Dernancourt School R-7 Newsletter

Next week we will begin our learning conversations with families. Please ensure that you have booked a 15 minute time with your child's class teacher. Our specialist teachers will also be available for discussions. Click on the school interviews link to book  https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code?code=r8ebh. 

If you need help booking, please contact the Front Office.

We would like to meet at least one of the important adults in each of our learners lives, and are aiming to learn something and share something about every child.

Please help us by booking in. 

• NAPLAN is a nationally developed program that provides schools, states and territories with information about how education programs are working and what areas need to be prioritised for improvement
• The test's contents are aligned to the Australian Curriculum: English and Mathematics
• NAPLAN tests are just one of many assessments in which your child can participate
• Students do not have to learn specific skills for NAPLAN tests
• Students have an opportunity to become familiar with the NAPLAN tests with ways of showing their answers to questions before they do the tests
• NAPLAN individual students reports show the achievement of an individual student in a series of bands, against national minimum standards and the ranges of achievement for the middle 60% of students in Australia.

Student exemption and withdrawal

A student may be exempted or withdrawn from the tests.

They may be exempted from one or more tests if they meet one of the following conditions:

• the student has a non-English speaking background and arrived in Australia from overseas after May 2020, or
• the student has a significant intellectual disability and/or significant co-existing conditions which severely limit capacity to participate in the tests.

Parents/caregivers may withdraw their child from the NAPLAN tests for philosophical or religious reasons.

Withdrawal and exemption forms

Forms must be completed and signed by the parent/carer for a child to be withdrawn or exempted from NAPLAN testing. The forms and further information about NAPLAN are available at www.education.sa.gov.au/naplan or from the school.

We are excited to be able to hold our Sports Day in Week 10 this term. Unfortunately, after taking into account the COVID guidelines, we are required to restrict adult spectators to one per family at any given time, if we are to be COVID compliant. Even with only one adult attending for each family, we could  potentially have around 1000 individuals taking into account  students, staff and additional visitors.  We know this may be disappointing, but both parents, and a grandparent etc., can still attend on the day if they roster themselves to visit at different times, so we do not have a crowded venue. Younger children (non school age) are welcome to accompany you.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

On the day, we ask that only Sports Day Captains involved in setting up events arrive before 8:30am (these students will negotiate arrival times with our Sports Day Committee).  Yard supervision begins at 8.30am as normal for other students and families to arrive. Children will enter their classrooms at 8.50am for class rolls and other administrative tasks.  We ask that parents remain outside of the buildings to assist us in settling the children. Parents/Caregivers/Grandparents are required to scan the QR code for COVID check in on arrival. These will be placed at each entrance and around the school.  If you need to sign in on a paper version, please come to the front office.

Sports Day activities will being on the oval with a Health Hustle & Team Chants.

Students who have ordered a Sausage Sizzle will receive these at their classrooms at lunch time.

Although supervision will be available for all students until 3.00pm, families may choose to take their children home once their activities are finished. If you choose to do this, please notify the class teacher  and sign your child out.

A detailed Sports Day Program will be distributed via SkoolBag next week showing all events and  times.

We look forward to an exciting day.

Over the last few weeks, our upper primary students have been discussing and unpacking the skills of leadership. Many of them have been using and growing their skills since they started school! We acknowledge how lucky we are to have such a range of role models for our younger students to look up and aspire to.

We are excited to see so many of our learners keen to be leaders in a range of ways.  This of course means we need to have rigorous selection processes, with students applying for their positions. As part of the process for 2021 Sports Day Captains, all interested students needed to write a persuasive text outlining and convincing readers why they (or someone else) should be elected. Our Year 6 and 7 students elected the following students to lead their Sports Day  teams this year. 

Congratulations to all successful leaders, and to the other students who also nominated for these roles.

Some concerns have been raised about dogs being on school grounds or close to the gates at drop off and pick up times.

The Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 states it is an offence for a dog (other than an accredited disability dog, guide dog or hearing dog) to be on site without permission.

If you are using before and after school times as an opportunity to walk your dog, please wait in a quiet place off school grounds and away from gates. This will allow all students and families to exit and pets to not become startled and unsettled.

We thank you for your understanding.

The following people have committed to two years of service on Governing Council - Hilary Sweeney, Jodie Freund, Anna Primer, Monika Olley, Sharon Willis, Melanie Duke - with Michelle Flanigan and Gagan Sharma serving 1 year.  Jodie Dorsey will convene the Parent Association.

We have one retiring member - Annette Caresimo and we would like to thank Annette for her contribution to the Governing Council.

Your Governing Council for 2021 is:

Executive positions:

Michelle Flanigan (Chair), Hilary Sweeney (Vice Chair),  Jodie Freund (Secretary),  Hilary Sweeney (Treasurer)  

Committees / Convenors:

Finance – Hilary (convenor) & Michelle

Grounds – Hilary (convenor)

Fundraising – Melanie (convenor)

Canteen – Michelle (convenor)

ICT – Gagan (convenor), Sharon

Sports – Jodie Freund (convenor), Gagan

Education – Hilary Monika, Sharon (convenor)

Grants – no longer committee, will be undertaken as part of all committees

OSHC – Melanie (convenor)

Parent Association – Jodie Dorsey (convenor), Sharon – Governing Council rep, Melanie volunteer

All of the above committees welcome new members to join them. If you are interested in being part of a committee or require some more information, please contact the office or Michelle Flanigan. We look forward to the involvement of our families in guiding the direction of our school.

There is a second visit booked for:

Term 2 Week 7  - 7-9 of June

Dental for Schools hope to see the rest of the students who didn't get in to the first visit last week.

Thank you to our crossing monitors - 

WEEK 9  -   Zara (P12), Rutva (P12), Rebeka (P12)

WEEK 10 -   Jasmine (P12), Phoebe (P14), Reikaya (P14)

We appreciate you keeping our school community safe.

Due to social distancing requirements we can only have 1 family in the store at a time. All waiting families must wait outside the school buildings, call or text Michelle on 0409 957 815 when you arrive. If you do not have an appointment you will have to wait outside until all appointments have been completed first.

How do I book? 

The easiest way to book is to go to book your appointment go to: skoolbag app - click on Uniform Information - click on bookings for Uniform Shop and open the attached link. This will take you to Dernancourt School R-7 Uniform Fittings/Sales and fill in your details.  Or you can click on this link https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code?code=pqg55        

What if I know exactly what I need?

If you know what you need you can place an online order and collect in store or have it sent to your child's classroom.  Simply note your child's name and classroom in the “Notes to seller” box and the order will be delivered to the classroom. https://belgraviasportsonline.com.au/pages/uniform-shops

What if I can’t get to the shop when its open?

You can book your child an appointment time to come to the shop Monday afternoon or Friday morning and have a fitting with Michelle and she will send home a sizing sheet so you can order online anytime.

All events for the remainder of Term 1 and the beginning of Term 2 are available on the Skoolbag Events Calendar.  This will be updated regularly for your convenience.