DUFFY PRIMARY SCHOOL



NEWSLETTER 2 - WEEK 4 TERM 1

UP & COMING EVENTS

Did you know? 

You can find notes on our website. 

 Click here for school notes!

EXEC TEAM'S MESSAGE 

Dear Duffy Primary School Community,

It was so wonderful last Tuesday afternoon to see so many of you at the Open classroom and P&C Welcome BBQ.   The pleasant temperature and warm company made for an enjoyable event.  I thank our fabulous Duffy P&C for providing the sausage sizzle for our families.

Our teachers enjoyed a steady flow of visitors to open classrooms during the afternoon and, putting faces to names of family members they will come to know throughout the year. This open classroom afternoon is only just the start of our important partnership we enter with you.  I thank you for engaging with the education team through these events as we set the scene for the year.

Parent Engagement: Seesaw Workshop

It was wonderful to see some of our families at our first Parent Engagement- Seesaw Session on Wednesday night.

As we continue to work in partnership with you, for the benefit of the children, it’s timely to share some key research on the benefits of parental engagement.

·         Improved academic outcomes 

·         Greater engagement in learning

·         Children can be more likely to enjoy learning and be motivated to do well

·         Children can have better relationships with other children, improved behaviour and greater confidence

·         Enhanced relationships with others in the school community

·         The development of effective partnerships - where families and schools can work together to address issues that may be impacting on children's well-being and achievement.

 

For those who couldn’t attend a slideshow of this presentation will be sent out in the coming week. We look forward to seeing as many parents/carers at our next Parent Engagement Session: Literacy Workshop K-2 on Wednesday 1st March at 3:15pm.

Key Reminders

Our school day commences at 9am and finishes at 3pm.

Morning Session: 9:00am – 11:00am

Lunch: 11:00am – 11:40am

Eating Time: 11:40 – 11:50am

Middle Session: 11:50am – 1:30pm

Recess: 1:30pm – 1:50pm

Eating Time: 1:50 – 2:00pm

Last Session: 2:00pm – 3:00pm

School Sports Leaders for 2023

We are very excited to announce our new School Sports Leaders for 2023.

Perkins

Freeman

Fleming

Ben

Lily

Marcellous

Dom

Byran

Adele

We have recently had some new tanbark spread across the front of the school. Please continue to show respect to our environment by using the footpaths and not cutting across the tanbark.

 

With every best wish for a wonderful week ahead with your beautiful families.


Regards,

Katie, Arilia, Sarah and Katie

SPOTLIGHT ON LEARNING - YEAR 2

Acknowledgement of Country

Year Two began the year by developing a new Acknowledgement of Country for 2023. Students learned about the importance of acknowledging the land where we meet to learn and play each day.


Students brainstormed words and phrases that best represented their Connection to Country. We then collaborated to create a new acknowledgement of Country that reflects our gratitude and appreciation for Ngunnawal Country and Indigenous culture.

Literacy

This year we have begun our literacy unit looking at information texts. We started by deciding what was the difference between fact and fiction by looking at different texts about the same subject. Over the rest of the term we will begin to read more information texts and learn why we use this text type. By the end of the term we will have written an information text about an animal of our choice. 

During Reader's Workshop, we will explore reading in multiple ways. This includes reading independently (read to self), reading with someone (partner reading) and reading digital texts on Get Epic (listen to reading).

Reading

Our reading has kicked off this term with year exploring and discovering Miss Jensen's impressive library. We have picked a good fit book, a library book and book that will help us learn to read in our book-boxes. 


We have also been developing our reading strategies to help read such as predicting and we will continue to develop more over the year. 

Maths

This term in maths, we will be extending our number knowledge with our number identification and place value by looking at MAB blocks and numbers that go into 3 digits.

We have also been learning about chance in everyday situations such as flipping a coin and what could be inside an unopened parcel. This includes using words such as Certain, Impossible, Likely and Unlikely. 

SCHOOL LEADERS

Prime Minister

Barney Mungoven

Deputy Prime Minister

Kleio Slater

Speaker

Nina Aubrey

P & C NEWS

P&C AGM is fast approaching – 21st March – and we need YOU to help us help the Duffy Primary School Community.

 

Maybe you are our next Secretary, Treasurer or Uniform Shop Co-ordinator; however, all positions will be vacated and a new committee will be voted in. You can commit as much or as little time as your schedule allows, so come along and tell us what you would like to contribute.

 

Would you like to know more? Please send us an email at duffypandc@gmail.com 


Opportunity for feedback!

The ACT Government is seeking feedback on a draft set of Model Rules which determine how incorporated associations (like the P&C) operate.

The draft Model Rules include:


More information about the proposed changes is available here: https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0005/2156855/Incorporated-Associations-Regulatory-Reforms-Fact-Sheet.DOCX

You can email your feedback to: BetterRegulationTaskforce@act.gov.au by 6 April 2023


Uniform Shop 


In 2023 the uniform shop will open for face-to-face sales on the Fridays of odd-numbered weeks from 8.30 - 9.00 am. This will also be your opportunity to peruse the pre-loved items. Please note that card payments are preferred.

 

Flexischools orders will be filled every Friday except week 10 each term. Please note that the cut-off for Flexischools orders is 4.30pm on Thursdays. Orders received after that time will be held over to the following week.

 

Families ordering for multiple children are encouraged to put all their desired items in the one Flexischools order.

Find the Duffy Primary Parents and Citizens Association on

Facebook!


@duffypandc 

Facebook

Don’t forget to connect with your Year level parent community on Facebook – this is a great way to stay connected, get year/school specific information and even organise gatherings.


