Newsletter – Week 1, Term 3 2025 – Botany Downs Primary School

Week 1, Term 3, 2025

Kia ora koutou Parents and BDS Whānau,

We hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday. A very warm welcome to all our new families, we are so happy to have you join our school community and look forward to seeing you at school and at upcoming events.

Term 3 is shaping up to be a busy and exciting one, filled with rich learning experiences, sports, cultural activities, and class trips. Keep an eye out for our weekly newsletters, sent every Tuesday, which will be packed with celebrations, updates, and key information.

Save the Date: Our Visual Arts Evening will be held on Thursday 18 October.
We are looking forward to showcasing our tamariki’s creativity with you.

Wishing everyone a fantastic start to the term.

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

Coming Up @ BDS

Wed 16 July – Boys Soccer day / Howick Intermediate visiting Yr 6 Kauri
Thurs 17 July – Boys Soccer day
Mon 21 July – Somerville Intermediate visiting Yr 6 Kauri
Thurs 24 July – Senior Cross Country
Fri 25 July – No Uniform day
Tues 29 July – School Board meeting, 6.00 p.m
Wed 30 July – PTA Jester’s Pie day
Thurs 31 July – BDS Dance Extravaganza, 6.30 p.m
Wed 6 Aug – Yr 5&6 Speech finals

SCHOOL NEWS

Cross Country

Next Thursday the 24th July we are holding the senior school cross country at Millhouse reserve. All Year 4 to 6 students will be taking part in this event.

Approximate race start time 1.00pm and order of races (each race starts at 10 minute intervals, approximately or as time dictates):

Year 6 Kauri Girls
Year 6 Kauri Boys
Year 4 Tītoki Girls
Year 4 Tītoki Boys
Year 5 Tōtara Girls
Year 5 Tōtara Boys

Prizegiving will follow these races on the day.

Sports and Clubs for Term 3

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.

Travelwise
Choir
Orchestra
Kapa Haka
Enviro
Dance – Senior and Junior
Art Club
Chess

Term 3 Sports:
This term the class focus for P.E. is hitting and striking. The focus is to develop skills for use in sports such as hockey, patter tennis, badminton, and volleyball. There is also a focus on fitness and running which leads into our senior and junior cross country.

We also have the following sports happening this term:

Gymnastics
Netball
Basketball
Soccer

PTA Notice

Women’s Self-Defence Workshop – Starts This Weekend!

Don’t miss out! Our Women’s Self-Defence Workshop with Rida Vivier kicks off this Saturday, 19 July. Rida is a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Taekwon-Do and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for empowering women with practical skills, confidence, and an understanding of human behaviour.

The workshop runs over two Saturdays — 19 and 26 July — from 10:30am to 12:00pm in the school hall. Please arrive 15 minutes early to get settled.

* Bring a friend – Women from outside the school community are welcome to attend.
* Spaces are limited and will open to the wider public on Wednesday, so get in quick to secure your spot.

The cost is $30 for the two-session workshop, and bookings can be made via your child’s KINDO account.

Please note: This is an adults-only event aimed at women – children cannot attend.

School Assembly

We invite you to attend our first school assembly for the term, on Friday at 9.10 am. This week’s items are the Boys dance group, Year 3 Pōhutukawa dance group, and the Year 4 Tītoki dance group.

Fun & Learning @ BDS

Year 1 Rimu : The Year 0-1 Rimu Team has created a Mitey Compliment Tree. This tree is about spreading positivity and kindness. I can say something positive about myself. I can say something kind about someone else. This aligns with our Relationships Value, Whanaungatanga. We all have an invisible bucket that can be filled with kindness.

I am caring. You are helpful. – Zelda Brockwell-Gounder
I am brave. You are a good friend. – Cayden Chan
I am nice. You are beautiful. – Kaius Oti
I am showing my School Values. You are kind. – Kade Hubbard
I am kind. You are helpful. – Scarlett Hudson.

Year 4 Tītoki: On Wednesday 11 June, Room 18 headed off to the Tip Top factory to see how ice-cream is made.

Following our visit, Room 18 wrote some recounts about our experience:

Yesterday, Room 18 went to the Tip Top Factory. We had to have an early morning tea because if we didn’t we would miss our bus. On the shiny bus we had bus buddies, mine was Azalea.

When we got to the Tip Top Factory we met a lovely person called Steph. She was going to show us around the factory. We all walked along some green painted lines until we stopped at the mini Tip Top van that they used to use. We all took a photo in front of it and yelled “Ice cream!”, then we walked into the factory.

In the factory we saw some metal tanks. Steph told us that she called in the workers ‘oompa loompas’. Steph also told us that they put vegetables in ice cream! Did you know that air is the secret ingredient in ice cream?

At the end we got ice cream. I chose a cookies and cream colossal cone and it was delicious. The trip was super fun!

Skyla Mccallister-Lee

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.