Dundurrabin Public School Newsletter Term 4, Week 4 2024

Principal's Message

Welcome to week 4. We are certainly in the full swing of term 4 with kindergarten and year 6-7 transition well underway. Thank you for returning consent notes and school information promptly- much appreciated and very helpful for timely organisation.

School Feedback Surveys- Thank you for returning the school feedback surveys sent home last week.  Your views are extremely important to us and will be used to evaluate our current practice, inform future decision making and the identification of initiatives for our new school improvement plan.

Director, Educational Leadership Visit- Mr Dafydd Thomas visited our school last Wednesday afternoon to meet with me for my term 4 leadership meeting. During his visit he spent time with our K-3 scientists outside using the iPhone microscopes in the garden. He was truly impressed by the skill and interest of our younger students using such hi-tech equipment. 

Have a great week,

Leah Keough

Every Day Matters

Attendance Matters

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: 0411 939 188.

Attendance Reminder-Late Arrivals & Early Departures

If your child/ren arrive late to school in the morning, please remember to sign them in the register book in the office. Alternatively, you can let a staff member know the reason to why they are late, and we will update the roll. This also applies for early departures from school in the afternoon. All partial absences must be explained the same as for a whole day absence. Thank you.

What's on for Term 4

• Monday 11 November - Kindergarten Transition - 9am to 3.15pm                                                                                                                                         &  REMEMBRANCE DAY - 11am
• Wednesday 13 November - Gubi Gabun Playgroup - 10am to 12noon                                                                                                                                          & Year 6 DHS Transition 8.55am to 12noon
• Friday 15 November - Farm Safety Day - Dorrigo
• Monday 18 November to Friday 29 November - 10 Days of Intensive Swimming Scheme                                                                                                                                            at Dorrigo  Pool from 10am to 11.30am Daily
• Wednesday 27 November - Gubi Gabun Playgroup - 10am to 12noon
• Monday 2 December - P&C Meeting - 4pm
• Tuesday 3 December - Year 6 DHS Transition Day - 8.55am to 9am
• Friday 6 December - Kindergarten Transition - 9am to 3.15pm
• Tuesday 10 December - Kindergarten Transition - 9am to 3.15pm 
• Wednesday 11 December - Gubi Gabun Playgroup - 10am to 12noon & Tennis - 2pm to 3pm
  
• Friday 13 December - Presentation Assembly & Luncheon - 11am
• Tuesday 17 December - Clean Up and Water Fun Day
• Wednesday 18 December - End of Excursion "Big Day Out" & last day of Term 4 

Consent Notes to be Returned

• Swimming Consent Notes - Will be sent home on Thursday.

Fortnightly Awards

Term 4 - Week 4

K-2 Class

Beth Green for amazing contributions during spelling activities.

3-6 Class

Charlie McGuire for working independently in comprehension activities.

State Athletics Championships

Congratulations to Nikita who travelled to Sydney to compete in the NSW PSSA State Athletics Championship at Olympic Park. She competed in the Multi Class Senior Girls Discus placing 19th overall and the Senior Girls 200m dash placing 20th overall. 

Our students and staff proudly cheered her on as we watched it on the big screen at school via a live stream link. Well done Nikita!

Red Cross Pillowcase Visit

We were fortunate to have a visit from the Red Cross who delivered a "Pillowcase" workshop that encourages children to be active participants in their own emergency preparedness. 

The workshop involved engaging discussions and interactive activities to help students:

• Understand and discuss the importance of being prepared
• Prepare their mind for the thoughts and feelings that may arise before, during and after an emergency
• know what to pack in an emergency kit

Each student was given a pillowcase to decorate and take home, to start their own personal emergency kit.

Pillowcase was originally inspired by events during Hurricane Katrina in the US. While evacuating campus, students of a local University used pillowcases to carry their cherished and basic possessions. After hearing this, American Red Cross staff developed the concept of using a pillowcase as an emergency kit. The program quickly grew into a global preparedness education program that has since become known as Pillowcase.

World Teachers Day

Students took their hats off on Friday 25 October to show their appreciation to our wonderful teachers here at Dundurrabin PS who go above and beyond for our students; Mrs Keough, Mrs Sangster, Ms McNeill, Mrs Bingle, Mr Williamson, Ms Cunningham and all our casual teachers. School would not have such a happy and positive place without your hard work and dedication. Thank you all!

Life Education

Our students had fun when they joined Ebor, Hernani and Chandler Public Schools at Ebor Public School to participate in  Healthy Harold lessons, a Halloween creative arts activity and sports games. 

K-2 learnt about 'Safety Rules', Yrs 3 & 4 participated in a 'Friends and Feelings' lesson and Yrs 5 & 6 engaged in 'Relate, Respect, Connect' activities. 

Year 5&6 - Far Out Science - UNE Armidale

Years 5 & 6 students travelled to Armidale on Wednesday 30 October to participate in Far Out Science at the University of New England. The day kicked off with a chemistry demonstration which appealed to all the senses, with loud explosions, colour changing liquids and hands on experiments.

Next the students created enrichment toys for lab rats followed by a wildlife tracking activity, which involved the students using a sonar tracker to locate a turtle shell and a bat simulator. The students then recorded data on the location and measurements of the animal.

