Today’s update includes information about the following:
- New Covid-19 Protection (Traffic Light) Framework
- Returning Library Books and Sports Uniforms by Thursday 9 December
- Junior’s Last day for 2021
- Uniform Shop Online Booking System
- Second-Hand Uniforms
- 2022 Start Up Dates
- 2022 Music Itinerant Programme
- December Botany Bulletin
New COVID-19 Protection (Traffic Light) Framework
You may have heard that everyone in Aotearoa will move to the new COVID-19 Traffic Light Framework on Friday 3 December. We will be moving to Red on the framework. The red framework means that we don’t have to change the way we are operating classes, and everyone can continue to attend school onsite.
For next year, we can confirm that everyone will be back onsite for learning from the start of the school year regardless of what setting under the new Traffic Light Framework we will be in (Red/Orange/Green). This is good news and means we can plan for a great 2022.
Health measures in place at school
This year and next, health, safety and wellbeing will continue to be a priority for us and the same public health measures you are very familiar with will remain in place:
- Good hygiene and cleaning.
- Contact tracing systems in place.
- Vaccination requirements for workers (paid and unpaid).
- If you are sick, you must stay home and get tested.
- Good ventilation.
However, if we do have someone confirmed with COVID-19 in our school, we have a plan in place to manage this and will contact you as soon as possible.
If you’d like to learn more about the framework visit https://covid19.govt.nz/traffic-lights/covid-19-protection-framework/
Returning Library Books/Textbooks and Sports Uniforms
Please make sure that all library books and textbooks have been returned to the Library by Thursday 9 December 2021 so they can be processed and allocated to 2022 classes.
Please return all sports uniforms to the Sports Office or to Reception. It would be most helpful if they could please in a named bag, so we can make sure it is correctly checked off against the right student.
Please note that any lost or outstanding books or sports uniforms will be charged to your child’s account for payment.
Junior’s Last Day for 2021
The last day of the year for Juniors is Thursday 9 December. They will be dismissed from school at 11.30am.
Uniform Shop Online Booking System
We would like to welcome parents and caregivers to the 2022 online booking system for our uniform shop.
The booking system will open to schedule these appointments on Wednesday 1 December 2022 from 9am and will close on Tuesday 1 February 2022 at 4pm. It can be accessed via https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/ using the parent code sjba8.
The Uniform Shop will be open for booked half hour appointments from Thursday 20 January 2022 to Wednesday 2 February 2022.
Families with siblings or with multiple students requiring a uniform need to book 1 student per fitting. Please note that there are separate fitting rooms for boys’ and girls’ uniform items. Once you have submitted your booking, an email confirmation will be sent to you. Please bring this confirmation with you when you attend your scheduled booking time.
If your child requires special sizing, seeks a special uniform exemption, or if you have trouble completing the booking process, please contact our Uniform Shop Manager, Mrs Lizzie Te Hira l.tehira@bdsc.school.nz.
Please contact the school if you are unable to keep your appointment.
We request that you are prompt for your arranged time as any delays will affect subsequent fittings.
Second-hand Uniforms
The college will now be accepting second-hand uniform for sale. This may be dropped off to our main reception Monday-Friday 8am-4pm from now up until Thursday 16 December, and then again from Monday 17 January 2022, when reception re-opens. Please place items in a bag with the form below detailing the items for sale and all relevant fields completed;
https://www.bdsc.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/Second-Hand-Uniform-Selling-Form_v7.20.pdf
The Uniform Shop will purchase second-hand uniforms under the following conditions:
- The uniform is in excellent condition.
- There have been no alterations made to the uniform.
- All items have been washed.
- All items must be ironed where possible.
Botany Downs Secondary College expects a high standard of dress from their students therefore we are unable to purchase items that do not meet this standard. We are unable to accept coloured whanau shirts or any other uniform which is no longer in use by the college. We are happy to have second-hand items donated to our emergency clothing pool. Items that we have not accepted will be discarded if not collected within one month of BDSC contacting you.
2022 Start Up Dates
- Tuesday 1 February:
Year 11 and Year 13 Course Confirmation. Year 13 start at 8.45am. Year 11 start at 10.45am. - Wednesday 2 February:
Year 12 Course Confirmation. Starts at 8.45am. - Thursday 3 February:
Year 9 and any Years 10-13 student new to the school. Starts at 8.40am in the PAC. - Friday 4 February:
Years 9-10. Year 9 start at 9am. Year 10 need to be onsite by 9.45am ready for their first assembly at 10am - Monday 7 February:
Waitangi Day – Public Holiday - Tuesday 8 February:
All students on full timetable. 8.45am start
2022 Music Itinerant Programme
The Ministry of Education fund a small number of hours for the tuition of instrumental music. This involves specialist teachers coming to the school to give small group tuition to selected students. The students are timetabled to have their lesson during school hours. This means that they will be out of their normal classes for half an hour, and it will be their responsibility to catch up on the class work that they miss during their absence.
Places in the itinerant programme are limited. At this stage the following instruments are on offer:
- Flute
- Trumpet
- Violin/Viola
- Singing
- Trombone
- French Horn
- Bass Guitar
- Clarinet/Saxophone
- Drums
- Guitar
- Cello/Double Bass
More information about the programme as well as the Music Itinerant Application Form can be found here.
December Botany Bulletin
Our final Botany Bulletin will be made available on Friday 10 December 2021.