Week 6, Term 1, 2024
Kia ora koutou Parents and BDS Whānau,
Our tamariki are engaged and challenged with the new learning taking place from our two specialist teachers – PE (Physical Education) and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Music). Thank you Mrs Marck and Mrs Jacobs for providing these quality learning opportunities in 2024.
This week Year 6 are going to camp which is such a wonderful EOTC (Education Outside the Classroom) opportunity. We will be posting photos on our BDS Facebook page showcasing our tamariki and their activities.
Mrs Kate Keenan, our ESOL teacher (English for Speakers of Other Languages), is going on a sabbatical starting on Monday of Week 7. We are very fortunate to have experienced teachers who are familiar with our school sharing this role while Mrs Keenan is away. Mrs Nardine Andrew will be teaching on Monday and Tuesday, and Ms Tineke Oed will be teaching on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. This is a fantastic opportunity for Mrs Keenan and we wish her all the best with her new learning which will be very valuable for our ESOL Programme. Kate will return on Tuesday 4 June after King’s birthday.
We are often asked how you can help support your child’s learning. Below are some suggestions.
To support the learning they do at school, you can help your child develop reading, writing, and maths skills by:
- having your child read to you
- reading to your child and talking about books and stories
- encouraging your child to share what they think about a book (or video game, podcast, or movie), and being positive about the material they are reading, listening, or watching
- letting your child see you enjoy books, audiobooks, podcasts, games, movies, or videos in your first language
- encouraging your child to write, and talking with your child about what they are writing
- showing your child that you write for lots of reasons too, such as replying to an email, filling out a form, or writing an invitation or letter
- involving your child in activities where you use maths (for example playing games with cards or dice, grocery shopping, cooking, and DIY activities)
- encouraging your child to share how they solve mathematics problems (they may use different mental or written strategies to the ones you were taught)
- being positive about your child’s reading, writing, and maths experiences, and praising their efforts
An Update Significant about our School Car Park and New Building
As the new classroom block is being finished and prepared for occupation by the school, the Ministry of Education and Leighs Construction are finalising contractual aspects to complete the remaining works, including the additional carparks to the front of the school. As such, while we had been hoping to move Years 5 and 6 into the new building this week, unfortunately we need to defer this until the contractual elements are in place. We anticipate this to happen by the end of Term 1.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, we will keep you informed.
Ministry of Education. Leighs Construction.
This update also means that we will be able to open up our bus bay again as soon as they take the portacoms away in the near future until the carparks are ready to be built.
This certainly has been a ‘building journey’. Thank you for your patience and understanding. We also need to acknowledge our staff who are continuing in their temporary classrooms and Rooms 14 and 15 students and staff who have moved rooms so their rooms can be renovated. It will be amazing once we have completion. Ka pai team.
Have a great week everyone.
Ngā mihi nui,
Vicki Parkins, Principal – Tumuaki (vickip@botanydowns.school.nz)
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Coming up @ BDS…
Wed 6 Mar – Yr 6 camp (returns Fri 8 Mar)
Mon 11 Mar – Yr 5 camp (returns Tues 12 Mar)
Wed 13 Mar – Mix and Mingle Morning Tea, 9.00-10.00am
Wed 20 Mar – Whānau Learning Conversations, 3.20-7.40pm
Thurs 21 Mar – Senior Swimming Sports Day
Thurs 21 Mar – Whānau Learning Conversations, 3.20-5.10pm
Wed 27 Mar – Jesters Pie Day / School Board meeting
Fri 29 Mar – Good Friday (public holiday)
Mon 1 Apr – Easter Monday (public holiday)
Tues 2 Apr – Easter Tuesday (school holiday)
Fri 5 Apr – HPPA Swimming
** click here to view more of the school calendar **
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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 4, Room 19.
Congratulations to our following tamariki who have shown their Botany Best by displaying our Capabilities: Andrey Konovalenko, Lavinia Chen, Sebastian Fisher, Blake Sills, Olivia Qu, Jayson Holmes, Renee Li, Amelia Berkett, Taye Yon, Olivia Wang, Logan Hunter, Venuja Nanayakkara, Kai Du Plessis, Keileb Dell, Angela Huang, Mila Biddick, Whitney Chan, Cynthia Liang & Bella Hu.
Congratulations to the following tamariki who have displayed our value of Respect/ Manaakitanga: Poppy Walker, Tavis Lee, Mannat Gahunia, Sakura Erskine, Selina Wong, Thea Moir, Suzanna Kamakorewa, Avery Ip, Jacy Ablos, Wynand Bloem, Navaeh Tupai, Alexander Ong, Zerahiah Turner, Chloe Morgan, Natalie-Mae Tokai, Stark Zhang, Noah Ellis, Wianru Botha, Charlie Gao & Isla Knight-Over.
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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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Introducing Our 2024 School Leaders
 House Leaders with Mr Yoon
 School Councillors with Mr Insley
 Ambassadors with Mrs Keenan
 Peer Mediators with Miss Young
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Fun & Learning @ BDS
Year 1, Room 9: In Room 9 we have been getting to know each other. We painted some rays of sunshine and shared with our friends what we like, what we can do, and words that describe us:
Uriel: I am a good friend.
Kelvin: I can learn.
Matilda: I like popcorn.
Abby: I like puzzles.
Avery: I am helpful.
Baghel: I can listen to everyone.
Dhrishiv: I like to read.
Renee: I can swim.
Luna: I am smart.
Nathan: I am happy.
Vaice: I like to play on the playground.
Year 4, Room 17: We have been enjoying making a splash during our weekly swimming lessons.
We have been learning how to streamline and breathe correctly when doing freestyle strokes and floating.
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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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Reading Helps Your Mind Grow…
 Help our garden grow – add your favourite book! Students may either ask Mrs Hatley-Owen for a ‘cupcake flower’ and write the title of their favourite book or may draw a picture of the cover in the shape of a flower.
Let’s see how big our garden can grow!
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- Get up close to original fire trucks and equipment dating back to the 1800s.
- Check out the state-of-the-art fire trucks and specialist capabilities in use across Tāmaki Makaurau today.
- Meet the firefighters who keep our communities safe.
- Watch demonstrations of the essential work carried out by our Specialist High Angle Rescue and Urban Search and Rescue teams.
- Explore the fascinating history of firefighting in Tāmaki Makaurau through exhibitions featuring videos, photos, and rare archival materials.
- Learn about the trailblazing men and women who were instrumental in shaping and influencing what has developed into our modern-day emergency response services.
- Learn about fire risk and safety to keep them and their whānau safe through interactive displays and demonstrations, and Virtual Reality activities.
- Meet our partner agencies including NZ Police, Hato Hone St John, and Civil Defence.
- Make it a day out for all the family with free admission.
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