Saturday, 4 February 2017

Term 1 Weeks 1 and 2

What's Happening in Year 1 in 2017?






























Welcome back to a new and exciting year as Danebank continues to move forward in providing excellence in education …a new year also of care and friendship, a new year of learning and discovery for the children and teachers, and a new year for our school community as we inspire each other to change the world and make it a better place.
It has been a fabulous start to the new year and we have been so impressed with the children’s determination, settled approach, enthusiasm, smiles and manners.
Please sit and enjoy this epic blog that highlights the many important events that are specifically aimed at parents this year. We have planned a number of exciting events and we do hope that you mark these in your diary and make it to as many events as possible.  We ask that you especially consider ways in which you might be involved in helping out at school. Remember, through your generous support, our school becomes all the more richer in all we can offer the children.
Danebank cares for your children and we care for our Mums and Dads too! We value the privilege of the partnership that we share with you as we work together to educate your daughter. As a school we want to support you in the important job you do, being a parent. For this reason I hope you enjoy reading our ‘Year 1 Blog’ and refer to it throughout the year.
It was a pleasure presenting the Year 1 routines and expectations at our ‘Parent Information Morning’ this week. We hope you have found these information sessions and parent presentation by the Head of Junior School, Mrs Melinda Buckley useful in supporting your daughter’s educational learning journey.
There will be ‘Parent Teacher Interviews’ during week 5 from Monday 27th February to Friday 3rd March. The Parent Teacher Evening is Thursday 2nd March. Notes will be sent soon requesting that you nominate time slots for your interviews. These interviews are being conducted early in the year to give you the opportunity to pass on any information that will assist teachers as we work with your daughters. Time allocation notes will be sent out later in the week.
These are all important occasions for meeting others, enjoying one-another’s company and for building friendships and our sense of school community.
Please make each of these events a priority as your participation and attendance is valued and very much appreciated. Please also check the Danebank iDanenet school website for dates of other school events this year. There are many ways for you to get involved in your daughter’s education. More than this, your involvement benefits other children, other families and our school community.
Furthermore, our world in turn, becomes a better place. The rewards are countless. 2017 is going to be fabulous. We can’t wait to see you here at school across the year!
The new year means that we have new children in our school. We would therefore like to extend a very special ‘welcome’ to Jessica Kelly, Emma Uhlmann and Shirley Feng and also to their families.
As we embark on this new year together, may I encourage you, regardless of what might be happening in your life, or whatever might be further down the track, to place your hope and trust in our loving God who has the intimate details of each of our lives in His complete view and care. Together let’s look forward in faith, to a year of exciting opportunities and possibility. One of the childrens’ favourite songs in Chapel sums this up perfectly…. “Our God is a great big God, and He holds us in His hands”.
“The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is close to all who call on Him”
Psalm 145:8 and 18
We look forward to a wonderful year!
Kind regards,
Mrs Lena Cooper and Mrs Alison Larkin

Student Record Details
Please ensure that your daughter’s Student Record Details (including Medical information) has been updated though the Parent Portal. In order for us to provide the best care for your child, it is essential that you update this form throughout the year as phone numbers, addresses and emails may change. Please ensure that the office is advised in writing of any changes in your own details or in those of your emergency contacts.
Canteen Lunch Orders
Please update your child’s class name on the Munch Monitor website before placing a lunch order. This will ensure that your child receives their correct lunch order. This is much appreciated by the Canteen staff.
School Photos
Junior School photos will take place on Thursday 16th February. As we transition from previous school uniform to the new one, the photos will be organised to accommodate these differences. Please ensure that your daughter is in the Danebank Summer tunic, whether old uniform or new uniform with her hair neatly tied back. Please remind your daughter to polish their black school shoes. Photo envelopes will be sent home shortly. Please ensure your daughter returns her Photo envelope to her class teacher before Photo Day.
If you would like to purchase the new Summer tunic, please purchase one by the 16th February if you haven’t already done so.
Class Captains and Vice Captains
Congratulations to our Year One captains for Term 1. Karen Ghaly (Class Captain) and Anastasia Berios (Vice Captain) in 1C and Tracy Malouf (Class Captain) and Chloe Vrckovski (Vice Captain) in 1L. These students were nominated by their class peers and we know they will do their best to fulfil their responsibilities and will set a fine example to others. The nomination of class captains and vice captains occurs at the beginning of each term.
Chapel Services
There has been a change to our Chapel Service times for 2017. The P-2 Chapel time is now Monday at 9:10am. We warmly invite all parents to join us for Chapel on Mondays if you are free to do so.
Communication
Parents can contact their class teacher in their child’s Danebank Diary, email through to us or the junior school office or calling the junior school office 9580 9242. The Danebank school policy allows teachers for up to 48 hours for your concerns to be addressed during school days.
Homework Expectations
Homework is given out each Friday and is due back at school for marking the following Friday.
Each student must complete the Spelling (Look, Cover, Say, Write, Check).

