Week 5 NEWSLETTER

from the principal

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

Narissa, one of our wonderful brass instrument tutors, popped into the office excitedly yesterday to say how many brass students we have this year…over 20! It is a growing thing here at Douglas Park, and you add in the Keyboard, Guitar and Ukulele lessons that Miss Nadia is running on Mondays…and you have a lot of children involved…nearly 50.

This aligns so well with our vision, particularly the word ‘Explore’. Narissa herself pointed out how the school values a wide view of what learning is, and what success is. Reading, Writing and Maths are super important…foundational…but, children deserve richer experiences as well to allow them to find and develop passions. Music at DPS is growing…another place for kids to shine…and I think it is awesome.

I love music…I love listening to it, I love making it and I love performing it. I listened to a lot of music growing up…Dad is a big music guy…but it wasn’t until college that I first picked up a guitar. I was hooked right away, and spent a lot of time practicing and playing in my teens. Music gave me a creative outlet at college…a positive thing to work on…made me lifelong friends, and I’ve had chances to perform at things like Summer Hummer (way back in 2004), local venues, overseas, the Wellington Town Hall, even for a TV pilot.

Our kids are now getting these opportunities to ‘Explore’ within the music discipline…and I know I’ll be lucky enough to see them perform on stage somewhere in the future. Rock on team!

Tree + Playground Update

Wairarapa Treescaping have been in and done a great job of removing the tree…the smaller stuff removed, but most of the branches and the trunk are ringed up at school (possible firewood fundraiser in our future). Mr Blue has been hard at work, and the damaged sections of the playground have been removed as well. We have saved some of the timber to line some planned gardens, and also saved a couple of pieces of the playground that can be re-used (their poles were smashed, but the actual metal part of those playground sections were fine). Still standing is the flying fox, the high bars, and the spinning wheels…but while they are standing, the structure at the end of the high bars and wheels isn’t safe with those posts being damaged. So…all in all, once we are able to do some repairs roughly half of the original playground will be operational. In the meantime…the stump is still there, and the whole area is still taped off out of bounds.

Once we have a clear site…we may reach out to the builders we have in our school whānau, see if we can jack up a working bee to install some new posts, replace the 4 damaged ones, and rehang the two salvaged pieces of the playground.

Swimming Sports and Celebrations

The last few days have seen the senior teams have their swimming sports, and Kōwhai host their swimming celebration. Massive thanks to the whānau who could make it along…the kids love a crowd cheering them on.

It is one of my favourite things to see how the children’s confidence develops in the pool…the result of us being lucky enough to have our own pool, and being able to get all the kids in each day. I was never a strong swimmer at primary school, so I really relate to those who find it a struggle…something they have to work hard at. While I may not have been a great swimmer…it didn’t hold me back from loving the water, and by the time college came around I took up surfing and loved spending hours in the ocean chasing waves. Water confidence is so important to develop, alongside a basic (at least) swimming skill set. Thanks to the staff for the wonderful mahi they have been doing.

School Picnic

Fingers crossed the weather doesn’t ruin things…but tomorrow night will be our Whānau Picnic. Come hang out, connect, reconnect and have a great time with us! 5-7pm at school. Face painting, the pool will be open, a bouncy castle will be here…fun for all.

Enrolments

I’m putting a call out now…have you enrolled your child for 2026? You may have a 4 year old in the house, or a friend with a 4 year old…make sure the office has been contacted so we have you in the system. We have an enrollment zone, you can read the details in this link. Make contact at office@douglaspark.school.nz

what's on at douglas park

student writing from Rata

subway lunch available every friday - order online or at the school office

change of details

If you have recently moved house, had a change of phone number, or any other contact details of your child/children have changed, could you please let us know at the school office by calling in to see us, phoning us on (06) 370-0189, or sending an email to office@douglaspark.school.nz