We were able to touch gadgets and hide in

trenches in the interactive D-Zone at the War

Memorial

Driver Primary School

14 October 2011

Issue 16

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.

Australian War Memorial

We had a great time trying

out all things science at

Questacon!

Parliament House

Old Parliament House We had a tour of both Parliament House

and Old Parliament House. We role

played debating a bill and learnt a lot of

historic facts.

Australian Electoral Commission

During Week Ten of Term Three,

36 students from years five and six

had the exciting opportunity to travel

to Sydney and Canberra as a culminating

task, for work that they had done in class

about the Government of

Australia. We visited a number of

significant landmarks and had lots

of hands on experiences.

We had a go at preferential voting …

…. and did some serious exploration of

electoral rolls and electorates

Staff and students who participated

in this amazing interstate

experience would like to

acknowledge the contribution of

the Australian Government through

the ‘Parliament and

Civics Education

Rebate’.

We had a great time trying out all things

science at Questacon!

Australian Institute of Sport

P A G E 2

From the Principal and Assistant Principals

Welcome back to a new school term. We trust that all our students had a restful break last week and are

ready for the busy term ahead. Here at Driver Primary School we know that many issues students face

can be resolved most effectively when parents and teachers work closely together. As such, we would like

to remind you that the teachers and senior staff are keen to work with you to improve social and

academic outcomes for your child/ren. Please make an appointment with either the classroom teacher or

one of us if you have any concerns or good news stories you wish to discuss. Also keep in mind that open and respectful communication is very important, especially at this hot time of the year as we enter the

‘build up’ and the weather begins to affect our moods.

Concert

Our school concert this year will take place on Friday 2nd December at the Darwin Entertainment Centre.

The students are already busy preparing for the concert and will be working with our dance instructor

Kathryn from Week 3. Classes may need help from families with costumes and props so stay tuned for

that information.

Fruit Program

Thank you to Julia Hughes and Amy Thompson who volunteered to help cut up fruit for our morning

fruit program. These ladies could do with a hand with fruit preparation. It occurs in the staff room and

we do have toys available for anyone who wants to help but has small children. If you have any time first

thing in the morning after you drop off your children (between 8 and 9am Monday-Thursday), we would

greatly appreciate your help and ask you to please contact the front office as soon as possible. Even just

one day a week would be helpful – at this stage we do not have any volunteers for Thursdays.

Attendance and Punctuality The information below highlights the importance of students attending school every day.

Days Absent Total number of years of schooling missed 1 day per week 2 years 1.5 days per week 3 years 2 days per week 3 and a half years 3 days per week 5 and a half years All children between the ages of 6—17 years must, by law attend school.

When students are sick or absent for any reason please notify the office or email the teacher direct –

unnotified student absences will be investigated by the school.

Punctuality is also very important. The first part of each day is usually the time where routines and

expectations for the day are established. Although only students arriving after 8:15am are required to

collect a late slip from the front office, we still encourage students to be ready for classes at 8am which is

when the school day begins. Please keep in mind that it is very disheartening for a child to walk into their

class when they are late. They feel embarrassed, they don’t know what learning everyone is doing, they

interrupt others to try to find out what they should be doing, the teacher has to repeat much of the

lesson so the child can start their learning and all this contributes to the child not having a great start to

the day. We know there are many reasons why children can be late for school and we all run late at some

point of time. Keep in mind that we are only concerned about those children who constantly arrive late to

school and are appealing for your help to ensure your children arrive at school at 8am every day.

Year Level Attendance Percentage

Year Level Attendance Percentage

Year Level Attendance Percentage

Transition 91.4% Year 1 90.9% Year 2 90.9%

Year 3 93.6% Year 4 90.6% Year 5 90.3%

Year 6 92.6%

Parent Portal -for school notes and newsletters

https://portal.ntschools.net/sites/drivesch/default.aspx

User Name: ntschools\drivesch.parent Password: school

P A G E 3

Term Dates 2011

Term 4 2011

Mon 10 Oct - Fri 16 Dec

Term Dates 2012

Students resume

Tues 31 Jan 2012

Term 1 2012

Tues 31 Jan - Thurs 5 April

Easter break

Fri 6 April - Mon 9 April

Mid semester break

Mon 9 April - Fri 13 April

Term 2 2012

Mon 16 April - Fri 22 June

Semester break

Mon 25 June - Fri 20 July

Dates for your

Diary

☺ 18 Oct - Community

Partnership Meeting 5pm

☺ 19 Oct - Council Meeting

☺ 28 Oct - PARCS Swimming

Carnival

☺ 28 Oct - World Teachers

Day

☺ 31 Oct - Pupil Free Day

☺ 16 Nov - Council Meeting

☺ 2 Dec - End of Year Concert

Merit Awards - Chase Dawes, Jozef Goiris,

Tyler Fanning, Jayden Thomas, Jackson Marshall,

Jacob Redwin, Kiana Finlay, Makayla Pfennig,

Brodie Campbell, Jake Jimarin, Haylee McLean,

Tanae Nicolson, Karina Whitmore, Jacquw Esparagoza,

John Tigabao, Lyle Bryne, Hari Priya Sethurama Lingam,

Lorraine Konge, Davie Leckie, Sarah Luckhurst,

Kalis Nomoa, Kalei Mason, Cameron Hyde, Rianna Carlson,

Azaan Ur-Rahman, John Case, Pedro Sackley,

Jessica McEwin, Alicia Swart, Tiffany Nguyen,

Justin Uybenes, Riley Scrymgour, Zane McConnell,

Tyler Robinson, Mitchell Rickard, Liam Stringer,

Micaela Browell, Charlize Nomoa, Jesse Louden,

Braidon Ireland, Alexander Uybenes, Jordan Dann,

Remi Jeanneret, Ciara Parry, Chanel Adam-Greenway,

Kaitlyn Pagel, Tom Wilson, Cassie Ariuu, Maya White,

Keisha Humes-Ellis, Cory Richardson, Brooke Sherwood,

Chrisfer Hallazgo, Emily Ryan, Odhinn Burdett,

Kayley Riley, Mia Carlson, Coby Smith, Alicia Miranda,

Andrew Mason, Tahlia Carlson, Gowtham Shathieskumar.

