PROSPECTUS

OUR VISION

To maximise achievementthrough intellectual challengeand nurturing personal growthin an environmentthat promotes confidenceand lifelong learning

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Botany Downs Secondary College is a school which has an intellectual and academic ethos, and this is

supported by excellent opportunities in sport, culture, and the arts. This ensures that every student has the

opportunity to achieve all they are capable of during their time at the College.

We believe strongly that the well-being of every student is of vital importance and our vision, values and

philosophy outline our commitment to each student’s personal development. Students will be encouraged

to care for one another and develop healthy lifestyles.

The Whanau house system is the basis of our pastoral support for individuals. Each Whanau encourages

and establishes a sense of belonging within our College and endeavours to make our students positive,

effective citizens.

Schools cannot operate in isolation from their community. Strength lies in our working together and

creating educational partnerships that will encourage and empower our students to achieve at the highest

levels. We appreciate the diversity of culture in our College and welcome active community participation.

The College is a learning community that embraces technology and innovation and introduces new

learning and thinking tools. Students’ knowledge, skills, attitudes and values will be enhanced and all will

be encouraged to set goals that maximises their potential.

When our students leave we want them to have the ability to be successful in life. We want them to look

back at their time at Botany Downs Secondary College with fondness and remember the great experiences

they have had and treasure the opportunities that were given to them.

Mike LeachPRINCIPAL

These key elements are at the heart of our school:

• Thequalityofrelationshipsthataredevelopedamongalltheparticipantswithinthelearning

community

• Thesupportandinvolvementofparents,friendsoftheschoolandwidercommunity

At Botany Downs Secondary College we aim to develop young men and women as people who will

graduate as independent learners able and willing to make a constructive contribution to society.

They will graduate with:

A backpack of personal qualities

• Service

• Honesty

• Respect

• Perseverance

• Sensitivity

• Compassion

• Fairness

• Interpersonalskills

PHILOSOPHY

A toolkit of skills

• Metacognitiveapproaches

• Communicationskills

• SocialCompetencies

• LifeSkills

• Literacy-Information/Digital/Technological

• Confidence

• Direction

• Selfesteem

• Flexibility

• Leadership

• Balance

• Resilience

• Ethicsandvalues

A briefcase of qualifications

• Aspirationstoachieveatthehighestlevel

• Valuableandworthwhilequalifications

The School Logo

The logo reflects our philosophy:

The design started from the Greek alphabet using the circles of the Beta and Delta characters, and

the overlapping circular shapes echo the traditional role of the educator and the student.

• Theinnercircleisthestudent

• Theoutercirclerepresentsthenurturingandeducatingbyteachers

• Theoutershapelinksthetwocircles,envelopsthewholeschoolcommunityandispointing

towards the future

Botany Downs Secondary College is committed to building strong future prospects for our students, the citizens and

leaders of tomorrow. It is our belief that all students have a potential well beyond the levels of current performance

and we wish to work with them to develop their wider range of talents, skills and abilities. We hope students

themselves will develop a passion for learning.

Every student needs to have their intellectual skills developed and we provide opportunities for self-directed and self-

paced learning along with collaborative studies. We believe that instruction in thinking skills and their infusion across

the whole curriculum enables learners to adapt to rapid change in technology, and new challenges in an increasingly

complex world.

Life skills are also vital in building futures and we facilitate the development of the whole person through the

Whanau, mentoring, co-curricular activities and leadership. High levels of communication and regular interaction

between home and school provide a strong web of support for each student.

