Driver Primary School

16 June 2010 Issue 10

www.driverprimary.nt.edu.au Email :admin.drivesch@ntschools.net

PO Box 33 Palmerston NT 0831

Ph: 8935 9000 Fax: 8935 9035

To be a hands-on, vibrant and engaging learning centre implementing new and innovative programs in a secure,

collaborative and sustainable environment for our community.

Swimming Program Stephanie Alexander visited Farm

Driver and planted a tree

Stephanie Alexander visited Driver Primary and met some of our keen gardeners. We were all very excited at the prospect of meeting her. A group of students provided her with a very informative tour of ‘Farm Driver’. A film crew from the ABC Gardening Australia program were also here to record the event, for an episode that goes to air next month. Stephanie was very interested in the varieties of bananas we are growing and shared a couple of recipes, using banana leaves, with the students. Stephanie also planted a Wax Jumbo Tree at the entrance to the farm and said she was looking forward to coming back to visit us again.

During weeks 7 and 8, Room 4 were swimming and learning about water safety. Did you know that drowning is the greatest cause of accidental death in children under five in Australia? Each week, on average, one child drowns. Because of this, special fences need to be put around backyard swimming pools. In 1988, to combat drowning, Laurie Lawrence created the ‘Kids Alive - Do the Five’ water safety program. The Kids Alive community service program educates the public on five important steps to reduce the risk of drowning. Room 4 learnt a song that you may have heard on the T.V. It teaches these 5 steps and was performed at last week’s assembly.

Fence the pool Shut the gate

Teach your kids to swim It’s great! It’s great!

Supervise Watch your mate

And learn how to resuscitate

P A G E 2

The water was freezing cold!!

Ella

If you held your torch up to your eyes and looked down the beam you could see crocs red eyes.

Lachie and Kyle

The jumping castle was so slippery but it was so awesome!!

Sabine

We had a group banner, at the pool. We wrote

“Wanted Heater: It’s too cold!!!’

Fraser

The Katherine Gorge was very interesting and I learned a lot.

Angus

Going to the river was amazing. We saw a croc in the river and one of the kids from the other school caught a fish.

Angela

We made Johnny Cakes out of flour and water, it was yum!

Fraser

P A G E 3

FROM THE PRINCIPAL & COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON

Merit Awards -John Case, Nikita Kerney, Lateesha Coombes, Shiani Ah Wong, Jake Smith, Makayla Pfennig, Haylee Smith, Rhianna Bennett, Tiana Lucas, Azaan Ur-Rahman, Nathan Crosthwaite, Chloe Thompson, Dylan McPharlin, Charli Nomoa, Matilda Walker, Jerzeeh Robinsonm Vanesia Leong, Charlie Wrigley, Mitchell Keygan, Tiffany Brown, Casey Williams, Alek Kelley, Micaela Browell, Misilas Roberts, Mackenzie Keats, Taras Mair, Felix Robinson, Joel Richardson, Joseph Benger, Liam Smith, Andrew Osborne, Haylee McLEan, Trae Buckland, Skye McPharlin, Ciara Parry, Jai Landcaster, Abigail Dawkins, Tegan Connolly, Alannah Christofis, Lilly Carpenter, Nicholas Karavitis Wimbus, Angus Lyne, Zane McConnell, Cassandra Ariuu, Meagan Hardy, Justine Gordon, Lyle Byrne, Darcy Simpson.

What an extraordinary and successful first semester we have had this year! Well done to everyone in our school community for an amazing team effort ‘ Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision, the ability to direct individual accomplishment toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.’ - Corporate Impressions, 1992.

Some of the highlights have included:

• Opening of our ‘Building the Education Revolution’ - ‘National Pride’ funded front car park. • The construction of ‘Farm Driver’; culminating with Stephanie Alexander’s visit last week (which

will be shown on ABC’s Gardening Australia). • Construction of the ‘Building the Education Revolution’ ‘Primary Schools for the 21st Century’

funded amphitheatre roof and extension to our Teaching and Learning Centre, which will be opened next term.

• Our highly successful Year 5/6 camp to Katherine – congratulations to our students for their excellent behaviour, to staff and accompanying parents who worked diligently to make it work as an outdoor learning experience, and also to Mr Ross Bohlin MLA who helped out at Edith Falls and with the BBQ.

• Our wonderful Preschool and Transition students who excelled in their respective bike-a-thon and obstacle course extravaganza last week.

