Kia ora koutou BDS whānau, Week 10, Term 1, 2023
We only have three more days of Term One left before our school holidays start on Friday. This term has been full with our tamariki engaged in their learning and making the most of all the opportunities available at BDS.
On Monday our four Year Six classes left for camp and are already having an amazing time. Today I am visiting the camp and I am very much looking forward to seeing everyone enjoying their EOTC experience. Thank you to the amazing staff and parents who have made this camp possible.
We are looking forward to our ANZAC assembly on Thursday, which will be replacing our usual Friday assembly. Poppies will be available on our school deck before school.
From the staff at BDS, we wish you a safe and happy holiday.
Ngā mihi nui,
Vicki Parkins, Principal – Tumuaki (vickip@botanydowns.school.nz)
|
Coming up @ BDS…
Wed 5 Apr – Yr 6 camp returns
Thurs 6 Apr – ANZAC special assembly
*whānau welcome to attend*
Thurs 6 Apr – Last day of Term 1
Fri 7 Apr – Good Friday (public holiday)
Mon 10 Apr – Easter Monday (public holiday)
Mon 24 Apr – Teacher Only Day
Tues 25 Apr – ANZAC Day (public holiday)
Wed 26 Apr – First day of Term 2
Week 2 – Book Week
Fri 5 May – Book Character Dress-up Day & Parade
|
|
|
School Holidays
The school will close on Thursday 6th April 2023 at 3.00pm
and will reopen Wednesday 26th April 2023.
During the holidays the office will be open from 9.00am until 1.00pm on:
Thursday 20thApril 2023
Friday 21st April 2023
Monday 24thApril 2023
|
|
|
School Winter Uniform
Our winter term has arrived and it is time to wear the BDS winter uniform. We are all very proud of our uniform and show our Botany Best by wearing it with pride.
Please ensure you name all clothing and shoes with your child’s first and last names. This way, if it is left in the playground, our Lost Property Monitors will deliver it to the classroom. Our lost property is located outside Room 1.
Message from John Russell Schoolwear: The countdown is on for the new bottle green full elastic trousers to arrive in stock!
Unfortunately the manufacturers positioned the logo incorrectly on the first batch. A new lot are underway, and we’re expecting them to arrive early May, ready for the cooler weather.
If you like, please leave your name and number, and preferred size, with our team, and we can text you directly when the trousers arrive.
Kind regards,
Nick Thompson, John Russell Schoolwear
 9 Moore St, Auckland 2014 / Phone: 09-534 9373
info@johnrussellschoolwear.co.nz
|
|
|
|
|
ANZAC Special Assembly – Thursday 6 April
Poppies will be available for sale on the hall deck on Thursday prior to our ANZAC assembly for a gold coin donation. Whānau are welcome to attend this special assembly, which will begin at 9.10am on the basketball courts.
|
|
|
Book Week Update…
Find your taonga – books are the treasure!
Week 2, Term 2
Introducing our special Book Week guests…
Author James Russell – will be visiting our Year 4-6 students. James is the author of the popular Dragon Defenders series, and an exciting new series Children of the Rush set in the time of the Otago gold rush.
Howick College Drama Students – will be filling the hall with fun, entertaining our Year 1-3 students with story performances.
Special Book Week Exhibition…
Create your very own Potato Book Character! Make it at home and bring it to the library to go on display. Who or what will you create? Get thinking, get creative! Here is Mrs H’s Potato character as an example:
 A Lion in the Meadow, by Margaret Mahy
Character Dress-up Day…
Who will you be? Check out these websites for some inspiration:
30 Last Minute Costumes
109 Easy Last Minute Costume Ideas
32 Best Book Character Costumes
75 Simple Book Costume Ideas
|
|
|
PTA News
Fruju Friday – will be happening on Thursday this week as it is the last day of term.
Whittaker’s Chocolate fundraiser! We’re getting organised for this annual fundraiser – information will be sent home with your eldest or only child at the beginning of Term 2. We appreciate your support.
|
|
|
Travelwise Big Walk
Thank you to everyone who came and joined us for our BIG WALK last Tuesday morning – approximately 90 children and their whānau! We met at Booralee Park – a great place to park away from the busy main gate – and walked to school together.
Unfortunately Maxx the Pukeko from Auckland Transport wasn’t able to walk with us, but he came for a visit on Monday to encourage us to be active on our way to school.
Remember that we have three entrances other than the main gate you can use – lots of places to park and walk safely:
 Red line = school gates / Blue line = great place to park and walk in through the school gate
Kylee Holmes, Travewise Coordinator (kyleeh@botanydowns.school.nz)
|
|
|
Girls Smash Cricket Festival
Two teams of Year 3 & 4 girls participated in the Girls Smash Festival last week, organised by Auckland Cricket. To make the day as enjoyable as possible, traditional cricket rules were modified to make the game more fun for the girls. They all had a go at batting, bowling, and fielding, displaying their Botany Best at all times during their four games.
A big thankyou to our parent helpers who made the day possible and also to our supporters who cheered the girls on!
Kate Keenan, Coordinator (katek@botanydowns.school.nz)
|
|
|
Swimming
Thanks, Botany Downs School for having us teach swimming again! We managed to have some really good results and hopefully everyone had fun.
We did see a massive drop in confidence once the kids were asked to swim without goggles, so any chance you can have them swimming in water without goggles, is a bonus.
Really proud of all our little swimmers! Thanks also to Taylor for helping me teach this year.
See you again next year.
Wayne and Taylor
|
|
|
Congratulations to our talented Librarian, Vanessa Hatley-Owen, on her new book. Everyone is invited to this special event to celebrate!
|
|
|
Learning and Fun @ BDS
Year 2, Room 2 – Class Picnic and ANZAC Poppies: students in Room 2 have been working hard, showing their Botany values, and making good choices in the classroom. We had a class picnic on the field to celebrate everyone’s great effort this term.
We also worked collaboratively to make these ANZAC poppies:
Year 4, Room 21 – Room 21 had Constable Darren visit. We are learning to keep ourselves safe. Keeping Ourselves Safe is a child protection programme in which children apply a range of safety skills that they can use when interacting with others.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Auckland Libraries School Holiday
Reading Challenge
Kids and teens can log their reading and complete activities on Beanstack to collect badges and go in the draw to win prizes! Head to this page to find out more: Auckland Libraries School Holiday Challenge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OSCAR Subsidy Increase…
OSCAR Subsidy income threshold increases mean that your family could be eligible for subsidised childcare! Visit www.sKids.co.nz/OSCAR to check if your family is eligible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Art Competition for Kids…
For school-going children and families – create a work of art that best shows what makes East Auckland the best place to live.
There are three entry categories, and each winning entry will receive a prize pack of family fun vouchers! Follow the link below to find the entry form and more information… East Auckland Tourism Art Competition
Entries all in by 6th April. Have Fun!
|
|
|
SPCA Photography Competition for Kids…
|
|
|
|
|
English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Maori
Portuguese
Russian
Samoan
Spanish
