Newsletter – Week 9, Term 3 2023 – Botany Downs Primary School

Kia ora koutou BDS whānau, Week 9, Term 3, 2023

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, also known as Māori Language Week, is an annual event in Aotearoa that celebrates the Māori language. We have included some suggestions for teaching Te Reo at home in this newsletter. This is also a representation of how Te Reo is taught in our classrooms.

On Friday we wish to celebrate all the cultures in our kura by having a special day where everyone comes together in a Cultural Dress Day followed by a shared lunch in the classrooms. Teachers have sent out further communication around this for you.

We would like to acknowledge the students who presented a wonderful Tongan performance of dance and song last week at our school assembly. We sincerely thank Pamela Sekona, Ofa Fifita, Francis Sekona, and Saane Fifita for sharing their culture with Botany Downs School.

Our boys soccer teams had fun at the William Green Domain in the rain on both days coached by Mr Huskinson and Mrs Hughson. Thank you, parents, for your support and encouragement, despite the weather conditions the boys enjoyed their day. We also had our gymnasts compete in the Tri-Star Gymnastics finals. They did their absolute best and showed great sportsmanship. Thank you, parents, for your support in transporting these students and to Miss Lui and Miss Young for your coaching skills during the year.

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

Coming up @ BDS…

Wed 13 Sept – No Uniform Day
Week 9 – Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori
Thurs 14 Sept – HPPA Netball Day 2 / Chinese Speech Competition
Fri 15 Sept – Cultural Dress Day and Shared Lunch
Wed 20 Sept – Cultural Performance Evening Yrs 0-3
Thurs 21 Sept – Cultural Performance Evening Yrs 4-6
Fri 22 Sept – Last Day of Term 3
Mon 9 Oct – First Day of Term 4

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 from Senior Kapahaka, and our Junior and Senior Dance groups.

Our Capabilities

Congratulations to our following tamariki who have shown their Botany Best by displaying our Capabilities: Leon Lo, Ariyan Atrushi, Ela Uguz, Ava Tang, Yugo Tsuchiya, Annieheta John, Zara Watson, Jordan Claasen, Aria Zhang, Minaya Welivita, Yasser El Chami, Akchai Arunchayan, Angela Wang, Nixon Schwager, Stella McHardy, Cole Redlinghys, Teagan Andrew, Theia Saunders, Isaac Su’a, Logan Baker, Vivaan Sharma, Olivia Wang, Tina Tian, Magda Snyman, & Angela Ni.

Our Values

Congratulations to the following tamariki who have displayed our value of Whanaungatanga, Relationships: Breeannah Clark, Charlotte Pitcaithly, Jaiden Wang, Mac He, Hugo Liang, Bianca Zhang, Sakura Erskine, Demi Tseng, Mannat Gahunia, Kourtney Chan, Xi Yan, Hanro Stoltz, Gus McCrindle, Victor Zhang, Jacob Ndaba, Audrey Arjona, Leroy Singh, Nikit Nandan, Charlie Gao, Michael Joseph, Michael Booth, Elani Venter, Umar Shaheer, Matthew Zhou & Connor Henderson.

Cultural Performance Evenings – Next Week!

Please keep an eye out for permission forms coming home about our Cultural Performance Evenings. It is very important these are read, filled out, signed, and returned to our teachers!

Year 1-3: Wednesday 20th September		Year 4-6: Thursday 21st September
Time	Room/Group	Time	Room/Group
4.45	Year 1 parents can go into hall	4.45	Year 4 Parents can go into hall
5.00	Karakia/Junior Kapa Haka	5.00	Karakia/Senior Kapa Haka
5.10	Year 0/1	5.10	Year 4
5.50	Year 1 parents leave hall and Year 2 parents into hall	5.50	Year 4 parents leave hall and Year 5 parents into hall
6.00	Year 0-3 Dance Group	6.00	Choir (Years 4-6)
6.10	Year 2	6.10	Year 5
6.50	Year 2 parents leave hall and Year 3 parents into hall	6.40	Orchestra (Years 4-6)
7.00	Year 3 Dance Group	6.50	Year 5 parents leave hall and Year 6 parents into hall
7.10	Year 3	7.00	Senior Dance Group (Years 4-6)
7.50	Closing Karakia	7.10	Year 6
		7.50	Bucket Drummers (Years 4-6)
		8.00	Closing Karakia

*Please note: if your child is part of Kapa Haka, Choir, Orchestra, Dance, or Bucket Drummers you may stay in the hall to watch their performance.

New Zealand Playhouse Performance

Ahoy, matey was the clue when we entered the hall on Wednesday. New Zeland Playhouse came to our school with their show ‘Treasure Island’: there was singing, dancing, and drama. Our ākonga and kaiako were delighted with the performance.

Sharmila Raj, Inquiry Coordinator (sharmilar@botanydowns.school.nz)

Tri-star Gymnastics Finals

Last Thursday, our amazing gymnasts competed in the Tri-Star Gymnastics finals. They did their absolute best and showed great sportsmanship. Tino pai to these students.

Iris Liu & Summer Young, Gymnastics Coordinators (irisl@botanydowns.school.nz, summery@botanydowns.school.nz)

HPPA Boys Soccer

Last Tuesday and Thursday our Year 5 & 6 boys soccer team competed in a round-robin tournament against our local schools at William Green on Pakuranga Highway. The competition was tough but we played with pride and gave our Botany Best at all times. Even the weather couldn’t dampen our spirits! Mr Huskinson and Mrs Hughson were very proud of the effort and great attitude of our wonderful footballers! Thank you to our fantastic parents who helped with transport and supported us in the rain too!

