Drummoyne Public School

Term 1 Week 1 Newsletter - Friday 2 February 2024

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Dear Drummoyne PS Community,

It is my pleasure to be writing my first Principal’s report to you all. It is a great feeling to be part of the Drummoyne community and a sincere thank you to everyone for the warm welcome.

Preparations for 2024

The support staff, teachers and I were hard at work over the holidays and on Tuesday and Wednesday preparing for the students’ return on Thursday. It was fantastic to see the school staff pulling together to prepare learning, move furniture, set up displays and begin the collegial effort of providing a safe and welcoming learning environment, as well as engaging and challenging learning activities, for our students.

School Communications

This year, we will be continuing to put out the school newsletter on Friday every week. More detailed communication regarding specific events and reminders will be sent out during the week via the Audiri app and permission notes and school invoices will be shared via School Bytes (email). Please ensure that you have downloaded the Audiri app and continue to check your emails regularly to keep updated with everything that is happening at our school.

Looking Ahead

I have very much enjoyed meeting some of you and your children over the last few days. Two of my main goals as an educational leader are to support continuous teacher improvement and to maximise community engagement. I am looking forward to working with our teachers to ensure we continue to deliver evidence-based best practice and working collaboratively with you all on our school improvement journey. Our shared goal is to make the most of your child/ren’s time at our wonderful school.

Regards,

John Nguyen​

Principal 

E: john.nguyen34@det.n​sw.edu.au 

What's ahead

Week 2

Wednesday 7 February

Kindergarten Students first day of school
Friday 9 February8.15am-9.15am P&C second hand uniform sale under the COLA
Friday 16 FebruaryPrimary Swimming Carnival @ Drummoyne Swim Centre
Monday 19 FebruarySchool Photo Day
Tuesday 20 February

5.30pm - 6.00pm Stage 2 (years 3 & 4 students) Parent Information Evening in classrooms

6pm - 6.30pm Stage 3 (years 5 & 6 students) Parent Information Evening in classrooms

7.30pm P&C Meeting in the Library

Wednesday 21 February

5.30pm - 6.00pm Kindergarten Parent Information Evening in classrooms

6pm - 6.30pm Stage 1 (years 1 & 2 students) Parent Information Evening in the Library

6.30 P&C Welcome Champagne evening in the School Hall - details TBA

13 - 25 March NAPLAN for students in years 3 & 5

FROM THE DEPUTY'S DESK

Changes to parent contact details & emergency contacts

To ensure that the school is able to contact families, would you please let us know if there have been any changes to your home address, email address or phone contact details over the Christmas break. 

You can do this by contacting the school office or emailing: drummoyne-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Please also let the office know ASAP if there are any changes to custody arrangements/court orders.

Finally, please ensure your emergency contact details are up to date so we can contact them if students are unwell and parents are not available.

Thank you for staying in touch with us.

Medication at school

For new students who require medication to be administered at school, all instructions and medications need to be handed in to the office.

To support this process and ensure the dosage is correct and medicine is stored securely, please complete the “Request for administration of prescribed medication to a student” form and hand in at the office with the medicine.  The form is available from the school office and can also be found on our school website.

No student should keep medication in their bags. Thank you for supporting the health and safety of all students.

For returning students, any changes to medication should also be directed to the office.

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.

Dianne Colb

Deputy Principal

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Years 3-6 Primary Swimming Carnival

A digital note was sent home this week regarding permission and payment for the 2024 Swimming Carnival to be held at Drummoyne Swimming Pool on Friday 16th February

Please indicate on the form the level of your child's swimming abilities - non swimmer, weak, moderate or strong. 

If (and only if) your child is a STRONG swimmer, they may put their name down to swim in the Individual Medley. There is a space to note down their current times.

If (and only if) your child is a WEAK swimmer, they may participate in the aquatic activities in the small pool. They will be given a wrist band on the day.  Students are only permitted to swim in either the races or the aquatic activities - not both. 

