Dear Parents and Carers
Community of Achievers
Hard work continues in our classrooms with teachers and students engaged in continuing learning new skills, content and working on units and assessments. We would like to encourage all families to talk to their child/ren about their learning and making sure they are completing all homework and assessment tasks. If you have any concerns, please contact teachers or Senior Staff.
Parent Teacher Interviews
This last week you would have received an invitation via Compass to participate in our Interim Report Term 3 Parent Teacher Interviews to discuss your child’s progress for Semester 2.
Bookings for Parent Teacher interviews can be booked through the Compass App, or if you are unable to secure a time slot, please contact Dripstone Middle School Reception to arrange an alternative time. Please contact the Dripstone Middle School Reception on 89 837 777 or dripstone.middle@education.nt.gov.au if you would like to update contact details.
Parent Teacher Interviews will be held on the Tuesday 12th September from 4.00pm to 7.00pm and Wednesday 13th September from 4.00pm to 6.00pm.
Parent Teacher Interviews will occur in the following areas:
• Humanities and Science: Humanities Open Area
• English and Languages: English Open Area
• Specialists: Library
• Maths: Maths Open Area
Your Feedback Matters - Parent Online Survey
Each year we ask our parents and carers to complete a survey to provide us with feedback about the school. Students and staff are also surveyed for their feedback. The results help us celebrate what we do well and allows us to identify areas that our students, families and staff would like to see a greater focus on.
Recently, parents, students and staff received a link to the survey via Compass. If you have not received a link, please contact the Front Office.
The Parent Survey is open from now until Friday 8th September. The survey is available from the following link: https://www.schoolsurvey.edu.au/s/DripstoneMiddleParentSurvey2023
We look forward to your feedback!
NAPLAN Results
In recent weeks your child/ren would have brought home their individual NAPLAN Reports. Dripstone Middle School’s validated NAPLAN Results for 2023 has seen amazing growth in all areas and in many has seen our students achieve above the Northern Territory and the National Average.
I would like to congratulate our staff and students for their efforts especially in the areas of Reading and Maths. Thank you to all parents who have supported their children with their Reading and Maths Homework Programs.
School Council News - Road Safety
In recent meetings with our Dripstone Middle School Council, concerns were raised over the safety of our students as they crossed roads that are very busy before and after school. This concern was also raised by our Ambassadors who felt that there have been too many near misses as students ride, walk home or walk to the Casuarina Bus Depot.
As a result, a range of surveys have been emailed or sent home to help us gather data around student, staff and parent experiences on these roads that surround Dripstone Middle School. This data will be used in our conversations with Local Council to help come up with better plans and actions for these roads to ensure the safety of our students and families using these roads during peak periods.
Please contact the Front Office if you have not received a survey on (08) 8983 7777.
Our next School Council Meeting will be held this Thursday 7th of September at 5.30pm in the school library. Please feel free to join us to support our School Community.
School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI)
Recently, The Australian Government has established the School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) to provide free home internet of 12 months for up to 30,000 families with school-aged children who do not currently have a National Broadband Network (NBN) connection at home. I have attached a flyer from the Department of Education which outlines the application process. If you need assistance with completing the form, or have any questions, please contact the school.
English News - Literacy Week
During the period of 28th of August to 1st of September we celebrated Literacy Week. The English Faculty hosted a variety of events to celebrate our students love of reading. The events included:
• Black Out Poetry Competition
• Dress Up as a Literary Character
• Slam Poetry Competition
• Poster Competition
Science News – National Science Week Winners
Recently our Science Faculty hosted a Science Fair that saw over 500 of our students explore the World of Science through the lens of curiosity and creativity. During the afternoon our parents and families voted for the best projects.
The results are:
• In Year 7 Project Solar System created by Summer and Sophia.
• In Year 8 Project Robotic Arm by Raha, Dylan, and Murphy.
• In Year 9 Project Eco Bike Light by Kate and Kalotina.
English News – Debating Competition
Congratulations to Jai, Sadik, Indiana and Charlotte our Dripstone Middle School Debating Team who has won the Darwin Schools Debating Competition for the second year in a row, after going undefeated for the entire competition!
Dripstone MS students took on MacKillop Catholic College in a fierce debate over whether Australia should become a republic. Speaking as the negative team, Dripstone was able to make a compelling case as to why Australia should not make this change, convincing the three-person panel to crown Dripstone Middle School as champions. Congratulations to Charlotte, who was nominated as the Best Speaker in the Grand Final! Special thank you to Mr Darcy Fitzgerald for his support and mentoring of our students.
Tournament of the Minds Finals News
Last weekend Dripstone Middle School had the pleasure of hosting the Tournament of the Minds Finals which saw hundreds of students across the Darwin area compete in a range of challenges. We would like to congratulate both the STEM and Language & Literature Senior Teams who won the Secondary Division!
Our winners will be representing the Northern Territory in Melbourne this October in the Australian Tournament of the Minds Competition.
Science News
During Science Week students were encouraged to enter the SCOPE Competition. This was a photomicrography competition, ran by Inspired NT, giving Territory students the opportunity to explore the tiniest of details in the Territory through a creative lens, using photos through a microscope.
Dripstone Middle School is pleased to announce that Dripstone MS student, Leilani in Year 9, has been shortlisted as a candidate for the People’s Choice Award!
Please show your support for Leilani by voting for her photo now through: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QVBFDRC
To view all shortlisted photos, please follow the link - https://www.inspirednt.net/scope-2023
STEAM Centre News
Congratulations to Maxcon (NT) Pty Ltd for winning the Award for 'Commercial Fit-Out or Alteration over $1 Million' for the Dripstone STEAM Centre at the Master Builders - EBC Awards 2023!
