Newsletter
Week 4 NEWSLETTER
from the principal
Our Vision: Together we Nurture, Explore and Create for a Better Future.
One of the things we hold to be important at this school is the idea of contribution…of giving back, of being of service to others. We do this most obviously in our whānau classes (learning about citizenship each week) and our Service days across the year. But, we also have everyday heroes, doing things on the daily for others at DPS.
A great example of this are our wonderful road patrollers. Out there in any weather to help make sure people are safe crossing the roads. They do this in service of others…and the daily win is getting thanks from kids and parents as they cross. While it might seem like a rite of passage (kids do love being a road patroller) it is also instilling a habit. Road patrollers have to give up their time, be committed and be focused while on the job. We are heading into the part of the year when this habit is tested…a frosty start, or a 5 degree morning with rain…these conditions aren’t ideal, but you’ll still see our patrollers on the roads, in service of others, keeping us all safe. As you cross with your child in the morning or afternoon, say thanks to the team…they love it!
Reading - 20 minutes a day
I’ve had some passing conversations with parents about this 20 minutes a day idea…good positive feedback…but one conversation was around what if you can’t fit it in, will it be bad for the kids? No is the short answer…it won’t be bad if it isn’t everyday, but the aim should still be for ‘most’ days.
Not every night is going to work…and you shouldn’t feel bad about that. Yesterday Henry and Emmett both had sports practices, and by the time we battled the roadworks and got home it was time for dinner, and the bedtime routines. While I was sorting dinner, the boys read for a bit…but it was nowhere near 20 minutes…and at bedtime they chose an ‘I Spy’ book, rather than a normal book…so they didn’t get their 20 minutes in. This doesn’t make me a bad parent or anything…it just means that it didn’t work for us yesterday, but today we try again!
Last night the Rimu teachers held two parent information sessions looking at Play, but also at their reading program (Better Start Literacy Approach…BSLA). We are not yet 12 months into learning and implementing BSLA, but we are already seeing powerful results. As mentioned last week, the teachers are posting some of the stories/home learning ideas to HERO…well worth checking out, and would be a great way to work with your child on reading for the 20 minutes.
If you were unable to make one of the sessions, you can see the slides here.
Play Learning in Kōwhai
I love the variety of the play/making learning that our DPS Kids get to experience daily, makes me wish I was a kid again! The students in Kōwhai have really had their curiosity sparked over the last fortnight with play invitations around museums, and this week around Egypt! My son came home thrilled he could spell his name in hieroglyphics…and I’ve had all sorts of temples, pyramids and art brought across to the office to show me. The coolest thing is how excited and how engaged the kids are in the learning…having a blast!
Measles - Get Ready Now
Be prepared before Measles arrives in our communities. The recent measles cases in Auckland is a reminder of how easily measles can enter New Zealand and disrupt school communities. Why are we concerned about measles? Measles is a very serious illness and it spreads much faster than COVID-19. Immunisation, with two doses of the measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, is the best way to prevent measles within the community. Immunisation is free for tamariki aged under 18 years old regardless of their visa or citizenship status and adults who were born on or after 1 January 1969. Two doses of MMR protects almost everyone who gets vaccinated. If there is a measles case at our school, pupils, and staff not protected from measles will need to stay away from school until the measles risk has passed.
Call Healthline on 0800 611 116 if you have symptoms and need advice.
Writing - Rimu stories
What's happening at DPS?
Ukulele group
We are wanting to offer our senior students the opportunity to learn and participate in a musical group by starting a ukulele group on Monday lunchtimes. We would like to make this group open to any student who would like to participate whether they have an instrument or not. So we were wondering if anyone in our community have any spare, unused ukuleles gathering dust at home that they might like to donate to our group.
If you can help with this please bring any instruments in to the office. Anything you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Cross Country
Save the date! Our school Cross Country will be held on Friday 26th May. We would love to see you there to support our runners!
Sport
fodps news
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.
Order Subway online or at the office for delivery to school friday
Every Friday we have Subway lunches delivered to school. If you would like to order your child a subway lunch, the easiest way is to order online. Please make sure you put your child's class (teachers name) on the order as it makes it much easier to sort our end. Subway can also be ordered by filling out a form at the school office before school on a Friday.
Community notices
