Newsletter – Week 9, Term 1 2024 – Botany Downs Primary School

Week 9, Term 1, 2024

Kia ora koutou Parents and BDS Whānau,

Our Whānau Learning Conversations held last week were very successful, and we have had very positive feedback from our community. It was fabulous to see our learners participating in these conversations.

For our property update, we are still waiting on direction from the Ministry of Education as to when we can move into the new build of our six new classrooms. We are also waiting on information about the building of our new teacher car parks and the use of our bus bay. We are hoping to hear very soon and will let you know as soon as we find out.

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

Coming up @ BDS…

Wed 27 Mar – Jesters Pie Day / School Board meeting
Thurs 28 Mar – House Competition Day
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
Mon 8 Apr – PTA meeting
Wed 10 Apr – No Uniform Day
Thurs 11 Apr – ANZAC Assembly
Fri 12 Apr – Last Day of Term 1
Mon 29 Apr – First Day of Term 2
Week 2 – Book Week
** click here to view more of the school calendar **

SCHOOL NEWS

Please Note…

Due to Good Friday and Easter holidays,
there is no assembly this week.

Road Patrol 2024

Thank you to the Year 6 Road Patrollers and our adult supervisors, who have been out every morning and afternoon this term helping us cross the road safely.

Jacob, Young, Abigail, Jay, Avril, Ayla, Kayla, Arvi, Samreet, Joy, Maanvi, Ruby, Leanna, Ofa, Kourtney, Tanya and Mia. (Absent – Gabriel and Aadhityaa.)

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

House Competition Day – Thursday 28 March

Throw on your House coloured t-shirts and let your House colours fly! It’s that time of the year again – House Competition Day.

Check the timetable below for the schedule:

Year 1-2	Year 3-4	Year 5-6
Block 1 9:00-10:30	Block 2 10:50-12:30	Block 3 1:45-2:45

Students will be engaged in fun games and sports that foster a sense of competition. All students can wear their PE uniform for the whole day. While we encourage dressing up in House colours, please do not apply face paint, hair dyes, or body paint. Coloured ribbons, tutus, and socks are permitted and sun hats are compulsory.

PTA Notices…

Fruju Sales
With Easter weekend this week Frujus will be sold on Thursday outside the staffroom at 3pm. Pay via Kindo or cash on the day.

Wacky Wednesday – No Uniform Day, 10th April
Get ready to embrace the wackiness! Wacky Wednesday is coming to school. Show off your craziest, most mismatched outfits and let’s celebrate individuality and fun together while raising money. Don’t feel like being wacky? Any clothes of your choice are just fine!

Donate $2 via Kindo, or give cash to your class teacher.

Bricks, Books and Baking Fundraiser, Sunday 26th May, 10am – 3pm
Botany Downs School PTA is thrilled to announce our upcoming Bricks, Books and Baking Fundraiser, promising fun-filled excitement for bricks enthusiasts, book readers and baking lovers of all ages.

Our school hall will be transformed into a Brick Show, showcasing jaw-dropping creations made from LEGO® bricks, crafted by talented builders, offering a display of intricate designs and imaginative worlds. Tickets will be available for purchase prior to the event and on the day.
Alongside the Bricks Show, dive into a world of literary delights with our second-hand book sale, while also indulging your sweet tooth and supporting our cause with delicious treats from our bake sale.

There is something for everyone to enjoy on this special day of community fun and fundraising for a new junior playground. Save the date and be sure to join us for this exciting event.

Keep a look out for a notice coming home soon seeking helpers for this event.

Fun & Learning @ BDS

Year 1, Room 7: A Pepeha is a way to introduce yourself in Māori. It tells a story of the places and people you are connected to, and it is part of a mihi.

Year 5, Room 26: For art, we have been looking at Cubism – the skill of seeing two sides of one thing at the very same time.

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.