Week 5, Term 1, 2024
Kia ora koutou Parents and BDS Whānau,
Last year we surveyed our community and spoke to focus groups to determine the direction for our Strategic Goals for 2024-2025. We shared this with you last year and would like to share this again at the start of 2024. If you would like to come and discuss this with the Senior Leadership Team and any other items of interest to you, we invite you to come along on Wednesday 13 March from 9 – 10am in the staffroom.
Ako – Teaching and Learning
Deliver effective teaching practices aligned with our relevant and engaging local curriculum, accelerating student outcomes.
Akōnga – Learners
Strengthen a learning environment that fosters learner agency, empowering students to be active participants in their education.
Whanaungatanga – Partnerships
Nurture a sense of belonging enhanced through inclusive and collaborative partnerships.
Important – keep our tamariki safe on the roads
We really do need your support in keeping our tamariki safe during drop off and pick at times. At the moment we have numerous people stopping on broken yellow lines to drop off their children and parking over driveways. This was also witnessed by our local Constable last week and he will be visiting our school again to help support with this and issuing tickets. The school is doing all it can: asking those who are doing this to stop, asking our local Constable to help monitor in front of our school, and placing cones on the yellow lines to stop this from happening but it is still continuing.
Stopping even with your engine running on a broken yellow line is illegal and dangerous. It is also illegal to park across driveways, even if you park half-way across a driveway. If you are in our community and you see this happening, you can also report this:
Ngā mihi nui,
Vicki Parkins, Principal – Tumuaki (vickip@botanydowns.school.nz)
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An update from the Ministry of Education in Relation to Botany Downs School
What’s happening?
Starting from Term 1 2024, children in Years 0–8 will be taught reading, writing, and maths for an average of one hour a day in each skill. Daily teaching, along with a quality curriculum and good teaching practices, has been shown to improve children’s progress and achievement.
What does this change mean for my child?
Our school already spends an hour a day on reading, writing, and maths, so this will not be a big change. The new ‘one hour a day’ requirement has been designed to be practical and flexible. Schools will still be able to hold events like athletics days and school camps since the requirement is for an average amount of time each week.
What will the lessons look like?
The National Curriculum outlines what your child should be able to understand, know, and do as they progress through their school years. Teachers will continue to use the curriculum and teach in ways that best suit the learning. This includes using things like active learning opportunities, group work, investigations, practice, and consolidation activities. The ‘one hour a day’ requirement can be broken up into small blocks throughout the day. Your child’s teacher will manage these to fit the needs of your child.
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Botany Best & Values
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 Year 2, Room 1.
Congratulations to our following tamariki who have shown their Botany Best by displaying our Capabilities: Navya Kumar, Jiale Yu, Jayden Coetzee, Mia Cajayon, Hazel McNeill, Daisy Huang, Abby Bi, Grayson Visser, Kourtney Chan, Stevie Lawrenson, Rehoboth John, Autumn Jacobs, Ashley Cajayon, Arlie Clements-Goh, Oliver Wu, Ayeza Zahidani, Charlotte Walsh, Mengxi Lu, Leo McKeen-Smith, Simon Huang, Skyla Kretzmann & Vivaan Sharma.
Congratulations to the following tamariki who have displayed our value of Relationships, Whanaungatanga: Jasgun Mavi, Andrew Chan, Oliana Aoelua, Gabe Jacobs, Mawada Khammas, Savneet Thind, Dhrishiv Katal, Christiaan Meyer, Matthew Zhou, Skylar Yip, Ron Du, Yasser El Chami, Evan Guo, Ali Alsharefi, Yara El Chami, Rosanna Siew, Juping Qi, Eli Adams, Joshua Chuah, Amelia Klee, Bastian Koka & Hasrat Dhillon.
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Mix and Mingle Morning Tea
Wednesday 13 March 9 – 10am staffroom
Come along and meet the Senior Leadership Team Vicki Parkins, Mark Insley, Joanne Hughson, and other BDS Whānau.
We will give a short presentation on our Strategic Plan and Property and then have lots of time to mix and mingle.
We look forward to seeing you for our Mix and Mingle Morning Tea.
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Student Leaders
Over the past three weeks our Year 5 and 6 students who applied to be student leaders have completed a number of tasks to help decide who would be our House Leaders, Councillors, Ambassadors, and Peer Mediators.
