Drummoyne Public School

Dear Drummoyne PS Community,

Stage 3 Choir at Festival of Choral Music

Following on from Education Week last week, I was very pleased to be able to attend another celebration of Public Education at the Opera House on Tuesday night, the Festival of Choral Music. Even though I have attended this event as an accompanying teacher many times in the past, this was my first time as an audience member and I couldn't have been more proud of our Stage 3 choir for their outstanding performance. Watching our talented students stand on such a prestigious stage, their voices harmonising beautifully with choristers from across the state, their hard work, dedication and passion for music truly shone through.

I would like to extend a huge thank you to Ms Xenos and Ms Cantlay for their tireless effort, encouragement and expert direction. Without their time and dedication to music education, this opportunity for our students would not have been possible. I am very much looking forward to seeing our Stage 2 Choir perform at the Town Hall as part of the Primary Proms at the end of this term. 

Zone Athletics Carnival

“ And the winner is …”

In another ‘proud Principal’ moment this week, I was blown away to hear the results coming in from the Inner-West Zone Athletics Carnival yesterday. Our athletes ran, jumped, threw and put (what you do with a shot!) with all their might, representing our school with pride. Individual results will be published in next week's newsletter but I am pleased to announce that Drummoyne PS won ALL FOUR zone shields on offer with our junior boys, junior girls, senior boys and senior girls out performing every other school in our zone. This is a truly OUTSTANDING result and we will be organising a special recognition of our team’s achievement at next week’s assembly. 

Science Week 

Science Week at Drummoyne Public School was an exciting and inspiring event, filled with curiosity and hands-on learning. Our K-2 students eagerly engaged in a variety of fun experiments, sparking their interest in the world of science and our Stage 3-6 students took on a meaningful and impactful project, creating solar lights for students in Papua New Guinea through the Origin Energy ‘Solar Buddies’ Program. This initiative not only taught them about renewable energy and sustainability but also allowed them to make a real difference in the lives of others. It was heartwarming to see our students come together to embrace science, creativity and global citizenship, showcasing the values and spirit of our school.

A very big thank you to Jane Duquemin, who facilitated our school’s involvement in this initiative with Origin Energy; Ms O’Dowd, for coordinating the event; Hannah Heath, for her ongoing work with our student Environmental Leaders; and also to all the parents who responded to the call out and volunteered their time to assist.

Regards,

John Nguyen​

Principal 

E: john.nguyen34@det.n​sw.edu.au 

Every day matters, right throughout the term!

It is really important for students to come to school every single day, unless they are sick.

Being at school every day boosts student learning and confidence and helps them build and maintain friendships.

A reminder that planned travel should only be taken during school holidays and students should be at school every day during school term, right from beginning to end.

Missing a day here or there may not seem like much, but absences add up. Every day matters and we are here to support all students in attending and engaging with their learning every day of the term.

Dianne Colb

Deputy Principal

In Science, Stage 1 are learning about natural resources in our environment and how everything comes from something. Class 1/2A had fun exploring this by making icecream.

Respect awards - Rawson says congratulations to:

• Eloise B - 1/2M
• Parker F - 1/2M
• Christina T - 1/2M

Responsibility awards - Monty says congratulations to:

• Arlo O - 1/2M

Resilience awards - Bretty says congratulations to:

• Leon L-D - 1/2A
• Levi C - 1/2D
• Maya P - 1/2P

• Bart W - 1/2D - Respect
• Maya P - 1/2P - Resilience

On Tuesday, 13th August, 30 Stage 3 chorists made their way to the Opera House to perform in the Festival of Choral Music. The day began with a final rehearsal where DPS, with about 600 other students, rehearsed the songs we had been learning and practising all year, ready for the concert that followed later that night. 

A highlight of the rehearsal was definitely the secret light show - we got to see some of the amazing things that the Opera House can do! Another was that a group of Aboriginal ladies from the Tiwi Islands who shared their music for the song 'Wunijaka' (which means ancestral voices in the wind), attended the rehearsal to hear us sing their music, and then sang for us. It was a very special moment. 

The concert itself was an amazing night of brilliant choral pieces and exciting harmonies. Some highlights were performing with the Concert Orchestra for 'The Phoenix' and 'Touch the Sky', and then with the Stage Band for 'It's All Right' and 'Brand New You'. It was a night we won't soon forget, and performing on the Opera House Stage was such a thrilling and memorable experience. 

Phoebe (5/6P) and Miss Xenos

Drummoyne parents Hannah Heath and Jane Duquemin have been working with our Year 6 Environmental leaders to deepen students’ understanding of renewable energy and its potential impact on their lives. 

To celebrate National Science Week, our Stage 2 and 3 students were fortunate to work with Jane and Josh from the Origin Energy Foundation to make a SolarBuddy light.  SolarBuddy is an impact organisation uniting a global community to literally illuminate the futures of children who don't have access to electricity. In fact, almost 800 million people live in energy poverty and 513,000 of these people live here in Australia. 

On Wednesday, our primary students made 100 solar torches and wrote an accompanying letter to send to a primary school student who resides along the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea. The assembly of each torch took about 30 minutes and lasts up to 18 hours before being recharged. It has been designed so that it clips onto a back pack which means it can be charged while walking or riding to school. The life of each solar torch is at least 10 years and they are often shared with other family members. 

By all reports, our students, their teachers and our wonderful parent volunteers had loads of fun and indicated that it was a very worthwhile experience. I trust that the assembly of these solar lights will help raise our community's awareness about energy poverty around the world. 

