Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Schoolwide Newsletter, Rāmere (Friday) 15th May 2026

Principal's Update

Kia ora koutou

This week I attended some professional development where I was asked to reflect on what drains my optimism as a leader and what restores it. I was very quick to answer what fills my bucket - connecting with our staff and students.

We are incredibly fortunate to have such a wonderful school community, and I feel very privileged to be part of it. The care, commitment, and positivity shown by our students, staff, and whānau every day make our school a very special place.

There is some important information in this newsletter, so I hope you have time to read through it carefully.

Upcoming Reporting

As part of our ongoing professional learning, teachers have been developing their knowledge and confidence in reporting student progress and achievement against the Ministry of Education’s new curriculum and descriptors for English and Mathematics.

This work has focused on making accurate, strengths-based judgements about student learning and includes opportunities for moderation through professional dialogue. Particular attention has also been given to identifying clear next learning steps for students.

In our next newsletter, we will provide further information about the new descriptors, what each of them means, and what our updated student reports for 2026 will look like.

Book Character Day and Readathon

It was fantastic to see so many students dressing up today as their favourite book characters. Today’s celebrations, along with the current Readathon kindly organised by the PTA, reinforce the importance of reading and developing a love of books.

The benefits of reading are well researched and documented. Research consistently shows that habitual reading, especially reading for pleasure, is linked to improved health and well-being, greater academic achievement, enhanced cognitive function, and even longer life expectancy.

Thank you to our PTA for supporting this wonderful initiative, and thank you to families for continuing to encourage reading at home. Keep encouraging your children to read, it truly makes a difference!

Digital Learning Survey

Thank you to the 130 parents who provided feedback through our recent digital learning survey. We greatly appreciate you taking the time to share your voice and perspectives with us.

Our first step has been analysing the information gathered. From this, the key message emerging from the survey is a desire for a more intentional, transparent, and balanced approach to the use of digital tools in learning.

Our next steps will involve completing a research review and gathering further feedback from both teachers and students. Following this, we will develop a pathway forward to ensure our digital learning practices are the very best they can be for our learners.

Ngā mihi nui,

Cade

Principal / Tumuaki

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto

Important Dates

2026 Term Dates - Linked Here

Upcoming Events	Term 2
Wed 20 May	Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)
Fri 22 May	Kahikatea Hansen Park Walk (9:30am-1:30pm)
Wed 27 May	Year 5-8 South Zone Cross Country Event
Fri 29 May	Staff Only Day - School Closed
Mon 1 June	King's Birthday - School Closed
Wed 3 June	PTA Meeting (7:30- 9:30pm, Staff Room)
Thu 4 June	Trees4Survival Planting Day
Fri 5 June	Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am, Hall)
Wed 10 June	PSC Artistic Gymnastics (Chch School of Gymnastics)
Fri 12 June	Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am, Hall)
Mon 15 June	Year 5/6 & 7/8 Canterbury Softball Sessions
Tue 16 June	Year 5/6 Canterbury Softball Sessions
Wed 17 June	Year 5-8 PSC Cross Country Canterbury Zones
Wed 17 June	Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)
Tue 23 & Wed 24 June	Learning Conferences (Tue 2pm-7pm, Wed 2pm-6pm) School finishes at 1:45pm
Wed 24 June	PTA Mid Winter Breakfast
Fri 26 June	Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am, Hall)
Tues 30 June	Year 0-4 Cross Country Challenge (Zones)
Wed 1 July	PTA Meeting (7:30- 9:30pm, Staff Room)
Fri 3 July	Last Day of Term 2
Mon 20 July	First Day of Term 3

Citizen of the Week

Kyle - Year 8

Kyle, you consistently demonstrate all of our school values in everything you do. You show genuine kindness and inclusion in every setting, making others feel welcome and supported. You are a loyal friend with an honest and caring nature, and you approach every challenge with a positive, fun-loving attitude. Kyle - well done!

Nina - Year 6

Nina, your gentle and patient nature makes you a pleasure to be around, and this shows in the culture you set in the learning space. You consistently impress by how you stay deeply concentrated on your tasks, showing a level of focus that leads to wonderful results while also bringing your fun and outgoing energy. You have a fantastic balance of personality and diligence; you should be very proud of your progress.  

School Notices

Public Health Nurse

My name is Holly, and I am the Public Health Nurse for Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. The Public Health Nursing Service (PHNS) work with tamariki and their whānau where health and wellbeing concerns impact on their home and school lives.

