Week 10 NEWSLETTER

from the principal

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

You never quite know what you are going to see at DPS…but you can be guaranteed that daily you are going to see examples of real, powerful learning in action…and today, 3 examples really struck me.

Before school Deegan came to my office, wanting to share the game he had built in Scratch. It’s awesome! Coded it himself…and what I really love is that he has made the music to go with it. Have a play! Such a great example of the skills we are developing in the children…the design, coding, music, maths, language…all wrapped up in a project. So powerful!
I wandered into the staffroom to see Bentley cooking up a batch of waffles with Kris…and I snagged myself a delicious mid-morning treat! Bentley had made the waffles, and then was off to complete some writing about the process. Real world application, used as motivation and information to write about…powerful stuff!
Lastly it was a wet morning tea, but Mr Harkness, Blake and Leo were over by the hall installing some rain channelling. Now…that might not sound amazing…but the channel cover had broken ages ago, and Leo/Blake have been working on a 3D printed replacement. Incredibly detailed to fit…they’ve measured, done test prints…and today they installed their cover after 3D printing it overnight. Wow! You’ll see in the picture what a stellar job they have done…looks like the real deal (at a fraction of the cost I might add!). Seeing an issue in the school, designing a solution and 3D printing that into reality…so powerful!

These are great examples of what learning can be…reading, writing and maths can be done in different ways. You can’t worksheet your way to 3D designing and building a new rainwater channel cover!

Whānau Evening: Curriculum and Reporting

On Monday we are having an evening whānau session to look at both the changes to the school curriculum, and how we report academic progress. 5.30 - 6.30pm in the school hall. The aim of the evening is to make you aware of:

The big changes to the school curriculum, and how learning expectations are much higher now
The changes to how we report…the language we are required to use, how it works in HERO and what it will look like
How these changes look like at Douglas Park School

We will have some extra staff on hand for childcare, and also we are giving away a $200 grocery voucher. All you need to do to be in the draw is RSVP (on HERO or return the paper note), and be present at the hui. At the end we will draw a name…and if you are in the hall, the $200 voucher is yours! See you on Monday!

writing from our kowhai kids

Kōwhai have been learning to write persuasive texts in the form of letters or posts. These pieces of writing were started with a planning sheet.

Mum, don’t throw me in the bin! I want to be a tree! Or just compost me! Please! I’m begging you. Please don’t just trash me. Please. I really want to grow. Just keep me. Please, wah, wah, wah! Don’t throw me in the red bin. Plant or compost me. I like to be eaten. Hey, I’m an apple. I want to be eaten. I don’t want to die. I want to survive. But I also wouldn’t mind you throwing me hard, but not too hard, in the worm bin, not the red bin. I’m really begging you. Just don’t throw me in the bin, Mum, please!

Novah

Please don’t throw me in the trash. I have three reasons.

You can put me in the bin for the worms.

You can plant my seeds.

You can keep me to turn me into a scent.

See, I have really good reasons. So you should not throw me in the bin. I am a good apple that should not be thrown out!

Scarlett

Please don’t throw me in the bin. I don’t deserve to be thrown in the bin. I want to grow into a tree. I want to grow into a big tree. Please, don’t throw me in the bin.

Amara

I think the cheetah is going to win the race because it runs a lot and cheetah’s are very fast. Giraffes are lanky and slow.

To be continued!

Evelyn P

I’m an apple. Don’t throw me in the bin. I can break down. I will go deep down into the compost so I can grow into a plant. The worms can eat me. You can be kind to the worms by letting them eat me.

Silas

Don’t trash me please, please keep me? Grow me into a big apple tree. Let

me thrive, thrive and survive so that other people can eat me. What? I like being eaten. It’s what I’m made for is it not? Or, or compost me! Let me create new soil to help other plants grow! That’s pretty much all I can tell you. Oh! That’s it, don't trash me!

Mia B

Cheetahs would definitely win a race vs giraffes because they are very fast and stable. Giraffes are slow and wobbly and that’s why cheetah’s would win in a race vs a giraffe.

Elliot

reminders

Stationery - Payment Reminder

We are very fortunate that our Board of Trustees subsidises stationery each year, helping to keep costs as low as possible for families. We kindly ask that all learners pay the $15.00 stationery contribution as soon as possible.

Payment can be made online to ASB 12-3290-0064275-00. Please include your child's name as the reference. Alternatively, payments can be made at the office via EFTPOS, or cash can be sent to the office in a clearly named envelope.

We appreciate your prompt payment, as this helps reduce follow-up. If you are experiencing any difficulties, please contact the office - we are happy to help.

Sports Fees - Reminder

If your child is participating in a sports team for Douglas Park School, please ensure the relevant sports fees are paid as soon as possible.

Payments can be made at the DPS office (cash or EFTPOS) or via online banking:

DPS Account: 12-3290-0064275-00

Reference: Child’s first name, last initial, and the sport they are playing

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

Sports

All school teams and draws will be posted on Hero.

Community notices

The Bubble Spectacular | Sunday 5th July 11:00am - https://www.wairarapaec.co.nz/the-bubble-spectacular-sunday-5th-july-11am/

Enter the bubbly-brilliant world of Dr Hubble, as he presents The Bubble Spectacular – a fun-filled, out of this world, bubble-riffic show! Expect to be amazed as the ultimate master of bubbles, Dr Hubble, creates little bubbles, BIG bubbles, volcano bubbles, tornado bubbles, square bubbles and with a bit of his bubbly-magic, you might even end up inside a bubble!

This poppin’ bubble party, filled with laughter, audience participation and even a little burst of fiery bubbles, kids and their grown-ups will be left awe-struck as bubbles fly around the auditorium and take forms you’ve never seen before!

The Boy With Wings | Wednesday 8 July 11am - https://www.wairarapaec.co.nz/the-boy-with-wings-wednesday-8-july-11am/

A comic, touching, and environmental story using the ageless wonder of puppetry, live music and exquisite hand-crafted sets that magically unfold out of boxes, telling an epic fable of one young man’s life-altering journey. All this is set against the backdrop of a contemporary ornithological lecture on the miracle of the great migration of Kuaka (Bar-tailed Godwits).

As these fragile birds set out on their extraordinary journey from New Zealand to Alaska, watching them take to the sky in awe is Jack-the-Everyman, who is contemplating a journey of his own to seek the ‘treasure’ that will save his dying orchard.

Award-winning theatre company ‘Birdlife Productions’ promise laughter, tears and thrilling adventure, enticing us to ask the question; “how do we trust our inner map – how do we find our own wings?” Suitable for ages 5 to 95!

Tickets only $16 per person.

The Pantolooons: Alice In Wonderland | Tuesday 14 July 1:00pm - https://www.wairarapaec.co.nz/the-pantoloons-present-alice-in-wonderland-tuesday-14-july-100pm/

When curious Alice falls down the rabbit hole, she lands in the topsy-turvy world of Wonderland, where nothing makes sense and everything is wonderfully silly!

She meets the White Rabbit, the cheeky Khandallah Cat, and a host of oddball characters… all whispering about the terrifying Jabberwocky, who everyone is scared of, but no one has ever actually seen.

Meanwhile, the fiery Queen of Hearts is demanding jam tarts, ready to shout “Off with their heads!” at any moment!

With laughs, songs, and plenty of audience fun, Alice must navigate the madness, solve the mystery, and find her way home.