Week 2 NEWSLETTER

These ladies have used TinkerCad to 3D design their learning...they have printed a river, mountains, rain falling, clouds and the sun. The clouds and sun are separate prints that click into place. The river is inset...and it was full of water when they showed me. They want to print another so they both have a copy...but, and I think this is perhaps the best bit...they know they can improve the design and have modifications to make before they print again. So awesome!

Working together (Nurture), seeking out new knowledge (Explore), making this learning into a physical artifact (Create) and realising that their hard work can be improved on (Better Future)...our vision for learning in action. Great stuff ladies, I look forward to seeing what comes next!

Parking + Safety

I’ve written about this repeatedly in the last few years. I've stood out the front of the school and had conversations, we’ve engaged with the Police...but still we have parents/community members who are choosing to be disrespectful in the way they drop off/pick up their children. Yesterday we received a complaint from a neighbour...someone had parked across her driveway and when she returned home, she could not enter her driveway. I appreciate that 8.30 and 3.00pm are busy outside the front gates...but that doesn’t mean respect should go out the window. If you are able...try parking in Essex St across Douglas Park, try parking in Pownall St, or park down Cole Street in the block closer to town. Any of these places is a short walk to/from school with controlled crossings and plenty of people around.

The other issue at the moment...parents encouraging poor choices from their children. As we are out the front now, taking names etc at the gate, we have seen all sorts of close calls. Please don’t double park, please don’t stop in the middle of the road to let your child out, and please don’t encourage them to cross the road without using the crossing. Someone will get hurt. Or...your child will copy that behaviour when you aren’t there...rush across the road, rush across our busy road. It is sadly a simple equation...car vs child, the child isn’t going to win.

COVID-19

With us still being at Alert Level 2 our next big school event is likely to look quite different. Friday 5th November (next week) is our school athletics but at this stage it will be a closed event just for staff and children. Normally we would have parents as helpers, parents as spectators, parents as supporters and parents as competitors...but this can’t happen under Alert level 2. We will still head down to the Colin Pugh Sportsbowl and run the event...but without whānau. A shame...but at least our children still get to have the event unlike many that have been canned.

Below is a repeat of my words on the vaccine I used last week, but I have updated the vaccination status data for the Wairarapa. A 3% increase this week in the number of people vaccinated in the Wairarapa...that is 3% closer to the 90% target set by the government.

Personally...I have had both doses, the second of which was over two weeks ago, so I am now considered fully immunised. Why have I done it? Many reasons...but mostly it boils down to people. My two sons are too young to be vaccinated, my Dad probably falls into an at risk age (sorry Dad if you read this!), and all of your beautiful children here at DPS are also too young to be vaccinated. I did this to do my part in reducing the risk to these people, to do my part in helping to keep them safer...I do my part for my people.

I would urge those of you who have not yet had your first dose to head to the Book my Vaccine website and nab a time. If you are still looking for information I would also encourage you to get the information from those that know...head to your GP for firsthand medical advice/information, or head over to the Ministry of Health website and look through the wealth of information there.

Out of Zone Enrolments

The Board has opened up places for 25 out of zone students for the first half of 2022, Terms 1 & 2. If you live out of zone (even if you have children currently attending) and have a child you’d like to start with us in the first half of next year, please contact the Office, applications are now open.

Also...if you know of parents outside of the zone who would like their 5 year old to attend Douglas Park, please get them to contact the office as well. It happens every time...we complete the ballot process, then the following week people ask if they can attend (and they can’t).

Email the Office on office@douglaspark.school.nz for more information.

Check out some pics of Rātā and Kahikatea maths in action! It's awesome to see students sharing their learning with others!

One hot sunny day I decided to go walking and I found a water world. I could see water buildings and turquoise tails of mermaids splashing. I could hear water gushing and dolphins clicking. It felt so cold and wet. It smelt like smelly fish. I could not take the smell any more, so I ran back home.

By Mahalia Crocker

Once there was a dragonshark. He was happily sleeping on a cloud, when he fell off and struck the ground. He opened his eyes as he said “where am I?”. He could see a tree and sighed as he walked in pain. When he got to the tree he regained his strength and flew back to the cloud and went back to sleep.

By Brooklyn Todd

Once there was a spider in my shoe! At first I didn’ know what kind of spider it was, but then I saw the white tip. It was a white tail! It was black and white and had long skinny legs!

By Rivva Keehn

This is Lucy, she’s a werewolf from a dark, dark forest. She howls at the blood moon when there are lots of clouds in the night sky.

By Lilith Bodle

My snake is from the zoo. It is slimy and has colourful stripes. My snake is happiest when she is alone.

By Shania McKenzie

Once there was a fairy princess named Theodora. She is kind, but also a little bossy. She loves to draw and paint. She has spiky thorns to protect herself. She is from a small town called Phifea. Theodora loves it there!

By Daniella Harrison

One stormy night I was sailing the ocean seas. In the distance I saw a hole in the ocean, “hmmmmm would could that be”, I asked myself. It was Atlantis rising up, no longer underwater. There was a big scary goblin that sorta looked like Dobbie from Harry Potter. There were ginormous screeching crows that hurt my eardrums. As I got closer I could see an old, creaky bridge. I decided to walk over it....

By Piper Sutherland

I was in the desert, it was a hot, sunny day. I came across a big pointy pyramid. I went closer and closer to touch it. It was soft. I looked around and I saw a door. I went in, and it led me to a humongous chamber. In the chamber I could hear an echo...

By Levi Holmes

Our Douglas Park School Athletics day will be held on Friday 5th November at The Colin Pugh Sports Bowl. Children will need a big packed lunch, drink bottle and sunhat for the day. There will be no subway lunch orders.

If we are still in Alert Level 2, unfortunately we will not be able to invite whānau to this event. Thank you for your understanding.

Click here for sports teams and here for the draws we have so far. Some draws will come out on Hero on a weekly basis.

All children must wear the Douglas Park School sports uniform.

Fees are now overdue. These can be paid at the office or online - bank a/c details - Westpac 03-0687-0310653-00

Our FoDPS fundraiser for term 4 is 'Calendar Art'. This is a great way to raise money for our kura and make excellent Christmas presents for whānau. All student artwork will be displayed in the hall during weeks 1, 2 and 3. Please feel free to come and check it out. There are also samples of the available products in the school office. Your child will come home with an order form on Monday. All orders must be returned to school by Friday 5th of November. Please note that we are unable to accept any late orders.