Week 10, Term 3 2026
Kia ora koutou Parents and BDS Whānau,
What a fantastic Term 3 it has been. Our students have made the absolute most of every opportunity this term, from sports and arts to brilliant classroom learning. A huge thank you to our dedicated staff, parents, and community for your ongoing support throughout the year.
There is an exciting and very special time ahead for Iris Liu as she prepares to welcome her new baby. At the end of Term 3, Mrs Liu will begin her maternity leave and take time to enjoy this precious new chapter with her growing family.
Mrs Liu will be missed by our children, families and staff, and we wish her all the very best for this wonderful adventure ahead. We look forward to welcoming her back when the time is right. Congratulations Iris, and enjoy every precious moment.
We are pleased to announce that Mrs Rachel Jacobs will be joining Room 1 full-time as the classroom teacher for Term 4, stepping in while Mrs Iris Liu is away on maternity leave. Mrs Jacobs is already a valued member of our school team, and we are delighted that our Room 1 students will benefit from her familiar energy and dedication every day.
As we look ahead to Term 4, we are thrilled to welcome Mrs Diana Ellis back into our BDS whānau. She will be teaching our newest five-year-olds in Room 12, and we know her warmth and experience will make their start at school extra special.
A big thank you to Whaea Toni, for working alongside our tamariki and supporting them through our Structured Literacy Programme. Your time and encouragement has made a wonderful difference.
We wish all of our families a safe, restful, and happy holiday break. Take this time to recharge, relax, and make special memories.
Ngā mihi nui,
Vicki Parkins
Principal/Tumuaki (vickip@botanydowns.school.nz)
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Coming Up @ BDS
Week 10
Thurs 24 Sept – Cultural Dress Day
Fri – 25 Sept – Last Day of Term 3
Mon 12 Oct – First Day of Term 4
Fri 23 Oct – Teacher Only Day
Mon 26 Oct – Labour Day (public holiday)
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School and Office Hours:
The last day of the school term is Friday, 25 September 2026, and school will reopen for the new term on Monday, 12 October 2026.
During the school holidays, the office will be open for new enrolments from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Thursday, 8 October and Friday, 9 October 2026. Alternatively, you can request an enrolment pack or book an appointment by emailing office@botanydowns.school.nz.
All students in Batten house get to show off their house colours on Wednesday this week. Wear green to show your house spirit.
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HPPA Mandarin and Cantonese Speech Finals
Congratulations to Ava and Kacey, who did an outstanding job representing our school at the HPPA Mandarin and Cantonese Speech Finals last week. Standing up to deliver a speech in front of a large audience requires immense courage, preparation, and skill, and both students spoke with incredible confidence and poise. We are very proud of their hard work and dedication.
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Fire Engine Visit at School Last Week!
Our Y0–2 students had an absolute blast on Tuesday, Week 9. They were super lucky to have two fire engines from the Counties Manukau District pull up to visit our junior classes.
The firefighters spent time sharing crucial Firewise safety tips on what to do in case of a house fire, showed us all the gear and equipment they use to stay safe, and gave us a tour of the fire engines—the students even got to step inside!
To cap off an incredible morning, the crew put on an awesome water display that had everyone cheering. A massive thank you to our local firefighters for taking the time to educate and inspire our young learners
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Secondhand Uniform email address
 Due to popular demand we have now set up a second hand uniform email address.
We only have limited stock and sizes available. If you require any second hand items please use this email address: secondhanduniform@botanydowns.school.nz and put your child’s name, room number, their size and the items you are looking for.
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End of Term Principal’s Certificates
We invite you to attend the our whole school assembly on Friday at 2.10pm in the school hall. We will be presenting our End of Term Principal Certificates. All whānau are welcome.
Principal Certificates – Ellie Guo, Kiano Gillespie, Scarlett Hudson, Majesty Tumanako-Tauhinu, Benie Kazaroho, Mila Blake, Nathan Binning, Kayden Tseng, Rajveer Chaudhary, Esther Ong, Vito Feng, Alexander Ong, Makarios Tufue, Mia Cajayon, Lachlan Marck, Lavinia Chen, Jaskiran Kaur, Eli Adams, Jenna van Zyl, Cherry Nguyen, Sophie Chen, Chloe Morgan, Starzia Erskine, Amber Jing & Yeray Limones Navarro.
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This term’s winning house is
BATTEN
All students in Batten house get to show off their house colours on Wednesday. Wear green to show your house spirit.
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JOLLY SOLES ARE COMING!
Next term, we’ll be bringing Jolly Soles to our school, with lots of colourful and funky socks to choose from. There’ll be something for the whole family, and they also make great Christmas gifts.
Keep an eye out for more information early next term, including how to order and how you can get involved.
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BDS Yearbook 2026!
Planning for the 2026 yearbook is well underway with an exciting opportunity for an amazing artist to design and feature on the front cover!
Order your copy today from Kindo or pay by EFTPOS at the office. ONLY $20!
A year full of wonderful memories.
Sales from now until early Term 4. Don’t miss out.
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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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Digital world Safety Evening:
Tuesday 22nd September
In today’s digital world, keeping our tamariki safe online is one of the biggest challenges we face as parents. To help us navigate this, Shelly Park School are thrilled to host Rob Cope, filmmaker, author, and producer of the acclaimed documentary Our Kids Online, for an eye-opening, practical, and surprisingly humorous parent evening.
Why You Can’t Miss This:
The Reality: Clear breakdowns of social media’s impact on mental health, gaming addiction, cyberbullying, AI risks, and online safety.
The Solutions: Step-by-step guidance on setting up device filters, making smartphones safe, establishing solid boundaries, and having the tough conversations.
Bonus: Every attending family receives a free 1-year subscription to the Parenting in an Online World 101 online course valued at $99 (must attend in person to claim).
Event Details
When: Tuesday, 22 September | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Where: Shelly Park Primary School Hall
Details: Adults only (light snacks provided).
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Head along to Highland Park Library these school holidays !
From Saturday 26 September to Saturday 10 October , there is an awesome lineup
of daily activities to dive into.
There is something for everyone:
- Wild animal mask workshop .
- Creative snacks with Love Food Hate Waste
- Create Steampunk hats
- Diwali wall hangings
- Karate workshops, and more
Check out the full holiday timetable here: https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/events/2026/09/school-holidays-highland-park/
Please note: While most sessions are drop-in, some of these activities do require booking ahead to secure a spot!
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 Registration is now open!
Looking for a fun and active way to keep the kids engaged during the school holidays? Our Holiday Soccer Development Programme combines professional coaching, skill development, games and plenty of fun for young players of all abilities.
View programme details & register:
https://www.hjeliteacademy.co.nz/school-holiday-soccer-program-auckland/
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