Week 8, Term 2 2026
Kia ora koutou Parents and BDS Whānau,
Ako mai, ako atu – Learn from me, and I learn from you.
A fantastic celebration of Samoan language Week last Friday at the Year 4-6 assembly. Room 16 student, Yamina Maiava gave an amazing performance with the fagufagu (Samoan nose flute) and a highly informative speech to demonstrate its significance to Samoan culture. You can see this outstanding performance on our school facebook page. Mālo lava Yamina!
Currently our kaiako (teachers) are energetically writing and editing ākonga (students’) reports. Given that there is a new format for report writing, I would like to recognise the time and effort our kaiako have and are putting in to ensuring your tamaiti (child) has a well prepared report.
If you are picking up your child or children in a car after school in Kadina Place, please make sure you are following the road rules by not parking on the yellow lines. If cars do this it reduces visibility and creates a serious safety risk for our ākonga.
With the weather now turning cold and wet, ākonga will need to keep warm. Our school fleece jumper, jacket and trousers are available from John Russell Schoolwear, and remember to label all uniform items with your tamaiti’s name.
Mark Insley
Acting Principal/Tumuaki (marki@botanydowns.school.nz)
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Coming Up @ BDS
Wed 10 Jun – School Board meeting, 6.00pm
Mon 15 Jun – PTA Bake Sale
Tues 16 Jun – HPPA Soccer
Wed 17 Jun – PTA Jester’s Pie Day
Fri 19 Jun – Sun 21 Jun – World Vision 40 Hour Challenge
Mon 22 Jun – Pōhutukawa Yr 3 Stardome Trip
Wed 24 Jun – HPPA Soccer Day 1
Wed 24 Jun – Whānau Learning Conversations: 3.20-6.00pm
Thurs 25 Jun – HPPA Soccer Day 2
Thurs 25 Jun – Whānau Learning Conversations: 3.20-6.00pm
Wed 1 Jul – PhotoLife Class and Individual Photos
Thurs 2 Jul – PhotoLife Sibling Photos
Fri 3 Jul – Matariki Morning / LAST DAY OF TERM 2
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Students Arriving at School Before 8.30am
If your child or children arrive before 8.30am they can now go to the hall deck and wait sensibly until the 8.30am bell. Please remember students should not be arriving before 8.15am, unless they are attending SKIDS before school care.
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Whānau Conversations
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 and will be an opportunity to discuss the child’s report, which will be emailed to whānau on Tuesday 23rd June.
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. When booking more than one appointment, please allow time to move from one part of the school to another.
Our parent- teacher whānau conversations will be held at the following times:
- 3:20- 6:00pm Wednesday 24 June 2026
- 3:20- 6:00pm Thursday 25 June 2026
To book your interviews, go to www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code in your browser, and enter the event code YK952. Then follow the steps below.
Bookings open Thursday 11 June at 9am.
When you have finished making the booking(s), your interview timetable will be emailed to you. You can return to the site to make any changes, by entering the event code again.
If you do not have any internet access or have difficulty booking, please call the school office (09 534 9848) and an appointment can be made for you.
If you have a child who has started in Year 0 this term, your teacher will be having their ‘Entry to School’ korero with you in recent weeks, and you will therefore not require a separate conference. Please check with the class teacher if you are unsure.
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our whānau conversations. Please do reach out if you have any questions.
Rachel Ryan, (rachelr@botanydowns.school.nz)
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PhotoLife Class/Individual & Sibling Photos
On Wednesday 1 July class and individual photos will be taken. On Thursday 2 July sibling photos will be taken. More information will be sent home separately today. The sibling form will need to be completed and returned to school before 30 June 2026.
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2026 International Competitions and
Assessment for Schools (ICAS)
Year 5 and 6 students have the opportunity to participate in the 2026 International Competitions and Assessment for Schools (ICAS). ICAS assessments are designed to recognise academic excellence. Students are assessed on their ability to apply classroom learning to new contexts, using higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills.
It is important to note that these assessments are not related to our New Zealand Curriculum. This means that ICAS results are not taken into consideration when determining progress, when reporting to parents or when selecting academic award recipients for our prize givings.
This year we are offering Year 5 and 6 students the opportunity to participate in English, Science and Maths 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 10th August 9-10.30am
Science: Monday 17th August 9-10.30am
Maths: Monday 24th August 9-10.30am
Each assessment has a cost of $22.95. For payments, we will be using the Parent Payment System so you must make your payments directly to ICAS. All payments must be made by Monday 20th July. We will not be accepting payments at school. See below for payment details.
- Direct login link: this link to log directly into the ICAS shop and start registering:
https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/XNF939
- Log in using the PPS code: visit the ICAS website shop and use the PPS code to log in: XNF939
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 (marki@botanydowns.school.nz)
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Hockey Fun Day
Congratulations to the Year 5 and 6 hockey players who participated in the Fun Day last week at Auckland Hockey, Lloyd Elsmore. Despite the light rain in the morning, we played all our games with enthusiasm and determination. Lots of skills, encouragement and team support were on display, and we certainly learnt lots while playing.
