Week 7 NEWSLETTER

from the principal

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

You may have seen the article on Douglas Park School in the Times-Age last week, and Midweek this week. The article was about our Teacher Led Innovation Fund report that the Ministry of Education published recently. I wrote about this in the newsletter a fortnight ago, recognising the accolade and the work put in by staff. The Times-Age article really speaks to the ‘WHY’ behind this work, the fact that we are aiming to create empowered young people who are capable of making a ‘Better Future’. It really is a description in the paper of what our Vision is leading us towards.

The article is below...it will probably be too small to see on a mobile device unless you zoom in. Well worth a read!

Matariki Festival

An upcoming event to mark in your calendars! The evening of Wednesday 30th June, DPS will be the place to be! Performances from Kapahaka, Choir...stargazing with telescopes, storytelling and the chance to try some hangi! This is an expansion of the Cultural Evenings we have had in the past, looking to make a bigger event in recognition of Matariki. Looking forward to this and more details will come out over the next week. Lock it in!

Neuroscience Lessons for us as Parents

I’ve come across a wonderful, wonderful resource that I’m going to share with you in the newsletter over the term. Nathan Makaere Wallis is a well known NZ neuroscience educator. He has partnered with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu to create a set of videos for parents, explaining the neuroscience of learning.

In this week's video Nathan speaks about Effective communication with your child, and the best ways to speak to children about their behaviour. Some key messages from Nathan:

“Speak the emotion first, then give the advice”
“Tell them what to do, not what not to do”
“Describe the behaviour that you want”

For us at DPS this idea is embedded into our PRIDE system. We teach, look for and recognise the behaviour we want to see. The system is positive, forward looking...and comes with a wide set of expectations around the choices we wish to see inside and outside the classroom. The system has built in reminders before a consequence, as an example...teachers will remind all students of an expectation, praise and reward those following it, give a personal reminder to a student before the student loses 5 minutes of their weekly 30 minute golden time activity. Consequences are still in place, but positive reminders and reinforcement comes first.

Enjoy! And give me your feedback: principal@douglaspark.school.nz

Please click on this link to take you to the survey https://forms.gle/HDSHvtxsz5p8SsiV9

What's happening at dps?

WRiting - Josh fielding's homeclass

Sports

This folder has a list of netball and hockey teams. Draws will be shared through Hero each week.

Week 7 Term 2

Cross Country update

These students have made it into the top 20 in the Wairarapa cross country and will be representing our local region at the Regional competition later this term. Congratulations!

Year 4 Girls

8th - Charlotte Monaghan

17th - Eden Collings

Year 4 Boys

9th - Jack Gard'ner

10th - Quinn Mitchell

Year 5 Girls

5th - Heidi Sawkins

Year 5 Boys

10th - Rza Satti

20th - Liam Gardiner

Year 6 Boys

3rd - Levi Wallis

14th - Alex Mason

FoDPS - AGM 5 JULY 2021, 7.30pm in the staffroom

Our Annual General Meeting is being held Monday 5th July 2021 @ 7.30pm in the staff room followed by our regular meeting.

We encourage and welcome new families to join us.

Any queries email fodps@douglaspark.school.nz

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