Drummoyne Public School

Term 2 Week 1 Newsletter - Friday 28 April 2023

PRINCIPAL’S THOUGHTS

Messages from Ms Colb

Welcome to Term 2

I would like to welcome everyone back to Term 2. We are excited about the class and school activities planned for the term and look forward to providing many opportunities for students to learn and grow. This term we will hold our cross country and athletics carnivals, Year 5 and Year 6 overnight excursions, Kinder science incursion, Stage 3 personal development programs, Paul Kelly Cup and Backflips Against Bullying incursion.

Staff Development Day

Staff commenced the term with an Aboriginal Education focused Staff Development Day. We were able to deepen our knowledge through high quality professional learning sessions which will in turn support our students.

ANZAC DAY

On Tuesday, ANZAC Day, Australia and New Zealand commemorated all the Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations and the contribution and suffering of all those who have served.

Our ANZAC assembly on Wednesday was a timely moment to reflect on the importance of the struggle for peace in the world at this time. Liberty should not be taken for granted but constantly guarded as it can be easily lost and is hard to regain.

Thank you to our school prefects namely Leo, Sam, Indiana, Sonia and Gaby who represented DPS at the Five Dock RSL march on Sunday and their parents for the support. The students joined in the march and represented our school with pride. Thank you Mrs McCauley for organising and supporting our prefects at this very special event.

Thank you also to parents and friends who attended the ANZAC assembly on Wednesday.  A special occasion led by our school prefects. We were privileged to  hear from Lieutenant Colonel Cath Lewis from the Five Dock RSL Sub Branch who spoke about the significance of Anzac Day. I would like to congratulate our Year 3-6 students on their exemplary manners during the assembly.

P&C Mother’s Day Stall 

Our Mother’s Day Stall will be held on Friday 12th May. I encourage parents to support this event and contact the P&C if you are able to volunteer on the day. As it is held on a Friday, there is no catch-up day possible this year.

Construction Work in South Street

The starting date for construction work to repair the retaining wall along South Street has been revised and is now scheduled to begin next Thursday 4 May. The work will take 8-10 weeks.  With the approval of Council, temporary fencing will be erected on South Street parallel to our school's fence line but will reduce the amount of playground area available to the community including one of the cricket nets. There will not be access to the school through the South Street gate during this time. 

For morning drop-offs, parents of kindergarten students are asked to drop their children off at the Thompson Street gate.

For the afternoon pick-up, kindergarten parents are asked to come into the school grounds and wait under the kindergarten COLA near the coloured kindy lunch tables.

P&C Election Day BBQ

As mentioned in last terms newsletter, our P&C ran a very successful BBQ on Election Day. I am pleased to report that the BBQ raised an impressive $2,456 for the P&C. A great result.

Zing Activ (formerly Dancefever Multisports)

This term in physical education we are focusing on athletics with external provider Zing Activ supporting us. Our instructors for this term are Brock Turnell, Lachlan Watson and Julie Kelly. The students will be taught the skills and techniques required for our upcoming Athletics Carnival on Wednesday 14 June.

The Zing Activ athletics program addresses specific areas of the curriculum and brings high-level expertise to the school. Brock, Lachlan and Julie are specialists in their field and are able to compact the time for students to learn the skills required allowing the class teachers more class time to devote to the teaching of literacy and numeracy and the other key learning areas. Thank you in advance for your financial support to enable these programs to take place.

Primary Cross Country Carnival

Next Friday 5 May is our annual cross country carnival and will be held at Brett Park. Please ensure students are at school promptly by 9.20am to leave at 9.30am.

Students are asked to wear their sport uniforms or house colour polo shirts and running shoes. Students should bring a hat, a raincoat, something warm to put on after they run, something to sit on (rug/beach towel), lunch and plenty of water to drink.

Parents & friends are invited to join us. We ask that parents please remain in the area behind the sports houses.

We are looking forward to another great Drummoyne PS carnival!

K-2 Sports Activity Afternoon

K-2 students will be participating in a modified Cross Country Carnival on Friday 5th May at 2.20pm. The event will be held at school on the South playground. Students will complete an obstacle course in grade groups and have the chance to sit in sports house groups to cheer for their peers. Parents are invited to attend.

