Week 1 NEWSLETTER

from the principal

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

Term 4 already! Hard to believe we are here…and in a matter of weeks the 2026 school year will be done! Lots to get through before then though…as always, Term 4 is action packed!

The awesome weather to start the term has everyone in good spirits, and the classrooms are humming already. Stumbled across some cool learning in Rimu…some of our youngest students are busy making their own badges! Term 4 is a hat term…not hat, no play…and when you have 366 children all with the same hat, it is sadly inevitable that some will be misplaced. But…the savvy Rimu children have come up with a great solution…they are making badges with their initial on it (and their name on the back)! These will be pinned to hats…immediately making them unique and identifiable.

I love lots about this learning:

It is learning that has a tangible, real outcome…learning can (and should) be so much more than worksheets and workbooks.
It is real-world learning…identifying a problem, and coming up with a solution…that is powerful
It is creative…each badge is different and unique
And…it is using a technology that is new to the school and students, our badge maker.

Such a simple idea…but provides a powerful solution. Imagine a generation of children empowered like this…being able to find problems, generate a range of ideas, pick one to try, making a prototype and solving their problem. That's awesome stuff! I look forward to seeing where to next with these new skills in Rimu!

Whānau Survey

We are beginning to develop a new strategic plan for the 2027 and 2028 school years, and we are after your input! What do you really value about DPS, and what do you think we could work on? Any one who completes the survey goes in a draw for a supermarket voucher. The QR code below will take you to a digital version to complete…final call before we draw the lucky recipient!

Sports Commitment

Term 4…a heap of summer sport underway, and wow…we have massive amounts of teams entered into the local competitions!

1 mod-softball teams
2 softball teams
4 Tee-ball teams
6 netball teams
7 hockey teams
And 7 touch teams

Remarkable!

Putting your name down to play is the start…but the job going forward revolves around commitment. Being there for practice, checking when the games are, checking where the games are…and being there for the games. We have a mixture of parents and staff coaching these teams…a lot of extra mahi and time given…so just that timely reminder that being in a team means you have committed yourself to that team.

grandparents day

school photos

Envelopes for ordering this years school photos should have come home with your child recently. If you are wanting to place an order, please return the envelope to the School Office by Friday 23 October 2026.

If you have any questions about ordering, please contact Nikolaison's Photography directly on 06 370 3222

Writing from Kahikatea Year 4s

This week the Kahikatea Year 4 ākonga have been learning about narrative writing. We have learnt that a narrative needs a character, setting, problem and resoultion. Check out some of our mahi below!

By Ruby Clarke

Writing M.mov

By Emmett Sinton and Max Oldfield

Presentation 59.mov

One day there was a 16 year old boy who made an invention...a time traveller! He travelled to the cemetery and he didn't know what it was! He saw all of the RIP signs and saw a ghost following him. He ran! The ghost followed him all the way to his time traveller and he got home safely.

By Juno Courtney

Juno.mov

By Jade Allen-Ferguson and Kailey Richardson

Jade&kail.mov

By Kora Thompson and Sarmad Ahmad

masterton intermediate 2027

Please click the link below to enrol your child for 2027

https://enrolments.linc-ed.com/apply/NZ/2909

scooter and bike safety reminder

As more students enjoy riding their scooters and bikes to and from school, we'd like to remind everyone to stay safe. Please encourage children to ride carefully, be mindful of pedestrians, and use footpaths and road crossings safely. Wearing a properly fitted helmet is essential, and we ask all riders to slow down and show courtesy to others, especially around the school gates and nearby footpaths after school.

Thank you for helping keep our students and community safe.

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