Week 6 NEWSLETTER

from the principal

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

In our newsletters this term I will be sharing some of our thinking around our new vision and today I’ll unpack the first two words of the vision...Together we

Two little words, with big meanings to them. At DPS we have always believed in the power of relationships...no significant learning can occur without a significant relationship...and as such, Together we highlights this commitment. When school works as a partnership between student, teacher, home and community, the learning is rich, diverse and enduring. Our school is even physically based around the idea of collaboration, with our open flexible learning environments encouraging partnerships between teachers, between students and across year levels.

This isn’t part of the Vision we’ve unpacked as a staff, but I think this happens in a number of ways at DPS, through:

Staff taking sports teams
Learning Conversations twice a year
Our school app HERO
Our open, flexible learning environments

Starting our Vision with Together we...really sets the scene, and highlights that we are all in this together...that the wins, the success, the hard work, the mistakes and the learning...it comes from all of us working Together to achieve our vision for the children.

Play based Learning

Had another powerful professional learning session with staff after school this week, looking at play based learning. We have been ‘attending’ the virtual Joy of Learning conference run by Longworth Education, taking a deeper dive into how play based learning best operates. It has been a very affirming process and we’ve also gained some next steps for each of the teaching teams.

Within our play environments, children are taught reading/writing/maths just as they would be at any NZ school. The key difference is when they are not with a teacher for learning, they have voice and choice about what they do. It is during this time that our Core Beliefs come into action...we want our children to be creative, to be able to collaborate, to have agency/ownership and to be able to think critically. These skills can’t flourish if teachers dictate what children do each minute of the day...how can you learn to think critically if you never have to think for yourself about your actions? How can you develop your creativity if you are not given freedom? Play develops the whole person, and provides the right conditions for them (in terms of brain/neuro readiness) to come and perform well in their reading/writing/maths lessons.

During our staff session this week we watched the below video, and I thought it was worth sharing wider. One of the key messages...a play based learning environment creates the right conditions for children to learn.

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 again 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 tomorrow Friday 12th March

Our current PRIDE focus is Mana Motuhake - showing independence. Here are some ideas for showing independence at school from the PRIDE team.

WRiting - Rimu

I am driving a boat. I am driving to my house. I am going to play with Emmett.

Henry Sinton

I am going on the B52 bomber.

Jaxon Tobin

I am going to a Wellington hotel , next to my dad’s work for Amelia’s birthday.

Leo Wilkie

I am going to Waipukurau. It is a farm.

Olivia Checkley

I am eating a birthday cake at my friend’s house.

Milly Stark

I am looking at a shark and I am scared.

Amaia Burt

I went on the bus today. It took me to the aeroplane.

Abel Foster

I am watching Prickleman. He was a superhero. He flew away. It was cool because he won.

Kaelan Hall

The cat got stuck in the castle.

Heath Maxwell

The pirate found treasure.

Maisy Hohepa

The tooth fairy took my tooth.

Cadey-Lou Gillies

My bunny made my room messy.

Ruby-Tuesday Brider

This spider is eating my subway.

Marlia Whipp

I am riding the jeep.

Ryan Nicholls

My sister is the best because she plays with me.

Keith Vunisa

I am making a blow dart to shoot pom poms.

Hugo Sutherland

I made a slingshot and it’s fast.

Jaxom Crocker

I am playing with Bob.

Kyle Hawker

What's happening at dps?

The Rimu team bake sale was a HUGE success! Thank you to everyone who supported this great fundraiser.

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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