Selective High School Test

A reminder that the Selective High School Placement Test will be held on Thursday 4 May 2023. The venue is Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus. 

Year 6 Shirts

The Year 6 Shirts have arrived and our students are wearing them with pride. The T-shirt has a Navy Blue Aboriginal design on the bottom and has been shaped by common factors such as the environment and historic events shared between different tribes. 

Dianne Colb

Relieving Principal

What's ahead

  Term 2 2023

Week 2

Tuesday 2 May

2.40pm Primary assembly in the hall. Hosted by the Stage 2 & 3 choirs
Thursday 4 May

Selective High School Test @ SSC Balmain campus

Stage 3 Interrelate continues

3.30-4.30pm Code Club commences

Friday 5 MayPrimary cross country carnival at Brett Park

Week 3

9 May

2.40pm Infants assembly - Class 2M hosting
Friday 12 MayP&C Mother's Day Stall - All items $7
26 MayNational Sorry Day
7-9 JuneYear 5 Bathurst overnight excursion
12 JuneMonarchs birthday public holiday
14 JuneWhole school athletics carnival at Drummoyne Oval & Taplin Park
19 JuneStudent group photo day
20 JunePaul Kelly Cup at Timbrell Park
21-23 JuneYear 6 Canberra overnight excursion
27 JuneBackflips Against Bullying incursion

FROM THE DEPUTY'S DESK

Class of the week - 5/6C

Iris Scott is an artist who stumbled upon finger painting when a serendipitous lack of clean brushes prompted her to finish a painting with her fingertips. In that moment she recognized how fingers could scoop oil paint better than brushes, and overnight she committed to leaving her brushes behind. Scott worked exclusively as an oil finger painter from 2010 to 2020. 

5/6C took inspiration from her ‘Shaking Dog’. We looked at how Jackson Pollock used splatter/drip paintings to create a background. We then used our fingers to paint a dog shaking. We cut out our dog, stuck it onto the background and added pale colour drips to blend it all together.  

Tell Them From Me - Student Feedback Survey

This term Year 4 - 6 students will be taking part in the Tell Them From Me student survey. The survey will provide us with valuable feedback on what our students think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. Participating in the survey is entirely voluntary. Your child will not take part if either you or your child do not wish. If, during the survey, your child is uncomfortable, he/she can choose to stop the survey at any time. The majority of questions in the survey can be skipped.

More information about the survey is available at:

education.nsw.gov.au/ttfm

If you do not want your child to take part in the survey, please complete the below form and return it to school by Friday 12 May 2023.

Leigh Russ

Relieving Deputy

TTFM parent consent form

Please fill in this form if you do not want your child to participate.
Download

FAQ's TTFM student survey

Download

COVID SAFETY UPDATES

COVID-smart measures in schools

NSW Health advise that COVID will continue to present a health risk to the community. Accordingly, schools will implement baseline COVID-smart measures to help reduce the risk of transmission for students and staff members. These key COVID-smart measures include:

  • staying home and getting tested if unwell, and only attending school when symptom free

  • rapid antigen testing for symptomatic students and staff. People exposed to COVID-19 should follow NSW Health guidanceExternal link and test to identify infection early even if they are not experiencing any symptoms.

  • strongly encouraging COVID-19 vaccinations for students, staff and their families, including a booster shot (when eligible) and maintaining double dose vaccination requirements for staff who work in an SSP

  • good hygiene practices including regular hand washing with soap and warm water and/or use of hand sanitiser

  • maintaining natural ventilation, with consideration of local environmental circumstances

  • boosted cleaning during the day, with particular attention given to high touch surface areas
  • wearing a mask for all staff and visitors when working with or visiting Schools for Specific Purposes (SSPs), support units or schools with students who are at greater risk of serious illness should they contract COVID-19 particularly indoors and when physical distancing is not possible

  • assessing risk and applying appropriate safeguards across activities and events

COVID reporting

It is important for our community to register their positive RAT result to Service NSW to access NSW Health support including antiviral medicines if they are eligible.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Five Dock RSL ANZAC Ceremony

It was my privilege to accompany members of our year 6 prefect body to the Five Dock RSL ANZAC Ceremony on Sunday 23 April. After marching from the RSL to Five Dock Park, the students partook in a ceremony which included laying a wreath at the Cenotaph and joining with other school students to sing the national anthem.

