Upcoming events:
**CANCELLED Week 4 (Thursday 22 May): K-6 Glasshouse excursion ‘You Are a doughnut’ CANCELLED **
Week 5 (Friday 30 May): Lower North Coast Cross Country at Kempsey Racecourse (selected students)
Week 7 (Monday 9 June): King’s Birthday Public holiday (no school)
Week 9 (Friday 27 June): Year 3-6 Small Schools Athletics Carnival (location to be determined)
Week 10 (Wednesday 2 July): K-2 Athletics Carnival (at school, time to be determined)
Week 10 (Monday 30 July): End of Term Assembly @ 2 pm
Week 10 (Friday 4 July): Last Day of Term 2
Wednesday 23 July: First Day of Term 3 for students
Principal Report
Welcome to Week 4! It’s been a positive and productive start to the term, with students settling back into routines and engaging enthusiastically in their learning.
Over the past few weeks, it’s been wonderful to see classrooms buzzing with activity, rich discussions, and hands-on learning. Our staff continue to provide high-quality, personalised learning experiences that support each child to thrive. In a small school like ours, the strength of relationships between students, staff and families makes a real difference—and we are seeing the benefits of that every day.
Our recent assembly was a lovely celebration of student achievement and school values. Congratulations to all our merit award recipients—you’ve shown great dedication, kindness, and cooperation.
Thank you to families for your ongoing support. Whether it’s helping with reading at home, attending events, or simply having a chat at drop-off, your involvement plays a vital role in our school community.
As always, my door is open. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or just want to check in.
Report Information
From Term 2, we will be introducing updated school reports.
The new format has been developed by the NSW Department of Education in response to feedback from parents and educators, making reports easier to read and understand.
Your child’s report will still show their progress across all subject areas.
Teacher comments will appear in the English, Mathematics, and general comment sections, in line with department policy.
The general comment for Kindergarten also covers all other key learning areas, including creative arts, HSIE, PDHPE, and science and technology.
A new achievement scale and descriptions are included to provide a clearer picture of your child’s progress.
Parent–teacher interviews remain an important way to discuss your child’s progress and achievement in more detail. Please contact the school if you would like a parent-teacher interview.
We welcome your feedback or questions about the new report format.
Attendance
What if my child has to be away from school?
On occasion, your child may need to be absent from school. Justified reasons for student absences may include:
being sick, or having an infectious disease
having an unavoidable medical appointment
being required to attend a recognised religious holiday
exceptional or urgent family circumstance (e.g. attending a funeral)
As the principal, I ask that you provide a verbal or written explanation whenever your child is absent from school. If staff haven't received an explanation within two days, we will contact you to discuss the absence.
There are times when I may need to decline an explanation if I believe the absence was not in your child’s best interest. In these situations, the absence will be recorded as unjustified, and I will discuss the reasons for this decision with you.
If your child is frequently or continuously absent due to illness, I may request a medical certificate or other supporting documentation. I may also ask for your permission to speak with relevant medical professionals so we can work together to develop a health care plan that best supports your child’s learning and well-being. If this request is declined, I may need to record future absences as unjustified.
What if my child wants a day off without a valid reason?
Under the NSW Department of Education guidelines, students are required by law to attend school every day it is open, unless there is a valid reason for being absent. Valid reasons include illness, medical appointments, or serious family matters.
If your child asks for a day off without a valid reason, such as being tired, not wanting to go, or needing a break, it’s important to explain that attending school is not optional. These types of absences are not considered justified and will be recorded as unjustified absences.
If a pattern of unjustified absences emerges, the school is required to follow up with you. This may include:
Phone calls or written communication
A meeting with the principal to discuss attendance concerns
Development of an Attendance Improvement Plan
In more serious cases, a referral to the Home School Liaison Officer (HSLO) or Aboriginal Student Liaison Officer (ASLO) for support
As a last resort, legal action may be considered if attendance does not improve
We understand that every family has unique circumstances, so if you're having difficulty getting your child to school, please reach out early. We're here to work with you and support your child in attending school every day and thriving.
Talking About School – Questions to Ask Your Child
Ever asked your child how their day was and only got “fine” or “I don’t know”? You’re not alone! Sometimes, asking the right question can make all the difference.
Here are some great conversation starters to help your child open up about their day at school:
Questions about learning:
What’s something new you learned today?
