Newsletter – Week 8, Term 2 2025

                                         Week 8, Term 2, 2025

Kia ora koutou Parents and BDS Whānau,

Thank you to our dedicated staff for all the work that has gone into preparing mid-year reports. These will be emailed to whānau on Monday 23 June. We hope you find them a useful insight into your child’s learning journey and progress so far this year.

Our upcoming Whānau Learning Conversations are another opportunity to celebrate learning, ask questions, and strengthen the partnership between home and school. We encourage all families to attend. This is an opportunity for your child to share their learning and next steps with you, so please bring them along to the learning conversation. Thank you.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the recent PTA meeting. We are pleased to announce the newly elected Executive Team for 2025:

• Chairperson: Natasha Odendaal
  
• Deputy Chairperson: Karen Pitcaithly
  
• Secretary: Diana Ellis
  
• Treasurer: Alan Liang
  

We are grateful to these wonderful volunteers for taking on leadership roles in support of our school community.

 Ngā mihi nui,
Vicki Parkins, Principal – Tumuaki (vickip@botanydowns.school.nz)

Coming Up @ BDS

Thurs 19 Jun – Matariki Whānau morning, 10.00 a.m
Fri 20 Jun – Matariki (public holiday)
Wed 25 Jun – PTA Jester’s Pie day
Wed 25 June – Whānau Learning Conversations, 3.20 – 6.00 p.m
Thurs 26 June – Whānau Learning Conversations, 3.20 – 6.00 p.m
Fri 27 Jun – Last day Term 2
Mon 14 July – First day Term 3
Wed 16 July – Boys Soccer day / Howick Intermediate visiting Yr 6
Thurs 17 July – Boys Soccer day
Mon 21 July – Somerville Intermediate visiting Yr 6
Thurs 24 July – Senior Cross-country
Fri 25 July – No Uniform day
Wed 30 July – PTA Jester’s Pie day / School Board meeting, 6.00 p.m

Whānau Conversations

Wednesday 25 June, 3.20 – 6.00 p.m
Thursday 26 June, 3.20 – 6.00 p.m

At BDS, we believe in honest, positive communication and strong partnerships between teachers, students, and whānau. Our learners are always at the heart of what we do.

Whānau Learning Conversations give tamariki the chance to share their progress, celebrate successes, and talk about next steps. They also help whānau better understand their child’s learning.

If your child attends ESOL, you’re welcome to book two appointments – one with the classroom teacher and one with Mrs Keenan, our ESOL teacher.

Bookings are now open, please follow the below instructions:

Nau mai, Haere mai. This is an invitation for our Māori community to share your views on how we can best meet the needs of our Māori tamariki; assist in Māori related activities; contribute to and promote student awareness and pride of their cultural identity of themselves or their peers and their surroundings. 

Botany Downs School will be holding a Whānau Hui on the 19th of June at 11.00 a.m in the staffroom.

We look forward to seeing you there. 

Ngā mihi nui.
Michelle Takaiti (michellet@botanydowns.school.nz)

SCHOOL NEWS

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 9.00 -10.30 a.m

Science: Thursday 21st August 9.00 -10.30 a.m

Maths: Monday 25th August 9.00 -10.30 a.m

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.

1. Read about  ICAS subjects and prices here: (icasassessments.com/products-icas/)  
2. Read the terms and conditions here: (icasassessments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-ICAS-Assessments-Schools-TsCs_S2023.V6-1.pdf) 
3. Go to Parent Portal to purchase tests here: (shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps)  
4. Enter our school’s access code:

Parent Page Link: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/XNF939

Parent Code: XNF939

1. 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)

Somerville Intermediate Enrolment For 2026

Please check their website for more information: Somerville Intermediate

Storylines Story Tour: Author Ruth Paul

Last week the Storylines Story Tour was in Auckland, with authors and illustrators visiting schools around the region. On Friday the Year 1& 2 teams got to meet award-winning author/illustrator Ruth Paul. She talked to them about her books and some lucky students helped her act out her wonderful book ‘I am Jellyfish’.