As expected, our prefects were outstanding role models for DPS and we thank them for giving their time to acknowledge this significant occasion. 

Michelle McCauley

Assistant Principal

Student recount

Last Sunday, I and a couple of other prefects went to the Anzac March in Five Dock. It started at 10:30am and it ended at around 11:40am. There were a few other schools and I was thrilled to know that so many people were there to participate in the march.

We walked down to Five Dock Park, where they started to talk about World War 1. We then got to lay a wreath in the Five Dock War Memorial and see some names of local soldiers who fought in the war. Overall, it was amazing to be a part of the march and to meet people that are part of Army Services.

Sonia Le

Primary ANZAC Day assembly

ANZAC Assembly

This week the prefects hosted a special ANZAC assembly to remember the soldiers who have fought and died for our country. During the assembly we had a special guest speaker, a lieutenant colonel from the Five Dock RSL sub branch address the assembly. She spoke about the importance of inclusiveness in the Australian Armed Forces and how much of an amazing honor it is to serve your country.

I was so honored to be a part of this moving service and I even had the privilege of saying the Ode of Remembrance. Overall, it was the perfect way for our school community to remember the brave soldiers who fought for us so many years ago. 

Lest we forget.

Daisy Henwood

Entry to opportunity classes (OC) in Year 5 in 2024 - applications close soon

Current year 4 students may apply for entry to an opportunity class in Year 5 in 2024.

Opportunity classes cater for high potential and intellectually gifted students.

They help students learn by:

  • grouping them with other gifted students
  • using specialised teaching methods so students can learn concepts in more detail and more quickly
  • supporting their wellbeing needs.

Most students in opportunity classes enjoy learning more when their classmates have similar abilities and interests. Opportunity classes are unzoned so you can apply no matter where you live.

Applications close on 15 May 2023 and students will sit the Opportunity Class Placement Test on Thursday 27 July 2023.

Please click on the attached document for all the details.

Download

Stage 2 & Stage 3 Choirs performing

The Stage 2 and Stage 3 choirs will be performing at the primary assembly on Tuesday. Parents and friends are invited to attend from 2.40pm in the school hall.

Chess lessons @ DPS

Learn to be a chess champion! Coaching for students at Drummoyne Public School is held on: Tuesdays from 11:15am to 12:15pm, starting on 2 May 2023.

Rookie or Intermediate levels.

  • Learning and playing chess helps children develop their logical thinking and problem solving skills, improves their concentration and focus, while also being a great source of enjoyment.
  • Activities include group lessons on a demonstration chess board or interactive whiteboard, puzzle solving and fun practice games.
  • Students earn merit awards by making checkmates, or by displaying skills and positive qualities, which all good chess players strive to develop.

If your child is interested in taking part, you can collect an enrolment form from the school office, or email enrol@sydneyacademyofchess.com.au for a copy. For all enquiries, please contact Sydney Academy of Chess on (02) 9745 1170.

HELPING YOUR CHILD WITH THE NEW CURRICULUM

Mathematics

 Working Mathematically

Mathematics outcomes and their related content are organised in:

  • Number and algebra
  • Measurement and space
  • Statistics and probability

    The Working mathematically processes are:

    • Communicating
    • Understanding and fluency
    • Reasoning
    • Problem solving

      Students learn to work mathematically by using these processes in an interconnected way. When students are Working mathematically it is important to help them to reflect on how they have used their thinking to solve problems. This assists students to develop ‘mathematical habits of mind’ (Cuoco et al. 2010).

      A student develops understanding and fluency in mathematics through:

      • Exploring and connecting mathematical concepts
      • Choosing and applying mathematical techniques to solve problems
      • Communicating their thinking and reasoning coherently and clearly

        The Working mathematically outcome describes the thinking and doing of mathematics. In doing so, the outcome indicates the breadth of mathematical actions that teachers need to emphasise.

        Working mathematically has been embedded in the outcomes, content and examples of the syllabus.