Thank you to our parent helpers and teachers for transporting us to and from – we can’t go to these events without you!
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Scholastic Book Club – Issue 4
A reminder – orders will close at 3.00pm on Friday 12 June.
Every purchase helps the school to provide books and resources for the classroom and library – thank you!
Please note orders and payments are preferred via Loop – the Scholastic Book Club app:
Loop – Scholastic Book Club ordering
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World Vision 40 Hour Challenge –
Last Week to Join!
You can get a permission form from your class teacher or the office.
This is it whānau! It’s that time of year when youth across Aotearoa come together for The World Vision 40 Hour Challenge – happening from June 19th-21st 2026. We’re challenging you to go offline for 40 hours and raise funds so children in Solomon Islands can get the nutritious food they need. Whether it’s no phone, gaming, social media, or even power. You get to choose what you’ll do and how you’ll do it.
Step away from screens. Step up for real change.
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Fun & Learning @ BDS
Specialist Physical Education:
This term in Physical Education the focus has been on large ball skills. We have been learning football, netball, and basketball skills through a range of fun and engaging activities.
Most recently, senior students have been developing their fundamental netball skills; including passing, pivoting, and shooting. Students have enjoyed learning these new skills and applying them in modified netball games. They have been fantastic at showing resilience when learning the rules, such as using correct footwork and only holding the ball for a short period of time before passing!
Junior and Middle School students have been building their basketball skills, with a focus on dribbling, passing, and shooting. Students have enjoyed working in small teams where they practiced new skills, developed their confidence and supported each other. They especially liked learning our technique for shooting using the acronym, “BEEF,” B for balance, E for eyes, E for elbow and F for follow through or flick!
It has been fantastic to see our students enjoying these sports and demonstrating perseverance while learning these new skills.
Anna Marck, Specialist PE Teacher (annam@botanydowns.school.nz)
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PTA Notice…
Bake sale – Monday 15th June –
We will be holding a Year 3 and 4 Bake Sale on Monday 15th June. We ask that all Year 3 and 4 students please bring in a plate of baking to sell to the rest of the school at morning tea.
Year 3 and 4 students, please drop off your homemade or store bought baking, to the hall between 8:30am – 8:50am on the morning of the sale.
Every item is just $1, with a maximum of 3 items per student. Payment can be made in advance via KINDO or given in cash to your child’s teacher on the day.
If your child has allergies, we welcome contributions to our allergy-friendly table. Please ensure these are clearly labelled with all ingredients.
Thank you for supporting this fun and tasty fundraiser; we are looking forward to seeing the creativity (and tasting the results)!
Sushi and Pizza lunch orders available every week –
St Pierres Sushi is available every Wednesday and Domino’s Pizza every Friday.
Remember: $1 from every order goes directly to our school!
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School Assembly – Juniors
This Friday is our Junior (Year 1-3) assembly at 2.15pm. We will be handing out Botany Best awards, and Values Bookmarks to the following Year 1-3 students. This week’s assembly item will be Kōwhai Room 2. All whānau are welcome to attend.
Our BDS Capabilities
Congratulations to our following tamariki who have shown their Botany Best by displaying our Capabilities: Lochie Fitzpatrick, Grace Manu, McKayla Dell, Lorcan Van Wyk, Angel Mose, Azhaan Laghari, Joseph Maifea, Aashvi Singh, Kobe Barlow, Hannah Schutte, Scarlett Blanco – Zijp, Ranaya Galahitiyawa, Roman He, Hridaan Dave, Kade Hubbard, Allen Maifea, Siva Ramachandran, Kaeson Moodley, Newyear Lealamanua, Nathan Tokai, Hope Avau, Lucas Bercich, Jane Bong & Daniel Turner.
Our BDS Values
Congratulations to the following tamariki who have displayed our Value of Resilience / Manawanui: Nyrah Chand, Heiton Fung, Ryleigh Herbert, Victoria Gakhovich, Meghan Liau, Raizel Chowdhury, Alisa Yang, Leshan Wijayaratna, Ayla Cameron, Averia Reid, Leonidas Hamilton, Dana Al-Sarraf, Inaya Galahitiyawa, Akshar Samdaw Krishinchand, Cohen Saio, Disenya Athukoralalage, Daniel Hollins, Hirad Jamalidogaheh, Jason Van Wyk, Katya Troussova, Elijah Jooste, Adhiraj Madan, Lincoln Thompson & Remi Atrushi.
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Enrol Now If Your Child Turns 5 in 2026!
We are currently planning classes and staffing for the remainder of 2026, and having accurate numbers of new entrants — even those starting later in the 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)
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