Newsletter

Week 8 NEWSLETTER

from the principal

Staff Changes

Currently we are deep into planning for 2022...always an exciting time to look ahead at the possibilities of a new year.

We do have some staff changes to announce for 2022.

Josephine Pinfold has won a position at Carterton School and will be leaving DPS. Josephine started her career this year with us and has a solid foundation to build from going forward. Thanks Josephine for all that you have given to the kids.

Sarah Broughton is on leave currently and will also be leaving DPS in 2022. Sarah came to us this year as an experienced teacher from MPS and as well as doing great things for the learners in her class she has organised sports for DPS with Hayley. Thanks Sarah.

We have appointed two new teachers to DPS. Deb comes to us from View Road School and will be teaching in the seniors and Brooke comes to the junior school as a beginning teacher. We are excited to work and learn alongside them.

Kiri Eagle has been appointed to the position of Team Leader, and will be leading the Rimu team next year. Kiri has spent most of her career in the New Entrants team and she will do an amazing job leading them next year.

Currently we have an advertisement out for a new teacher for 2022.

Teaching Team Structures for 2022

We are keeping the same teaching team structures for 2022:

  • Rimu (New Entrant/Year 1)

    • Kiri Eagle, Sally Hunter, Helen Gard’ner, Hayley Sinton, Brooke Gibson

  • Kōwhai (Year 2+3)

    • Megan Fraser, Gemma McPhail, Martha Brienza, Juliet Bridges, Josh Fielding, Michelle O’Connell, Rosie Davies

  • Rātā (Year 4-6)

    • Sophie Macdonald, James Riley, Deb Rei (TBC)

  • Kahikatea (Year 4-6)

    • Josh Vergunst, Hannah Choat, and a teacher TBC


Tuesday next week we will let you know your child/ren’s class for 2022. This will come out via HERO along with their Teacher Comment for Term 4. As we are currently advertising for a new teacher there will potentially be some changes in teacher placement for 2022...and one of the Kahikatea classes will have no assigned teacher (for now!).


COVID Changes

So...once again our plans have changed...but we are going ahead with our pōwhiri tomorrow, and final celebration time next week. Both these events are invite only, and operate under the Orange traffic light setting with vax passports. You will have been contacted by now (check HERO) if you are being invited (Year 6 parents and award winners). Sadly we can’t open it up wider, and the invites will give us a list on the gate to check off. All of this is to meet requirements, ensure contact tracing and to make sure we are operating in the safest way we can. The final celebration time will be live streamed as well...more information to follow.


Staff Recognition

A couple of weeks ago teachers from across the town got together at a Union event to recognise staff who were retiring, and staff who have become fully certified.

Jackie Seta from DPS was recognised for her years of service...66 years in the education sector, 47 of those as a teacher. An epic effort, thanks very much Jackie

Juliet Bridges was also recognised for becoming a fully certified teacher. When teachers first start they have a two year provisional process where schools provide an induction and mentoring process. Juliet has been through this, and is now a fully fledged teacher. Well done!

Bark!

Over the last week or so we have been trucking new softball bark in for the two large playgrounds at school. Mr Blue and Joe have been leading a team of kids who were keen to do the mahi themselves to spread the bark. This kind of started at service day where a whānau class raked up the bark around the playground in preparation for this new bark. Cheers Mr Blue and Joe, and a shout out to Riley T for being the student who put in the most to the project...by far. Tirelessly working, moving wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow...his work ethic was epic. Cheers Riley!

Cool Kids doing Cool Things

In the weekend the Boxing Academy held a fundraising event, and our very own Mila-Kay got involved. By the looks of this photo...she has backed Laurence into the ropes and was about to land the winning blow! Also by the looks of this photo...she is rather enjoying it! Great stuff Mila-Kay!

Ivy brought a cool project into my office the other day. She has been talking to Mum, learning more about her homeland of the Philippines. She took this new knowledge...and created a 3D map of the islands...all labeled, even had a compass in the corner...and has written a brief history of the country and what she has learnt about it from her Mum. This ran over a few weeks and is a great example of learning flowing between home and school, and another great example of someone creating a physical artifact of their learning. Great stuff Ivy!

I shared an idea with a couple of staff...getting children to create and 3D print some Xmas decorations. Within moments James had emailed back to say that some children were already doing that! Way ahead of me as usual. Bella came to show me hers...made for her new sibling Phoenix. Great stuff Bella!

2022 Start Date and Term 1

Children start back next year on Wednesday 2nd February. Waitangi Day is the following Monday which makes two shorter weeks to start the school year. Advance notice...Masterton primary schools are having another combined Teacher Only Day on Thursday 14th April. This is the day before Good Friday (Easter) and the holidays...so effectively Term 1 will end on Wednesday 13th April.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE DENTAL BUS ON SITE. A REMINDER TO CHECK YOUR CHILD'S BAG FOR ANY DENTAL FORMS THEY MAY HAVE BROUGHT HOME.

The PRIDE team are a hard-working bunch of kids that aim to bring our school values to life. They have had a great year and enjoyed their end of year celebration. They enjoyed a McDonald's breakfast with Mr Sinton - ka rāwe!

FoDPS

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