One of her latest books ‘You Can’t Pat a Fish’ is a finalist in this year’s New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Thank you for visiting us Ruth, and thank you to Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand – Te Whare Waituhi Tamariki o Aotearoa and their generous funders for making these opportunities available for our tamariki.

Visit Ruth Paul’s website here: Ruth Paul – Author/Illustrator

East Auckland Chess Championship

Last week, a group of our Year 5 and 6 students went to Point View School to represent Botany Downs School at the East Auckland Primary Interschool Chess Championship. They competed with enthusiasm and resilience. Well done all of you; especially Rex for getting six wins throughout the day!

Pravita Chand, Chess Coordinator (pravitac@botanydowns.school.nz)

PTA Notice

Bake Sale: the Middle School (Years 3 and 4) will be hosting a Morning Tea Bake Sale on Monday, 23 June 2025.

If you would like your child(ren) to purchase a baked item for morning tea, please send a few dollars with them to school on the day of the event.

A dedicated Allergy-Friendly Table will be available, offering options suitable for students with specific dietary needs. If your child has allergies, you are welcome to contribute a clearly labelled plate of suitable baked goods for this table. We kindly ask that you inform your child’s teacher of any allergies and speak with your child beforehand about what they may safely eat.

Each baked item will be priced at $1.00, with a maximum of three items per student. Payments can be made in cash (handed directly to the class teacher on the day) or online via Kindo.

Thank you for your support. We can’t wait to see (and taste!) all the delicious creations.

Kind regards,
PTA

Fun & Learning @ BDS

Year 2, Room 2: We have loved learning about Kitchen Science this term and have been involved in a number of different experiments – Dancing Raisins, Lava Lamp, Coke and Mentos, Making Jelly, Shaving Foam Magic and Milk Swirls.

“I liked it when we made the jelly and got to eat it. At first it was a solid, then there was steam from the hot water, then it turned into a liquid. The next day it was solid again – but was wiggly jiggly.” Thea

“For the lava lamp the water and oil didn’t mix, we put the oil in first, then put the water in and it sank to the bottom!”  Zoe

“We put red, blue, yellow and green food colouring in the milk, and put the dishwashing liquid on the cotton bud. When we put the cotton bud in the middle of the milk the colours moved away.” Christiaan

Talented Students…

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, DP/SENCo – Year 0-3 (rachelr@botanydowns.school.nz)

LIBRARY NEWS

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Navigating the Stars: Matariki

A magical event with music from the Academy’s Senior Choir and Choral Scholars under the baton of Elise Bradley MNZM (recent recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal for services to Music), the Junior Choir under the directorship of Amelia Giles, and visiting choir The Young Women’s Choral Projects of San Francisco, led by Dr Matthew Otto.

In addition, you’ll be inspired by living NZ taonga Witi Ihimaera, and musical artist Kingsley Spargo, as they share their personal insights into the wonder of Matariki.

A truly unmissable event for the whole family!

Book Your Tickets Here: Navigating the Stars: Matariki

THRIVE – Real-Life Confidence, Not Screen Time!
NEW CLASSES FOR TERM 3 – LIMITED SPACES!

Let’s get kids off screens and into the real world of confidence, communication, and creativity!
Thrive classes are fun, lively, and help children learn how to express themselves, speak clearly, and build the social skills they need to thrive at school and beyond.

• Build real-world confidence
• Speak clearly and express ideas
•  Develop life skills for friendships, learning, and the future
• Held at Botany Downs School
• Tuesdays during school hours 30-minute lessons
• Small group classes (4–6 students)
• 8-week term
• $220 per term

These fun and engaging classes are perfect for children who love to perform – or need a little help finding their voice. No screens, just real skills, real confidence, and lots of fun!

Enrol now at: https://wkf.ms/3AZWDEx  www.thrivespeechanddrama.co.nz
Questions? Email Kelly at: kelly@thrivespeechanddrama.co.nz

Register here: Holiday Soccer Camp

Pay the kindo way: https://botanydowns.school.nz/kindo/