Week 11 NEWSLETTER

from the principal

Our Vision: Together we Nurture, Explore and Create for a Better Future

It has been a fantastic term here at DPS…such a great start to the new school year. We’ve had everything from swimming, walking Rangitumau, announcing our school leaders, Jimbo back for kapahaka, walking to Hidden Lakes, scooter safety, heading to Pūkaha, cycle safety, new science kits, school sports, brass instrument learning, Movin’ March, Duffy Books, PRIDE Day Out, through to our Learning Conversations this week. A massive thanks to our staff for all the mahi that goes into this, and to you…our awesome, supportive community. The holidays are pretty much upon us…time for children to rest, reset, and recharge…ready for Term 2!

I’ve been writing about the Learning Pit for the term…so just to round things off, here is one more story:

Our Mathematics teaching: I’m very proud of the way we do Maths here at DPS…and our results from last year speak for themselves, with Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 all outperforming the national average in the PAT Maths test (there is no test for Year 1 and 2 in case you are wondering). But…to get here has not been easy. Our teacher development has been led and pushed by James Riley over the last 5+ years…and prior to that he had to be in his own Pit as he changed his teaching methods. As he has led us, staff had to leave behind parts of our ‘old ways’ of teaching maths. This was a challenge, the newer methods were hard at first and required a lot of effort…but as I said, the payoff has been our high levels of achievement. James had some great recognition this week, being filmed by Victoria University as part of a mathematics training course they will be running. James’ hard work…getting into the Pit and working his way out of it…has led to him being recognised as a leading mathematic practitioner (and the spinoff of his mahi has pushed us into the Pit, and led to improved teacher practice across the school and greater outcomes for children). Awesome work James!

Teacher Only Day: Date for your Calendars

Tuesday June 3rd is a teacher only day…it is another combined day with the local primary and secondary schools coming together. We will all be closing and heading to Wairarapa College for the day, where we have a range of experts coming to do their mahi with us. Maths, literacy, leadership, digital technologies, trauma-informed practice, wellbeing, artificial intelligence…a massive range of learning opportunities for the town's awesome teachers. Once again I am one of the organisers, and I know that the school closing for the day puts pressure on whānau…so we really do make the most of it, and pack in some amazing content.

There will be another teacher only day this year…but the date has not yet been set.

Out of Zone Applications

Applications for children looking to start with us in Term 3 and 4 this year are opening very soon. If you live out of the zone, and if we don’t know about your child, and you look to enrol with us later in the year…you won’t be able to. Even if you have other children already attending DPS, you need to go through this process.

If you are unsure…flick an email to office@douglaspark.school.nz and we will include you in the out of zone communications.

Stationery - Thank you to everyone who has already paid.

We are very lucky to have the BOT subsidise our stationery for the year. This really keeps costs down and once again we ask that all learners pay $15 as soon as possible. The easiest way to pay is online, our bank details are ASB 12-3290-0064275-00 please put your child's name as a reference. You can also call into the office and pay by eftpos or send cash to the office in a named envelope if you prefer. Please pay promptly as it saves us following up but any problems at all please see the office.

friends of douglas park school (FoDPS)

EASTER RAFFLE

Thank you all for the amazing response to the Easter Raffle this year. The total amount raised will be confirmed soon. We were able to put together 11 baskets and draw 11 winners last night at our meeting. The student who sold the most will be announced tomorrow at Celebration Time.

Thanks the FODPS Team

WINNERS

Ben Hollis sold by Jamilah Coulson-Tangen
Debbie Van Zyl sold by Lily McKenzie
Sinton Family sold by the Sintons
Falene Grimmer sold by Ezekiel Nixon
Ray Davies sold by Kash Connor
Claire Blomgren sold by Kahukura
Nikki McLachlan sold by Kash Connor
Tamara Bolt sold Zak Thornton Bolt
Robyn Hawthorn sold by Mason Armstrong
William Osborne sold by Piper Osborne
Helen Smith sold by Kenzo Standenberg

Writing - SCHOOL LEADERS

Library Leaders

We are your library leaders. We are so lucky to have a library at DPS filled with books. The library will be open for everyone to use on Tuesday and Thursday at lunchtime. If tamariki would like a quiet place to read, they can escape the playground and have some peaceful time in the library. When tamariki have finished reading their book they can return and issue a new book at lunchtime.

Sophie, Thea, Lacey, Aliza and Maggie

Kids Kōrero Leaders

We are your Kids Kōrero leaders for 2025. Every week we help Whaea Deb with the Kids Kōrero videos. We help the tamariki at DPS learn Te Reo Māori and we have helped introduce the morning kōrero. Our videos will be played in Celebration Time once a fortnight.

Scarlett, Lucy and Fionn

Creek Leaders

We go to the DPS creek and the one at Solway Reserve with Joe to clean out the creek. We find golf balls, chippie packets and sometimes even empty tins. It’s important that we keep the creek clean so that the eels survive and stay in the creek. With the rake we take out lots of weeds. We like our job because we see lots of wildlife in the creek and we get to spend time with Joe.

Mason, Charlie, Harlem and Henry