Week 3 NEWSLETTER

from the principal

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

He aha te mea nui? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata. What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.

We had Grandparents Day on Friday…and an overwhelming number of you came out to see your mokopuna, nieces, nephews, cousins at DPS. Our kapahaka roopu performed to start off, and once again they were amazing to watch. Whānau then headed off to the classrooms…played games, read stories, shared memories, completed challenges, did some writing, had a cuppa, connected with one another and laughed with one another. It was great to walk around the class spaces and see all the proud children and adults.

I got to speak at the welcome…I hadn’t prepared anything to say, but seeing the massive turnout prompted me to start with that whakatauki…people are important. I mentioned that aspirations for our children are being expressed at the moment as numbers, or percentages or figures…but that my aspirations for the DPS Kids are much higher. I want them to be great people…and part of that is being connected to ‘who you are’ - your past, your people. I want our children to grow into great adults ready to tackle their future…and this isn’t something easily measured by numbers, rather it is measured by action.

People make the Place - and that is why DPS continues to be such a powerful place of learning, and a great place to be.

Strike!

Strike day today, school is closed while our teachers and support staff are striking. I’ve written about it before…two things that need to be considered and addressed:

Why don’t people want to train to be teachers anymore?
Why do so many teachers leave the profession within their first 5 years?

Solving these two issues to me is at the heart of the struggle we are engaging in.

Wind!

Fairly hectic day on Tuesday…wow, I’ve not experienced winds like that at school! Staff did a marvellous job of managing things…we had extra people out at morning tea to keep children away from the trees, and we kept children inside at lunchtime. We lost a couple of trees, and had some minor damage done…but got away fairly unscathed which was great.

Shout out to Arb Innovations - they’ve just come into school to remove some branches hung up in our big oak trees…thanks!

Dates for your Calendars

Monday 27th October: Labour Day, school closed
Tuesday 9th December: Final Celebration Time at Wairarapa College
Thursday 11th December: Last day of school, 12.30pm finish

what's happening at Douglas Park School

from our rimu learners

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

Wairarapa Hunting & Fishing

Scavenger Hunt

At the Wairarpa A & P Spring Show

1st & 2nd November 2025

Not long now till the 146th Spring A & P Show, taking place at Clareville.

The Scavenger Hunt will be happening again and we invite you all to participate! There are great prizes to be won, (donated by Wairarapa Hunting & Fishing) freebies to collect and fun to have at the Wairarapa A & P Show.

The Scavenger Hunt Trail has been a huge success and we don't expect this year to be any different.

On behalf of the Wairarapa A & P Society we thank you for supporting this initiative and look forward to seeing you all at the Wairarapa A & P Spring Show.

(You can pick up a Scavenger Hunt Map in the School Office)