Week 1, Term 3 2026
Kia ora koutou Parents and BDS Whānau,
We hope you all had an enjoyable holiday break and are ready for another exciting term. It is wonderful to welcome everyone back for Term 3, and we extend a very special welcome to the new students and families joining our BDS whānau. We are delighted to have you as part of our school community and look forward to getting to know you throughout the term.
We are also pleased to welcome a small group of international students to our kura as part of a cultural learning experience. Their visit provides a wonderful opportunity for our tamariki to build new friendships, learn about different cultures and perspectives, and share the unique traditions and values that make our school and New Zealand so special. These experiences enrich learning for everyone and help foster curiosity, understanding, and respect for others.
Term 3 promises to be another exciting and rewarding one, with engaging classroom learning, sports, cultural events, performances, and educational trips. There will be many opportunities for our tamariki to learn, grow, and shine.
To keep up to date with everything happening at school, please look out for our weekly newsletters, which are emailed every Tuesday and include celebrations, important information, and upcoming events.
We wish all of our tamariki, whānau, and staff a happy, successful, and enjoyable Term 3. We look forward to another wonderful term of learning together.
Vicki Parkins
Principal/Tumuaki (vickip@botanydowns.school.nz)
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We are proud to be a KINDO school, making it easier than ever for our families to manage school payments online. KINDO is our trusted platform for purchasing school-related items, paying for trips and events, and even ordering lunches, all in one convenient place.
Using KINDO means no more searching for cash or last-minute trips to the office. Instead, you can take care of everything from the comfort of home, anytime that suits you. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to set up your KINDO account and enjoy the ease of managing payments digitally.
For more information or to get started, visit BDS Kindo or contact the office for assistance.
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Coming Up @ BDS
Wed 22 Jul – Howick Intermediate Visiting Kauri Yr 6
Mon 27 Jul – Somerville Intermediate Visiting Kauri Yr 6
Wed 29 Jul – HPPA Dance Festival
Thurs 30 Jul – Senior School Cross Country
Mon 3 Aug – PTA Meeting
Tues 4 Aug – Senior Speech Competition
Wed 5 Aug – School Board Meeting / PTA Jester’s Pie Day
Mon 10 Aug ICAS English
Tues 11 Aug – HPPA Cross Country
Mon 17 Aug – ICAS Science
Wed 19 Aug – HPPA Gymnastics
Thurs 20 Aug – HPPA Gymnastics
Fri 21 Aug – Daffodil Day / HPPA Gymnastics
Mon 24 Aug – ICAS Maths
Tues 25 Aug – Netball Fun Day
Wed 26 Aug – PTA Jester’s Pie Day
Fri 4 Sept – HPPA Lit Quiz
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BDS Library Reading Engagement Programme – Book Awards Voting
The annual New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults are being celebrated in our library with a BDS vote for the Best Picture Book. Each week, one of the five finalist books is read to each class, and students then ‘think like a book awards judge’ and vote for it if they think it will be the winner. Once all five books have been read, the votes will be tallied to see which one is Botany’s favourite.
The book award winners will be announced on Wed 19 August, and we will see if BDS has chosen the same picture book winner as the judging panel.
This reading engagement programme was lots of fun last year, and our librarian Mrs Hatley-Owen wrote about it in an article for the latest edition of the SLANZA (School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa) Collected magazine. You can read the article in the PDF below.
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Fun & Learning @ BDS
Rimu Year 1:
In Week 11 of Term 2, Room 7 enjoyed learning about Matariki and the special meaning behind each star. Our favourite story was ‘The Seven Kites of Matariki’. We designed our own kites and celebrated with a shared morning tea on the last day of term.
Tītoki Year 4:
At the end of Term 2, Room 20 had a wonderful time celebrating Matariki. We spent time learning about the significance of the nine stars, discovering how each one connects to our environment and wellbeing. To mark the occasion, we got creative and made our very own Matariki kites. The highlight of our celebrations was our Matariki morning. We loved sharing delicious food with our friends and family.
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PTA Notice…
Samosa Fundraiser – Last Chance to Order!
This is the final week to support our PTA Samosa Fundraiser! Orders close at midnight this Friday (24 July), so don’t miss out on delicious Surti samosas in five great flavours: Vegetarian, Butter Chicken, Lamb, Tandoori Chicken, and Butter Paneer. Please remember to include your child’s name and room number in the ‘message’ section when ordering.
https://fundraising.surti.co.nz/botany-downs-school-pta
Thank you for supporting our school community.
PTA Disco – Save the Date!
Following the huge success of our school discos in previous years, we’re excited to announce that this year’s PTA School Disco will be held on Friday 11th September. It’s always a fantastic evening of music, dancing and fun for our students, and we can’t wait to do it all again. Mark the date in your calendar now – more details, including ticket information and session times, will be shared soon!
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Enrol Now If Your Child Turns 5 in 2026!
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We are currently planning classes and staffing for the remainder of 2026. To ensure we have accurate numbers of our new entrants— even those starting in 2027— we ask you to please contact the school office for enrolment information. 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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Returning Library Books
A friendly reminder that library books need to be returned to the library desk so they can be scanned back in.
Books may be returned during the weekly scheduled class visit or any day at lunchtime. Students may also quickly pop into the library before or after school to return their books. If the library is closed, books may be placed in ‘Botany Bob’, our after-hours returns bin located in the school office.
- If the librarian is not available that is fine – our computer system knows who borrowed the book. All you need to do is put the book in the returns slot.
- If it is overdue – the computer system will update the borrower account when the book is scanned back in.
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 Enrolment forms available from the school office
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We’re excited to announce that HJ Elite Academy’s After School Soccer Development Programme is back for Term 3!
This fun and engaging programme is designed for both boys and girls who are new to soccer or looking to further develop their existing skills. Our focus is on:
- Recognising and nurturing each child’s individual abilities
- Supporting age-appropriate skill development
- Most importantly, making sure every child enjoys the journey
To register: click here *payment plan available ”
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