Drummoyne Public School

Term 4 Week 7 Newsletter - Friday 24 November 2023

PRINCIPAL’S THOUGHTS

Messages from Mr Ackerman

Leadership Assembly

Congratulations to our Year 5 students who were inducted into their 2024 leadership roles at our special assembly on Tuesday. We know they will be great role models and leaders for our school next year.

Presentation Day Assemblies

Our Kindergarten, Year 1 & Year 2 Presentation Day assembly will take place next Tuesday in the school hall from 9.45am.  Parents of children who are receiving an award have been invited to attend in person however, all Kindergarten and Stage 1 parents are welcome to attend.

2024 Classes

After weeks of planning and discussions with staff, I am pleased to announce our draft plan for 2024 classes. Please note if student numbers considerably change or there are any changes to the plans of staff we may need to revisit this class structure.

Class Teachers

KB   Jessica Buchanan

KN   Set Naghoni

KW   Gaby Walsh (Mon / Tue / Wed) & Shannon O’Reilly-Gomes (Thu / Fri)

1/2A   Georgia Apostolopoulos

1/2J   Stacey Jane

1/2P   Poppy Adams

1/2K   Yeji Kim

1/2D   Sam Davis

1/2M   Koula Mavrakis (Mon / Tue / Thu / Fri) & Shannon O’Reilly-Gomes (Wed)

3/4R   James Roche

3/4W   Ashlee Ward

3/4A   Maria Arruzza

3/4S   Suzy Sole

3/4K   Kathy Xenos (Mon / Tue / Wed / Thu) & Beck Cantlay (Fri)

5/6C   Amanda Champion

5/6H   Jacqui Hill

5/6O   Orla Page (Mon / Tue / Wed / Thu) & Elyse Mooney (Fri)

5/6P   Leah Pegler (Tue / Wed / Thu / Fri) & Elyse Mooney (Mon)

Please note there are a number of job shares in 2024. This is due to staff only being available part time as well as the increase in curriculum reform time that allows executive staff to be off class one day per week. We want to be transparent by sharing these classes with the community. Please know that all staff in job share positions are experienced staff members and will add value to the teaching in that classroom. 

Michelle McCauley has accepted a relieving Assistant Principal position at Hunters Hill PS in 2024, we wish her all the best in her new adventures. 

Support Staff

Dianne Colb Deputy Principal

Leigh Russ Learning and Support

Michelle O’Dowd EAL/D

Kim Dionatos EAL/D

Beck Cantlay APC&I

Joseph Neufeld Librarian

James Anthony K-2 RFF

Belinda Richmond K-2 RFF

Ewan Sutton 3-6 RFF

Belinda Shine Minilit

Shae Fleming Technology Coordinator

Enza Currenti Italian Community Language

Ashley Nouris Greek Community Language

Christina Skontos Greek Community Language

Lucy Mclean School Counsellor

What's ahead

  Term 4 2023

Week 8

28 November

9.45am Kindergarten & Years 1 & 2 presentation day

29 NovemberYear 6 Market day - Please pre-purchase vouchers to spend on the day
30 NovemberPrincipal badge winners morning tea with Mr Ackerman
1 December 

Last Scripture & Ethics classes for 2023

11.30am Volunteers Thank you morning tea in the Hall

Week 9

5 December

9.45am Years 3 & 4 presentation day

12.45am Years 5 & 6 presentation day

8 December8.15am - 9.15am Second hand uniform sale under the COLA

Week 10

11 December

Year 6 Dinner Dance
14 December

K-2 Sea Life excursion

3-5 Shark Island excursion

Year 6 Surf school

15 December

Last day of term 4

Year 6 Surf school

Year 6 farewell arch

Term 1 2024 

Thursday 1 February

Students in Years 1-6 return

Kindergarten Best Start assessments commence

Wednesday 7 FebruaryKindergarten Students first day of school

FROM THE DEPUTY'S DESK

Student Attendance

Regular school attendance is a priority in all schools and ensures the best chance for children to achieve their full potential. At Drummoyne PS we have enjoyed high levels of attendance over many years and this reflects the high level of support from our parent community.

The Department of Education has reminded the school of procedures that are to be followed when a student is late to arrive or absent from school. 

Whole Day Absence

  • If a student is absent from school for the whole day, a note is to be returned with the student on the first day of the students’ return to school and handed to the class teacher for recording on the class roll. 
  • A verbal notification by phone or email to the school on the day of absence/or prior is also supported and will be forwarded to the class teacher.
  • The school will follow up absences if a notification has not been made within 2 days.