        Why not have a go yourself?

        Consider the attached image.

        1. What do you notice and what do you wonder?

        2. What have you noticed?

        You may have noticed that the numbers on the caterpillars grow according to the following rules:

        • If the number is even, then the next segment is half of that number. 

        • If the number is odd, then the next segment is one more than that number.

        • Caterpillars stop growing when they grow a segment with 1.

          3. Reflect on how you approached the problem using the following questions

          • What did you wonder?

          • What did you explore?  

          • How did you approach the problem?

          • Why did you do it that way? 

          • What did you discover?

          • What mathematical skills did you use?

          Takeaway for parents

          You can use the above questions when helping your child work through a mathematical task set for homework. This will help them in further developing the Working mathematically processes.

          Beck Cantlay

          Assistant Principal Curriculum & Instruction

          LIBRARY NEWS

          Library

          Just a reminder to all Drummoyne families that students have access to Britannica School. Britannica School is a great resource that puts a lot of easy-to-read information at your fingertips! The information is kept up to date and includes lots of great pictures and videos. It can be a great help for projects and homework, or just to pursue an interest!

          To access Britannica School, students need to log in to their student portal, click on Oliver Library and then click on the blue link on the Oliver homepage.

          Code Club

          Code Club will start on Thursday, 4th May. Code Clubbers are to assemble on the library steps at 3:30.

          Book Club

          Issue 3 of Book Club is now live. Orders need to be placed online by Friday 12th May. Please place all orders through: scholastic.com.au/LOOP - We no longer accept cash payments for Book Club orders.

          Joseph Neufeld

          Teacher Librarian

          GENERAL NEWS

          2023 school travel applications are now open

          Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2023, can now apply.

          A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for the first time, or if they are requesting an additional travel entitlement as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g. joint custody). Students who change address, school, campus location, have repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should renew or update their details before the end of term 4. This will ensure that schools can endorse applications, and entitlements remain valid for the start of the 2023 school year.

          Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card for the first time will receive their Student Opal card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2023.

          For further details please see the attachment below.

          Opal card application instructions

          Download

          Kindergarten Incursion with Kaleidoscope Science

          On Thursday kindergarten students took part in an exciting presentation with Mitchell from Kaleidoscope, focusing on push and pull forces and movement. Some students got to take part as Kindergarten learnt about the Laws of Motion and why we use experiments to test scientific ideas. 

          OFFICE NEWS

          Current permission notes and payments due

          The permission notes listed below have been sent home recently and should be completed and signed by parents as soon as possible.

          • School Contributions  for all students - $120  - overdue

          Pets on Site

          While it adds to the sense of community when our pets are brought to school at pick-up times, under the Companion Animals Act 1998 (NSW), Section 14 and in the interests of safety and hygiene, dogs are not allowed on school grounds

          Thank you for your understanding.

          Please label everything!

          Please ensure your child’s name is permanently and clearly labelled on belongings such as school hats, jackets, lunch boxes, drink bottles and school bags.

          Please use a permanent laundry marker to label clothes, hats and shoes, or sew or iron on personalised labels, go through your child’s bag with them regularly and check that labels haven’t faded with washing.

          Jump Rope for Heart

          On Thursday, Jason from the Jump Rope for Heart Foundation visited Stage 1 to talk about heart health and about the program. He also showed us some cool skipping tricks for us to try ahead of our term of skipping.

          Please look out for more information about Stage 1's participation in Jump Rope for Heart in the coming weeks. 

          P&C ANNOUNCEMENTS

          P&C Second Hand Uniform Sale

          Thank you to our amazing volunteers who helped run the second hand uniform sale this morning, namely: Ramona, Marissa, Corrine, Aviva, Elyse, Emilie, Sylvia and Dina,

          The sale made over $750, which the P&C will be able to use to support the school. 

          Mother's Day Stall

          Time to Spoil our Wonderful Mums!

          The P&C are happy to announce Mother's Day Stall will be held on Friday 12th May. A variety of lovely gifts will be available for Mums, Grandmothers, Auntys and Special Friends!

          All gifts are $7 to be pre-purchased via School24 with students given vouchers to spend at the stall.

