Week 9, Term 1, 2025
Tēnā koutou te whānau,
We are delighted to welcome our new families with a pōwhiri on Tuesday, 8 April, at 9.50 am. This special occasion is a wonderful opportunity to come together, share kai, and celebrate the start of your journey as part of our BDS whānau. Our amazing Kapa Haka Group, led by Mrs Takaiti, has been practising diligently for this event, and we can’t wait to share this special moment with you. We look forward to seeing you there.
Our swimming sports at Lloyd Elsmore last week were a great success. Our students demonstrated our school values and gave their absolute Botany Best throughout the event. We are incredibly proud of all our participants.
A huge thank you to Mrs Jeffs and her team, Mr Insley, Mrs Hatley-Owen, and Miss Young, for their efforts in organising the Swimming Sports for the Howick and Pakuranga Principals’ Association (HPPA). Your hard work made the event a fantastic experience for everyone involved.
Ngā mihi nui,
Vicki Parkins, Principal – Tumuaki (vickip@botanydowns.school.nz)
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Coming Up @BDS
Wed 2 Apr – PTA Jester’s Pie day
Mon 7 Apr – PTA meeting
Tues 8 Apr – Pōwhiri, 9.50 a.m
Fri 11 Apr – ANZAC Special Assembly,[
9.30 a.m
Fri 11 Apr – Last day of Term 1
Week 1 Term 2 – BOOK WEEK
Mon 28 Apr – First day of Term 2
Thurs 1 May – PJ & Teddy Day
Fri 2 May – Book Character Dress-up Day & Parade
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Book Week is Coming!
Our annual Book Week celebration will be taking place
in the first week of Term 2.
Award-winning authors coming to visit:
Leonie Agnew (Year 4, 5, 6 students)
Elena de Roo (Year 1, 2, 3 students)
PJ & Teddy Day! Thursday 1 MAY
Wear your cosy pyjamas to school and bring your teddy (or soft toy) to read to!
Book Character Dress-up Day! Friday 2 MAY – The last day of Book Week is a celebration of our favourite book characters. Get your thinking hats on – who will you dress up as this year?
Please remember that a costume doesn’t have to be expensive or bought from the store – get creative! The following links might give you just the inspiration you are looking for:
Last Minute World Book day costumes: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/30-last-minute-world-book-10976213
Last minute easy World Book costumes: https://www.madeformums.com/toddler-and-preschool/last-minute-easy-world-book-day-costumes/
Fun Book Character Costumes: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/halloween-ideas/g22127013/book-character-costumes/
Scholastic Book Fair! All week! – A ‘pop-up book store’ in the library with a wide range of exciting books and stationery for all ages and interests.
The Book Fair will be open:
Mon-Fri morning 8.30-9.00 a.m
Mon-Thurs afternoon 2.30-3.30 p.m
Payment by EFTPOS, Credit Card, or cash. Every purchase made helps to provide the school with books and resources for the library and classrooms – thank you for your support.
PLUS: Te Hikoi Korero Storywalk, fun lunchtime activities, competitions, and classroom activities!
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HPPA Swimming
Last Wednesday, 26th March, Miss Young and Mrs Jeffs took 20 Year 5 and 6 students to the HPPA swimming competition at Lloyd Elsmore.
Our students showed their Botany Best, swam hard, and enjoyed cheering on their team. We had some great results – well done to everyone and congratulations to:
Oscar Wong – 1st Backstroke, 3rd Champ Freestyle, 3rd Breaststroke
Evan Guo – 2nd Breaststroke
Ethan Luo – 2nd Novice Freestyle
Louis Hunter – 1st Backstroke
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Howick Historical Village Trip
The Year 3 team has been learning about ‘Change’ for Inquiry this year – specifically, Howick: Then vs. Now.
In connection with the Inquiry focus, Rooms 27, 28, 29, and 30 had a fantastic trip to Howick Historical Village on Tuesday and Wednesday last week. They learned about how the Fencibles arrived in Howick and what life was like for them in the 1800s.
Each class took part in old outdoor games, such as stilts and the graces game. They also experienced what life was like for a child in a classroom – they had a great time writing on slate boards! We were lucky enough to visit Puhi Nui House and learn about what the Fencibles brought with them, such as clothing, a cast-iron kettle, and even chamber pots!
It was a great educational experience for our Year 3 learners!
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PTA Notices
Fruju Fridays – 2 more to go!
Fruju Fridays continue to the end of term, buy yours each Friday outside the staffroom. $2 for Frujus and $1 for icepops. Payment can be made in cash or via Kindo.
Bakers Delight Hot Cross Buns
We are still taking orders for Bakers Delight Hot Cross Buns. The 6-packs are the same $12 price as buying in-store, with Bakers Delight Howick donating $3 from each pack to our school. Three delicious flavours available. Order yours via Kindo today, no payments will be accepted at the office.
Orders must be received by 10am Friday 4th April, with buns being delivered to school on Thursday 10th April.
Dollar for Schools Lunch Orders
$1 for every lunch goes to our school!
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End of Term Principal’s Certificates
We invite you to attend our school assembly on Friday at 9.10 am. We will be presenting our End of Term Principal’s certificates.
Congratulations to the following students: Lakena Wilson, Katya Troussova, Lalofau Sieleelea, Ranaya Galahitiyawa, Kelly Yu, Piper Hodgson, Scarlett Hudson, Rhythm Sharma, Kurl Matutes, Si Fan Zhu, Daisy Wu, Ruoxi Wang, Selina Mulipola, Arlie Clements-Goh, Rowena Luo, Rafa Zhao, Hasrat Dhillon, Kaylin Walker, Brody Tynan, Joanna Qiao, William Faletau & Alyssa Roberts.
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Fun & Learning @ BDS
Year 1, Room 6: Room 6, who love swimming, had fun with an underwater art project. Photos of them in their swimming togs, which they turned into artwork of themselves sitting in the water. They added bubbles and waves to make their pictures come to life.
Year 4 Room 19: This term for Visual Arts, we have been working hard on our visual Pepeha pieces. We have our koru patterns representing our whānau, our maunga (mountain) in the background, our awa/moana (river, ocean) represented by the blue. The art skill we focused on was how to blend pastels. We love how bright they are! Check them out!
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Student Success
Elliot Cheng participated in the String Solo Competition hosted by the North Shore Performing Arts Society and achieved 3rd place in the String Solo Classical Own Selection (Age 9 & Under) category. This is one of the most competitive string competitions in Auckland, and his tireless practice over the past month truly paid off! Congratulations Elliot!
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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.
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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Be in to WIN with Storylines!
Head to the Storylines website for more information and to purchase tickets for the two prize draws: an original artwork by Gavin Bishop, one of New Zealand’s most successful award-winning children’s book illustrator and author; OR one of ten bundles of fantastic NZ children’s books!
Every ticket purchased helps support Storylines and the promotion of Aotearoa NZ children’s literature – so enter the draw and be part of something special!
Win With Storylines – information and tickets
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