Dernancourt School Newsletter

We can't believe it is that time of the year already!

We have started planning for 2023, and one of our favourite parts of this is meeting all of our new learners and their families. Last Friday 4th November 2022 45 Dingoes, Koalas and Echidnas visited our 2022 R/1 classes J3, J4 and J5. We have not confirmed our 2023 Reception teachers yet, or how our youngest learners will be grouped, so over their 3 visits they will visit each of these learning spaces and learning about some of our other school spaces, and we will be learning about their personalities and strengths.  We already love their enthusiasm for singing! We were able to establish positive connections sharing and celebrating the songs that Gaby has been busily sharing with Pre-schools across our Portfolio this year. Our school has been lucky enough to have Gaby working with our R/1 classes, so our teachers started their first visit day with a song that we all know. 

Today, at 11:00am on the 11th day of the 11th month, Dernancourt School, like many others across Australia acknowledged Remembrance Day.

Learners downed, pens, pencils and laptop lids to listen silently as four students from our senior classes read the Ode over the speakers. The Last Post was played, and one minute's silence was observed. 

Well done, Milly, Sihang, Albert and Lincoln, your presentation was respectful and honored the soldiers who died fighting to protect our nation.

 Third time lucky! 

On Monday 14th November 2022 we are hoping that the rain stays away long enough for us to finally have our Sports Day! We are closely watching ALL of the weather apps and websites. In the event of rain, or rain over the weekend that puts student safety at risk, leadership will consult with the Sports Day Committe and cancel. Community will be notified as soon as this decision is made. We are hoping to go ahead though, so have your Sports Day attire on and be ready! in the meantime, everyone needs to cross their fingers! 

Our 2022 Sports Day Committee have planned Sports Day twice this year, once for Term 1 and another for earlier this term with both of these having to be cancelled. The committee's commitment to having a Sports Day in 2022 had them come together for yet another Sports Day planning session, they were determined to have a modified Sports Day this time so that our students could share their skills.  As the oval has been so wet, the committee planned a day that does not need to use this space. Our events are very different to what we have had before, but we are sure the range of events will allow students to show their sporting skills and positive attitude towards participating and earning points for their team. We have been so impressed with students' commitment to lunch time practices of team chants and health hustle, coordinated by our Team Captains that we have started awarding Good Sports Award points.

We are really looking forward to celebrating Sports Day with families and community this year, after having no family in 2020 and only 1 family member in 2021 we hoping to see lots of family members here next week. We have had to heavily modify our events this year including eliminating our most popular events Captain's Tug-of-War and Parent Tug-of-War. This year we would like to see our families to participate by dressing in team colours as well. There may even be bonus points for teams! 

After tallying the points, the Sports Day Shield and Good Sports Award will be presented. The day will conclude with community BBQ.

During Term 3, teachers and the acting leadership made the decision not to produce and publish a 2022 Yearbook. Apologies for any disappointment this may cause.

Our Garden Club helpers in Week 2 were Grace P2, Jessica P10, Angel P7, Lucas J5, Jayden P5 and Henley J6. Today Hilary taught the children to identify some of our garden vegetables. They had so much fun harvesting lettuce and rocket, as well as weeding and sweeping away fallen leaves.

On Wednesday the 26th of October, 21of our year 5/6 students travelled to Pooraka Primary School to represent Dernancourt School in a Tag Rugby Carnival competing against other schools. It was a great learning opportunity for students having never played this sport before, everyone gave it their best and worked hard throughout their games. We hope to compete again next year and come away with a trophy.

This term we will be returning to whole school assemblies.

To help us manage numbers in the gym, class teachers will be sending invitations when we would like you to be a part of our audience. 

Please keep an eye on you seesaw messages, to ensure that you attend the assembly you are invited to. 

Thank you to the following students for helping keep our students and school community safe.

Monitors are reminded to co-ordintate swaps with Mrs. Leonards if they are unable to attend any rostered duties. 

Thank you.