Week 2 NEWSLETTER

from the principal

Learning Conversations Week 4 + HERO

Learning Conversations are in Week 4 of the term, and bookings are now open! A note would have come home with your child with instructions for booking online. The note also has a piece to fill out and return if internet access is an issue. We always have very high attendance at our Learning Conversations, so get in early to book the spot that works best for you.

Work on our school app HERO carries on, and will be a large part of what we do at Teacher Only Day next week. The video below will give you a bit more of an understanding of what the app will be like over time...we aren’t in a rush, we want to make sure that our systems are good and we are using the app in ways that benefit learning and learners. The video shows some of the functionality...but during the learning conversation we will just be using the Report function to show progress in Reading, Writing and Maths...as well as a teacher comment and attendance.

Click this link to watch a video about Linc-Ed HERO: https://vimeo.com/365240991

FODPS

The Friends of Douglas Park School held their AGM this week, and I came along to pass along thanks on behalf of the staff and community:

Thanks for all the work FODPS does, and for the way they contribute to school. Particularly supporting Education Outside the Classroom, and projects like our Pool
Thanks to the members for giving up their own time to meet, to organise, to fundraise through events, and to get togethers.
Thanks for taking the time to care about our school
Thanks to Kahlia for stepping up to be Chair
And...lastly...I was there to say a big thanks to the outgoing Chairperson Karen. Karen has been on and off the FODPS for around a decade, and has provided great service to the school.

If you are keen to get involved, to pitch in with the team...make contact with Megan Fraser in Kahikatea or via email meganfraser@douglaspark.school.nz

Matariki and Powhiri

Wonderful day at DPS last Friday as we both welcomed our new staff and students into our school whānau, and celebrated Matariki together with a shared kai. Our termly powhiri are always special, but for me this time it was extra special as I was welcomed in as a school parent myself. Obviously I knew how the event would go, but it has given me a new appreciation of it...it really is special to be brought in, to be made to feel part of the wider whole.

Backing that up with Matariki celebrations was great...and the kids (and adults!) of the school loved the sausage sizzle. Thanks to Amy, Mr Blue, Joe and Jo for all the work to make this happen.

Teacher Only Days! Add to your Calendar!

This term we'll be having two teacher only days. One is on Friday August 28th, and is a town wide teacher only day for the Primary schools, and MIS. I’m one of the organisers for this day, and the educators in town are lucky to be working with 3 leading NZ experts in Dr Ann Milne, Derek Wenmoth and Carolyn Stuart.

The other day is THIS Monday 3rd August and this one is just for DPS. The focus for us here will be on reviewing progress in our teaching goals and further development of our school app HERO.

We have set a date for a Term 4 Teacher Only Day...Tuesday 27th October (the day after Labour Day). As a staff we will be working on Cultural Competencies and use of Te Reo.

As always, we appreciate your support for these days, they aren’t something we do very often (although fair warning...we possibly will have another in Term 4) but when we do use them, they are extremely beneficial to staff...which flows onto the children.

Teacher Only Days: Monday 3rd August, Friday 28th August & Tuesday 27th October

KIDS KORERO

writing - McPhail woolshed inspired writing

I saw a cave with a sheep dressed in an army hat. “Oh my goodness it’s an army but it is a sheep.” What is going on here? What the heck it’s raining?

Come on sheep, thank you for your wool. I’m going to make a bed.

By Mason P

One day a farmer climbed a big, tall mountain that had a cave. When he found the cave he went inside it and found a sheep. It had been in there for seven years. It was so, so, so wooly.

By Kieran

The Dark Destroyer is firing a bullet. He shot the farmers house. He said “Oh no I am in big trouble! Sorry that was an accident.”

“Dude I am really sorry you are paying for this.”

By Mason T

One day Shrek went missing. He was missing for 7000 years. The farmer looked over where he climbed Mount Everest. Then he saw a cave. He went inside the cave at last the search was over he had found Shrek.

By Mahlaia

what's happening at dps?

Great excitement in Celebration Time last week when Kirsty Barr from Greater Wellington Regional Council and Constable Julie had a special announcement to make!

Lilith Bodle was the lucky Wairarapa Winner of a $400 My Ride Bike Shop Voucher. Lilith’s Walking or Wheeling to school passport card was drawn out. Lilith was a very deserving winner as we see her actively scooting to and from school with her mum each day.

Help keep our students safe!

We encourage students to actively travel to and from school wearing their helmets to promote independence and reduce congestion at the school gate.

Do use our safe drop off and pick up Travel Pou.

There are two in Essex St and one in Cole Street. Students can then cross the roads safely with our road patrols.

Congratulations Lilith!

Scholastic Book Club notices were given out this week. All orders are now made online (please see back sheet of Bookclub booklet). The office no longer handles the payments and orders. Happy Reading!!

Subway lunches can be ordered for delivery to school every Friday. Order online or fill out a form at the office.

DPS Sport

Term 3 Sport - DRAWS

We will load the draws into this folder for Netball, Hockey and Miniball. Make sure you check it every week!

2020 Yr 5/6 Netball

A timely reminder - we expect players to be at their games 30 minutes before their game. We suggest if players have games at 4pm that they come to school prepared and head to the courts after school. Parking can be very busy at the courts, but you can drop your children at the gate and they can go in and meet their coach who will be there. We had some players turn up just before the games were about to start - that is not fair on the coach or team who have been warming up and getting prepared to play.

If for any reason your child will not be playing, please let the coach or Amy Williams know.

We really appreciate you having players at the courts on time and 'netball ready'. This means long hair tied up, nails cut, correct uniform/sneakers and NO jewellery to be worn.

It is very unlikely games will be cancelled, but if they are it will be posted on the DPS FB page or the Netball Wairarapa FB page.

Any questions...please contact Amy Williams on amywilliams@douglaspark.school.nz

Winter Hockey Season

Friday 31st July

DPS Red vs Fernridge on THT 1 at 4.45pm

DPS Renegades vs Opaki at THT 1 at 4.00pm

Saturday 1st August

DPS 7 aside vs Glad/Wai on THT2 at 10.15am

All draws can be found here.

Yr 3/4 and Yr 5/6 Miniball

We have kicked off our Miniball season this week!

The Miniball draw will be in this folder each week, or on the Masterton YMCA website.

All players need to wear the DPS sports uniform (available from The Uniform Shop by McDonalds or the DPS second-hand uniform shop) and sneakers to their game.

Starts - Wednesday 29th July

Finishes - Wednesday 23rd September