 Partial Day Absence

  • Students arriving after the bell are expected to go to the school office to be marked as late to school and the reason will be recorded. They are given a late notice and this is handed in to the teacher on arrival to class.
  • Students requiring an early pickup are called to the office after the parents have notified the office staff. The reason for the absence is entered on the roll and recorded as an absence. 

If you have any questions in relation to our procedures for monitoring student attendance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Dianne Colb

Deputy Principal

Class of the Week - KB

Students in class KB have been learning about Aboriginal perspectives through our geography unit. We have learnt that our First Nations peoples use the land to create art, using things from nature like ochre to make paint.

With this in mind, we experimented with dot painting on paper eucalyptus leaves and looked at some indigenous art by Jijaka. We were also able to use some beautiful art paper to create our Aboriginal design inspired wreaths. 

PBL

Principal's Awards and Principal's Badges

Students receive values certificates from their teachers throughout the year for demonstrating our values of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience.

Once a student receives 5 values certificates, they are able to trade them in at the school office for a Principal's Award.  The 5 values certificates can be a combination of the 3 school values and come from any year the student has been in. 

Once the student has received 3 Principal's Awards, they can bring those 3 awards to the school office and choose their Principal's Badge from one of the 3 values.  

Principal's Awards

Respect Awards - Rawson says congratulations to:

  • Zoe Fazah - 3/4R
  • Chloe Anzola Baek - 3/4S
  • Zara Eren - 5/6C
  • Ennie Gantumur - 5/6C
  • Cristian Iliadis - 5/6C
  • Sophia Kneath - 5/6C
  • Eve Baker - 5/6M
  • Isla McLachlan - 5/6M
  • Deniz Kutlu - 5/6O

Responsibility Awards - Monty says congratulations to:

  • Ludo Di Nicola Rotili - 3/4A
  • Vivienne Duquemin - 3/4S
  • Aliya Barbic - 3/4W
  • Amelia Baggett-Grenfell - 5/6C
  • Olivia Fahy - 5/6C
  • Hayden Howard - 5/6C
  • Sophia Kneath - 5/6C
  • Nicholas Anastasiadis - 5/6M
  • Lucy Fernley - 5/6M
  • Sonia Le - 5/6M
  • Shireen Raina - 5/6M
  • Kieran Chung - 5/6O

Resilience Awards - Brett says congratulations to:

  • Evin Bensan - 3/4S
  • Ella Cleave - 4/5K
  • Delilah Fletcher - 4/5K
  • Theodora Bartolo - 5/6C
  • Sophia Kneath - 5/6C
  • Cyra Loney - 5/6M
  • Asher Barbic - 5/6O

Principal's Badges

Mr Ackerman says congratulations to:

  • Angelina Roberts - 3/4R - Respect
  • Ella Cleave - 4/5K - Respect
  • Hayden Howard - 5/6C - Respect
  • Sophia Kneath - 5/6C - Respect
  • Amelia Baggett-Grenfell - 5/6C - Responsibility
  • Theodora Bartolo - 5/6C - Responsibility
  • Nicholas Anastasiadis - 5/6M - Responsibility
  • Shireen Raina - 5/6M - Responsibility
  • Liam Seedsman - 5/6P - Responsibility
  • Will Howard - 3/4S - Resilience

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Year 6 Market day - Wednesday 29 November

Our Year 6 fundraising Market Day will be held on Wednesday 29 November.  All funds will go towards the Year 6 gift to the school and end of year activities.

At the market there will be a variety of stalls where students can purchase food such as: sausage sizzle, cupcakes and crepes; souvenirs such as: bracelets, bookmarks and a lucky dip; as well as activities like basketball shooting and a dance competition. 

To purchase items at the market day we ask students to  pre-purchase tokens. Tokens are $1 each and will be sold as packs of 5 or 10. All items and activities will cost between one and three tokens.

To purchase tokens

Please see the schoolbytes email sent on Wednesday with the heading "Year 6 Market Day".  Please click on the link to make purchases of $5 or $10

OR

Please send cash directly to the office by Tuesday 28 November in order to allow time for token processing.

Tokens will be distributed to students on Wednesday morning, Market Day. 

Please note that this is a student fundraising endeavour and as such no refunds will be issued for unused tokens.

