Week 4, Term 4 Wednesday 4th November Got Game Thursday 5th November Student leadership meeting 11am

Year 5 Leadership Day Kindergarten 2021 Orientation #1: 9-10am Got Game

Friday 6th November Assembly 12.45 Taikoz Drumming for Preschool to Year 6 at 2pm

Week 5, Term 4 NAIDOC WEEK 2020 – Always Was, Always Will Be Monday 9th November Swimming at Sydney Uni Tuesday 10th November Kindergarten 2021 orientation #2: 9-10.30am

Coding Club 3.15-4.15pm Wednesday 11th November Remembrance Day assembly 11am

Got Game P&C meeting at 6pm

Thursday 12th November Student leadership meeting 11am Got Game

Friday 13th November NAIDOC special assembly Week 6, Term 4 Monday 16th November Swimming at Sydney Uni Tuesday 17th November Coding Club 3.15-4.15pm Wednesday 18th November Got Game

For your diary

The Bulletin - Week 4, Term 4 2020

Last Friday we celebrated World Teachers’ Day across Australia. It was an opportunity for us to reflect on the role that teachers play in the lives of our students – your children. 2020 has been a year like no other for so many of us and the challenges for teachers have been many and varied. In the space of a few short weeks, their planning, methods for delivering content, structures and routines, and interaction with students and families was turned on its head. The professionalism with which our staff met these challenges was inspiring. They learnt new technology platforms, found innovative ways to engage their students and worked tirelessly to ensure that the wellbeing of our students was at the forefront of the learning programs we offered. At a time when there has been so much uncertainty in society about the ever changing landscape of COVID-19, teachers and schools provided the stability, consistency and support that our students needed. This is something schools have always done and will continue to do, because of the dedication of our teachers. It may surprise you how rarely people express a simple thank you to teachers for the work they do. It may also surprise you what a huge impact it has on teachers when they hear these words from a student, parent or colleague. So, on this day when we recognise the important role that teachers play, I would like to simply say THANK YOU to each and every Darlington teacher for the positive contribution they make in the lives of our students.

School planning During the last weeks of Term 4, we will begin our planning for the 2021 school year. To do this accurately, we need to know of any student who may not have enrolled in Kindergarten yet and anyone who is leaving our school at the end of this year. To support school planning, please contact the school office on 9516 2300 or via email, if you have intentions of leaving the school at the end of the year and enrolling elsewhere in 2021. If you have specific concerns or issues about the placement of your child for 2021, could you please outline this issue in writing addressed to the Principal.

Changes to 2021 Staff Development Days and 2021 Term 1 start date (pupil free days) The School Development Days are scheduled for the 27 and 28 January, students return 29 January 2021.

Selective High School Applications 2022 All 2020 Year 5 students are eligible to apply for Year 7 entry to a selective high school for 2022. Applications are only open until 16th November 2020 for entry in 2022. You must apply before this date. For more information click on this link Selective High School 2022 information and application.

Student Leaders 2021 All Year 5 students will soon have the opportunity to nominate for a leadership role in 2021. The various leadership teams and the nomination process are being discussed with the students and details of the timeline and process will be sent home shortly. This is a great opportunity for every child and we encourage all students to “have a go” and demonstrate their values of democracy, participation, responsibility and respect.

Project Update In the next few weeks you will start to see workmen around as they safely secure our school site to begin initial works on the new school build. It is very exciting to see the first stages of our brand new school get underway. Aftercare will be moving into the hall after modifications have been made. No classes will have to move out of their classrooms this year. Pages 4 and 5 of this Bulletin has the latest update from Schools Infrastructure.

2021 Kindergarten orientation On Thursday 5 November we welcome our 2021 Kindergarten students for the first of four orientation sessions. Parents are asked to arrive at our school at 8.45am and they will be met at the Golden Grove Street courtyard. Representatives from the P&C will be selling uniforms in this courtyard. We are looking forward to welcoming our new students and their families.

