OUR VISION

A Community of Learners Prepared For

The Future

OUR MISSION

Quality Education That Inspires and Empowers

OUR VALUES

Respect, Responsibility, Integrity

IMPORTANT DATES:

Assembly Fri 14th September

8:30am 1/2 Robbins Item

Beat Festival

Choir Performance Fri 14th September

Parent Workshop

Thurs 20th September 6:30-7:30pm

Durack on Wheels

Thurs 27th September

Pupil Free Day Fri 28th September

School Holidays 1st-12th October

Office Closed

1st-12th October

Students Resume Mon 15th October

The last couple of weeks have been very exciting with a number of excursions, Tournament of Minds, Student Voice Positive Choice activities and whole school events such as Literacy and Numeracy Week, which included the Palmerston Young Writers Festival. Then this week we have students performing at The Beat Festival which is the NT Department of Education's annual performing arts showcase. This year’s title is Ignite! It is a large scale combined schools production led by the NT Music School with the support of the Beat Foundation, showcasing the great work of NT schools. Our students are part of the 300 student choir and will be performing at the Darwin Entertainment Centre this Friday evening to a sell-out crowd. Our school sure is a busy and thriving place! You will have noticed that we have two areas which are currently fenced off at the front of the school; this is the beginning of the work to replace the water mains throughout the school. The area fenced off in front of the bus stop is for equipment storage for the project. The fenced off area directly in front of the office, is the work commencing which will involve lots of digging. The workman have been asked to have no vehicles on the road at peak traffic times. However I do ask that both pedestrians and drivers take extra caution around these areas during the next few weeks. Thank you to the 34 parents who took the time to fill in our Annual School Survey. We are still looking at the information collected and will present some findings next newsletter. Please be reminded that no issue is too big or too small, so don’t leave concerns for an annual survey but either pop in and have a chat or send me an email (joanne.jefferson@ntschools.net). Both the school staff and your school board are committed to supporting our community and value the feedback we receive. On Friday 28th September we are holding a Pupil Free Day to reshape our Vision and Mission statements. On this day we also need input from both our parent group, as well as our students, but are conscious that it will be difficult for people to attend during the school day. Therefore we are holding two workshops before the Pupil Free Day to capture the thoughts of our parents and students. I will meet with the SLC (Student Leadership Council) at school over a few lunch times next week. The parent workshop will be held on Thursday evening, 20th September at 6.30pm – 7.30pm. This will be an opportunity to give your input and define what you believe should be the values and mission of Durack School, now and into the future. If you are able to attend please RSVP directly to me at joanne.jefferson@ntschools.net so that we can organise catering and also ensure the space we meet in, will hold us all. I hope you can make it. Unfortunately I have been noticing an increased number of students not wearing full school uniform, especially the bottoms. Please see an extract from our School Uniform Policy as a reminder and some pictures on what is allowed as part of the uniform and what is not. I hope this helps you to support us in ensuring your children come to school in full uniform. Continued over page…….

September 13th 2018 Term 3 Newsletter No. 4

Website address: http://durackschool.nt.edu.au/

Phone: 89977555 Email: durack.school@ntschools.net.

Dignity and Determination

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

FROM THE PRINCIPAL continued

This week at assembly we have Year 1/2 Robbins sharing their learning with us. I hope you can make it. Jo Jefferson Principal

Notes home: 3/4 Colling note Headlice note School Sport

Netball note Sports Colours

Day note Transition

Excursion note

Some names are intentionally left off this publication due to permissions. If you would like to update your child's details, please see the ladies in the office.

On Track AT DURACK

YOU HAVE BEEN

FROGSPOTTED!!!

India Rm 15

and

Katelyn Rm 16

Congratulations for doing the right thing

at Assembly

OFFICE CLOSED

Parents please note: The school office will

be closed for the school holiday period

from 1st—12th October.

We will re-open

Monday 15th October 7:45am.

The wearing of a school uniform by students is a compulsory requirement of the NT Department of Education (DoE). The Durack School Uniform and Dress Code Policy has been established after consultation with all stakeholders, and has been formulated to meet the needs of students, their families and the school, in line with the DoE ‘Sun Safe Policy’ and ‘Uniform Dress Code’. The intention is to promote equity and self-respect. It contributes to the tone and high expectations of the school. UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS Uniform hats, shirts, shorts, skorts, dresses and jackets can be purchased at the school office. When buying items from local retailers please ensure that they meet the guidelines. Shirts: Royal blue polo shirt, with embroidered Durack School logo and collar detail. Dedicated Year 6 shirts may be worn by Year 6 students. They are not to be worn for excursions, special assemblies, official presentations (awards, ANZAC DAY), school photographs and occasions when students are representing Durack School (Year 6 parents will be notified when these are available). Shorts Plain black, in a loose-fitting style, without pictures, patterns or edgings and the length at least ¾ way down the thigh. Skirts / Skorts Plain black, without pictures, patterns or edgings and the length at least ¾ way down the thigh. Dresses School tartan. Length at least ¾ way down the thigh. Long Pants Plain black, in a loose-fitting style, without pictures, patterns or edgings. No denim. If leggings are to be worn, care must be given to the length of the shirt – at least to thigh length. Jacket or Jumper Blue or black. Hats Durack School’s bucket hat. Palmerston and Rural Region (PARR) representation hats may be worn (except on excursions). Socks Preferably black, blue or white. Shoes Enclosed footwear appropriate for educational activities e.g.: runners or leather ‘school shoes’. Thongs, high heels, crocs or similar are not to be worn. Hair Accessories Plain hair ties, scrunches, headbands or scarves are to be blue, white or black. Jewellery The only items of jewellery permitted to be worn at school are: (medic alert bracelet, simple watch, studs or small hooped earrings only, no other visible jewellery) Grooming Hair below shoulder length should be tied back with appropriate hair accessories. Makeup and nail polish are not permitted at school.

