Weeks 1 and 2, Term 2 in Pōhutukawa

Fear Factor

Last Wednesday, our team participated in a writing motivation called Fear Factor. The whole team was outside on the basketball court, ready to participate in some challenges. Names were drawn out of a hat, and there was the opportunity to agree to participation or not, before knowing what the challenge was going to be. It was a bit scary!

The activities were:

Egg Smash - smash an egg on your head. Did you get a hard boiled egg, or was it raw?

Frozen toes - who could get the most marbles out of a container of ice with just their toes?

Eat an eyeball - who was brave enough to eat an eyeball? (lychee, strawberry jam and blueberry!)

Fly fishing - how many flies could be picked off a pile of worms? (currants and Spaghetti)

Pick 2 - pick 2 cards to see which combinations of the following foods you have to eat - chocolate sauce, mustard, 100s and 100s, sardines and hot Japanese peas.

Much fun was had. Many emotions were felt - anticipation, nervousness, disgust, fear, excitement, glee, shock. This was the idea! The piece of writing the students are currently working on is all about an emotion. They are to write about an experience, event or idea, through the lens of an emotion. When the reader reads the piece of writing, they should be able to pick which emotion the writer is experiencing due to the vocabulary, build up and phrasing. If you would like to read what your child has written so far, they have been writing on Google Docs, which means you can view the writing at home.

Bright colourful balloons were dotted around the garden. A  beautiful unicorn pinata was hanging on the small oak tree, a metal baseball bat was lying on the lush green grass beside it. As my friends started strolling through the gate, their heads cocked to the side while they admired my party layout, I felt myself jumping up and down, itching to start the party. 

Introduction by Grace Howard

I felt like wearing black. In the morning, everything had seemed cloudy, and dismal. Under my crusty uniform I wore black. Everything seemed to irritate me. The day just didn’t feel 100%. Why did we have to go to school? Then I probably could have spent more time with my beloved. 

Introduction by Ava Howard

I sat on the grassy field trying to hide the fear that was quickly building up inside me, as I thought about the horrendous cross country. My whole body was shaking vigorously as I waited for the first race to begin, which would remind me how terrifying my race would be. The butterflies in my stomach were  bigger than ever and I started to freak out. Soon my race was called out and I reluctantly stood up and shakily walked onto the school park. I was wishing this horrible day would end so I could go home and relax, but sadly that was not the reality I was facing. Adelene and I  began to slowly walk onto the field, savouring every moment of not running. 

By Vida Gerard

Cross country

What a beautiful day it was on Monday for our school cross country. We felt confident that the students had completed a lot of training, as well as had a walk through of the course, so were well prepared for the race. The teachers were very impressed with the participation level and were so proud of all of the students for trying their hardest and giving it a go. 

Congratulations to those students who finished in the top 6 for their year level, and have qualified for the Zones cross country. Good luck!

CCC (Cool Curriculum Classes)

This term we have changed our CCC topics. The students (in their home group) have a 30 minute lesson each week with each teacher:

Katie - Library

Tracy - Culture (NZ culture and then on to other cultures)

Gayle - Well being/mindfulness

Steve - Music

Rae - Coding

Passions

This term we have offered for passions: sewing, art (collage), sports/games, techy stuff (enhancing Google Slides and adding voice overs) and Japanese.

Winter sport

Winter Sport starts on Friday 17th of May and continues each Friday until mid-August. Winter Sport is an optional event. While there is a competitive element to Winter Sport, the primary focus is on fun and participation. Many thanks to the parents who are volunteering their time to coach and manage teams; we couldn’t offer this opportunity without your support. 

Children who are not participating in Winter Sport will participate in an alternative sports programme at school. 

Football, hockey and netball games will be held at Hagley Park while hockey will be at Nunweek Park. The children will travel to their games by bus and a request for a donation to cover this cost will be added to your child’s account. 

Children will be provided with a polo shirt, football shirt or netball dress to wear for their games. Hockey players will be provided with a stick if they need one. On Winter Sport days, children may come to school in their sports uniform provided that they also have a red fleece or senior jacket that they can wear over the top whilst at assembly. Netball players should come to school in their school uniform and get changed at morning tea. 

On occasion, winter sport may be cancelled due to bad weather. This call is not usually made until 10:30 and so children should come to school with their gear even on days when the weather looks dubious. 

Gear List

The following gear list has essential items that your child will need every Friday. It is a part of their commitment to their team that they come prepared each week. Failure to bring items may result in your child being unable to play. 

All children

A warm layer to put on after their game

Drink bottle

Personal medication (such as inhalers)

No jewellery should be worn

Football 

Football boots (not compulsory)

Shin guards

Hockey

Shin Guards

Mouth Guard

Netball

Hair must be tied back and nails kept short

The children will return to school in time for the end of the school day. 

