Week 10 Term 3, 2024
Kia ora koutou Parents and BDS Whānau,
We are excited to welcome you to our Celebration of Learning this afternoon. Join us in the classrooms as your child proudly shares their learning journey with you. It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to showcase their hard work and achievements. We look forward to seeing you there.
During the school holidays, we have some exciting property developments:
- New Seating: The outdoor seating area outside Year 3 is getting a fresh coat of paint in our school colours, ready for students to enjoy when they return.
- Pool Fence: A new fence is being installed around our school pool to enhance everyone’s safety.
- Pool Sheds Revamped: The inside and outside of the pool sheds are being repainted, giving the area a bright, clean look.
- Mural: Thank you so much to Miss Hill and her Year 6 artists who are painting the mural on our changing rooms at the pool – it looks amazing.
- Office Makeover: Our school office is getting a complete refresh with new paint and carpet, creating a welcoming and comfortable space for staff and visitors.
We are very happy for our tamariki, staff and BDS whānau to return in Term 4 and enjoy these improvements.
We were fortunate to have Senior Constable Craig from the Howick Police Station visit our school on Monday. His focus was on traffic support ensuring the safety of our tamariki before and after school. Senior Constable Craig’s next stop will be Kadina Place, where he’ll continue his work helping keep our tamariki safe around traffic.
A huge thank you to our BDS Whānau for doing the right thing and supporting these efforts. Together, we’re making sure our tamariki are safe every day.
We wish all our BDS whānau a safe and happy holiday break. We hope you enjoy the wonderful spring weather and we look forward to seeing everyone back next term, ready for more learning and fun.
Ngā mihi nui,
Vicki Parkins, Principal – Tumuaki (vickip@botanydowns.school.nz)
|
Coming up @ BDS…
Fri 27 Sept – Last Day of Term 3
Mon 14 Oct – First Day of Term 4
Wed 16 Oct – Yr 2 trip to Botanical Gardens
Wed 23 Oct – Yr 5 trip to Butterfly Creek
Fri 25 Oct – Teacher Only Day
Mon 28 Oct – Labour Day (public holiday)
Tues 29 Oct – Yr 4 trip to Museum (Rm19 & Rm 20)
Wed 30 Oct – Yr 4 trip to Museum (Rm17 & Rm 18)
Thurs 31 Oct – Yr 0/1 trip to Butterfly Creek
Fri 1 Nov – Yr 4-6 Athletics Day
Mon 4 Nov – PTA meeting
Tues 5 Nov – Yr 3 trip to Museum (Rm 29 & Rm 30)
Wed 6 Nov – Yr 6 Howick Intermediate orientation visit
Thurs 7 Nov – Yr 3 trip to Museum (Rm 27 & Rm 28)
Thurs 7 Nov – Yr 6 Somerville Intermediate orientation visit
** click here to view more of the school calendar **
|
School Hours
** The office will be painted over the holidays so please go to the staffroom **
School will close on Friday 27th September 2024 and will reopen Monday 14th October 2024
During the holidays the temporary office will be open for new enrolments from 9.00 am until 1.00 pm on the days listed below or email office@botanydowns.school.nz for an appointment or enrolment pack.
Thursday 10th October 2024 – 9.00 am – 1.00pm
Friday 11th October 2024 – 9.00 am – 1.00pm
|
|
|
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori
Botany Downs School celebrated Te Wiki o te Reo Māori with a week full of activities and challenges for our tamariki. They engaged in learning simple phrases, exploring the history of the language, singing waiata and produced amazing art.
Each morning, Mrs Takaiti sent a new challenge to our kura, where tamariki had to translate a word or phrase into te reo Māori. On Wednesday, our Kapa Haka group hosted lunchtime activities, which included weaving, art, waiata and pukana challenges. The highlight of the week was on Friday when our Kapa Haka group gave a beautiful performance to open our assembly. We then finished the week with a Waiata talent show, showcasing many talented acts.
Congratulations to the following performers:
1st: Siale Palalagi-Waru, Ofa Fifita, Magda Snyman, and Mia Swartz – Toku Reo
2nd: Areesha Fazal, Ella Blake, Tushita Kumar, Alice Wang – Kina Kina
3rd: Isla Jones – Pepeha
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:
https://kupu.maori.nz/
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-language-week/365-maori-words
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-language-week/100-maori-words
https://www.youtube.com/c/AM%C4%81oriPhraseaDayR%C4%81hui
https://kupu.co.nz/
https://www.reomaori.co.nz/
Kia Kaha, te Reo Māori!
|
|
|
Chinese Language Week
This week is New Zealand Chinese Language Week. We started our celebrations early with our Cantonese and Mandarin Speech Competition last Thursday. Congratulations to the following students who worked hard to write and practice their speeches in their own time.
Cantonese Speakers
1st Place: Emma Lee
2nd Place: Nora Khong
3rd Place: Memphis Kwok
Mandarin Speakers
1st Place: Rafa Zhao
2nd Place: Ziyu Qi
3rd Place: Lucas Chen
Gemma Yee
Jon Wu
Juistin Qiao
Congratulations also to our Year 2 presenters who did a fantastic job speaking in both English and Mandarin (Tavis Lee, Andrew Chan, Joanna Qiao and Lavina Chen). Thank you to the parents who helped and came along to watch and our judges who volunteered their time and shared their expertise (Michelle Cen, Ellie Wang, Hilda Hsu).
