Week 3 NEWSLETTER

Our Play, our Inquiry, our Making...these are powerful ways for children to experience the joy and frustration of real life learning. We know as adults that learning never stops. Something new always comes along...new phone, new process at work, new skill in sport, new hobby...and we also know that this new learning isn’t easy, the road is rocky, full of bumps, failures and successes. Play/Inquiry/Maker learning helps ensure we are preparing children for further learning...academic or otherwise. Traditionally schools just shove information at children hoping that most of it sticks. Children can become dependent on the adult, the teacher to help them through a challenge...to get through to learning success. We aim for a mixture of the two models in the image below...help from the teacher for sure, but wrapped up in a system that is designed to encourage risk taking and innovation. And...the cool thing...this University study shows that our staff are doing an awesome job of that!

COVID Info

We are in the process of digesting the new COVID-19 Public Health Response Order which came into effect at 11.59pm on Monday 25 October. Clearly there are implications for school life, and it is going to take some time to appreciate what all of these are. A school like ours is dependent on the support of parents and the community, and this is something that we appreciate a great deal.

The advice that we have received from the Ministry of Education is that everyone who works or volunteers for a school who may have contact with children or students, or will be present at a time when children and students are also present must have had a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by 15 November and be fully vaccinated by 1 January 2022.

The vaccination requirements apply wherever in person schooling occurs, such as on the school site, but also at school camps, swimming pools, museums, or where other education outside the classroom (EOTC) programmes take place.

This means that we are only allowed to allow people to help at school events with children if they have had at least their first dose by 15 November, and are fully vaccinated by 1 January 2022.

If you wish to be involved as a helper in any events after 15 November, or if we ask for parent volunteers for things like trips, we will be required to see proof of your vaccination status. When school starts next year, we will need evidence of full vaccination by 1 January 2022 for any school helpers (or evidence of exemption).

The requirements do not apply to people who are just visiting the school, such as for a learning conversation or a meeting with the teacher.

I realise that there will be plenty of questions, and it is likely that we will not have answers right away. All schools are in the same boat and working through various situations and scenarios. The table below was released by the Ministry of Education yesterday.

Thanks very much for your understanding and support.

Latest vaccine data for our region below...still making good progress towards that 90% mark with over 2000 doses given over the last 7 days (over 700 of those were first doses). A further 3% are now fully vaccinated. 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.

More awesome DPS Kids being awesome!

Below is a slide from last week's Celebration Time (we still have Celebration Time at the moment, but held separately in teaching teams). Just another great example of what we strive for at DPS...kids who care for others, who have real life skills and who are prepared to make a difference for others. Tino pai to mahi Nikoli and AJ!

A whānau in need

Looking to see if we can get some help...we have a whānau in need of transport to and from school. Two children, living in the Oak St/Ballance St area. If someone lives around there, and could add two children to their drop off/pickup routine...it would be greatly appreciated. Flick an email to office@douglaspark.school.nz or txt the school cell phone on 021 1283607.

Check out some Kōwhai literacy learning in action this week. Kora and Savannah wrote potion recipes during play learning, some of Mrs McPhail's learners started reading Charlotte's Web and Miss Fraser's class took advantage of the sunshine and did their writing outside!

Date: Monday 8th November

Where: Colin Pugh Sportsbowl, Masterton

Time: 9am - 2.30pm

Pupils need to bring

• DPS sports uniform or their house coloured top (optional, and they can wear these to school)

• DPS sunhat

• Sneakers

• Medication they require (sunblock, inhalers etc)

• A full packed lunch.

• All pupils MUST have a water bottle

• DPS polar fleece for warmth. Track pants (optional)

Please ensure everything named

We will be travelling to and from the Sportsbowl by bus. Please ensure your child is not late to school as the buses will not be waiting. All pupils will return to DPS on the bus with their teacher/class at the end of the day.

Due to current Covid 19 restrictions, parents and other spectators are unable to attend.

If it is postponed/cancelled it will be on the DPS Facebook page by 8.30am.

Unfortunately, due to current Covid 19 restrictions, the annual Interschool and Wellington regional athletics events are cancelled this year.

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. All orders must be returned to school by Friday 5th of November. Please note that we are unable to accept any late orders.