Year 2 students who turn 8 this year may participate in the swimming carnival races if they are a strong, confident swimmer and can swim 50 metres without stopping. Please see the schoolbytes note.

Cross your fingers and toes for good weather. 

Amanda Champion

Carnival Co-ordinator

Enrichment and Learning support

Next Wednesday afternoon class teachers will continue the process of handing over important student information to this year's class teachers. Through these meetings, receiving teachers are informed of the adjustments made for their students to achieve the best learning outcomes. Learning Adjustment documents are created where modifications are made to the instructions, the content, or the learning environment. Members of the Learning and Support Team also contribute their insights. Teachers will make contact with you if your child has a Learning Adjustment or a Personalised Learning and Support Plan. Both documents reflect the needs of the students and the ways that will enable them to meet their goals including enrichment or extension.

Parents play a vital role in this process by taking part in discussions and planning the areas of focus each term.  It is also timely that we invite you to pass on any information which will assist our teachers to further understand your child and their individual needs. Reports from medical practitioners, occupational therapists and psychologists are some examples where teachers can accommodate specific recommendations and enable learning adjustments to occur. Reports should be sent in a sealed envelope addressed to the class teacher (or the school executive) who will then secure them in your child's learning support file where they are accessed by class teachers, learning and support teachers and school executive. 

Therapy Provision

The school supports the individual needs of all students and is committed to working collaboratively with families and external agencies. Speech and Occupational Therapists, in addition to other allied health providers,  are able to come into the school to support students.

The role of the school is to liaise with families to facilitate any reasonable request for the service to take place during school hours which will lead to improved educational outcomes. At the beginning of each year, we request that families complete a Service Provider request form. Once returned, the requests are considered by the school's Learning and Support Team so that the proposed service and time are in the best interests of the student. If you would like to request onsite therapy services, please make contact with the office and a form will be sent home with your child. Please note, that given we are establishing timetables, routines and programs, requests for externally funded service providers will be considered from 19th February. 

Leigh Russ

Assistant Principal

SRE & SEE classes for 2024

Student scripture classes have been rolled over from last year with SRE & SEE classes due to commence in week 5.

If your child would like to move from their current scripture class please notify the office by Friday 16 February at the latest.

Classes offered at Drummoyne Public School are:

  • Catholic
  • Protestant
  • Greek Orthodox
  • Ethics
  • Non Scripture (alternative meaningful activities)

PSSA Representative Sport 2024 - Expression of Interest for all Sports

Students in year 5 and year 6 can attend trials to represent our school in various sports as part of the Inner West Primary Schools Sports Association (IWPSSA) program. These trials are the pathway to NSW PSSA representation and are extremely competitive.

To nominate for a trial, your child should currently play the sport competitively outside of school and be of representative standard.

A note will be sent home with all stage 3 students next week. Please read the note carefully and only those children who have returned a signed note by Friday 16 February will be considered

Leah Pegler and Amanda Champion.

Sports Co-ordinators.

2024 Student Book & Stationary Packs

If you haven't already paid online over the holidays, student book & stationary packs are available to purchase from the school office. The packs were sent directly to the school and children will receive their packs once they commence their new class next week.

The book & stationary pack prices for each year group are listed below. They include the student text books and exercise books required at school and necessary stationery they will need during the school year. Depending on the grade, other items may include a ruler, pencil sharpener, lead pencils, whiteboard markers and glue sticks etc. 

Amounts have been rounded to the nearest dollar for ease of processing by the office:

Kindergarten $53,    Year 1 $66,    Year 2 $52,    Year 3 $50,    Year 4 $61,    Year 5 $76,    Year 6 $76

If there are difficulties with payment, please contact the school to make alternate arrangements.

GENERAL NEWS

Drop off and pick up zone on Thompson Street - Please remain in your vehicle at all times

Drummoyne Public School has a 'Drop off and Pick up Zone' on Thompson Street for your convenience and for your child’s safety.

