Week 6 NEWSLETTER

From the Principal

The second is about uni graduates perhaps not being all that well prepared for work, or even being able to find work. 30 years ago a Uni degree meant a guaranteed job...but is that the case nowadays? A Massey professor states that traditional ‘careers’ are dead.

"The idea of working in one occupation for a single or a small number of employers has gone . . . The challenge for educators, trainers and employers is to provide the skills that help students to navigate a very different world of work."

I’m not looking to put children or parents off University, far from it...but it is worthwhile thinking about in this age where schooling has become about achieving well, preparing for exams and gaining entrance to university. The end game for education shouldn’t be entering university, but rather becoming a better person (that person may well attend Uni, awesome. But they may not either, just as awesome). The key is developing lifelong learning skills so no matter where you go once leaving college you will be a success...and our efforts in developing the DPS Kid and the Core Beliefs are our start towards this.

Alongside this, sending our best wishes to all students, in particular ex-DPS Kids, sitting their NCEA exams at the moment. These can be challenging times for teens (NZ has the highest anxiety rate in the OECD around exams), but it is worth remembering that they are ‘just a test’ and do not measure you as a human. Claire Amos (Principal of Albany Senior High School) has written this great open letter that is well worth a read.

I’m not sure I can think of a situation that occurs in my daily life where I have to recall a heap of information, do it all by myself, no access to technology or the internet, be unable to speak, move around or get help from somebody (an expert) if I need it. Yet, 1000’s of students are going through this experience now...in the same way that I did 20 years ago, that my Dad would have 50 years ago, and that students were 100 years ago. Time for a rethink? A more balanced approach to assessing how well a child at college has progressed and achieved?

Awesome Work Trudy and Brett!

Well done to two of our Parent Trustees, just ticked over 5 years of service for Douglas Park School. I’d like to thank them for the mahi they have done, the guidance and direction they have set the school on, and for ensuring we are well resourced to meet the needs of our awesome DPS Kids.

Board elections are next year, and we will be looking for more awesome parents to help the school progress into the future. Keep an eye out for more information over the next 6 months.

Strike!

The latest round of industrial action has passed with a week of rolling strikes across NZ last week, our day being Friday. Thank you for your ongoing support during these difficult negotiations with the Ministry. It was great seeing the public support while we picketed at the McDonalds roundabout (some DPS children joining us, and plenty of toots from the traffic) and during our walk down the main street of Carterton.

Things aren’t going that well...both sides failing to find any middle ground at the moment. Teachers will vote again next week on the current offer from the Ministry, deciding whether or not the offer will address the current issues we are facing. Once again...to me...the maths is clear. 40% of teachers close to retiring, 40% less people entering teacher training, and 40% of new teachers calling it quits within 5 years of starting. Add to that population growth, and the need for more teachers, and you have a terrible outcome looming.

Fair warning in case you missed the media coverage over the weekend, if primary teachers reject this offer it is likely that our Union and the PPTA (Secondary Teachers) will start a joint campaign in the new year. Secondary schools are under the same pressures, and joint action is a big signal to the Ministry that something needs to be done urgently. As always we will keep you updated as information comes to hand.

No pride awards due to the strike

Kids korero

what's happening at DPS?

Vision and Hearing Screening will be on Wednesday 28th November.

Parent referral forms and non-consent forms are in the office.

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 - Kahikatea

This amazing beach It has nice warm smoothing sand

with some beautiful shade to relax and the sparkle sky

and the fluffy soft clouds I would like to go there and see

all the fishes and the sea creatures like a crab or even a

shark it would be cool to see a whale or even a dolphin.

It would be amazing to go in the lighthouse and if you find a special

Shell you can hear the ocean going “swishhhhh” and sometimes

You can hear the wind at night blowing softy like this “swooshhhh”

And you might be able to find a coconut if you do you would be

Able to smash it and eat the white bit and drink the water inside.

And when you play on the sand you might even fall asleep

And you can find so many cool shells and rocks like a

Smooth rock or huge rocks you might even find tiny rocks

It would be so cool to stay there forever.

Caroline Leslie

It was ten forty six and the only noise that i heard was the silent wind from a cold winters breeze. When i felt a chill cover my spine, i still kept walking down the deserted street. Suddenly my numb fingers started to wrap around my Dad’s warm gloves as we carried on walking step by step. Before the streets were deserted now it’s just chaos. Meanwhile the still surface was covered with frost, while a puddle danced in the wind.

Boom! Crack! Crash! Bang! Went the buildings as they tumbled onto the streets. Dust storms covered the town while apartments danced to the ground. “What’s happening!” i screamed as i clutched my Dad’s hand again. Although he couldn’t see, he sprinted into the middle of the street. 24 seconds of danger had struck us, it’s a catastrophe screamed others, while strangers surrounded me in the middle of the street. I wonder if this will ever end, i thought to myself. Innocent people screamed like death while the quake carried on. Bricks carried on falling while apartments separated further away from each other.

Bricks were everywhere while jaw dropping scenes surrounded us.

Even though i was scared, i carried on walking down the long road.

Glass shattered buildings stayed lying down on the streets as i wandered through town. Everyone is giving each other a hand from the destructive statues that have fallen. Although i am safe, i wonder if others need help? We are a gigantic family even though we aren’t really related. A sunbeam dove behind a greyish cloud while the broken streets of Picton stayed lying on the destructive ground.

By Lana

Superheroes come from all around the galaxy. Not all superheroes have powers they have weapons or gadgets. Some superheroes have sidekicks and some don’t.

There are three main reasons why black panther should be considered the best superhero. He is silent, bulletproof and reflects attacks.

Firstly black panther is the best superhero because he is silent. Being silent will help him because he can sneak up on people and attack. He can sneak into places and not get caught . he can save people without the baddies knowing . he can sneak around like he isn't touching the ground.

Secondly, he is the best superhero because he is bullet proof. That helps him because he can get shot and keep fitting. He can defeat enemies with machine guns. He will not die when he is under heavy gunfire. He is indestructible.

Lastly he has a amazing suit because it can reflect attacks. That will help him because it will absorb energy and through it back at them . the harder the enemy punches the more it gives the suit. He can use the enemy power against them.

I think black panther should be consisted the best superhero because he is silent bullet puth and reflects attacks.

By Izaac

Doomsday!!

Once upon a time there was a day where the water levels was rising and SPLASH hot water flood came rushing in picking up rubbish and newspapers and even bikes! People were rushing up the tallest building that was near them. Apparently one hundred and sixty two people got injured and fifty four people got killed so far… After the flood three buildings got broken or collapsed.

The second day the concrete got really hot that people were wearing really thick gumboots and when they came back to their safe spot half of the bottom of their gumboot was black or melted. It was so hot that some concrete was melting.

By Xavier

Community Events