Influenza/Illness/Sickness

We’ve been made aware of an influenza/illness circulating around some of the other schools with quite a number of their students away. We haven’t seen anything too outside of the norm here…we do have children away ill, but not massive numbers. Just another reason to stick to our hygiene measures…sanitise as you enter school, as we exit/enter classrooms, when eating…and of course mask use as well. We do ask that all parents wear a mask onsite, particularly if you head inside a building.

What is your child watching?

This will probably make me sound like an Old Man…but over the last few years I’ve noticed a real rise in the number of children who have seen films, watched TV, & played games that are quite inappropriate for their age. What’s more concerning is that the age seems to be getting lower. Some of our youngest have been exposed to things that are well beyond their years, mainly violence. Most things carry some form of rating, or you can use platforms that are age appropriate. YouTube is an unfiltered rabbit warren for kids…they can access everything and anything. YouTube Kids however has built in content filters and restrictions. Netflix and other streaming platforms have ‘Kid’ profiles that limit the content available (although, even some of that is too much, I believe, for our younger students). And games come with a rating (a PEGI rating normally…with an age). This site is excellent…have a search of the things your children are watching/playing, and see what the age recommendations are. Some are interesting!

Feedback!

As the COVID restrictions have relaxed, we are now starting to get visitors once again to visit school…educators coming to see our programmes in action. Over the last few years we have had increasing amounts of visitors…which in itself is great feedback on what this school is doing. We had two lots this week and it is worth sharing some of their feedback:

• Greytown School sent 5 staff to see our maths programmes in action. As they left they said that it was obvious we have an amazing learning culture here at DPS and that our learners are very active and engaged.

• We are currently working with our new ERO partner (Education Review Office). On Wednesday she spent time with me walking through all of our classes, watching the children and teachers in action. Her comment at the end “I was looking everywhere to find children who were off task, bored or not engaged…and I couldn’t find any”

Both these bits of feedback are a great recognition for the school of the work put in over time…our play/maker culture, and the time/energy that we put into professional development, to stay at the cutting edge of teaching and learning. Well done team.

Calendar Dates

First of the three short weeks next week:

• Week 6: Monday 6th June is Queen’s Birthday Weekend…no school that day

• Week 7: Friday 17th June is a Teacher Only Day for all the Masterton Primary Schools…no school that day

• Week 8: Friday 24th June is the new Matariki public holiday…no school that day

Give A Little

Another cause to support, one of our DPS Kids this time. Leia is new to the DPS whānau, starting with us in Term 1. She made an immediate impression though, a great start to school. Leia is working hard at the moment to be able to return to school, and to adjust to a new way of being. Any support you might be able to offer I know would be appreciated. The Give a Little page can be found here

We had an awesome DPS Cross Country on Friday. Well done to all the runners who participated and congratulations to all children who placed in their race.

An extra congratulations to Hillary - the house champions on the day.