Week 6 newsletter

DPS Kid - being an Independent Learner

This term teachers and learners are unpacking the ‘learning’ part of being DPS Kid. This fortnight we are looking at what an Independent Learner is. This is at the heart of ‘Agency’, one of our Core Beliefs about Learning. Someone who has agency has the power to act...in other words, sets their own direction for learning and is able to work towards their goals. Ask your young learner/s how they are showing an “I can do it” attitude during learning at the moment.

Working Bee - Cheers!

Wow, what an amazing effort on Saturday for the playground working bee. On Friday a large truck and trailer load of bark arrived, dumped next to the playground and the task ahead looked like a mammoth one. When people had been asking me how long it would take, the answer was “hopefully done by lunch...otherwise Mr Blue can finish it off during the week”.

Well, the call was out for volunteers and an awesome crew arrived to pitch in. Starting at 9am, by 10.15am the last barrowload of bark was dumped on the playground! The adults, children and toddlers who helped worked tirelessly, and the school owes them a massive thanks. The playground is all sorted now for several years to come, the softfall bark keeping our children safe during their break times.

Swimming Season

Another swimming season draws to a close. We are fortunate here at DPS to have a school pool, a resource that is becoming increasingly rare. Our DPS Kids have the opportunity to swim each day at school, for the first 6 weeks or so of the school year...that is a lot of time in the water. These opportunities allow children to gain confidence, and gain basic swimming skills. New Zealand has one of the highest drowning rates in the world, so these skills and water confidence are essential for young kiwi’s growing up.

I watched the Kowhai and Rimu swimming displays, great for the children to show their abilities of to whanau and friends. The Masterton Inter-School swim event was also this week, and our young swimmers have done well. Ryley, Elia, Silas, Levi and George all placed in the top-8 for their events, and are off to the Wairarapa Champs. We had 3 top-3 placings, Brooke (3rd Backstroke), Ayla (3rd Freestyle), and Lennox (3rd Backstroke). These guys are also off to the champs. Our relay teams also smashed it, 9-year old Girls (1st), 10-year old girls (1st), and 10-year old Boys (2nd). Good luck for next week kids.

FODPS AGM

The Friends of Douglas Park School have held their AGM, and have started setting direction for 2018. Last year they provided a lot to the school (robots, EOTC funding, Beach Ed trip for the Kowhai and Rimu teams, supported the Russell Street School exchange, the new concrete car track, ice-blocks for cross country runners, and of course...the big money into maintaining our school pool). Already this year they have subsidised the Kahikatea Camp to the tune of $3000. The work of the team is invaluable to the school. Do you want to get involved? Drop an email to amywilliams@douglaspark.school.nz and let her know you are keen to put in some mahi/work for our learners.

Week 6 Whakatauki

He kai kei a ringa

There is food at the end of my hands. A person who can use his or her basic abilities and resources to create success.

what's happening at dps?

Stationery...

It is very disappointing that we are still chasing up stationery payments - 16% remain unpaid. If you have not paid you will have received another invoice in the past week. Please pay to the office.

New entrant pack $20.00

Y1 pack $14.00

Kowhai (Rms 4/5/6) $20.00

Rata (Rms 12/13/14/15) $18.00

Kahikatea (Rms1/2/3) $16.00

Book Fair now on!

Please visit us at the DPS Library before and after school for fabulous books and other goodies! Remember all purchases go into the draw to win! Eftpos/credit card available! See you there!

FoDPS - Easter Fundraiser

Movin' March

Deciding to allow your children to walk or bike to school can be a daunting decision but the benefits of increased physical and mental well-being are worthwhile.

Research shows walking and biking to school improves physical fitness and helps develop confidence, independence, decision making and risk assessment skills, improve communication with parents and build a stronger sense of community. We understand active travel can be a challenge for many families. The distance to school, time pressures of work and after-school activities along with concerns about road and personal safety impact on the decision to allow walking and cycling to school. Movin’March provides a great opportunity to overcome these barriers and give walking or wheeling a go – even if it’s just for one day to see for yourself how rewarding it can be for your family.

Movin’March is a month long celebration of active travel to school run by the Greater Wellington Regional Council. Participating schools will encourage their students to take part in the WOW (Walk or Wheel) Passport Challenge and the WOW Family Day on Friday 23rd March. Students will receive a WOW Passport to be stamped each time they walk or wheel to school during Movin’March Week 7 and 8 even just part of the way. From the Pownall St crossing, from Essex St path to DPS and West Kindergarten. Once their card is full, they go in the draw to win a $300 Avanti voucher! Families will be encouraged to make extra special effort on WOW Family Day to celebrate the school’s Movin’March efforts.

Try rearranging your schedule to walk with your children on WOW Family Day. Find walking buddies if you can’t participate or use a drop-off point near the school so they can walk part of the way. (See above) Find out more about Movin’March and WOW at www.movinmarch.com.

