Week 9 NEWSLETTER

from the principal

DPS Kid - A creek, eels and a generous donation

Peter Lee (ex-Principal of Upper Hutt College) emailed several weeks ago, asking if he could support an ongoing educational project at our school. He chose Douglas Park to support as a place that is on a good path educationally and that he felt would do something great with the $$$.

We have chosen to support the creek restoration behind our school, and to start to develop the space behind the pool into a usable outdoor learning area. Children will lead, design and action this.

This offer is amazing, and very humbling. Peter has no direct connection to us as a school, but after doing his research, wants to support our direction. We are extremely grateful.

The project is a worthy one, ambitious and really encapsulates what ‘learning’ can be as we head into the future. Learning shouldn’t be about creating a better ‘me’, it should be about creating a better ‘us’. Learning should help create great citizens, able to make their world a better place...people willing to give of themselves for others. Restoring the creek is an act for others, a positive social learning action. Creating an outdoor space again is the same, and has tangible lasting artifacts for future students.

One of our school neighbours has heard of our work, and invited us through her property to work on the section of creek at her place. She is grateful for the work put into cleaning up her part of the creek, and we are stoked to have further ongoing access through her property. This is a real partnership. The team have done such a good job that eel are returning, and staying. An Ecological Monitoring Officer from the Regional Council will be coming to DPS to test the water and habitat quality alongside the learners, and to give us some next steps with the stream restoration.

I love this ongoing project for many reasons:

It involves the community
Our children are giving back
We are making and creating
It is of benefit to society, to our community
It is real and authentic
It is a problem worth tackling

But ultimately I love it as it aligns Head (learning), Heart (relationships and giving) and Hand (taking action). The DPS Kid in action.

3D Printing

DPS has entered the 3D printing age purchasing an Ultimaker as part of our Maker programme. It is a pretty amazing tool, allowing students to create something from nothing. A small team of learners have been learning 3D design alongside me, giving up some of their lunchtimes...and we have had our first lot of successful student designed prints. The lads designed personalised key rings using laptops and Tinkercad, and have used the Ultimaker 3D printer to make something come from nothing. Our first attempt was a bit of a disaster, so a few revisions later they have a completed product.

Kōwhai Colour Run

Another amazing event, this time a fundraiser for the Kōwhai team. It was such a fun afternoon enjoyed by both the kids and the adults involved. The Kōwhai staff ran it well, the weather came to the party and a great time was had by all. Massive thanks to the financial support of this...a first for DPS...and cheers to all the parent helpers. You seemed to be enjoying yourself peppering the kids with paint!

School Donations

Last push for these as we head towards the end of the term. To date we have had over $7500 come in as voluntary donations, that is getting close to double what 2018 saw. As I’ve said...if we didn’t have to, we wouldn’t ask. The money is an ‘extra’ from what we get from the government and as such goes towards all the ‘extras’ we give our children.

Pride

whakatauki

what's happening at DPS?

Movin’March

Thank you all for getting in behind Movin’March. The students had a great day showing off their Fancy Wheels and Fancy Feet.

Walking and Wheeling Passport cards

One more week of filling passports… Students can submit as many complete passports as they like. Journeys to and from school both from home or from one of the Travel Pou, both count. Make sure the student’s name, class and school is clearly written on the back and post it in the WOW box next to the PRIDE Boxes in the office foyer.

Art Challenge entries: Get your art challenge to Ms Blomgren in Room 12 this week. One winner for each age category (5-7 yrs, 8-10 yrs and 11-12 yrs) will be sent off the GWRC for final judging. Don’t forget to check that you have their name, class and school clearly written on the artwork.

Keep encouraging your children to actively travel to and from school each day.

Walk or Wheel to and from home and if you live too far away drop your children off and pick them up at the end of the day from one of the Travel Pou on your way to work.

This will help us to keep your children safe by reducing the congestion in Cole Street at the school gates.

Uniform shop

Pre-loved Polar fleece jackets, plenty of sizes available from $10.00.

Stock up now with a spare or two before winter! Cash sales only.

Gumboot Up on Friday 5 April!

Kids! Parents! Teachers! wear gumboots to school in support of Gumboot Friday. Put your gumboots on and support this worthy cause!

The Councillors will be selling ice-blocks at lunchtime on Friday for $1 each. The money from the sale of ice-blocks will be donated to "I Am Hope" and this will help provide free counselling to kids who need it.

Gumboot Friday is a new initiative by New Zealander of the Year, Mike King, and I Am Hope. They are aiming to raise $2million for kids who need some mental health support. You can find out more about Gumboot Friday at www.iamhope.org.nz/gumbootfriday

Please encourage your friends, family and community to #GumbootUpNZ on 5 April!

FRIDAY LUNCH: Order your subway lunch at the office or online !

FoDPS News

If you would like anything from issue 2 please order by Thursday 4th April.

it is a short turnaround because of the holidays coming up!

