Week 6 NEWSLETTER

Stuff Article

I read an article the other day about the decline in interest in reading for young people. While the headline and story were on the sensationalist side, it is undoubtedly true that children these days have competing demands for their attention. Time spent reading each day is valuable, particularly if it is reading for pleasure. This can be children reading to themselves, or it is just as valuable to be read to. Over time we have relaxed our stance on ‘reading homework’ as the research and evidence shows that homework has little benefit to learning, and in fact can reinforce negative attitudes to learning. We do still encourage children to read daily...be that a book they like, you reading to them, reading a comic, flicking through the manual for a game...anything counts. The image below shows the dramatic difference a bit of time each day can make over time;

While I didn’t agree entirely with the article, it is worth raising here. It did end with some sensible suggestions for parents to help combat this ‘decline’, so I’ve put them below.

What Can Parents Do?

* Take your children to libraries, bookshops or book fairs with the goal of finding books they want to read, or getting presents for others

* Read to your children and encourage them to read to you

* Fill your home with books

* Don't criticise your child for making reading mistakes, be their greatest supporter

* Restrict screen time and encourage reading instead

* Give them a reading log and reward them for reading hours logged

Teacher Only Afternoon - Monday 16th March

A date for the calendar, students will head home at 12.30pm that day. Staff will be completing some professional development looking at Wairarapatanga, developing our local cultural knowledge. Joe Potangaroa (who has worked with us before) will be with us for the afternoon. Having the children head home early is not something we do very often, so we greatly appreciate your support of this.

Masterton Cluster Swimming

We took a team of 19 swimmers to compete for DPS at the Masterton Cluster Swimming Sports. All the kids swam hard, dared to dream and did themselves and DPS proud! We are still waiting for the official results and will share these once we have them. A huge thank you to our parent helpers and those that came to support us- and an extra big thank you to Stu Williams and Morag Blathwayt for taking on the task of being time keepers for the day! Well done to all our swimmers - you were amazing!

I did a backflip under the water and my Mum and Dad did a funny face.

By Ivy

I am going to the beach. I took my dump trucks.

By Corban

My Mum is watching me float. I am on my tummy.

By Arielle

Me and Dad are driving to the supermarket.

By Odin

I went to the water park.

By Knox

It is Tiger’s birthday today. We are eating chocolate cake.

By Paris

I am going to Mount Holdsworth. My Dad came too.

By Newman

I am eating jelly. It is orange.

By Omar

I am going to the bake sale. I have some chocolate ricies. Yum!

By Erika

I am going to my firend’s house. I am going for a sleepover.

By Fuschia

I don’t like the wind. It messes up my hair.

By Lilith

I am snoring at my house.

By Thea

The little thorn fish is going to get something to eat.

By Micaiah

I am on a unicorn. I am riding on a rainbow.

By Meeia

I went to my Nan’s house. I have cousins at Nan’s house.

By Nikora

We are so lucky here at DPS to have such an awesome group of people working with our learners! Each week we will have a korero with some of our staff to help you learn more about us! Feel free to stop for a chat when you see us around school.