Staff Only Day on Monday 20 May

A reminder that the school is closed on Monday 20 May, week 4, due to a Staff Only Day.

 

Week 10 in Pōhutukawa

Passions in week 10

The teachers and students are looking forward to the five sessions of passions coming up this week. 

The groups are:

Pip - cooking (please remember to bring your ingredients, and an apron if you'd like)

Tracy - ball games 

Rae - book creator 

Katie - tiki art 

Steve - korfball (have a look at this clip to see what korfball is all about)

Gayle - sewing

The times for these sessions are:

Monday          2 - 2:50pm

Tuesday          12 - 12:45pm

Wednesday     2 - 2:50pm

Thursday        12 - 12:45pm

Friday             9:40 - 10:30am

If you are free during any of these times and would like to pop into our hub to give either Pip or Gayle a hand, we would welcome you with open arms!

Winter sports begins next term

Winter Sport starts in Term 2, Week 3. Winter Sport is optional.

Children who don't go to Winter Sport will do an alternative programme at school. This will more than likely be sport based.

Trials will be held on Tuesday afternoon this week, due to the number of children who have  registered their interest. Unfortunately, not everyone who wants to go to Winter Sport is able to. We are allowed a maximum of two teams from each year group in each sport. For example, 2 Pōhutukawa teams in netball, 2 in hockey and so on. Our ability to take this number of teams depends on the number of parents who volunteer to manage a team. If someone in your whānau takes a team, your child will be guaranteed a place on a team.

We will do our best to give as many children who want it this opportunity.

Children who are selected for a Winter Sports team must commit to the whole season and attend practices during lunch time.

In the past, Winter Sport has taken place at Hagley Park and Nunweek Park. We go to Winter Sport by bus on Friday afternoon, usually leaving school around 12:30 and returning by 3pm.

If you are able to help in any way, please fill in the attached form.

Huxster Mountain Bike Race

On Friday, a number of our very brave and adventurous students showed grit and persistence by riding in the Huxster mountain bike race at Mcleans Island.  While the rest of us layered up and hunkered down inside, these intrepid cyclists were enduring the elements. Congratulations to all of the students who took part. 

Have a fabulous Easter and enjoy the time with your children over the break.

Week 8 in Pōhutukawa

Two weeks left before the school holidays! Doesn't time fly?!

Cross country training

At the moment the students are training daily in preparation for the school cross country, which is on Monday 6 May (Term 2 Week 2). We are encouraging individual goal setting, with regards to the amount of jogging and the distance being run in the time given. Wearing appropriate footwear certainly helps and we have impressed upon the students that long distance running is as much  mental persistence and perseverance as physical. A positive and can do attitude goes a long way to improving performance.

Winter Sport

Winter sport is coming up next term. On a Friday afternoon, a number of Year 5-8 students travel to Hagley Park by bus to compete against other schools. The range of sports offered to the students is dependent on the number of coaches we have for the teams. Whānau helping out with winter sports means we can offer more options to the students. Please click on the link below and fill out the form if you are able to help as a coach or manager.

Winter Sport Form

Passions

In Week 10 we are offering five sessions of Passions. Passions are an area of interest the teachers have chosen to share with the hub. We have chosen six passions to offer the students: cooking, sewing, ball sports, tiki art, book creator and korfball.  A Google Form has been sent out to each child, and they will get to rate the options, in order to make the groups.

Gayle is taking the sewing passion, and would really appreciate help from willing adults on any of the days. She would also appreciate donations of material or thread.

Days and times of passion lessons:

Monday 8 April              2 - 2:50pm

Tuesday 9 April              12 - 12:40pm

Wednesday 10 April       2 - 2:50pm

Thursday 11 April           12 - 12:40pm

Friday 12 April                9:40 - 10:30am

Please contact Gayle if you are able to help out at any of those times.

Learning Through Play

Some fun learning took place this afternoon!

Pōhutukawa reminder for Wednesday 20 March

School photos today

This is a reminder that school photos will be taken today. Time for swish hair dos, sparkling faces and pressed uniforms!!

Fresh fruit or vegetable snack break starts on Monday in Pōhutukawa

Fresh fruit or vegetable snack break starts on Monday in Pōhutukawa

This is a reminder that we are introducing a fresh fruit or vegetable snack at 9:35am tomorrow. The children will be able to grab a piece of fruit or vegetable on the way to maths. This is optional, and a trial at this stage.

Term 1 Week 6 in the Pōhutukawa team

Zone Swimming Sports

Good luck to all of the swimmers representing our school on Thursday at Jellie Park in the zone swimming sports. These students have achieved amazingly well to reach this level and we hope they have a great time.

Stella Gillman, Connor Ingram, Emma Reedy, Zoe Clarke, Lola Harris, Olive Morel, Charlotte Ryder, Ilia Henderson, Tahere Taylor, Eli McGuigan, Quinn Clarke, Cooper Reddecliffe, William Pooch and Fergus McMillan.