If you have children who are ready for independent travel to school – help get them prepared for Movin’March by teaching your children the skills they need. Vic Health has developed a great guide for preparing your children and the New Zealand Transport Agency has developed factsheets on how to teach road safety skills. We’ve also put together tips and advice for common concerns parents have about the journey to school. You can find links to all these resources at www.movinmarch.com/parents.

Happy walking and wheeling!

Tucka Box

Writing from rata

Splash! As I dove in the pool bubbles started to rise I felt light. I smack bang into an icicle. Then I pop my head up and the race begins. But when I get half way down I get warmer which slowed me down but then something donks me on the head it was someone else’s feet kicking me, so I kept going. I over take the person who kicked me in the head so I move into in the same lane as them and start kicking them in the head. “How do you like that?” ...

Vinnie Greene Room 13

On the weekend I went to the pools I jumped in. It was cold then it started to warm me up. My brother was pulling me around on the noodle in river ride. After that I swam really fast that when I looked underneath I could se the grit on the ground moving because I was moving. Next I went to the outside pool. I climbed up the ladder to the big and tall slide. first my brother went down the slide with a humongous splash he hit the water. Then it was my turn I went down the slide I had to sit up, Weee! As I went down the slide. “Ouch!” I hit the water so hard that it felt like plastic hitting my face. That was fun.

Jackson Stoneley Room 13

The wolf had big eyes and big teeth. He had fur and wore a suit filled with spiders and all sorts of bugs. His were as hairy as my grandad's back.

Jaxon Hutchen Room 14

New Shoes

I went to the shoe shop. I looked at the shoes. And I looked at the size. And I tried them on.

Jacob Mathews Room 12

Swimming

In the weekend I went to the Masterton Swimming Pool. I went in the big pool. And then I jumped off the diving board outside. Then I went inside. I went in the lazy river, it pushed me around and I banged into the walls. I went on the inside hydro slide. When I got of the hydro slide. My brother gave me a fright and then I swam a whole length. I got tired after swimming a whole length and then I had to get out. “ I like going to the pools.”

Jared Collings Room 12

community news

School-gen’s ‘Energising Young Minds’ competition

The competition gives DPS the chance to win a share of $25k, $15k or $10k to spend on science or tech equipment.

Please vote on the School-gen voting page http://www.schoolgen.co.nz/voteforyourschool/

People can vote once a day up until voting ends on 2 April.

To ensure a small school has as much chance of winning as a big school, we’ll be dividing the number of votes a school gets by its school roll. The top five schools will go forward to an independent judging panel who will decide who wins.

To view the full Terms and Conditions of the competition go to http://www.schoolgen.co.nz/enter-your-school/.

PIFA JUNIORS ACADEMY

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

We're super excited to be opening up our PIFA JUNIORS ACADEMY to ALL ABILITIES ages 5 - 11!

Visit www.paulifill.com/pifa-juniors to register your child. Sessions are every Tuesday 3.40pm - 4.20pm starting 6th March - 13 April 2018 at the Trust House Memorial Park Turf, Dixon Street, Masterton.

This is a great opportunity if you're wanting your child to be involved in a fun and supportive environment, enabling them to nurture their skills and friendships!

T: 06 370 1300

M: 021 101 7346

www.pifa.co.nz

Douglas Villa football registration day is next Saturday 10th March, 10am - 12pm

At Douglas Villa Clubrooms, at the end of the drive next to Queen Elizabeth Park.

$70 per child, family max of $140. Pay on the day.

Any issues contact Ange at dvjuniors@outlook.com

INCREDIBLE YEARS PARENTING PROGRAMME

Starting: Thursday 5th April 9:30 am - 12 noon

Masterton Family Education and Support Centre

St Lukes Church - 2 Workshop Rd, Masterton

How long is the course?

The Incredible Years Parenting Programme consists of one session a week for 14 weeks. Before the course begins a facilitator will ring each participant to set up a visit to complete pre-course paperwork and discuss their needs.

How much does it cost?

This programme is free to participants. Our new course is funded by the Ministry of Education. Assistance with paying for childcare and transport may be available depending on our funding and the family’s circumstances.

Can anyone attend?

To attend this course you need to:

· Care for at least one child that is aged 3 – 8 years old. We are not funded to provide places for participants who don’t care for children in this age range.

· Have access to the child. Participants practise the skills they learn in course sessions at home with their child.

· Priority will be given to those with a community services card and also to those families who have a child with a formal diagnosis.

Enrolment

Parents can enrol through our website http://www.incrediblefamilies.org.nz/incredible-years/register/

or complete the attached enrolment forma sn email it back to me : jane@edresources.co.nz

Jane Dunbier

Administrator

Incredible Families

0274 182 671