Newsletter

Week 5 NEWSLETTER

from the principal

Vision: Together we Nurture, Explore and Create for a Better Future

In the newsletter this term I will be sharing some of our thinking around our new vision and today I’ll unpack the last three words of the vision...a Better Future.

This is a big part of the vision...and really acts as the driving force behind it. We want to help develop children who care, who are knowledgeable, who are capable and driven enough to make a difference. While the school has made a start in this area, it is certainly an area we hope to grow. This idea of making a difference for a Better Future links closely to our local Kāhui Ako goal of Citizenship.


We thought this happens in a number of ways at DPS, through:

  • Leaders groups such as the School Council, PRIDE Team and Enviro Groups

  • Service days

  • An action stage to our student inquiry cycle

  • Being a Green-Gold Sustainable School


By having a Better Future as the end of the Vision it sets direction, and really lights the fire under the trinity of words Nurture, Explore, Create.

Aiming for CarbonZero

I guess this is related to the above...making a difference for a Better Future...a great article by the Times Age this week about our aim of becoming the first CarbonZero certified school in the region. Have a read here. DPS has a long history of being a leader in this area...first Green Gold Sustainable School in the region, and first school to generate its own power, which we have been doing since 2009. Last year we installed a further 50 solar panels, and have plans for a further 50 more this year...this saved over $12,000 in 2020 and offset a huge amount of carbon. Plans this year include exploring having bees onsite, rainwater harvesting for our gardens and looking at the possibility of greywater recycling. I commend the Board for setting this direction...for committing to making a difference for a Better Future

Re-Thinking our Outdoor Environment

Douglas Park School has engaged a landscape architect to develop a broad vision for how the grounds are to be improved and we want your input to ensure that vision reflects our community and values. A paper survey will be coming out today...and we want to hear your voice, your ideas! This is our chance to think big...how can we make the outside spaces of our school promote learning, show who we are, challenge our students physically, tell a story, embrace our Green-Gold status...and become an awesome place to be! Been to a primo playground...share your idea! Seen an amazing garden idea for students...share your idea! Got a cool idea for mud or water play...share your idea!

Surveys due back Friday 12th March


COVID-19 - Back to Level 2!

It’s almost like being stuck in a mini timeloop...just as we come out of Level 2, we go back to Level 2! Thankfully the weather has been decent for the daily gate duty sanitising hands! Thanks once again for your support during these times...while the systems for Level 2 kick back into play pretty quickly, it still requires a bit of extra effort to make sure we are being safe and following the Public Health guidelines.

WRiting - miss mac's Homeclass

I was in my car. Suddenly a wave hit my car. “Ahhhh” I swam away and I almost drowned. I found land. The land was big so I made a house and I found some food.


By Eden Collings



Tsunami! “Ruuuuun!” I got in my bugatti and I went 300mph down the road.


By Mason Pienaar


One day I was driving as fast as a cheetah then I saw a tsunami. I went over the bridge. It followed me so I went up the hill. “Nooooo” Mama, get in the car girl. The whole swat team and the police came… we thought it was the end of the world.


By Quinn Mitchell


One day I was driving in a school bus and a big tsunami came. My mum came flying to save me. We flew into the ocean. I had to get my swimming gear on and me and my mum sucked up the big tsunami with a vacuum. It was soooo funny. We were underwater. We saw a really big fish. We got out and we flew to save my three friends.


By Ruby Johnson.

Staff Profiles

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.

Josh F

What's happening at dps?

Sports

This folder has a list of draws and teams. It will be updated as draws are shared so please check in here for game information. Keep an eye on Facebook for updated information about sports in Level 2. We will share it as we receive it!

If you have not paid your fees to the office, they are now overdue. Please pay as soon as possible.

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