Week 1 NEWSLETTER

from the principal

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

Welcome back! 2025, underway!

2024 was an amazing year at school…outstanding academic achievement, outstanding behaviour across the school, outstanding property improvements like the bike track and outstanding creativity learning opportunities for our great DPS Kids. 2025 looks set to be much the same. Last week staff started their year by being welcomed back onto Te Rangimarie Marae and after a day of connection and learning about the new curriculum we visited our creek, Solway Reserve and the confluence of the Ruamahunga and Waipoua rivers…to connect with our local places. On Monday this week we worked with James Nottingham, a leading global expert in education. James has a long history with this school, first coming here in 2008.

Big welcome to Amber and Simon who join our teaching team, and a ‘welcome back’ to James who returns to us. You guys make a strong teaching team even stronger.

HERO and Reporting

HERO is our one stop shop for all school communications…notices, reminders, information, sports draws…everything gets posted to HERO. If you need to help to get set up, or have questions…please reach out to your class teacher or the office. Easy as to get you sorted!

HERO is also where your child’s school report lives…however, we have switched this function off for now. Starting this year we have a new curriculum to teach, and at the moment the Ministry has not yet released how we are expected to report progress to you. We do know that what we used to do won’t work with the new curriculum, so while we wait for the guidance from Wellington we have just switched that function off in HERO. Once we have what we need, and have a chance to build some new systems, we will let you know how it is all going to work.

Swimming

Huge thanks to Mr Blue for getting the pool up and running for the year…always a mission, especially given that it is over 100 years old! We are very lucky to have this resource…not many schools do anymore. Our kids have the luxury of getting into the water daily…and our main aim/focus is building water confidence, rather than churning out Olympic swimmers. Please make sure your child has their togs/towel each day…even if it is rainy/a bit colder…the water is often warm enough to get in for a swim!

Mihi Whakatau

Friday 7th February (next week) we will have our mihi whakatau to welcome all our new students and staff. Always a great memory for those involved, look out for a notice coming home!

Dates for your Calendar

Some upcoming dates for your calendar:

Thursday 6th Feb - Waitangi Day
Friday 7th Feb - Mihi Whakatau
Friday 14th Feb - School Picnic

Stationery

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 by the end of February. 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.