The students had to complete an application form, take part in a series of team-building activities and those who wanted to be considered for a House Leader position attended group interviews.
After much deliberation, the students below have been selected. Mrs Keenan, Miss Young, Mr Yoon, and Mr Insley would like to congratulate those students who have been selected and give a big thankyou to all of the students who applied.
House Leaders:
HILLARY – Gabriel Diviniagracia, Arvi Ahir, Ian Lopez Woo
SHEPPARD – Skyla Kretzmann, Leanna Xu, Khrish Ranchhod
BLAKE – April Clements-Goh, Young Xu, Jay Kim
BATTEN – Jacob Kong, Reuben Apperley, Amelia Klee
Councillors:
Year 5 – Michal Joseph, Wynand Bloem, Flynn Hodgson, Isla Jones, Ryker McCallister-Lee
Year 6 – Gemma Yee, Mia Swartz, Tanya Kumar, Gemma Brealey, Ruby Buckley
Ambassadors:
Room 13 – Aris Ezra-Fesolai
Room 14 – Enoch Liu, Ayden Sharp, Skylar Yip
Room 15 – Amelia Berkett
Room 24 – Minaya Welivita Maharalalage Dona, Mykyla McColl
Room 26 – Shane Hwang, Lisa Huang
Room 27 – Emma Sun
Peer Mediators:
Room 14 – Skylar Yip, Stevie Lawrenson, Schyler Daniels, Michael Joseph, Enoch Liu, Mika Nel, Cameron Ellis, Wynand Bloem, Reuben Tate
Room 15 – Amelia Berkett, Jaspreet Kaur, Baran Amiri
Room 26 – Vivaan Sharma, Isla Jones, Lisa Huang, Kate Henry, David- Lee Bezuidenhout
Room 27 – Mila Ritchie, Ryker McCallister-Lee, Gabby Venter
Room 13 – Maanvi Patel, Aadhityaa Paarthiban
Room 24 – Makyla McColl, Mia Swartz, Gemma Green, William Pirie
Room 25 – Ruby Turner, Ishnoor Virk
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Year 6 Camp Parent Meeting
The Year 6 parents met in the staff room in Week 4 to discuss the finer details of our upcoming trip to Chosen Valley Christian Camp. We had a great turnout. We will be leaving for camp in Week 6.
Gear lists went home with your children on Friday of Week 4. Please make sure all gear is named, and that you arrive at school on time (by 8:30) on the 6th so we can get the buses loaded and head off on time.
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Softball
On Wednesday 21st February the Year 6 softball team participated in the HPPA field day at the Howick Softball Club. Our Botany Downs team had a fantastic day. All of the players were enthusiastic and showed some great skills. There were some big hits, home-runs, as well as some awesome pitching.
The day was a big success and the team is excited to continue to develop their skills at school. Thank you to our lovely parent helpers who motivated our team and were great supporters!
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PTA Notice
Bake Sale:
Thank you to the senior school for providing plenty of delicious treats for our first bake sale of the year yesterday.
Jesters Pies – Wednesday 6th March:
Enjoy a pie for lunch. Pie purchases must be completed via Kindo before 11am on Tuesday 5th March.
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Fun & Learning @ BDS
Room 20, Year 3: We have had an amazing time learning cricket skills with Auckland Cricket. We played many fun games, one of which was ‘non-stop’ cricket. We loved it!
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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)
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The Library Is Open!
It has been lovely to welcome students back into the refreshed library this week. The fresh paint and new carpet, new chair and rug has made a huge difference and the space is bright and cheerful.
A big thankyou to Nancy for moving the fishtank and Rana, Tania and Imogen for their help packing and unpacking the books, and setting up the library, ready for our students to enjoy.
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Incredible Years Parent Programme – FREE
This is a highly recommended programme, offered in English, Hindi and Mandarin. I ask you to consider attending, as expert advice can be very helpful.
Location: Uxbridge Community Centre, Howick
Time: 9:30-12:00
Dates: 7 March 2024-20 June 2024
Length: 14 sessions
Cost: FREE
Contact: Avashni.Gopicherran@education.govt.nz or
StaceyLouise.Corney@education.govt.nz to enrol
If you have any questions or need further information please contact Joanne Hughson – joanneh@botanydowns.school.nz
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