Please contact me if you have any health concerns for your tamariki.

waea pūkoro: 03 383 6877 ext: 99628, 0272843397

īmēra: holly.cummings@tewhatuora.govt.nz

Medication at School

If a child requires medication at school on a long or short-term basis, parents/caregivers need to complete a medicine authority form with Jacky, Alisa or Chloe in the office. Procedures are followed to ensure that it is kept securely and administered appropriately.

Any medication that is required to be kept at school on an ongoing basis, expiry dates need to be checked regularly by parents/caregivers. If the school notices an expiry date is due, parents/caregivers will be advised.

Parents/caregivers are asked to please update the school on any medical/health information about their child by contacting the school office.

Kupu Māori o te Wiki

Kia ora koutou! This term, we will be learning a new Whakataukī (phrase/proverb), an instruction or saying, and a Kupu (word) each week. Here are the last two weeks' new te reo we have focused on:
Give these a go! "Nau mai te wero - We Love Challenge! He taonga te ako - We Love Learning!"
Mauria te pono		Believe in yourself and give it a go!
Whakataukī:	He rau ringa e oti ai	This means many hands make light work. So, let’s focus on working together as a team!
Whakataukī:	Mauria te pono	This means to Believe in Yourself!
Saying:	Ka kite anō	This means see you later!
Instruction:	Turituri!	Be quiet!
Kupu:	Manuhiri	This is the word for guests or visitors.
Kupu:	Hōtoke	Winter (season)
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.

The Sports Corner

Kia ora koutou,

This section of our newsletter will be dedicated to highlighting the successes and challenges our students are experiencing in sports outside of school. We love seeing our ākonga (students) showing our school values, especially We Love Challenge Nau Mau Te Wero in the community. If your child has had a sporting success that you’d like to share with our community, please email me with a short blurb and photo to: kate.mcgregor@beckenham.school.nz - We’d love to feature it in our next newsletter!

Ngā mihi nui,

Kate McGregor

Sports Coordinator

BTKOP Cross Country - Champions & Runners Up

Our school cross country was a fantastic success, with students showing determination, resilience, encouragement, and outstanding sportsmanship throughout the day. It was wonderful to see so many tamariki challenging themselves and supporting one another across every race. We are proud to celebrate the achievements of our Cross Country Champions and Runners-Up listed below — an incredible effort from all involved. Congratulations also to Fisher House, who took out the Inter-House Cross Country Cup this year!

Koru:

Champions: Thomas & Devon

Runners-Up: Max & Izzy

Year 1:

Champions: Arthur & Tallulah

Runners-Up: Rafael & Athena

Year 2:

Champions: Greyson & Erin

Runners-Up: Max & Sadie

Year 3:

Champions: Hugo & Leah

Runners-Up: Bear & Hanaē

Year 4:

Champions: Beau & Florence

Runners-Up: Mason & Violet

Year 5:

Champions: Hunter & Amelia

Runners-Up: Jos & Stella

Year 6:

Champions: Ethan & Laurien

Runners-Up: Simon & Chloe

Year 7:

Champions: Haydn & Jayme

Runners-Up: Lucas & Clara

Year 8:

Champions: Zach & Laura

Runners-Up: Ben & Misha

PTA News

Readathon - Thank you

Thank you for all your hard work on the Readathon! If there are any last-minute forms or sponsorship money to return, you are welcome to bring it next week - we still have plenty of bookmarks!

 

Sponsorship money can also be paid directly into the account:  

PTA-Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto 12-3148-0244558-00

PTA Supporters Group

We’re always looking for people to support our fundraisers and events, so if you’re keen to get involved (but can’t attend meetings), you can join our Supporters Group:

https://m.me/j/AbZHV9B0zoVGvj0W/?send_source=gc:copy_invite_link_c

Help us tidy up the school grounds!

We would love you to join us for a garden and outdoor space tidy up (and BBQ!) on Sunday, 24th May at 10am. Meet at Tree-mendous with your gardening gloves and tools!

BOT Update

Term 2 Policy Review Now Open - SchoolDocs

1. Visit the website https://beckenham.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
2. Enter the username (beckenham) and password (pride).
3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
4. Read the policy.
5. Click the Start your review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
6. Select the reviewer type.
7. Enter your name (optional).
8. Follow the prompts to show that you've read the topic and enter your feedback if you'd like to comment.
9. Agree to the privacy statement and click “Submit review”.

If you don't have internet access, our school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.

Community Notices

(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)

ACTT Parent Seminar (Mandarin)

Many children growing up in New Zealand today are navigating life between two cultures. This Mandarin-language seminar explores how parents can better understand “third culture” children and create a safe space for communication and connection at home.

