Newsletter

Week 8 NEWSLETTER

from the principal

Our Vision: Together we Nurture, Explore and Create for a Better Future

Last newsletter for 2022! The year really has ripped by…but in saying that, it seems like an age ago we were in our COVID bubbles, starting the year apart from one another inside and outside of school. I’m really proud of what the children, the staff and the school have managed to achieve inside what has been a mucky year…we have a lot to stand tall about here at school…and I have just a couple of examples to share with you:

  • We continue to have great academic outcomes for kids in the school, as well as providing a richer, wider form of learning. 82% of our children are Kua Mārama (working at expected levels) or higher in Reading and Writing, and 85% of the children are Kua Mārama in Maths. These are outstanding results, especially amongst the year we have had. But just as awesome…we’ve had weekly kapahaka, play learning daily, maker learning daily…I’ve seen some incredible creations, witnessed some powerful coding/robotics in action, I’ve heard singing, seen great art, heard speeches, seen plays, viewed dancing, sporting success, trips out of the school, watched powerful friendships form, witnessed acts of service and kindness, the care for our environment…all of this, hand in hand with the reading/writing/maths, and what a powerful package we have here at school.

  • We continue to attract visiting educators to the school to see us in action. I see this as a tremendous accolade…schools send educators here to watch us in action because what we do is powerful and impactful. Just this term we have had teachers in to look at how we teach maths, we’ve had teachers in to look at our maker learning, we’ve had a whole teaching team come in to view our play based learning as they want to start the year like us, we’ve had people in to view writing and we’ve had school leaders in to understand how we have transformed learning here at DPS. I’m proud of this…you don’t send teachers to go look at ‘average’...you send them to see what is excellent, what is transformative, and what works best for kids.

As we head towards the finish line next week, I look forward to celebrating with you at our Final Celebration Time. 10am at the Wairarapa College hall, come be with us to wrap up the year. Children will come back to school after this, and we finish at 12.30pm.

Thanks everyone for a great year, school starts back on Tuesday 31st January, and I’m excited to see what the New Year brings!

Thanks FODPS!

As the calendar art orders headed out last week, I’d just like to say another thank you to the Friends of Douglas Park School. A small but mighty band of parents and staff…you guys punch well above your weight. A large amount of the funds raised go towards our Education Outside The Classroom (EOTC) trips. These trips enrich the learning at school, give our children great experiences and build powerful memories. Mt Holdsworth, Rangitumau, Castlepoint, Riversdale, Russell St Sports Exchange, Forest School and Camp…our children had these experiences this year…and the efforts of the FODPS crew makes them possible.

Last, but not least…we value Service highly at DPS, and the FODPS are a great example of service in action. Both by giving back (food to whānau in need), and by being great role models. You guys are legends…and on behalf of the staff, kids and whānau…we salute you!

Great stuff Okewa!

The Masterton District Brass Band offers lessons at school, a great opportunity for the children to pick up an amazing lifelong skill. Okewa is one of these students, and is a student who has now put in countless hours of practice. I play guitar…and know full well that practice makes perfect, and I’m proud of Okewa and his practice. Great snap below of Okewa performing with the Brass Band in Martinborough for the Xmas parade. Tino pai Okewa!

Dental Bus

A message from the Dental Bus Team, please check your child's bag for dental forms and return to the school office thanks.

2023 Starting Date

The 2023 school year will start on Tuesday 31st January. Waitangi Day falls the following Monday, making two shorter weeks to start the school year.


Dates for the Calendar

A couple of other dates to remember

  • Tuesday 13th December. School closes at 12.30pm (our final day of the school year). We will come back to school from our Final Celebration Time at Wairarapa College and release the children from school

  • Thursday April 6th 2023. A town-wide teacher only day…effectively making the last day of Term 1 Wednesday 5th April.

KIDS Korero Club

For the past term we have been meeting at lunch time to play games to help us learn Te Reo Māori. This week we decided to finish the term with a Tākaro Championship! Tākaro is a game where students have to match pictures and call out the te reo kupu for the picture that matches. The Kids Korero club members have come a long way with all the Te Reo Māori they have learnt through these games. This week we crowned Sylvie Soto as the Tākaro champion of 2022.

Order Subway online or at the office for delivery to school friday

What's hAPPENING AT DPS?

The Year 6 party is TOMORROW! We are very excited to celebrate.

The Yr 6s can wear non-uniform on the day, if they have ordered a leavers t-shirt they can wear these. They will need to pack brainfood and morning tea, a water bottle, togs, towel, a sunhat and any medication they require. Footwear is a must as we will be walking to and from the pools.

We will start the walk to the pool at approximately 10.15am and return approximately 1.00pm.

The Councillors will provide pizza, treats and a drink for lunch. We will eat this when we return to school.


Athletics

DPS children had another enjoyable and challenging day at the Wellington Regional Athletics Competition this week. All of our students participated with PRIDE - as usual. See our results below.

Community notices