Dear Parents and Carers
Community of Achievers
Welcome back to what promises to be a wonderful 2025 school year! A special welcome to all our new families and new staff to our community.
The first few weeks of this have flown by with our students settling into classes and new courses. This time is very important as we establish positive relationships with peers and staff.
This newsletter will contain some recent news but will also celebrate some events we weren’t able to fit into our final newsletter of 2024.
New Staff
Welcome to our new teachers; Ruby Liang (Maths), Courtenay Edwards (Drama), Michael Kondaridis (Dukes/Science/HPE) to the Dripstone Community. We are currently in the process of recruiting some other subject areas.
Congratulations
I’d also like to take this opportunity to congratulate former Dripstone Middle School students who have completed their NTCET in 2024. A special congratulations goes to our past students who made the NTCET Top 20. We would like to acknowledge all our past students who received outstanding results for their NTCET and wish them all the best in their future studies!
Wellbeing
Every Monday morning your child participates in a Wellbeing Program in their Personal Learning lesson where students, using the School Diaries, are taught explicit skills and competencies to build the brain’s ability and social and emotional resilience. These individualised year level programs also help students develop important skills for managing emotions, building relationships, and making responsible decisions.
The School Diaries are essential to this class as learning materials are incorporated within it. Diaries are available to purchase at the Book Room.
Year Level Coordinators
Please see below our Year Level Coordinators. Feel free to contact them with any questions.
- Year 7 Coordinator - Ms Michelle Koulakis
- Year 8 Coordinator - Mr Petros Gerakios
- Year 9 Coordinator - Ms Kaaryn Jakobson
Meet and Greet Parent Evening & School Council AGM
This year’s annual Meet and Greet Parent Evening is being held on 5th of March 2025 between 5.00pm – 6.00pm. This event will allow parents and carers to meet their child/rens teachers, gain information regarding their courses and pick up a Parent Outline for each course if they haven’t already received it through Compass. This is not a parent teacher interview, but rather an opportunity for you to meet staff who will be working with your child/ren.
Following the annual Meet and Greet Evening, our School Council AGM will be held in the library starting at 6.00pm. Please attend if you are interested in playing a role as a Parent Representative.
Car Park Safety
Drop off and pick up times can be very busy and require everyone to take care and be patient.
Please help keep everyone safe by taking care and only dropping students off in the designated areas. There is a designated student drop-off and pick-up zone via the carpark off of Delamere Street, or on Tiwi Gardens Road.
Please note that the Staff Carpark off of Willeroo Street is not a designated drop-off and pick-up zone. This area has become a safety risk during drop-off and pick-up times as staff try to park their cars and students need to access their bikes from the Bike Cage that is located near this carpark.
PROPOSE TO CHANGE TO SCHOOL BUS ROUTE 206
Important information regarding School Bus Route 206 can be seen below.
NAPLAN 2025
This year NAPLAN Testing will take place from Wednesday 12th of March to Monday 24th of March 2025.
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.
School Photos
Our School Photos will be held on Friday 28th of February. Order envelopes will be coming home soon and will need to be returned to the Front Office no later than Thursday 27th of February. Details of payment options available will be listed on the order envelope.
Parent Contributions
In 2023, we officially opened our brand-new STEAM Centre. This state-of-the-art space is utilised by our STEAM, Science, Technology, Art and Media classes.
In 2025, all money raised in Parent Voluntary Contributions will go towards the purchase of all new tech equipment to fit-out the STEAM Centre. We are aiming to raise a total of $20,000 in 2025. If you’d like to make a contribution, you can do so at our Bookroom, or by calling the Front Office on 8983 7777.
House Captain nominations will also be made available this week to all students.
Elected students will be announced later in the term.
E-SCOOTERS
Electronic scooter (e-scooter) laws in the NT only allow approved hired e-scooters on footpaths, shared paths, bicycle lanes and public spaces. You must be at least 18 years old to ride a hired e-scooter.
