Week 2 – Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

On Friday we came together for our first Celebration Assembly for 2024. We acknowledged the way all tamariki are using the Kete Values as they transition to the new school year - meeting new teachers, settling into hubs, and in the way they have welcomed tamariki who are new to Beckenham in 2024.

We also shared the changes to Senior Leadership for the year. Sandy Hastings is seconded to the Ministry of Education for 2024 in a Leadership Advisor role and will be working with many Principals around Canterbury, so Jo Smith will be Acting Principal whilst Sandy is on leave. The Senior Leadership team will be Jo, Sue Leadbetter (Deputy Principal/SENCO), and Katie McFarlane (Acting Deputy Principal).

Following on from the start of year conferences the focus for the start of the year in Hubs is getting to know each other. Spending time getting to know the staff and the other tamariki in the hub, how the spaces will work and the routines that support the team working collaboratively. This is part of setting up for the year ahead. Along with this is a reminder to all our whānau that the Home Group teachers are always happy to be contacted throughout the year if there is anything you would like to share or discuss about your child. The home/school relationship is important and communication plays a large part in this. So please see your child's Home Group teacher in the first instance.

If at any stage your whānau contact details change, please contact the school office with these changes so our records can be updated. This includes the emergency contacts we have for your child.

This year, to streamline communication, school newsletters will be published every second week and will alternate with Team Blog posts. Communications through Hero will continue as required.

Ngā mihi nui
Jo Smith - Tumuaki (Acting Principal)

Important Dates

(you can also find the Community Calendar on our website here)

Wed 28 Feb - BoT Meeting, 5.30-7.30PM, Staffroom
Wed 28 Feb - PTA Meeting, 7.30-9.30PM
Thu 29 Feb - School Swim Sports, 12.30-3PM, Wharenui Pool
Mon 11 Mar - Zone Swimming, 9-12.30PM, Wharenui Pool
Wed 27 Mar - Canterbury Swimming
Wed 27 Mar - BoT Meeting, 5.30-7.30PM, Staffroom
Wed 27 Mar - PTA Meeting, 7.30-9.30PM
Fri 29 Mar - Good Friday (kura/school closed)
Mon 1 Apr - Easter Monday (kura/school closed)
Tue 2 Apr - Kura/School closed
Fri 12 Apr - Last day of Term 1
Mon 29 Apr - First day of Term 2
Fri 3 May - Welcome Assembly, 9.15-9.30am, Hall
Tue 14 May - School Cross Country TBC
Wed 22 May - PTA Meeting, 7.30-9.30PM
Wed 29 May - BoT Meeting, 5.30-7.30PM, Staffroom
Fri 31 May - Staff Only Day (kura/school closed)
Mon 3 Jun - King's Birthday (kura/school closed)
Wed 26 Jun - BoT Meeting, 5.30-7.30PM, Staffroom
Wed 26 Jun - PTA Meeting, 7.30-9.30PM, Staffroom
Fri 28 Jun - Matariki (kura/school closed)
Fri 5 Jul - Last day of Term 2

Term Dates: Click here to view 2024 term dates

Citizen of the Week

Myka Orchard - Year 4

Myka, you are a role model student, demonstrating the school values each and every day. You are kind, patient, thoughtful, and a loyal and trustworthy friend. You put every effort into your learning and you readily help others too. Keep doing what you're doing, Myka. You are an absolute star!

School Notices

Bounce and Skip

We love Bounce and Skip! Thank you to our school community for taking such great care of our monkeys when they come to your house for sleepovers! We love hearing about their adventures. This fantastic bag was made by the grandparent of one of our children, to ensure they make it home and back to school safely - how awesome!

Scholastic Lucky Book Club - 2024 Issue Out Now!

Issue 1 is out now, please follow the link below to look at the catalogue online, and to order. Orders close Friday 5 April.

https://www.scholastic.co.nz/parents/lucky-book-club/

Whānau Evening - Attitude Presents (for the whole school)

We are hosting a whānau evening run by a group called Attitude entitled 'Parenting in the Digital age' This will be held in the school hall on Tuesday 20th February 6pm-7pm. The evening is open to all parents/whānau of Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.