Saturday 16 May

1:00 PM

Halswell Library

Free childcare available for children aged 5–12. Please scan the QR code on the poster to register.

ACTT亲子讲座

在新西兰长大的孩子，往往生活在两个文化之

间。本场中文讲座将帮助家长更理解「第三文

化」孩子的内心世界，并学习如何建立一个让

孩子愿意沟通与表达的安全空间。

5月16日（星期六）

下午1点

Halswell 图书馆

提供5–12岁儿童看顾服务。

请扫描海报二维码报名。

Spaces Available at Pebbles

Dear Families,

We are pleased to share that we currently have spaces available in our Kea Room at Pebbles Montessori Cashmere (26 Colombo Street), for children under 2 years of age.

Our centre is open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 5:30pm, including throughout the school holidays. We close for a two-week period over Christmas each year.

At Pebbles Montessori, we warmly welcome all enquiries. You can get in touch via the online enquiry form on our website linked here. We would love the opportunity to show you around our centre, introduce you to our teaching team, and give you a chance to observe our Montessori philosophy in practice.

If you would prefer to speak with us directly or arrange a visit, please feel free to call us at any time on 021 274 1967. We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming your family to our community.

Kind regards,

Pebbles Montessori Team

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Schoolwide Newsletter, Rāmere (Friday) 1st May 2026

Principal's Update

Kia ora koutou

A big thank you to all those who attended our cross country event today. It was fantastic to see such strong community support, and even better to watch our students giving it their all in the sunshine at Beckenham Park. Events like this really highlight the spirit and energy of our kura.

Important Strategic Review - Use of Digital Devices for Learning 

We are beginning a strategic review of the use of digital technologies in our school. This is important work as we consider how digital tools can best support learning, wellbeing, and balance for our students. We value your voice in this process and invite you to contribute by completing the survey linked below. Your feedback will play an important role in shaping our future direction. Ideally we would get feedback from every whānau/family in our school. 

Please fill in the 5 question below to contribute your voice to the future of learning at our school: 

https://forms.gle/zpiAYnHZ5QZ3EyU99

Chicken Update

You may have seen earlier in the week that some of our chickens will be competing in the Christchurch Premier Chicken Athletics Event, Chicken Stock. Adding to the excitement, yesterday we had our first eggs produced by the chickens! This created a real buzz across the school, with students eager to see and learn more about the process.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support.

Ngā mihi nui,

Cade

Principal / Tumuaki

Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto

Important Dates

2026 Term Dates - Linked Here

Upcoming Events	Term 2
Wed 6 May	PTA Meeting (7:30- 9:30pm, Staff Room)
Thu 7 May	U11 NFL Tournament (Yr 4-6)
Fri 8 May	Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am, Hall)
Wed 13 May	Girls Got Game - Basketball Programme
Thu 14 May	Team Kauri Trip to Cashmere High School
Fri 15 May	Book Character Day
Fri 15 May	Celebration Assembly (10:00-10:30am, Hall)
Wed 20 May	Board of Trustees Meeting (5:30-7:30pm, Staff Room)
Wed 27 May	South Zone Cross Country Event (Yr 5-8)
Fri 29 May	Staff Only Day - School Closed
Mon 1 June	King's Birthday - School Closed

Citizen of the Week

Julia - Year 4

Julia, you are a hardworking and diligent learner. You consistently show our school kete values each and every day. You are a kind friend, and your caring and warm nature brightens our hub! Thank you for helping others and being an excellent role model! Tino pai tō mahi, Julia!

Maya - Year 5

Maya, you are the kind of person who makes our school feel like a community. You show kindness and empathy every day, and you’re always quick to help others and include everyone. You take on challenges with confidence and treat everyone with respect. Thank you for being such a positive role model.

School Notices

Pedestrian Crossing and Road Safety on Sandwich Road

We know that everyone is keen to keep our tamariki safe as they travel to and from school. To support this, please always use the pedestrian crossing when crossing the road. Please do not cross over the road outside of the crossing. This is especially important during the busy pick-up and drop-off times with increased traffic around the school. 

Please also remember that the 3-minute 'Kiss & Go' drop off zone on the school side of Sandwich Road is MAX 3 minutes - not enough time for you to get out of your car and go into school to drop off or collect your child, or to sit waiting in your car. If everyone uses this area as a quick drop-off/pick-up point, then all of the traffic will flow more smoothly, and the surroundings will be much safer for our children. 

Thank you for working together to keep our tamariki safe!

September Staff Only Day

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the date for our upcoming Staff Only Day in September has changed. The original date of 11th September has been rescheduled to 4th September. 