Privately owned e-scooters can only be ridden on private property and cannot be used on:
- Road
- Footpaths or
- Other public spaces, including schools.
People riding private e-scooters in public, including to and from school, risk being fined by Police for driving an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle.
To ensure students safety, e-scooters cannot be used as transport to or from school and cannot be stored on school grounds.
If a students brings an e-scooter onto Dripstone Middle School the e-scooter will be securely stored and their parent/carer will be contacted to make arrangements for the e-scooter to be collected.
Further information can be found at: Electric Scooter and Bikes | NT.GOV.AU
We thank you for your support in ensuring a safe school campus for our students and staff.
SHAPING TOMORROW: DRIPSTONE PARTNERS WITH CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY
On Tuesday the 26th of November 2024, Dripstone Middle School officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Charles Darwin University (CDU). This partnership is part of our ongoing work with CDU and is set to transform opportunities for our students and strengthen our school community with a Health Academy at Dripstone!
This innovative program will further connect our students with CDU's expert staff, students, and resources, offering hands-on learning experiences in health and medical fields.
A huge thank you to Charles Darwin University, especially Professor Dominic Upton and Professor Di Stephens, and their incredible team, for making this possible. And to our dedicated staff, students, and families – thank you for your unwavering support in making Dripstone a hub of innovation, collaboration, and opportunity.
This is just the beginning, and the future is looking brighter than ever! Together, we’re unlocking new doors and giving our students the keys to their full potential!
EXCITING NEWS FROM THE SCIENCE FACULTY
We’re thrilled to announce that the 2024 Dripstone Middle School Science Fair has won the Next Generation Natural Resource Management Award at the 2024 Northern Territory Natural Resource Management Awards!
Held on 15 August 2024, the Dripstone Science Fair, themed “Sustainability for Survival”, engaged over 570 students in hands-on exploration of innovative solutions to environmental challenges. Guided by the STEAM approach, students developed 177 projects, including:
• Natural perfumes from plant-based ingredients
• 3D-printed toys from recycled plastic
• Natural sunscreen lotions
• Sustainable fishing lures
• Research on vertical farming and sustainable agriculture
The Dripstone Science Fair attracted over 1,000 attendees and featured collaborations with Radicle NT, Casuarina Senior College, and Power and Water, making it a true community celebration of sustainability. This inspiring event not only showcased students’ creativity and critical thinking but also promoted environmental awareness and practical solutions to combat global challenges.
The awards night was held on November 20th 2024, with our Principals, Science Faculty staff, and 2024 School Captains in attendance. A huge congratulations to all students involved in the event and to our Science Faculty staff, led by Ms. Roopa Bandi, for leading the way in sustainability and inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders!
On October 19th 2024, Dripstone students were further honoured at the Charles Darwin University (CDU) Radicle Centre Awards Night for their outstanding performance at the science fair. Dripstone Middle School was also a finalist in the Best Science Week Event category, and Ms. Roopa Bandi was a finalist in the Secondary School STEM Educator of the Year Award. Dripstone's very own Ms. Shanae Kuo served as the MC for the event—well done, Ms. Kuo!
Adding to these achievements, it is with immense pride that we announce the outstanding success of the project “Biolure”, presented by Khadim, Kian, and Tye, which has been selected for entry into the Australian Science Teachers Association I3 Awards national finals.
Each year, this national competition invites outstanding projects from across the country, showcasing innovation, inquiry, and ingenuity. “Biolure” was a prize winner at the 2024 Territory Young Scientist Awards, where it earned a nomination from the organising committee to represent the Northern Territory in the national competition.
Congratulations to Khadim, Kian, and Tye on this incredible achievement. We wish them the best of luck at the national finals and thank them for representing Dripstone Middle School with such distinction!
A huge congratulations to all students who also received awards at the Territory Young Scientists Awards 2024!
