Week 3 NEWSLETTER

From the Principal

At DPS we believe in developing relationships; “Know me as a Person, Grow me as a Learner”. We have been trying over the last few years now to build this understanding within the school. Staff are taking part in some online learning around cultural awareness, Kids Korero gives our students a leadership role within Māori culture, our new Whānau Fridays is a time to bring kids together to listen to local myths and legends, our Whānau Group celebrates culture, our termly pōwhiri for new members to our school community and a growing use of Te Reo as a normal part of teaching and learning (our whakatauki for example, attached to each of our PRIDE values).

These things are great and positive steps but we acknowledge that as a school we are not there (yet).

DPS Kid - Enviro Focus

The termly focus on the environmental aspect of being a DPS Kid continues and is already having an impact. I was on duty yesterday and noticed on two separate occasions children picking up rubbish unasked and placing the rubbish into a nearby classroom bin. Also, as I was wandering through the Rimu Team this week Jet was busy designing a new lunchbox, a box better for the environment. Go DPS Kids!

Even NZQA admit change is needed

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) are the people in charge of exams, NCEA, Tertiary qualifications, Unit Standards...in other words the gatekeepers of learning. Traditionally in education being able to recall knowledge in a test or essay situation has been the judge of how ‘learned’ you are. Knowing ‘stuff’ was the measure of a successful learner, but we now know that this isn’t enough. What the world needs now is people who can use knowledge to do things.

Sue, head of NZQA, explains in the video below (it is long, but from 3.30mins to 6mins contains the message) that her job is to change/end her organisation as the ‘gods’ of learning. She says that the ‘era of the qualification is over’. Sue explains how crazy individual exams are, not being able to use devices or to work together collaboratively to show learning and access information. Technology and the need to be an effective collaborator are part of the drive for change, the reasons behind what we are doing at DPS.

Learning Conference Review

Douglas Park is currently exploring how Learning Conferences could be improved for our learners and their whānau. We need to ensure that Learning Conferences are effective at informing parents, celebrating achievements and identifying new areas of focus. We are collecting ideas from the learners, teachers and whānau to make the best changes to our Learning Conferences.

We would really appreciate hearing your ideas. Please take a few minutes to tell us what you would like to see improved.

Click here to give us your thoughts.

Have Your Say - Kōrero Mātauranga

If you were the boss of Education in New Zealand what would you do first? The Minister of Education is leading a massive review of the education sector and you can have your say. What do you think is important, what needs to change, what needs to remain?

https://conversation.education.govt.nz/education/korero-matauranga/

One for the Calendar - Teacher Union Meeting: 2.00pm 28th June

The NZEI (teachers’ union) are currently negotiating with the Ministry for the pay and conditions of teachers. Last term I mentioned the teacher shortage (less people entering the profession, more people leaving) and that the Union isn’t just after a pay rise, they are trying to address this shortage. They have called another meeting later this term, so again we are asking for your support as we finish school early. This time we will send children home at 2pm (the meeting is in Carterton at 2.30pm). Thanks in advance for this.

2.00pm 28th June, Children home as teacher head to their Union Meeting

Vote for Mr Blue!

Mr Blue is a real legend...both out in the community and of course here within DPS. First here in the morning, he gets the classes warm for learning, keeps our school looking amazing and is a dab hand at fixing all the little breaks, leaks and mistakes that can happen in a learning day.

The Hits Wairarapa are looking for the coolest school caretaker! The school will win $10,000 worth of gear and the caretaker will get a holiday on Stihl and The Hits radio station.

All you have to do to nominate your school and caretaker is either follow this link http://www.thehits.co.nz/win/nationwide/love-your-land-love-your-school-with-stihl-shop//

OR

Pop into STIHL SHOP Greytown in person and put a vote in the box. One lucky voter will win a prize from our compact cordless range valued at $575!

So that's 3 winners.... The school, the caretaker and a lucky voter !!

Voting runs till 11th June 2018... get everyone on board!

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT DPS?

He Panui

Nau mai, haere mai

Whanau Hui

When: Rāhina 28 o Haratua 5:30-7:00 pm

Where: Rangimarie Marae - Cole St

Who: Parents of all students registered as Māori and interested others

What: Whanau Evening and shared potluck kai (please bring enough to feed your family to share with others)

Why: Nga Kaupapa:

Open feedback about our Whanau Hui

Noho ora mai rā i roto i nga manaakitanga katoa

Nā mātou, nā DPS whanau team.

Brett Cockeram

(BOT Chair and Whanau group member)

WRITING

Writing from Room 5

The Fishing Trip

By Shaun Lumukana

In the holidays me and my dad went camping next to a swamp. The water was so very unclean it smelt like stinky socks and rotten milk. We stayed there for four nights so we could go fishing. When we got there, we got the jet boat and went fishing. When we went fishing I caught a fish. The fish was so strong it pulled me into the water. Splash! Bam! I fell into the water. I was soaking wet.

Candy Land

By Kiella V

I was in Candy Land! It rains marshmallows. Wow! I said. So, I ate all of the candy. Munch, munch, munch. Yummy! I said. Candy Land was in my stomach and I got a sore stomach. Ouch! My stomach is sore!

The Sea Monster

By River O’Connor

Have you ever been so happy that your head could explode into a million bits? That’s how I felt when I could go to the hot beach! When I got to the hot beach my family decided to go sailing on a sail boat. But we got too far into the deep Pacific Ocean and we saw massive waves. Then we saw something, something big, something scary, something shadowing us. Everything got worse. A flash of thunder struck the sail boat. Then it struck the sea… Then a disaster struck. The ocean started to rumble. Pshshshsh, a giant sea monster came out of nowhere. It was massive with spikes all around the sides of the monster. It started to get foggy. But the monster had us and the boat…for dinner!

Tinker and Me

By Mia Kent

When we went home we saw our dogs. They were jumping like a spring. When I got out of the car, the dogs ran behind the house and I chased after them. When I got at the back of the house, I saw my dogs and my cat. As fast as a motorbike, I picked up my cat. Mum called me for dinner. After Dinner I went to play with my cat Tinker. We played cards. Then I gave my cat Tinker jelly meat. After Tinker and me went outside and pitched a tent and went in it. It was so dark that we had to have a lantern. In the night I told some stories to Tinker and Tinker curled up on my bed. In the morning I had pancakes and Tinker has jelly meat. And the days went past. And the days went past. The end

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