Term 2 Reminder - Food Allergy Guidelines

Across our school, we have a number of children with different food allergies.

To support the well-being of these students, we have the following guidelines in place, which we ask you to please follow.

• All students should only eat lunches and snacks that have been provided by their caregivers.  
• Bottles, other drinks, and lunch boxes provided by caregivers should be clearly labelled with the name of their child.  Home group teachers and caregivers will decide where the children’s bottles and lunch boxes will be kept during the day to ensure no cross-contamination occurs.
• Parents are asked not to bring food into school to be shared with other children. Whilst we understand that there are times you want to celebrate special events for your children with their friends at school, e.g., birthdays or being awarded prizes, by bringing food and treats for them to share, we have a policy of children only eating the food that their whānau has prepared and sent with them. We have a number of students with food allergies, and we also need to respect the wishes of some families who want to monitor what their children are eating and prefer their children to only eat food they have prepared. From time to time, there may be an event that teachers have organised that will involve food (cultural or learning activities), and they will have advised families in advance that this will be happening.  

Caregivers may be asked to come and talk to staff about their child’s specific health needs and ways we can support them at school.

We will inform you throughout the year if specific guidelines for your child’s hub change. 

Our full allergy policy and guidelines are available on the Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto website under Information - Policies - SchoolDocs, then search ‘allergy’.

If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them in the first instance with your child’s home group teacher.

Ezlunch - School Lunch Deliveries

Ordering Ezlunch through Kindo is quick, easy, and one less thing to think about in the morning. You order from home (or on the go), and your child's lunch is delivered to school, ready to eat.

Here's how:

1. Log in to the Kindo app (or set up an account at shop.kindo.co.nz)

2. Pick from the menu on your school's available days

3. Your child collects their lunch at school

Order & win! 

Every Ezlunch order placed between 27 April - 22 May goes in the draw to win 1 of 5 x $50 Kindo credits each week. Order here: mykindo.co.nz

T&Cs apply. 

Kupu Māori o te Wiki

Kia ora koutou! This term, we will be learning a new Whakataukī (phrase/proverb), an instruction, and Kupu (word) each week. Here are the last two weeks' new te reo we have focused on:

Give these a go! "Nau mai te wero - We Love Challenge! He taonga te ako - We Love Learning!"

Mauria te pono		Believe in yourself and give it a go!
Whakataukī:	Ahakoa he iti kete, he iti nā te aroha	This means it’s the thought that counts.
Whakataukī:	Whakarite ngā kete mō te haerenga!	This means filling our kete for the journey.
Instruction:	Whakarongo mai	This means listen to me
Instruction:	Titiro mai	This means look at me.
Kupu:	Hīkoi	This means walk
Kupu:	Aroha	This means love

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.

Staff Profiles

Welcome Stacey Hurst - Assistant Caretaker

Hi, I’m Stacey. I moved to New Zealand two years ago with my family from Western Australia. My three children currently attend Beckenham School.

I have been working as a professional gardener for the past 20 years. I look forward to learning more about native plants of New Zealand and love seeing all the restoration work to bring back native habits throughout Christchurch and the rest of the country.

Chicken Chat

Chicken Stock - Poultry Athletics Competition

As shared earlier this week via Hero - 'Our school chickens continue to be a real highlight around the kura! A big thank you to the students and whānau who are giving their time to ensure these chickens receive such high-quality care in our school environment.

We’re excited to share an egg-citing opportunity… a few of our chickens have been selected to compete in Christchurch’s premier chicken athletics event – Chicken Stock! 

It would be fantastic to see as many of you there as possible to support Potato, Ripeka, and one more soon-to-be-named representative as they proudly represent Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto in events such as:

• The Egg Pull – a true test of strength as chickens attempt to pull a tray of 12 eggs across the arena
• The High Jump – clearing increasingly difficult obstacles until only one chicken remains
• The Maze – sounds simple… but is it?
• Chicken Dressage – precision routines (yes, really!)
• Roundest Chicken – the quest for the most perfectly spherical chook
• The Legendary Stair Climb – the ultimate poultry showdown
• Best in Show – your chance to vote for your favourite chicken!

You can find more information about the event here:

https://events.humanitix.com/chickenstock

Please note: the photo attached below has been enhanced (slightly) using Artificial Intelligence.'

The Sports Corner

Kia ora koutou,

This section of our newsletter will be dedicated to highlighting the successes and challenges our students are experiencing in sports outside of school. We love seeing our ākonga (students) showing our school values, especially We Love Challenge Nau Mau Te Wero in the community. If your child has had a sporting success that you’d like to share with our community, please email me with a short blurb and photo to: kate.mcgregor@beckenham.school.nz - We’d love to feature it in our next newsletter!

