Newsletter
Week 8 NEWSLETTER
from the principal
COVID Alert Level 2
Yesterday saw us return to Alert Level 2 for a few days. The PM and her Ministers will meet Sunday to review the Alert Levels. We’ve been here before several times now and the systems here at DPS kicked back into place right away. Some have never left...we have a constant supply of hand sanitizer in the classrooms that is well used. As before, we are allowing parents onto site...through the main gate only and some of the school leaders will be there to collect your name and sanitise hands on entry. While uncommon for schools to allow this...it is within the guidelines for us to allow parents in. We feel at DPS that parents should be able to choose to be with their children if they wish. We value the partnership, and relationship between home and school...and sure, it is a bit of extra work for us to man the gates...but the benefits outweigh this extra mahi.
Interschool Cross Country
A group of nearly 60 students represented DPS with PRIDE last week at the Wairarapa Interschool Cross Country. The weather just held off enough for the children to have a great day and put in their best effort. Proud of them all and thanks to the parent helpers for coming along. Special mention of Ms B for organising the school and Miss Mac for being chief supporter on the day.
These students have made it into the top 20 in the Wairarapa and will be representing our local region at the Regional competition later this term.
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
Matariki Festival
Plans are coming together nicely for this, thanks to the work of Miss Eagle. Our aim is to expand on the Cultural Evenings we’ve held in the past and to further celebrate Matariki. We have Kapahaka from Kōwhai and from Rātā/Kahikatea performing...this year all Year 2-6 students are getting weekly Kapa Haka instruction which is awesome. We have a small hangi...not as a meal for people, but rather a chance to taste/try hangi out...I'm super pumped about this! We have some storytellers & authors coming along to share local and traditional tales, amazing. And...fingers crossed for decent weather...we will have the opportunity to stargaze with an expert and a bunch of telescopes.
As Matariki becomes a public holiday next year, knowledge around this important time will be developed and grow. Click the image below (or here) to take you to a short TVNZ interview with a Māori astronomer explaining Matariki, its importance and how to spot the star cluster.
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 Praise, and the best ways to speak to children about their strengths, successes, progress and challenges. Some key messages from Nathan:
“Make sure we praise a specific behaviour or skill”
“Use strengths based language”
For us at DPS this idea is embedded both into our PRIDE system and the way we give feedback to children.
PRIDE is built around recognising and reinforcing positive behaviour. Children earn PRIDE tickets (or dojo’s) for showing the behaviours that we expect...and this is coupled with language. We verbally praise the behaviours we want, point them out loudly in classes and articulate clearly to children what we expect. Likewise, our feedback to children mirrors what Nathan says...we don’t say things like ‘good work’ when looking at a child’s peace of work, rather we will praise a skill or detail in the work. “I love this word ‘miraculous’ you have used here”, “I can see where you have edited your work here to add more detail, ka pai” etc. Both the feedback and PRIDE are strengths based, and focus on the behaviours/skills that we want to see.
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 - mrs mcphail's homeclass
Sports
This folder has a list of netball and hockey teams. Draws will be shared through Hero each week.
All primary hockey is cancelled this Friday due to Level 2 restrictions.
Miniball
Next term, Year 3-6 students can choose to play Miniball if they wish. Games are played every Wednesday after school (from 3.30pm) at the YMCA. The season begins on the 4th August and concludes on the 29th September. All practises will be during the week at lunchtime. There is a $15 fee for the season. To register, click the link below, fill out the form and pay the fee to the office by Tuesday 6th July.
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
Community notices