The Whanau to Nurture Students

• TheWhanaudevelopstheconceptsofa“schoolwithinaschool”and“homeawayfromhome”

• Classroomsarebuiltarounda“Commons”spaceonthegroundfloorusedforrecreationandteachingandlearning,

especially collaborative learning

• SlidingglassdoorsopentheclassroomstotheCommonsallowingforflexibleuseofspaceandopenness

• Allfacilitiesareaccessibletopeoplewithphysicaldisabilities

Facilities Designed for Curriculum Delivery and Pastoral Care

• ThesecondfloorofeachWhanaucontainsspecialistteachingareas-classroomsarebasedarounda“Breakout”

areaprovidingfurtherflexibilityofteaching/learningspaces,especiallythedevelopmentofindependentstudentlearning

• Facultyresourceroomsfacilitatecollaborativeplanning

• TheLibraryandStudyCentreisattheheartoftheschool

• AhighspecificationTheatreandPerformingArtscomplex

• Gymnasiumwithfullsizecourt,weightsroomandteachingclassroom

• AfutureproofedtechnologyinfrastructurewhichenablesICTaccessanywhereanytime

• LearnerSupportforindividualprogrammes,SpecialNeedsandtheGiftedandTalented

• StudentServicesCentrecomprisingofahealthcentre,guidanceandcareerscounselling

DESIGN FOR LEARNING

At Botany Downs Secondary College ICT is an integral part of the life of the school, for the teaching and learning programmes, administration and communication with our parent community. Training is ongoing for all staff and students to make the most of the developing technologies. Students have individual access to the network, with copy and print capabilities.

All classrooms in the College are connected to the school network. Staff have both cable and wireless access to the network to enable staff to move freely, creating truly flexible learning areas. Access to the Learning Management System(LMS), the college intranet, gives students and staff access to learning resources and school information from within the college and from home e.g. lesson handouts, powerpoint presentations, assessment calendar and assignments.

A feature of each Whanau is the IT pod situated on the ground floor. Each computer pod has 12 computers, in addition to the computers in the general classrooms, and the Study Centre. The second floor specialist areas have 12 computers in the Breakout area. Interactive Whiteboards and data projectors add a new dimension to curriculum delivery in the classroom. The school’s Daily Notices are streamed into and displayed on plasma screens in each Whanau Commons.

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION

TECHNOLOGY (ICT)

ANY STUDENT ANY CLASSROOM

ONLINE RESOURCES

ANYHOME

ANY COMPUTER

ANYTEACHEROUR LIBRARY

BDSC NETWORK

INTERNET

Aims• To explore the seven essential learning areas and essential skills of the New Zealand Curriculum

Framework, plus an explicit and integrated Thinking and Learning curriculum• To encourage students to select a broad and balanced programme of study• Tomonitor and support students’ academic work through strong pastoral care including individual

mentoring• To set high academic expectations and to ensure results from national qualifications are among

the best in the country

STUDENT LEARNING

*Visual and Performing Arts = Music, Art, Dance and Drama*ESOL = English for Speakers of Other Languages*Technology = Food, Graphics, Hard Materials, Textiles

YEAR 9Compulsory Subjects

English

Health and Physical Education

Languages

French &

Japanese

or ESOL*

Mathematics

Science

Social Studies

Technology*

YEAR 10Compulsory Subjects

Visualand Performing Arts*

EnglishHealth and Physical EducationMathematicsScienceSocial Studies

Options – selection to equal 3 full year courses

HALF YEAR COURSESCreative WritingGreek MythologyJournalism

Media Studies (radio)Outdoor EducationSports Leadership

FULL YEAR COURSESAncient CivilisationsArt - PracticalBusiness StudiesDanceDramaElectronicsESOLFinancial StudiesFood Technology

FrenchGraphicsInvestigative GeographyJapaneseMedia Studies (film)Multi Materials TechnologyTextiles TechnologyMusicPhysical Education Option

Learning Areas Year 11 Year 12 Year 13EnglishEnglishEnglish-FoundationESOL English

Abridged EnglishLevel 2 English for ESOLLevel 2 English A bandLevel 2 English B bandJournalismMedia Studies

Level 3 English A bandLevel 3 English B bandLevel 2 English for Y13JournalismMedia Studies