Thank you for supporting Year 6.

Michelle McCauley

Assistant Principal

Stage 3 Sustainability talk with Craig Reucassel

Currently, Stage 3 is studying the environment. On Monday, we were lucky enough to have Craig Reucassel, who is the ‘War On Waste’ host and Gayle Sloan, CEO of the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia, talked to us about how we can help the environment. 

They discussed the sustainable resources we should mostly use for school lunches, and how plastic affects the atmosphere and our planet and of course our health. They explained the different types of material used in everyday life. How we should eat and compost our leftovers because food waste is better for the environment than plastic waste. They also mentioned that some specific foods can’t go into the compost bin because worms can’t break down foods like citrus fruits. For example oranges aren’t safe for the compost because of the citric acid which will harm the worms. 

Craig Reucassel talked about how things have changed since doing his 1st season of ‘War On Waste’. Back then in 2017, plastic bottles weren’t 100% recyclable but now many of them are. For example, he mentioned that Cool Ridge was 100% recyclable and he’s hoping that other companies will follow this lead.

Craig also talked about how paper and reusable plastics are much better than single use plastics. He told us that in Coles, for example, carrots with plastic packaging are cheaper than loose carrots by the kilo. We have to send the message to retailers to stop plastic packaging and that loose fruits or vegetables should be cheaper than those in plastic packaging. He told us that we can all help the environment by having more vegetables than meat in our diets.

After their visit we really thought about how we could change the way we do things in relation to plastic, plastic food waste and helping the environment! One of the things that we can all do, is to talk to our families about how the little things we can change at home, will benefit not only us but future generations.

Amelia Baggett-Grenfell (our own environmental leader)

 with the help of Charlotte Walker and Joanna Phan

Directions in Music Concert Night

Congratulations to our Junior and Senior Bands on their wonderful performance last night.  It was impressive to see the growth in their musicality throughout the year!  Thank you to every family that has supported our performing arts program this year.

Maria Arruzza

Band Co-ordinator

HELPING YOUR CHILD WITH THE NEW CURRICULUM

Understanding and Responding to literature 3-6

Why is understanding and responding to literature important?

The study of literature supports students’ reading and writing skills through learning syntax (sentence structure), discourse (discussion) and vocabulary. It enables students to develop an understanding of how authors craft sentences and structure text in purposeful and effective ways. Studying literature provides opportunities for students to engage in sustained discussions, fostering the development of oral language and vocabulary knowledge. Through literary analysis using close reading (looking at smaller details and how they connect to the larger story) and wide reading (looking at larger themes or recurring details of a text) of literature, students explore a range of familiar and new experiences, times, places, people and cultures.

Concepts in texts

Students should be given regular opportunities to engage with a variety of literature that includes strong examples of:

  • Narrative
  • Characterisation
  • Imagery, symbol and connotation
  • Genre
  • Theme
  • Perspective and context
  • Argument and authority

These concepts can be used as lenses through which to study literature.

What can this look like in action?

In 3/4R this term, I have been trialling aspects of the new Curriculum alongside Mr Roche, to help prepare for 2024. We have been looking at Fantastic Mr Fox as the mentor text and looking closely at the textual concepts narrative and characterisation. So far, students have been exploring how narratives set up expectations for the reader using predictable structure and familiar characters and situations. They have also had the opportunity to analyse excerpts of the text and use these as the basis for their own innovation.

Below are some examples of groups of students’ analysis of the character Mr Fox focusing on being able to identify and describe Mr Fox’s character traits using evidence from the text.

Beck Cantlay

Assistant Principal Curriculum & Instruction

ALL THINGS SPORTY

League Tag Gala Day

What a day!! 

44 students from Stage 2 and 3 with touch football experience played in the League Tag Gala Day on Wednesday. 

This was a non-competitive carnival where each team played 3 games. 

Drummoyne PS won every game played. As you would expect we had some very happy and exhausted students by the end of the day

We couldn't be more proud of the students who showed phenomenal teamwork and Drummoyne spirit!

Thank you to all of the parents who came down to cheer on the students. A very special thanks to ex-student Lexi Modena who graciously took the reins coaching the girls team. 

