Respect – Responsibility – Resilience FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 2018 TERM 4, WEEK 3 WHAT’S ON TERM 4 WEEK 4 Monday 5 November 8.00am Senior Band Tuesday 6 November 11.15am - 12.15pm Chess Lessons in Library 2.40pm 3-6 Primary Assembly – 5P Hosting Wednesday 7 November 8.30am Senior Choir in RFF room Dancefever Gymnastics Program 11.20am DIM Strings Thursday 8 November 8.30am Greek & Italian extension classes 8.30am Years 3 & 4 Choir in 6C classroom 8.50am Year 2 Choir in KA classroom Dancefever Gymnastics Program Friday 9 November 8.00-8.40am Junior Band in Hall Selective High School applications close 2.40pm K-2 Infants Assembly – 1A Hosting WHAT’S AHEAD 13 November 2.40pm 3-6 Primary Assembly – 5H Hosting 14 November – SRC Farmers Appeal – Mufti Day 16 November K-2 Infants Assembly – 1H Hosting 20 November 2:30pm 2019 Leaders Induction 27 November – Year 6 County Fair 30 November Parent & Volunteer Morning Tea 30 November 6.30pm DIM Concert & Christmas Carols 4 December 10am K-2 Presentation Day 11 December 10am 3-4 Presentation Day 11 December 1pm 5-6 Presentation Day 13 December Year 6 Graduation Dinner 17 & 18 December Year 6 Surf School 18 December Yrs 3-5 Shark Island Picnic 18 December K-2 Picnic Day 19 December – Last Day for Students NOTES DUE THIS WEEK Dancefever Gymnastics Program – All Students Intention to apply for Selective High School placement in 2020 – Yr 5 This week our 2019 Kindergarten students enjoyed visits to our current kindie classrooms. PRINCIPAL’S THOUGHTS Halloween Disco On Friday night we joined with children around the world to celebrate Halloween through two exciting and engaging discos. Our students demonstrated their creative dance moves and competed in a dance challenge wearing some very scary costumes... The night was organised by our P&C and led by Joey from Dancefever. Thank you to every volunteer and to every family for supporting school community events. Formation of Classes for 2019 Over the next few weeks a process for the placement of students into tentative classes for next year will take place involving executive, teachers and specialist staff. This is designed to ensure a smooth transition for all students and support student learning. The aims of this process are: To provide each child with the opportunity to be part of a class of children that will allow them the best opportunity to learn. To form well balanced classes of children that take into account the social, emotional, academic and physical characteristics of each child. To ensure that optimum use is made of the knowledge that teachers have of each child before and after class placement. This will be supported through ‘handover’ meetings between current and new teachers at the start of the new year. Other aspects of the class formation process include the following thoughts: Firstly, determining the number of classes for next year, class sizes and the year levels of each class based on anticipated student enrolments. This may include ‘across stage’ classes to cater for variations in year cohorts.
Transcript
Respect – Responsibility – Resilience
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 2018 TERM 4, WEEK 3
WHAT’S ON
TERM 4 WEEK 4
Monday 5 November
8.00am Senior Band
Tuesday 6 November
11.15am - 12.15pm Chess Lessons in Library
2.40pm 3-6 Primary Assembly – 5P Hosting Wednesday 7 November
8.30am Senior Choir in RFF room
Dancefever Gymnastics Program
11.20am DIM Strings Thursday 8 November
8.30am Greek & Italian extension classes
8.30am Years 3 & 4 Choir in 6C classroom
8.50am Year 2 Choir in KA classroom
Dancefever Gymnastics Program Friday 9 November
8.00-8.40am Junior Band in Hall
Selective High School applications close
2.40pm K-2 Infants Assembly – 1A Hosting
WHAT’S AHEAD
13 November 2.40pm 3-6 Primary Assembly – 5H Hosting 14 November – SRC Farmers Appeal – Mufti Day 16 November K-2 Infants Assembly – 1H Hosting 20 November 2:30pm 2019 Leaders Induction 27 November – Year 6 County Fair 30 November Parent & Volunteer Morning Tea 30 November 6.30pm DIM Concert & Christmas Carols 4 December 10am K-2 Presentation Day 11 December 10am 3-4 Presentation Day 11 December 1pm 5-6 Presentation Day 13 December Year 6 Graduation Dinner 17 & 18 December Year 6 Surf School 18 December Yrs 3-5 Shark Island Picnic 18 December K-2 Picnic Day 19 December – Last Day for Students
NOTES DUE THIS WEEK
Dancefever Gymnastics Program – All Students Intention to apply for Selective High School placement in 2020 – Yr 5
This week our 2019 Kindergarten students enjoyed visits to our current kindie classrooms.
