Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter Rāmere (Friday) 31 March 2023

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

Today it was "Welcome to the Beckenham Zoo' as we had every imaginable creature turn up at school, complete with smiles, for the Student Council's Dress as an Animal Day. Our amazing Student Council get the top spot in today's newsletter after having organised a stunning day of 'We Make A Difference' today for the SPCA.

A HUGE thank you from our Student Council to everyone who contributed to the SPCA fundraiser today. We were overwhelmed by the volume of donations, including blankets, towels, sheets, newspapers, food and money that was given. We will be dropping this all to the SPCA tomorrow, including just over $600 in cash! Wow! And all of the animals in the Beckenham Zoo had a fun day too! 

Frida, Grace and Rose - Beckenham Student Council

Next week is the final week of Term 1 - with the last day being Thursday 6th April. 

Ngā mihi nui

Sandy Hastings

Tumuaki - Principal

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Term 1

Thu 6 Apr - Last day of Term 1

Fri 7 Apr -  School Holidays begin (School closed)

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter Rāmere (Friday) 24 March 2023

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

This week is the start of Ramadan which is a really important celebration for Muslim people and their families. Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic calendar and is observed worldwide by Muslims as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.

We can show support to our friends who are Muslim by asking them about how they observe Ramadan - because each family will probably do something a bit different.

It is important to us that we can support all of our tamariki with the values and beliefs that are important to their families. If your family have a faith, values and beliefs that you want us to understand better, please make contact with your child's teacher(s) or one of our team in the office and we will be very keen to learn more.

Last week we were fortunate to have Jeff from the ASB GetWise programme working with our tamariki, from Years 3-8. 

GetWise is a financial literacy programme for children and it was really heartening to see the children engaging with the programme.

ASB have a website with excellent resources for whānau to support you with helping your children about money and to enable them to develop skills that will last them for life.

To find out more, click here.

Being in a 'House' at Beckenham

Once a child has started at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto, they will be allocated a ‘House’ to belong to. Children from the same family/whānau are put into the same house. Usually, a child will stay in this house for the duration of their time at Beckenham, except if they are made a leader of another house when they are in Year 8.

Each house has its own colour, and there are House Shirts that are an optional part of the school uniform, that can be purchased and worn on Fridays, or sports/special event days as advised in the newsletter.

Each house has its own ‘chant’ and tamariki learn this so that they can participate in the house chant at sports and special events, and in Celebration Assemblies, if it is their house that has won the House Points for that fortnight.

You can find the House Chants here, and there are also videos that you can share with your child to help them learn their house chant

Ngā mihi nui

Sandy Hastings

Tumuaki - Principal

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Term 1

Thu 30 Mar - Board Meeting - Staffroom 5:30pm - Visitors welcome

Fri 31 Mar - ANIMAL DRESS-UP DAY for the SPCA (New date)

Thu 6 Apr - Last day of Term 1

Fri 7 Apr -  School Holidays begin (School closed)

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter Rāmere (Friday) 17 March 2023

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

We felt very honoured to have the new Police Pride patrol car visit school this week, with Youth Aid Officer Nic, and School Education Officer Jo. 

Some information about the car:

It is the 4th Pride vehicle in the police fleet, and the first in the South Island.

• There are 3 “Values”  Police vehicles currently in use in NZ: Te Reo Pirihimana, Pride and the Pasifika (Va’a or boat).
• Police are committed to Diversity and to acknowledging the important relationship between Police and our diverse communities.
• The Pride car is a visual representation of the value of Diversity.
• Rainbow (LGBTQI+) communities need our focus and support when it comes to Crime and victimisation:-
• Rainbow children in school are 3 times more likely to be hurt or bullied
• 1 in 6 Rainbow children/youth no longer feel safe at school and almost 2/3 of those surveyed thought about suicide
• 1 in 8 Rainbow people have had to move towns or cities to feel safer
• NZ Crime and victim survey found 68% of bisexual adults experienced crime and sexual violence compared to the National average of 28%.