Congratulations to: 

Maeve O'Brien, Gabi Buckman, Juliette Buckman, Indiana Brown. Amber Worden, Lara Sangster, Lucy Fernley, Tilly Roth, Daisy Henwood, Hayden Howard, Cristian Iliadis, Joshua Campion, Jack Cameron, Micah Navendra, Max Dezius, Liam Pavendranathan, Nicholas Anastasiadis, Hunter Jones, Hugo Hackett, John Seedsman, Liam Seedsman, Isaac O'Brien, Xavi Modena, Hayden Hong, Daniel Hayden, Henry Windmiller, Samuel Burge, Theo Kav, Jack Cleave, Jack Wong, Leo Goldsworthy, Ned Lea, Jack Brierty, Henry Speakman, Ashton Holtsbaum, Asher Vohra, Charles Holtsbaum, Aodhan Perkins, James Worden, Will Howard, Lachlan Sangster, Maksim Orgad, Jake Luciano & Evin Bensan.

Amanda Champion and Suzy Sole

Gala day co-ordinators

LIBRARY NEWS

Outstanding Library Books

A big thanks to everyone who has returned their library books! If you haven’t yet, please get them back to the library as soon as possible.

Joseph Neufeld

Teacher Librarian

Code Club

Thank you to all of our coders who made hosting Code Club a pleasure this year. The last Code club of the year will be next Thursday, 30th November.

Scholastic Book Club - last issue for 2024

DPS offers Scholastic Book Club for you to purchase books for your children whilst also supporting the library. 20% of your order goes back to the school library in Scholastic rewards, which is spent on new library books and classroom resources.

Parents can order and pay online for their child’s Book Club purchase via LOOP (Linked Online Ordering Payment).

https://www.scholastic.com.au/book-club/book-club-parents/book-club/

Book Club issue 8 closes on 1 December 2023.

GENERAL NEWS

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

    Leaving Early in 2023 or Arriving Late in 2024?

    Will your child be finishing the school year early or returning late in 2024 due to leave with the family? The final school day for this year is Friday 15 December 2023 and the commencement date for years 1-6 students next year is Thursday 1 February 2024.

    If your child will be absent at these times, would you please fill in the below form or contact the school office to confirm that your child will be requiring a place at DPS next year and let us know the date you are returning. 

    Download

    Not Continuing at Drummoyne Public School in 2024?

    To help with our 2024 class organisation, if you are not continuing the enrolment of your children next year at DPS and have not already let us know, would you please contact the office ASAP on 9181 2636.

    Current notes due on School Bytes

    • Students leaving early or returning late if applicable - complete by 11 December
    • Year 6 Graduation Bear - Year 6 students - purchase by  8 December
    • Year 6 Market Day (Wed 29 November) tokens - all students - purchase by 28 November
    • End of Year Christmas Assembly invitation to Ethics and non scripture students - Friday 01 December - consent by 30 November
    • Year 6 Graduation Dinner Dance (Monday 11 December) - Year 6 students - consent by 07 December
    • Manly Surf School (14 & 15 December) - Year 6 students - complete by  4 December
    • Sea Life Aquarium (14 December) - Kindy to year 2 students - complete by 7 December
    • Harbour Cruise to Shark Island (14 December) - Years 3 to 5 students - complete by 7 December

    P&C ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Order online with Flexischools in 2024!

    Drummoyne Public School P&C have undergone an extensive review of software providers over the last several months as an alternative to School24. From this review the P&C have chosen 'Flexischools' which allows parents and students a more convenient way to order and pay for canteen, uniform and events online.

    This change will be effective Term 1, 2024. DPS will continue to use School24 for the remainder of this term. From Term 1, 2024 you will no longer be able to order via School24. If you currently hold an account balance, please start running this down over the next few weeks. If you still have a balance left after the end of term, instructions for balance transfers to Flexischools will be provided in Term 1, 2024.  

    Why are we changing to Flexischools?

    • Cost effective - Less fees to parents and the P&C! You can avoid all card fees by topping up from your bank account, and you can use your balance for uniform purchases and events. Service fees with Flexischools are $0.22 cents per child per meal break.
    • Better app - A user friendly, straightforward, and reliable app, which is used by approximately 1,600 schools across Australia. The “Favourites” feature remembers your child’s regular order and is a quick way to place your canteen orders.  
    • Less back-end issues and better service - Our trial and admin users have already seen a fantastic improvement behind the scenes, and with service levels from Flexischools.

    Volunteer Morning Tea

    The 2023 Volunteer's Morning Tea will be held this year on Friday 1 December. Anyone who has given their time and efforts to any P&C or school event this year is invited to attend. Everyone is welcome, so please save this date in your diary.