PRINCIPAL’S THOUGHTS
Halloween Disco On Friday night we joined with children around the world to celebrate Halloween through two exciting and engaging discos. Our students demonstrated their creative dance moves and competed in a dance challenge wearing some very scary costumes... The night was organised by our P&C and led by Joey from Dancefever. Thank you to every volunteer and to every family for supporting school community events.
Formation of Classes for 2019 Over the next few weeks a process for the placement of students into tentative classes for next year will take place involving executive, teachers and specialist staff. This is designed to ensure a smooth transition for all students and support student learning. The aims of this process are:
To provide each child with the opportunity to be part of a class of children that will allow them the best opportunity to learn.
To form well balanced classes of children that take into account the social, emotional, academic and physical characteristics of each child.
To ensure that optimum use is made of the knowledge that teachers have of each child before and after class placement. This will be supported through ‘handover’ meetings between current and new teachers at the start of the new year.
Other aspects of the class formation process include the following thoughts:
Firstly, determining the number of classes for next year, class sizes and the year levels of each class based on anticipated student enrolments. This may include ‘across stage’ classes to cater for variations in year cohorts.
Consideration will be given to gender balance, the previous class, each child’s ability, language background, student behaviour and friendship groups. An opportunity will be given for students to nominate who they believe would make good learning partners in the following year. The opportunity for social development through accessing a wide number of students is considered by the school. The individual learning needs of each child, including students with special needs, will be carefully considered.
Parallel or socially grouped classes will seek to have an equal balance of capable and less capable students. This will be based primarily on the academic ability of a student as indicated by class and grade assessments.
Numbers in early childhood classes will seek to reflect the State government’s class size reduction program.
Details relating to the school organisation, classes of children, and the teachers allocated to classes will be provided to parents on the first day of term 1.
As the class structure may need to change depending on student enrolments over the holiday period, the school will not be in a position to share the composition of proposed classes prior to the start of the new year.
Wishing you well for the week ahead. Brian J Dill PRINCIPAL
FROM THE DEPUTY’S DESK
Last term class KB learnt about the needs of living things. They enjoyed reading “Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox” by Danielle Daniel. They couldn’t help but wonder……
If we were an animal what would we be?
Before they could decide, they looked at the characteristics and needs of animals that they knew. Once they knew more, they each chose an animal and investigated it further. They moulded their animal out of plasticine, designed a shelter and wrote down everything they knew.
Please drop by to see their fabulous projects!
Dianne Colb DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
DRUMMOYNE PS BAND NEWS
Welcome back to all our wonderful DPS Musicians! We are so excited that our 2 bands are working towards their end of year evening concert on Friday 30th November at 6.30pm. We would like to invite all members of our Drummoyne community to come and celebrate this fun event! This week, Directions In Music visited our students to show them all about the band and strings instruments at our Instrumental expo! If you are interested in joining the band next year, feel free to also come along to our end of year concert to hear some great music, have fun and introduce yourself to our conductors and other band students- we’d love to see you!
Enrolments Open 2019! Applications are now open for our 2019 Drummoyne PS Junior Band and Strings! All students from years 2-6 can sign up for strings and students from year 3-6 in 2019 can sign up for band now! You can enrol online at www.directionsinmusic.com.au or call our DIM office on 9662 2211 if you have any questions or want to chat about music.
On Wednesday years 5&6 went to Timbrell Park for the Oztag gala day with other schools in our area. We were put into groups of 7 or 8 and played a total of 5 games against other schools and sometimes even our own school. Harry Zhu
LIBRARY NEWS
Thank you for your great response to the Overdue Notices, both emails and notes; if you know that a book was sent back to the library, please let me know and we can look for it on the shelves. Sometimes good readers return Drummoyne Public School Library to public libraries and vice versa. They generally post our books back to us and I try to track down the owner of those returned to us. Checking the barcode on the front of the book will usually tell from whence it came. We have some lovely new books in our collection…check Oliver New Look Search for the latest.
Christmas is just 52 sleeps away! All of the new Christmas books will be available from Monday; perhaps you would be interested in Santa Claus Vs the Easter Bunny?
2019 Year 6 Librarians Thank you to all of the students who have submitted applications for the position of Year 6 Librarians for 2019. You will have received an acknowledgement from me by email today.
Congratulations to Louis Orsini-Mustafa for gaining a child part as the son of Crassus in the upcoming Sydney season of “Spartacus” with the Australian Ballet Company.
The Sydney season runs from Friday 9 November to Saturday 24 November 2018 at the Sydney Opera House.
