Dundurrabin Public School Newsletter Term 4, Week 6 2024

Principal's Message

Welcome to week 6. This newsletter I am pleased to advise the planned staffing arrangements for our school for 2025. 

Leah Keough: Teaching Principal, 3-6 class.

Katrina Sangster: K-2 class teacher (Tues-Fri)

Chris Williamson: K-2 class teacher (Mon), 3-6 class teacher (Wed)

Jo Cunningham: casual teacher (Fri)

Emily Bingle: Assistant Principal Curriculum and Instruction (Tues)

Melissa Harrison: School Admin Manager (Mon-Thurs)

Katherine Lean, Suzanne Tompkins and Leanne Sinclair: part-time Student Learning Support Officers.

Chris Meehan: Grounds Assistant

At the end of this term we farewell Nat McNeill- our long term temporary teacher. Nat has been employed at our school for the past four years funded by the Department's Disaster Supplementation program. This funding concludes at the end of 2024. I'm sure you will join me in thanking Nat for her valued contributions to our students and small school. We have been so lucky to have Nat as an additional teacher for four years. Although we say goodbye from Dundurrabin, Nat isn't going too far, having secured full time work at Ebor Public School for 2025. Congratulations!

It's Transition Time!

We have many planned transition activities currently taking place for our students. Transitions to our school for kinder 2025, transitions to DHS for 2025 and fortnightly Gubi Gabun play sessions. We had the pleasure of hosting six year 12 students from DHS on Thursday to complete an assessment for their physical education subject. This was the perfect opportunity for our 3-6 class to interact and learn from students attending our local high school. Thank you to Aimee Dawson for including our school in this special activity. Be sure to check out Mrs Bingle's report further on in today's newsletter.

Next week is swim week

Next week we'll be heading into Dorrigo Pool each day for a week of intensive swimming lessons. All students must be at school before 9:15am ready to catch the bus to town.  

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 25 November to Friday 29 November - 10 Days of Intensive Swimming Scheme                                                                                                                                            at Dorrigo  Pool from 10am to 11.30am Daily
• Monday 25 November - P&C Meeting - 4pm
• Wednesday 27 November - Gubi Gabun Playgroup - 10am to 12noon
• Thursday 28 November - Special Hot Dog Lunch Order
• 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 & Tennis - 2pm to 3pm
• Wednesday 11 December - Gubi Gabun Playgroup - 10am to 12noon 
  
• Friday 13 December - Presentation Assembly & Luncheon - 11am
• Tuesday 17 December - Clean Up and Water Fun Day & Special BBQ Lunch Order
• Wednesday 18 December - End of Excursion "Big Day Out" & last day of Term 4 

Consent Notes to be Returned

• Swimming Consent Notes - return tomorrow
• Lunch Order Forms - return by this Friday 22 November.

Fortnightly Awards

Term 4 - Week 4

K-2 Class

Carter Freeman for his enthusiasm and contributions during the Farm Safety Awareness Day.

3-6 Class

Jack Duckett for excellent independent writing.

Jaxon Bennett for excellent independence when completing learning tasks.

Kitchen Awards

Hunter McGuire for excellence in cooking, across all areas.

Nikita Cheers for careful preserve making. 

School Swimming and Water Safety Program

This year our school swimming will be run over 5 days - starting next Monday. 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 no cost 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 12.30pm for normal school afternoon 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 Friday with a minimum of $3.00 each.

Thank you to those families who have already returned your consents notes. Could everyone else please have them back at school by tomorrow.  

Special Lunch

We will have a special "hot dogs and ice-cream" lunch day on Thursday 28 November.  Lunch orders are being sent home tomorrow. Please return them with money by this Friday 22 November, on time, as it makes organising catering so much easier.   Thank you.

Farm Safety Awareness Day

We travelled to Dorrigo Showground for the Dorrigo Plateau Farm Safety Awareness Day last Friday. The children enjoyed a variety of presentations. The most popular being the SES, quad and side by side safety and the livestock handling demonstrations.

Remembrance Day

On Monday 11 November at 11am the whole school stopped for one minutes silence for Remembrance Day. Unfortunately the weather not nice enough to go outside to the flagpoles, so each classes participated in their classrooms.

K-2 watched an online information clip about the significance of Remembrance Day.

3-6  had a discussion about the story behind Remembrance Day.

High Schoolers visit for basketball fun!

On Thursday, 14th November, a team of high school students visited us at Dundurrabin Public School as part of their Year 12 Sports, Lifestyle and Recreation (SLR) course. This visit focused on the unit of Sports Training and Coaching, and was an integral part of their assessment. Jack, Evan, Chad, Marshall, Taylor, and Seth, accompanied by Ms. Dawson, guided the students through basketball skills, drills and even a mini game. As part of our ongoing commitment to support student transitions, this visit also served as an opportunity to connect and engage positively with our high school peers. We believe that fostering connections between schools and local communities is vital in helping our students navigate their future pathways successfully.
All students demonstrated excellent persistence and sportsmanship. Some of the highlights of the session for our students included seeing and having fun with the high schoolers, shooting hoops, playing the ball passing game and, of course, beating them in our post-learning mini-game.

2024 Chess Challenge

Congratulations to all chess competitors for the 2024 Dundurrabin Public School Chess Challenge. The grand final was held last week between Henry and Nikita with Henry taking out the overall win. It was a exceptional challenge with both students displaying great skill and sportsmanship.

Gumbaynggirr Language

Felting in STEM

Ms Cunningham and Lana commenced their second round of felting activities with the new STEM group last week. We are so impressed by the engagement and work of all students. Some students have chosen to enter their completed project into to handicrafts section of the Dorrigo Show. Be sure the take a look if you go to the show! 

Gubi Gabun at Dundurrabin PS

Year 6 - Dorrigo High School Transition

Year 6 will have their last High School orientation on Tuesday 3 December. This will be a full day. They may catch the bus to and from the High School on the day. Do not forget to pack recess, lunch and water as well as swimmers and a towel. Please ensure your send your child with pool entry money on the day.

The last date and itinerary is as follows:

• 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

2025 Kindergarten Transition Program

Our next kindergarten transition program will be next Friday 6 December.

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! 

Big Day Out Excursion

We are planning our Big Day Out excursion this year to Nambucca Heads. We will visit Nambucca Cinema to watch the movie "Moana 2", followed by a hot chips lunch and play time at Bellwood Park.

There will be a reduced cost for this excursion, only $15.00 per student, thanks to the P&C and the School. 

We will travel there and back on Wykes bus. We will need to leave from the Tyringham Store at 8.00am sharp and will return to the Store by 3.45pm.

Consent note will be sent home tomorrow with more information and details.

2024 Learning Contributions

Invoices will be sent home tomorrow to those who have outstanding fees to pay still.  Please ensure these are paid in full by 2 December.  Thank you.

• 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. (SAKG Fees are not voluntary)
• Voluntary School Contribution - $30.00 for the costs of student items provided by our school

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

Bookclub Issue 8

Bookclub Issue#8 brochure is being 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 Wednesday 27 November. 

P&C News and Community News

P&C Meeting

Our next P&C Meeting will be held on Monday 25 November at 4pm, here at school. 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.

Dundurrabin P&C Christmas Raffle

The P&C are running a Christmas Raffle with some wonderful prizes. Tickets are being sent home today. The P&C is asking kindly, if all families to sell these tickets to family, friends or community members. Thank you.

Please ensure tickets and money are returned to school by Tuesday 10 December, ready to be drawn at our Presentation Assembly.  Remember "You have to be in it to win it".

P&C Meat Raffles at Ebor Hotel

Below are the remaining 2024 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