Week 4 NEWSLETTER

Learning Showcase - Save the Date!

Speaking of the richness of learning here at DPS…set aside some time on Friday 29th August for our learning showcase ‘This is Learning’. Starting at 1pm with performances from our kapahaka, we are going to put on displays of learning across the school. Every child will have something to share…and it is our way of publicly displaying what learning looks like at this school. Everything from maths to science, from art to digital animation, from failure to finished product…’This is Learning’ will showcase the vibrant learning on offer here at DPS

A documentary called ‘Most Likely to Succeed’ came out 10 years ago, and it had a big impact on what I believe is important about learning, and what is important around HOW we learn. The doco essentially takes a deep dive into American education, and uses the example of High Tech High to show what is possible when we view learning differently. That High School has amazing academic success, huge retention rates of students…and is built around the idea of collaborative projects that are displayed on ‘Exhibition Night’ to their community. The doco is truly amazing, the messages around children having ‘Agency’ in their learning, having their ‘Creativity’ fostered, being taught to ‘Think Critically’ and all being done with ‘Collaborative’ teaching, and collaborative projects…you can draw a line from DPS towards High Tech High. The foundation principal there, Larry, delivers a heap of amazing wisdom during the film…but this is my favourite

People derive great satisfaction from creating something that wasn’t there before. When kids get that feeling it is transformative...I made this, and everyone is coming to look at it. - Larry Rosenstock

And by creating something he is meaning a cardboard diorama, or a maths equation, or understanding a text, or a piece of art, or an amazing metaphor, or the kupu for a new waiata…the ‘creation’ of knowledge via doing is what we are after, and having an audience gives us purpose. 

We look forward to hosting you on the 29th August…and I do believe that this will be ‘transformative’ for our children.

School Board Election Results

The election process has closed for our School Board…we had 3 positions up for election, and 3 nominations, so all these are automatically onto the Board. All 3 currently serve on the Board, so once again we have excellent continuity of school governance going forward. 

Congratulations to Anita Crocker, Anita Parker and Nadine Allen…and a massive thank you on behalf of the school staff and community for stepping up to lead us. They join Maggie Watts and Adam Hall (Presiding Member) as the parent representatives. Helen Gard’ner has been re-elected as the staff representative, big thanks to her for carrying on this role.

Teacher Only Day - Monday 1st September

We will be having a second (and final) Teacher Only Day this term…please add Monday 1st September to your calendars. 

We are able to have two teacher only days in 2025 to focus on teacher development and the new curriculum. In September we will be diving further into the new maths curriculum. 

Thanks in advance for your support of this.

We are currently experiencing a significant increase in illness among the students in our schools. To help keep everyone safe and well, we kindly ask that you please keep your child at home if they are unwell. Keeping sick children at home helps protect other tamariki, staff and families, and supports quicker recovery for your child. Thank you for your understanding and support in keeping our kura healthy.  

If you have 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   

Aboriginal Art   

What is aboriginal art? Aboriginal people use bark for their art. They often draw on bark. First they go into the bush and find the straightest tree and then they ring bark to get the bark. Then they put the bark on the fire so it expands. After that they put it somewhere where it is flat and put a heavy object on top and leave it for three weeks to dry out.  Nowadays they use paint and canvases.   

Australian animals are often found in Aboriginal art. Some animals that you can see in aboriginal art are kangaroos, koala emu lizards, turtles, spiders and birds. The first  aboriginal art was made in sand and drawn on the walls of caves. 

The aboriginal art tells a story. Aboriginal people get told stories that have been passed down generation to generation. The Aboriginal people express it by doing art. Aboriginal people make the paint by digging up roots of plants and use onion peel.  They grind it together and make paint and it is all natural.

Willow Northcote

All school teams and draws will be posted on Hero.

Regular Dentist Visits:

Free dental care is available from birth to 18 years old. Call 0800 TALK TEETH for appointments or concerns. If your child is not enrolled, please contact us. The Wairarapa Dental team is based at Masterton Intermediate School: 06 377 9071 or oralhealth@wairarapa.dhb.org.nz.

Brushing:

Brush every morning and night with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste for at least 2 minutes. Parents should help with brushing until about age 8, as young children struggle to reach their molars properly. When it comes to toothpaste, spit don’t rinse. To save water, turn the tap off when brushing. Replace your soft bristled toothbrush each school holiday.

Mouth Guards:

Always wear a mouth guard during sports to protect teeth. Injuries to baby teeth can affect adult teeth still in the gum. For any injuries to the mouth always register the accident under ACC with your GP or dentist, no matter how minor you may think the injury is.

Avoid Sweets:

Don’t eat sweets on your way to school otherwise the sugar will be stuck on your teeth all day. Sweets should be avoided as everyday treats or rewards and saved for very special occasions.

Fluoride:

Fluoride helps strengthen and protect teeth. The fluoride in toothpaste helps prevent tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel. Not rinsing after brushing allows fluoride to remain on teeth and continue to help protect them. Your Oral Health team recommend toothpastes which contain full strength fluoride (1000ppm). Also seen as sodium monofluorophosphate and sodium fluoride.

Baby Teeth:

Baby teeth are important for a child's development and overall health, playing a vital role in chewing, speaking, and holding space for adult teeth. Teeth extracted on young children due to decay can affect speech as well as cause space loss later in life.

Cereals:

Many cereals are very high in sugar especially those recommended for children. That’s before we add our own sugar to it. In some of our most popular cereals up to 40% contain sugar. Try weetbix, oats or try a hot brekky if time allows. Read the labels to compare different cereals.

Limiting Sugary Drinks:

Keep sugary drinks to mealtimes. Most drinks brought from the shop have an average of 10 teaspoons of sugar in them. Imagine eating that out of the sugar bowl for breakfast! Teeth need a rest from sugar so water is the best drink for your teeth.

Safe Snacks & lunch ideas:

Try these healthy options for healthy teeth. Fresh fruit, dairy products, raw vegetables and dip, protein filled sandwiches, crackers, savoury muffins, plain popcorn, nuts, rice/pasta dishes, quiche/frittata, crumpets, pizza, toasties, fritters, simple sandwiches - marmite, peanut butter, cheese.

Adolescent Oral Health:

Dental exams and treatment (excluding orthodontic care) are free until your 18th birthday whether you are a student, in employment or seeking employment. All year 8 children will receive a transfer pack to choose your chosen family dentist either when the dental mobile visits the school, or when they are seen at the MIS clinic. If you have year 9 or older children still waiting to be seen by your family dentist, give them a call to arrange enrolment and an appointment.