    Angela Farrell

    P&C President

    It's raffle time!

    Kick off your Christmas cheer early with our fabulous Christmas raffle 

    TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW VIA SCHOOL24 

    Great Hampers and fantastic gifts for everyone. 

    Prizes include: 

    • LEGO pack
    • Waterproof Bluetooth speaker
    • Stunning Cheese resin boards and wine pack
    • Family Beauty Pack
    • Food Hampers

     

    SSSSHHH!!! This is just a sneak peek! Get in quick so you can be part of the excitement! 

    Many Thanks to our wonderful local businesses and families who have donated prizes: 

    Seed and Spark 

    Officeworks Five Dock

    Portrait Hub Drummoyne

    Destros Chemist

    We appreciate your continued support of the school in raising funds for additional STEAM resources. 

    If you have been thinking about donating a prize, it's not too late! Please contact us at dpseventsandfundraising@gmail.com 

    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

    Second hand uniform sale

    The P&C will be holding a second hand uniform sale on Friday 8 December under the COLA from 8.15am to 9.15am. 

    If you have any good quality, clean items you would like to donate to the sale, please drop them to the school office.

    We are looking for a few helpers, so please reach out to your class parent or the office if you can help on the day. 

    Uniform Shop Opening Hours

    Please order school uniforms online. The P&C will process orders and the school office staff will distribute them to students in class to bring home with them.

    The wearing of summer uniform begins in Term 4.  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.

    The uniform shop is open for face to face sales on Wednesday afternoons from 3.00pm - 3.30pm.

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

    uniformshop@drummoynepublicschool.com.au

    MONTY’S MUNCH CANTEEN NEWS

    Monty’s Munch Canteen

    Dear Parents/Carers,

    Thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers Nan, Koo, Oznur and Nurila. Thank you also to our student helpers James H, Issie and Kornei.

    Eugenie will be away from Thursday 7th December. Catherine will need the school community to help support her for the last seven days of Term 4. Please look ahead and register on school24 if you can help out - even for a short time.

    If you are unable to make your volunteer shift please let the canteen know ASAP by calling 9819 7665.

    Sausage Sizzle Event 

    Friday 15th December - to order please Log in to your account. Click on EVENT to the right of the screen. Start your order.

    Sausage Sizzle pack 1$5.90 juice (flavours subject to availability) or water, tom/bbq/mustard sauce included.

    OPTIONAL: quelch stick $0.70.

    Sausage sizzle pack 2: $6.90 chill j drink  or  Oak flavoured milk (flavours subject to availability) tom/bbq/mustard sauce included.

    OPTIONAL: quelch stick $0.70 

    Orders are now open and will close at 3pm on Tuesday 12th December.

    Volunteers needed  

    NOVEMBER

    THURS 30th......9:30am - 10:30 am.......1.         10:30 am -11:30 am........1

    DECEMBER

    FRI 1st...9:30am - 10:30 am.......1.           10:30 am -11:30 am........2

    THURS 7th...9:30am - 10:30 am.......1.     10:30 am -11:30 am........1

    FRI 8th...9:30am - 10:30 am.......2.       10:30 am -11:30 am........2.      !pm-2:45pm.......   1

    THURS 14th...(Whole school excursion - canteen closed)

    FRI 15th...9:30am - 10:30 am.....2.        10:30 am -11:30 am........2.         1pm-2:45pm........1

    To volunteer:

    • Login to your school24 account
    • Click onto VOLUNTEER
    • Follow the prompts

    Your help is most appreciated!

    Kind regards,

    Eugenie and the Canteen Committee

    New WhatApp group

    The school canteen committee has created a WhatsApp group for canteen volunteers with an aim to reach volunteers more effectively than the current emails via School 24. If you have been thinking of volunteering, already are a volunteer, or if you have any questions on what's involved, please join the group via the link below. Everyone is welcome! : 
    https://chat.whatsapp.com/LtMJ

    canteen@drummoynepublicschool.com.au

    SCHOOL HOLIDAY DATES

    Last day for students for 2023 - Friday 15 December

    Summer Vacation Monday 18 December 2023 – Wednesday 31 January 2024

    Staff Development Days Tuesday 30 January & Wednesday 31 January 2024

    Year 1-6 Students return on Thursday 1 February 2024

    Kindergarten Students commence on Wednesday 7 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

    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

    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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    CONTACT US