Thank you to Trish and the Leadership students for organising a fantastic Book Week parade.

I would like to thank Brad for his organisation of the Cross Country carnival yesterday, it was certainly nice for us all to get out of the school and have some sort of normality again. It was also great to see all students participating to gain points for their house and competing with such sportsmanship. Now if we could just see Pemulwuy win .

Have a great week and remember: ‘If you can read this newsletter, thank a teacher.’

Michelle McCormack Acting Principal

From the principal

Kindergarten transition and orientation for 2020 - 2021 We are excited to be welcoming our 2021 Kindergarten students and their families. This year’s orientation program has been modified to ensure we meet all COVID-19 guidelines. We are excited to welcome our new Kindy’s to their first orientation session this Thursday 5th November from 9-10am. The following sessions are listed below. • Tuesday 10th Nov – Kindergarten 2021 orientation #2: 9-10.30am • Thursday 19th Nov – Kindergarten 2021 orientation #3: 9-10.30am • Tuesday 24th Nov - Kindergarten orientation 2021 #4: 9-11am We are looking forward to welcoming our new families to Darlington!

Term 4 Swimming Program Our annual swimming program is well under way at Sydney University pool. Class times are as follows: • 9-9.45am Year 5/6 Frill Neck Lizards • 9.45-10.30 Year 3/4 Koalas • 10.30-11.15am Year 5/6 Goannas • 11.15 -12 midday Year 1/2 Dingoes • 12.15 – 1pm Year 1/2 Frogs • 1- 1.45pm Year 1/2 Turtles • 1.45-2.30pm Year 3/4 Platypus

The last day for swimming is Monday 30th November.

Dance Ensembles 2021 Applications are now open for the he NSW Public Schools Dance Ensembles program. This program aims to foster the development of talented students from Years 4-12 in dance from public schools across NSW. Students train and rehearse dance works after school hours during school term at AMPA Dance Studios in Alexandria. The Primary Dance Ensemble (Yrs. 4-6 in 2021) will be every Monday starting on the 15th February from 5-7pm. We have had students from Darlington gain selection for these ensemble groups and they have then been able to perform at regional and state levels. From the regional dance festivals to performing in the NSW School Spectacular, this is a fantastic opportunity. Further information and application forms are on the Arts Unit website https://www.artsunit.nsw.edu.au/dance/weekly-ensembles

Wall art Our latest artworks have been installed on Abercrombie St, thanks to George, Adam and Ranjin. I think you will agree that they look incredible. Congratulations to Tiana, Ben, Mila and Jess.

From the school

From the school

From the P & C

NEXT P & C MEETING WEDNESDAY 11th November

AT 6PM Darlo P&C held our Halloween Pumpkin Trail over the weekend. It was a fun and Covid-safe way to mark every kids’ favourite spooky evening. We had some gorgeous decorations around the neighbourhood (see pics) and it was so fun to take the kids out hunting for pumpkins. Thank you to the families who decorated their homes, there was a lovely sense of community on the night.

Our Return & Earn efforts are in full swing and we’re delighted to see so many of the I Love Darlo bags in use around the community. Thank you to Belinda Davey for undertaking the dirty and smelly job of emptying our old recycling bin. She cashed in $60 and deposits are growing every day. So, please don’t forget to bring your cans, juice boxes, plastic and glass bottles to us. It’s a very easy way to support our school.

We will be running a second-hand uniform sale for littlies to coincide with the Kindy Orientation dates, so if you have a preschooler coming to big school next year and you’d like to kit them out with good quality, preloved uniforms – drop in and see us. We’ll be in the Golden Grove courtyard from 8.45am till 9.10am this Thursday and next Tuesday. Small sizes only.

Our next P&C meeting – the final one for the year – will be on Wednesday November 11 at 6pm. It’ll be a Zoom meeting, so just find a quiet spot in your home and join us. Anyone wishing to join the P&C can pick up a form from the front office. Membership is $1 per year.

From the P & C

From the community