A thank you to all the parents who volunteered their time to assist with reading instructions, elastic bands and tricky small screws and a huge thanks to Jane Duquemin and Hannah Heath for facilitating this opportunity with Origin Energy free of charge.  

sincerely

Michelle O'Dowd and our Year 6 Environmental Leaders

Magic is in the air! It’s here!

Our day of Book Week celebrations is here!

Monday 19th August will be a day to remember! Parades, Authors and Books oh my! We will have award winning children’s author Susanne Gervay visiting us, a magical Book Week Parade and lots of reading!

Parade!

We can’t wait to see your Book Week costumes!

Students are invited to come dressed as a favourite book character or in the Reading is Magic theme for the parade. Family and carers are invited to come and watch the parade. The parade will take place Monday 19th August at 2:30 p.m.

Author visit!

Also on the Monday, students from Kindergarten to Year 6 will listen to a presentation from award winning author Susanne Gervay.

Awarded the Lifetime Social Justice Literature Award by the International Literacy Association, Order of Australia, nominee for Australia for Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, Susanne Gervay is recognized for her writing on social justice.

An acclaimed national and international speaker, Susanne Gervay is head of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators SCBWI Australia East and New Zealand, Ambassador for many literacy, reading and equity campaigns.

If students would like to order one of Susanne’s books, please use the link : https://www.lamontauthors.com.au/buy-authors-book/. The portal will be open until 1 September. Please note that the book will not be signed. 

Will you rise to meet the challenge?  

Students in years 3 to 6 must have their reading logged on the PRC website by Friday 23rd August to get their certificate!

The easiest way for students to log their reading is by going to their student portal and clicking on the Premier’s Reading Challenge icon.

Kindy to year 2 students will have their reading logs updated by Mr Neufeld.

Happy reading!

Mr Neufeld

Hot off the press! Move over Olympics - Drummoyne PS Wins all four Inner West PSSA Trophies!

Yesterday our athletics team competed at the IWPSSA Zone Athletics Carnival with history making results. Due to the outstanding efforts of our athletes, Drummoyne won the Athletics Proportional Champion School, the Athletics Aggregate Champion School, the Boys Athletic Champion School and the Girls Athletic Champion School trophies! WOW! 

Congratulations to all our representatives on an amazing effort. Further results will be published next week. We are very proud of our students.  They will be recognised at our school assembly on Tuesday. 

A quick reminder to the team - please wash your DPS team singlet and return it to Ms Pegler on Monday.

 Leah Pegler & James Roche

Congratulations to Isaac O'B who recently represented Drummoyne Public School and the Sydney East Region at the Australian Combined Schools National Australian Football Championship 2024 in Geelong. 

NSW came 4th overall, which is the equal best result NSW has had in this competition in over 100 years. Isaac was thrilled to be part of the NSW Bluepups 2024 team, playing games against boys teams from the other states and territories and attending the various ceremonies and official footy themed experiences in Geelong.

This year, our school will be beginning to streamline some of our communication practices in an effort to keep our school community engaged and informed. As part of this process, we ask that you please join your child/ren's CLASS GROUP as well as their YEAR GROUP (rolled over from last year) in the Audiri app. This will help us to ensure that you receive information relevant to you and your child/ren. Detailed instructions are included below.

How users can subscribe to open groups in the Audiri app: New users joining your school can subscribe to Open Groups by following these steps in the Audiri app:

Thank you for your support.

LAST CHANCE!!

Early Bird Unlimited Ride Passes finish TONIGHT (16 August) at 11.59pm. The wristbands include one pony ride and as many other rides as you like. Purchase yours now for $45 at : https://drummoynepublicschool.com.au/pc/

Ride passes are available on fete day for $60, or 3 x ride for $25. 

The secret is out!

Why do you NEED a ride pass? The Sizzler of course! We told you there would be a new ride this year, and the fete team has delivered! Enjoy this and some of our returning rides: Dodgems, the Disco, the Big Slide, the Ninja Course and so much more. 

Today was our first tombola mufti day. It was great to see all our students arrive in mufti with arms full of decorated tombola jars. You’ve all been so creative!!

If you haven’t had a chance to fill your tombola jar yet, there are lots of great ideas in our latest fete video. Even better, tombola jars can be dropped off to the office any day next week in the lead up to the fete. 

Fancy learning how to sail? How about indulging in an Italian wine tasting experience? Or spoiling yourself with a beautiful 9 Carat White Gold & Topaz Ring? All these great prizes and more are up for grabs in our DPS Fete Silent Auction.

Visit https://www.32auctions.com/DPSfete2024 to place your bid!

All uniform shop orders are now to be placed on Flexischools.

The uniform shop is open for face to face sales on Friday mornings from 9am - 10am

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

Sushi is now only available fortnightly and must be pre ordered. The next day sushi is available is Tuesday 20th. The cut off for ordering will be Monday 19th 9:30 am. Please order before this to avoid disappointment.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: AUGUST

MON. 19th.   10:30 am - 11:30 am…….1 ( Chicken Nuggets and wedges )     

THURS 22nd.  9:30am - 10:30 am…..1.        10:30 am - 11:30 am…….1 (Pasta)

FRI. 23rd 9:30am - 10:30 am….1.        10:30 am - 11:30 am……2 (Sausage Sizzle)

To Volunteer

• Log in to Flexischools account.
• Click on NEWSFEED
• Click on VOLUNTEER IN CANTEEN and click on the word here.

If you need to pay for an emergency lunch:

• Log in to Flexischools.
• Select the next available date to pay.
• Select the IOU option.
• Select money denominations equal to money owing.
• Add to basket.
• Pay - so easy!!

Kind regards,

Canteen and P&C Committee

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.

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