Book Week Dress Up Day

1 / 2 Robbins

Palmerston Young Writers

Competition 2018

PALMERSTON YOUNG WRITERS ENCOURAGEMENT AWARDS

Sponsor Luke Gosling

Paint a Poem Emily Buchanan - Driver Primary School

Olivia Holton – Durack School Comic Capers

Angus Harvey - Driver Primary School Year 3/4

Kim Seung Woo Aldenhoven - Bees Creek School (About Us) Maya Purdon – Bees Creek Primary School (Foalan)

Year 5/6 Lucas Timms – Durack School (ANZAC Field)

Elsie Harden— Durack School (In the Battlefield) Marquie Cabahug – Driver Primary School (Painting in Words)

Ralph Costelloe – Durack School (Flight of the Chickens) Elsie Harden – Durack School (The Globe)

Eliza Emmet – Good Shepherd (Engrossed in a Deadly Book)

PALMERSTON YOUNG WRITERS MAJOR AWARDS

Paint a Poem—Year 2 Sponsor Gerry Wood MLA Member for Nelson

Winner: Brylee Aykers - Giraween Primary School Cartoon Capers

Sponsor Terry Mills MLA Member for Blain

Winner: Taya-Mai Ducay - Driver Primary School YEAR 3/4 Poem

Sponsor Lia Finocchiaro MLA Member for Spillet

Winner: Kiara D’Arcy – Durack School (Animals) Year 5/6 Poem

Sponsor Lia Finocchiaro MLA Member for Spillet

Winner: Piper Hatton – Durack School (Imagine a Bully Free World) Year 3/4 Story

Sponsor Tony Sievers MLA Member for Brennan

Winner: Joshua Buchanan – Driver Primary School (Elves Love underpants) Year 5/6 Story

Sponsor Kezia Purick MLA Member for Goyder

Winner: Zoe Wakeling - Driver Primary School (Black Beauty)

Tournament Of

Minds Tournament of Minds (TOM) is an Australia-wide program designed to encourage students to develop their co-operative problem solving skills and their creative and critical thinking. Teams are required to solve two demanding, open-ended Challenges – a Long Term Challenge (six weeks) and a Spontaneous Challenge (ten minutes)

On Saturday September 4th two teams of students from Durack School competed in Tournament of Minds (TOM) at Charles Darwin University.

The Evolution competed in The Arts and The Wondering Kids competed in the Social Sciences. Student worked together to solve their problem and present it to the judges. It was good to witness the growth in co-operative and collaborative skills as students learned to listen and discuss ideas. Brenda Kellam and Simon Hook

5/6 Edie and 5/6 Herrick have been working with PowerWater this term on a unit of work titled “That’s My Water.” The unit aims to teach students about where our water comes from and what we can do to reduce wasting it. We had a fantastic time on our Darwin River Dam excursion last week. The students learned so much about how water is collected, tested, treated and transported so that it can reach our homes. The students asked some great questions and are keen to start identifying and solving issues in relation to water use locally and globally.

On Wednesday 12th September 2018 the SLC (Student Leadership Council) held a “Sports Colours Day and Disco.” We asked students to bring a gold coin to raise money to fight cancer. We hosted two “Awesome” Discos! Students danced, went under the limbo stick, played freeze, and danced more! Every dollar raised supports Fight Cancer Foundation’s education programs to help kids with cancer continue with their education during treatment and recovery. We are really pleased to announce that our Awesome School raised $392.90! Thank you everyone!

From your Student Leadership Council

20 Years

In 1998, we commemorated our first year with a tea towel depicting all of our

students and staff

For our 10th Anniversary, we grew immensely and needed two tea towels

to fit everyone in!

This year, we have expanded so much that we need four tea towels just for the students and teachers!

Order forms will be sent home next week for you to

purchase your part of Durack history!

These are a preview of our 20th Birthday tea towels.

** To be eligible to enter the family prize draw an adult registration with at least 1 child is required.**