Drummoyne Public School

Dear Drummoyne PS Community,

As we finish Week 5 – the hump week of the term – we’re well into preparations for a busy and exciting finish to the year. Over the past couple of weeks we’ve held our prefect and house captain elections and have begun finalising several of our other student leadership groups for 2026. These leaders will be inducted at a special Induction Assembly in two weeks time. Teachers have also been hard at work assessing and preparing our Semester 2 reports, as well as finalising awards for our end-of-year presentation days. Details of, and invitations to, these assemblies which will be shared next week. We also have a number of community events on the horizon, including the P&C Trivia Night and preparations for our end-of-year music program concert, the Summer Soirée - a double order of sausages has already been placed! We will definitely be ending the year with a bang (and I didn’t even mention the Year 6 Market Day, Schools Spectacular, Museum and Zoo excursions, Surf School or our K-6 Picnic Day!).

On Tuesday morning, our school came together to honour Remembrance Day with a respectful and thoughtful assembly led by our prefects. Their leadership set a calm and reflective tone as we paused to acknowledge the service and sacrifice of those who have served in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. Our students demonstrated maturity and respect throughout the ceremony, and I thank staff for their guidance in supporting this important moment of reflection.

Sydney Secondary College: Balmain - Girls STEM Club Visit

On Thursday we welcomed the Girls STEM Club from Sydney Secondary College: Balmain Campus, who spent the morning running a series of exciting STEM activities with our Year 4 and 5 students. It was wonderful to see our students reconnecting with some past Drummoyne PS students who have since moved on to SSC Balmain, as well as making new friends. These sorts of partnerships with our local public high schools not only support a smoother transition to high school for our older students, but also provide fantastic leadership opportunities for the visiting students. The hands-on activities – including designing parachutes and dropping them from classroom windows – were a hit, and it was great to see so much curiosity, collaboration and joy in learning.

Regards,

John Nguyen​

Principal 

E: john.nguyen34@det.n​sw.edu.au

This week we were very fortunate to have Miss Lucy, one of our SLSOs, visit our recorder lesson to show us her ocarina. The ocarina is a type of vessel flute, and we learnt how it is related to both the recorder and the concert flute. We saw how it’s played and heard its beautiful, unique sound.

Miss Lucy has been playing the flute since she was a student at DPS, where she performed with the school bands. In high school, she continued her musical journey, playing in the orchestra for school musicals and performing at the Conservatorium of Music and on a regional tour.

Two years ago, Miss Lucy was inspired to learn the ocarina after hearing it in the soundtracks of video games and movies such as The Legend of Zelda and Tangled. She explained how learning the recorder and flute as a child made it easier to pick up the ocarina as an adult.

Her visit helped us see how learning the recorder builds the musical knowledge and skills needed to progress to orchestral instruments. I wonder how many of our recorder players will now be inspired to join the school band!

🌺 1 WEEK TO GO: DPS HAWAIIAN THEMED TRIVIA - EARLY BIRD CUT OFF MONDAY 17 NOVEMBER 🌺

📅 Friday, 21 November

🕡 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM

📍 DPS School Hall

Get ready for a fun Hawaiian themed evening! Dress up or decorate your table for a tropical vibe 🌴

🎟️ $45 per seat (early bird pricing valid until 17/11) – includes a Peach Spritz on arrival!

🍿 Snacks provided per table (BYO food welcome)

🍹 Drinks for purchase at the bar

🎫 Book your tickets on Flexischools

🏆 Prizes for:     

• Trivia winning table      
• Trivia runner up table 

✨ Parents only event – come along for a relaxed night of laughs, prizes, and island vibes with a little friendly competition!

The NSW Department of Education’s Arts Unit is once again hosting the Recorder Camp at Stanwell Tops, from Tuesday 7 April to Friday 10 April 2026 (during the school holidays).

This exciting camp is open to students in Years 5–12 (including current Year 6 students entering high school next year) who play recorder or woodwind instruments. Woodwind players can use their existing music skills to learn recorder at the camp. The ability to read music is an advantage but not essential.Led by experienced Arts Unit staff and specialist teachers, the camp offers a fantastic opportunity to develop musicianship, make new friends, and enjoy music-making in a supportive environment. It’s also a great chance to reconnect with friends who may now be at another high school.

For more information, scan the QR code or visit the Arts Unit website - https://artsunit.nsw.edu.au/local-arts-program/nsw-public-schools-recorder-camp, or contact Alicia Crossley at alicia.crossley4@det.nsw.edu.au.

With the weather warming up, we are noticing lots of jumpers and hats being taken off and left about the school. To ensure items can be returned, 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.

Regular school attendance is important for your child’s learning and social development. If your child is absent from school, you must ensure that you provide the school with a written explanation.

The School Bytes Parent App allows you to quickly and easily submit an absence notification to the school, or respond to an absence that has been recorded but not yet explained. This is especially helpful for future planned absences, such as a scheduled medical appointment.

Late arrival or early departure

Parents must come to the office and sign their child/ren in or out of school when arriving late or leaving early. This ensures student attendance is correctly recorded. Phoning ahead 10 minutes before you arrive when picking up early allows time to bring the student to the office.

Extended leave

Families are encouraged to travel during school holidays. If travel during school term is necessary, you can only submit up to 9 days leave on the School Bytes Parent App.

If travelling for 10 days or more, you will need to complete an Application to leave - travel This form is now electronic and can be completed within the forms section of School Bytes.

For more information, visit the School Bytes website and check out the "Parent Guides" for helpful FAQs and tutorials.

How to guides

Downloading the App provides real time school updates, access to online forms, upcoming event dates, payments and permissions on the go, students reports and plans, as well as being able to submit absences quickly. 

Download today:

App Store - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/school-bytes/id6463097826  

Google Play - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=education.schoolbytes

Can't download the App? The parent portal can also be accessed on a web browser:

https://portal.schoolbytes.education/auth/login

If you experience any difficulties registering or using the app, please contact our admin team at drummoyne-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au.

Please join us for the November P&C meeting on Tuesday 18 November from 7.30pm in the school library.

New 2026 Kindy Families can now register for Flexischools and order under the class New Starter 2026.

The P&C will be hosting a FINAL second hand uniform sale for 2025 on Friday 28th November from 8.15am.

This is a great opportunity to clean out the cupboards and donate any items you no longer need.

Kindy 2026 parents and friends will be invited along also so they can start preparing to join us next year! There will be an opportunity to try and buy NEW uniforms at the upcoming Kindy transition morning next week, along with being about to order online via Flexischools. 

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