Pōhutukawa Term Two 2020 So Far

Kia ora whānau,

Well done everyone for making it through Level Four and also working through the first week of distance learning at Level Three.  By now we are all settled into our home learning / distance learning routines.  Thank you for all of the positive feedback on our Pōhutukawa Hub Website.  We hope that you are continuing to enjoy the variety of learning challenges that we offer each day.

Distance Learning
We are really enjoying receiving work that the children have been creating. It's great to see photos and videos of their learning too - they help us feel connected with you! Please also remind your child(ren) to click the submit button on any work that they have completed in Google classroom - that way we get a notification and know that the work requires our attention and feedback. We continue to strive to offer a variety of learning activities that will suit each family and their different circumstances. We are very happy to see that the majority of our learners are completing at least one learning challenge from our site each day, as well as using the site (and other resources) to complete numeracy and literacy learning daily. Remember to check the Sharing Our Learning section in our Pōhutukawa Google Classroom stream so that you can see what everyone has been up to! Keep up the great work everyone, and remember we are here to help if you or your child need support with their learning.

If you feel it would be beneficial for us to call you or use Zoom to connect with you and your child about their learning, please email you child's home group teacher and we will set up a time in the school day that suits. Please keep in mind that Steve will be on site at school next Tuesday and Thursday and Anna will be on site on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On these particular days they are busy working with children at school, and so will contact you on the days that they are working from home.

Using Zoom for Learning meetings with students
Last week we opened up Zoom to our Google Suite for students. Our teachers have been using Zoom for their meetings, and find this platform to be far superior to the similar option of Google Meet which some teachers had been using with the children.

Please be aware that your child's security is a top priority for us. To that end, we have the following procedures in place, and we ask you to monitor (as always) what your child is using their school account for at home.

• All Zoom meetings with staff and students will be recorded by the staff member.
• Staff have enabled Zoom 'waiting rooms' meaning that students cannot begin a meeting without the teacher who created the meeting being in the room.
• Students should ideally be in a room where you can at least see them, when they are in a zoom conference. (Bedrooms and bathrooms are not appropriate places for children to be when using social / meeting platforms.)
• Please remind your child that their Google accounts are for school and learning use only. This means that they should not be using their student accounts to engage in Zoom or Google Meets with one another for social purposes. 

We are, however, aware that the children are missing the social connection with their friends that being at school usually provides. With this in mind, we will be holding a Zoom session on Wednesday May 6th at 11am so that any learners who are missing that social connection with their teachers and friends can connect with us. If your child is interested in attending the Zoom (with your support) please email your child's home group teacher and we will send you the login and password. Please click on the link below for some helpful tips on Zoom Protocol.

Video Conference Etiquette at Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto

Celebration Assembly

We have a Celebration Assembly video to share with you - please have a look below! The video is best viewed in full screen.

Cybersafety at Home When Using School Google Log ins

As you may be aware from the school cyber safety agreement, Beckenham te Kura o Pūroto has various cyber safety systems in place in order to keep students safe. We have one system called “Highlights” that we would like you to be particularly mindful of during lockdown.

This system allows teachers to see Chromebook screens and/or Chrome browser tabs whenever that device or browser is signed into a school Google account during school hours. This is an important tool that teachers use to keep students safe and to offer support while students are learning. It also has privacy implications and is one of the main reasons we always ask and remind students to only use their school account for learning purposes. If you want your child to use their personal device/browser for other purposes or without the school cyber safety systems in place, then it is important that students sign out of their school account and sign into a personal account created by you. If your child has borrowed a school Chromebook, they should only be using this with their school login and for learning purposes.

We also utilise a specialised web filtering system to help keep our students safe online. This filter automatically alerts staff whenever a student account is potentially being used to access unsafe content on the internet. Like Highlights, this filter system is active whenever a student is signed into their school account, even if they are at home. If we receive a concerning filter alert during lockdown, we will contact you via email.