 Students write 4 sentences on the back of the Spelling sheet. (Words 5, 6, 7, 8) refers to the last four words in the spelling list.
 Record ‘helping at home chore
Record physical activity
Prepare Topic Talk (refer to schedule in Homework folder).
Maths Mentals (one unit per week
Students are to read their Home Readers every day. Record the books read on the reading log in student’s diary.
Please remind your daughters to return their Diary, Maths Mentals and Spelling Homework to school each Friday.
Students need to bring their purple Home Reading bag to school on Monday and Friday.
Students need to return their yellow Home Communication folder to school each day.

Optional Activity – Reading Eggs and Mathseeds
The other activities (Reading Eggs and Mathseeds) are beneficial but optional.

Students are encouraged to work Reading Eggs and Mathseeds into your family’s weekly routine. Students may spend 10-15 minutes 1-5 nights a week or complete some activities on the weekend. Students have been shown how to log on and off in class. Take time to work together through the maths and literacy work with your child, please help her rather than do it for her.
Students have access to all Maths strands and Literacy topics and are encouraged to work at their own pace.

Munch Monitors
The canteen staff have requested parents to update their child’s class details on ‘Munch Monitors’ www.munchmonitor.com through ‘iDanenet.’ Please select the correct class to enable lunch orders to be delivered efficiently to the correct classroom. The canteen requires that lunch orders be placed before 8:50am each day. If you have any problems please email Munch Monitorhelp@munchmonitor.com.
If you daughter is away and she has a Lunch Order you can cancel it before 9am or ring the Junior Office and we can remove the order.
If your daughter has any snack, ice cream or drinks ordered, can you please let them know and remind them to pick it up at the canteen.
White Slips: If your daughter has a white slip, the money will now be taken off the Much Monitor. If your daughter does not have Munch Monitor she will need to bring in the money the next day.
Parent volunteers are always welcome. Please email Kathy Murray atcanteen@danebank.nsw.edu.au to volunteer your time.
Traffic Arrangements
We would like to remind all parents about the traffic procedures. Children should be dropped off and collected in the School Zones on The Avenue where teachers will be on duty from 8:20am to 8:50am and from 3:15pm to 3:45pm (Monday to Thursday) and 2:45pm to 3:15pm (Friday).
You are also reminded of the 40km school zone speed limit.
Please display a clear sign with your family name. This request is not only for new families. Please remember that we have new staff and the nameplate allows them to get to know the cars, the children and the parents. You may request a family name sign(s) at the office.
Our Drive-Through Traffic system is a great way for you to collect your daughters in the afternoon without you having to find a parking spot and get out of your car. However, for it to work well we need parent volunteers on the roster. This role requires you to announce the names for teachers so that they can have the students ready to be placed in the cars. Can you please inform the Junior School office if you are available to help us. Your help will be greatly appreciated.
We appreciate your co-operation and patience to enable our school pick up and drop off zones to be as safe and efficient as possible.
Mini Bus Travellers
If your daughter catches a Danebank mini-bus either to or from school, it is imperative that you inform the bus drivers directly of any change to travel arrangements. Not only may it hinder the duty of care given to your daughters but it also delays the process and inconveniences the other girls and their families who travel on that bus.
Medication at School
If your child needs to take ANY form of medication at school, including Panadol and Nurofen, it must go directly to the school office. The medication must be clearly labelled with your child’s name, and the name of the medication. It must be sent, preferably in a measured dose and with clear instructions. Please do not place tablets in your child’s bag. Children may only take their medication under adult supervision. With medication that must remain at school for some time, please also ensure that you have checked that the expiry date on the medication will be sufficient for the duration of the year. Children who need regular Ventolin for Asthma throughout the day are allowed to keep a puffer in their pocket but a second one also needs to be kept in Sick Bay.
Thank you for your assistance and co-operation as we care for your children.
Visitors’ Sign In Book
