Dundurrabin Public School Newsletter Term 1, Week 9 2023

Principal's Message

Welcome to Week 9.

Last week we hit an attendance milestone where we saw 100% of students at school for four consecutive days- how impressive! This achievement contributed to visibly higher levels of student engagement, learning progress, and positive playtime and classroom routines for all students. Consistent school attendance is the key. Let's keep it up!

As we embark on the final few weeks of term, we look forward to enjoying a variety of learning experiences. Ride 2 School Day takes place next Wednesday followed by the NRL Gala Day at Bellingen on Thursday. We're excited to be welcoming our family and friends to school for a Harmony Day lunch next Friday at 1:30pm, and again to our end of term assembly on Monday 3 April at 2pm. The finer details for these events are included in today's newsletter.

Have a great week,

Leah Keough

Every Day Counts

Fortnightly Awards

Term 1 - Week 9

K - 2 Class:

Amber Baff for being a responsible learner during all learning activities

3-4 Class

Henry Tyler for outstanding effort towards improving his handwriting and presentation in his bookwork

5-6 Class

Nikita Cheers and Talia Shipman for demonstrating positive mindsets

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden News

Week 7

This week each group liquid fed and watered their citrus trees, weeded around our apples, squash and parsley seedlings, weeded paths in netted garden and fed the weeds to the chooks and moved rocks in front of therapy room to around tanks next to the K-2 classroom in preparation for our new ramp that is being installed in the holidays. We harvested zucchinis, tomatoes, parsnip, carrots shallots, herbs and eggs. In the kitchen we cooked vegetable fried rice, sweet and sour fried potatoes, teriyaki roasted sweet potato and zucchini, with Chinese egg custard tarts.

Cooking Award:  Bailey Freeman, for patience and leadership

Week 8

On a very warm Autumn day we tidied, weeded and watered our rockmelons & beans, weeded the paths in our netted garden, pulled zucchini plants to prepare for planting next week, and collected a large quantity of celery & fennel seeds. We harvested eggs, cucumbers, carrots, silverbeet, celery, shallots, capsicums, zucchinis, herbs and a variety of tomatoes. In the kitchen we prepared a delicious breakfast themed spread which included homemade baked beans, zucchini fritters, sultana & date waffles and chocolate muesli. As a special reward for 100% attendance for 4 days in a row, Katherine also made chocolate cakes with a delicious frosting.

Cooking Award: Quill Pankhurst, for excellent fritter making by himself

Preschool Afternoons

On Wednesday we had Alfie, Angus, Beth, Chase, Harvey, Maisie, Margot, Lachie and Lucy join us for a fun afternoon of Easter activities. We participated in some gross motor activities, read a story about Ed the chick and his egg, sang and danced, created Easter baskets, sun catchers, rabbit masks and enjoyed cooperative play.

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

Gumbaynggirr Language Learning

All students have been enjoying weekly Gumbaynggirr Language lessons with Lesley Green.

In K-2, students have been learning greetings, songs and actions that they can recognise and move to.

In the 3-6, we have been learning to introduce ourselves, about the language and culture of family groups and playing Simon Says to learn movement words. The students also enjoyed Lesley telling them some Dreamtime stories about our local area.

All our Gumbaynggirr language learning ties in with our literacy and history learning for Term 1 which makes these lessons even more rich for our students.

NRL Development Clinic

We are pleased to welcome Garry Stevenson, NRL Delevopment Officer, to our school this term. Garry is working with our students to hone our league tag skills in preparation for the upcoming NRL Gala Day next week. 

Ride 2 School Day

We will be participating in Ride2School Day On Wednesday 29 March. All students are encouraged to bring a push bike or scooter and helmet to school ready to participate in our planned activities. The aim of the day is to promote physical activity among children.  Our students can begin to bring their push bikes or scooters to school from Monday 27 March. We'll store them securely at school ready for the big event. Please contact the school if you do not have a bike or scooter - we may be able to organise some to spare.

"Dylan Edwards" Legends 7 League Tag Gala Day

Year 3-6 will be participating in the Dylan Edwards League 7's Gala Day at Connell Park, Bellingen on Thursday 30 March. The Gala Day is non-competitive. Students will play league-tag with the option for some students to play some tackle games, where signed consent is given. 

Mrs Keough and Miss McNeill will be the teachers attending. 

We will be travelling by Wykes bus to and from Bellingen on the day. There is no cost for students, as the School will be paying all expenses for the day. We will leave Tyringham Store at 8.00am sharp. Students may wish to catch the morning High School Bus run if this suits parents/carers, otherwise please have your child/ren at Tyringham Store by 7.50am. Students will be back at school in time for normal afternoon pick-up arrangements.