It is important to note that teachers never rely on just the filtering system. We work hard to actively monitor students’ screens and always ask students to work in a place where their screens are visible. We strongly encourage you to adopt a similar approach at home by making sure children only use devices in a family area where they can be easily seen. We also encourage you to actively check that your child/children are using the device in a safe and positive manner.

Junior Neighbourhood Support Canterbury challenges you to…

Make a Stop Motion Lego Movie!
You can use lego or other toys to share one part of your Covid-19 isolation time. Some ideas for experience to share include (but are not limited to):

• Keeping 2m away
• Going to the supermarket
• Staying at home
• Leaving the house for exercise
• Easter or ANZAC Day 2020

Send your entries to jns@canterburyns.net before Level 2 ends and we’ll put them into a movie that everyone can watch. If you need some help getting started with Stop Motion, have a look at https://www.instructables.com/id/Stop-Motion-Animation-for-Kids/
Stop Motion Studio is a popular Apple and Android app to use to film and you should only need the free version. If you are using a Chromebook, you may like to try Stop Motion Animator (from the Chrome Web Store).

Thanks again whānau for your support and collaboration in these times. Have a great weekend everyone!

Hello from the Pōhutukawa Hub Teachers!

Kia ora koutou,
We hope you are well.  Please note that we have shared another video with a hello from all of the hub teachers and an update on what we have been doing this week to keep busy! If you could please let your child know to have a look in their Pōhutukawa Google Classroom they will find the video there.
Many thanks,
The Pōhutukawa Team

Keeping in Touch

Kia ora whānau,
We hope that you are all well and enjoying a holiday break in our "new normality".  This is just a short note to let you know that we've sent your child(ren) a video to say hello - they will find it in the Pōhutukawa Class in Google Classroom. We know not all of the children will be checking their school email accounts, so if you could let your child know to head to Classroom when you have time and check it out, we'd greatly appreciate it.
Ngā mihi nui,
Anne, Rae, Anna, Steve, Gayle and Kerilea

Term One Week Seven in Pōhutukawa

Kia ora whānau,

What a busy term we have had so far!

A huge congratulations to all of the children who took part in our Duathlon on Friday.  The Year 5 and 6 children made up 70% of all entrants in the race - we were so proud to see so many of our learners taking part and living our Beckenham te Kura o Pūroto value "We Love Challenge."

COVID-19
We are in unprecedented times with the COVID-19 global pandemic. Our focus at school remains on learning, keeping life as normal as possible for our learners, and ensuring good hygiene practices across the hub.

For our school, our pandemic plan is ready to be implemented if needed. In the mean time we will continue to focus on good hygiene practices. Hand washing and good cough etiquette are very important tools in preventing the spread of illness including colds, flu and COVID-19. We will be supervising the children as they wash their hands prior to eating at morning tea and lunch times.

With that, there is a good video clip from Nanogirl that will help your children to better understand the virus - YouTube clip - Nanogirl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPsY-jLqaXM

You may have also seen the Prime Minister sat down with Dr Michelle Dickinson (aka Nanogirl) and the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Juliet Gerrard, to talk about coronavirus:
Watch on the PM’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=615164082657847
Read and watch on the Newshub website: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/03/watch-health-experts-join-jacinda-ardern-to-dispel-some-coronavirus-covid-19-myths.html

One other action we can all take is to be vigilant about our own health and the health of our children. Sandy is encouraging staff to stay away from school if they are showing signs of illness such as coughs and colds. We ask that you please do the same with your children. Colds and flus are common in schools and by staying away, seeking medical attention and practicing good hygiene, we can all keep any spread of illness to a minimum.

Fair Cancellation

Thanks so much for your support and understanding around the difficult yet necessary decision to cancel the school fair.  Our wonderful PTA are using the Komanawa space to display the art works created by our learners for the fair. These will be available for auction - please feel free to pop in and have a look at them after school any day this week. There are also many mystery bottles for sale, and the silent auctions and raffle are still running.