Children in the Passive Play group, which is held every Wed & Thurs lunchtime in the north quiet area (under the gumtree by front gate) – The group is open to everyone who plays in the north playground.
CLASS 1A’S INDIAN EXPERIENCE
As part of their English and Geography units about different cultures, class 1A was very fortunate to have an Indian experience with the help of Kiran and Zara and their mother Swati.
YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARDS
OFFICE NEWS
School Bus Routes & Timetables For information about the school bus routes, timetables and Opal cards please go to the Transport for NSW website: https://transportnsw.info/routes/bus
Lost Property Please ensure all items are clearly labelled and speak with your children if they come home without their jacket, hat or lunch box. Lost property is cleared out regularly and unclaimed items will be donated to the 2
nd hand
stall.
Yr 5 Students - APPLICATIONS FOR ENTRY INTO A SELECTIVE HIGH SCHOOL FOR 2020 ARE CLOSING SOON Please fill in the intention to apply note at the end of this newsletter and apply through the high performance students website: https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes The closing date is Monday 12 November.
On Friday 2 November Drummoyne Public School celebrated Positive Education Day, wearing colourful clothes to help highlight the importance of positive education and wellbeing at our school.
There will always be times in our lives when things are not going well. You cannot have a smile on your face all the time. What you do need are skills to be optimistic and resilient when faced with a difficult, sad or challenging situation.
This week activities will focus on helping to equip our students with skills to be their best possible selves.
Resilience
Stay positive Bounce back
● I give my best effort ● I keep trying ● I learn from experiences ● I play fairly and include others ● I wait patiently for my turn ● I share playground areas and equipment ● I listen to my peers if they express a problem ● I accept responsibility for my actions ● I ask the teacher for help with solving a problem
after I have tried on my own and still require assistance
● I accept feedback on how to improve
P & C NEWS
CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISER
School Trees is an organisation which started in 2014 to help schools raise funds for their P&C. The trees, stands, puddings & Christmas cakes can be ordered online through the School Trees website at: www.schooltrees.com.au
The fundraising period runs through the month of November and the trees will be delivered to the school very early on Saturday December 8th for collection.
We welcome Gowrie NSW to DPS and advise that enrolment forms can be found on the Gowrie website: https://www.gowriensw.com.au/our-centres/out-of-hours-care/gowrie-oshc-drummoyne
SCHOOL HOLIDAY DATES
Summer Vacation Thursday 20 December 2018 – Monday 28 January 2019 Staff Development Day Tuesday 29 January 2019 Autumn Vacation Monday 15 April – Friday 26 April 2019 Staff Development Day Monday 29 April 2019 Winter Vacation Monday 8 July – Friday 19 July 2019 Staff Development Day Monday 22 July 2019 Spring Vacation Monday 30 September – Friday 11 October 2019
It’s not until you have kids that you realise that everyone has an opinion about how they should be raised.
The rise of the internet has just multiplied the number of voices, giving many unauthorised people a voice in the parenting space. It is no longer just our close family and friends who share their opinions with us as occurred in the past. Now there are countless expert pieces, parent blogs, chat rooms and articles on any topic you can imagine.
It’s confusing enough when your kids are born without special gifts and challenges, but more so when you are a parent with a child on the autism spectrum. They have to deal with many voices including those who can be non-accepting and judgemental. It’s my belief that everyone has an opinion, but not everyone has earned the right to share it.
If you’re a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, how do you drown out the noise? Who do you listen to? Here are some thoughts.
Listen to autistic voices
Look the advice, stories and opinions of people on the autism spectrum. Their voice shouldn’t be discarded. They have lived experience and have incredible insights for you as you parent and your child. Also listen to what your child has to say. We can all learn a great deal from their lived experience. If they can share it (and this may be when they are older), then embrace this knowledge.
Listen to understanding professionals
Identify a support team of professionals including your child’ teacher, general practitioner, specialist health workers. They can provide you with not just greater knowledge of autism but provide you with insights into your child’s capacities and strengths. Staying focused on your own child can help drown out the noise. It is easier to shake off the voices of others when you have quality support telling you the truth about your child specifically, as opposed to others expressing their general opinions.
Listen to family and friends who love you
We're a Parenting Ideas school parentingideas.com.au/schools
Be careful who you take parenting advice fromby Kate Johnson
insights
WELLBEING AND MENTAL HEALTH
Gravitate toward friends and family who will love and support you and your child and steer clear of those who have a need to send you the latest article they’ve found on autism, or tag you in a random on social media. Seek out people who genuinely want to help and who are willing to spend time with you and your child. If someone’s opinions are not real, positive or helpful, then you don’t have to listen to them.
