Let the performances being ...

Ali Baba hit the stage today and was a roaring success, the teachers were in hysterics and the kids loved it. Megan had many children come up to her at lunch-time and ask if they could 'do that' when they got to Year 7. You are in for a treat! Remember evening performances on Tuesday and Thursday, all children need to be at school by 6:45.

Week Update

Our busy time continues, please check important reminders below...

Reminders for Year 8:

• Get Filadelfio's slip and money back this week if you intend going to the Leavers' Dinner on Friday Dec 6th.
• Return RSVP for Leavers' Graduation by Dec 6th. Leavers' Graduation is on Thursday Dec 12th starting at 11am, followed by a luncheon put on by the PTA. If you have not received an invitation, please check your child's bag or let your child's teacher know.
• Bring or email your 'first day at school photo' to class teachers by Friday Dec 6th. (see below)

Reminders for Year 7 & 8:

• Full dress rehearsal for Ali Baba this Friday.
• Ali Baba performances next week: Mon Dec 2nd, at 1:45, Tues Dec 3rd at 7pm, must be at school by 6:45 in costume with any makeup requirements done and the same story on Thursday Dec 5th, again a 7pm start. Evening performances will be finished by 8pm.
• Return permission slips for Cansail to class teachers.
• Bring non-perishable food and gifts for 'Fill the Bus' (see below) to school by Dec 6th. 
• Any school sports uniforms are required back at school now. 
• Home learning is only maths, due Friday December 6th.
• Canterbury Athletics, Wednesday Dec 4th, meet at 6:46am at Hillview Christian School, on Wilson's Rd. Notice coming home very soon.
• Sport (bike for cyclists) is this Friday for everyone. Next Thursday (5th), only for cyclists.

2014 in the Intermediate Team will be quite different. We will be all based in Rooms 16 - 18, the Intermediate Hub, with four teachers and a few walls missing to create a larger modern learning environment space. Children will still have a home-teacher, however in reality they will all have four teachers involved in their learning. Exciting times!! We are on the lookout for some furniture to use in our bigger space, in particular - a table (dining sized), tall tables suitable for standing at, couches, comfy chairs etc. If you have something suitable that you are willing to donate, please talk to or email your child's teacher.

Week 6 Update

We are in the middle of a rather busy time at the moment! Here are a few quick messages and reminders.

Good luck to the Slow Pitch and Kiwi Tag teams who are representing Beckenham at the summer tournament tomorrow, Wednesday Nov 20th. Those not taking part are to bring togs; we are going to have a free swim.

On Thursday we have a small group of talented writers going to the South Learning Centre for the 'Speed Date an Author' course.

Year 8 children brought home a notice today about the Leavers' Dinner on Dec 6th. This has a reply slip that needs to be returned along with money.

Bacon fundraiser order forms went home last week. If you haven't seen one, there are spare copies in Room 19. Get your order in by next Friday, Nov 29th. This is another fund raising venture for the Dunedin camp next year.

There are a small number of Year 8s who are still to return their profile for the Leaver's Yearbook. This will be finished and ordered by this Friday. Please ask your Year 8 if they have got themselves organised!

Ali Baba: This is the biggie. Excitement is building as we approach performance week. Next week we will have rehearsals every day, with the dress rehearsal for the school on Friday. We will be giving three performances; a matinee on Monday Dec 2nd for Thorrington and St Peters Schools, and two evening performances, Tuesday Dec 3rd and Thursday Dec 5th. Performances involve ALL Year 7 & 8 students. A notice with important details is coming home later this week.

Backdrop for Ali Baba under construction.

Another couple of horses come to life, to add to the herd.

Great fun at Top Team

The sun came out and we had an awesome time at Top Team on Friday. The teamwork was crucial to success and we saw it in bucket-loads. Special congratulations to the Room 17 team whole came in first place. A big thanks to all the parents who helped to run each event, we couldn't have done it without you.

Week 4 Update

A big thanks to all of those who worked to make Quiz Night such as success; the parents who helped to set up and run the evening,  the students who spent Saturday afternoon moving furniture and decorating the Hall, the students who made the decorations and the people / organisations who donated the prizes. A super huge thanks to Leigh, Kathryn and Phil who made it all happen. The final total isn't in yet, but it looks like we have raised a very healthy sum for the 2014 Intermediate Team Camp to Dunedin.

