Week 10 NEWSLETTER

Kia ora…I need to quickly acknowledge a bunch of people..Our awesome Board of Trustees for all their guidance and support, the legendary staff here at school...40 people all contributing to the functioning and success of this place. I’d like to thank our school whānau...endless support given to your kids and to us as a school. And of course our fantastic DPS Kids...you guys make waking up and coming to work a real pleasure

I’d also like to say thanks to Josh Fielding...today’s celebration is down to his hard work…he is the big boss of the event…a round of applause for him. 

We have a few staff finishing with us this year…Kiri heads off on maternity leave…and Josh F, Josh V, Hannah Choat and James Riley head to new schools

I’d like to thank and commend them for their service to DPS...and as great people to work alongside. 

He hono tangata 

e kore e motu; 

ka pa he taura 

waka e motu

• Unlike a canoe rope, a human bond cannot be severed.

Today I want to mention four things…four things that make this school special…and that have come to fruition this term 

Mā te kimi ka kite

Mā te kite ka mōhio

Mā te mōhio ka mārama

• Seek and discover. Discover and know. Know and become enlightened

I’m proud of the academic outcomes we deliver for our children…83% of our children are working at expected levels or higher in reading and writing, and 84% in maths. 

Those percentages rise to just short of 90% for the children who start with us as 5 year olds. 

What we do here works…it is powerful, it makes a difference to children's academic outcomes and our Year 6’s leave us well prepared for their intermediate learning journey

Toitū te marae a Tāne-Mahuta, 

Toitū te marae a Tangaroa, 

Toitū te tangata. 

• If the land is well and the sea is well, the people will thrive

I’m proud of our Enviro School mahi…the legacy we are building…creating children who care for the land around them. 

I think the firsts are important here

• First enviro school in the region

• First to become Green Gold

• First to install solar panels

• And now this term… the first to be certified as a Carbon Zero School

Becoming Carbon Zero is pretty neat…we have driven down our carbon footprint pretty hard…driven down our waste production, put in great systems for recycling and composting, encouraged nude food, reduced our energy consumption, and have offset the rest with plantings. So not only are our children learning to care for the land…the very place we learn in each day is an example of sustainability in action

I orea 

te tuatara 

ka patu 

ki waho 

• A problem is solved by continuing to find solutions

I’m proud of the fact that we are now an Apple Distinguished School…one of less than 800 worldwide. And just 15 in New Zealand…impressive given there are more than 2 and a half thousand schools in this country 

I’ll quote Apple themselves here:

"Apple Distinguished Schools are recognized as some of the most innovative in the world. They’re centres of leadership and educational excellence. Douglas Park was selected for this distinction based on its commitment to continuous innovation in education and using Apple products to create exemplary learning practices."

What I love about this is that it’s about the learning, the leadership, the innovation,  and the great teaching…that comes first…and using Apple devices second. This is a massive global company saying…that this little school In Masterton is right up there internationally with the best. 

He aha 

te mea nui 

o te ao? 

He tangata he tangata he tangata!

• What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people!

But what I’m proudest of is the TVNZ Good Sorts clip from last Sunday…what an amazing recognition of what we are trying to achieve here at DPS…recognition of our school Vision…Together we Nurture, Explore and Create for a Better Future. 

I thought the clip was incredible…it captured so much in a short time…the joy in helping others, the power of community, the way children can make a difference, and  that learning has to be more than just stuff in a classroom…it has to be real. 

Whanau, kaiako, kaiawhina, kaimahi, tamariki…you guys should all be very proud of that clip and what it means. 

You put all of that together…the four things…the great academic achievement, the sustainability journey, the global recognition of our academic excellence and innovation…and the fact that we strive to create ‘good sorts’...and what a great place we work and learn in. 

Ko te pae tawhiti whāia kia tata, ko te pae tata whakamaua ka tina. 

• Seek out distant horizons and cherish those you attain.

Whānau…you can all take great heart that the school is performing so well, is being recognised as such…but also that we are still daring to dream around how to make things even better for your children.

All this without an hour a day of reading, writing and maths…

A quick message to my Year 6’s…I’ve stolen some words from the song the school will sing soon…take them as my wish for your future

May your hands always be busy,

May your feet always be swift,

May you have a strong foundation

When the winds of changes shift.

May your heart always be joyful,

May your song always be sung,

And May you stay 

forever young,

I’d like to acknowledge that for some families, this is the end of their time with DPS...the journey has been awesome, thanks for all your support over the years. 

To everyone who has supported the Douglas Park School community in such a positive way this year I thank you and wish you an amazing Christmas, and a safe and exciting new year. 

Kia ora

2024 Start Date

We look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday 30th January to start the 2024 school year!

Staffing and Team Structures

We have a full complement of teaching staff for 2024, with Amanda Jolliffe joining us from Masterton Primary School where she has been a Team Leader. The Teaching Teams for 2024 are: 

Rimu: Hayley Sinton (Team Leader)/Renee Tua-Davidson, Brooke Gibson, Sally Hunter, Helen Gard'ner/Amanda Mitchell

Kōwhai:  Megan Syben (Team Leader), Juliet Bridges, Gemma McPhail/Emma Harkness, Philly Rutherford, Michelle O'Connell/Kim Reid, Rebecca Gasparini

Kahikatea: Amanda Jolliffe (Team Leader), Deb Rei, Ginny Hawke

Rātā: Sophie Macdonald (Team Leader), Maya Champion, Trent Archer

To Finish the Year!

What better way to finish than sharing again our Good Sorts clip from last Sunday. Click here for a great couple of minutes viewing! Well done to all staff, all children and our whole community on a very successful 2023