Just search “DPS Year” on google and the groups will pop up, or head to the Duffy Primary Parents and Citizens Facebook page for more info.


PSYCHOLOGIST NEWS

School Psychologist

My name is Alison DeCure,  and I am the school Psychologist at Duffy.  With a new year starting, I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself, and provide some information about my role at Duffy, and how you can make contact if needed. 


As a school psychologist, my job is to help students to get the most out of school by supporting their learning and mental health.   This means that I might provide supports like:


I work at Duffy two days each week - Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I can be contacted through your child’s teacher or your executive teacher.  


I look forward to supporting the Duffy Community throughout 2023!

School Psychologist

Alison DeCure

Return to school!

Returning to school can be a mixed bag of emotions for kids.  For many, there might be excitement about reconnecting with friends and meeting new teachers.   For others, old worries and struggles with separation can pop up.

Its really common for kids to have more difficulty with getting to school in the first few weeks as they settle into new routines,  but if mornings have become a challenge, there are some simple strategies that can make a big difference

Go back to basics

Make sure kids are getting adequate sleep,  diet and exercise. 

Keep after school activities to a minimum over the first few weeks as kids are often really tired


Manage your emotions

When kids are feeling uncertain about school,  it can be really challenging to stay calm as a parent,  but kids will decide whether something is safe by checking in with the adults they trust. 

A quick drop off is often the best way to show kids that we have confidence in them,  and in their teachers to support our child with the separation. 

Kids often separate best when parents are able to acknowledge the worried feelings are there,  and that everyone feels that way sometimes,  but also express confidence in their child’s ability to be brave and cope. 


Talk positively about school and celebrate success

Talk about things your child might be looking forward to,  friends they are connecting with,  and things they like about their class, teacher and playground.  

Celebrate moments of bravery by acknowledging that they felt a bit worried,  that its normal to feel like that when things are new,  but that they had a go anyway.  

Celebrate the end of a busy week with family time.

During times of change,  kids really benefit from rituals and routines to help connect them to what is familiar.  

Regular bedtime and morning routines

Goodbye rituals can be a good way of helping kids to separate in a predictable way

Debriefing rituals when kids get home to chat about their day. Questions like ‘What was something that made you laugh today?”  are often better than “how was school?”    You can find some good questions as a free download here: FREE: The Key Jar {48 Questions to Ask Your Kids} by Erin Waters (teacherspayteachers.com)


Communicate with your child’s teacher

When worries about attending school persist,  or mornings become really challenging,  school staff are able to assist you with strategies and support.   Your friendly school psychologist can also help out with resources and connecting you to programs to give you extra support!


Have a lovely week everyone!

Alison

EXTRA CURRICULAR

Organised by Staff

Organised by external provider

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

School Uniform

The School Board endorses the wearing of uniform as it is part of the school ethos of helping to create a sense of belonging and pride in the school and so engender a positive school spirit.

Whilst wearing of uniform is not compulsory, students at Duffy Primary School are encouraged to wear their school uniform or school colours each day.

Students must be in uniform when attending excursions or outside events; this is to ensure their safety. When parents' complete permission notes for excursions or school events, they are acknowledging this requirement.

Staying COVID Smart in 2023

Being COVID Smart remains a priority for all ACT public schools in 2023.

Students, staff and visitors are reminded to:

·         Stay home if unwell and get tested for COVID-19

·         Stay up to date with your vaccinations

·         Practise good hand and respiratory hygiene

·         Physically distance from others when in public places

Individual schools may implement additional measures to manage COVID-19 if deemed necessary in a particular setting. Any changes will be communicated to parents and carers.

If your child has COVID-19, you must let the school know. We recommend keeping your child home for at least five days.

RATs are again available from the school for students in term 1 from the front office.

You can read more about how we are being COVID Smart in ACT public schools at https://www.education.act.gov.au/public-school-life/covid-school-arrangements

Safe parking around schools

The start of the school year is a particularly busy time in our school carparks and surrounding streets. It’s important that we park safely and legally to support the safety of students.


Parking on a footpath, nature strip or roadside verge can:


·         Cause safety risks for pedestrians as they are less visible to oncoming cars 

·         Increase the risk for vulnerable members of our community like children, people who are visually impaired, and those using a wheelchair or pram

·         Restrict the line of sight for other road users

·         Restrict access for emergency services vehicles.


Parking on nature strips can also damage trees, footpaths, gutters and underground pipes and cables. Please also remember not to park across driveways or block neighbouring residents’ properties.

 

As students return to school remember to also slow down and stick to the 40km/h limit around our schools between 8am and 4pm.


Parking inspectors regularly patrol school zones to support safe parking and keep students safe.

If you cannot find a car park in our school car parks, we suggest parking a little further away and walking or riding the rest of the way – it’s a quick and easy was to get in some exercise too.


Let’s all work together to keep our kids and community safe!

 

More information about travelling safely to school is available on the Transport ACT website.

Learning For Life

The flyer below shares information about an opportunity that has been made available to families at our school called the Learning for Life Scholarship Program. It’s run by the Smith Family organisation. They provide financial support to families who are eligible to help with costs related to education, such as book packs, uniforms and excursions. They also provide access to education programs that can further support your child.

 

To be eligible, you must;

 

Please contact the front office if you are interested in receiving a referral form or would like to discuss your eligibility.

HELPFUL LINKS

Home Learning Hub

Home Learning - School Wide Subscriptions

Literacy People's Literacy Learning Modules - A guide for engaging parents and carers

Mindfulness Podcast Series - ACT Education Directorate

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