Week 5 NEWSLETTER

from the principal

Both of these are huge undertakings and I mention them because under the proposed changes our BoT, our school community, would not have had the same level of input. How does that make you feel?

Change is coming (fantastic, the system needs a big shakeup!) but you need to consider what the change may mean in reality for you and I’d encourage you to have your say on the matter. Some lucky local educators got to hear a talk from Welby Ings last Friday (thanks to our own Hannah Choat for organising this...it was amazing). Partway through the speech he pointed out just how lucky we are right now...the government is asking for comment, for opinion, they want to know what the people think before they make a decision. Professor Ings pointed out that no other country has dared do this...normally change is just dropped on us (a great example being the introduction of National Standards).

• This article captures some of the Pro’s and Con’s and it is worth a read to inform yourself.
• Information from the Ministry/Government can be found here (the video is excellent)
• A summary of the 8 key issues is here

Have your Say, share your thoughts, be a part of the change...click the link to take the survey

Positive Praise!

We know our DPS Kids are awesome (ORRSEM!), and recently some of our Year 6’s completed some further road patrol training with Constable Julie. She emailed this into us later that day:

Thanks Hannah for organising the students to come and do re-fresher training with me today.

They were ORRSEM!!

When you go out with a large group, as you know, they often get bored and a bit loud and silly. These guys were amazing – sat and chatted so quietly, and organized themselves quickly and smartly when the need arose.

Proud of you guys and of the school who is helping to shape and create these excellent young humans. As a community this should give us all something to smile about.

Have Your Say!

It’s election year for Boards of Trustees around the country coming up in June. At DPS we are considering the switch to a staggered election cycle. Currently the whole board goes through an election process every 3 years, we are considering having an 18 month cycle where some of the board stands for election every 18 months. From a governance point of view a staggered cycle means that you always have someone with BoT experience sitting on the Board.

We would like to invite anyone interested to the next Board Hui where we will discuss and decide whether we shift to a staggered election cycle or not. Great opportunity to have your say, but an even better chance to come along and experience what a BoT meeting is all about if you are considering standing for election. Love to see you there!

Paid Union Meeting - Students home 12.30pm Thursday 21st March

A date for your calendars. Students will go home at 12.30pm on the 21st March so our teachers (and myself) can attend a Paid Union Meeting here at DPS. This is not a strike, but teachers are required to attend. The Union is allowed 2 of these meetings during school time a year and they are hosting 4 in the Wairarapa that week. Rather than splitting the school up over 4 afternoons, we will just attend one meeting. The meeting will be to discuss any new offer from the government (no offer has been made as yet), and to discuss any further industrial action if teachers reject another offer.

We really do appreciate your support in making arrangements for your children to allow this meeting for the staff.

Uniform Reminder

Hats are compulsory for outdoors in Terms 1 and 4. Any items worn under the DPS uniform that can be visible, need to be black. Shoes and socks must be black also. We appreciate your ongoing support with ensuring that your child is wearing the correct and tidy uniform to school. All children playing sport for DPS must wear the DPS sports uniform. This can also be purchased through the NZ Uniforms.

School Donations

Another year, time again for us to ask for your school donation. We ask a donation of $50 per child for the year...one of the cheapest in town! This money is Above and Beyond what we get from the government and allows for those Above and Beyond items and activities that we provide. Running the pool, providing extra staff, providing technology for the children to use (has been a bit in the news recently about parents having to pay to provide laptops/ipads etc), help with trips, or maintain our great playgrounds. All of these things cost big $$$, so the extra we get through donations is awesome.

Here is our bank account to make paying the donation as easy as possible! (you will be issued with a receipt for tax purposes)

03 0687 0310653 00

Pride

whakatauki - Week 4 & 5

what's happening at DPS?

Movin March is coming!

Have you dropped your children at one of the travel Pou?

Make the most of the beautiful weather and encourage you child to Walk or Wheel to and from school each and every day.

SCHOOL OF MUSIC

At DPS we are offering our students music lessons in guitar, piano or ukulele!

Hemi Walker shall be the music teacher. Hemi is a local musician who has recently completed a Diploma in Contemporary Music. He performs live at various events and music festivals such as Gladstonebury and Tora Tora Tora and works as a music teacher in various other local schools. Hemi also worked with our very own DPS choir at the end of last year. Hemi is very excited to be working with the students at DPS to help them hone their musical abilities and talents!

Music lessons shall be taught at Douglas Park School, once a week on Friday.

Lessons are 30 minutes in duration and cost $12 per lesson.

These lessons are offered to all years across the school.

It is advisable that once students begin lessons that they practice at home or school if appropriate. We have a small number of ukuleles and two keyboards at school for lessons and practise. A guitar will have to be purchased for lessons at school and home practises.

If your child is genuinely interested in learning how to play an instrument and for further information please contact Hemi.

Phone 02041364333

Email hemiwalker95@gmail.com

writing - Kowhai Kids writing

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