Dundurrabin Public School Newsletter Term 4, Week 4, 2023

Principal's Message

Happy World Teacher's Day

We celebrated our teachers on Friday for World Teacher's Day in NSW. We enjoyed a shared lunch of pumpkin soup and self-saucing pudding to recognise the efforts, wisdom and expertise of our teachers here at Dundurrabin Public School. We are fortunate to have such a vibrant and welcoming teaching team here each day. 

Congratulations Melissa- 20 Years of Service

I had the pleasure of presenting Melissa with a very special 20 years of service certificate on Friday. This certificate acknowledges Melissa's valuable contribution to NSW Public Schools and in particular, our small school. Melissa's role as our School Admin Manager is a mighty big one in which she fulfils with great care and wisdom. Thank you!

Exciting Times Ahead

Our school calendar is a hive of activity for the next couple of weeks. Today, Lucy, Quill and Nikita are at the University of New England for the 'Far Out Science' day. We have multiple transition visits planned for Kindergarten and Year 6 as well as a pre-schooler afternoon this Wednesday.  Our annual Swimming and Water Safety Program commences next week and will run each morning for two weeks. This is always a fun experience for our students. Be sure to keep an eye on the school Facebook page for updates and photos of our learning adventures.

Explaining All Absences

Please remember to explain all days away from school. This can be done in person, by phoning the school or sending a text to the school mobile: 0411939188.

Leah Keough

Every Day Counts

Arriving on time, before 9:15am is important. We notice that students who miss morning play and the beginning of literacy learning time are usually unsettled. They do not engage as they would if they started the day with the rest of their class and friends. 

What's on for Term 4

• Tuesday 31 October - Year 6 DHS Transition - 12noon to 3.15pm                                                                                                                         & Kindergarten Transition - 11.20am to 3.15pm
• Wednesday 1 November - Preschoolers Afternoon - 1.30pm to 3.15pm
• Monday 6 November to Friday 17 November - 10 Days of Intensive Swimming Scheme                                                                                                                              at Dorrigo Pool from 10am to 11.30am Daily
• Thursday 9 November - Dorrigo RSL Veteran Talk & Dorrigo Museum Excursion
• Wednesday 15 November - Year 6 DHS Transition - 8.55am to 12noon
• Wednesday 22 November - Life Education at Ebor PS
• Thursday 23 November - Kindergarten Transition - All Day
• Tuesday 28 November - Year 6 DHS Transition - All Day   
• Wednesday 29 November - Preschoolers Afternoon - 1.30pm to 3.15pm
• Thursday 23 November - Kindergarten Transition - All Day
• Friday 1 December - Kindergarten Transition - All Day
• Tuesday 5 December - Kindergarten Transition - All Day
• Tuesday 12 December - Presentation Night - 5.30pm
• Thursday 14 December - Clean Up and Water Fun Day
• Friday 15 December - Sawtell Surf Beach Excursion & last day of Term 4 

Consent Notes to be Returned

• Life Education Consent Notes
• Life Education Lunch Order
• Special Lunch Order
• Year 6 DHS Transition Consent Note
• Education Hardship Funds Note

Fortnightly Awards

Term 3 - Week 2

K - 2 Class

Nash Chambeyron for enthusiasm and passion in dance.

Kai Chambeyron for his brillance in STEM.

3-6 Class

Bailey Freeman for impressive reading growth and fluency.

Crazy Hair Day

We all enjoyed coming to school on Tuesday 17 October with our crazy hair styles. Mrs Keough had fun applying colourful hairspray to students hair and the Year 6 students enjoyed hair spraying Mrs Keough’s hair pink and fluro green. 

Thank you to everyone who donated. We raised $86.00 for Cystic Fibrosis. Well done.

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden News

Week 2 

This week students participated in the Aussie Bird Count. We watched and recorded different bird species around the school. There was more than 20!!

We harvested broccoli, kale, rosemary, thyme, lemons and eggs.

In the kitchen we cooked broccoli fritters, rosemary and thyme foccacia bread, kale chips, lemon bars and lemon and raspberry cordial.

Cooking Award: Congratulations to Quill Pankhurst for being an absolute delight in the kitchen.

Term 4 - Week 3  

Continuing on from our Aussie Bird Count last week, students made video clips about the birds we spotted and recorded, using the clips app on our Ipads.

During the week we harvested broccoli tops, swede, asparagus, herbs and eggs.

In the kitchen we cooked pumpkin soup with sour cream and herbs, crusty French bread rolls with butter, butterscotch self-saucing pudding with fresh homemade vanilla custard.

Cooking Award: Congratulations to Nash Chambeyron for being a star stirrer! 

Kindergarten Transition Program

Our next transition day is tomorrow Tuesday 31 October from 11.20am to 3.15pm.

Year 6 - Dorrigo High School Transition Dates

Tomorrow Year 6 will begin their High School orientation. During these days, they will orient themselves with the staff, students and routines of Dorrigo High. 

The dates are as follows:

(Tomorrow) Tuesday 31 October - 12 noon– 3.15pm

Wednesday 15 November – 8.55am - 12.00 noon 

Tuesday 28 November – 8.55am - 3.15pm - Official Statewide Yr6 High School Orientation Day

Please return the 15 November orientation consent note sent home today by Monday 6 November.