FrenchLanguagesJapanese

FrenchJapanese

FrenchJapanese

MathematicsMathematicsMathematics – AlternativeMaths – Foundation

FoundationMathsMathematicsMathematics – AlternativeMathematics Extention–

Maths with CalculusMaths with Calculus – alt.Statistics and ModellingStatistics and Modelling – alt

HumanBiologyScienceScienceScience – Double optionScience – Foundation

BiologyChemistryElectronicsPhysicsScience

BiologyChemistry

PhysicsScience

Social AccountingSciencesBusiness EnterpriseEconomics Employment SkillsGeographyHistory

AccountingBusiness OperationsClassical StudiesEconomics

GeographyHistoryLegal StudiesTravel and Tourism

AccountingBusiness ManagementClassical StudiesEconomicsGeographyHistoryTravel and Tourism

TechnologyFood and HospitalityFoodTechnologyGraphicsICTTechnology – Hard Materials

Automotive EngineeringFashion DesignTechnologyFoodand HospitalityFoodTechnologyGraphicsICTTechnology – Hard Materials

Fashion Design TechnologyFood & HospitalityFood TechnologyGraphicsICTMaterials Technology

The Art Arts PracticalDanceDramaMusicPhotography

Art HistoryDanceDramaMusicPhotographyVisualArt

Art HistoryDanceDramaPhotographyPractical MusicMusic StudiesVisualArt

Physical & Personal Core Health & Phys.Development

Educ.Health EducationPhysical Education

Health EducationOutdoor EducationPhysical Education

Health EducationOutdoor Education

Curriculum for Years 11-13

Physical Education

Electronics

Financial Literacy

Fashion & Design Automotive Engineering

Curriculum Enrichment

Learning to Learn (L2L)TheLearntoLearnprogrammeisdesignedtoimprovethequalityofstudentlearningandisbasedonresearchandbestpractice incorporating the strategies of leading educationalists. The weekly Learn 2 Learn programme is further supported by an integration of the thinking skills across all curriculum areas. The five year programme is based on the development ofcriticalandstrategicthinkingandcreativeproblemsolvingincludingelementsfromtheHabitsofMind,CoRT,CognitiveResearch Trust, ethical issues, Bloom’s and Solo taxonomies.

Gifted & Talented ProgrammeBotany Downs Secondary College provides challenging programmes to stimulate learning and extend gifted and talented students to reach their potential.To cater specifically for the needs of gifted and talented students the College:• Createsacceleratedacademicclasses• ProvideswithdrawalandextensiondaysineachLearningArea• Encouragesparticipationinexternalcompetitionse.g.ICASexaminationsinEnglish,MathematicsandScience• Encourages participation in co-curricular activities e.g. Community Atlas Project, Mathex competitions, Science Crest

Awards, Debating• Encouragescompactinganddifferentiationofthecurriculumwhereappropriate• Encouragestheaccelerationofstudentsthroughlevelsofworkinadvanceoftheirpeerswherethisisappropriate

The withdrawal and enrichment programme provides students with stimulating, authentic learning experiences in subjects in which they have demonstrated high levels of potential. The table below gives examples of some of these learning experiences at the College over the past two years.

English Writing and acting workshops with well known authors, debating workshops, spelling competitions, Shakespeare workshops, poetry workshops, school magazine production.

Health and Physical Education Coaching programmes, fitness programmes.

Languages FrenchandJapaneseworkshopsproducingscripts,storyboardsandmovieclips,webpagedesign in a foreign language.

Mathematics Problem solving workshops, mathematical connections workshops, mathematical investigations.

Science Investigations of the digestive system, Investigations using data loggers and Data Studio, DNA extraction and forensics workshops, chemical reactions, waterways monitoring workshops.

Social Sciences Use of GIS to map themes in the local community, Community Atlas Project, field research on historical, geographic and economic themes in the Bay of Islands.

Technology ICT Panasonic movie day, designing and carrying out a plan for a three course meal, drawing techniquesingraphics.