Hydrating and eating

While we have always encouraged the students to drink plenty of water throughout the day, and to eat regularly, we have decided to make drinking water regularly throughout the day a focus for all students. During each transition time (when we swap from one learning activity to the next - music to maths, reading to writing), we are going to ask the students to have a drink of water. We have talked about the benefits of drinking lots of water, from hydrating our brain and muscles, to flushing out any toxins, so the students understand the importance of drinking water. Hopefully you will notice your child's water bottle returning home empty, or having been refilled during the day!

Along with encouraging drinking more water, starting from Monday we will be offering a chance for a fresh fruit or vegetable snack at 9:35am. 9:35 is the transition time from our Cool Curriculum Classes (library, music, PE, drama and coding) to maths. On the way to maths the children will be asked to have a drink of water, and then they have the option of grabbing a piece of fresh fruit or vegetable. When they get to maths there may be a maths picture book to listen to, a puzzle to be worked out on the teaching station screen or a maths video clip to watch, while they are munching. Ideally the fruit should be able to be eaten within five minutes. We think that having a healthy snack at this time will revitalise the students, and will promote further focus. This healthy snack will be optional, and restricted to only fresh fruit or vegetables.

Examples of fresh fruit and vegetables - carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, a mandarin, grapes, a kiwifruit, a banana, an apple, pear, celery sticks or any fruit cut up and in a container, such as melon, pineapple, orange etc.

Learning Through Play

On Friday afternoons, we have been providing activities and opportunities for the students to learn through play. This type of learning is a significant part of the Year 0-4 teams' programmes, and we are dabbling in it on Friday afternoons. During this time the students have lots of choice, and choose where, with whom and what they play or play with. Usually there is lots of creativity, collaboration, problem solving and imaginative play involved, which is fabulous to see. Some of the opportunities for the students involve woodwork and water play outside. We would love to expand our equipment and tools, with these two activities particularly. If you have any spare tools, pipes to run water through, buckets, watering cans, bubble wands, a water table, or anything which could be used for creating or making - material off cuts, wool, wood, nails, screws, we would be forever grateful. If you are able to help out with any supplies, please pop them into the hub to any of the teachers.

Innovation

On Monday and Wednesday afternoons we have been looking at innovation, what this means, the difference between innovation and invention, and how innovation has changed many everyday objects. We have also been looking at making innovations to an object, and eventually, this will all lead to the students coming up with their own innovative ideas. During this time there has been lots of collaboration, lots of research, looking at innovations and innovative people.

Term 1 Weeks 3 and 4 in Pōhutukawa

Swimming Sports

Congratulations to all of our students who entered the school swimming sports which was held at Wharenui Pool. For our Year 5 children it was the first time they have been eligible to enter a senior school event, and we were impressed with the number of students who took up the challenge.

Good luck to the swimmers who have qualified for the zones swimming sports being held on Thursday 14 March at Jellie Park.

Pitch Perfect

On Friday all of those Pōhutukawa children who were interested in joining the Pōhutukawa Pitch Perfect choir were given a letter, with a slip at the bottom which needs to be signed and returned to Katie. Please speak with your child and ensure that they are aware that joining the choir requires commitment. Choir members will need to attend regular practices during school time, as well as be available for performances in and outside of school time. The Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival requires confirmation of the number of children who will be participating from Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. The music festival is on during the week of 5th - 8th November. We will perform on one night during this week - date to be confirmed.

Duathlon

Our school duathon is on the afternoon of Tuesday the 5th of March (this Tuesday). This is an optional event and an awesome opportunity for the children to show our school kete value ‘We love challenge’. House points are awarded to all competitors in recognition of their participation. 

The course will be the same as in previous years. The children run a lap of the park, followed by a lap of the block, (Eastern Terrace, Fisher Avenue, Norwood Street). They then collect their bike from the Norwood Street side of the park and follow a serpentine course in Beckenham Park. Year 5 and 6s do one lap of the bike course, while Year 7 and 8s do two laps. After completing the bike course, the children leave their bike at the Norwood park entrance and run the block in the opposite direction, finishing back in the park. At no point do the children need to cross a road. 

Before the race, we do a course walk with all competitors and we have lots of marshals on course to support the children in knowing where to go. If you are able to support us by being a marshal on the day, please email me at jenny.diggle@beckenham.school.nz. 

Cool Curriculum Classes (CCC programme)

Last week we began our CCC programme. Each teacher is covering a different curriculum area, teaching a half hour lesson to every class once a week. Each class will have seven lessons for each curriculum area over the term. This term the coverage is:

Katie - drama 

Rae - coding

Steve - music

Gayle - physical education (touch rugby)

Tracy - library