Principal's Patch
Kia ora koutou
Welcome to our week 8 Newsletter. It is hard to believe we are coming towards the end of Term 1.
Building a Strong Sense of Community and Service
At our school, we believe that community and service are essential to shaping compassionate, responsible individuals. Giving back and practicing reciprocal kindness helps us care for others, and in turn, care for ourselves. When we extend a hand to help someone, we not only improve their lives but also enrich our own, fostering a sense of connection and well-being.
Caring for others is a valuable life skill we encourage in our students. Whether supporting a classmate or volunteering in the community, kindness helps build a more compassionate world. We also emphasise the importance of caring for our environment. Teaching our students to be stewards (kaitiaki) of the planet ensures a sustainable future for everyone.
By nurturing these values, we are preparing our students for a lifetime of compassionate living, where caring for others and the world around them is just as important as caring for themselves.
At last week's celebration assembly, we acknowledged the service of our road patrollers and the contribution they make to keeping our school safe. We also thanked a group of Year 1 students who have taken it upon themselves to be responsible for rubbish collection around the school. Additionally, we recognized the large group of students from across the school who participated in the Weetbix Tryathlon under our school name. These are all great examples of students supporting a strong sense of community at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.
Celebration of Culture Day
As you will have seen through a HERO community post, next Friday will be a Celebration of Culture Day at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto.
Students are invited to wear clothing that represents their cultural heritage on this day, whether it's a traditional outfit, something symbolic, or an item that has cultural significance. We want to embrace and honour the many cultures within our school community.
Throughout the day, teachers will provide opportunities for students to share about their culture, fostering an environment of learning, understanding, and appreciation for one another’s backgrounds.
We are really looking forward to this day of celebration, where the diversity within our community will be showcased and celebrated.
Have a great weekend.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Cade Englefield
Important Dates
Upcoming Events
Wed 26 Mar - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)Fri 28 Mar - Celebration of Culture DayFri 28 Mar - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am, in the Hall)Wed 2 Apr - Fri 4 Apr - Living Springs Camp - Pōhutukawa (Y5/6)Thu 3 Apr - Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)Fri 11 Apr - Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am, in the Hall)Fri 11 Apr - Last Day of Term 1Mon 28 Apr - First Day of Term 2Fri 23 May - School Cross CountryWed 28 May - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)Thu 29 May - Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)Fri 30 May - Staff Only Day (School Closed)Mon 2 Jun - Public Holiday, School Closed (King's Birthday)Wed 25 Jun - Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)Wed 25 Jun - PTA Meeting (7:30-9:30pm)Fri 27 Jun - Last Day of Term 2Mon 14 Jul - First Day of Term 3
Citizen of the Week
Walter Stallworthy - Year 6
Walter, you are a calming and positive influence on those around you. You consistently demonstrate what it means to be an upstander, living out our values of We Care and We Make a Difference every day. Your dedication and determination to always do your best make you a truly diligent student. Ka pai tō mahi, Walter!Zakhar Voinov - Year 8
For demonstrating outstanding kindness, respect and responsibility within our Kura. Zakhar, you lead by example, treat everyone with fairness and compassion, and embody the values we hold dear at Beckenham. Thank you for being a role model and an exceptional member of our community!School Notices
Absence Text Line
Thank you for your patience this term while our text line has not been working. We appreciate you adjusting to emailing or phoning the office about any absences during this time.
We are happy to let you know that our text line is now working again!
Please contact the school office if your child will be absent from school. When contacting us please remember to include; your name, your child's name, the reason for their absence and how long you expect your child will be away from school.
If you do not provide a reason for your child's absence, we are required to mark this as an unjustified absence on their attendance report.
Phone: (03) 337-1404
(Press 1 to leave an absence message)
Email: office@beckenham.school.nz
Text: 02102794107
Cultural Diversity
On Wednesday, the student council organized a whole-school chalk project to advocate for cultural diversity. Years from 1-8 were invited to come and add symbols from their culture. The result is a beautiful mural, just inside the school gates.
