Week 5, Term 2, 2025
Tēnā koutou te whānau,
Our school officially opened on 26 May 1975, which means we celebrate our 50th birthday this year. The Jubilee Committee is meeting this week to plan an exciting celebration to be held in Term 4. We will be sharing more details with you in the coming weeks.
We have recently been informed that our school hall will be unavailable during this time due to repairs. The hall will be under a large white tent while work is carried out to fix leaks, starting at the end of August and continuing into the new year. We are working on a back-up plan and our jubilee celebrations will definitely be going ahead.
Attendance is a key focus for us at Botany Downs School, and we truly appreciate the support of our BDS whānau in helping us keep accurate and up-to-date records.
Thank you to everyone who contacts the school to let us know when your child will be absent. This is more important than ever, as the Ministry of Education now requires us to use specific codes for each absence.
Your communication helps streamline the process and saves valuable time for our office staff, who would otherwise need to follow up. We know your time is precious too, so thank you for helping us keep things running smoothly. We have received some very helpful information around attendance from the MInistry of Education to share with you, see below. Ngā mihi nui for your continued support and partnership.
Ngā mihi nui,
Vicki Parkins, Principal – Tumuaki (vickip@botanydowns.school.nz)
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Knowing if Your Child is Well Enough to go to School
— Guidance for Parents and Caregivers
Going to school every day is important for all school aged tamariki (children). It helps build their confidence and social skills, and to achieve their education and life ambitions. The information on this website helps you decide when it is okay to send your child to school, when you should keep your child at home and when you should contact a health professional for advice: Health NZ Te Whatu Ora: Knowing When Your Child is Well Enough to go to School
The following links are also on this page:
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Coming Up @BDS
Fri 30 May – Teacher Only Day
Mon 2 June – King’s Birthday (public holiday)
Tues 3 Jun – Interschool Hockey
Wed 4 Jun – PTA Jester’s Pie day
Fri 6 Jun – Interschool Rugby
Mon 9 Jun – PTA AGM (Annual General Meeting), 7.00 p.m
Tues 10 Jun – Yr 4 Tip Top visit: Room19 & Room 17
Wed 11 Jun – Yr 4 Tip Top visit: Room18 & Room 20
Thurs 12 Jun – Soccer competitive day
Fri 13 Jun – No Uniform day / Soccer competitive day
Fri 13 Jun – World Vision 40 Hour Challenge begins
Tues 17 Jun – Soccer Non Competitive day
Thurs 19 Jun – Matariki Whānau morning, 9.00 a.m
Fri 20 Jun – Matariki (public holiday)
Wed 25 Jun – Girls Soccer Competitive day / PTA Jester’s Pie day
Fri 27 Jun – Last day Term 2
Mon 14 July – First day Term 3
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Reminder – Teacher Only Day
A reminder that we have a scheduled Teacher Only Day on this Friday (30 May). If you need to arrange care for your child, sKids will be open on that day – please contact Wayne Johnson to book in: botanydowns@skids.co.nz or phone 021-616-513.
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2025 ICAS Assessments
 This year we are offering Year 5 and 6 students the opportunity to participate in English, Science and Maths ICAS assessments. All assessments are supervised at school and completed online. You will be notified of your child’s results when they are ready and they will also receive a certificate. Top performers will be eligible for medals and special ceremonies to recognise their academic excellence from ICAS assessments.
Dates of assessments:
English: Monday 11th August 9-10.30am
Science: Thursday 21st August 9-10.30am
Maths: Monday 25th August 9-10.30am
Each assessment has a cost of $22.50. For payments this year, we will be using the Parent Payment System so you must make your payments directly to ICAS. See below for payment details. All payments must be made by Monday 14th July. We will not be accepting payments at school. To find out about ICAS, enter your child and make payments. Please see the instructions below.
- Read about ICAS subjects and prices here: (icasassessments.com/products-icas/)
- Read the terms and conditions here: (icasassessments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-ICAS-Assessments-Schools-TsCs_S2023.V6-1.pdf)
- Go to Parent Portal to purchase tests here: (shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps)
- Enter our school’s access code:
Parent Page Link: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/XNF939
Parent Code: XNF939
- Enter your child’s details, select the tests you would like to purchase, then proceed to payment.
Please note that the ICAS tests shown for selection are at the school’s discretion. After payment is made via the Parent Payment System, you will receive an order confirmation email. Please keep this for your records.
Mark Insley, Deputy Principal, ICAS Coordinator (marki@botanydowns.school.nz)
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HPPA Rugby
The seniors participated in one of two Rippa Rugby tournaments last Friday. These pictures are from the Year 6 team. This tournament was not scored but everyone played well and showed amazing teamwork as well as sportsmanship. Our next tournament will be on the 6th of June.
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PTA Notices…
Whittaker’s Chocolate Fundraiser:
Thank you to everyone who has returned their money or chocolates.
A reminder that all money and/or unsold chocolate is due back this Thursday 29th May. Each box contains 36 bars of chocolate sold at $2.50 each, a total of $90.00.
Our PTA bank account details are as follows:
Botany Downs Primary School PTA
12-3089-0111164-00
Please use your child’s name and room number as the reference.
Thank you for your support .
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Fun & Learning @ BDS
Year 0: Room 10 has been learning large ball skills. We are practising passing and catching with a buddy, and aiming accurately to try to throw a ball into a hoop. It is great for our motor skills and a lot of fun too!
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Enrol Now if Your Child Turns 5 Before April 2026
 We are currently planning classes and staffing for 2026, and having accurate numbers of new entrants — even those starting mid-year — greatly helps us with this process. Thank you for your support.
Enrolment packs are available from the school office, or you can request one via email: office@botanydowns.school.nz
Rachel Ryan, Acting DP/SENCo – Year 0-3 (rachelr@botanydowns.school.nz)
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Scholastic Book Club Te Karapu Pukapuka
Brochures for the lastest issue of the Scholastic Book Club will be coming home today/tomorrow. Packed with a range of fabulous reads for all ages and interests, it is a great place to find books that will excite your tamariki, and grow their reading and literacy skills!
Online ordering and payment via the Scholastic LOOP website is preferred: https://mybookclub.scholastic.co.nz/Parent/Login.aspx
Orders close Thursday 5 June, 3.00 p.m
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Celebrating NZ Books in NZ Music Month
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Jazz School – School Holiday Big Band Workshop
This will be an exciting three day school holiday workshop where year 6, 7 and 8 students will learn to play in a Jazz Big Band and then perform a concert for family and friends on the final afternoon. The Big Band is for Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone and Clarinet players plus Electric Guitar, Piano, Bass and Drums. The music we play will range from jazz standards to modern pop classics with an emphasis on having fun while producing music at a high standard. This workshop will be run by Drew Hutchinson. Students must be playing at grade 2 level or higher, or have had two years of lessons.
The workshop is on June 30, July 1 and July 2 from 9.00 a.m – 3.00 p.m
at Parnell District School 48 St Stephens Ave, Parnell.
 To register for the workshop please visit jazzschool.co.nz or email jnrjazzschool@gmail.com for more information.
Feedback from previous workshops: “I cannot tell how much we enjoyed your workshop on so many levels; watching our child’s confidence grow, making new friends, the location and of course the music was fantastic”.
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