Visual and Performing Arts Composing workshops, hip hop workshops, drama theatre workshops, mixed media workshops in art

STUDENT LEARNING

CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMME

In order to develop and enhance citizenship and have values of the college, BDSC is continuing to develop a comprehensive and first class co-curricular programme. This programmeprovidesopportunitiesforstudentstoexperienceanddevelopskillsandqualitiesthroughtheiractiveparticipationinactivitiesbeyongtheclassroom.Inordertonurturepersonalgrowthandprovideaqualityallroundeducation,studentsareexpectedtocommit,contributeandlead.TheseopportunitiesallowstudentstodevelopthepersonalqualitiesoftheBDSCgraduate.

•Coaching•LeadershipProgramme•Library•Umpiring•YoungNewZealand

Challenge

CHESS

OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE:

•Band•Debating•HipHop•KapaHakaGroup•KoreanDrums•Magazine•MaoriCulturalGroup

INDIAN DANCE GROUP

•Aerobics•Athletics•Badminton•Basketball•Cricket•Crosscountry•Equestrian•Petanque

HOCKEY

•ChineseDancing•Production•SamoanCulturalGroup•StageChallenge•TheatreSports•WearableArts•Writing

ORCHESTRA NETBALL

RUGBY

•Snowboarding•Softball•Squash•Swimming•Tennis•Touch•Triathlon•Volleyball•Waterpolo

SOCCER

DANCE

Arts/Cultural

Sports

Service & Leadership

The Whanau system is at the heart of the school and is the foundation of our holistic approach to student

education. The Whanau is a school within a school where students are part of a smaller group of 250

students, rather than being one of 1500. Students are placed in a Whanau where they become part of an

extended family of teachers and students of all year levels and they remain in this Whanau during their

years at school, developing a sense of belonging and loyalty.

Theschoolisdesignedwithsix,twostoreyWhanauHousebuildings.Thesecondfloorcontainsspecialist

teaching rooms and the ground floor has five teaching classrooms surrounding a Commons space. The

Commons area is a home away from home and provides a recreational living space for students to gather

in before and after school and during breaks in the school day. During class time the space provides a

breakout area for the surrounding classrooms. It is also the venue for weekly Assemblies where student

successesarecelebratedand“housekeeping”mattersdiscussed.

Each Whanau is led by a Whanau Leader who is responsible for the pastoral care, academic monitoring

and discipline of each student. The teachers in the Whanau mentor students individually and are the

people who know the students the best, remaining associated with the students and their families for the

five years they are in the school. Where possible the school places siblings within the same Whanau The

Whanau Leader and Whanau Mentors are the primary contact point for families and they will be reporting

regularly on all aspects of student progress. Parents should feel free to contact their Whanau Leader by

phoneore-mailwithanyqueriesorconcernsregardingtheirchild.

Students make a contribution to their Whanau, the School, the community, and develop leadership through

the co-curricular programme and the Whanau Committees. Each Whanau has a complement of the

following; Arts Committee, Cultural Committee, Environment Committee, ICT Committee, Service Committee

andSportsCommittee.EachHousealsohasaStudentCouncilwhichconsistsofrepresentativesfromeach

whanau class. Members of this Council represent whanau student interest in the Principal’s Lead Group.

THE WHANAU

ACADEMICSUPPORT

LEADERSHIPOPPORTUNITIES

PASTORALCARE

SPORTSCOMMITTEE

WHANAUFOCUS

SUCCESSCELEBRATED

ARTSCOMMITTEE

CULTURALCOMMITTEE

ENVIRONMENTCOMMITTEE

SERVICECOMMITTEE

MENTORING

ICTCOMMITTEE

Every student will wear correct school uniform. This applies to students who are:

• Attendingschool.

• Travellingtoorfromschool.

• Attendingschoolfunctions.

UNIFORM

JUNIOR UNIFORM

All items of the school uniform including the sportswear range are available from the on site Uniform Shop

SENIOR UNIFORM

575ChapelRoad,Howick,Aucklandwww.bdsc.school.nz

Phone(09)2732310,Fax(09)2738551