Duranbah Public School

A quality education in a caring environment Telephone 02 6677 7221 Fax 02 66777547

105 Duranbah Road, DURANBAH 2487 Email: duranbah-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Website: www.duranbah-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

Term 1 Week 2 Monday 11th February 2019

Principal’s Report

What an excellent start to 2019! Classes are buzzing, parents

are smiling and if you could harness the energy flowing from our

students you could light a city!

It’s been wonderful welcoming everyone back. Our new

Kindergarten students have settled in brilliantly, as have the new

students to our school. Our returning students have come back

with their stories of the Christmas break and all the things they

got up to. All in all, a great start to a very optimistic year for our

wonderful small school and it’s very supportive community!

P&C

By the time you read this, we will have had our first P&C meeting

for 2019. All minutes and items will be published, and I thank

everyone who was able to make the time to attend. A reminder

to all our families that they are very welcome to attend these

meetings, which we have about twice per term, and any ideas or

suggestions can be forwarded to the P&C through Kathy

Rockwell, Jacqui Kershaw or Karen Nixon-Hind, the current P&C

executive.

Staffing changes

2019 sees a couple of changes to our staff. We welcome Ms

Kate Field in the classroom teaching capacity, team teaching in

our 456 class. Ms Jenny Spears joins us to teach piano/

keyboard. Miss Grace Valenti and Ms Lauren Williams join us to

assume a teaching practicum in the 456 and K1 classes

(respectively) through the Southern Cross University ‘Pathways’

program. Mrs Cindy Hargreaves assumes an Administration role

on a regular basis both in the office and also the library. Ms Kate

Carpenter has left us, having served in the DEC cadetship

program for a year.

School Structures

Those of you who’ve been able to visit the school this year will

have noticed the refurbishment to the 2/3 room. It looks

outstanding and has made a huge difference to the learning

environment of these students. Along with this, we have been

provided with extra storage space and work space for our

General Assistant, Mr Cantwell.

Parking

We all know that our parking spaces at school are not perfect.

We know that parking on the oval can’t be avoided, however we

ask that parents check that there aren’t any spaces available

before moving onto this play space. We also ask that families

keep a close eye on their little ones when parking on the oval, as

there may well be other moving vehicles in that area. Our pick-

up area, around the fig-tree works really well for afternoon pick-

ups, and we thank parents utilising this for not leaving cars in

this flow area. Our big news in the parking needs of the school

is that we are in the process of designing and seeking approval

for a much needed increased car park. We’re not sure how this

may look at this point, but relevant departmental officials are

locked in to visit over the next week to begin plans, so if there

any ideas or suggestions as to how we may maximise our

parking capacity, please forward them to me.

exciting and energetic opportunity.

Mark Your Calendar

8 February P&C Meeting

14 February STARLAB excursion

20 February Murwillumbah District Swimming Carnival

22 February Surfing starts - 6 week program to 29 March

27 February Far North Coast Swimming Carnival

Swimming Success

We had some outstanding success this week when two of our

students Autumn (3 firsts and 2 seconds) and Liv (3 firsts, 1

second and 2 thirds), attended the qualifications for the Tweed

District Swimming carnival next Tuesday. As well as this, I was

very proud to be informed by the attending officials that the girls

conduct and behaviour was exemplary, and they were excellent

ambassadors for our school. Well done Girls!

Starlab

Next Thursday our whole school will have an exciting excursion

to Condong PS, where we will join with them for a day of fun

and learning. We will be attending the Starlab Space Education

program and combining for some art, PE and writing activities.

Parents are asked to transport their children to Condong PS by

9:30am and pick up at 2pm. Those requiring transport from

school are asked to indicate on the provided permission note.

Music Program

We’ve enjoyed a couple of weeks of tasters for our students to

see if they want to learn an instrument on a weekly basis in our

program. Our students have really enjoyed this opportunity and

many have returned their request for lessons. These lessons

will commence next week, which is when payments for these

lessons also commences. We have adjusted the Piano pro-

gram to better suit the needs of these students after reflecting

on what will work best for them. As such, the whole K1 class

will enjoy a weekly whole class lesson of ‘music fun’ with Ms

Spears, instead of small group piano/ keyboard tuition. This will

provide a more relevant program for this group and engage

them with an exciting and energetic opportunity.

Jason Ellem Principal

Walkin’ On Water Surf School, based at Greenmount Beach in Coolan-

gatta, have their nudie SurfGroms Term 1 Programs starting this weekend.

There is a Saturday afternoon Program and a Sunday morning Program. Both

run for 5 consecutive weeks. These programs are specifically designed for 5 –

12 year olds and include learning and progressing surf skills as well as learning

extremely important lifelong surf safety and surf awareness skills. Surfers will

also get an amazing SurfGroms pack included, with a Rip Curl ‘wetpack’ back

pack and other goodies. Walkin’ On Water also run fantastic Surfing Birthday

Parties as well as have regular Group and Private Lessons. There is also an

Adults Surfing Program too! Check out www.walkinonwater.com or call 0418

780 311 for more information or go online to book programs or lessons.

STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

CONGRATULATIONS

Office News Statement of Account containing the music fees will be

sent home next week. You can now pay using the Parent

Online Payments (POP) system or cash (Flyer attached).

Wednesday Canteen—We need 2 more volunteers for the

following dates, 6th March and 3rd April. Please let us know

if you can help out.

Wednesday Canteen and Friday Sushi Payments—all pay-

ments for lunches and Sushi must be in cash, as the Canteen

money is paid directly into the P&C Bank Account and the

Sushi is Cash on Delivery.

Book Club Issue 1 2019 is attached to this Newsletter. All

orders must be in by this Friday 15th February 2019.

Week 1 Award Winners

Kobi, Liv, Quinn, Isabella

P & C News The P&C Meeting was held at the school last Friday 8th February at 2.00 pm. The Minutes of that Meeting are attached to this newsletter. Breakfast/BBQ We will be holding a Breakfast BBQ at the school on Fri-day 15th February commencing at 8.00 am. This is to wel-come our new parents and welcome our existing parents back for the New Year. Everyone is welcome. Rashies and Board Shorts are for sale in the office, for only $10.00. This is a P&C Fundraiser and all clothing has been handmade.

STUDENT BANKING BANKING DAY IS THURSDAYS, but for this week only, due to the full day excursion this Thursday, banking will be on Friday. A School Banking Program Flyer is attached to this Newsletter.

Community Notices

KINGSCLIFF HOCKEY CLUB SIGN-ON DETAILS WHEN: Sat 16th Feb WHERE: Mery Edwards Oval, Sand St, Kingscliff (across the road from the Cudgen Leagues Club) TIME: From 10am Inquiries: Donna Fay 0448 186 591 Greg Edwards 0407 457165, Brett Gray 0438 852768 Ross Salmon 0421 489 921 Players for all Grades are required ie beginners, 5 to 9 yrs. along with Juniors to open. Season begins early April, 2019

Kindergarten

and Year 1

Literacy

groups

Passive lunchtime

play: LEGO in the

shade

Kindergarten

making book

covers for our

writing books