After a child is diagnosed, it can be so easy to go into overdrive and research for hours on end. This is normal! We want to be equipped to do our best at parenting our children. However, set boundaries when it comes to taking on other’s opinions about autism and your child.
Steer clear of unhelpful discussion groups
It’s common for parents with children diagnosed with autism to hit online discussion groups. It can be so overwhelming to have so many voices telling you what ‘they’ think you need to know. Politely move on from conversations that make you uncomfortable, unless you can take the opportunity to share your perspective and use them as educational moments.
As an active parent and professional in the online space I’ve often experienced outlandish statements from well-meaning people. I use these situations to share my personal experience (and the strengths of my child) to debunk myths such as autism is caused by bad parenting. Be clear about how you use discussion groups. Use as a way to feel a part of a community, a source of knowledge and inspiration and a place to share your story and experiences.
All parents need to be mindful about protecting their emotions and accepting advice from trusted, knowledgeable sources. I’d suggest that it’s even more important to choose well when you’re raising kids with autism. Protecting your heart and listening to quality voices is an ongoing journey. But it is essential to looking after your own mental health and ensure that the main thing – your child – remains the main thing.
Kate Johnson
Kate is the Founder and Director of Spectrum Journeys Inc, a not for profit Autism service that equips and empowers families and educators as they support children on the Autism Spectrum to flourish. Kate leads an amazing team in the Outer East of Melbourne and focuses on practical Autism education as well as community projects and supporting carers. Kate is married to Joel and they have 4 beautiful children (their eldest being on the Autism Spectrum).
We're a Parenting Ideas school parentingideas.com.au/schools
October 2018
Gymnastics Program
Dear Parents,
As part of the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) curriculum this term all students will be participating in a whole school gymnastics program organised by experienced external provider, ‘Dancefever Multisport’. Dancefever Multisport has been teaching physical education programs in primary schools since 1999 and are currently teaching in over 750 schools across NSW. Dancefever will provide two accredited gymnastics teachers who will teach the students a range of fundamental movement and gymnastics skills. Depending on your child’s class, the program will take place in the hall or primary playground on Wednesdays or Thursdays starting on Wednesday 17 October. Please complete the permission note below and return it to the school office with the payment of $45 by Friday 26 October. Funds are available to support families who are experiencing financial difficulties. Please contact the school if we can help. Thank you for your support of this curriculum program at the school. Brian J Dill PRINCIPAL -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dancefever Gymnastics Program
I give permission for my child ……………………………………………………. of class ………………. to participate in the Dancefever Gymnastics Program at a cost of $45.00. Signature of Parent/Caregiver: ……………………………………………………………….. For your convenience you can pay with the secure Parent Online Payment (POP) system on our school website under the MAKE A PAYMENT. Alternatively you can pay with cash or cheque to the school office. Please write your POP receipt number here ________________
Please return to the School Administration Office by Friday 26 October.
Intention to apply for Year 7 entry to a selective high school in 2020
Dear Parent/Carer,
Selective high schools cater for high achieving academically gifted students who may otherwise be without sufficient classmates at their own academic and social level. These schools help gifted and talented students to learn by grouping them with other gifted and talented students, teaching them in specialised ways and providing educational materials at the appropriate level.
Applications for selective high school placement are considered mainly on the basis of the Selective High School Placement Test results and school assessment scores. The Selective High School Placement Test will be held on Thursday 14 March 2019.
If you would like to have your child considered for Year 7 selective high school entry in 2020, you need to apply on the internet using a valid email address (not the student’s email address).
Detailed instructions on how to apply online will be available from mid-September 2018 at https:// education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-7. The application website opens at that link on 9 October 2018 and closes on 12 November 2018. You must apply before the closing date.
There are no paper application forms. If you do not have internet access, you could apply at a public library. If you have a disability that prevents you from using a computer, you can contact the Unit for assistance after 9 October 2018.
You must submit only ONE application for each student.
Remember: the tear-off slip below is not an application and the school cannot apply on your behalf.
Yours sincerely
Brian J. Dill
Principal
Cut along the dotted line and return the completed slip below to this school by next Friday.
Intention to apply for Year 7 entry to a selective high school in 2020
Student’s name: Class:
I intend to apply for selective high school entry in Year 7 in 2020 through the High
Performing Students Unit website between 9 October 2018 and 12 November 2018. Yes No
Signature of parent/carer: Date:
Note: THIS IS NOT AN APPLICATION FOR ENTRY TO A SELECTIVE HIGH SCHOOL. This is a notice to your primary
school only that you intend to apply.
TO APPLY YOU WILL NEED TO REGISTER AND THEN APPLY THROUGH THE HIGH PERFORMING STUDENTS WEBSITE.
