Week 3 NEWSLETTER

From the Principal

Written by Mitch Resnick (an MIT professor who is behind Scratch and Scratch Jr...ask your kids about these awesome coding programmes), he frames the debate differently saying that it isn’t the quantity of screen time that is the issue, rather the quality. I’ll use his words:

Today, concerns about the role of new technologies in children’s lives are often expressed in terms of screen time. Parents and teachers are trying to decide if they should set limits on how much time their children spend interacting with screens. I think this debate misses the point. Of course there’s a problem if children spend all their time interacting with screens — just as there would be a problem if they spent all their time playing the violin or reading books or playing sports. Spending all your time on any one thing is problematic. But the most important issue with screen time is not quantity but quality. There are many ways of interacting with screens; it doesn’t make sense to treat them all the same. Time spent playing a violent video game is different from time spent texting with friends, which is different from time spent researching a report for school, which is different from time spent creating and sharing an interactive story with Scratch.

Rather than trying to minimise screen time, I think parents and teachers should try to maximise creative time. The focus shouldn’t be on which technologies children are using, but rather what children are doing with them. Some uses of new technologies foster creative thinking; others restrict it. The same is true for older technologies. Rather than trying to choose between high-tech, low-tech, and no-tech, parents and teachers should be searching for activities that will engage children in creative thinking and creative expression.

An excellent message and a great question to consider: When our learners are engaged with their screens, how much of their time is spent ‘creating’, and how much is spent ‘consuming’?

Whole School Athletics

That time of the year again when our kids get to be track and field stars. At the Sports Bowl next Thursday the school will compete in traditional events, some fun relays and of course the all important House Relays. It is a great day down there, at an actual Athletics venue and always brings out the best in kids. Recent years have seen a parents vs kids relay...ridiculously competitive and serious (not just the kids!), but a lot of fun. See you down there.

Industrial Action - School Closed Friday 16th November

I know you’ll be aware, but the NZEI Union members have voted for rolling strikes across New Zealand as their next step. For us, action will take place on Friday 16th of November. The DPS Board of Trustees met this week and have decided to close the school for instruction and supervision. This means no children to attend on the 16th November. Please ensure you have alternative arrangements in place for childcare. We know this may be an inconvenience, but as I’ve mentioned before, teachers are not making this decision lightly. Secondary Teachers have also rejected their offer, this is a system-wide problem that needs to be addressed. The Ministry acknowledges this and has put $40 million towards recruiting overseas teachers for jobs here. We think this money could be better spent on NZ teachers, on recruiting people into teacher training, or going some way towards supporting students with high needs in our classes. Bringing in overseas teachers is a band-aid solution and doesn’t address the underlying issues.

The Union and the Ministry have agreed to a mediation process using the Employment Relations Authority and if an offer is forthcoming (and members agree to the offer) the strike could be called off.

Quiz Night

Massive well done to the FODPS for an amazing night last Friday. Great atmosphere, incredible prizes and such a well run affair. Thank you to all the generous people and business who sponsored the night through their kind donations or services. Thanks to the community who got behind the event (and opened up their wallets!) and of course, thanks to that tireless FODPS team behind it all, I’ve said it for a fortnight now, but will say it again...the $$$ that come in from these events go straight towards events that otherwise would not run, or would cost a lot more.

We all love camp...do we want to pay more? Love going on trips...do we want to pay more? Swimming in Term 1 is awesome...do we want to pay to swim in town? The answer is of course NO, and the reason that the question about paying more is never asked is the FODPS contribute towards making these things happen.

Douglas Park does get money from the government, but maybe this puts it into perspective...our rates for the school have just gone up $2500, and our Audit fees have gone up $500+. That is $3000 that the government doesn’t give us, $3000 less to spend on the kids, $3000 we can’t put towards the 2020 camp for the current Year 3/4 kids, more than the total Library budget for this year, and about the cost of 10 Chromebooks...but that $3000...FODPS made a similar amount for their work last week, and that goes right back to your kids. Cheers guys!

Pou Taiao

Have you seen our awesome Pou out on the streets??? Wow!

A lot of hard work has gone into these by the Enviro team, Michelle and Claire...and over the last few weeks they have been installed. The Pou are designated safe places to drop children off on the way to school, or pick them up after school. The Pou are installed on Cole and Essex Street...either side of ‘The Crossing’, and one on the Essex St side of Douglas Park. The final one is inside our gates by the school hall. DPS worked with the road safety council and REAP on the idea and this Friday sees the official opening. After celebration time our whānau classes will each walk to a Pou, then come back to school for a short ceremony at the Pou inside our school.

Grandparents Day!

A bit of advance notice, soon we will be having a Grandparents Day. Our Whānau classes, on a Friday, will invite their Grandparents into the school. There will be a variety of activities and a shared kai as part of it all. More information will come out next week.

Kids korero

what's happening at DPS?

THANKS from FoDPS

Wow! The FoDPS quiz night was a fab night out. We are very grateful to everyone who came along and joined in the fun to support our wonderful DPS kids. Money raised goes directly towards DPS pupils...EOTC funding, Kahikatea Camp, new pumps and paint for the school pool, support for the Life Ed Bus and the Science Roadshow - the list goes on.

The biggest thanks has to go to all the amazing sponsorship we received for prizes on the night. Such a generous community and we encourage you to support businesses who supported us!

SPONSORS FOR THE QUIZ NIGHT - check out this link of all the sponsors

WHOLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS

When: Thursday 8th November, 2018

Where: Sports bowl Masterton (opposite the deer park)

Our DPS athletics day takes place next week. We would appreciate parent helpers to help out on an event for the day (9am - 2pm). Please contact Amy Williams (amywilliams@douglaspark.school.nz) or your child's classroom teacher if this sounds like you!

Pupils will be transported to and from the Sportsbowl by bus.

A more detailed notice will come home with pupils next week.

2nd hand Uniform Shop @ DPS:

We have good stock of polar fleeces at the moment. Other items are available in various sizes. Shop is open on Wednesdays 8 - 9 am and 2.15 - 3 pm

Writing

Room 12 writers have been learning to use their personal voice by sharing their thoughts and feelings through poetry!

Coconuts

Coconuts are yummy,

They are healthy for you.

Climb up the tree,

Fall down coconut,

Fall down come down from the tree,

So we can eat you up.

Open the coconut,

Out comes the water,

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Why,why,why did you do that?

By Julie Wilson

Trees

A pretty tree standing tall,

It smells like a flower,

Pinker than a dress,

It feels like a wooden spoon

But soft inside,

It looks like green socks hanging from a dead plant,

It sounds like it’s dancing in the wind,

The tree planted on the land.

By Madison Lategan

Dogs

Wruff!

Dogs like to run,

My dog is golden,

She is the best,

She loves to play,

She chases you all day long.

By Nicky McDonald

Tigers

Roar! Goes the tiger as he strikes his canines into an antler,

Tigers are as vicious as a vulture and as big as a lion,

These creatures never stop biting until they are dead,

Tiger cubs fight each other until they are ready to hunt on their own.

By Johan Jayawardene

Community Events

For more info... https://www.sporty.co.nz/wtf/Kids-Summer-Track-and-Field-Series/Entry-About-Results-4