March 17th 2016 Term 1 Newsletter No. 8 OUR VISION: QUALITY

Dignity and Determination
OUR VISION:
QUALITY TEACHING,
LEARNING,
INNOVATION &
EQUITY
OUR VALUES:
RESPECT,
RESPONSIBILITY &
INTEGRITY
IMPORTANT DATES:
Bullying No Way Day
Friday 18th March
Harmony Day
Monday 21st March
Easter Public
Holidays
Friday 25th March
Monday 28th March
Phone: 8935 9259
Website address:
March 17th 2016
Email: durack.school@ntschools.net.
http://durackschool.nt.edu.au/
Term 1
Newsletter No. 8
Dear Mums, Dads, Students and Friends
On Tuesday evening the final School Council AGM was held and the transition
from a School Council to a School Board finalised with the election of Board
Members. I take this opportunity to thank the 2015 School Council for their
dedication and hard work in providing excellent support for the school. Particular
thanks must go to departing member Pat Coleman who has been the Treasurer for
a number of years and never fails to assist in whatever capacity he can.
Congratulations to all newly elected Board members and committee members.
They bring a diverse range of skills and experience that can only benefit the
development of the school. The Chair of the Board, Wally Mauger, has listed the
Board members in his report in this newsletter.
Bullying. No Way! Tomorrow is the National Day of Action against bullying.
Bullying is an ongoing misuse of power, it is repeated and ongoing, and it involves
behaviours which cause harm - verbal, physical or social. Younger children are
more likely to bully others physically or verbally and as they get older social
bullying behaviours increase i.e. exclusion, manipulation and cyber bullying.
Bullying can be obvious or hidden and is often difficult for adults to recognise. It is
not a normal stage that children go through, is not something to put up with and
can impede healthy development. Bullying undermines the key values that we aim
to promote in our students – Respect, Responsibility and Integrity.
The ‘Bullying. NO Way!’ website states that there are 6 key steps for parents if
their child tells them they have been bullied.
1.
Disco
Thursday 31st March
2.
End of Term 1
Friday 1st April
5.
6.
3.
4.
Listen calmly to what your child wants to say and make sure you get the full
story
Reassure your child that they are not to blame and ask open and
empathetic questions to find out more details
Ask your child what they want to do and what they want you to do
Discuss with your child some sensible strategies to handle the
bullying – starting a fight is not sensible
Contact the school and stay in touch with them
Check in regularly with your child.
More information can be found at the ‘Bullying.No Way!’ website: http://
bullyingnoway.gov.au
Start of Term 2
Monday 11th April
SUPERVISION
PROVIDED BETWEEN
7:50am TO 2:45pm
It is important that the school and families work together to address bullying.
Harmony Day Monday 21st March Harmony Day celebrates Australia’s Cultural
diversity. It is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
This will be our focus next week. On Monday all students are encouraged to wear
something orange (tee shirt, ribbon, badge etc) as this is the traditional colour
relating to social communication and has been the colour of Harmony Day since
the first day was held in 1999.
Term 1 Progress Reports A short progress report will be sent home to
parents next week indicating how your child is progressing at this point in time.
Teachers will be requesting parent teacher conferences where they feel it is
required. Parents are welcome to request a conference.
Sheila Delahay
Principal
Notes Home:
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Nit note - yr 1
Short
Chicken Pox
advice - yr 2
Timms and
Burgess
Class note - yr 4
Evans
Palmerston Golf
Excursion - years 3
and 4
Congratulations
On Track AT DURACK
Congratulations
New Uniform
Stock has
arrived
Size 4, 6, 8 and 10 Polo
shirts are now in stock.
On receiving 10 mini merits
Layla C
Meghana Naidu
Casual Position
Vacant
Tyrel Corey
The School is seeking
an enthusiastic
Gardener.
4 hours per week.
Some Gardening
knowledge preferred.
Must have an OCHRE
card
Lily Harden
James Carrier
Please call Cathy89359259
Beau D’Mello
Dental Clinic
For any dental
enquiries, to arrange an
appointment or
for dental emergencies,
please call
8922 6466
Evie C
Althea Hingpit
Hiyori Kakimura
Jarvis
Durack School students will
be celebrating and
embracing difference this
Harmony Day:
Monday 21st March 2016
Your child is invited to wear
an orange shirt to show their
support.
Charli Brady
Shivam Choudhary
Have you used all of
your $150 voucher?
Vouchers are only valid until
the end of Term 1.
Remaining funds can go
towards any new uniform
purchase or the years 3/4 and
5/6 Camps.
Congratulations Kalani Maxwell
Kalani Maxwell from yr 4 Evans has just returned from
the Mornington Peninsula competing in the TSKFA
National Competition. Kalani came 2nd in the Kata event
and was also awarded the Junior merit award from the
2IC of the TSKFA.
Easter Fundraiser
Thank you to every one who donated to the
raffle and
purchased raffle tickets.