          Let's start saving our pocket money! 

          2023 Drummoyne Public School P&C Volunteer Form

          Each year our parent community plays a vital role in supporting Drummoyne Public School.  We are very fortunate to be part of such a wonderful community! The richness of school life that the children enjoy is due to the ongoing support of parents, grandparents and friends of the school.  

          One important avenue of support is through P&C organised activities, providing funds each year for various projects.

          The purpose of this post is to ask all families to support the organisation of one P&C activity this year.  Our hope is that all families will ‘play a part’ in enriching the lives and learning of our children through volunteering for just one activity.

          Would you please indicate on the form attached below one P&C activity or role that you would be willing to be involved in this year and hand to your child’s class teacher at a parent teacher interview or to the school office and record your willingness to support the school and P&C.

          This information will be collated and a member of the P&C will be in touch in due course.

          We hope that 2023 is a wonderful year for you and your family.

          Download

          Contact our P&C

          Please follow us on:

          Instagram @drummoynepublic.pandc

          Facebook @drummoynepublic.pandc

          And on our Facebook Private Group - for community members only. Please request access to join.

          UNIFORM SHOP NEWS

          Uniform shop opening hours

          The uniform shop will be open during term 2 for face to face sales on Wednesday afternoons from 3pm - 3.30pm.

          Please remind students to be responsible for their belongings and return their hats, lunchboxes and jumpers to their bags after the lunch and recess breaks.

          New unisex school hats are back in stock

          Our new hybrid unisex school hats are back in stock!

          We are phasing out both the old style round girls hat as well as the Legionnaire hat and once stock has been exhausted only the Hybrid Unisex hat will be available.

          Please order uniforms online via the school24 website

          Please order school uniforms online. The P&C will process orders and the school office staff will distribute them.

          The wearing of winter uniform begins in Term 2. Please order uniforms online at: https://www.school24.net.au

           Please use our school Registration ID: 2572963 to create an account if you don’t already have one for canteen orders.

          uniformshop@drummoynepublicschool.com.au

          MONTY’S MUNCH CANTEEN NEWS

          Monty’s Munch Canteen

          Eugenie, Catherine and the Canteen Committee wish everyone a great Term 2.

          To volunteer, please log in to your school24 account. Click onto 'Volunteer' and follow the prompts.

            Your help is most appreciated!

            Canteen, P&C Committee

            canteen@drummoynepublicschool.com.au

            SCHOOL HOLIDAY DATES

            Winter Vacation Monday 3 July – Friday 14 July 2023

            Staff Development Day Monday 17 July 2023

            Students return to school Tuesday 18 July 2023

            Spring Vacation Monday 25 September – Friday 6 October 2023

            No Staff Development Day for Start of Term 4

            Students return to school Monday 9 October 2023

            Last day for students for 2023 - Friday 15 December

            Summer Vacation Monday 18 December 2023 – Tuesday 30 January 2024

            Staff Development Days Monday 29 January & Tuesday 30 January 2024

            Year 1-6 Students return on Wednesday 31 January 2024

            Kindergarten Students commence on Monday 5 February 2024

            Autumn Vacation Monday 15 April – Friday 26 April 2024

            Staff Development Day Monday 29 April 2024

            Students return on Tuesday 30 April 2024

            AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

            BandMonday and Friday am

            Contact Directions in Music on 9662 2211

            Keyboard & GuitarTuesday and Thursday pm

            Contact David Koh from VIP Music on 9411 3122

            Greek Classes – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday pm

            Contact Charoulla Themistocleous on 0411 137 266

            Turkish Language Class – Thursday pm

            OmerCan 0418 695 766 Bahar 0475 738 726

            Enrolment forms and detailed Information on ataturk.org.au/okul.

            GOWRIE NSW OSHC

            To book Gowrie NSW - enrolment forms can be found on the Gowrie website:

            https://www.gowriensw.com.au/out-of-hours-care/drummoyne-and-stmarks

            Contact Rekkha for more information on 0436 616 744.

            LATEST PARENTING IDEAS ARTICLE

            The parenting revolution

            Download

            COMMUNITY NEWS

            (The following notices are listed as a service to the community but are not endorsed by the school)

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