Community » Parents
Welcome to all parents of current and prospective BDSC students.
This page contains information or links to valuable information for parents/guardians.
Quicklinks to useful information are to the right (e.g. uniform and stationery requirements, term dates, etc.)
Below is information about the Parent-Guardian Handbook, Commencement Procedures, NCEA, The Parent Portal, Reporting to Parents and Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences.
Parent-Guardian Handbook
The Parent-Guardian handbook is a must-read A-Z of College procedures and standards. Follow this link.
Information about NCEA for Parents
Each year the College holds an information evening for parents new to NCEA, for example parents of new Year 11 students.
At this evening a beginners guide to NCEA is presented and there is an opportunity to ask questions.
Below is a copy of the presentation by Mr Van Kralingen, Director of Academic Studies, about NCEA, from May 2012.
A date in Term 1 will be published when confirmed.
Parent Portal
Parents/guardians have access to up-to-date assessment and attendance data for their children at BDSC (updated daily). This is a way to stay up to date with your child’s progress without of waiting for formal reports to be sent home. Engaging discussions about assessment data are an effective way to focus on and improve student outcomes. PAT assessment data and some subject assessments for some subjects have recently been updated. Student contact information can be viewed and can be corrected by sending a message within the portal. In addition, there is an archive of previously sent reports.
A login and password is required to access the portal located here: http://intranet.bdsc.school.nz.
Sign in details (including a link, user name and password) for new users are sent automatically by the LMS to the email account recorded at enrolment for new students. Existing accounts from 2012 have the same sign in details.
If emails for parents/guardians are not up to date, or if you did not receive your sign in details for any other reason or you have misplaced the sign in details, then this information can be obtained by emailing the SMS Administrator, Mrs N Werner,
If any information, such as contact information, attendance or assessment, is found to be incorrect then please contact Student Services also contact the SMS Administrator Mrs N Werner, .
For further information about the Parent Portal please go to http://intranet.bdsc.school.nz and refer to the link from the home page.
An introduction to the Parent portal and making use of the data is provided here from the May 2012 NCEA evening.
Parent portal Information, for parents
New Parent Portal
In addition to the existing portal, parents now have the option of using an app for iOS (ipad, iphone, etc.) that is linked to the Student Management System (KAMAR)
Steps:
a. Download the KAMAR App (or just go to the Apple Store and search for “KAMAR”).
b. Enter the domain: webportal.bdsc.school.nz
c. Sign in with the unique (student linked) user name and password that may be obtained from the SMS Administrator Mrs N Werner,
d. You can then view details, timetable, results, groups, etc.
At present the KAMAR web portal requires a separate password for each sibling; unlike the existing parent portal (where sibling accounts are linked).
If there is sufficient interest in the iOS KAMAR app we will send out passwords to the iOS system in bulk to all parents/caregivers.
Reporting to Parents
Botany Downs Secondary College send reports by email (or link to the parent portal) to parents three times a year, followed by opportunities to conference with teachers.
- Interim/progress report: personal responsibility grades representing how students have settled into their learning at the start of year.
Juniors sent: 20 March 2013
Senior sent: 26 March 2013 - Mid-year report: personal responsibility grades and comments for each course with an assessment summary of grades achieved to date.
This is a progress report.
Senior reports sent 27 June 2013
Junior reports sent 4 July 2013 - End-of-year report: personal responsibility grades and comments for each course with an assessment summary of grades achieved to date.
This is a summative report, summarising the year.
Years 11-12 reports sent 7 November 2013
Year 13 reports issued December 2013 (at of after the graduation dinner - date to be confirmed)
Junior reports sent 5-6 December 2013
Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences
- Interim/progress SPT conference
Juniors: Tuesday 26 March 2013, from 3.30-8.30 p.m.
Seniors: Thursday 4 April 2013, from 3.30-8.30 p.m. - Mid-year SPT conference:
Seniors: 4 July 2013
Juniors: 9 July 2013
Sudent/Parent/Teacher (SPT) conferences will take place following the interim and mid-year reports.
In addition, an opportunity for parents of students at risk of not achieving NCEA in their course before and after the Term 3 senior exams. Dates will be confirmed.
Of course parents/caregivers are invited to contact whanau leaders or subject teachers by email or phone whenever thy have a query.
If you have comments regarding the College reporting, please contact please contact Mrs N Werner, SMS Administrator. Email: or phone: 272 2310, ext 213.