Week 4, Term 3 2026
Kia ora koutou Parents and BDS Whānau,
We value the strong partnership we share with our BDS whānau. Your feedback through this survey will help guide our next steps and ensure we continue to provide the very best for our tamariki.
Please take a few moments to answer the three questions below, which can be accessed through the blue link. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and helping us continue to grow together.
- What do you value most about Botany Downs School?
- As we look to the future, what would you like us to focus on or improve?
- Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
Our Survey Link
Have a great week everyone.
Vicki Parkins
Principal/Tumuaki (vickip@botanydowns.school.nz)
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Coming Up @ BDS
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 – PTA Fathers’ Day Morning
Fri 4 Sept – HPPA Lit Quiz / Junior Cross Country
Mon 7 Sept – PTA Meeting
Wed 9 Sept – HPPA Netball Day / School Board Meeting
Fri 11 Sept – PTA School Disco
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Policies and Procedures – SchoolDocs 2026
Term 3 Review
SchoolDocs provides a comprehensive core set of policies and procedures that are tailored to the needs of Botany Downs School. SchoolDocs updates, modifies and creates policies in response to changes in legislation or Ministry guidelines, significant events, reviews/requests from schools and regular reviews.
Our SchoolDocs policies and procedures can be found via our school website on the link below:
Policies and Procedures – School Documents
If you would like to participate in reviewing the policies, please follow the instructions below.
- Visit the website https://botanydowns.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
- Enter the username (botanydowns) and password (best).
- Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
- Read the policy.
- Click the Start your review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
- Select the reviewer type.
- Enter your name (optional).
- Follow the prompts to show that you’ve read the topic and enter your feedback if you’d like to comment.
- Agree to the privacy statement and click “Submit review”.
For Term 3 the following policies relate to Learning Support and are up for review:
- School Community Engagement Policy
- Inclusive School Culture
- Enrolment
- Student Attendance
- Student Uniform/Student Dress Expectations
- Concerns and Complaints Policy
Mark Insley, Deputy Principal (marki@botanydowns.school.nz)
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Senior School Speech Finals
On Tuesday morning, nine Year 5 and 6 students competed in this year’s Senior School Speech Finals, sharing their stories and ideas around the inspiring theme:
Our Roots, Our Voices, Our Future
“When we know who we are and where we come from, we can achieve anything.”
The standard of speaking was outstanding, and we are incredibly proud of every finalist for the hard work, courage, and preparation they put into their presentations.
A huge well done to all of our speakers: Umama Adil Kumar, Luke Buckley, Gus McCrindle, Lucas Pope, Henil Tailor, Tushita Arun, Emily Green, Ava Tang, and Jennifer Wu.
A special congratulations to the following students who stood out for their exceptional delivery:
1st Place: Luke Buckley, who wowed the judges with his insightful speech, “Three Strands”.
2nd Place: Umama Adil
3rd Place: Henil Tailor
Thank you to everyone who supported our senior students. We are proud of the confident communication skills demonstrated by all of our finalists.
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Term 3 Clubs
During Term 3 we are very fortunate to have the following clubs available for students to be part of during lunch times. A big thank you to all of the teachers responsible for your time and effort.
- Choir
- Orchestra
- ESOL Games
- Kapa Haka
- Pasifika Au Siva
- Cultural club
- Enviro
- Coding club
- Dance – Senior and Junior
- Chess – Year 3 and 4
Mark Insley, Deputy Principal (marki@botanydowns.school.nz)
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Fun & Learning @ BDS
Rimu Year 1 Room 10:
The students of Room 10 have been learning to build Relationships/Whanaungatanga by communicating positively and showing care for one another. Good relationships support learning. Well done, Room 10!
Tītoki Year 4 Room 19:
Kia Orana! Last week Room 19 learnt all about the Cook Islands. We focused on Tivaevae patterns during Visual Arts. We looked at different patterns and used water colours to paint our Tivaevae. Check out our amazing work!
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Alice in Wonderland at
The Harlequin Theatre
Come and watch the magical show of Alice in Wonderland starring our own Autumn Jacobs as a Cheshire Cat (in Cast ‘Dum’)! The Harlequin Theatre have kindly offered our school discounted tickets for the week night performances.
Purchase your tickets via iTicket website here: Alice in Wonderland, Jnr
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School Assembly
We invite you to attend our school assembly on Friday at 2.10pm. We will be presenting our Botany Best Certificates and Values Bookmarks. This week’s items will be from Kōwhai Room 1 and Room 4. All whānau are welcome to attend.
Our BDS Capabilities
Congratulations to our following tamariki who have shown their Botany Best by displaying our Capabilities: Anyi Wong, Nelson Wang, Konnor Oti, Austin Broodryk, Harper Annan, Wianru Botha, Ethan Symons, Charlotte Pitcaithly, Jia Zhang, Sophie Klee, Oliver Wu, Chevy Davis, Emma Xie, Marcus Botha, Meghan Liau, Aariz Zahidani, Elsa Dong, Emily Thomson, Ephraim Kazaroho, Jireh John, Kaius Oti, Anaya Paraskar, Yunxiao Yan, Liam O’Neill & Daisy Huang.
Our BDS Values
Congratulations to the following tamariki who have displayed our Value of Relationships – Whanaungatanga: Acen Wu, Amanda Kim, Lachlan Marck, Joanna Qiao, Ayan Gul, Hoor Laghari, Juwon Vaga, Jennifer Wu, Qitei Ramlall, Lianie Vorster, Nature Parsons, Isher Singh, Samuel Cao, Vick Feng, Boston Haretuku, Kayden Tseng, Kobe Barlow, Japsirat Kaur, Chenuthi Konara Mudiyanselage, Kiano Gillespie, William McClintock, Sinha Moni, Nathan Tokai, Angela Cajayon & Nathan Miguel.
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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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SLANZA School Library Week!
We are so lucky to have a school library. The School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (SLANZA) reported these findings from their 2022 study looking at the positive impact a well-supported library can have for learners and the wider school community:
- Improved reading, writing and digital literacy
- Development of research skills
- Development of knowledge beyond academic learning such as leadership, mentoring and other skills
- A sense of wellbeing, belonging and community amongst students.
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