Newsletter – Week 2, Term 1 2024

Kia ora koutou Parents and BDS Whānau                                             Week 2, Term 1, 2024

We have had a wonderful start to the year. Our tamariki are settled in their classrooms and they are enjoying catching up with friends from last year and making new friends.  

On Friday we farewell our School Caretaker, Paul Laloli. Paul has been a caretaker at BDS for the past five years and is moving to another employment opportunity. Thank you very much for being part of our BDS team and undertaking all of your many and varied caretaker responsibilities. All the very best. 

Communication and connection are important to us. Our newsletters are sent out each week on Tuesday and contain important information for you. Once our newsletters have been emailed to you they are put onto our website and can be read with Google Translate. 

We also use a free app called ksconnect (see picture opposite). This is a free app and well worth downloading onto your phone as it also has all our communication that we send out. Head to your app store (Apple or Google Play) to download and install the KiwiSchools KS Connect app, and connect with Botany Downs School.

Last week you will have been emailed your class teacher’s email address and the team leaders in the team newsletter. All our email addresses are available on our website. You are also able to email:

Vicki Parkins, Principal: vickip@botanydowns.school.nz
Mark Insley, Deputy Principal Year 4-6: marki@botanydowns.school.nz
Joanne Hughson, Deputy Principal Year 0-3: joanneh@botanydowns.school.school.nz
Kate Keenan, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Teacher/International Coordinator: katek@botanydowns.school.nz
Trish Toussaint, Executive Officer: accounts@botanydowns.school.nz
Aroha Bishop, Office Administrator: office@botanydowns.school.nz

If your child is not coming to school: absences@botanydowns.school.nz

Our BDS Facebook page is a showcase of our celebrations of learning. Here you can see our amazing BDS tamariki and their achievements and learning at our kura.  

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

Coming up @ BDS…

Wed 14 Feb – School board meeting
Thurs 15 Feb – Whānau picnic / Meet the Teacher (5-7pm)
Tues 20 Feb – Yr 6 camp: parent meeting, 6-7pm
Tues 27 Feb – Yr 5 camp: parent meeting, 6-7pm
Mon 4 Mar – PTA meeting
Wed 6 Mar – Yr 6 camp (returns Fri 8 Mar)
Mon 11 Mar – Yr 5 camp (returns Tues 12 Mar)
** click here to view more of the school calendar **

Whānau Picnic and Meet the Teacher 
Thursday 15 February, 5-7pm

We are all looking forward to our Whānau Picnic and Meet the Teacher this year. Bring a blanket and a picnic and meet other BDS whānau, as well as meeting your child’s teacher.

Our schedule for the evening:
5:15 pm – An Introduction to ESOL at BDS with Mrs Kate Keenan for parents of students who will be attending ESOL for the first time. Please come to the staffroom.
5.30pm – Junior school parents/caregivers go to your child’s classroom
6.00pm – Year 3 parents/caregivers go to your child’s classroom 
6.00pm – Year 4 parents/caregivers go
to Year 4 (ILE) canopy
6.30pm – Senior school parents/caregivers go to your child’s classroom

** sports gear will be available on the field for games and fun!
** coffee/tea/hot chocolate will be available to purchase!
**Mr Whippy will be available to purchase ice creams!

Important Reminders for the Safety of our Tamariki.

If your child is sick and not coming to school it is important that you let us know:

• Ring the office: 09 534 9848 or
• Email: absences@botanydowns.school.nz  or
• Notify us through the school app (kiwischools).

Picking up your child during the school day:

• Email the class teacher and the office with the time and day your child will be picked up
• Come to the office to sign out your child on our iPad
• Wait in the office, please do not go to the classroom
• Mrs Bishop will phone the classroom and your child will come to the office if they are not already there waiting

SCHOOL NEWS

Our BDS Values

At Botany Downs School we “live” by these four Values:

Our focus value for the first half of Term 1 is: 

Our Capabilities

These capabilities represent the skills and knowledge for our ākonga to achieve success as they grow. These capabilities weave through all our learning areas.

Botany Downs School ‘Wheels’ Policy

Besides walking, active transport to and from school includes bicycles and scooters. Students must wear suitable footwear, a Standards-approved helmet, and any necessary safety gear.

• Students using scooters must be considerate, give way to other pedestrians, and be aware of sneaky driveways. A sneaky driveway is a driveway that has hedges, trees, or a fence at the end of it that prevents anyone reversing out of the driveway from seeing the footpath.
• Students may not use wheels in the school grounds during school hours, unless it is an organised school event.
• Students must place their cycles and scooters in the cycle stands in front of Mr Insley’s Office.
• Cyclists are expected to observe the road rules – hand signals, looking behind, mounting/dismounting, keeping well left, etc. Cyclists may not “double” other students to school.
• Each cyclist must wear a Standards-approved cycle safety helmet and have a roadworthy bicycle.

PTA Notices

Fruju Fridays start this week, outside the staffroom from 3pm. Beat the heat and cool off with a $2 Fruju or $1 ice pop. Bring your gold coins or pay via Kindo.

PTA Meeting: coming up Monday 12th Feb in the staffroom. We would love to see you there!

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)

LIBRARY NEWS

Returning Books…

A reminder that books may be returned:

• to the library (even if the library is closed during school hours, students may always pop in to return their books)
• to Botany Bob – our after-hours returns bin located in the front office

COMMUNITY NOTICES

A variety of different sports each week!

Thursdays after school. Get your kids into Active!
Click here for more information and to book in: Botany sKids Active

Incredible Years Parent Programme – FREE

This is a highly recommended programme, offered in English, Hindi and Mandarin. I ask you to consider attending, as expert advice can be very helpful. 

Location: Uxbridge Community Centre, Howick

Time: 9:30-12:00

Dates: 7 March 2024-20 June 2024

Length: 14 sessions

Cost: FREE

Contact: Avashni.Gopicherran@education.govt.nz or
StaceyLouise.Corney@education.govt.nz to enrol

If you have any questions or need further information please contact Joanne Hughson – joanneh@botanydowns.school.nz

Fundraising Event 

A Skating night is being held to support the Titanium ice skating team to represent NZ at the Junior World Championships in Switzerland in March. Details below:

Pay the kindo way: https://botanydowns.school.nz/kindo/