Week 7 NEWSLETTER

from the principal

COVID-19 Update

It has been just over a week now since we got our first COVID case at DPS, and since then we have had a handful more. Each teaching team has now had a case, but we are not seeing big numbers. As I type this Thursday morning we still have less than 10 cases across the school.

I’d like to thank the community for three reasons:

Firstly, being so great at keeping children home who are sick. We really appreciate this! As RAT testing is now the method of testing I thought this article was worth a share. Explains how they work, and also shows how to use them correctly.
Secondly, for sending children to school who are not sick, and not needing to isolate. Face to face teaching cannot be beaten and while we have our digital platforms, being in front of a teacher is infinitely better for learning
Thirdly, for being so supportive of our health response here at school. Mask use by parents and Year 4-6 children has been awesome, people are following the systems…and when you add up all we do…we have created a relatively safe space here at school for the children.

Our levels of attendance have been excellent all things considered, and are much, much higher than I’m seeing reported in other places. It is ‘easy’ for me to say that this place is safe…and you might just think that it is my job as a Principal to be reassuring even if I don’t believe it to be true…but I have another role here at school, and that is as a parent myself. My son Henry is in the Kōwhai team and as a Dad (not as the Principal) I’m super happy with the measures the Kōwhai team (and the school) has in place. As a Dad I’m comfortable that Henry can get his face to face education in a place that is trying super hard to create a safe, hygienic environment…and he comes to school each day with a smile on his face and gets to enjoy all of the things we have on offer here at school.

As cases climb across the motu, we as a nation are now really seeing the benefits of the wider public health response, and in particular vaccinations. Adults that are ‘boostered’ are 4x less likely than people with two doses to end up in hospital as a result of COVID, and the stats clearly show that any level of vaccination provides more safety than none…and that is true for our children as well. I’d urge you to talk to your GP or health professional about the vaccine for children so you can make an informed decision for your whānau.

Swimming

As we come towards the end of another swimming season I’d just like to say a huge thank you to Mr Blue! We are very fortunate to have a pool here at DPS, and the fact that kids get to go swimming daily is awesome. It really is all down to Mr Blue’s tireless work which starts before the school year getting the pool ready. I know the kids and staff really appreciate it!

Teacher Only Day - Thursday 14th April

Advanced notice…we are having a Teacher Only Day on Thursday 14th April. This was to be a townwide teacher only day, but due to COVID we aren’t coming together across all the schools. DPS is still going to have the day to do some powerful learning together. Many thanks for your support.

This makes the last day of term Wednesday 13th April (as Friday is Good Friday).

WRiting - MRS McPHAIL's HOMECLASS

The picture we used for Inspiration!

Some of Mrs McPhail's learners are learning to use different types of punctuation …the other day we were focussing on using question marks. We discovered that asking lots of what, when, who questions …sounded like a spooky story. So here are some excerpts from our stories…maybe some budding R L Stine writers here?

One foggy, grey day I walked passed a house that looked matching to the weather. I didn’t want to go in because it looked like a haunted house. But I watched to many horror movies so I had to in. I did go in, then the door slammed on me! Bang! What was that? It sounded like a door slamming. I went up the stairs. I saw a lot of spooky pictures that moved and the I saw a shadow…

By Erika Hapi

Once upon a time I walked past a haunted mansion. I had to go in, I opened the door. Bang! What is that noise? There was smoke rising from the ground it made me faint. When I woke up I realised I was trapped. I screamed for help but no one was there. I saw a shadow I said “Why am I here?” Then I started to cry then I would never see my parents again.

By Chloe Ashworth

Once upon a time there was an old burnt down house. I came in slowly through the door and into the creepy house but then the door closed by itself. Bang! What was that noise? Then I saw a glow in the distance but there was a shadow it was scary zombie….Run! I also saw another glow …Gulp! It was the window. I quickly ran through the window finally I was safe. Well was I nearly safe and sound?

By Beatrix Watts

One foggy night I went for a walk past a spooky home. Bang! “What was that noise?” I said. I had to to go and investigate When I opened the door a ghost was in the other room it didn’t notice that I was in the home. Then I saw a pot of brains and blood. Suddenly I knew what the the bang sound was…it was the pot of brains and blood!

By Sophie Ewington

One very grey drizzly night I was playing netball when my brother threw the ball into the haunted house. He said to me “go get the ball.” I did. I opened the door. Bang! What was that? I was scared. I was just turning around when I noticed that the was trapped so I grabbed the ball and ran up the stairs and jumped out the window. Phew! I was safe and I ran back to my brother and I said to him “that I went into a haunted house.”

By Arielle Cornford

2022 Councillors

Councillors 2.mp4

WRiting - Miss choat's homeclass

Staff Profiles

We are so lucky here at DPS to have such an awesome group of people working with our learners! As we get new staff, we will have a korero with some of our staff to help you learn more about us! Feel free to stop for a chat when you see us around school.

Erena

Brooke

Movin' march

Subway Lunches are available to be delivered to school every Friday. Order online or fill out an envelope at the office.

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