Week 5 NEWSLETTER

Anyway…onto other things…we have been using the House of Science kits for a while now at DPS, new kits arrive each fortnight and teaching teams get to use them for the equivalent of a school term across the year. The kits are amazing, and have sparked off a heap of cool in-depth learning. Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, Biology…and in among that it has sparked a lot of passion and creativity. The kits are currently in Kōwhai…and all sorts of potions and concoctions have been created so far.

This piece of writing loops back to the start of this newsletter (and last weeks) in that it talks about how children are natural born scientists, and we have to keep this joy for experimentation alive despite the changes coming in the curriculum. 

• If you’ve ever watched a four-year-old crouch over a puddle, mixing mud with a stick and whispering, “I’m making soup for the worms,” you’ve seen a scientist in action. They notice patterns, test ideas, make predictions, observe results, and share discoveries with joy.

That’s science — alive, sensory, relational.

The point of the article…is that based on some of the proposed changes, science looks like it is becoming more knowledge, less experiment. And (in some cases) children will have to wait to engage in topics that they may love…the easiest example of this is many children are fascinated by the sun, moon and space. These topics are now relegated to Years 3 and 4…so our 5, 6 and 7 year olds have to wait. This doesn’t make much sense to me.

The House of Science kits haven’t been arranged like this…so our youngest learners have engaged in flight, in fluid dynamics, in forces…and they have risen to the challenge of this learning.

Staffing Update

That time of year…and we have a few changes to staff for 2026. 

• Sophie Macdonald is taking a year's leave to go teach overseas. An awesome opportunity for her, but a big loss for us!

• Whaea Deb has won a position at St Theresa’s School, again sad for us but a great win for their kura

• Our wonderful office manager Sara is finishing with us as well…another huge loss! But Anna (who works in the office on Thursdays, and is also a teacher aide at school) is taking over fulltime.

So…a few changes for DPS, and we will be sad to see our wonderful people go! 

Currently we are in the middle of the appointments process for the teachers…and will keep you in the loop as we lock in our new staff. 

That’s cool Maddison!

This proud young lady came to see me this week…brandishing a magazine. Maddison and her Kaimanawa pony West Bush Whisky feature…photos of her competing, and showing off the ribbons they’ve won. 

Love seeing our students and their success outside of school…so awesome!

Dates for your Calendars

• Tuesday 9th December: Final Celebration Time at Wairarapa College

• Thursday 11th December: Last day of school, 12.30pm finish

It all started when I was with my best friend Maisy. We were at my house hanging out. However, we got really bored very quickly. 

“What shall we do? I’m so bored!” I groaned.

“ I don’t know. You wanted to hang out.” Maisy replied.

‘Let’s go outside because my house definitely isn’t floating into the air. “ I said with the opposite of reassurance. 

“Fine,” Maisy groaned.

So me and Maisy went outside. “Grace, why are we in the middle of space,” Maisy said, very confused. 

“Erm, I don’t know.” I replied. 

“Well,” Maisy said. But before Maisy could finish we started floating higher into space. We leaped off the deck and flew until we came across a planet. 

The planet was light baby blue with navy blue spots. “THis is a really small planet,” I said puzzled. 

“Why is it sizzling?” Maisy said, even more confused. When suddenly it exploded, sending us flying back to earth. We landed with a splat. And that’s how we both died. - The End.

Grace McPhail

His heart was beating as fast as a car. He was sprinting for his life but they were gaining. It was two hundred meters to his house and then he was safe. He looked down and screamed with horror. The black was slowly but surely climbing up his body.

Excerpt by Charlie Gard’ner

Abel’s heart pounded against his ribs. Fear was in his eyes but he kept going. He made it to the bank. His eyes were wide open. Abel started sprinting, his face was red hot.

Excerpt by Abel Wilson

Two minutes later, she was in space. She was loudly yelling “Help!” She was swiftly crying. She was gracefully floating. Years later she was still stuck up there. She was 55 now. She didn’t know what to do. But then she was quickly floating down down down and she was dead! Instantly!

Excerpt by Vida Soto

Boom! I woke up in the night from a big bang outside. Then I looked out the window. I saw twenty aliens and an alien ship. I went outside. The aliens saw me. They came over to me. The aliens were holding onto me. The alien ship came closer. I was floating under the alien ship. Then I went into the alien ship.

Excerpt by Bolton Mariskind

But suddenly the ride stopped. Annie froze in fear. Her face slowly went pale. Lilly started crying. Annie comforted her. “Lilly, it’s ok. It will start again soon.” But little did they know it would not start up again. 

One hour later.

Small snore. “ Lilly! Lilly! Wake up!” Lilly wakes up. “Erm, look at the water. There’s only one puddle left.” Annie gets out of the log.

Excerpt by Pippa Fleming

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 

All school teams and draws will be posted on Hero.