The raffle will be drawn at Assembly tomorrow
GOOD LUCK!
ABSENCES
To enable us to keep
accurate records please
contact the school if
your child is absent.
This may be done by
phoning the office on
8935 9259, emailing the
class teacher,
or-
durack.school@ntschools.net
or email via school
website or by sending a
note with your child on
their return to school.
Updating
Information
DISCO
Put your dancing shoes on for our Disco on Thursday,
31st March, 6pm-7:30pm
In the School Hall
Thank you very much to all the students that have been drawing
wonderful pictures for our Durack Anzac book. I have especially loved
seeing the teacher portraits by students that have been handed in!
Easter Youth Zone is being run in
conjunction with Ladies dinner.
On Thursday the 24th March
6pm-8.30pm at Billeroy Road
Community Centre.
We will have Easter games and
activities.
$5 per child with light snacks provided.
For
Children in Transition-Yr6, civilian
friends welcome.
Parents are welcome to stay, head to the
dinner or home!
Please RSVP by Tuesday 22nd
12 Billeroy Rd, RAAF Base Darwin, NT
0820
Email: billeroyrdcommunitycentre@hotmail.com
Laura Simpson- Helman
Defence School Transition Aide
Ph: 8935 9259
Email: laura.helman@ntschools.net
Easter Ladies Dinner
Thursday 24th March
6.30pm
Saffrron
14/34 Parap Rd, Parap
Please join us for our monthly dinner. An
evening to meet, eat and chat.
RVSP by Tuesday 22nd
Email rbfg07@yahoo.com.au
This Function is open to all partners of
Defence Force Members and is a child free
event where guests pay for their own meals.
If you have changed any
of your details such as
address, phone number,
medical conditions or
any other information
we may need to know.
Could you please inform
us at the Office so we
are able to update your
child’s records.
Student Banking
Student Dollarmite
Banking is done each
Friday. If you are
Interested in opening an
account for your child
we can provide you with
an information pack at
the office.
SCHOOL BOARD NEWS
It gives me great pleasure to present this report of an extraordinary year for Durack Primary School from a
School Council perspective. It is so easy to summarise Durack’s strengths because the school, its programs and
teaching staff are so consistent and professional.
Firstly, let’s introduce the 2015 Council members.
Wally Mauger Chairperson, Lyndell Nichols Secretary, Pat Coleman Treasurer, Sheila Delahay Principal,
Kylie Akers, Bindi Johnston, Chloe Burgess, Danielle Harris, Judith O’Hearn, parent members,
Heather Stedman, Assistant Principal, Simone, Timms, Renee Burgess, Teachers and Lia Finocchiaro( Invited
Member)
The School Council met monthly and the executive such as the Treasurer met prior to Council meetings to
prepare reports. As Chair person, I met regularly with Sheila our Principal re school and Council matters.
The School Council had a plethora of responsibilities ranging from the oversight and management of finance,
business plans, fundraising and events. Members consistently attended the planned functions throughout the
year. Though the School Council managed the Fundraising and all members made a contribution, special
mention is afforded to Danielle Harris and Chloe Burgess for their outstanding work with the School Fete.
Lyndell as Secretary kept meticulous minutes and communication throughout the year.
The invited member, the Honourable Member for Drysdale, Lia Finocchiaro attended most meetings and her
expertise and knowledge of the community was invaluable. As always the support from the teaching staff who
were on the Council was most important.
A School Council is made up of parents and school staff. The roles from Sheila and Heather were integral to the
success during the year.
On behalf of the School Council, I thank the retiring members for their huge contribution, particularly Pat
Coleman who served for six years and for much of this time, was the School Treasurer.
Early in my report I mentioned that 2015 was extraordinary and very special.
The reason for that statement is attributed due to the school attaining the Independent Public School (IPS)
status; one of thirteen schools who have worked through a rigorous selection process to become one.
Throughout the last two years, Sheila and the School Council have kept the school community aware of the
process and opportunities that result from being an IPS. Basically it provides the school the autonomy to be
proactive to initiate programs applicable to the school community.
Increased finance is provided to us as an IPS school, and the Principal is able to hire staff independently
compared to normal procedures.
Many of our “new“ programs were initiated during our lead up in applying for IPS, and more recently further
programs are in the development phase.
Examples of programs introduced in 2015 include:
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Japanese Language Program
Extension programs for identified students
Expanded our physical education programs by introducing golf and tennis tuition
Before school care for students
The next step in this process is to develop a School Board to replace the School Council which will have
strategic responsibilities and be supported by relevant sub-committees. A sub-committee consisting of Bindi
Johnston, Lyndell Williams, Sheila Delahay and myself have been working through this process since late 2015.
It is planned that finally the Board will be confirmed during this AGM meeting as per the Notice of Motions.
Wally Mauger
2015 School Council Chairperson.