Year 5 to 8 Sport

Parent Help

Please, follow this link to indicate if you are able to help out with sport this term.  

The aim of our sports programme is to provide exposure to a range of different sporting pursuits. This allows the children to develop movement skills and sequences in a range of contexts while broadening their horizons and discovering their passions. There are a range of events throughout the year. Some of these involve all the children and there are many additional optional opportunities for those who want to extend themselves. Children who enjoy the competitive element of sport can strive to qualify for zone and Canterbury level competition through Primary School Sport Canterbury. If your child is not able to compete for any reason, there are a myriad of alternative ways to be involved. Inclusive practise is always at the heart of what we do. If there is anything that we can do to make an event more accessible for your child, please get in contact with Jenny or your child’s homeroom teacher.




For some optional events, children interested in competing should enter using a Google form, which is accessed through Google Classroom. We aim for the children to develop independence in entering events and we acknowledge that some children may need support with this. Conversations at home about upcoming optional events that may be of interest, and checking in to ensure that they have entered events you would expect them to, is advisable. I have attached the link to entry forms for both swimming and duathlon so that you can go through the process together if needed.

Term 1

Swimming Sports Thursday 27th February

This is an optional event, which takes place at Wharenui Pool. Children may enter one distance per stroke and as many different strokes as they wish. For example, they may enter 25m freestyle and 50m backstroke, but may not enter the 25m and 50m backstroke. The children enter this event via a Google form. This form has been made available to them through Google Classroom. Follow this link to get to the entry form.

Duathlon

Participating in the school duathlon is a fantastic way of showing our school value, ‘We love challenge’. It involves a run around the block, a bike around the park (2 slalom laps for Year 7/8), followed by a second lap of running around the block. The sense of achievement when crossing the finish line makes the hard work worth while. Children need to provide their own bike for this event. Here is the link to the Google form for entries.

Extra-Curricular Sports - Mountain Biking

There are two mountain biking relays that have been very popular in previous years. While these events are promoted by Beckenham te Kura O Pūroto and we are proud for the children to represent our kura, the responsibility of the transport and supervision of children at both events is with the caregiver. Entry for both of these events is done by the caregiver on the event’s website. Follow the link below. Please contact Jenny if you have any questions about either of these events. Email confirmation of your entry to Jenny.




Huxster Mountain Bike Relay - 4th March

Held at Mclean’s Island, this event is a super fun event where children strive to complete as many laps of the course as they can in the time, (1.5 hours for Year 5/6 and 3 hours for Year 7/8). Year 5/6 children must compete in a team of two, while Year 7/8 have the option of doing the event as an individual or in a pair. Children should be confident controlling the speed and direction of their bike on beginner level single track.




Note: This event is much earlier in the term than it previously has been.

Due to its popularity, this event is now being held over two days. Children from Beckenham should enter the South and Mid Canterbury zoned event on the 4th of March.




Hanmer 4 Hour Mountain Bike Relay - 21st March
This event features a variety of options for many age groups. The Super Juniors (6 to 11 years) do a very friendly course through the Heritage Forest. This incorporates a green level single track. Every child must have their own tail end charlie, (an adult riding with them) on every lap. This is a fantastic entry into mountain bike racing for those children who are comfortable controlling their speed and direction on trails similar to those at McLean’s Island and Bottle Lake. Children aged 11 years plus ride the same course as the adults, (and at the same time). This course has more climbing and more technical riding, (think Loess Rider or an easy blue level trail). Children should be confident mountain bikers on easy blue trails. Children compete in a team of up to 4 children.

The last week of 2019 in Pōhutukawa

Monday 16 December

Hut day!

Last week, the children got into groups, planned what their hut would look like and decided on what materials each child would need to bring to school. If your child can't remember what was decided for them to bring, we suggest any of the following: sheets, blankets, tarpaulins, pegs, tape, string, cushions, decorations, fairy lights, large boxes and any other supplies which can be easily carried to school.

