Term 4, Week 3 2021
Kia ora koutou to our BDS Community,
Welcome to our newsletter for Week 3 Term 4 and the sun is shining again.
Since our last newsletter the Minister Chris Hipkins has announced an indicative date of Monday 15 November for the return of Year 1-8 students in Alert Level Three zones. At this time we have received no further details and the Ministry of Education is now working with different sectors to find a pathway for reopening in a safe manner.
You can be reassured that any decisions about bringing more children and staff on-site will be done in accordance with strict public health guidance. We will give you further information around what a return to school might look like once we have more details.
We are continuing to support all students through our home learning programme and ‘Bubbles’ at school. Please continue to be in contact with your class teacher regarding your child’s learning.
We will continue to keep you updated with any changes and we thank you for your ongoing support.
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Farewell
On Thursday we farewell Ms Tash Barber on maternity leave. 
Ms Barber has worked in a shared teaching role in Rooms 4, 15 and 18.
We have valued her contribution to our Botany Downs School Community and we wish her all the very best.
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Class Placements 2022
We are beginning the process of organising our classrooms for 2022.
The process of placing children in a class takes a considerable amount of time and needs to be firmly based on trust in our staff. As part of this process, we invite you to complete this form (see blue link below) if you feel there are significant factors that need consideration in placing your child for next year.
Please note that this is not an opportunity to choose your child’s teacher or friends for 2022.
The google form should be completed by Friday 12 November.
Class Placements for 2022
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BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
Thank you to all our Year 4 and 5 Parents/Caregivers who have filled out the BYOD google form in the last newsletter. We have had a huge response in support of BYOD.
Please remember this is not compulsory and we will have devices at school for those children who do not bring a device. Over the next few weeks we will be sending out further information about BYOD to ourYyear 4 and 5 parents/caregivers in separate emails.
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2022 Camp Reminder!
BDS is still looking for more  parents to raise their hands to help with the Year 5 and 6 camps for Term 1 next year.
If you are able to support this awesome learning experience please fill in the form that was sent home and send it to:
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Leaving BDS
If any families are leaving Botany Downs school at the end of the year could you please contact office@botanydowns.school.nz to notify us as this will help with our class placements for 2022. Thank you.
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Shake Out!
The annual Shake Out was held across the nation last Thursday at 9.30am and students in our bubble classes practised their earthquake drill by sheltering under their desks:
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BDS Home Learning
 Poem by Ethan Ramos, Rm 8
The Year 5s were set a challenge to make a marble run at least 2m long. This required lots of creativity, perseverance, determination and problem solving.
 Ashley from Room 17 created this one – her marble came out of a balloon that popped to start the run!
 Room 18‘s online class zoom! They also had fun re-creating famous artworks such as
The Scream by Edvard Munch
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School Swimming Pool
We regret to advise the decision has been made not to open the school swimming pool to the community this summer. The reasons for this include the continuing uncertainty over Covid, the stringent pool water testing protocols that are required, and the unavailability of volunteers to open and close the pool each day and to deal with any incidents which arise.
We know this will be disappointing to the members of the community that use the pool, but we have had no option but to take this step.
The BDS Board
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Financial Support: Information for families
 It’s been a tough year for many: we know that as a result of alert level restrictions, many families have had either no work or reduced work and have therefore had a significant drop in income.
If you know any families needing help with putting food or kai on the table or paying an overdue bill, support may be available from the Ministry of Social Development.
Understanding this is an expensive time of year for families, income limits for hardship assistance have been increased from 1 November 2021 until 28 February 2022.
If you know of any families finding things tough financially, Work and Income have an online check what you might get guide, which will have the new limits updated from Monday 1 November.
You’ll need to answer some simple questions about your situation, then Work and Income will let you know if there are any payments you can get. It only takes about five minutes to check what you might get, and you don’t need to be getting a benefit to be eligible.
Your answers are completely confidential, and they won’t be saved or used in any way. Alternatively, call 0800 559 009.
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Lucky Book Club – Special Home Edition!
Welcome to Term 4 and a Special Home Edition of Book Club!
While we are currently schooling from home, we’ve created a special digital catalogue to help families stay inspired to read and learn. It’s jam-packed with bonus Christmas pages, and the best of the best books of 2021!
This issue is available by viewing the catalogue online (click here) and placing an order on the LOOP platform. All orders will be delivered directly to your home!
Please note: orders for Botany Downs School will close on Wednesday 10 November.
 ** order & pay online by the end of Wednesday 10 November
** orders will be delivered to your home!
Please note: if you ordered items from the last Book Club issue, please check your
email for times to pick up your order from school
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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!
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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.
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 We are encouraging parents to shop early and beat the crowds for next year’s summer uniform, shoes and or sandals! – and yes we have plenty of stock!
Traditionally a lot of people shop just before school starts, and it’s not uncommon to have 300-500 people shopping each day near the end of January.
Simply hang onto your receipts, and keep the clothing in its packaging should you want to swap sizing if your child has a growth spurt.
Currently we’re open for online orders and click and collect at the shop, we’re currently here from 9am until 4pm Mon-Fri, and 9am to 2:30pm on Saturdays.
Keep safe and see you soon,
Nick and Nikki
John Russell Schoolwear
Click here to find out more about the Botany Downs School uniform requirements
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COVID information for Pacific communities
Key information on COVID-19 is available in nine Pacific languages on the Ministry for Pacific Peoples website.
COVID information in other languages
The Ministry of Ethnic Communities has released some videos in different languages about the “Golden Rules for Level 4”:
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English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Maori
Portuguese
Russian
Samoan
Spanish