School Swimming and Water Safety Program 2023 in Weeks 5 & 6

Our school swimming will be run over ten days during weeks 5 and 6 (starting next week). The School Swimming scheme will begin on Monday 6 November and finish on Friday 17 November. 

Thanks to grants from Sporting Schools and NSW School Sport Unit Swimming and Water Safety there will be mininal cost, if any, for swimming this year. 

Please advise the school if you are a season ticket holder for Dorrigo Swimming Pool and show your ticket pass for a reduction in our swimming costs.

Travel will be by Wykes bus to and from the pool daily. We will leave school at 9.15am each morning and return to school by 12noon for normal school activities.

Students must come to school dressed in their swimmers (rash shirt and hat) and either sandals or thongs, as there will be limited use of the pool change rooms.

They must have a packed uniform (shirt, shorts, trousers, jumper, underwear, socks & shoes) to change into, as well as a towel (or 2) to dry themselves with. The school will provide SPF50+ sunscreen. All children will need to have sun protection reapplied throughout the day, so please send any special sunscreen with your child on the day. Students will need to pack a big recess, lunch and plenty of water as swimming can make students extra hungry.

Students will only be able to purchase from the kiosk on the last Friday with a maximum of $3.00 each.

Chess Tournament

Our chess tournament grand final will be held this week.

Congratulations to Sunny, Bailey, Quill, Lucy and Charlie who have made the semi-finals. Stay tuned. 

Good luck to all of you.

Preschool Afternoons

Our next preschooler afternoon is this Wednesday 1 November from 1.30pm to 3.15pm. Bring along a packed lunch/snack to join in with lunch and play with our students. Then there will be educational activities to help develop gross and fine motor skills as well as art and craft. All preschool children aged 1-5 welcome.

Year 5&6 - Far Out Science - UNE Armidale

Years 5 & 6 students travelled to Armidale today to participate in "Far Out Science" at the University of New England.

They all had a fantastic day and we can't wait for their highlights and photos for next newsletter.

Thank you to Nickey for driving our students to and from Arimdale.

Dorrigo Museum & RSL Excursion

On Thursday 9 November, students will be visiting the Dorrigo RSL for a Remembrance Day Veterans talk and to look at wartime memorabilia. After the RSL we will walk to Pioneer Memorial Log Park for lunch, then walk to the Museum for an afternoon of local history.

Cost for is this excursion is $1.00 per student (cash) for the Museum. This is a whole school excursion.

We will leave the pool after swimming at 11.30am for our walking excursions and then depart town at 2.30pm and return to school on Wykes bus in time for our normal afternoon pick-up / bus routine.

Students will need to bring fruit break, recess, lunch and plenty of water with them. They must also have full school uniform (sport shirt) packed to wear after swimming along with their enclosed school shoes (joggers - no thongs) and a hat. 

Special Lunch

We will be having a special lunch hot dog day on Wednesday 15 November.

Order forms were sent home today with your child/ren.

Please return the order and money back to school by Monday 6 November.

Life Education

Our students will join Ebor, Hernani and Chandler Public Schools on Wednesday 22 November at Ebor Public School to participate in a fun and educational day with Healthy Harold.

We will be travelling by Wykes bus.  We will need to leave Tyringham Store at 8.00am sharp to ensure we arrive at Ebor Public School before 8.45am and will return to school by 3.15pm for normal pick up and afternoon bus run. 

The cost is $12 per student to attend Life Ed lessons. This may be utilised from students flood funds if your child has money left. The school is paying for the bus. 

Students must wear full uniform and hat. Extra water is recommended as Ebor PS has limited drinking water available. 

Students may wish to order lunch on the day. This must be paid by cash not flood funds.

Please sign and return the consent notes and lunch order that was sent home with your child/ren today and return them and money to school by Monday 13 November.

North Coast Flood Recovery Support Package.

Last year our school received Education Hardship funds as part of the North Coast Flood Recovery Support Package.  Each student enrolled at Dundurrabin Public School at the beginning of the 2022 school year received $500 available in 'Fees In Advance' to help with educational costs. The grant aims to help families with school related costs and must be spent by the end of the year. This money remains with the school and cannot be given out as cash.  A balance of what families have remaining has been sent home today with your child/ren.  Maybe consider stocking up on uniforms for future use! Please do not leave it until the last minute at the end of term to nominate how you would like to spend the funds as things get busy in the office the last few weeks. Thank you!

Presentation Night

Save the date! 

Tuesday 12 December.

We will be holding our End of Year Presentation Night on Tuesday 12 December starting at 5.30pm.

Everyone is welcome!  More information to come.

P&C News and Community News

P&C Meeting

P&C Christmas Raffle

The P&C are having a bumper Christmas Raffle with lots of great prizes. Tickets were sent home today. The P&C is asking all families to sell these tickets to family, friends or community members.

They are also asking if families could donate some non-perishable Christmas goodies to go towards the P&C raffle hamper.           Thank you.

Please ensure tickets and money are returned to school by Monday 11 December, ready to be drawn at our Presentation Night.  Remember "You have to be in it to win it".

Dorrigo Show Student Art Section