Tom Huskinson & Joanne Hughson, Soccer Day Coordinators (tomh@botanydowns.school, joanneh@botanydowns.school.nz)

Te Wiki o te Reo Maori

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, also known as Māori Language Week, is an annual event in Aotearoa that celebrates the Māori language. This event plays a crucial role in revitalising, promoting and raising awareness of the Māori language and culture.

During Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, various activities and events are organised across the motu (country) to encourage the use and learning of the Māori language. These activities may include language workshops, cultural performances, Māori language competitions and educational programmes.

This week, our BDS tamariki and kaiako will aim to foster a culture of Māori language and cultural appreciation within our kura. Our tamariki and kaiako are encouraged to greet each other with “kia ora,” learn new waiata, participate in activities and engage in korero māori as much as possible. To end the week, our Senior Kapa Haka group will perform during our School Assembly this upcoming Friday.

We invite our community, no matter the scale of your participation, to join us in embracing the Māori language within your own whare (home). Here are a few online resources to assist you in supporting and learning te reo:

Kupu Māori

365 Māori words

100 Māori words

A Māori Phrase a Day

Kupu app

Reo Māori

Kia Kaha, Te Reo Māori!
Michelle Takaiti, Te Reo Māori Coordinator (michellet@botanydowns.school.nz)

Weetbix Try-athlon

This year we are entering a school team for the Weetbix Tryathlon at Mountfort Park on Wednesday 22nd November.

If your child is aged 7-11 years and is interested in participating in this event please click on the link below to fill in the registration form. Make sure you have entered under our school name.

BDS Weetbix Tryathlon – register here

You must be able to transport your child to and from the event as they will need a bike.

Rachael Jeffs, Tryathlon Coordinator (rachelj@botanydowns.school.nz)

Year 0-2 Curriculum Information Sessions

On Wednesday 13 September (tomorrow) we will be holding a Junior Maths session.This session will run alongside our current Bright Sparks sessions and is from 9:15 am – 10:15 am in the staffroom.

Please RSVP to Joanne Hughson at joanneh@botanydowns.school.nz if you are interested in attending this curriculum information session.

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)

Fun and Learning @ BDS

Year 4: Room 20 has learnt about how the Māori travelled by waka, across the Pacific Ocean to Aotearoa, the place we call home. We tried to imagine what it was like to be ocean explorers and wrote stories about the voyage:

There are four kinds of waka.

They are Waka Hourua, Waka Tete, Waka Tiwau and Waka Tava.

Waka Hourua is a large and seagoing boat that can cross the Pacific Ocean.

Waka Tete carries goods for people and it is easy to fish in.

Waka Tiwau is very common and is used for everyday travel. It can only carry four people.

Waka Tava can hold up to two hundred people. It can carry war parties and is used in ceremonies such as Tangihanga.
Hasrat

I walked slowly and kept turning back saying in my head that this would be my last glimpse of my iwi. My heart was pounding, my hands were shaking because I had been born here. I really would miss this place but I had to do it.

I looked at all the kai and water on my waka.

I made a speech saying that I would miss them all.

Then my mum gave me a mere with beautiful carvings and said, ‘Keep it.’

I grabbed all my goods, then sailed off, far away until I could barely see the coastline.
Brisha

I ran to my Waka Hourua, feeling sad while people waved goodbye on the coastline.

I was nervous about the journey ahead.

The calabashes were full of water and the kete were filled with fish, kumara, berries and other food.

Our goods were bait, hooks and fishing lines.

While I was wading through the water on my waka, I looked back in the distance. I could slowly see the coastline fading away.

I felt some guilt leaving my family. In my head, I imagined what the terrific journey would be like.
Flynn

I hoisted the sails to catch the wind. I looked back.

Then a flash of sadness ran down my spine. Soon the island faded away, and the moon reflected off the moana.

My heart was pounding so hard in my chest that I felt dizzy. I put my hand in the water. I read the night stars.

I looked up and saw seagulls. I hadn’t crossed the reef.
Cooper

We were going to leave the harbour.

I blew the putatara shell.

A tear dripped down my cheek.

I jumped on my Waka Hourua and set off on my big journey.

When I saw the ocean it was beautiful, with colours like marbly turquoise, dark and light blue with sparkles.

I climbed onto the side of the waka and felt the water.

It was warm because we were in the reef.
Reuben

Celebrating Our Students …

Rugby: Congratulations to Reece Parkin who was nominated for two awards at the recent Pakuranga United Rugby Club awards, and won the Sam Prattley Cup for Outstanding Sportsmanship! A great award to win – well done Reece!

Tongan Language Week: We would like to acknowledge the students listed below who presented a wonderful Tongan performance last week. We sincerely thank Pamela Sekona, Ofa Fifita, Francis Sekona, and Saane Fifita for sharing their culture with Botany Downs Primary.

LIBRARY NEWS

Nau mai ki te whare pukapuka!

Competition Closes Soon…

A reminder that our ‘Read Around the World’ competition closes on Monday 19 September! There is still time to fill your passport in!

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Skids Active

Are you wanting your child to do some fun sport or exercising after school? SKIDS ACTIVE are looking at starting a class on a Thursday from 3.30pm to 4.30pm in Term 4.

Kids are welcome to go to skids from 3.00pm to 3.30pm for roll call and afternoon tea, this way you don’t have to worry about picking up and dropping off.