Ngā mihi nui

Sandy Hastings

Tumuaki / Principal

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Term 1

Wed 22 Mar - PTA Meeting - All Welcome (7:30 – 9:30pm in The Green Room)

Thu 23rd Mar - Whānau Workshop - Structured Literacy 

Fri 24 Mar - Kahikatea Ferrymead Trip

Fri 24 Mar - ANIMAL DRESS-UP DAY for the SPCA

Thu 30 Mar - Board Meeting - Staffroom 5:30pm - Visitors welcome

Thu 6 Apr - Last day of Term 1

Fri 7 Apr -  School Holidays begin (School closed)

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter Rāmere (Friday) 10 March 2023

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

We Get There Together - Mā tātou katoa te waka e hoe

We'd like to thank all of our whānau for your collective contribution to our school and tamariki, and we recognise all the big and small ways in which you all support each other and make a difference. The wrap-around of care and support in our community, makes it a great honour to be a part of, and leads the way for all of our children to support each other in the same way.

"Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa. Let us keep close together, not far apart."

This week, is Foster Care Awareness Week, and while it has not been a part of discussions within the classroom, it is still worth recognising and giving a big mihi to all of our whānau who are care experienced, supporting tamariki in a care or whāngai setting, or in general look out for all of our tamariki as you would your own. It takes a village to raise a child!

Year 7/8 Camp

This week was our Year 7/8 Wainui Camp, and it sounds like everyone had a very successful week. These opportunities could not happen without the support of our whānau, camp volunteers, and the Kauri (Year 7/8) team, who have put so much mahi in over the weeks leading up to camp, as well as during the week, to ensure our tamariki get to experience such memorable moments together. We hope our Year 7/8 whānau get to enjoy hearing about some of these from your tamariki, in between plenty of rest and washing over the weekend!

With our senior students away enjoying camp this week our Pōhutukawa (Year 5/6) students have been up for the challenge, and have done an incredible job in stepping into the leadership roles and supporting across all areas of our kura.  

Cyclone Gabrielle fundraising...

The final total of funds raised by the non-uniform day for Cyclone Gabrielle was $1524.80. We have sent this to the Hawkes Bay Primary Principals Association to pass on to the schools and their communities hardest hit by the cyclone. We have passed on our best wishes and support to those affected and we received this reply back:

"Many thanks for your school's wonderfully generous donation to the cyclone relief in our region.  We have received amazing support from throughout New Zealand.  This donation from Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto is an incredible gesture.  The Hawkes Bay Primary Principals Association will meet this week to try and distribute the funds we have received to date - an overwhelming amount.

We shall let you know how the money is shared amongst the most affected schools.

The way the whole country has responded to this catastrophe is incredible - although I am sure the experience of the earthquakes in Canterbury means that you have a clear understanding of what this type of scenario brings. 

Thanks again for your school's community aroha for our region.  Could you please pass on our gratitude to the Beckenham tamariki and whānau."

Lastly, please note that school is closed this Thursday, the 16th of March - please see the notices below for further details.

I wish you all a safe and relaxing weekend.

Ngā mihi nui

Sandy Hastings

Tumuaki / Principal

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Term 1

Thu 16 Mar - School Closed - Teacher Strike Action

Wed 22 Mar - PTA Meeting - All Welcome (7:30 – 9:30pm in The Green Room)

Thu 30 Mar - Board Meeting - Staffroom 5:30pm - Visitors welcome

Thu 6 Apr - Last day of Term 1

Fri 7 Apr -  School Holidays begin (School closed)

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Newsletter Rāmere (Friday) 3 March 2023

Principal's Patch

Kia ora koutou

With our number of New Entrant students increasing each week, Georgia McKenna shifted from three days a week to full-time in the Koru team this week.

This has meant that we needed another part-time teacher in the Koru team, and we are delighted to welcome Nicola Reddecliffe back to our staff in this part-time role.

 

Nicola Reddecliffe - Koru Team

The 'water slide' is now a 'regular slide again!

A huge thanks to Richard Scott from our Board of Trustees for his tenacity and determination in trying to get our drainage issues sorted. There was HUGE excitement today when a team of workers from DRAINWORKZ rolled in and completed the first stage of the drainage work for our slide area. 

The gravel top is a temporary stage and we will eventually be getting this covered with the same matting that is over the new playground. There is also quite a bit more drainage work to be done, but, as you can see, there was great joy in being able to finally use the slide again!

Ngā mihi nui

Sandy Hastings

Principal - Tumuaki

Important Dates

Upcoming Events

Term 1

Mon 6 - 10 Mar - Walk or Wheel to School week

Mon 6-Fri 10 Mar - Year 7/8 Camp - Wainui

Fri 10 Mar - South Zone Swimming Sports (Y5-8), Wharenui Pool

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 (School closed)