Newsletter – Week 10, Term 1, 2022

Kia ora koutou BDS whānau,                                                                Week 10, Term 1, 2022

The continued amazing weather has really added to the happy, engaged atmosphere at BDS.  

Due to the government changes in our COVID response in Red, this week we no longer need to restrict numbers of students outside in the playground.  This has meant there has been huge excitement as our tamariki chose where they could play outside at morning tea and lunch.  Our beautiful huge grounds have meant students are still well spaced out and have so much more room to play.

Our tamariki can now enter the school grounds from any gate.  However, we do ask if at all possible, to continue entering by the gate you have been using as this has made a huge difference to the congestion on Mirrabooka Ave.  Students will continue to sit down outside their classrooms if they arrive before 8.30 am.

All our other protocols in managing Omicron will continue to be in place:  mask wearing for whanau, staff and students of Years 4-6, staying home if sick, hand sanitising, hand washing, good ventilation and using our Co2 monitor, and no school assemblies or large gatherings inside.

We are continuing to ask for any adults to only come on site if absolutely necessary e.g. Year 1 parents, and for all adults to wear a mask and not to go into the classrooms.

We have had very few Omicron cases at BDS and since the 21st March, only five positive COVID cases. We will continue to notify the class if there has been a positive COVID case in the classroom.  At BDS we have not seen any in-class transmission and it is wonderful that our students are back at school.

Please remember next week school finishes on Wednesday 13 April as we have a teacher only day on Thursday and Friday is a public holiday.

Ngā mihi nui,

Vicki Parkins Principal vickip@botanydowns.school.nz
Mark Insley marki@botanydowns.school.nz
Joanne Hughson joanneh@botanydowns.school.nz 

Coming up @ BDS…

Wed 13 Apr – ANZAC assembly
Thurs 14 Apr – Teacher Only Day
Thurs 14 Apr – Last day of Term 1
Fri 15 Apr – Good Friday (public holiday)
Mon 2 May – First day of Term 2

SCHOOL NEWS

Botany Best & Values Awards

Well done to the following children who will receive their awards on Friday:

Botany Best: Francis Sekona, Troy Viljoen, Braxton Bills, Alofa Vaolele, Jennifer Wu, Taye Yon, Daisy Wu, Grant Leslie, Selina Mulipola, Ethan Rodricks, Lycan McCord, Tatum Budd, Dillon Jardine-Trail, Ethan Brown,  Ayden Speck, Blake Manson, Roselynne Tokai, Lillie Cross, Ruben Hunter, Ninke Du Plessis, Ishnoor Virk, and Gary Taing.

Values Award: Willow Cox, Kyle Forrest, Hoani Taylor-Wihongi, Juping Qi, Wickus Botha, Ethan Liu, Autumn Jacobs, Arlie Clements-Goh, Bruno Hussey, Isaac Su’a, Mason Huang, Carter Kenny, Teagan Andrew, Gurparveen Singh, Ofa Fifita, Noah Nagoorsamy, Kyan Norton, Kayde Herbert, Callum Budd, Kayla De Lange, Annabel Duan, Dorothy Wu, and Liam Rameka.

Road Safety Reminder

Please remember to keep the road outside our school safe for the children by….

• Using the road patrol to cross the road
• Parking down the road and walking in
• Not doing U turns near the road patrol 

We are all here to set the right examples for the children, teach them good habits and keep them safe.

Thank you!

Kylee Holmes, Road Patrol and Travelwise Co-ordinator (kyleeh@botanydowns.school.nz)

Room 1

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs Frost for being such a valued member of BDS.  Mrs Frost is leaving us to have her second child and we wish her all the very best.

Mrs Vanessa Childs and Mrs Anna Marck will be teaching Room 1 in a job share position. We are very fortunate that both teachers have been working in BDS and will be able to liaise with Mrs Frost for a seamless handover of the class.

BDS Learning and Fun

Year 6 – Room 18 has been working hard learning more about ANZAC and remembering the Heroes that were involved.  We began the creation of our ANZAC Wreath that will be displayed at our assembly on Wednesday in Week 11.  Each student crafted an individual poppy that will be added to our wreath with their names on the back.

Year 4 – Room 26 wrote and presented their pepeha to the class. They created a Korowai and designed the feathers with symbols that mean something to them and their family.

Year 2 – Room 2 Elmer is helpful and Elmer is kind and Elmer is happy to help everybody. Elmer is colourful. Elmer makes people laugh. Elmer is my favourite. By Miane Cronje

BDS Collection for Salvation Army

This week, in conjunction with Pakuranga Tamaki River Rotary Auxiliary and Elm Park School, we are collecting donated food and toiletry items that will be delivered to the Salvation Army and St Columba Church to assist those in need. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Canopy Starting a Week Earlier

Great news! Our canopy for the junior area is starting a week earlier and they are hoping to have this completed by Friday.  

LIBRARY NEWS

Thank you to everyone who ordered books from the Scholastic Lucky Book Club last week. Orders will be distributed to classrooms once they arrive at school.

We appreciate your support! Each order helps the school gain valuable resources, and builds your child’s reading enjoyment!

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Pay the kindo way: https://botanydowns.school.nz/kindo/