Special Edition Newsletter
Tēnā koutou e te whānau o Beckenham School
Over the past few years, our wonderful school has faced many challenges including damage sustained from earthquakes and a fire that claimed our library which has resulted in the design and rebuilding of our beautiful school. This is something that our school and community will never forget.During this time our Board of Trustees and senior management team have worked alongside our students, staff, community, and iwi to create a new vision and values for Beckenham School which is now well embedded in the culture of our school. We have been fortunate to have been very well guided and supported through the consultation process by Dianne Collier from Matauraka Mahaanui (Ngāi Tūāhuriri Education Committee) and the Ngāi Tūāhuriri rūnanga (mana whenua of the area that Beckenham School sits in).
The Ngāi Tūāhuriri rūnanga has generously gifted Beckenham School with a name that reflects our place in the area around the Ōpāwaho River. The name we have been gifted is “Te Kura o Pūroto” which literally translated means “The School of the Ponds”.
Discussions at our November Board meeting resulted in the acceptance of this name which has been linked with Beckenham School’s existing name. We are proud to announce that both Ngāi Tūāhuriri and the Ministry of Education have accepted our new school name as being
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.
The Board of Trustees believes that Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto not only affirms a sense of place and belonging for our tamariki, but that it also reflects the bicultural nature of Aotearoa New Zealand and shows our commitment to upholding the Treaty of Waitangi.
There will be a ceremony late in term 1 2018 to unveil the new name officially to our community which everyone will be invited to.
If you have any questions or if you would like to know more about the process we have followed please see the school website to find a Trustee (from 2017) you can talk to about it.
The BOT wishes you and your families a safe and happy holiday break. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Beckenham School Board of Trustees