The presentation covers how whānau can help their young people navigate the adolescent years in a rapidly changing world. If you are concerned with the impact of technology, social media, gaming and their safety online then this presentation will give you the tools and insights you need to confidently raise happy and resilient children.

The content is adult appropriate, please leave children at home.

Please watch this video to find out more:

Want to Try-An-Instrument at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto and join the Wind and Brass Concert Band?

At Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto, your child can learn to play an instrument with the Christchurch School Of Music (CSM) Outreach Band Programme. Children who learn music build confidence, increase their learning abilities, sharpen organisational skills and gain valuable social, physical and academic skills. Most importantly, learning an instrument in the band programme is fun!

In our band programme we teach clarinet, flute, trumpet, trombone, electric bass guitar, percussion/drums and saxophone. Students in Year 4 and above can choose their instrument and join a band. After a few lessons, children join the Da Capo (beginners) band. They rehearse together on Tuesday mornings and have an individual 15-minute lesson (or a 30-minute lesson in a group of two). Our Tutti Concert Band will rehearse in the hall on Tuesday afternoons from 3pm. Come along, have a listen and see what we are all about.

You can sign up for lessons now by clicking on the enrol button. For more information email: office@csm.org.nz or the Outreach Band Coordinator at outreachband@csm.org.nz

Lunch Orders

Lunchonline is a lunch delivery service that our families are able to access for their children, which is available on Wednesdays (Subway) and Fridays (Sushi Factory). Please ensure that you update your child's details on their database so lunches can be matched up with your child more easily when they are delivered.

To access this, you will need to set up an account with LunchOnline here.

Pop Up Reminder – To Change Classroom

When families first log on in 2024 they will see a “pop up” on the screen to remind them to change their child’s classroom to their new room for 2024. This pop-up feature will also be used for any other important notices.

We are really hopeful that this pop up screen will prompt most families to update their classrooms, saving time for the office staff. Many schools also remind parents to do this in their first newsletter.

Sushimeetsdumplings is a local lunch delivery service that our whānau can access on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday.

Trailblazers

Trailblazers is a sports based youth development programme, developed and led by Snr Constable Jo Ryder (youth aid officer, school community officer, parent of neurodivergent tamariki, qualified teacher and certification in Dr Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Sport (an approach that integrates core principles of neurodevelopment and traumatology to inform work with children, focusing on how the brain works, develops, changes, and is impacted by developmental adversity, including trauma)

The programme has an emphasis on connection, belonging and movement for mental health.

The focus is on fun and friendship, the running is nearly incidental as our packs explore set trails together – supporting one another and often conquering mini challenges as they go!

We have a strong number of fabulous volunteers resulting in increased safety and mentorship for tamariki.

Priority is given to those impacted by trauma, neurodiversity, or mental health conditions - particularly when those experiences act as barriers to participation and inclusion. We also seek tamariki that are positive supporters of others – the uplifters and leaders in your kura.

Transport may be able to be supported in some instances (please enquire).

The programme starts next Tuesday 13th February and further information will be sent out on receipt of completed enrolment form, or simply phone Jo (number below) for a kōrero to learn more.

Please pop into the School Office to pick up, and complete an enrolment form for Trailblazers.

For any questions, please phone Snr Constable Jo Ryder on 021 192 6674.

PTA News

PTA Picnic

We were gutted to have to cancel the Community Picnic AGAIN! The weather just doesn’t seem to be cooperating with us. We’ll be in touch soon with an alternative plan.

Uniform Shop

Our second-hand uniform shop hours are changing next week.

New opening hours:
Monday 2.45 to 3.15pm
Friday 8.45 to 9.15am

Weetbix Tryathlon

There are less than 3 weeks until the Christchurch Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon and that makes it the perfect time to start getting your kids TRY ready with the Get Ready Guide! Entries are now closed!