Children must wear school sports uniform including a hat and appropriate footwear. They will need to bring their own lunch and recess, and plenty of water to drink. Please pack extra food and water, as students can get hungry and thirsty while playing. Students playing Rugby League will also need boots and mouth guard and will need to have returned the “Permission to Play Rugby League” form that was sent home.

Permission notes have been issued again today to those that have not returned them already. Please return these by tomorrow, thank you.

Change of Bus Routine for K-2 Students

Due to the Year 3-6 class utilising the bus for the Dylan Edwards League 7's Gala Day at Connell Park, Bellingen on Thursday 30 March, we ask K-2 students parents to please drive their child/ren to school on this day. Sorry for the inconvenience.

The bus will run as per normal for the afternoon run.         Thank you

Vegetable Week & The Big Vegie Crunch

Vegetable Week & The Big Vegie Crunch is a fun health promotion event for NSW primary schools. Vegetable Week 2023 will run from Monday 27 March to Friday 31 March, with The Big Vegie Crunch held at 10am on Thursday 30 March.

In 2022, an amazing 31,081 students crunched together at 10 am on Thursday 31 March and 6,107 students crunched during Vegetable Week. 

Primary schools across NSW will be joining together to break the record for the most students crunching vegetables:

• 50,260 students crunching simultaneously (2018 record)
• 14,991 students crunching at other times over Vegetable Week (2019 record)

Our K-2 class will crunch and munch together next Thursday in an effort to break the record again this year. 

Harmony Day

We will be holding a Middle Eastern Feast here at school on Friday 31 March to celebrate Harmony Day.

We would love to invite all our parents, carers, families and community members to come along and join us by sitting down and enjoying a feast that the students will be preparing on the day.

The luncheon will begin at 1.30pm and conclude approximately 2.30pm. Please RSVP attending numbers by Thursday 23 March.

Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.​

Students can come to school on the day dressed in mufti (non-uniform) in orange colthes - the official colour for Harmony Day.

School Information

Third Party Software Consent

Third Party Consent notes were sent home last newsletter week for parents to read, sign and return to school as soon as possible. Thank you to everyone that has return their consents already. If you have not, please return by tomorrow.

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 return the slip that was sent home previously if this is what you would like to do. Thank you to the families that have already let us know.

Term 1 Assembly & Adults V Students Sport

Please join us for our Term 1 Assembly and Easter Hat Parade on Monday 3 April at 2pm. Parents and friends are invited to stay on after the assembly for a student V parent game of volleyball. Don't miss out, it's sure to be a hotly contested game!

Stewart House Donation Drive

Stewart House Donation Drive envelopes were sent home previously. To enter the draw for the prize there is a $2.00 minimum donation.

The winning entry is a $4000 family hoilday gift voucher to the destination of your choice. The winner will be contacted by telephone and email.

Please have your money and envelopes (with details filled out) back at school by Monday 3 April, 2023.

P&C News

P&C Meeting - Today - 3.30pm

Our next P&C meeting is today, Monday 20 March 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.

P&C Easter Treats Raffle- Seeking Donations

Hippity Hop! It's time for our annual P&C Easter Raffle.

As Easter approaches, our P&C is looking to raise funds via an Easter raffle. All families are asked to make a donation to be used as raffle prizes. This can include chocolates or anything Easter themed. Donations can be sent into the school office by Friday 31 March.

Tickets will be sent home this week, with the draw to take place at our Term 1 Assembly on Monday 3 April at 2pm.

P&C Sausage Sizzle & Cake Stall

The P&C will be holding a Sausage Sizzle, Cake Stall and Raffle on Election Day, this Saturday 25th March at Dundurrabin Public School from 8am until sold out. 

We would love families to donate some cooked items for the stall. They can be left at school before 3pm on Friday or delivered to the stall on Saturday morning.

If you are available to help on the day, please contact Leonie Pankhurst or the P&C Committee.

Yoga & Meditation Retreat

Yoga & Meditation Retreat – 3pm Friday 31st March to Sunday 2nd April

Venue: Dangar Falls Lodge with Jo Cunningham & Shakti. Subsidised by Vinnies. Contact: Shakti 0448 879 642 or E: shakti.mudra@gmail.com

Holiday Activities

Easter School Holiday Activities for Youth. 

We are hoping to get funding for a 2 day local workshop and adventure during the second week of the holidays. Contact: Leonie Pankhurst 0413 158 466 for details.

Fun & Fishing Trip to South West Rocks - Friday 19th to Sunday 21st May

Expressions of interest for a two day trip to South West Rocks for Youth 12 to 18 years, and for some parents or carers. Contact: Leonie Pankhurst 0413 158 466

Community News

Made In Dorrigo Markets - Easter Saturday  8 April, 2023

If you would like to book a stall spot at the next Made in Dorrigo Markets on Easter Saturday 8 April please go to madeindorrigo.com.au