Thank you!

DPS Sport 2019

Yr 3-6 Netball 2019

Notices and information about the upcoming netball season were sent home last week, if your child hasn't picked one up yet they are in Rm 2 or the office.

Please note...

Yr 3-4 Monday night after school - $20 per player (5 v 5)

Yr 5-6 Tuesday night after school - $40 per player (6 v 6)

Please return the permission slip to Amy Williams in Rm 2 by Thursday 28th March

Please pay the fee to the DPS office by Friday 12th April

Once the permission slip and fee has been returned/paid your child will be placed in a DPS team. The team lists will be in the sports board by the last day of term 1.

The competition runs over term 2 and 3 and there is no netball during the school holidays and over Queen's Birthday weekend.

Yr 1 & 2 netball runs in Term 1 and Term 4.

Winter hockey Term 2 and 3

What: Winter Hockey

Where: Clareville Turf

Who: All interested players, Years 2 to 6.

When: Starting dates:

11 a-side; Saturday 4th May

Half field 6 a-side (mostly Yr4-6 students); Friday 17th May

Quarter field 6-aside (Yr 2-4 students); Tuesday 14th May

Practises will start in Term 2.

If your child has not received a notice, they can collect one from the office. Please return permission slips to Miss Mac or Mrs Puddy before Monday 1st April. Trials will take place next week.

The $40 fees need to be paid to the office by the start of Term 2.

Year 0/1 children can enroll in Funsticks. Notices available from Jane in the Rimu team.

Term 1 SportS Draw

This is the last week for Teeball and Mod games.

writing - From Mrs puddy's homeclass

The Enchanted Forest

One night, it was dark and my family went into a forest. I saw a big tree with eyes then suddenly my family was lost in the dark, dark enchanted forest. I was terrified. I screamed, “Mum! Dad!”

Then I found my way out. Yay I finally made it! “Mum! Mum!” I shouted when I was running. “Mum, Dad, I missed you guys!”

By Olivia Chanas

The Mermaid

One day, I went on a boat on the sea. My mummy and daddy came, too! We jumped into the sea! When we were in the sea, we saw a beautiful mermaid and see was beautiful and stunning.

By Madi Watene

The Llama Who Fell

There was a flying llama! A balloon was stuck underneath it. It popped! She went down and down… then she fell in… a pit of lava! Then a boy llama came and saved her!

By Ivy Pickett

The Lava Monster

Boom! Crash! There was a volcano erupting. I saw a lava monster. I was running as fast as I could. I was screaming, “Aaaaahhhhhhh!” I got captured. The lava monster made me poo in my pants and he was laughing at me and I died!

By AJ Setu

The Spooky Cave

I was walking in the woods. I found a cave, not just an ordinary cave, a dark spooky cave. It was a spooky cave because I found a plague mask and the plague mask came after me! He sucked my blood. He ripped my bones.

By Roman Maxwell

The Humongous Ramp

One day I was in a monster truck. I did a humongous jump. I was so high I could touch the sky! But, when I was going down the ramp, I did a roly-poly… down the hill! I was O.K.

By Hugo Beatson

Community Events

East Coast RFC JAB Muster

Sunday 7th April 10.30am-12.30pm at Whareama Domain.

Come and meet the coaches and register for the 2019 JAB rugby season.

Sausage sizzle provided.

For more information contact Chris Liddle 0212563045 or liddlecris@live.com.

REGISTER HERE: www.funrun.plunket.org.nz

The Pantoloons are coming back to the Wairarapa in April and bringing us the magic of Peter Pan!

El Rancho

Kia Ora

We are a youth outreach team from Soulway Church.

Since 2009 the youth outreach team known as 'Souled Owt Kids Club' has been operating like an after school program. We engage the tamariki in activities that teach good morals, values and life lessons that will give them the skills to build healthy relationships. We also have fun playing sports and listen to good music with healthy food and everything is free. We usually only advertise this to the local neighbourhood that surround the Margaret street park but this year with the influx of children showing up with parents donating time and food we decided to send out a invite to the entire community to share our blessings. attached is a poster with all the info.

CALLING ALL HARRY POTTER FANS.

I am going to Japan for School (MIS) and I am selling my home made Harry Potter wands for $5 each as part of my fundraising efforts to get there.

Order yours today by texting mum on 0276003680.

Thank you very much for your support.

Kind Regards

Dylan Tovio

Kids, are you looking for fun on a Friday night?

Then come along to Kids' Club, 5.30 till 7.30pm on Fridays at the Baptist Church. We provide a safe, family atmosphere with table tennis, computer games, craft, a kid-friendly light tea, Bible stories and organized games. The cost is just $2.50 per child. Phone Liz on 0272233100 for more details or just come along and have a look. We're on the corner of Renall and Chapel Streets; entrance off Renall St.

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