Our Year 4s are at Kangaroobie Camp! Our revised camp dates have coincided with the first available date for schools are allowed to send students away for overnight camps.

This is so exciting! I am very grateful to all our Year 4 families who have very patiently adapted to quite a few changes of plan while we tried to match the school’s camps program to what each new set of COVID restrictions allowed.

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Our Year 4s departed DPS at around 8:30am bound for Camp Kangaroobie. We stopped at Winchelsea for a quick snack break before making the last bit of the journey to camp. Upon arriving, the students unpacked their bags into their rooms and had their lunch.

After lunch all staff and students went on a big walk down to the ocean for an afternoon of playing in the sand dunes, building sandcastles and playing ‘mugby’.

Eventually it was time to head back to camp for dinner and to get organised for a night of dancing. The students had a wonderful day and night, and are very much looking forward to a big day of activities today.

Please see read more for all the action photos

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As part of the easing of restrictions now that the state has reached its 80% vaccination target I am so delighted to be able to let parents know that they can once again come back onsite.

At the beginning and end of school parents can wait in the school grounds but not inside buildings or classrooms. Parents are asked to observe good COVID safe behaviours by maintaining a 1.5m distance from each other.

There are still requirements that must be followed by parents wishing to enter any of our buildings (see below.)

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There are requirements remaining for parents who wish to enter school buildings. These have been set by the Department of Education and Training as enclosed spaces pose a greater risk than being outside and most primary school students are unvaccinated.

Due to current changes and directions from DET and DHHS you will be required to be fully vaccinated to enter our school buildings. Parents who need to enter a building e.g. to meet a teacher must first have signed in at the Administration Office.

When you enter our office, you will be required to check in using the QR code situated on the reception window/counter. You will also be requested to show proof of your fully vaccinated status. If you have an exemption, evidence of this will be required. Upon departure please return your visitor lanyard to the Administration Office.

Unvaccinated and partially-vaccinated parents/carers will not be able to enter our school buildings under current guidelines.

We also request parents/carers follow all COVID-19 directions including wearing a face mask and not attending the school if you are unwell.

Please be patient with our staff as we all adjust to these new guidelines and requirements. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

To enter DPS buildings:

• All parent visitors must check in at the school’s Administration Office first. DO NOT ENTER CLASSROOMS WITHOUT SIGNING IN AT THE OFFICE,
• Be vaccinated or hold a legal exemption,
• Wear a mask indoors;
• Make a specific arrangement with the teacher to meet before arriving to the school (we recommend contacting your child’s teacher via Sentral to arrange a time to meet)

Checking in involves:
1. Signing in and collecting a visitor lanyard
2. Using the QR code
3. Showing evidence of vaccination or exemption

We are required to record your name, contact number, vaccination status and sight evidence of that status for contact tracing purposes. We are bound by the same privacy requirements for holding this information as we are for holding other contact details associated with your children being enrolled at DPS.

 

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We can resume assemblies as of this week. However we are still unable to invite parents because our hall does not have the capacity under density limits to accommodate all our students, all the staff and even one visitor. This may change with the next easing of restrictions around the 26th November.

Masks must be worn inside but are no longer required outside. It is recommended that students in Year 3 to 6 wear a face mask, please ensure your child/ren are bringing one to school everyday we have a very limited supply of disposal masks. Students should also have at least one spare mask in their bag.

Schools are now responsible for contact tracing in the event that we have a positive COVID case. The length of the school’s closure and the number of classes affected will be decided by the Department of Education and Training (DET) based on the school’s adherence to COVID safe protocols including mask wearing by adults and students.

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We are very excitedly working on arrangements for our Year 6 Graduation. The most recently released settings permits graduation ceremonies that can be attended by the students, staff and a small number of fully vaccinated parents.

We will share more information with our community as soon as possible. Our Year 6 cohort are thrilled to be able to celebrate this milestone together!

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Today your child will bring home a print out of a ‘hand.’ We use these hands so students can identify five appropriate friends that will support them in their engagement and social and emotional learning in 2022.

Class teachers will have discussed this process in class but we ask that you also do this with your child and identify five peers they ‘would like’ in their class next year. Although we can’t guarantee they will get all five, we do guarantee they will have at least one friend they have chosen.

Your child needs to return these to your child’s teacher. The deadline is the end of this week so we can start developing classroom drafts for 2022.

Year 4 students will receive these on Thursday after camp.

If you have any queries or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Nic Alonso via email drysdale.ps@education.vic.gov.au

 

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On Monday we waved goodbye to our Year 4 campers who went off to camp for the first time! We are certainly looking forward to hearing about all their adventures when they return. Miss Wojcik is heading off to camp today for an overnight stay!

Our Preps had their first excursion to Ecolinc yesterday! Mrs Alonso drove the mini bus up and had an amazing day watching the students learning about extreme weather, thermometers and Indigenous symbols. All the feedback from Ecolinc were that our Preps were the best group to have for their first classes back onsite in two years!

Breakfast Club has been such a fabulous addition to our school! Each Friday morning we have had so many students come in and access the service for a toastie! We are happy to announce that as of next week Brekky Club will be opening each Monday also!

Thanks so much to all of our amazing volunteers from staff and our new sponsor ‘Feed Me Bellarine!’ Breakfast Club is open from 8:30-8:55 as we want to ensure students arrive to class on time.

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On Monday our Preps had a fantastic day out at Ecolinc. There were learning activities on weather. They looked at extreme weather, watching thunderstorm activity and how thunder and lightning are created.

They then conducted an experiment that replicated how water is released from a cloud. Some lucky Preps were able to explore the effect of static electricity and making a rainbow. They then looked at temperature, using a thermometer to measure the temperature of hot and cold water.

They went outside and compared the temperature in the sun and the shade. Finally, they studied the six indigenous seasons of the Wathaurong people, creating a story from symbols to share with the class. A magnificent day was had by all!

Please see read more for all the action photos

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Our Year 2 students will be heading off to Earth Ed this Friday 5th November as part of their Term 4 inquiry unit based around the big idea “Objects can change when the forces of push and pull are applied.” they will participate in a ‘Push and Pull’ investigation workshop.

Students need to be in full uniform, including a hat, and need to bring their snack, lunch and a water bottle in a small bag/backpack. Students need to be at school at 8:00am and we are returning to the school approximate time of 3:45pm (after our usual 3:30pm home time).

 

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It has been a busy week at OSHC this past week, and we have enjoyed welcoming all of the children back into the service, some of whom we haven’t seen in a long time. The children enjoyed participating in some Halloween themed activities and crafts, as well as enjoying having the chance to spend some time with their friends and classmates.

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Geelong Hockey Association

Geelong Hockey Association is commencing a Hookin2Hockey program for children aged 5 to 12 at St Ignatius College, Drysdale, on Sunday November 7.

Please see the attached flyer Hookin2Hockey

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