Week 4 NEWSLETTER

From the Principal

The number of small business startups run by young graduates is on the rise and they are not flash in the pan, 2-minute wonders. They are creating businesses, entering the workforce as leaders and their businesses are successful. Event management, tech companies writing new apps, unique craft industry, fashion labels...right in the deep end, learning as they go, accessing experts from around the globe via technology to guide them.

They didn’t need to start at the bottom and work their way up, they are empowered to take a risk and create. (Sidenote: often these businesses have a cool social action side to them...eco-friendly, products aimed at helping people out of poverty or providing them with what we take for granted...that is out of their reach...at a cheap cost. Young people, empowered to create and lead...coupled with social conscience, wow!)

The question then is...what skills, knowledge and attributes are right for this current emerging young person? What will they need? Is it the ability to write neatly, or the ability to craft powerful images/stories with words? Does their spelling need to be perfect (is yours?) or do they need to know how to work effectively in teams? Is reciting Shakespeare important, or creating extra rap verses to songs with your friends for a laugh?

Or...is it a mixture of both traditional and innovative?

Often these things can be presented as ‘this thing is more important than that thing’...over educations history the ‘important’ subjects of reading, writing, and maths, have been deemed to be more important...but now I think an equal importance has to be placed on what makes us awesome human beings. Creativity, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Agency...the things at the heart of the DPS Kid. These are important, as important as being able to read, write or add. It is when we place importance on both sides that we create kids who will emerge with the skills to start up their own business; Knowledge and awesome human qualities.

ERO Report

Our ERO (Education Review Office) report has finally been published online. It is a great report, really acknowledging the hard work that we have put into making our changes in teaching, and the physical spaces of the school. Most pleasing was that they affirm we are heading in a powerful direction for learners, that we have robust systems in place to help guide us and that the vision for learning (the DPS Kid) is at the heart of what we are trying to do. The next steps they have outlined for us are ones that we as a school already acknowledge, and have made starts on. ERO will return in 3 years to assess our progress on these steps, and to give further feedback on the school.

Thanks to the Board for their support and work behind the scenes, ERO commented on the strong leadership they bring. And clearly we need to thank the great staff and kids of DPS...the ERO Team were blown away by the confidence and engagement of your learners, and how cohesive the staff are in working towards our goals. Go DPS! I would love to hear your thoughts on their feedback, flick me a line at principal@douglaspark.school.nz

Click here to read the report

Teacher Strike

Thanks for your support and understanding of yesterday’s strike. Ka Pai to those children and whānau who came down (in the wet and cold) to support our great teachers. 30,000 teachers left their job yesterday, lost a days wage to try send a message to the government about the desperate times we are facing. 200 teachers down this year, 2000 by 2025...that’s terrifying.

NZEI and the Ministry re-enter negotiations next week and we will keep you informed of the results of those.

Lastly...epic turnout of DPS staff down at the town hall, including two teachers currently on maternity leave. You guys do an amazing job for our learners, provide so much richness into their development and I would just like to say a huge thanks...you guys rock!

Rippa Rugby

Great write up in the Times Age (with that cool photo of Cian from last year). The story talks about the mountain our kids are about to climb, facing off against the best teams in the country. Special mention made at the end (and something for us as a school to be very proud about) of the way of kids and adults demonstrated such Respect towards their opposition. As the article says, you are to be commended. Click here to read the article.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT DPS?

Wairarapa Schools Photography Competition

The entry categories are:

• Living Photographs
• Non-Living Photographs
• Photo Essay

Photograph Essay

Must:

• Tell a clear, compelling story, or illustrate an emotion or event
• Have a title that adds impact to the essay
• Be a large size (e.g. at least 1 MB)
• Be named using the title of the photo and the name of the photographer.

Examples of Photo Essays:

Living and Non-Living Photographs

Must:

• Be saved in jpeg file format and at least 1 MB.
• Be named using the name of the photographer.
• Be taken by the student
• Be taken in 2018

Examples of Past Entries:

All images can:

• Be in colour or black and white.
• Be cropped but they cannot be digitally altered in any other way.

DPS learners can enter as many photographs/Photography Essays as they wish and teachers will select which 10 for each age group will represent the school.

Entries close Tuesday 18th September.

If you need assistance with getting your images to us you can bring your camera/memory card into school, or email the photos to Miss West or Mr Harkness.

awest@douglaspark.school.nz

sharkness@douglaspark.school.nz

Uniform Shop

We have a good selection of 2nd hand uniform at the moment, sizes 6 and up. Open on Wednesdays 8-9am and 2.15-3pm for cash sales only.

Writing

I am on the swing and it was fun. I got onto the slide and we left and we are going home.

By Te Ao Mana Kamo

I am a pirate. We want to find some treasure.

By Marley Mason

I am playing with Miss Hunter’s dog. He is at school.

By Joe Mason

I am helping Mum. It was fun. I pulled the weeds ou.

By Mack Courtney

I am patting Miss Hunter’s dog at school. He is called Jock.

By Dylan Theedom

I like my lizard. His spikes are sharp.

By Oden Maynard

I like elephants. They are fat.

By Cyrus Henry

I went to the pools with my Mum. I splashed in the water.

By Mason Pienaar

Community Events

ATHLETICS TRAINING

This programme is designed for kids of all abilities from year 2 until year 6 who are looking for a little help to run jump or throw faster longer and further and considered the basis for many sports. The aim is to improve running, jumping, throwing techniques, move faster, Increase distance, get fit, lose weight or add some variety to your current fitness programme, while having fun. The programme for term three is:

Term 3 23 July – 28 September

Monday and Wednesday 3.45pm – 4.30pm General Run Jump Throw Training

Venues = Colin Pugh Sportsbowl, Masterton

Costs on Application

Please contact Mark Harris to book your spot on +64 21 300 380, mark@maharris.co.nz or refer to www.maharris.co.nz