Dundurrabin Public School Newsletter Term 2, Week 2, 2023

Principal's Message

A warm welcome back to school for Term 2. I trust you had an enjoyable Easter and holiday break.

Our classrooms were treated to a makeover during the break including, new carpets and painting. A pleasant surprise for our students on their return last week. School upgrades are set to continue over the coming months with the install of more external access ramps and covered walkways. With careful planning and fine tuning of this work, our daily routines and learning time should not be interrupted. 

The recent School Development Day saw our school staff combine with our partner Plateau schools for a day focused on Aboriginal Education. This development day was a wonderful opportunity for us to connect with our colleagues and strengthen partnerships across schools as we worked to increase our knowledge and understanding of local Aboriginal histories and cultures.

I look forward to another term of learning achievement for all students and staff.

Leah Keough

Every Day Counts

ANZAC Day March

Thank you to our student representatives Lucy, Quill, Henry, Bailey, Carter and Tom who marched at the Dorrigo ANZAC service on Monday.

Our School Captains, Lucy and Quill, laid the wreath on behalf of our school community.

RSL Visit

Diggers Bernie Fell and Carol Kiaser visited our school on Thursday to talk to us about their experiences in the Air Force and Navy. They spoke with us about their service, their uniforms, and the various service animals. We enjoyed Bernie's marching tips and pointers and were honoured to be able to pass around medals from Carol's father.

COVID Intensive Learning Support Program- Online Tuition for Years 3 - 6.

PARENT INFORMATION

In response to the disruptions to routine learning caused by the Covid pandemic in 2020, additional funding was directed towards small group tuition in schools across NSW. This funding has been continued across 2021, 2022 and now into 2023. In some areas, it has recently increased in response to further disruption to face-to-face learning caused by floods and bushfires.

The Intensive Learning Support Program (Online Delivery) model focuses on engaging students via technological platforms to target core content and skills in numeracy and literacy. Arising opportunities to improve social/emotional and technical skills are also captured wherever possible, equipping students to re-enter their classroom environment with stronger learning skills and/or behaviours.

Dundurrabin PS is developing our own program to meet the needs of our students best. All students in Year's 3 - 6 will be participating in either online literacy or numeracy tuition, or both.

Our school will be delivering these sessions with online educators. Your child will be involved in up to three 45-minute small group sessions per week focusing on Literacy and Numeracy.

Your child’s progress will be regularly monitored and recorded. Please contact the school if you have any questions about the program.

Tennis Lessons

We're excited to welcome tennis coach, Allan Pade from Harbour Tennis to our school this term. All students K-6 will be participating in tennis lessons with Coach Allan each Wednesday. Tennis lessons will take place at the Dundurrabin Community Centre Tennis Court. Students will walk to the Community Centre at 11:45am and return to school by approximately 1pm. The local area walking note signed at the beginning of the year covers student permission for this. Stay tuned for some tennis action shots!

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden News

Week 1

We had a great start to the term gardening with a beautiful Autumn day. We weeded, dug, improved the soil and planted broccoli and red shallot seedlings as well as Chinese radish (daikon) seeds. Over the holidays we harvested rockmelons, raspberries, tomatoes, eggs and beans. On Friday we harvested cabbages, silverbeet, shallots, eggs, beans, kohlrabi, pak choi, daikon and a variety of herbs.

In the kitchen we cooked vegetable Singapore noodles, Chinese omelette and two types of ANZAC biscuits to see the different between the use of brown sugar and white sugar.  

Cooking Award: Nikita Cheers for incredible omelette skills in cooking.

Easter Egg Hunt

On the last day of Term 1, students had a great time participating in their annual Easter Egg hunt. Thanks to Mrs Keough and Mrs Sangster who hid the bilby cards in some hard to find places. Once students found their three bilby cards, they got to trade the cards for eggs. Fun was had by everyone! It was a great way to end the last day of term.

District cross Country - Urunga

The Bellinger District PSSA Cross Country will be held at Urunga Foreshores this Friday 5 May, starting at 10am for a walk of the course for the runners. Races start at 10.45am. If your child is 8 years old and above and interested in participating, please talk to Mrs Keough for more information and a permission note. It is not compulsory for all students to attend and school will operate as normal. Parents will need to provide supervision and transport for this event, as no teachers from Dundurrabin PS will be attending on the day.

