Newsletter – Week 4, Term 4 2025

                                         Week 4, Term 4, 2025

Kia ora koutou Parents and BDS Whānau,

Celebrating 50 Years at Botany Downs School!

We are thrilled to mark our 50th Jubilee. On Thursday, every student will receive a special commemorative badge and head out to the field to create a giant “50”, a fun and memorable way to celebrate this milestone.

Join us for our Open Day on Friday and Mix & Mingle on Thursday evening, as we celebrate our history, our community, and the memories we have made together. We can’t wait to share this special moment with you. Please see below, there is still time to RSVP.

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

Coming Up @ BDS

Thurs 30 Oct – 50th Jubilee Mix n’ Mingle, 5.30pm – 8.30pm*
*RSVP Required *18+ years only
Fri 31 Oct – 50th Jubilee Open Day School Tours, 9.30am – 2.00pm*
*RSVP Required
Mon 3 Nov – BYOD Meeting for Whānau of Yr 4, 5, & 6
Wed 5 Nov – Kauri Team: Orientation Visit to
Howick Intermediate (morning)
Thurs 6 Nov – Kauri Team: Orientation Visit to
Somerville Intermediate (afternoon)
Fri 7 Nov – Senior Athletics Day / Gumboot Friday
Wed 12 Nov – PTA Jester’s Pie Day
Fri 14 Nov – Cultural Dress Day
Wed 19 Nov – School Board Meeting, 6:00 pm
Fri 21 Nov – HPPA Athletics
Wed 26 Nov – Junior Athletics Day
Fri 28 Nov – No Uniform Day
Wed 3 Dec – PTA Jester’s Pie Day

** Remember to RSVP to let us know if you are joining us **
**  Please note: Mix n’ Mingle is for 18+ years only **

Yearbook / School Magazine 2025!  

This year’s yearbook planning is well underway and we are super excited to announce it will be even bigger and better than previous years. Full colour memories! It’s a FABULOUS memory of the year and your child will love reading it and looking at pictures in years to come.

Purchase TODAY via Kindo or eftpos at the office.
Only $20 for a new and improved 2025 yearbook!

Please pay by Wednesday 26th November.

SCHOOL NEWS

 Information on BYOD for 2026
(Bring Your Own Device)

Who: BDS Whānau of 2026 Year 4, 5 and 6

When: 3rd November (Week 5, Monday), 4.30-5.30 pm 

Where: In our new build, Room 22

What: Information on BYOD for 2026 (Bring Your Own Device)

In 2026, our Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 students may bring their own devices to school each day. Students who do not bring their own devices will continue to have access to school owned devices. 

Please visit the following link for more information on recommended devices your child could bring: https://www.pbtech.co.nz/education/byod/botany-downs-school 

At Botany Downs School, we highly recommend a Microsoft or Chrome OS device.

The minimum screen size should be 11″ as our testing programme will not work with smaller screens.

If you do decide that your 2026 Year 4, 5 or 6 child will bring their own device, BYOD agreement forms will be sent home at the beginning of the 2026 school year. Students are unable to bring their device until a completed form is returned to school.

For any enquiries please email Mr Yoon: sojungy@botanydowns.school.nz

Gumboot Friday – 7th November

Gumboot Friday is an annual event that raises money for free youth counselling. The event also serves as a platform to raise awareness about mental health and provide support to those who may be struggling with their mental well-being.

To support Gumboot Friday, our Botany Downs School Councillors will be collecting gold coin donations on the hall deck from 8.30-9am on Friday 7th November. It would be awesome to see as many children wearing their gumboots as possible to support this worthy cause. Our councillors are also running a colouring in competition with a prize for the best colouring for each year level. 

Gumboot Friday 7th November, gold coin donation, wear your gumboots!

PTA Notice…

Fruju Fridays are Back!

We’re excited to have Fruju Fridays running every week this term! Frujus will be available for $2 each and ice pops for $1. Payments can be made through Kindo by midnight on the Thursday before each Fruju Friday, or you can bring cash on the day. Sales start at 3pm outside the staffroom—perfect for a cool treat to end the week while supporting our school!

Join the fun!
Remember to join us on the BDS PTA Facebook page to keep up to date with all our events: BDS PTA Facebook

Fun & Learning @ BDS

Rimu Team Year 1, Room 8:  We have been working hard during Guided Reading. Here are some photos of us working hard!

Here is what we like about Reading!

I like the Pip and Tim books because there are so many lovely pictures.
– Zelda Brockwell-Gounder

I like trying to learn new words.
– Kaius Oti

I like learning new words from the literacy word cards and writing them on the whiteboard.
– Kade Hubbard

I like reading time because it makes me happy.
– Charlotte Else

I like stories because there are big words for me to read.
– Chenuthi Konara Mudiyanselage

I like practising my ABCs.
– AJ Aisea

I like reading stories.
– Theodore Salomon

I like writing my words on the whiteboard because it helps me to learn my words.
– Grace Ren

I like playing with the literacy activities.
– Parris-Praise Singh 

I like magnetic letters because I like making words.
– Cayden Chan

I like writing the Heart Words on the whiteboard.
– Hosanna John

I like the magnetic letters because I can make new words
– Ivy Chen

I like all the literacy activities as they help me to learn.
– Vincent Wang

I like writing my words on the whiteboard.
– Ryker Christian

I like reading stories.
– Omar Almohamad Sharif

I like playing with the literacy activities because each time we use them it helps me with my learning.
– Scarlett Hudson

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.

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)

LIBRARY NEWS

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Pay the kindo way: https://botanydowns.school.nz/kindo/