Unity Week: 15th - 21st of March
Launched in 2022, award-winning Unity Week NZ holds a special place in our hearts as we come together to reflect on the lessons of the 15 March mosque attacks and renew our commitment to strengthening our connections with one another.
Unity Week NZ comes to life through a series of impactful events, made possible by the collaborative efforts of Unity Week NZ champions in Christchurch and across Aotearoa New Zealand.
The message of Unity Week NZ is simple: See the humanity in one another, honour the ties that bind us, and respect our differences.
Unity Week NZ embodies the values of Understanding, Nationhood, Integrity, Trust and You. We call on you to commit to building a future where the lessons of 15 March are not only remembered and where unity, compassion, and respect are not just ideals, but actively woven into the lived experiences for everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand.
See more here: https://www.unityweek.co.nz/ideas
See more here: https://www.unityweek.co.nz/ideas
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Reo Māori o te Wīki
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This is our Whakataukī (phrase), Kīwaha (saying), and Kupu (word) from last week. Give it a go! Remember, He taonga te ako, We Love Learning!!
Whakataukī: Mauria te pono - this means to Believe in Yourself!
Kīwaha: He reka! - this means Yummm!
Kupu: Wero - this means challenge
If you are unsure of the pronunciation of a word, have a look at Te Aka (the Māori dictionary) where you can hear how the word is spoken correctly.
If you are unsure of the pronunciation of a word, have a look at Te Aka (the Māori dictionary) where you can hear how the word is spoken correctly.
Scooters
Please ensure you are taking your child's scooter home at the end of each school day. There have been a growing number of incidents where scooters are being left at school overnight or over the weekend and are not there on return to school the following week, or morning. This does take a lot of time and resources to investigate each incident so if whānau could please be diligent about ensuring the collection of scooters at the end of each school day, it would be greatly appreciated. Our bike and scooter areas are locked from 9.15-2.45 each school day.
Thanks Qizzle - a new vegepod!
We have been incredibly fortunate to win a new Vegepod and stand from Qizzle following their Back to School 2025 competition! We can't wait to put this to good use and see what wonderful kai our keen Garden Club tamariki can grow with the help of our incredible Teaching Assistant, and garden whizz Lucy! Qizzle is where our stationery packs can be ordered from - https://qizzle.co.nz/
South Zones Swimming
We had our swimming sports earlier in the month at Wharenui pool and selected students then participated in the South Zones last week on Thursday the 13th of March. Our students represented our school amazingly. A special shoutout to the sportsmanlike conduct displayed at the pool, and to Hugo for supporting this endeavour. Congratulations to all the students who took part in both days, and please see below the placement results from South Zones.
South Zone Swimming Results 2025
South Zone Swimming Results 2025
50m Freestyle
Year 8 Boys2nd Place - Kawariki TaylorYear 7 Girls2nd Place - Sarah WelchYear 6 Boys3rd Place - Haydn O'Connor
50m Backstroke
Year 8 Boys1st Place - Zakhar Voinov2nd Place - Kawariki TaylorYear 8 Girls3rd Place - Imogen Orchard4th Place - Emeline HendersonYear 7 Boys3rd Place - Sebastian Blane4th Place - Samson NutallYear 7 Girls3rd Place - Sarah WelchYear 6 Boys2nd Place - Haydn O'Connor4th Place - Jack HurstYear 5 Girls1st Place - Chloe Sayer3rd Place - Cora Nuttall
50m Breaststroke
Year 8 Boys2nd Place - Kawariki TaylorYear 7 Boys4th Place - Sebastian BlaneYear 6 Boys4th Place - Jack Hurst
Year 5 Girls4th Place - Chloe Sayer
50m Butterfly
Boys Open2nd Place - Archie Chapman
Girls Open1st Place - Tish Gillman2nd Place - Sarah Welch
Celebration of Culture Day
We are excited to announce that our Student Council is leading a Celebration of Culture Day on Friday, 28 March. This event is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together and celebrate the rich diversity that makes Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto such a special place.