The materials are only to be brought to school on Monday and will need to be returned home at the end of the day, to ensure we are looking after our environment.

We expect to see lots of creativity, innovation, kiwi ingenuity, working together and children having lots of fun.

Tuesday 17 December

House games and school picnic - 12pm!

Our amazing house captains will be organising a variety of games and fun activities for their houses. After the fun and play, we will be having lunch in the park. All whānau are invited to this school-wide event.

Wednesday 18 December

Water fun on the park, after lunch!

We will be attending the Year 8 graduation assembly at 11am, and then after lunch there will be fun and games on the park, with regards to water. The children are invited to bring their togs and any water guns they may have. We will set up the slip and slide and the children can have a fun-filled afternoon. Fingers crossed that the weather plays its part!

Thursday 19 December

Last day, school closes at - 12:30pm!

At 10am the students will be visiting their new homegroup for 2020. They will be told which home group they are in prior to 10am and also given a letter to take home. Hopefully having seen who is in their class and knowing who their homegroup teacher is will ensure the children happily enjoy their break, and that they will be looking forward to the new year.

Thank you from us all for your support, in such a variety of ways, over the year. We have had a lovely year with your children, and hope that everyone has a wonderful break. Stay safe and we look forward to seeing everyone who is returning in 2020.

Gayle, Katie, Rae, Steve and Tracy

T4W8 in Pōhutukawa

Kapa haka celebration concert Thursday 5 December 6:30pm

The Pōhutukawa kapa haka group, along with Te Whānau Mahi Tahi and the Kōwhai kapa haka group will be performing on the above date, in the school hall.

This will be Sherrilee's last performance as the teacher in charge of our kapa haka groups. 

Road Patrol training Friday 6 December 9:30

Constable Ross will be training a group of Year 5 students who have kindly volunteered to join the road patrol for next year this Friday. The students will be learning theory and then putting what this into practice on our crossing at Sandwich Road. Keeping our whānau safe while crossing the road is an important responsibility, and we appreciate the students taking this on.

'Thank you' croissant & coffee morning Tuesday 10 December 8:30am

You are invited to our "Thank you..."

There are many people within our school community who go the extra mile to help others and make our school the caring community that it is.  Many thanks to all those who recently made meals and baking for a school family who needed a bit of extra support, your kindness was truly appreciated. Thank you to the people who help with trips, being on the PTA, serving on the Board, baking days, book sorting, and many, many more varied activities around our school, that keep the school running and support our tamariki and our staff.

As a small token of our appreciation as a staff, for the work that parents, grandmas, grandads, aunties, uncles, neighbours, friends and others in our community who do support us, we will be hosting  croissant and coffee on Tuesday December 10th in the staffroom from 8:30 - 9:15am.  We would love to see as many people as possible there.

Sherrilee's farewell assembly Wednesday 11 December 9:30am

We have sadly received the resignation of Sherrilee as our Kaiako Te Reo Maori. Sherrilee has been on our staff for 25 years, and has made a huge contribution to our school through her teaching of te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and kapa haka. Sherrilee has been offered work in secondary schools which she is excited about taking up and we wish her all the very best for that.

We will be holding a farewell assembly next Wednesday morning, from 9:30am. We are inviting past students of Te Whānau Mahi Tahi to attend, along with our current whānau.

We would appreciate if parents of current students could bring along a small plate of food to contribute to the morning tea, as a way of contributing to the 'thank you'.

Hut Day Monday 16 December

Due to 'Hut Day' being such a success last year, we have decided to give the children the opportunity to enjoy such a day again this year. 

Next week, the children will be given time to get into groups, plan what their hut will look like and what materials each child will need to bring to school.

Suggested materials will be sheets, blankets, tarpaulins, pegs, tape, string, cushions, decorations, large boxes and any other supplies which can be easily carried to school.

The materials are only to be brought to school on Monday 16 December, as we do not have the storage facility to keep them at school. All materials brought to school will need to be returned home at the end of the day, to ensure we are looking after our environment.