STEAM UPDATE: E-SPORTS CHAMPIONS
Dripstone Middle School has made history as the first school in the Northern Territory (NT) to introduce an E-Sports program, thanks to a partnership between Mr. Uddon and The Array Learn Make Play. Initially, 24 students signed up for the program, forming teams of three and competing in elimination rounds to narrow down to the final 12 participants. Over the five-week program, students not only explored the exciting world of E-Sports but also learned about computer hardware, networking, and setting up Starlink Internet access.
The program culminated in the NT's first-ever E-Sports Grand Final event on December 3rd 2024, hosted at Dripstone Middle School. The competition brought together four schools, promoting collaboration, networking, and community building. Dripstone's own "Dripstonians" emerged victorious in the thrilling final against Haileybury Rendall School. The winning team—Yianni (Year 7), Dylan, and Jakobie (both Year 9)—took home EB Games vouchers, generously provided by The Array. Dripstone's "The Clontarf Boys" also earned recognition as runners-up in the competition.
Looking ahead, the program aspires to secure funding to purchase additional equipment and nurture E-Sports champions who can represent the NT on a global stage. Students are especially excited about the opportunity to compete in the Gold Coast Esports Tournament next year. A special thank you goes to The Array for their outstanding support and to Khoda Patel MLA, Member for Casuarina, for attending the event and celebrating the students’ achievements.
DRIPSTONE DAY 2024
Dripstone Day 2024 was an action-packed celebration for the entire Dripstone community!
The day kicked off with the annual Dripstone Day Talent Quest, where our students shined on stage, showcasing their incredible skills. From there, the excitement moved to The Mall, where various stalls offered delicious food and unique handmade creations by our talented students.
Majority of the funds raised on Dripstone Day will support amazing causes, including the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal and Foodbank NT.
Thank you to everyone who made this day unforgettable!
A big shoutout to Alex Vo from Bruce's Charcoal Chicken for the generous donation of delicious chicken, and to Tam and Thong from Chatime Casuarina for supporting our Dripstone Day stalls in 2024! Your contributions helped make our community event extra special. Thank you!
AMBASSADORS NEWS
We are incredibly proud of our amazing Dripstone School Ambassadors for their remarkable efforts during the festive season! Their generosity shone brightly as they contributed to the Christmas Food Drive at Casuarina Square for Food Bank NT and raised money to purchase gifts for the Kmart Wishing Tree, spreading joy and making a difference for families in need.
NTLC – Pitch to the Minister!
The Dripstone Ambassadors attended the annual 2024 Northern Territory Learning Commission End of Year Pitch at the Darwin Convention Centre.
Each school created a booth and 'pitched' their work and findings from the 2024 school year to Ministers. Dripstone students were able to meet the Education Minister, Hon Jo Hersey-Member for Katherine and showed her the 'Choice and Voice' chart they developed this year.
The Dripstone Learning Commission created a 'Choice and Voice' chart for teachers to use in their classrooms, designed to enhance students' choice and voice in their learning while fostering mutual respect between teachers and students - a continuation of the 2023 Dripstone Learning Commissions' goal of building strong teacher-student relationships.
HUMANITIES NEWS: EDIBLE GARDEN
In 2024, the former Year 9 Humanities classes were hard at work with the support from School Council, Science, Food Tech, Woodwork, SWANS and Clontarf Academy, setting up an edible garden in Dripstone Middle School’s very own backyard.
This garden will provide us with fresh fruit and vegetables, benefiting us to become a healthier and happier school community. This project won’t only help us, but the environment as well.
Students from the 2024 Year 9 Humanities held a lunchtime Mega Bakesale in Term 4 to fundraise for their edible garden. Thank you to all students, parents, carers and staff who supplied sweet treats for the fundraiser!
There was also an Adopt-A-Plant initiative and raffle tickets being sold to also help continue raise funds. Congratulations to Ms Vicky from the Front Office who had the winning tickets in the Edible Garden Raffle draw! In an incredibly generous gesture, Ms Vicky donated the BBQ back to the school for future events – thank you so much, Ms Vicky!