Students are invited to wear clothing that represents their cultural heritage on this day, whether it's a traditional outfit, something symbolic, or an item that has cultural significance. We want to embrace and honour the many cultures within our school community.
Throughout the day, teachers will provide opportunities for students to share about their culture, fostering an environment of learning, understanding, and appreciation for one another’s backgrounds.
This event aligns with our school values:
We Love Learning (He taonga te ako) – We celebrate learning about the unique cultures that make our community strong.We Love Challenge (Nau mai te wero) – We encourage students to explore new perspectives and challenge their thinking.We Care (Arohaina te tāngata me te taiao) – We show care and respect for each other’s cultures and traditions.We Get There Together (Mā tātou katoa te waka e hoe) – We work as a community to create an inclusive and supportive environment.We Make a Difference (Nā mātou he rerekē te ao) – Together, we make the world a better place by celebrating and valuing the differences that make us unique.
We look forward to celebrating this special day with our students and whānau.
Congratulations Ivy!
2nd place at her Karate Club Championships!
CSM Outreach Recorder Lessons
Join us every Wednesday morning for our engaging recorder lessons, a fantastic way to introduce your child to the world of music! Not only is the recorder a fun and accessible instrument for kids, but it also lays a solid foundation for learning more complex woodwind instruments like the saxophone, flute, clarinet, oboe, and bassoon.
Exciting Performance Opportunity: Strum Strike Blow
Our recorder students will have the thrilling chance to participate in the Strum Strike Blow festival in September, where they'll perform alongside hundreds of other young musicians playing ukuleles and marimbas. This event is always a hit!
Enrolment Details:
Cost: $97.50 per term
Enrolment: Visit the Christchurch School of Music website to enrol online. Simply scroll to the bottom of the page to secure your child's spot in our outreach recorder programme.
Don't miss this wonderful opportunity!
BOT Update
Policy Review
From time to time we ask you to review one of our policies that come up on our review cycle. A policy for whānau review is the Recording and Reporting Accidents, Injuries, and Illness policy. You will find it on School Docs at this link. Click on current review, start review and follow the directions.
Username: beckenham
Password: pride
Instructions for reviewers
- Follow the link to the policy.
- Read the policy.
- Click the "Start Review" icon at the right-hand top corner of the page. A new screen will appear.
- Select your role (board member, staff member, student, whānau or other) from the drop-down list.
- Enter your name (optional).
- Submit your ratings and comments.
If you don't have internet access, school office staff can easily provide you with printed copies of the policy and the review form.
BOSCO - April School Holiday Programme
BOSCO April school holiday Programme is open for bookings
Head to bosco.aimyplus.com to register and book
For any further information please contact Harriet
027 645 6632
office@bosco.org.nz
Community Notices
(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)
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Art Competition: Design a frame for one of the city’s favourite paintings!
Ākonga from Years 3–8 are invited to enter a competition to design an imaginative frame for one of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū’s most treasured paintings, Burial in the Winter on the Island of Marken (also known as The Dutch Funeral).
Ākonga from Years 3–8 are invited to enter. One winner will be selected from Years 3–4, Years 5–6 and Years 7–8.
Prize winners must be able to be at Christchurch Art Gallery on Thursday 17 April (during the school holidays), from 10am until midday, and have parent or guardian consent for a photograph of the children to be made available to media for publication. Full details will be provided to the winning entries.
How to enter
1. Download and print the entry form, linked here. Entry forms are also available from the Gallery foyer.
2. Design a frame using any materials – and plenty of imagination! All entries must be on the official entry form.
3. Drop completed entries in the drop-box in the Gallery foyer or hand them to the front counter by Wednesday 9 April. Please get in touch if we can help you by collecting entry forms.
Winning entries will be announced on Friday 11 April.
Entries that do not win a prize can be collected from the Gallery until 1 May. (Entries not collected after this date will be disposed of.)
Any questions?
Email emma@christchurchartgallery.org.nz.
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