Newsletter
Week 3 NEWSLETTER
from the principal
Our Vision: Together we Nurture, Explore and Create for a Better Future
The year is in full swing now…being our first full week! This part of the year in classes is all about relationships, routines and expectations. Lots of time getting to know children, lots of time setting up the class routines and lots of time upholding our class expectations. This all fits into the ‘Nurture’ part of the school vision for as we know…no significant learning can occur without a significant relationship. Teachers spend time getting to know your child…what they enjoy, what they do in play times, what sports they might enjoy, what their families do on the weekend. The better we know, the better we can respond. Teachers might reach out to you as well…what do you believe your child's strengths are, areas to work on…what are they passionate about and what are your hopes and dreams for them this year? All the info is well considered and drawn upon.
Tomorrow is also our annual school picnic…our chance to come together in an informal setting and get to know each other. From 5pm - 7pm bring a picnic blanket, some kai and relax on the field. We have a bouncy castle/obstacle course, the pool will be open, Mrs Walsh and I are going to play some live music…and…the weather looks perfect for it!
The other part of the picnic is the ‘Open Classrooms’ - from 3pm - 3.30, and 4.30 - 5pm teachers will be in the classes if you’d like to pop in, have a look at the space and have a yarn to your child's teacher. A great way to connect (reconnect for most of you) and to strengthen those all important home-school partnerships.
See you all āpōpō!
Cellphones at school
Part of the new government's 100 day plan was to introduce a ‘cellphone ban’ at schools, where schools have until term 2 to ensure that cellphones are not used in the class or break times.
This has been a standard DPS policy for many, many years. Our procedure is that if children are to bring a cellphone to school this is handed into the office at the start of the day, and collected at 3pm. The reality at primary school is that this is not very common…we have a couple of students who do this daily.
Part of the ‘new’ cellphone ban is to collect feedback from our community. Our full policy can be read here on our SchoolDocs site…Our username is "douglaspark" and password "pride"...just search for ‘cellphone’ and you’ll be able to read the policy/procedure.
If you have any feedback…please email me at principal@douglaspark.school.nz
Well done Maddison!
Maddison was involved in the Tinui Horse sports event over the weekend…and on Monday was very excited to tell me she came 1st in an event, and 3rd in another! I love hearing about kids passions that lie outside of school…children who are into art, music, motocross, dance, hunting, drag racing, science, LEGO, reading…the list is pretty endless! If your child has done something awesome…get them to hunt me out and have a yarn!
Civil Defense Resilience Week
March 4th - 8th is Resilience Week, a Civil Defense push for households and communities to be ready are prepared for when “that will Never Happen…Happens”
Civil Defense is running a Household & Community Emergency Planning Session on Thursday 7th March from 2pm in our school hall, and a Douglas Park Community Emergency Hub Response Practice on Friday 8th March 4-6pm also at the hall. Community emergency hubs are opened and run by the community (not officials) for the community in those times when “Never Happens has Happened” and you are “Alone Together” for 7+days.
I guess as we pass the one year anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle and the massive impact felt locally at Tinui, or further away across the East Coast…this week is a timely reminder about being prepared.
Hero
Our awesome online platform for all school information…see learning stories about your child, get the camp notices, see my weekly news;etter, report an absence…it really does it all. If you are looking for information about events, about sports…or about anything…HERO is the place to go!
Writing - mrs bridge's homeclass
SUMMER
I love summer because I love going to the beach and swimming.
By Lotem Ariely
SUMMER
Swimming in the pool,
Under the freezing water.
Making little sand castles.
Melting ice blocks and ice cream.
Eating cold ice blocks
Running through the sprinkler.
By Maisy Bolt
SUMMER
Swimming at the beach.
Underwater fun.
Making sand castles.
Melting ice cream.
Erritating cicadas :)
Running through the sprinkler.
By Fletcher Towgood
SUMMER
I love summer because I can go to the pools and I love tipping water on my head. I love running through the sprinkler. I love to eat watermelon everyday!
By Teejay Morgan
SUMMER
I love summer because I know how to swim properly.
By Alaric Hagger
SUMMER
I love summer because you can…
Swim and refresh yourself. Also because you can
Use a bucket and pour the water over yourself.
Meeting your family for Christmas
Making sand castles at the beach.
Eating juicy watermelon.
Running through the sprinkler.
By Milla Martynova.
What's on at DPS?
Sports
Term 1 Sport 2024
Below are the teams for this term as well as the teeball and softball draw for this weekend. I will post the draws to Hero when I have them.
Below are the Netball teams for this term. I will post the draws to Hero when I have them
Brass Lessons
Masterton district brass band are offering years 4,5,6 students a chance to learn how to play a brass instrument - Instruments are Cornet, trombone, tenor horn, baritone. lessons are in school time. There is a small cost of $50 to hire the instrument and $50 a term for the lessons, if interested either email Narissa on mastertonbrass@gmail.com or get a form from the office.
Community notices
