Newsletter – Week 1 Tuesday 19 October – Botany Downs Primary School

Term 4, Week 1 2021

Kia ora koutou to our BDS Community,

Welcome back to the start of Term 4 and a special welcome to our new families who are joining our BDS community.

We hope you and your children have had a chance to relax, rest and enjoy the holidays.

Our teachers are already fully engaged with home learning and are enjoying seeing our students in google meets and zooms. This will continue for the next two weeks.

Have a great week everyone.

Ngā mihi,
Vicki Parkins
Principal
vickip@botanydowns.school.nz

School News

Cabinet’s Decisions Yesterday Afternoon

The Prime Minister confirmed yesterday (Monday 19 October), that the Auckland region will remain at current Alert Level 3 settings for the next two weeks.

On Wednesday, Minister Hipkins will present the up-to-date advice on schools re-opening. On Friday, the Prime Minister will announce new details on COVID protection framework and how we will get there.

BDS Home Learning

Room 6:

Lila’s Ice Garden

Emily’s Boat

Children in the Bubble Class created a BDS Spoonville outside the school gates:

Enrolling your 5 Year old to start at BDS

If you have a child turning 5 either this year or in 2022, please contact our school office for an enrolment form. We really appreciate early enrolments to assist us with our staffing.

If you have neighbours or friends that live within our school zone please encourage them to enrol their children too.

All enquiries to: office@botanydowns.school.nz

Lockdown Tips for Whānau

We have attached a short, but helpful video hosted by Dr Hinemoa Elder and Nathan Wallis for tips during lockdown. It is well worth a look: https://parents.education.govt.nz/essential-information/covid-19-information-for-parents-and-whanau/lockdown-tips-with-dr-hinemoa-elder-and-nathan-wallis/

LIBRARY NEWS

Drawing Competition!

** competition closes: 11.59pm, Friday 17 December
** email your entry to: competitions@upstartpress.co.nz
** entries must include the entrant’s name, age, phone number and address

GOOD LUCK!

Have You Checked Out the eLibrary Yet?

Follow this link to find out more about the eLibrary, and how to log in: https://www.botanydowns.school.nz/learning-at-home-links/ (Scroll down to the ‘Additional Learning Links’ section)

Your child has been set up with a log in and will be able to borrow books to read on any device (via a downloaded app).

The eLibrary will be available from now until 27 November 2021.

Please help your child to login, and enjoy browsing the eLibrary together. Some titles are age restricted and will not be available to your child if they are not in the appropriate year level. The eLibrary is curated by Wheelers New Zealand.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Ministry of Social Development –
Assistance with Essential Costs

Information sheets from the Ministry of Social Development can be found on the school website here: https://www.botanydowns.school.nz/2021/09/20/information-from-ministry-of-social-development/, and they contain information outlining how the Ministry can assist with paying essential costs. The sheets are available in te Reo, Samoan, Tongan, Chinese, Hindi, and English.

Please also check the MSD website to find out what you may be eligible for: Check what you might get (msd.govt.nz)