Newsletter – Week 3, Term 3 2023 – Botany Downs Primary School

Kia ora koutou BDS whānau, Week 3, Term 3, 2023

At a recent meeting with the Ministry of Education (MoE), it was confirmed that we are still on target for the opening of our new six classrooms ready for 2024. These classrooms will be for our Year 5 and 6 students. During 2024 the MoE is aiming to take away Rooms 24-27 as our new classrooms will be replacing these.

We are still waiting for an extended time of fine weather before our senior playground, and junior playground climbing net can be completed and opened for our tamariki. The concrete path to the senior playground has been laid so that even if the field is closed our tamariki can still use the playground. We have also had approval from the MoE to build a new sandpit for our junior tamariki which will be built alongside the senior playground. This can also be used if the field is closed as it will be accessible by the concrete path.

We are very fortunate to have so many exciting developments at our kura.

Ngā mihi nui,
Vicki Parkins, Principal – Tumuaki (vickip@botanydowns.school.nz)

Coming up @ BDS…

Wed 2 Aug – PTA Jester’s Pie Day
Tues 8 Aug – HPPA Cross-country
Wed 9 Aug – No Uniform Day – Fancy Dress theme
Mon 14 Aug – ICAS English
Tues 15 Aug – Senior Speech Final
Tues 22 Aug – ICAS Science
Wed 23 Aug – Junior (Yr 0-3) Cross-country / BOT meeting
Thurs 24 Aug – HPPA Speech Final
Fri 25 Aug – HPPA Lit Quiz

SCHOOL NEWS

School Assembly Friday 9.10am

We invite you to attend our school assembly on Friday at 9.10 am.
We will be presenting our Botany Best Certificates and Values Bookmarks.
This week our item will be presented by Room 24.

Congratulations to our following tamariki who have shown their Botany Best by displaying our Capabilities: Eric Li, Daniel Bayani, Paige Monsanto, Baraa Almayah, Mia Cajayon, Darcey McCrindle, Riley Wu, Chenxi Zhao, Harper Timms, Nicole Chen, Khloe Vu, Madeline Wong, Luise Peng, Archie Barson, Nathan Christians, Brayden Yu, Ali Alsharefi, Louis Hunter, Tanush Tailor & Ishnoor Virk.

Congratulations to the following tamariki who have displayed our value of Responsibility-Kaitiakitanga: Hoor Laghari, Hannah Shadbolt, Milaan Doda, Corwin Zhang, Joanna Qiao, Austin Broodryk, Lauren Hayes, Minaya Welivita, Oliver Wu, Tanique Bischoff, Kyan Norton, Liam Manson, Plawan Cowarin, Carter Kenny, Rehoboth John, Skyla Stanley-Hunt, Isaac Angove, Yara El Chami, Ali Moshtagh Askari, Gurparveen Singh & Rishaan Kumar.

We are the kaitiaki for our place in the world.
We show commitment and responsibility for our actions.

BDS Capabilities

This term our Botany Best certificates will be presented to reflect the skills and knowledge our tamariki are developing within these Capabilities.

A curious child uses their passions and interests to explore the world around them with a wondering mind. They ask questions to guide inquiry and develop next steps. They experiment, use tools in a variety of ways to sort thinking and develop understanding. Ākonga gather and analyse data to find answers to their questions and share their learning effectively.

Ākonga understand that te Tiriti O Waitangi celebrates the unique place of Māori culture in Aotearoa New Zealand. They know their whakapapa, are secure in their own cultural identity and respect the cultural identity of others. They celebrate diversity and can value perspectives that may differ to their own. Ākonga are connected to their environment and the wider world and take action to make it a better place.

Ākonga are active participants in designing their learning and can share this. They can seek and act on feedback and feedforward using a variety of assessment tools. Ākonga reflect on their learning. They show an awareness of their audience and can effectively communicate using a variety of literacy skills.

Ākonga have the confidence to drive their own learning. They can reflect on and celebrate their individual successes and the success of others. They believe in their own abilities as a learner and can apply learning to a range of situations. Ākonga show determination, can manage themselves, and have a growth mindset to be the best that they can be.

Year 0-2 Curriculum Information Sessions

On Wednesday 2 August (tomorrow) we are presenting a Junior Literacy session for our Year 0-2 whānau.

If you would like to find out more about our Structured Literacy programme, including reading, writing, and spelling, and how you can further support at home please come along! Mrs Shirley Johnston our Year 0-1 Team Leader will be presenting this session. There will also be time for discussion, and lots of questions of course!

On Wednesday 9 August we will be holding a Junior Maths session taken by Mrs Joanne Hughson.

Both sessions run alongside our current Bright Sparks sessions and are from 9:15 am – 10:15 am in the staffroom.

Please RSVP to Joanne at joanneh@botanydowns.school.nz if you are interested in attending either or both of these curriculum information sessions.

PTA Kitchen Essentials Fundraiser

We have a number of kitchen essentials available for purchase through an online store. Every order helps raise funds for a new junior playground.

Orders close Friday 4th August so get your order in today!
Please enter your child’s name and room number on the order page.

Kitchen Essentials Fundraiser – Click Here to Order

Cook Islands Language Week

This year’s theme for ‘Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani – Cook Islands Language Week is ‘Ātuitui’ia au ki te au peu o tōku kāinga Ipukarea, which means, “connect me to the traditions & culture of my homeland”.

Setting the theme for Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani has never been about stringing together beautiful words. It has always been about intentionally deepening the bonds of our people to their language through their familial ties, through the cultural traditions of their enua/vaka, and the songs, dance, and pe’e’s of their family.

Together, these are the pillars that empower Cook Islanders to be proud in their culture, language, and identity, ultimately reinforcing this year’s theme of ‘Ātuitui’ia au ki te au peu o tōku kāinga Ipukarea.

Children Turning Five – Enrolment

If your child is turning five in the next six (6) months please ensure you enrol them as soon as possible. Our roll is steadily growing and we need to plan for classes and teachers during the year.

Please collect your enrolment pack from the office, or email office@botanydowns.school.nz

Joanne Hughson DP/SENCo – Year 0-3 (joanneh@botanydowns.school.nz)

Learning and Fun @ BDS

Year 3: Room 12 enjoyed performing Matariki plays to their audience. Each group rehearsed their lines and focused on adding expression. They came up with actions and created a range of props to support their performance.

Year 4: Room 21 has been learning about positions and plotting coordinates. They then created questions for a buddy to answer.

LIBRARY NEWS

Read Around the World Competition

Tying in with this term’s inquiry theme of different cultures and countries is a fun reading competition in the library.

To enter, students need to read six fiction books set in different countries and have their book ‘passport’ signed by their teacher. Completed ‘passports’ go into the draw to win a Hoyts movie voucher.

Teachers have details and passport sheets. Entries close Monday 19 Sept (last week of term), and the prize is drawn Tuesday 20 Sept.

** Please note: the books can either be BDS library books, books from home, or books from a public library.

Happy reading!

COMMUNITY NOTICES