Designed for quick entry and exit, the zone minimises congestion and risk when used properly by all parents and carers. The zone operates under the same conditions as no parking zones, which means you may stop to drop off or pick up children for a maximum of 2 minutes. You are required to remain in, or within 3 metres of, your vehicle.

The zone operates between 8.00am – 9.30am and 2.30pm - 4.00pm. 

Please remain with your vehicle during these times and stay no longer than 2 minutes so other parents may also safely drop off or pick up their children.

School travel Opal cards

School travel Opal cards can be used for free travel to and from school. Depending on where you live and where you are travelling to, you may be eligible to receive a free school Opal card. Applications for next year open at the start of Term 4 this year.

You can apply for free school travel for different modes of transport including train, bus, ferry and light rail using the online form.

    You only need to apply:

    • if applying for a school travel pass for the first time.
    • if requesting an extra pass due to parents living separately.

    The student must:

    • be a resident of NSW, or an overseas student eligible for free government education.
    • be aged 4 years 6 months or older. Pre-school children are not eligible.
    • live a minimum distance from your school. The minimum distance varies according to the year or grade the student is enrolled in that calendar year.

    Please click on the link for more details:

    transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/ticket-eligibility-concessions/school-student-travel

    Opal card application instructions

    Download

    OFFICE NEWS

    Current notes due on School Bytes

    • Swimming Carnival - Years 3-6 students
    • Student book and stationary packs - all students

    P&C ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Order online with Flexischools in 2024

    Effective from this Thursday, 1st February 2024, the P&C have moved our whole parent community to Flexischools for Canteen & Uniform orders. The old ordering system, School24 has been closed.

    School24 credit

    In the next few weeks, the P&C will provide more details on the process around balance transfers from School 24. Please keep an eye out for communications on this.

    Flexischools account

    Attached is a flyer we have put together with a great $5 credit promo offer from Flexischools for parents who sign up and create an account before 25th February.  The $5 credit will be deposited into your account on 26th Feb.

    Uniform orders that were placed over the school holidays have now been processed and are available to collect from the school office.

    Second Hand uniform sale

    The P&C will hold a second hand uniform sale on Friday 9th Feb from 8.15am - 9.15am under the COLA. All items will be under $5 each. 

    February P&C Meeting

    The February P&C Meeting will be held on Tuesday 20 February from 7.30pm in the library. Everyone is invited to attend.

    We hope you can join us!

    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

    All uniform shop orders are now to be placed on Flexischools as we are no longer using School24 in 2024.

    Summer uniform is worn in Term 1.  Please register and order uniforms online at: 
    https://user.flexischools.com.au/register

    The uniform shop is open for face to face sales next week on Monday 5 February from 2.30pm - 3.30pm and Friday 9th February from 9am - 10am

    If you need to contact the uniform shop volunteers please email:

    uniformshop@drummoynepublicschool.com.au

    MONTY’S MUNCH CANTEEN NEWS

    This week @ Monty’s Munch

    Welcome back.

    The Canteen is open and ready to feed the students!

    Sushi , pasta, fruit salad , yoghurt tubs and all the usual items are available. If you haven't already, please sign up to our new online provider Flexischools. It is easy, reliable and simple to use. There is also a Flexischools App for your phone.

    We will be asking for volunteers shortly and will keep you posted re new roster and how to volunteer.

    kind regards

    The Canteen Committee

    https://chat.whatsapp.com/LtM

    canteen@drummoynepublicschool.com.au

    SCHOOL HOLIDAY DATES

    Autumn Vacation Monday 15 April – Friday 26 April 2024

    Staff Development Day Monday 29 April 2024

    Students return on Tuesday 30 April 2024

    Winter Vacation Monday 8 July -  Friday 19 July 2024

    Staff Development Day Monday 22 July 2024

    Students return on Tuesday 23 July 2024

    Spring Vacation Monday 30 September – Friday 11 October 2024

    No Staff Development Day for Start of Term 4

    Students return to school Monday 14 October 2024

    Last day for students for 2024 - Wednesday 18 December

    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.

    COMMUNITY NEWS

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

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