Principals Awards

Skye McPharlin, Declan MacGillivray, Haylee Smith,

Denzel Tomlins, Sarah Forrest, Robert Thai,

Katina Kastellorizios, Jake Jimarin, Emileah Sackley

Driver is collecting

Pauls Collect a cap– send your specially marked Pauls bottle caps to school and they will donate

10cents for each one collected.

Coles Sports for Schools vouchers—Send your vouchers to school to redeem sports equipment.

Woolworths Earn and Learn Points– Send your Woolies dockets to school to earn us points to redeem

for educational items from Modern Teaching Aids.

Driver Primary School’s hours of supervision are 7.45am - 2.45pm.

The new gates will be opened at 7.30am and closed after 8.15am. School community members will need

to enter the school via the front office. Children should not be dropped off earlier than 7:45am as they

will be unsupervised.

P A G E 4

Community Notices

Palmerston Recreation Youth Dance. New Classes for this Term.. REGISTER NOW!!!WE NOW HAVE TWO CLAS-

SES A WEEK Get Moving & Have Fun Mon 10th Oct-Mon 12th Dec Fri 14th Oct– Fri 16th Dec The children will learn

a fantastic Hip Hop Dance routine with a little bit of shuffling included, all too modern music. The classes are

structured, with a dance lesson plan. At the end of the term the class will perform their dance routine for their

families.Palmerston Recreation Centre Ph: 8935 9777 Email: topendmember@ymca.org.au Website:

www.topend.ymca.org.au

5 Aside Soccer For Kids - Football Federation NT Get your mates together & register a team (max 7/team)

Competitions at Bagot oval and Freds Pass$40 registration (includes shirt & shorts ) $5 per week to play For more

information:www.footballnt.com.auoffice@footballnt.com.au 8941 2444

YMCA Healthy Active Kids Program School Term Clinic Where- Palmerston Recreation Centre 11 The Boulevard

Palmerston Day’s- Tuesday and Thursday Time- 3.30-4.30 Starts- 18th October Ages- 5-12 years of age Enquiries –

89359777 gwen.lowther@ymca.org.au

Junior Indoor Cricket Competition that is run every Saturday morning for ages U11’s to U17’s, beginning on

Saturday 22nd October. Top End Indoor Sports Centre, based at 7 Bishop Street, Woolner. Eight players per side,

Cost is $8.00 per person, Games run roughly 1 hour & 20 minutes Are played between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm on a

Saturday morning.

Free meditation continues at Casuarina and Coolalinga. Discover how to experience the peace of true meditation.

Casuarina Library Mondays 7.30 – 9pm Library Meeting Room 17 Bradshaw Terrace Casuarina. (enter via gate)

Coolalinga Shopping Centre Mondays 7.30- 9pmK Purick MLA Meeting Room Stuart Highway (next to Dominos –

enter from back)

Netball NT is running a NetSetGO! Wetseason program next Tuesday 17th October – 29th Nov If you are a boy or

girl between the ages of 5 – 10 and would like to participate, registration is $45.

This includes a participation pack, including a netball, backpack and more. It also includes a FUN seven week

skills based course. If you would like to register, please come down the Sitzler Netball Centre Abala Rd Marrara at

5pmon Tuesdays. For further details please contact Anne Knight at development@netballnt.org.au or on 8945 2399

Intouch Home Loans and Cmax

Cinema in conjunction with Driver

Primary Canteen sponsor our Caught

Being Good Awards.

Defence Family Update

Welcome back to all. Term four is set to be a busy term with the school concert and many new postings. All the

students seem excited to be back and are enjoying spending time with their friends. This term my hours have

changed and I am pleased to report that I will be based at Driver Primary School full time. However, due to the DSTA

position being only 10 hours per week, I will be dedicating Thursdays and Fridays wholly and solely to that. On

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I will take on the role as classroom support tutor. If on these days you need to

speak with me, please drop into the front office and they will contact me.

The Coonawarra Community House is putting on their annual disco on the 28th October. This year it will be held at

Defence Establishment Berrimah Gym Hall from 5:30 – 8:30pm. Tickets are $3.00 before the night or $4.00 on the

night. Notes went home this week with the children but for more information please call 8947 0411.

We all enjoy reading the Top Ender tri-services magazine but unfortunately it may soon cease to exist, as no new

people turned up to their AGM and due to end of year postings there will be no committee members left. No

committee members = no Top Ender. The committee holds meetings once every two months and they are child

friendly. If you want to meet new people, learn new skills and add to your resume, then this could be for you. Anyone

interested in joining the committee should come along, obligation free, to the next meeting on Thursday 13 October

at 6.00pm. They are located in the Sahara Room at the rear of Building 6, Melville Road, Defence Establishment

Berrimah.

Be sure to check out the defence families noticeboard outside of the library, to keep up to date with all related

information.

Kind Regards,

Cazz Smith- DSTA

cazz.smith@ntschools.net

Ph. 8935 9000