This Thursday, Emma Lee and Rafa Zhao will represent our school at the HPPA Cantonese and Mandarin Speech Competition. We wish them all the best and look forward to presenting certificates to all of our competitors at our assembly on Friday.
Please click on the link below if you would like to find out more about NZ Chinese Language Week and want to download some free resources: www.nzclw.com/resources
|
|
|
Environmental Education with Mrs Andrew
Year 2- 4 classes have been learning about worms and wormeries. We collected worms, made wormeries and then we watched the worms make tunnels. We looked after our worms and returned them to their natural environment when we had finished our study.
|
|
|
School Assembly
We invite you to attend our school assembly on Friday at 9.10 am. We will be presenting our End of Term 3 Principal’s Awards.
End of Term Certificate Names: Mili Li, Elizabeth Valentine, Minji Kim, Hugo Liang, Zoe Neemia, Rubleen Kaur, Suzanna Kamakorewa, Uriel Su’a, Amber Ren, Jaspreet Kaur, Yasser El Chami, Ethan Luo, Elani Venter, Sophie Klee, Skylar Yip, Tiana Parsons, Gloria Wang, Mia Swartz, Arvi Ahir, Gemma Brealey, Leo Tong, Andrew Liang, Zahara Williams & Willow Cox.
|
|
|
PTA Notice
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended our PTA disco on Friday. It was a fantastic evening filled with fun, laughter, and unforgettable memories.
A special shout-out goes to our incredible PTA members and parent volunteers whose hard work and help made this event possible. We appreciate your commitment to our school community and look forward to more events in the future!
|
|
|
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)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A FREE Mini Book Festival for Kids!
All Day Fun and Prizes to be Won…
 Dorothy Butler Bookshop – 1 Jervois Rd, Ponsonby
Dress Up Competition: Come to the shop dressed as your favourite book character. We’ll take your photo and judge our favourite costume of the day. The winner will receive a $50 book voucher.
Where’s Wally Hunt: Find pictures of Wally, his friends, and their personal belongings hidden around the shop. Find all ten pictures and get a $5 book voucher.
Lucky Dip Prizes: Make any purchase on the day, put your hand in our lucky dip bowl and pull out a prize. Every shopper gets to take home a little something extra – maybe a book, a tote bag, a chocolate…
Win Audio Books: Our audio book partner Libro.fm are offering an amazing prize – 12 book credits – for the one person who finds a Golden Ticket hidden somewhere in the shop. If you love audio books you’ll want to be here early to hunt for this prize.
Auckland Bookshop Tour: For those wanting to explore Auckland’s wonderful bookshops – and get the chance to win $300 of book tokens – this is going to be an amazing event. Pick up a bookshop map from any participating store and you have from Friday 4th October to Sat 12th October to collect stamps from every bookshop you visit. Every stamp gives you another entry into the draw to win. 11 bookshops are taking part.
PLUS… register for Book Feast on eventbrite.com then turn up on the day to go in the draw to win a pile of books and a $50 book voucher!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tim Bray Theatre Company presents Joy Cowley’s much loved New Zealand children’s classic story ‘Mrs Wishy-Washy’!
Takapuna Pumphouse Theater: 21 Sept – 12 Oct
Due Drop Events Centre, Manukau: 15 Oct – 18 Oct
Tickets and more information: Tim Bray Theatre Company
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 1st, 2nd & 3rd October 2024
Time: 10am – 1pm
Venue: Cirque It Aerial Arts, Unit 1/24 Bishop Dunn Place, Flat Bush, Auckland 2013
Students will learn a multitude of circus skills including hula hoop, flower sticks, acrobatics and aerial circus silks like trapeze and aerial silks. This programme is suitable for young people aged 7-12yrs and there is no prior experience necessary.
Circus is a great tool to help young people develop confidence, build strength and meet new people in a fun, safe and stimulating environment.
|
|
|
 Registration for our Term 4 After School Soccer is now open! To register: click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We’re thrilled to be running confidence building Speech and Drama lessons at Botany Downs School, and we can’t wait to meet your children!
We are offering a free trial lesson for term 4!
Currently, we’re in the process of collecting enrolments for Term 4. To secure a spot for your child, please fill out the form below. Please note that spaces are limited, so enrolments will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis to ensure fairness.
Lessons are held after school on Tuesdays at Botany Downs School. Our dedicated teachers will provide a fantastic platform for students to nurture their confidence, public speaking skills, self-esteem, creativity, manners, and leadership abilities – all vital elements in shaping them into their best and most successful selves.
Through engaging activities and relatable scenarios, each 30-minute lesson promises to be exciting for your children! The fee is $220 per term and Speech and Drama classes are beneficial for all ages from Year 0-6. Everyone is welcome!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Maori
Portuguese
Russian
Samoan
Spanish
