Newsletter
Week 8 NEWSLETTER
from the principal
Our Vision - Together we Nurture, Explore and Create for a Better Future
Often when schools are discussed in the media it is about falling results, kids who can’t read well enough…and often the blame is put on schools not giving enough time, or allowing too much ‘student centred’ learning to happen (like play and maker learning). This also often winds me right up…because it isn’t an either/or choice between academic learning and creative based learning. Both are important, and children deserve to be in schools that value both. We want success for all of our kids…and while most find their success both academically and creatively, for some it might be that they are successful as readers but find creative mahi hard…or the reverse, they thrive in making/creating new things but find the written word a challenge. The key is…all of our DPS Kids find their success, and as a school we value both academic learning and student centred learning.
A great intersection of these things happened last Friday with Book character day! Our chance to celebrate reading alongside allowing children to be their creative selves. We had all sorts of amazing costumes on display…spidermen, princesses, Harry Potters, witches, Minecraft mobs…and everyone was quick and proud to share what character they were dressed as. Quite a few costumes were made by children and parents…which I reckon is super cool. Taking everyday items and transforming them into a costume to represent a beloved book character…awesome! To top the day off our first delivery of Duffy Books arrived…and every child left school with two brand new books to keep. Reading is an important skill, and like any skill we need to practise to get better. Reading for 20 mins a night at home is one way to get this practice in…reading to your children, or finding them some time to read to themselves. Either way…20 mins a day!
Cross Country Success!
On Tuesday a team of nearly 60 DPS Kids headed down to Solway Showgrounds to compete in the Wairarapa interschool cross country. The best of the best locally turning up to compete, the kids did themselves proud…all pushing hard and never giving up. The top 20 in each race qualify for the Wellington Regional event, and we have 13 children who made the cut…awesome! These children are Charlie, Henry G, Emma P, Lucy M, Hugh, Reuben, John, Edie, Fern, Jack G, Eden, Lincoln W and Charlotte M. We had a few top 5 placings…Eden came 5th in the Year 6 girls, Edie came 4th and Hugh 3rd in the Year 5 races, and Charlie came first in the Year 4 boys race…a photo finish right at the end! Special mention of Lincoln and Dan his teacher aide. They ran a blistering pace with Lincoln coming in 5th!
Thanks to Gemma and Helen for taking the children on the day, and to Hayley for sorting the logistics. Massive thanks also to Helen for giving up a heap of her own time to run extra training for the children. Last year we had 5 children qualify for the Wellington Regional event and she set her sights on improving that, and with 13 kids qualifying this year…what a success! Thanks Helen.
Admin Block - Progress!
Things are really starting to take shape now inside the admin block! The finishing trades are in…painting has been completed, the wall finishings are going up and the carpet has started to be laid. All of the new joinery has arrived, and is starting to be installed. The project has been long (first discussed with the Ministry back in April 2020!), has hit many snags…but we are so close and it is going to be amazing when done! While we don’t have a confirmed finish date, it is likely we will be able to start shifting back in sometime in the upcoming holidays.
I took a quick video walkthrough this morning to give you a look inside…looking radically different to what we had in the past. Have a look!
Thanks FODPS
Massive thanks to the tireless FODPS crew, and a well done on the pie fundraising success! This small group of parents work hard on their fundraising initiatives…bringing in much needed $$$ to support the school. Their money largely goes towards EOTC, our Education Outside the Classroom experiences. The trips to Pūkaha, to Mt Holdsworth, Rangitumau, Camp, supporting the Russell St Sports exchange…the list is endless…but the experiences provided are awesome. Massive thanks for your recent mahi with the pies, legends all of you!
Writing- Miss Mac's Writing class
In tuhituhi (writing) we have been learning to write an information report. We learnt about the House Hippo and had to write an report to inform the reader about this unusual animal. Our success criteria was ...
Use of subject specific vocabulary and adjectives
Use of subheadings
At least three paragraphs with a topic sentence.
Have a read and check out how we went!
Inter-School Cross Country
Well done to all of the students who participated in this year's Inter-school cross country held at the Solway Showgrounds. Thanks to Helen, Gemma and the amazing parent helpers who took the students to this event. An extra congratulations to those who placed in the top twenty of their event and qualify for the Wellington Regional Cross Country event being held in Week 10.
Sport
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. Please note that these must be ordered by early morning on the Friday to ensure your child's order goes through for that day.
Community notices
Let all your friends with new bubs know!!!
Space - mōu, me tō pēpi
I'm delighted to announce that we have another programme starting in Term 3 (Wednesday 12.15pm - 2.30pm) at Westside Playcentre, Masterton
This course is designed for babies born from April 2023 to June 2023
It is a great way of meeting and making friends with other parents with babies of similar age.
Follow the link below to register:-