Please remember that it is essential for all visitors, including parents and care-givers to sign our visitor’s book when they come onto the school property. This applies at all times other than the morning drop off (before 8:50am) and afternoon collection times (between 3:15pm and 3:45pm), Parent Information Morning and Parent/ Teacher Interviews.
When a parent or caregiver comes to the school for any reason between 8:50am and 3:15pm, he/she must go directly to the school office and must sign the Visitors’ Book and collect and wear a Visitor’s sticker. Parents are not permitted to visit the classrooms during the day to drop off forgotten recess, lunch, sporting equipment, homework or even a late child. Should the need arise please make your delivery to the office.
Any child who needs to be collected during school hours must bring a note to their class teacher outlining the reason and times of the absence. The teacher will then keep it as part of the usual attendance record keeping process.
School Uniform Standard
Parents are reminded that it is very important that a high standard of uniform is to be maintained at all times. Girls’ dresses should be kept at knee length. Blazers are not compulsory with the summer uniform but can be worn for warmth to and from school. Jumpers cannot be worn instead of the blazer when children travel to and from school. There is a ‘No Hat No Play’ policy at Danebank, students are encouraged to wear their red Play Hat at school for sun safety awareness.
Please ensure that all items of clothing (undies, socks, singlets, blazers, jumpers, shoes, hair accessories and shoes) are clearly labelled with your child’s name and class. The girls inadvertently take home each other’s blazers, PE gear but they will return if they are labelled.
The girl’s hair needs to be tied back one it reaches shoulder length.
No jewellery is to be worn at school except small stud gold or silver earrings, watches or medi-alert items. No nail polish.
The children’s pride in their school uniform and personal appearance is one way they can ensure to uphold the reputation of the school.
Absent Notes
When students are absent from school, a note or email must be provided for the class teacher upon the students return to school, even if you have phoned the school. We requires absent notes as part of our school administration process.
Birthdays
If your daughter wishes to celebrate her birthday at school, you are welcome to send in individual cupcakes or donuts but not whole cakes which need to be sliced, candles or matches. Please leave them at the Junior School front office.
Danebank is a Nut Aware School
Due to a number of children having high risk allergies, our school is a nut free zone. Peanut butter and Nutella sandwiches along with cakes, biscuits, muesli bars and other food products containing nuts must not be brought to school under any circumstances. This is very important as some students are allergic to even another’s breath or slight touch should she have recently eaten ‘nut’ foods. At this stage, products “that may contain traces of nuts” are permitted. Thank you for your cooperation with this important matter.
Year One Curriculum
Subject Overview                                                                                                           English: Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar, Comprehension, Handwriting, Digital Literacy and  Oral Language Activities
Mathematics: Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, Statistics and Probability.
Science:   Term 1: Schoolyard Safari (Minibeasts)
Term 2: Spot the Difference (Changes)
Term 3: Up, Down and All Around (The Built and Natural Environment)
Term 4: Look! Listen! (Sight and Sound)
HSIE:        Term 1: Exploring    Term 2: Families    Term 3: Seasons    Term 4: Traditions
Digital Learning with Mrs Bourke
Christian Education with Mrs Maze
Chapel on Monday morning at 9:10am with Junior School Chaplain Mrs Maze.
Junior School Assembly- Friday at 1:50pm in the Performing Arts Centre. All parents and friends are welcome to attend our assembly. School concludes at 2:45pm on Friday.
Creative and Practical Arts: Visual Arts, Drama and Music 
 Sport on Friday with Mrs Ackland and Mrs Mall. Summer Sport is Swimming (Terms 1 and 4). Students need to wear Danebank swimmers under Sports uniform. Please pack labelled underwear, goggles, Sport House cap, plastic bag and towel into Danebank Sports bag.
PE- Wednesday with Mrs Mall and Mrs Ackland. Students wear Danebank sports uniform with white socks and white sneakers to school.
 Winter Sport (Terms 2 and 3) on Wednesday and Friday. Wear Sports uniform.
PD/Health: Interpersonal Relationships, Healthy Lifestyles, Bullying and Safe Living.
Library with Mrs Jamieson. Students need to bring library bag.
The library is open for Year 1 children at Wednesday Lunch time.
 Japanese with Mrs Laturiuw
 Music with Miss Webster. Infants Choir on Thursday morning.

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