Newsletter

Week 9 NEWSLETTER

from the principal

Learning Conversations: Working Level Reporting


This term we have made some changes to how we report your child/ren’s learning & progress and this note explains the changes. With Learning Conversations next week, we will be able to go over this face to face as you celebrate the learning progress with your child/ren.

The major change is the shift to ‘Working Level’ reporting from our old ‘Mastery’ reporting. The shift is from reporting on what children ‘can do’ (Mastery) to what they are ‘learning to do’ (Working Level). At DPS we have always reported ‘Mastery’ in the past, but no longer.

So what does it look like?

In the past we would have reported the child as ‘2P’ as they had ‘mastered’ more than 80% of the skills at that level (the green part of the progress wheel), and had not yet reached 80% at the level higher.


Now we will be reporting that the child’s ‘working level’ is ‘2A’. This is because they have more than 80% of ‘2P’ mastered, and are now working on the skills inside ‘2A’.



Under both methods the skill and ability of the child is the same. Shifting to working level reporting hasn’t changed what your child is able to do, and doesn’t change our high expectations for learning and progress...but it is a fairer reflection of how they are currently working against the curriculum, and also fairer in regards to how they are performing compared to other children at different schools.


This will also have an impact on the graphs that you have been seeing since we switched to HERO in 2020. We have updated the graphs to make sure that the ‘dots’ are now all working level. In effect, this means that your childs ‘dots’ have all been shifted up one step.

HERO Graph Language

We have also changed the wording we use on our graphs this term, based on the idea of Poutama. Poutama teaches us that every person is on their own learning pathway, and will work through their journey with different rates of progress, that at times can be fast or slow. Poutama teaches us that knowledge is gained in steps, implies that perseverance is needed to progress upwards and that each new step gained is a new beginning.


Here are our new words

We are looking forward to sharing this with you in person next week at Learning Conversations, and to celebrate the progress your child has made.

Alert Level 2 Reminders


General:

  • Physical distancing for parents is the standard 2m distance. Student to student it’s they can’t be close enough to ‘smell someone's breath’, and no touching of anyone.

  • Hygiene is paramount at the moment. This includes coughing into their elbows, handwashing and drying and regular cleaning of commonly touched surfaces.

  • Masks: Optional for students and staff, but encouraged for all parents and visitors coming into school

For whānau/caregivers:

  • Drop off and pickup will be different. We are required to keep a register of ALL people who come into school. Hands will be sanitised on entry.

  • Entry to school will only be through our main driveway gates

  • Children can also enter via the Kummer Crescent gate, but not adults.

  • Access to school for drop off time is from 8.15am and pickup from 2.45pm.

  • The Office will be open, but if you can call or email that would be better.

For children:

  • Students are to stay at home if they are sick and we will send anyone home immediately if they show any symptoms. Please, keep your children home if unwell.

  • Each classroom has sanitiser and children will use this as they enter/exit classes.

  • Water fountains at school are off, so each child will need a named water bottle

Check out these awesome learners

Check out these awesome Rātā learners at Maker Time this week.

Alex and Levi have been writing a children's book to share with some children at our kura. Their next step is to add an audio recording to each chapter so students can listen if they want to! Below we have an awesome newspaper creation by Lucia and Leilani (not pictured) and Madi, Isabelle and Em's fabulous dress. It has been awesome to watch these girls use collaboration and critical thinking when designing these catwalk worthy creations.

WRITING - Ms Pinfold's homeclass

Thank you

A great big thank you to Richard and the staff of Carroll's Joinery for making 3 boxes for Rimu to store cardboard in. Very much appreciated!!

Sport

Term 4 Sports

Please complete the form to indicate the sports your child is interested in playing next term and what you can help with (coaching/managing etc) - Term 4 Sports sign up

This form needs be completed by Tuesday 28th September.

Fees are to be paid to the office by Friday 22nd October (End of Week 1, Term 4).

All children must wear the DPS Sports uniform.

Email Hayley Sinton with any questions/issues - hayleysinton@douglaspark.school.nz

*Please note that a separate form has already been sent regarding netball and entries for this have closed

T4 Sport 2021

DPS Athletics Day - Save the date.

Our athletics day will be held on Friday 5th November at the Colin Pugh Sports Bowl.

Community notices

Wairarapa Spitfires Baseball Club

Summer is nearly here and that means the 2021/22 Wairarapa Spitfire Baseball season registrations are now open!

We have club teams available for all ages and levels of experience.

Rookie Ball – Ages 5 to 9 will play on Saturday mornings at Kuranui College at 9am

Minor League U11 – Ages 9 to 11 will play on Saturday mornings at Kuranui College at 10.30am

Intermediate U13 – Ages 11 to 13 will play on Wednesday afternoons at Kuranui College and MIS at 5.30pm

U13 Travel Team – Competitive baseball in the Wellington Regional Competition. Trials for this team will be held at Masterton Intermediate on Thursday October 14th from 10-12pm. Players must be available to play on Sundays in Wairarapa, Wellington and Levin. For more info contact our Club Captain.

Our Have a Go Open Day is on Saturday October 16th from 10am to 12pm at the Kuranui College Baseball Diamonds. Come along for a fun morning learning about baseball and free yummy Greytown Butchery sausages.

The baseball season will continue through to March 2022 with a break over the summer holidays.

For more information and to register check out our website www.spitfires.nz, join our Facebook Page Wairarapa Spitfires, or give Club Captain Shane Fawdray a call on 0273955001.


"Red Star Junior Cricket is looking for new and existing players to register to play cricket for 2021,term 4, from year 1 to year 8. Please contact Mark Elliott on 0277890707 or register on https://registrations.crichq.com/register/39321"