Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter Wednesday 19th December 2018

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

This will be our final newsletter of 2018. Another very busy year is almost over. Today we farewelled our Year 8 leavers with their graduation assembly. It was a wonderful celebration of their achievements and successes at Beckenham over the past years. Some have only been with us from part way through this year, through to others who started as far back as 8 1/2 years ago. We wish them all the very best as they head off to high school in 2019.

Staffing update

In our 23rd November newsletter, we noted that we had decided to restructure our leadership team and were advertising for a second deputy principal. In the last newsletter, we advised that Michelle Maule, our current Deputy (on secondment to the Ministry) has won another leadership position. This left us with two Deputy Principal positions to fill.

We were fortunate to have an excellent field of candidates and are very pleased to have been able to fill both positions, ready for the start of 2019.

Sue Leadbetter (who has been the Acting Deputy Principal this year) has won one of these positions. We are delighted that she will be able to continue the wonderful work that she has been doing this year.

Sue Leadbetter

We are also pleased to announce that Nigel Easson (past principal of Kaikoura School) will be joining us as our other Deputy Principal. Nigel and his family will be moving to Christchurch over the holidays.

Nigel Easson

As some of you will have worked out, Sue being appointed to Deputy Principal leaves us with a teacher and team leader position vacant in our New Entrant / Year 1 area. We are very pleased to have Jo Smith taking up the role of Acting Team Leader for the Koru Team for 2019. Jo has been working in our New Entrant team this year, and also in 2016, and she brings previous leadership experience to this role, and to our Leadership Team.


So - to clarify, here are the teams (with the home group teachers) again for 2019:

Koru (New Entrants and Year 1)
Jo Smith (Team Leader)
Stacey McLachlan & Elizabeth Drummond (sharing a learning group)

Kahikatea (Year 1-3)
Amber Donovan (Team Leader)
Charlotte Verity
Jules May
Anna Reid

Kōwhai (Year 3/4)
Paulette Newton (Team Leader)
Rowena Barker
Nick Bruce
Kate Swan

Pōhutukawa (Year 5/6)
Tracy Inwood (Team Leader)
Gayle McNaughton
Katie McFarlane
Steve Cooke
Rae Marsh

Kauri (Year 7/8)
Nicky Dunlop (Team Leader)
Jenny Diggle
Hannah Elliott
Megan Culver

Reports and start of year information

Tomorrow your child will come home with their end of year report in an envelope. Also inside that envelope will be their 2019 stationery list and a letter explaining who their home learning group teacher and the teachers in their team will be. Also in that letter, will be the important information you need to book your start of year learning conference with your child's teacher for 2019!

Our staff have earned a very well-deserved break and are looking forward to taking some time out from tomorrow with their own whānau.

The office will be closed until Monday 21st January.

Our best wishes to you and all your whānau for a safe and relaxing summer.


Sandy, and the amazing team at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.

Citizen of the Week

Marlonique Wolmarans - Year 8

Marlonique, you bring positivity and tranquility to our Intermediate Hub. Throughout the year, you have demonstrated diligence that has supported your growth as a learner. Thank you for the thoughtfulness and consideration that you show each day. Your kind and caring nature makes a difference to others.

Sophie Macdonald - Year 4

Sophie, you are an outstanding role-model  learner in the Kōwhai team, where you always put in 100% to all you do! You are always eager to learn new things and have a genuine interest in space, wildlife and the environment, where you love to share your learning with others. You always show that you care for others by always being a courteous and kind friend, making you a delight to be around. Thank you for all your wonderful contributions that make our hub a wonderful place to be.

Max Graham - Year 6

Max, what a joy and inspiration you are to the Pōhutukawa team. You display impeccable manners, always holding the door open for us to enter the hub. Your creative and humourous comments entertain and often enlighten us. Max, you are kind, caring and so very flexible and you make a difference in our hub. 

Dental Care over the School Holidays

The Community Dental Service will be providing emergency dental appointments on the 20th and 21st December 2018.
 A service will also operate Monday, 7th January – Tuesday, 29th January 2019.

This service will operate by appointment only and if we are unable to see your child, alternative options will be given. If your child has dental pain as a result of an accident please contact your dentist in the first instance.

You can phone and make an appointment for these clinics by ringing 0800 846 983.

Julie Denton
Service Manager
COMMUNITY DENTAL SERVICE