Years 6 - COS Leadership Day

Year 6 students will be participating in the Year 6 Student Leadership Day at the Coffs Coast Adventure Centre, Bonville on Friday 12 May. They will participate in team building and leadership activities.  

The cost for this day is $54.50 per student, but thanks to our P&C who has kindly offered to pay the full excursion cost of each student, there will be no cost to parents.

Travel will be by private transport to and from the venue.  Students are to arrive at 8.45am and be picked up at 2.30pm. 

A sausage sizzle lunch will be provided. Please ensure your child has a water bottle and snacks for the day.   Wear comfortable casual clothing, it is recommended for the Skywire that longer shorts or tights are worn for your comfort with harnesses and enclosed shoes for all activities.  No jewellery to be worn on the day.  Students must wear sunscreen and bring a hat and water bottle.

Mrs Keough will be attending on the day.

Preschool Afternoons

Please come along and join us for our Term 2 preschool afternoons on Wednesday 17 May and Wednesday 14 June from 1.30pm to 3.15pm.

Walk Safely to School

On Thursday 18 May we will participate in National Walk Safely to School Day. Walk Safely to School Day is an annual, national event when all primary school children will be encouraged to walk and commute safely to school. It is a community event seeking to promote Road Safety, Health, Public Transport and the Environment.

The bus will be transporting students from school to the Community Centre in the morning, where we will all walk safely back to school accompanied by our teachers. Parents/carers are welcome to join us walking. 

Please your child is at school by 8.45am so we can board the bus on time.

Finlasyson Cup Sports Day - Chandler PS

We will be attending Finlayson Cup Sports Day at Chandler Public School on Friday 19 May. We will be travelling on Wykes bus. There will be no cost for this excursion as the school will pay for the bus hire.

Students that catch the bus can catch Wykes high school bus run in the morning and return home on the high school bus. Students who do not catch the bus run will need to be at Tyringham Store by 7.50am in the morning and picked up at 3.45pm in the afternoon.

Cup days are always enjoyed as they are about participation, giving it your best and socialising with other students. Everyone has the opportunity to try each event, and points earned throughout the day will go towards our school's total score. 

Students will need to be at Chandler PS by 9am. This is a whole school excursion. All parents and carers are welcome to attend the event. 

Consent notes and lunch orders are sent home today. Please return them by Monday 8 May. 

National Simultaneous Storytime

We will be participating in National Simultaneous Storytime on Wednesday 24 May at 11am. National Simultaneous Storytime is an important annual campaign that aims to encourage young children to read and enjoy books.

Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around Australia, New Zealand and the world at 11.00am. 

The chosen book for this year is “The Speedy Sloth” written by Rebecca Young and illustrated by Heath McKenzie.

Yr 5 & 6 - Grip Leadership Conference

Year 5 & 6 students will be attending a Student Leadership Conference at Coffs Harbour Racing Club on Friday 26 May. The conference will be very worthwhile and informative for our school leaders.   The school is paying the cost of each student - $39.00. Students must wear full school uniform on the day and bring a packed recess, lunch, drinks, hat and jumper. Students will need to arrive at Coffs Harbour Racing Club by 8.45am and the day should finish approximately at 2.30pm. Ms McNeill will meet the students at the Racecourse and accompany them throughout the conference.

Parental transport will be needed for this excursion. Please sign and return the consent note as soon as possible so transport arrangements can be finalised.

Stage 3 Movie 'Wonder'

In the coming weeks, Years 5 and 6 will be watching 'Wonder' as a recap of their focus text last term. The movie is rated PG. If you would prefer for you child to not view this movie please contact Mrs Keough at school. 

School Information

2023 Learning Contributions 

Learning Contribution fees for 2023 remain the same - $30.00 for the costs of student items provided by our school and $40.00 towards SAKG program which has ongoing costs each week, such as cooking ingredients, seeds and seedlings. Families can use their child/ren's flood funding to pay the SAKG subject fees if you chose. Please let Melissa know if this is what you wish to do. Thank you to the families that have already let us know.

Bookclub Issue # 3

Bookclub Issue#3 brochure is sent home today. If you wish to place an order from this issue, please have your loop online order completed or your order forms and money (cash) back at school by Thursday 11 May.

P&C News and Community News

P&C Meeting

Our next P&C meeting will be on Monday 8 May at 3.30pm. We would like to have as many people as possible attend.

This is a wonderful opportunity to find out about and get involved with what is happening within the school. Please come along, share a cuppa and enjoy a relaxed and friendly gathering.