Our new state-of-the-art facility will be utilised by current and future students to focus on areas such as Engineering, Manufacturing, Media, Robotics, Environmental Science, Media and so much more, for many years to come!
The purpose of the Adventure Camp was to encourage a spirit of adventure, discovery and to have students challenge themselves whilst undertaking a team journey. This camp was an essential element of achieving their Bronze Medallion for the Duke of Edinburgh Program.
Students participated in a range of activities including bushwalking, camping, swimming, canoeing, cooking, and team building activities. The camp provided students with the opportunity to take safe risks in a spectacular region of Northern Australia. They learned how to work independently as well as part of a group, developing resilience, perseverance, and endurance skills. Congratulations to all students who successfully completed their Adventure Journey!
Music News - The Beat Festival
This year is the 44th anniversary of the BEAT Festival. The theme this year is Courage and performances will be held at the Darwin Entertainment Centre on 6th, 7th, and 8th September 2023.
Congratulations to the following students who will be performing this year including playing instruments in the orchestra: Yeehung, Heidi and Samuel. NTMS Vocal uprising will be Indiana and performing a vocal solo will be Heidi. Dripstone Middle School Choir students, Ashlyn, Taylor, Jorja, Mia, Evelyn, Kingston, Isabelle and Rajonya will also be performing as part of the main choir.
Special thank you to NTMS and Ms Milly Barling for her hard work and dedication in supporting our students to grow their musical talents.
Recently some of our Music students also attended the SILENCE Show at the Darwin Entertainment Centre. SILENCE was a part of the Darwin Festival program for 2023.
The SILENCE Show was described as pulling the Treaty out from under the rug, slams it back on the table and, with riveting intent, invites you to the conversation. The show explored the silence between the stars as the Emu travels across the night sky and the conversations not being heard and the responses that are muted.
Clontarf News
Recently, the Dripstone Middle School Clontarf Academy participated in a community event at Bunnings, Darwin to help set up activities for a Father's Day and product 'come and try' day. Our boys cooking skills were put to the test by helping with the BBQ.
Dripstone Clontarf hosted its first Top Bunch Lunch in our brand-new Academy Room. This celebration was to recognise students who have shown outstanding work ethic in their classroom, and for those students who continually work hard to complete tasks. Teachers nominated students who they believe have shown and demonstrated these skills. Congratulations to all the young men who were nominated!
Stars Dripstone Academy were fortunate to join in with Stars Academies across the Northern Suburbs to have a training session with the Wallabies players. The students participated in ball handling skills, run throughs and some quick mobility. Our young ladies showed great promise and skill.
Art News
The winner of the People’s Choice Award for The Dripstone Archibald Prize was Bianca from Year 9, with her portrait of Mr Puig. This was part of the Portraiture Unit last term. Students also made clay lanterns using the “slab” technique. This piece was made by Zairene from Year 9.
Dripstone Middle School also had several Art Prize Winners in the Royal Darwin Show, including Aryan, Yr 7 (Second in NT subject), Luka, Yr 8 (Highly Commended in Portraiture), Bianca, Yr 9 (Second in Sculpture), Melanie, Yr 8 (Third in Sculpture), and Taylor, Yr 9 (Highly Commended in Sculpture).
Currently in Year 7 students are now working on entries for the Threatened Species Day Competition, Wild at Art. Thank you to Ms Kim Boardman for her tireless efforts with all our Art students. Amazing art works are proudly displayed around our school.
Year 9 Transition to CSC
Over the year our Year 9s have had opportunities to visit Casuarina Senior College and had visits from CSC Staff to discuss what the enrolment process is and what subjects are available as part of their Transition Program to senior school. Enrolments are now due. Students can drop off their enrolment packs at the Front Office.
Year 6 Transition Program to Dripstone Middle School
Our Year 6 Transition Program for our feeder schools has continued. These days provide opportunity for students moving from primary school to middle school to experience positive opportunities as they attend a range of subjects. Over the next few weeks Year 6 students will have received their enrolment packs and are asked to return these by the end of term. Applications for LEAP and RISE Programs are also available.
Updating Contact Details
Updating your contact details is imperative to improving our communication with families. Please update the school with any changes to personal details. This includes changes to your address, phone and email contacts and workplace details to ensure that the school can contact families in case of emergencies, attendance queries or any general school issues. Parents/caregivers should update their information by contacting the school via Compass notification, email, or telephone call to the school on (08) 8983 7777.
Uniform Reminder
We would like to a remind our community that all students should be wearing full school uniform. This consists of the Dripstone shirt and shorts. Black jackets with the school logo are available from our Front Office. If students are wearing alternative jackets or jumpers, they should be only black with no insignias/logo, nor should they have hoods on them.
Early Departure
Just a reminder that permission for early departure will not be obtained unless the school has authorisation from a parent/caregiver. Parents/caregivers should notify the school, either through a note, Compass notification, email, or telephone call to the school on 89837777. When students leave the school, they need to sign out at the Front Office before leaving the grounds.
ATTENDING SCHOOL EVERY DAY
We have been working with the Attendance Team to ensure that all students are attending school every day, five days a week.
If your child is sick, they are to stay home. Please contact the school if your child will be LATE or ABSENT from school by calling the Home Liaison Officer Mr Laqui Papalii on 89837758 or 0437202001; Ms Karen Newman the Aboriginal Education Officer on 89837759, School Stream, email or text message. Please feel free to leave messages on our answer machine.
Please contact the school with the reason for their absence. If your child /student is sick for 3 days or more consecutively, the Department requires a medical certificate to cover the period of absence.
Upcoming School Events and Notices
Community Notices
Water Safety Week is quickly approaching, annually during that time we hold a colouring in competition which we invite all school communities to participate in.
Entries close on the 1st of October and the Winner is announced on the 4th of October 2023.