Week 6 NEWSLETTER

New Zealand’s education system has taken a beating in the media over the last few years…declining maths results, attendance issues etc…and one of the beatings has been around the teaching of reading. Where once we were considered world leaders, now the international results show that this isn’t the case anymore. While these international tests aren’t the be all and end all (for example, they also show NZ is a world leader when it comes to Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Creative problem solving…they also show that our results haven’t declined much, more so that other countries have caught up)...it is right for the system to have a look at itself and consider are we doing the right thing for children entering school?

Many schools have been reaching out for solutions and have headed down the ‘structured literacy’ pathway. Structured literacy is probably something you will hear a lot about in the next few years as our country changes its curriculum, and looks to address our literacy issues. 

Our school has been working with the University of Canterbury on the ‘Better Start Literacy Approach’ (BSLA). This has involved all of the Rimu teachers being trained last year, and Kōwhai teachers this year. BSLA is a structured literacy approach, but it isn’t as rigid as some of the other programmes out there. It brings the best of the new research on reading, but allows for the best of ‘what worked before’ to carry on. A strong focus on the relationship between letters and sounds, as well as using books that have these very sounds in them for the children to be able to practise. Books like this. We are already seeing great results here at school, and are excited for what 2023 might bring. 

My youngest son Emmett is in Rimu, and Hayley & I have already seen the positive impact BSLA has had on his reading and writing. His skill level and confidence are really rocketing along, and what is great for us as parents is the information posted to HERO about the letter/sounds that he is working on, and the link to the book that he is reading to practise those letters/sounds. 

I’ve embedded some videos below to give a context to all of this. The first one is quite long…an interview with the Education Minister about the literacy problem in NZ, and her thoughts about where to next. The next video is very short…and is a brief look at ‘structured literacy’ (replace those words with BSLA and it makes sense for DPS). The last video is an interview with the co-creator of the BSLA work, and her thoughts about the importance of literacy acquisition in the early years of school.

Relay for Life

Douglas Park School has entered a team into the Relay for Life this year, supporting a great cause. Sadly many of us have been touched by cancer…ourselves, family, friends, colleagues, people we know and care about…too many of us have these stories. The event gives everyone a chance to celebrate/whakanui cancer survivors and carers; remember/maumaharatia loved ones lost to cancer; and fight back/tū atu by raising awareness and funds for the Cancer Society.

The DPS team is doing a great job of fundraising so far, currently third in the local leaderboard.

If you’d like to support the cause and our team…please donate here. 

Swimming

The swimming season is drawing to a close…but despite the pretty average weather we’ve had, the pool has been open and used daily. Apart from a few exceptions…kids get to swim everyday here at school which is such a privilege. Massive thanks to the staff for getting the kids in daily, great job! And as always…huge thanks to Mr Blue for keeping the pool functional. It is 100 years old, and leaks like a sieve…and you do a magic job of keeping it running so our kids can benefit.

Thanks to the parents and whānau who popped in to some of the school swimming sports/displays that were put on this week. Great to have you in, and awesome for the kids to be able to share their skills with you.

And lastly…well done to our DPS Kids at the interschool swimming sports yesterday! We will also publish results…but the children represented themselves well both in and out of the pool. Some excellent results, and alongside that…they were excellent ambassadors for the school. Thanks to the parents who gave up their time to help on the day, much appreciated. 

Teacher Only Days - Reminder

We have two upcoming teacher only days:

• Thursday 6th April: This is all of the primary schools in Masterton closing for a day of professional learning. Again I am one of the organisers, and it will be a day of powerful learning for our educators. This TOD makes Wednesday 5th April the last day of the term

• Monday 24th April: This is a teacher only day to look at the new NZ Curriculum. All schools in NZ have the first two weeks of term 2 to have a TOD, and many are choosing Monday 24th April as the very next day is ANZAC Day, so schools will be closed then. This makes Wednesday 26th April the first day of term 2. 

Thanks in advance for your support of these days. 

The ghost named red  

I woke up. After what felt like a few seconds I looked around what? Was I dead, it was dark and cold… I kicked the sky bang was that  wood? I was in a box! I kicked at it continuously until  a little light leaked in from the outside world straight into my retinas  “ahhh! my eyes!” 

They turned bloodshot Once I collected myself, I peaked out curiously. I mean how long was I in that box for? Minutes?, hours?, days?,YEARS!?

with the small bit of light I look at myself “what the?!” ima sheet no ghost? Sheet ghost yea sheet ghost. I scrambled around until I managed to pop out of the box.

The scenery was… beautiful, the blossoming flowers, bright blue sky, it was just beautiful!

Oh wait no,no it wasn't.   caw! caw! Lifeless trees, dead flowers and a dreadful black and purple sky it just looked horrible! The aroma of death lingered near “ah! Stubby… I have stubby legs!” I took a few steps My back! my body! It all hurts so much!  anyway i got out of the dusty old wooden box wait it's a COFFIN so i really am dead! Oh well! 

A voice in my head suddenly appeared! Climb a tree now! It said demandingly ok?…

I glanced around for a good tree to climb hmmm? Oh, an evergreen tree I'll climb that one!

I gripped on to the old dying oak bark “hupp! Ha!” I managed to wriggle up the tree all the way into the leaves and a gremlin rudley chucked me out “ahhhhhh!!! Ow”…

By: Ivy Pickett

Pippa

Pippa is pretty and lovely and kind. She is always trying to help. She has brown hair like chocolate and blue eyes. She has long hands. She is so funny and kind and caring. Her nose is small and her teeth are big. Her ears are small and she has chubby cheeks. She has good looking lips and long eyelashes.

By Willow Northcote

Willow

Willow is pretty, lovely, kind and nice. Willow has blue eyes and she has pretty teeth. She has tiny tiny ears. Willow has long arms. Willow has long eyelashes. She has freckles that look like mine.

By Pippa Fleming

The scout was tall with hair as yellow as gold and irises as blue as a tropical ocean. He had an undercut. He wore the wings of freedom with honour. He had a brilliant IQ.

By Thane Warwood

My dog

Sometimes my dog does this thing, so she runs up and down the hallway. And she eats so fast. Anyway back to the story. She loves going for runs and chasing rabbits but mostly sleeping all day. She barks at people. She always sleeps with me every night. And when she sleeps with me she tries to get under the duvet.

By Gemma Burton

Our staff have entered a team for Relay for Life this year. It is a wonderful cause and we are excited to get behind it. If you are keen to donate - check out the link here. 

Lucky Book Club Orders…here is some information so you can plan out your orders over the year.  When each edition arrives - students are offered the magazine but taking one home is not compulsory! We encourage parents to enstall the LOOP app on their devices to make ordering easy.  Please have your orders submitted by the closing date to avoid postage costs to yourselves.  

Any problems please contact Gemma McPhail at gemmamcphail@douglaspark.school.nz or you can find me in room Kōwhai.  Or you can talk to Meryl in the office and she may be able to help you. 

Scholastic Website for all of your Q&A

CRICKET

Last week we had our first Yeah! Girls Cricket session with Melissa. The children had a great time! All students received a hat and a tote bag. We are now looking forward to the next 3. 

MASTERTON INTERSCHOOL SWIMMING SPORTS

On Wednesday, we took a group of students to the Masterton Interschool Swimming sports. All competitors raced with PRIDE. Thanks to our teachers and parent helpers (Alaina Hing, Hadleigh Paku and Nik Tisdall) who made the trip possible! Results will be out soon. The top swimmers will compete at the Wairarapa Regional Swimming competition on Wednesday 22nd March.