Congratulations to all of our leadership award recipients, who were presented with their awards at PRIDE Assembly on Friday. A special congratulations to our six Gold Leaders.

This Friday we have our Top Team event starting at 11am. If the past two years are anything to go by, this will be a fun filled and mind stretching morning. All children need to bring a change of clothes and a towel. We are in need of parent helpers. If you are available, please contact Tracy in Room 17.

Zone sports are this Wednesday. Children involved will spend the whole day at Hansen Park. With 40 Year 7 & 8s competing, the rest of the team will be taking part in an alternative programme back at school. Good luck to all our athletes, give your very best and have fun.

Week 3 Update

Athletics: We were very impressed with the fabulous attitude and effort displayed by all of Year 7 & 8 at our Athletic Sports. The staff from Room 20 (the Ferndale unit) commented on how inclusive and positive our children were of the Room 20 students. Many thanks to those of you who helped to run events or supported the children. Next week Bruce Rodger will establish who will be doing what at the Zone Sports, which are on Wednesday Nov. 6th.

Health Topic: We are about to start our Changes at Puberty topic. This is a series of 4 lessons looking at the changes that occur to girls and boys at puberty and the daily routines associated with these. If you would like more information on what we teach, please drop in to see me in Room 19.

Quiz Night: We hope you have got your team together and bought your tickets for Quiz Night on November 2nd. We are still looking for two more adults to help out on the night, please contact nicky.dunlop@beckenham.school.nz if you can help out. We are also looking for a group of Year 7 & 8s to help decorate and set up the Hall on the Saturday afternoon, bonus leadership points will be given for this. If you have not yet sent in your donation for the hampers, a non-perishable grocery item or something for the 'Pamper Pack', please do so ASAP.

Leadership Awards: Bronze, Silver and Gold leadership Awards will be presented at the next PRIDE Assembly on November 1st.

Top Team is coming up on the morning of November 8th. This is a fun packed event that sees the children working through a diverse range of team challenges, several involving water. We need parent help to run this event. This is a great chance to see your children in action, working with others. Please let Tracy know, in Room 17, if you can help out.

Year 8 Leavers' Yearbook: The Year 8s need to get their Yearbook Profile completed and handed in ASAP, it is now overdue. Please remind your child to get this done. It involves asking a teacher to write a memory they have of them, any teacher who is still at Beckenham, as well as asking a friend to write a memory and writing their own.

Dowelling Needed: We are making 14 hobby horses for Ali Baba and need some dowelling for their 'stick bodies'. If you have an old broom stick etc lying around, please sent it to Room 19.

Carisbrook Exchange

We had a fabulous morning of competition against Carisbrook School today. Great skill, great support and a lovely vibe. Beckenham won the football and the netball, and Carisbrook took out the basketball in a very close game. A big well done to all students, you played hard and were very positive in your support of all teams.

Football result was 1:4

While Beckenham had the lead in the first half, the second half of netball was closely fought.

The supporters enjoyed the action from the viewing deck.

Basketball was the closest game with Carisbrook winning 26:28.

We thanked Carisbrook for initiating the first of many exchanges between our schools.

Beckenham takes out the trophy.

Many thanks to Carisbrook for gifting us a lovely elm tree.

Leadership Awards

We will be awarding the following leadership awards at our next PRIDE assembly on November 1st.

Bronze	Silver	Gold
Briearnah  Ryan  Simone  Zhenya  Cougar  Lucy  Dominic  Tahlia  Cameron Finn  Flynn	Abigail  Sam P Alyssa  Isabella  India  Beth Georgia  Melanie  Lily  Keiana	Henry  Niamh  Sabine  Jessica L Andrew Leni

Fabulous effort from all of you. There will be opportunities to earn extra points this term for those Year 8s especially who are striving from Silver or Gold by the end of the year.

A superb day on the snowy slopes of Mt Hutt!

A big thanks to everyone who helped make our ski day possible: the mums and grans who made the arm bands, the people who lent their clothing, the families who let us practice with their gear at school and the parents who guided nervous skiers down the mountain. Despite the weather, we had a fabulous day. Children experiences many emotions during the day, ranging from fear to elation. The smiles on their faces and the stories on the bus were priceless.

Getting the hang of stopping gracefully took a wee while.

Ready to tackle the challenge of the quad chair green run.

Half way down and lots of smiles.

Guidance and advice from the experienced to the newbies.

Satisfaction after a great day on the slopes.