Newsletter – Week 9, Term 4 2024 – Botany Downs Primary School

Week 9, Term 4, 2024

Tēnā koutou te whānau,

Last week was a memorable one as we gathered with our tamariki and BDS whānau to celebrate the Year 0/1 School Prizegiving. This week, the celebrations continue with prizegiving events for our Year 2/3, Year 4/5, and Year 6 students, including a special Graduation Ceremony for our Year 6 tamariki.

Congratulations to all the tamariki who received awards last week and to those who will be recognised with Class Awards and Cups in the coming days. We wish to acknowledge every child for their progress in learning, their dedication to our school vision of “Our Best Always,” and for living our values throughout the year.

Our teachers, Team Leaders, and Deputy Principals have been hard at work over the past weeks carefully placing tamariki into their classes for 2025. This process is approached with great care, taking many factors into account. The class placements are now finalised, and next week, on Tuesday 17 December, your child will find out who their teacher will be for 2025 and have the opportunity to visit their new classroom for a meet-and-greet.

Thank you to our PTA and School Board. You are a team of people who we value and you make such a difference to kura.

To our incredible staff, thank you for your unwavering passion, dedication, and hard mahi, which shine through in every aspect of our school. Together, we’ve nurtured a place filled with belonging, pride, learning, and joy.

To our whānau, thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm. You are an integral part of what makes our school so special.

From all of us at BDS, we wish you and your whānau a very Merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season. May the summer break bring relaxation, laughter, and cherished time with loved ones.

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

End of 2024 Dates

Wed 11 Dec – Yr 4&5 Prizegiving, 9.15am
Thurs 12 Dec – Yr 6 Prizegiving & Graduation, 9.15am
Thurs 12 Dec – Yr 3&4 Big Day In
Fri 13 Dec – Junior Big Day In
Mon 16 Dec – Yr 5&6 Big Day In
Tues 17 Dec – Last Day of 2024
– school closes at 12.00pm (midday)

Start of 2025 Dates

Tues 4 Feb – First Day of Term 1
Thurs 6 Feb – Waitangi Day (public holiday)

School & Office Hours

School closes on Tuesday 17^th December 2024 at
12.00pm (midday) and will reopen Tuesday 4^th February 2025

During the holidays the office will be open for new enrolments from 9.00am until 1.00pm on
Thursday 30^th January 2025
Friday 31^st January 2025

or email office@botanydowns.school.nz for an appointment or enrolment pack.

2025 Staffing at BDS

Go to myschool.co.nz and search for your school
Search for Botany Downs School
Insert child’s name and year level (student ID is not required)

SCHOOL NEWS

2024 School Magazine

LAST CHANCE!!!

At BDS we celebrate the year at our kura with photos and stories in our school magazine
– we only have 50 copies left. Please make your purchase by 10 December on Kindo.

School Magazine – $20

Purchase your 2024 Botany Downs School Magazine NOW!

2024 Basketball

Thank you to all the parents and students who were part of the Thursday night basketball teams. Without the coaches and support, none of this would have happened. Khrish Ranchhod has been selected as the Most Valuable Player of 2024 and received a special training ball in recognition of his passion, skill, and leadership. He has been playing for the school team for three years and I wish him all the best for the future!

Ngā mihi and regards,
Sojung Yoon

P.S: please return any team singlets and training bibs to Mr Yoon.

Summer Reading

Why sign up for Summer Reading? The best way to improve literacy skills is to keep practising them. This is particularly important over the long summer holidays and helps keep students reading levels up. Plus, it is a fun thing to do!

Summer Reading Registration Form
*please complete one form per family

For BDS students in Years 0/1-5 only. Students must be returning to BDS in 2025.
By giving permission to take part, parents agree to ensure books are cared for and returned in the first week of Term 1 2025.
Parents/caregivers also agree to reimburse the school for any lost or damaged books.
Only students who have had a form signed will be able to borrow books. Borrowing will be available in Weeks 8 & 9.
Registered students will be able to borrow up to 10 library books for the summer.
Registrations will close Friday 13 Dec.

PTA – Last Fruju Friday for 2024!

Come and cool off after school on Friday – the LAST ONE FOR THE YEAR! Pay via Kindo or bring your gold coins. Come and see us by the staff room after school.

Frujus: $2 / Ice Pops: $1. Kindo payments must be received by midnight Thursday.

Fun & Learning @ BDS

Room 2, Year 2: Room 2 has been enjoying the warmer weeks towards the end of this term. We all completed a directed drawing lesson of the pohutukawa flower and then finished it off with pastel and dye. Look at our wonderful finished pieces of art below:

Room 16, Year 5: Angular Minibeasts – this term, Room 16 looked at minibeasts for science and learned about angles in maths. We created some angular art of spineless creatures!

Children Turning Five – Enrolment

If your child is turning five before June 2025 please ensure you
enrol them as soon as possible.

We are planning for classes and teachers into 2025 and this is made much easier if we have accurate numbers of new entrants even as far ahead as the middle of next year! Thank you.