What book are you reading in class? What’s it about?
Did you do any writing or maths that you felt really proud of?
Questions about friendships:
Who did you spend time with at recess or lunch?
Did you help anyone today, or did someone help you?
Did you notice someone being kind today?
Questions about emotions:
What was the best part of your day?
Was there anything tricky or frustrating?
What made you feel proud or happy today?
Just for fun:
What would you name today if it were a movie?
What made you laugh today?
If you could re-do one part of the day, what would it be?
Asking open-ended questions helps build stronger communication, gives insight
Ms Cummins, Principal
Dhanggati Daily
Our Dhanggati (Dunghutti) language lessons have been going wonderfully this term, with students showing great enthusiasm and respect for learning our local Aboriginal language.
Each Wednesday, students participate in dedicated language lessons that foster cultural understanding and pride.
Students in K–2 have been exploring words related to greetings and kinship. Some of the vocabulary they’ve been learning includes:
Nyina – Sit
Nhaya – Look
Ngarra – Listen
Nhuka – Mum
Miyanda – Dad
Nganhiwa – Respect
Meanwhile, our Years 3–6 students have been expanding their vocabulary to include kinship terms, animals, and elements of nature, such as:
Ngabayanda – Grandmother
Babaang – Grandfather
Guwaligawayi – Platypus
Garruka – Kookaburra
Mitayn – Tree
Guung – Fresh water
Students are now beginning to form simple sentences. For example:
Wutu dhanggu dhithiyn – This is my family.
We are proud to be keeping our local language strong and are excited to share what we are learning.
K-2 Class News
Welcome to Term 2!
We’ve had a fantastic start to the term in the K-2 classroom. Students have settled back into their routines with enthusiasm and curiosity. It’s also been wonderful to see students engaging positively with their peers and showing interest in their learning across all areas. We’re looking forward to a term full of learning, growth, and fun!
In Creative Art students were able to achieve some very high standards of work which we entered into the Kempsey Show. Congratulations to our K-1 students for their winning entries, gaining 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. Well done!
In other news, we have been successful in applying for and receiving a Sporting Schools grant for Term 2! Students K-6 will participate in 6 coach delivered AFL sessions during sport on Wednesday afternoons. Sessions start next week (Week 5). Please make sure students wear appropriate uniform and footwear each week.
Year 3-6 Class News
It’s been a busy and exciting start to the term in our Year 3–6 classroom!
In English, we’ve been exploring the fascinating text Yahoo Creek—a blend of historical accounts and storytelling that has sparked deep discussion and curiosity. Building on this, we’ve begun our next book study, "Leila and the Blue Fox," which is already capturing students’ imaginations with its themes of resilience, identity, and adventure.
Our writing focus has been persuasive texts, with students taking a position on whether they believe the Yahoos were real or simply a myth. They’ve been learning how to construct strong arguments, use persuasive language, and back up their opinions with evidence from the text.
In Maths, we’ve been exploring the world of large and small numbers—reading, writing, ordering, and comparing them. Students have been challenged to think about numbers in real-world contexts, including population data, distances, and place value patterns.
In Health, our focus is on respectful relationships. We’ve been discussing how students can be positive influences in their friendships and school community. Through role plays and reflection, students are learning how to communicate kindly, resolve conflicts and show empathy in everyday situations. Students have started creating posters on Canva to be displayed around the school.
We’re proud of the effort and engagement students are showing across all areas of learning. Keep up the great work!
Mr Peters' Update
This term, students have been and will continue to engage in daily sessions to develop fundamental movement skills such as catching, throwing, sprinting, and static balance, which are essential for all sports. We’re also excited to welcome AFL play coaches who will enhance our teamwork and communication skills through their program. Additionally, we will be preparing for our Athletics carnival with targeted practice on the relevant skills and events.
In K-2 Geography this term, students are currently using maps to explore global features, understand Australia’s location, and learn about local place names while tracing the journey of food from farm to supermarket. In 3-6 Geography, students are exploring Australia’s unique geography, climates, and neighbouring countries, with a focus on settlement patterns and their impacts on daily life. These engaging activities will continue throughout the term.
Recently, our Year 5-6 students attended the Science and Engineering Day at St Paul’s High School in Kempsey, participating in bridge-building and coding activities, and enjoying an exciting science show on combustion. It was a day packed with fun and learning!