! Each groups' performance will run for approximately 20 mins

The timetable for evenng will be:

5pm onwards - Whānau Picnic in front of the Admin area and beside the hall. The Student Council will be runing some activities for children, using games that the PTA had made for the school fair 2 years ago!

 6pm - Year 3/4 Kapa Haka group performance

 6:30pm Year Y5/6 Kapa Haka group performance

7:00pm Te Whānau Mahi Tahi kapa haka performance

Ngā mihi nui
Sandy Hastings
Tumuaki (Principal)

Important Dates

Thu 17 Nov - School finishing early at 1pm (Union meetings)
Thu 17 Nov - BOT Meeting (5.30 - 7.30pm - Rūma Kaimahi/Staffroom)
Fri 18 Nov - Celebration Assembly (10 - 10.30am)
Fri 18 Nov - Student Council Dress Up Day (PJs or as a teacher)
Wed 23 Nov - PTA Meeting (7.30 - 9.30pm - Green Room)
Fri 25 Nov - Celebration Assembly (10 - 10.30am)
Wed 30 Nov - Whole School Picnic and Kapa Haka performances (see info above)
Fri 2 Dec - Celebration Assembly (10 - 10.30am)
Thu 8 Dec - BOT Meeting (5.30 - 7.50pm - Rūma Kaimahi/Staffroom)
Fri 9 Dec - Final Celebration Assembly (9.45 - 10.30am)
Wed 14 Dec - Year 8 Leavers Graduation - 11am-12noon, followed by Leavers' Lunch
Thu 15 Dec - Last day of Term 4 - School closes at 12:30pm

Term Dates

Citizen of the Week

Oliver Breitmeyer - Year 6

Ollie, your passion for challenge and being extended both in your learning and through your sporting endeavours, demonstrates the growth mindset that you have. You bring enthusiasm and positivity to all that you do and are a role model in every sense, this makes a positive difference in Pōhutukawa hub. Kia kaha tō mahi, Ollie.

School Notices

Year 5-8 BYOD Programme - looking ahead to 2023

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto has an optional Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programme for students in Years 5-8. This programme is very popular and has been in operation since 2014. 

If you want to find out more about our BYOD programme, please watch the video on our BYOD website. If you have any questions, please view our Frequently Asked Questions page, email your child’s homegroup teacher or email Nick, our ICT lead teacher.

If you choose to get a device for your child, we generally recommend that it is a Chromebook. You can see our standard BYOD offering from PB Tech here. All models on the linked page are suitable for learning. It is also fine to get a device from another supplier if you prefer. If you choose to use PB Tech, please use “beckenham” as the promo code to get a discount.

BOSCO

BOSCO will be opening early on Thursday the 17th of November, as school finishes at 1pm due to a Teacher's Union Meeting. To book in please click here: https://bosco.aimyplus.com/Account/Login

Headlice & Treatment


Outbreaks of headlice are common in children in schools everywhere. They infest people of all socio-economic positions and age groups! Many infestations cause no symptoms and ony about 50% cause itching so you do have to look closely at the hair and scalp to see if lice are present.
This website from South Australia has some useful information on head lice and treatment without using pharmcy treatments.

Treatment for nits can be purchased at the Chemist or done by some hairdressers. We appreciate there is a cost associated with this. It is our understanding that you can get free scripts for children, for this treatment through your GP. Please contact your local GP practice to enquire.

A parent has also shared a homemade lice treatment recipe that they have used, below. The key is using a very fine tooth comb to ensuring that all eggs and live lice have been removed:

COVID is back within our community again

Please be aware that we have had multiple cases of COVID within the school in the past weeks. Please be vigilant about testing for COVID if you or anyone in your household is unwell. A number of children with COVID recently have initially presented with vomitting. 

Currently, only those people who have tested positive with COVID are required to self-isolate for 7 days. You are a household contact if you live with, or have spent more than 8 hours with, someone who tests positive for COVID-19. You should test daily for 5 days with a rapid antigen test (RAT). You do not need to isolate unless you test positive.

Dress Up Day - this coming Friday!

On Friday the 18th of November the student council will be holding a pyjama day and "teacher student clothing swap" dress-up day. A T.S.S PJ day. Whether the students want to go all out with wigs and dresses to be dressed up as a teacher from our kura or just laze around in their pajamas, there will be room for all styles. A gold coin donation will be appreicated! Have some fun!

From the Student Council

Helplines:

1737 - free text and phone counselling 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

PTA News

Our PTA fundraiser this term is selling a range of Goodies for Christmas, some new and some old favourites! There is a very short time frame on this fundraiser.  Orders close 6pm, Sunday the 13th of November 2022. 

The link for the online order form is below, there will not be any paper order forms this time.  


Pick up will be from the PTA stall outside the hall after school from 6 December and will be advertised on Hero and the PTA Facebook page.

The 3 Product ranges available are:
  • Cured Salamis
    - Venison
    - Garlic 
    - Pepperoni
    - Spicy 

    One size, 4 flavors + Biersticks, all $20 each
    All Salamis and biersticks are Gluten, Dairy and MSG free.  Find out more at www.cured.nz
  • Panfortes from Pilgrim
    - 250g Panforte $20
    - 1kg Panforte $60

    Panforte is an Italian Christmas fruitcake.  Packed with walnuts, almonds, figs, mixed peel and spices.  Bought to you by Pilgrim, a business owned by a school whānau. For more information visit https://pilgrim.net.nz/



  • Fix and Fogg Peanut Butter
    - 375g Smooth Peanut Butter
    - 375g Super Crunchy Peanut Butter
    - 275g Everything Butter
    - 275g Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter

      All jars are $8.00 each.
Thank you for supporting 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.)


From Bellies, Babies to Tweens market is for families to buy and sell pre-loved maternity, baby, kids & tweens (up to 13yrs) items all in one place. Families coming to buy can score huge savings on items needed for growing babies and kids, while families selling can earn a bit of extra cash. Families buying or selling are also doing their bit for the environment by recycling these items rather than letting them go to landfill.

Market Day: Sunday 27th November 9am-12noon at Pioneer Stadium.
Follow us on Facebook & Instagram or email fbbtmarket@gmail.com

See our website https://www.elementsnature.co.nz/  or facebook page
Bookings are through https://elements.aimyplus.com
For more info email elementsprogrammes@gmail.com

Schools Out (x1)

Yay, that is school finished for the year.  Time to pop around to the farm and play (shhh, they are still learning!).  Plenty of time, space and resources for children to use their imagination and explore.  Active and creative children and bound to be some water play!
  • Fri 16th Dec  5yrs-13yrs, 9am – 3pm, Cashmere Farm, $70 including afternoon tea
Santa’s Workshop (x3)

Join Elements for Christmas-themed team challenges, crafts & snacks down on the farm. As well as free time to make huts, engage in water & mud play and more. This site has an awesome stream!! A beautiful way to ease into the summer holidays! There will be some group gaming but also other periods for free play across the space with Elements resources.
  • Mon 19th – Wed 21st Dec 5yrs-13yrs, 9am – 3pm, Cashmere Farm, $70 including afternoon tea (10% when booking all 3 days)
Posted in Weekly Newsletters.