Week 10, Term 1, 2025
Tēnā koutou te whānau,
There are just three days left in Term One before we head into the school holidays on Friday. It has been a busy and enriching term, with our tamariki fully engaged in their learning and making the most of every opportunity at BDS.
We were delighted to welcome our new families with a Pōwhiri today. Our amazing Kapa Haka Group, led by Mrs Takaiti, was very professional and it was a privilege to share this special moment with everyone. It was wonderful to see so many of you there.
This week our ANZAC assembly will take place on Friday, instead of our usual Friday assembly. It will begin at 9:30 am and whānau are warmly invited to attend. Whānau are also invited for ANZAC cookies in the staffroom afterwards. Poppies will be available for a gold coin donation before school from the hall deck.
We are starting Term Two with our Book Week and teachers are already talking about their costumes as the excitement builds. All the information you will need is in the newsletter below.
Have a happy holiday everyone.
Ngā mihi nui,
Vicki Parkins, Principal – Tumuaki (vickip@botanydowns.school.nz)
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Coming Up @BDS
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
Wed 7 May – School Board meeting, 6.00 p.m
Mon 12 May – PTA meeting, 7.00 p.m
Wed 14 May – PTA Jester’s Pie day
Wed 21 May – PhotoLife school photos
Thurs 22 May – PhotoLife school photos
Fri 23 May – Interschool Rugby
Fri 30 May – Teacher Only Day
Mon 2 June – King’s Birthday (public holiday)
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School Hours
School will close on Friday, 11th April 2025, and will reopen Monday, 28th April 2025.
During the holidays the office will be open for new enrolments
from 9.00 am until 01.00 pm on Thursday 24 April 2025
Alternatively, please email office@botanydowns.school.nz for an appointment
or enrolment pack.
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ANZAC Assembly
Poppies will be available for sale on the hall deck on Friday prior to our ANZAC assembly for a gold coin donation. Money raised from Poppy sales help to support our local RSA – thank you for supporting this worthy cause. Lest We Forget.
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Read a Beanstalk of Books!
In the build-up for Book Week, students will be bringing home a Beanstalk Reading Log to record books they have read over the holidays.
Once the Beanstalk Reading Log is completed, parents sign it and then students bring it back to school after the holidays to drop it into the Book Week Wishing Well (in the library)!
All signed entries in the Wishing Well are in the draw to win a prize! Exciting!
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Book Week – Week 1, Term 2!
Award-winning authors coming to visit…
Wednesday 30 April: Elena de Roo (Year 1, 2, 3 students)
Thursday 1 May: Leonie Agnew (Year 4, 5, 6 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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House Points
Last week’s winning house was Hillary, and our term winner is Batten who will have a free no uniform day on Thursday. They are encouraged to wear their house colours to celebrate their win. Well done Batten!
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Art Club Mural
Thanks to a wonderful community effort, the Art Club’s bottle-top mural has finally been completed and is hanging up next to the ESOL Room. A collaborative effort was made with the Year 5 and Year 6 students last year, every Tuesday during Lunch, to work on this piece.
Thanks to their amazing talent it has turned out beautifully. It was a wonderful experience working with these talented students.
Tanya Jacobs (tanyaj@botanydowns.school.nz)
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End of Term Principal’s Certificates
We invite you to attend our school assembly on Friday at 9.00 am where we will be presenting our End of Term Principal’s Certificates. This assembly will be followed by our special ANZAC assembly at 9.30 am
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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Walking School Bus
We have a wonderful Walking School Bus at BDS. Mrs Marston leads our Walking School Bus every morning and afternoon. If you would like more information or would like to join, please contact Mrs Marston: nancym@botanydowns.school.nz
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Road Patrol
We need more parent and whānau supervisors for Road Patrol. Morning patrol is 8:20-8:55 am and afternoon patrol is 2:50-3:15 pm.
If you are interested in helping, please email Miss Smith: katies@botanydowns.school.nz
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PTA Notices
Fruju Friday – Last Week!
Join us for the last week Fruju Friday, buy yours outside the staffroom. $2 for Frujus and $1 for icepops. Payment can be made in cash or via Kindo. We will be back with the warmer weather in Term 4.
Whittaker’s Chocolate Fundraiser – Coming Soon
Get ready for our sweetest event of the year. Launching in Week 2 next term, our biggest fundraiser is back – and it’s all about delicious Whittaker’s chocolates. Not only will you be helping raise funds for our school, but there will also be amazing prizes up for grabs! Keep an eye out for all the details next term.
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Fun & Learning @ BDS
Year 1, Room 4: Room 4 has had a fantastic start to the year! We are creating a fun, safe, and kind space for everyone. We love creating artwork, going swimming, and visiting the library. Sharing our bunny pictures at the whole school assembly was a special moment. We are amazing!
Year 1, Room 7: We have been reading the Big Book ‘Lavalava’. We wrote about the story and then we got to wear our School Lavalavas.
“I like when Sofi wears her yellow lavalava to bed and I like the pretty flowers on the lavalava.”
Isabella Hudson
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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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Book Launch – Howick Library Saturday 12 April
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