• To all our Year 3 and 5 students, teachers and families for achieving our highest participation rates ever in the National Assessment Program of Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN).

• The 2010 Sports Day was held yesterday, preceded by the field events last Thursday. The students, led by some fantastic House Captains, had a great day cheering for their friends and competing for their teams. It was a very successful day and a close competition. Nelson finished on 594 points, Archer 596 points, Johnson 627 points and Chaney were named champions on 630 points.

STAFFING

1. Congratulations to Mrs Jo Jefferson who has been successful in her application for the permanent Assistant Principal position (subject to appeal).

2. We sadly farewell Ms Anne Joyce who has decided to move to a Northern Suburbs school closer to home. Thanks for your energy and hard work with our Year 2/3 students – we will miss you! We welcome Ms Maydia Parry who is replacing Ms Joyce. Ms Parry brings 4 years teaching experience both in the NT and Victoria to our school and is also a great supporter of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program.

3. Mrs Alison Buchanan continues in the other Assistant Principal position and Ms Felicity Green also continues in the Senior Teacher position held by Ms Jefferson. The Senior Teacher position will be advertised for permanent appointment in Term 3.

We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable school holidays and look forward to our International Food Festival on 2 September 2010.

Rob Presswell Magdalene Mahomet

Principal Council Chairperson

Term Dates 2010 Semester 1 Term 1 Mon 25 Jan - Thurs 1 Apr Students resume Wed 27 Jan

Easter Break Fri 2 Apr -Mon 5 Apr

Midsemester break Tues 6 Apr - Fri 9 Apr

Semester 1 Term 2

Mon 12 Apr - Fri 18 Jun

Semester Break Mon 21 Jun - Fri 16 Jul

Semester 2 Term 3 Mon 19 Jul - Fri 24 Sept

Students resume Tues 20 Jul

Midsemester break Mon 27Sept - Fri 1 Oct

Semester 2 Term 4 Mon 4 Oct - Fri 10 Dec

Students resume Tuesday 25 January 2011

Toothy tips

There are 20 deciduous or baby teeth– they are the first set of teeth and they usually start to erupt at around 6-7 months of age with the last ones, the second molars at the back of the mouth erupting around the age of 2. Many parents feel that since they are the first teeth and they will be lost it is not important to give them great care. This is a grave error, for disease and infection in these teeth can be just as painful and detrimental to general health as it can be in the permanent (second) set of teeth. Children need to develop, grow and learn new skills, they cannot be expected to brush and care for their teeth until they acquire the manual hand ability and knowledge to perform this. A parent needs to help a child brushing their teeth at least once a day (preferably just prior to them going to bed) until approximately the age of 8.

Healthy Habits Start at Home

Dates for your Diary

☺ 7 Aug - Farm Driver Working Bee

☺ 4 Sept- Farm Driver Working Bee

☺ 2 Oct - Farm Driver Working Bee

☺ 6 Nov - Farm Driver Working Bee

☺ 4 Dec - Farm Driver Working Bee

☺ Mid semester break Mon 21 Jun - Mon 19 Jul

☺ Students resume Tues 20 Jul

DEFENCE FAMILIES UPDATE

The 4 week school holidays are almost here. The weather is lovely at this time of year so be sure to get out, have picnics and explore the Darwin region. Check with your local library, tourism websites and the newspa-pers for different activities during the month. Get your children to brain-storm a list of things to do, games to play and toys to play with that have been at the bottom of the toy box. Stick the list on the fridge and send them to it whenever they say “I’m bored”. Enjoy the break and the chance to play like a kid yourself. I can be contacted by email on kerry.stclair@ntschools.net See you next term.

Regards

Kerry St.Clair

Kids make their own plates! $20 A new company has been sourced to produce a dishwasher proof, robust, wonderful product giving years of enjoyment. With tiny hand prints, foot prints, photos or drawings moulded into 19cm diameter melamine plates (sandwich plate size) preserving their artworks as family keepsakes and a reminder of those childhood years. Templates available at Preschool. Cut off date for all payments and drawings is the 30th of July 2010.

Community Notices Birch Carroll and Coyle Cinema in Casuarina and Darwin will be screening The movie "The Karate Kid" beginning on July 1. Need to organise a School Holiday Program? Or just thinking of Activities that the Kids can do over the Dry Season Holiday Break? From 21 June to 18 July, Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin has daily activities planned for Children of all Ages including Colouring-In Competitions, Face Painting, Blue Tongue Races and lots more. 58 Mitchell Street Darwin.