Dear Parents and Carers
Community of Achievers
Congratulations to all our staff and students who have been working hard building up their skills and learning across all subjects. It is important that as a community we support their learning by encouraging students to complete all homework tasks and assessments.
Student Leadership Voice
Dripstone Middle School students have a number of opportunities to take on a leadership role. Congratulations to all students who nominated to become a School Ambassador this year. This year our School Ambassadors will either take on a Learning or a Community role.
Students who are part of the Northern Territory Learning Commission will play a critical role in using student voice to help improve the quality of teaching and learning across the school. These students use an inquiry approach to understand what is going on for our learners and what can have the biggest impact. School Ambassadors taking on the Community role will promote a sense of school ownership and community by listening to student voice and bringing about positive change for all students.
In the next few weeks students will have the opportunity to apply to be Sports Captains across all year levels and Houses. Please encourage your child to nominate if they are interested.
Mobile Phone Policy – Off and Away All Day
As you may already be aware student mobile phones are not permitted to be used in Northern Territory Government schools and are to be off and away all day. This policy applies to mobile phones, smart watches and all other devices that allow electronically based distractions.
At Dripstone Middle School students are not permitted to have mobile phones in their possession during the school day. Smart watches must be placed on flight mode so phone calls and messages cannot be sent or received during the school day.
Mobile phones owned by students at Dripstone Middle School are considered valuable items and are brought to school at the student’s or parent’s risk. Please note that Dripstone Middle School does not have accident insurance for accidental property damage or theft of personal items. Students and their parents are encouraged to obtain appropriate insurance for their personal items.
The only exemption that is available under this policy is if a student has a health condition and their phone is used to monitor it and the student has a medically approved documented Health Care Plan.
Please see our policy.
NAPLAN INFORMATION
This year NAPLAN Testing will take place from Wednesday 13th of March to Monday 18th of March 2024.
Please contact Charleen Conroy if you have any concerns or questions on 8983 7777 or email charleen.conroy@education.nt.gov.au if you have any concerns or if your child/ren will be absent on testing days.
HOMEWORK CENTRE
The Homework Centre is available for Year 8 and 9 students to use on Wednesdays after school from 3.00pm to 4.00pm.
Students who are wanting to use the Homework Centre will need to pick up a consent form from the SWAN’s Room and have it signed by a Parent/Carer.
BOMBING OF DARWIN DAY
On Monday 19th of February our school community was represented by students from Ms. Irini Pikoulos' Year 9.1 Humanities class, Stars and Clontarf Academy who attended the Commemoration Service for the 82nd Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin.
Students had the opportunity to lay a wreath and pay their respects on behalf of our school community. They also were able to watch the RAAF jets flyover after the service.
SCIENCE NEWS - Bunsen License
Year 7 students have had an exciting start to Term 1 by learning how to safely use Bunsen Burners! Students demonstrated that they can set-up and use the equipment responsibly and adjust the flame appropriately before obtaining their Bunsen Burner License. This is a vital part to their learning Safe Practices in Science.
Well done, students!
STEAM NEWS
Mr. Uddon’s Year 8 STEAM class are currently collaborating to build an Ornithopter – a machine that can fly by the flapping of its wings, in imitation of birds.
Students have collectively researched and sourced local materials for their build, while other students have opted to use 3D modelling and printing to construct parts of their Ornithopter.
This project allows students to think critically and creatively to problem solve solutions as part of the STEAM disciplines. They are enjoying the process and developing confidence as they progress towards completion.
Test flying their Ornithopter will be exciting and rewarding!
LIBRARY LOVERS' DAY
On Wednesday 14th of February, we celebrated Library Lovers' Day in the Library. At lunchtime, Ms Wely set up a 'mystery book grab', for students.
The purpose of picking an anonymous book was so that students don’t judge a book by its cover and try reading a book they may not ordinarily borrow from the Library.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to the following students who have achieved in a range of areas in our community.
Luke S, Dyeson B and Flynn O (all Year 7 students) for being selected for the Darwin Region Sport Education 12 Years & Under Boys Australian Football team! These boys will be training alongside their teammates for the School Sports Education NT Australian Football Championship event, which is being held in Darwin from the 26th – 28th of Match at TIO Stadium, Marrara.
Congratulations also to Nellie from Year 7 for her achievements in Orienteering. In early February, Nellie was a course setter for Top End Orienteering, and was interviewed by ABC Darwin!
UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS
A reminder that our annual Parent Meet and Greet Evening will be held on Wednesday 28th of February from 5.00pm - 6.00pm.
This event will be followed by our School Council Annual General Meeting, which will start at 6.00pm in the Library.
We invite all parents and carers to attend, especially those who are interested in playing a role as a Parent Representative in School Council.
Parent Survey – Dripstone Yearbook 2024
This year, Dripstone Middle School is producing a yearbook. The yearbook will showcase our student’s activities and achievements throughout the year and will provide your family with a memento of your child/ren’s school year.
We estimate that this book will cost $30.00 and are seeking expressions of interest so we can determine how many to produce.
Please take a moment to fill in our short survey to let us know if you would be interested in purchasing a yearbook in 2024.
Please click here to fill in the survey.
PARENT VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS
This year, all money raised in Parent Voluntary Contributions will go towards the purchase of all new tech equipment to fit-out our new STEAM Centre. We are aiming to raise a total of $20,000. If you’d like to make a contribution, you can do so at our Bookroom, or by calling the Front Office on 8983 7777.
Thank you to those who have made voluntary contributions in 2024. So far, we have raised $7,696.72!
Nurse Mary has also been working with students to identify those who suffer from Asthma and Anaphylaxis. Those students would have received forms to take home and have filled in by their Parent/Carer. If you have received these forms from your child/ren, please ensure that they are filled in and returned to the Front Office.
If your child does suffer from Asthma and/or Anaphylaxis and you have not received any forms, please fill in the forms via the link below and email them to the school on dripstone.middle@education.nt.gov.au.
Early Departures
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 8983 7777. When students leave the school, they need to sign out at the Front Office before leaving the grounds.
Communications
Dripstone Middle School uses the Compass Manager App to communicate important information, messages and newsletters to parents and families. Parents and carers can also report student absences, view reports and attendance, and contact teachers directly via the Compass app.
To set up your account, parents/carers should have received a notification via the email address supplied to the school. This notification contains your username and password. Download the Compass app and log in using the details listed, then follow the prompts. If you have changed your email address or phone number, please contact the school to update these details.
If you have any issues logging in, please be in touch with the Front Office on 8983 7777.
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 Liasion Officer, Mr Laqui Papalii on 8983 7758 or 0437 202 001; Ms Karen Newman the Aboriginal Education Officer on 8983 7759, Compass, 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 you child / student is sick for 3 days or more consecutively, the Department requires a medical certificate to cover the period of absence.