Week 7 NEWSLETTER

from the principal

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

One of our aims here at DPS is to instil in our children the idea of service, the idea of giving back to others. Sounds like a simple thing, but the more we’ve delved into it…the more complex it seems. Children are developmentally ‘all about themselves’ at this age, so developing the idea of doing things for others and not expecting something in return can be challenging…so it is on us to provide the kinds of activities that allow them to practise, and see the benefits.

A great example of this happened last week with Kōwhai going on a trip to Queen Elizabeth Park, and to Millennium Reserve. Normally when classes go on trips it is an event for the children…something for them. This time though Kōwhai were off to those places to clean up, to pick up and remove rubbish! This all tied back into their learning about the environment…but was also a chance for the kids to enact our service ideals. They did an amazing job, and collected a heap of rubbish from both places. Great stuff Kōwhai! Super cool to see kids go and do that…and be so proud of their actions.

It is also not too long until our next school Service Day…Friday of Week 9 (September 15th). This is another opportunity for our whānau classes to do something, for someone else, and not expect anything back. Looking forward to seeing what the classes get up to!

You Can’t Always Get What You Want

An amazing song by The Rolling Stones (absolute classic), but also a great message I spoke to the children about at Celebration Time last week…about the idea that you aren’t always going to get what you want, and how you respond in these times is a measure of your character.

Sadly life can be full of disappointments, of things that didn’t quite go right, goals that weren’t met, outcomes that we didn’t plan for…and things that despite our best efforts didn’t go our way. When these things happen a fork in the road in front of us appears…we can react to these events poorly or positively.

At school these sorts of events can happen all the time…I wasn’t chosen for PRIDE Day Out, the bell went before I finished my game, someone else got the ball I wanted, someone else is up the tree I want to climb, I got an answer incorrect in maths, my story didn’t make sense when I read it to a friend…endless examples, and endless opportunities for children to practise how they might respond in the moment. This links to the idea of Resilience…and coping when things don’t go as we planned. We teach these responses via our PRIDE values…how it is OK and fine to feel upset, disappointed… but we react positively showing Respect in the situation.

An adult example could be the All Blacks (well…the All Blacks of 2010-2015). This was clearly a great period for our national team…but what always impressed me was their mental toughness under pressure. Their winning rate was amazing…but they played plenty of matches where they were losing for large periods of the game…where they didn’t always get what they wanted. In these times you’d see them gather, talk game plan…and go out positively looking for the win. They didn’t sulk, retreat into themselves, lash out…they didn’t react poorly. They assessed what had happened (the opposition had just scored a try), accepted it but planned their next positive step forward.

Tararua Challenge - Russell St School Sports Exchange

The annual Tararua Challenge is nearly here…next week! Each year Douglas Park and Russell Street (from Palmerston North) compete for the Tararua Challenge Flag…and currently Russell St own that! We’d like to return it this year to our side of the Tararua’s. We compete in 5 codes (Netball, Hockey, Rugby, Miniball and Soccer) and whichever school wins 3+ of those 5 codes owns the flag for a year. This year we are also going to have a Ki o Rahi match between the schools…an exhibition match.

The challenge is set for Friday 8th September (next Friday). As we need the hall to host our guests there will be no Celebration Time that week

Building Projects

I'd like to say some of our projects were finished…but not quite!

The Admin Block: the elusive splashback has arrived and been installed this morning…and it looks stunning! The final sub-trades are doing their mahi as we speak, so hopefully we are back into the admin block next week!
The Roof: The flat roof has been removed and replaced with a new, pitched membrane product…all done! Spouting to follow next, and then the high level windows will be installed. These are new aluminium double-glazed units.
The Classrooms: Work has started in Rimu removing the old hessian wall linings in preparation for new Autex to go on the walls. This is quite a big project…so sadly for the next little while the walls in Rimu and Kōwhai (when they get there) are going to look pretty awful!

Out of Zone Enrolments

Our out of zone process for Terms 1 and 2 next year starts this week. Please pass this info on to family or friends wanting to attend our school. Always (always!) someone will contact us after the process has finished and sadly they miss out.

Douglas Park is governed by an enrolment scheme (a school zone) and we only take out of zone enrolments twice a year. The next intake is for Terms 1 and 2 next year. Anyone who lives out of zone comes through this process. Even if you have children here already and have a younger sibling to start...if you live out of zone, you have to apply for your child to attend.

Contact the office if you need to put your child/ren down for a possible place office@douglaspark.school.nz

What's happening at DPS?

Writing - Rimu

I love my monster because he makes me happy.

By Kane

I went to the moon and I saw some aliens.

By Mia H

I saw my robot alive and he was fighting.

By Kora

It was a sunny morning when I went to the pond. I was eating my sandwiches when suddenly a duck came to eat my sandwiches and it pushed me in the pond.

By Allison

My bike is green and black and it has a bell. I like to go up hills and do jumps. My bike is dirty because I went into a dirty puddle.

By Otto

“Ahhhh!” I fell in the candy. I yelled for help but no one came, only a monster. “Ahhh!” Luckily a magic fairy came to get me out of the candy. The fairy gave me a little bit of candy to take home.

By Patsy

Oooy there is a snail on my hand. Yuck! Splash! The hump back what came and took the snail off my hand. “Thank you,” I said. The hump back whale dropped the snail off.

By Juno

Brrr I am cold because I am on the biggest mountain but I turn into an ice cube.

By Luca

SpORT

RE: Winter Hockey break up
What: End of season winter hockey break up.
Parents vs Children game and shared afternoon tea
Who: All winter hockey teams.
Where: Douglas Park School Turf and Room 15.
Why: To celebrate a successful winter hockey season!
When: Friday 1st September
Times: 3.15-4.30pm
Required: Hockey gear and a plate of food to share please.

Many thanks to you all for getting your child to Clareville for their games. It was a great season and we have seen huge developments in the players as the season has progressed. We look forward to summer hockey next term (watch out for information on Hero soon) and the next winter season!

A huge thank you to all our coaches who have volunteered their time and helped our tamariki develop into confident hockey players.

Masterton Intermediate - 2024 enrolments open now

MASTERTON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL 2024 ENROLMENTS OPEN

PLEASE ENROL NOW

Please enrol online using the below link

bit.ly/3DrAvkq

We are encouraging online enrolments!

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.

Please note that the app you are looking for is Subway Express - School Lunch programme.