The final, most popular activity of the day was called "jaw breakers", where students learnt from a Palaeontologist about skull formation and the impacts of a carnivore verses herbivore diet.

Life Cycles in Felt

In STEM this term, we have been learning about "life cycles".  We discussed the different stages in the life cycles of living things. As a fun and creative way to explore this topic, Ms Cunningham invited her friend and colleague Lana to share her skills in felting. Students created their own life cycle diagrams using felt. The students made beautiful colourful backgrounds, layering soft coloured fleece in thin layers, then they had to gently rub the fleece with lots of soapy water to carefully encourage the fibres to 'knit' together, until firm.  Then they made each of the stages of a butterfly's life cycle; an egg, a caterpillar, a chrysalis and a butterfly- all out of felt!  The results are truly stunning.  The students enjoyed learning whilst having heaps of fun and getting very creative.

Chess Tournament

We have now completed the preliminary rounds of our annual chess competition and the top four competitors were Henry, Bailey, Nikita and Charlie. Semi finals were very competitive. Henry beat Bailey by the narrowest of margins and a very tight match was held between Nikita and Charlie, with Nikita just succeeding. The grand final will be held on Tuesday between Henry and Nikita. Best of luck to both grand finalists and congratulations to all competitors.

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden News

Week 2

No gardening this week due to our participation in the Red Cross pillowcase activity. 

We harvested lots of broad beans, eggs, asparagus, shallots, lettuce, strawberries plus mulberries donated by Ingrid.

Week 3

With such unpredictable weather, we ventured inside and started working on our cardboard vases which will be decorated with a variety of colourful fruit and vegetables. Everyone made a great start to some very creative creations - can't wait to see the finished works of art.

We harvested shallots, eggs, cauliflower, broad beans, sugar snap peas, strawberries, silverbeet, celery and asparagus.

2025 Kindergarten Transition Program

Our next kindergarten transition program will be next Monday 11 November.

Farm Safety Awareness Day

We will be travelling to Dorrigo Showground for a Dorrigo Plateau Farm Safety Awareness Day on Friday 15 November, 2024. This will be a whole school excursion. We will be attending the Primary School session which will run from 9.15am to 12noon.

Transport will be by Wykes bus to Dorrigo and return. The school will be paying the bus cost so there will be no cost to students.

We will need to leave the school at 8.15am sharp. Please ensure you have your child/ren here on time. 

Staff will be travelling with students on the bus to the event and back on the day. We will leave the Farm Safety Awareness Day by 12noon and return to school for normal afternoon routines (SAKG cooking and STEM).

Students will need to bring recess, fruit and water bottle. Students must wear full school uniform (sport shirt), bring a jumper and a hat (activities will be outdoors) and have enclosed shoes.

Thank you to everyone for returning their consent notes promptly, it was appreciated.

Gubi Gabun Playgroup at Dundurrabin PS

Year 6 - Dorrigo High School Transition

This term, Year 6 will begin their High School orientation. During these days, they will become familiar with Dorrigo High School, participate in lessons and learn how to read timetables. They will get the opportunity to meet the other students from the plateau who will also be attending high school next year.

The dates and itinerary are as follows:

• Wednesday 13 November – 8.55am - 12.00 noon - (Periods 1 to 3) Period 1 & 2 – mini lessons / Period 3 – Year Meeting

• Tuesday 3 December – 8.55am - 3.15pm - Official Statewide Yr6 High School Orientation Day (Whole Day) Periods 1-3 – mini lessons / Period 4 – Year Meeting & Peer Support Activities / Period 5 to 6 - Swimming

School Swimming and Water Safety Program

This year our school swimming will be run over 5 days during week 7. The School Swimming scheme will begin on Monday 25 November and finish on Friday 29 November.

Thanks to grants from Sporting Schools and NSW School Sport Unit Swimming and Water Safety there will be miminal 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 1pm 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 minimum of $3.00 each.

Consent notes will be sent home on Thursday.  

Presentation Day

Save the date! Friday 13 December - 11am.

We will be holding our End of Year Presentation Assembly on Friday 13 December starting at 11am. Followed by a shared lunch. Everyone is welcome! More information to come later in the term.

2024 Learning Contributions

Learning Contributions for 2024 remain the same

• Voluntary School Contribution - $30.00 for the costs of student items provided by our school
• SAKG Program Fees - $40.00. This goes towards our SAKG program which has ongoing costs each week, such as cooking ingredients for our weekly lunch meal, seeds and seedlings.
  

Please phone the school if you are unsure to whether you have paid or not. Thank you to those families who have already paid.

P&C News and Community News

P&C Meat Raffles at Ebor Hotel

Below are dates that our P&C are holding our Meat Raffles at Ebor Hotel on Thursday evenings -

• 21 November
• 19 December

Tickets available at Tyringham shop or phone Leonie Pankhurst on 0413 158 466

Art Exhibit

Seeking Expressions of Interest from local artisans to exhibit at our exhibition of local talent at our refurbished Dundurrabin Community Centre in November. Suggested date 8 to 10 Nov. Contact: philipsedgman@gmail.com or text 0433 504 355