On the last day of school 2024, Year 9 Humanities students officially handed over their Edible Garden Project back to the school, passing the torch to the Year 9 students of 2025 and beyond! Well done, students! We can't wait to see the garden flourish in 2025!
DRIPSTONE HOUSE SPIRIT AWARD 2024
In 2024, we introduced the Dripstone House Spirit Award, which is awarded to the House Team with the most Spirit Points by the end of the year. Students earn points by wearing their house shirts on House Shirt Fridays and participating in exciting events like the Athletics Carnival, Colour Fun Run, and Cross Country.
A huge congratulations to Carpentaria, crowned the 2024 Spirit of Dripstone with an impressive 1,244 Spirit Points!
- Alexander came in second with 1,065 points.
- Phoenix followed with 758 points.
Carpentaria House Captains and their Coordinator, Mr. Cilento, proudly accepted the Dripstone Spirit Cup at our final school assembly of 2024.
Well done to all students who contributed points for their team! Who will claim the cup in 2025? Let the competition begin!
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
A huge congratulations to Manishi (Year 7), whose novel 'Just a Teenager' has been shortlisted for the 2024 Young Territory Authors Award in the 9-12 Age category!
Manishi dedicated around three months to writing her story, drawing inspiration from the Percy Jackson series. This is an incredible achievement, and we are so proud of her talent and hard work. Well done, Manishi!
A huge congratulations to Adam (Year 9) for being the U/15 Australian 6 Red Shootout Champion!
He showcased his incredible 8 Ball skills in Perth in January and made our school proud! Way to go, Adam!
A friendly reminder to all families: If your child has Asthma, Anaphylaxis (severe allergies), Diabetes, or a Heart Condition, please ensure the school has an up-to-date copy of their Health Plan. You can email it directly to dripstone.middle@education.nt.gov.au. Keeping this information current helps us provide the best care for your child while they are at school.
Additionally, Immunisation forms will be sent home this week for all Year 9 students as part of the Meningococcal B vaccination program. For Year 7 students who did not submit an immunisation consent form at enrolment, a letter will be sent home with a form to complete. Alternatively, parents can collect a form from the school office. Please note that students must have a signed consent form to receive their immunisation.
DRIPSTONE ALUMNI STORIES
Meet Joel Banesha from the Dripstone Class of 2011! Joel is our second member in the Dripstone Alumni Series! Read about what he’s been up to since leaving Dripstone.
We want to hear about how you have been making your mark on the world since leaving our Dripstone Community!
Be a part of our Dripstone Alumni Series that will showcase the achievements of former Dripstone Middle/High School students and to inspire the current and future generations of Dripstone students!
If you have an exciting and inspiring story to share, please email nektaria.pikoulos@education.nt.gov.au for more information on how to be a part of the Dripstone Alumni Series.
Communications
Stay in the loop on social media! Follow Dripstone Middle School on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates and a glimpse into what's happening at our school!
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.
PRE-LOVED UNIFORMS
Got pre-loved uniforms? We’d love to have them! Please drop them off at our office anytime between 8:00am and 3:30pm.
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.
Uniform Policy
As we start a new year, we just want to 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/logos nor should they have hoods on them.
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 202 004; 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.
SCHOOL EVENTS
DRIPSTONE BREAKFAST CLUB
Join us every school day from 8:00 AM – 8:20 AM for a FREE and delicious meal in the Cooking Room—open to all students!
Enjoy toasted sandwiches, cereal, juice, and toast with a variety of spreads.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Semester 1 Sports Vouchers are now available! Applications close May 24, 2025.
All children enrolled in school (Transition to Year 12) are eligible to apply for a $100.00 Sports Voucher per semester.
The voucher can be used for sport, recreation, swimming and music lessons.
Click here for more information or to apply for the Sports Vouchers Scheme.