Friday, 21 June 2013

Week 8 Update

Wild Weather: Many thanks to those of you who came to collect your children from school this morning, as the snow started to come down and settle. Less than a third of the Intermediate Team arrived today and we now have  a very small group enjoying movies and hot milo in Room 17.

Camp 2014: At the BOT meeting this week, approval was given for our proposed school camp to Dunedin next year; April  7 - 11 which is the second to last week of term 1 2014. Our next step is to investigate fundraising possibilities. If you have any great ideas, please let us know. More details soon.

Ski Day: Just to confirm our ski day next term is on Thursday September 19. Tracy Inwood and I are spending an orientation day for school coordinators at Mt Hutt this Sunday, will have more details after that.

Good Luck to our chefs: A big congratulations to Beth, Ella, Lucy and Georgia for getting through to the South Island finals of the Maggi Kitchen Countdown for Intermediate Schools. We wish them all the best for the next stage of the competition next Friday (June 28).

Art Exhibition: All classes are currently busy creating wonderful works of art for the Beckenham School Art Exhibition in the last week of term.We look forward to sharing their creativity with you from July 9 - 11.

Good luck to our cross country team, Jacob, Jack M, Melanie, Briana, Domanic, Naquita, Cougar, Emily and Cameron. These fine runners will be representing Beckenham at the Canterbury Cross Country Competition on Wednesday June 26th at Halswell Quary. Thank you to the parents who have offered to help with transport


Sunday, 16 June 2013

Week 7 Update

A rather exciting Intermediate Team Waiata with a special guest.
Hugs, autographs, questions and excitement were rife on Thursday afternoon when Cassie came to visit.


Rescheduled: We have rescheduled our ski day, due to a clash with Year 8 testing at Cashmere High.

  • Year 8 testing at Cashmere: Thursday September 12
  • Year 7 & 8 Ski Day: Thursday September 19

Good luck to our team of cross country runners who are off to compete at the Canterbury Cross Country on Wednesday this week, June 19.

Mini-Movies: the media team are currently taking movie footage to create mini-movies that will promote Year 7 & 8 at Beckenham. Over a series of three Mondays, starting next week, these students will work with Carole Kendall from N.E.T to learn how to edit and produce their movie. These will be full day sessions, run here at school. 

Sport Highlight: On Friday the Breakers basketball team played Sacred Heart, who are top of the table. We knew this would be a tough game and thought the score would be very high to them and rather low to us. Boy, did the Beckenham Breakers play a stunning game! Two minutes from the final hooter the sore was 6:6, then Sacred Heart scored 1 from a free throw. Nothing was scored in the final minute, then Jimmy put up a shot as the hooter went off; the Beckenham crowd and players went wild!! Unfortunately he was a split second too late and the basket wasn't counted. So Sacred Heart continued their winning form, but boy did the Beckenham Breakers give them a fright. Awesome playing Jimmy, Jack R, Jack T, Sabine, Ryan, Oscar, Sam B and James, can't wait for the next game. 

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Week 6 Update

Mini- Showcase: It was wonderful to see so many of you at our showcase last Thursday. Thanks for your support. If you lent any items for costumes and would like these back please let me know, in Room 19.

We have had the following message from Shirley Boys High School:
Please remind your Year 8 boys about the upcoming scholarship examination:

C V Gallagher Trust Scholarship Exam
Thursday 13th June 2013
1.00-3.00pm
Spartans Room (PE block, entrance off North Parade)

Upcoming Event: We have booked in  Ski Day at Mt Hutt on Thursday the 12th of September. We will be asking for parent helpers early next term. More information coming later.

Tuesday, 4 June 2013

Week 5 Update

Mini Showcase Evening: This Thursday in the school hall. A chance to see J-Rock, Red Riding Hood (Drama Workshop) and the senior chorale. All children need to be at the school hall by 5:50, dressed and made-up (if necessary) for J-Rock performance. Please enter the Hall via the side doors on the senior side of the school. The evening should conclude by 7pm.

ICAS Science Test: This test is tomorrow, Wednesday.

Being a Cyber-Citizen: During this term each Year 7 & 8 class will spend 2 sessions at the South Learning Centre learning about being a cyber-citizenship and making wise choices when using technology. Rooms 16, 17 and 18 have had their first session. Room 19 is going this Thursday. These sessions are free.

Science Inquiry: Each class in the intermediate team is launching into a science inquiry under the umbrella concept of 'Change'. While some classes are underway, others are discussing possible contexts for study. More news on our findings as the term progresses.

Home Learning: By now all Action English workbooks, Science and Maths Badge cards and Mathletics memberships should be underway / delivered. If you child is still to receive what they need to complete home learning this term, please contact their class teacher.

Wednesday, 22 May 2013

Well that was J-Rock!

What a fabulous day we had yesterday. Hopefully your child came home fizzing about the experience last night. They stepped up and did us proud with a performance packed with energy, smiles and lots of precision. We came away with 8 excellence awards ... we were stoked! Today we spent an hour de-briefing, sharing highlights and observations, looking at photos and enjoying the buzz of the previous day. The children asked if we would do it again next year, with rather tired expressions (it's been a pretty major undertaking), we replied that we were thinking of 2015. We asked who would be keen to do it again and I think nearly every Year 7 hand was raised and raised very high!

A huge thanks to the 'dinner ladies' who arrived early so that dinner could be served as soon as the children had attended the final production meeting. The hot-dogs were delicious, and enviously eyed up by other schools.

One of the big highlights of the day was being with the high schools. Seeing what they put together was very inspiring and the children loved watching their dress rehearsals. The high school kids interacted really well with the J-Rockers and gave the children a lovely snapshot of the exciting stuff that lies ahead at high school. After listening to the high schools revving it up, our kids are now very keen to create a school chant.

We have decided to purchase the school package of photos, this will mean that you can access digital images of the performance (at least 150 of our own J-Rock) free of charge, with no watermark. We will let you know as soon as these are available and where to access them.

Enjoy the photos (below) that were taken from the wings, not the professional version just yet. We would love to hear what you thought by clicking the 'no comments' or 'comments' below and leaving a message.



Tuesday, 21 May 2013

Race to the Neck

Last term 10 of our talented young writers created a radio play while working with the Christchurch School For Young Writers. Listen to their play by visiting Plains FM.


Sunday, 19 May 2013

Week 3 Update

J-Rock: Tuesday is the big day. Final reminders are coming out on School-links or a paper notice on Monday. A big thanks to all of the wonderful parents who have helped us to put this performance together; the costume finders, dress-makers, prop constructors and meal preparers. It has been a true team effort. A huge thanks to Megan Harris who has been our J-Rock director and the one who has dealt with the numerous forms and emails. This has been a huge undertaking, but when we see the enjoyment and buzz in the children, we know it has been worth the effort.

Winter Sport starts this week. Please make sure children are prepared with footwear, shin pads, mouth guards as required. Uniforms will be handed out later this week.

Basketball is underway. The Breakers had their first game and first win last Friday. The Baskets will have their first game on May 27th.

A huge well done to our Duathlon Team who did us proud last Wednesday, and a big good luck to our Cross Country Team who will compete at the zone event on Wednesday morning.

ICAS computer test will be held on Monday morning. This is earlier than scheduled due to J-Rock.

Fire Safety: This Thursday afternoon we have Michael Balmer from the fire service visiting, to talk with our team about fire safety.