Ngā mihi nui,

Kate McGregor

Sports Coordinator

Tennis Success for Matthew

We’re really proud to share that Matthew from Year 6 was selected to represent Canterbury in the Under-12 squad at the National Teams event during the holidays.

Over four days of competition, the team had a fantastic run and finished as runners-up overall. They had some great wins along the way, including tight 5–4 games against Central and Waikato Bays, a 6–3 win over Northern, and a strong 7–2 victory against Southern.

While Auckland took out the final 3–6, the Canterbury team showed real determination and teamwork throughout the tournament, competing well against some tough opposition.

Primary Sports Canterbury Aquathon

The Aquathon was a fantastic event, with students showing great enthusiasm, determination, and resilience throughout the day. It was awesome to see everyone challenging themselves and supporting one another, creating such a positive and encouraging atmosphere.

A quick shout-out to Samson for his outstanding sportsmanship—encouraging others, showing respect, and being a great role model throughout the event.

PTA News

The Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Readathon is up and running! 

Hopefully, everyone is keeping up with their Daily Reading Target, finding plenty of books to read or share, and getting a few sponsors.  

And why not try to Stop, Drop, and READ together as a whānau!

Additional forms are available from the office. 

The PTA will be at school from Monday, 11th May, to collect sponsorship forms and present a new bookmark to each Reader. 

Book Character Day

On Friday, 15th May, it’s Book Character Day - come to school dressed as your favourite book character!!

PTA Secondhand Uniform Room Hours

The PTA Uniform room is open on Mondays from 2:45 - 3:15pm and on Fridays from 8:45 - 9:15am.

The uniforms are all very reasonably priced, and with the colder weather now here, check to make sure you have a fleece or sweatshirt for your child.

You can pay by cash in the uniform room or by EFTPOS at the office.

BOT Update

Term 2 Policy Review Now Open - SchoolDocs

1. Visit the website https://beckenham.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
2. Enter the username (beckenham) and password (pride).
3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
4. Read the policy.
5. Click the Start your review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
6. Select the reviewer type.
7. Enter your name (optional).
8. Follow the prompts to show that you've read the topic and enter your feedback if you'd like to comment.
9. Agree to the privacy statement and click “Submit review”.

If you don't have internet access, our school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.

Community Notices

(Notices placed here are contingent on space and do not reflect the views or opinions of the school.)

Girls Rugby “Have a Go” Festival Day Sunday 3 May

This fun, girls‑only morning is all about giving rugby a go, building confidence, and having fun with friends in a supportive environment. No previous rugby experience is required.

Event Details

• Date: Sunday 3 May
• Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm (approximately)
• Venue: Burnside Rugby Football Club

 Who Is It For?

This event is open to girls from Rip grade through to Year 8, including:

• Girls who are brand new to rugby and want to have a go
• Girls who want to try tackle rugby or build confidence with new skills
• Current tackle players
• Rippa players who just want to play, connect, and have some fun

Girls will be grouped by age and experience, so everyone feels comfortable and supported.

What to Expect

• Fun skill‑based activities
• Optional contact and tackle‑style sessions (age‑appropriate)
• Games and “have‑a‑go” opportunities
• A mini festival atmosphere with plenty of encouragement
• Support with connecting players to local clubs for future opportunities

We’re also hoping to finish the morning with a BBQ.

How to Register

Register using the link below:

Sunday Girls Festival Day – “Have a Go” Event Registration Link – Fill out form

After School Climbing Club - 5-8 Year old Classes

This term, Boulder Co. Climbing Gym is launching a brand new afterschool bouldering class for 5–8 year olds.

Bouldering is a fantastic activity for young children. It builds:

• Physical strength, coordination, and body awareness

• Confidence and resilience - every problem solved is a genuine achievement

• Problem-solving and focus - kids learn to read a route and think creatively

• Social skills in a supportive and non-competitive environment

• A love of movement that carries well beyond the bouldering gym

2026 Term 2 dates for the 5-8yr old classes:

Tuesdays 4:00pm-5:00pm starting 21st April. Running for 11 weeks.

No experience is needed - our experienced coaches welcome complete beginners and work at every child's own pace in a safe, purpose-built environment. We keep the prices as affordable as possible with options available for non-members and members.

We already run established term programmes for 9-12 year olds and 13-17 year olds, and we're thrilled to now be able to cater to our youngest climbers too. 

Full details on all classes, including days, times, and how to book can be found linked here.