Danebank Health Action Plan

Danebank’s Health Action Plan is updated according to the latest advice from the Federal and State Government. Click here for the most recent update.

Travel

School activities, including interstate or international trips will be reviewed in the light of NSW Health and Education advice and the associated level of risk of transmission. Accordingly, some activities may be modified in order to minimise risk and others may be postponed or cancelled.

At this stage, Danebank is not engaging in international trips and interstate trips are being assessed on a case-by-case basis.

PHASE 0

Schools are open for families who need it

• Families are supported to keep their children at home and learn from home via Danebank’s distance learning model. 
• Families who need to send their children to school every day when not engaged in face-to-face teaching, may do so. 
• Children will be supervised by staff as they undertake distance learning. 
• All children attending on-campus distance learning, must be registered to be on-site. 
• No excursions, camps, activities or inter-school activities.
• Munch Monitor for canteen orders. Limited menu.
• Library Facilities: Digital library services available to staff and students. 
• Additional queries may be directed to library@danebank.nsw.edu.au

PHASE 1

Limited year groups on campus 5-days a week

Staggered return to full-time, on-campus teaching and learning. See the Schedule as it pertains to different year groups here.

• Families who need to send their children to school when not engaged in face-to-face teaching, may do so. Children will be supervised by staff as they undertake distance learning. 
• All children attending on-campus distance learning, must be registered to be on-site. 
• No excursions, camps, activities or inter-school activities.
• Munch Monitor for canteen orders.
• Uniform Shop open online 
• Extend Before and After School Care available daily.
• Mini-bus service as arranged.
• Aquatic Centre will remain open.
• No visitors or parents on site.
• Library Facilities: Library open to staff and students during regular school hours.

PHASE 2

All year groups on campus 5-days a week

Full-time face-to-face teaching on campus for all students, 5-days a week.

• No excursions, camps, activities or inter-school activities.
• Munch Monitor for canteen orders.
• Uniform Shop open online
• Extend Before and After School Care available daily.
• Mini-bus service as arranged.
• Aquatic Centre will remain open.
• No visitors or parents on site.
• Library Facilities: Library open to staff and students during regular school hours.

PHASE 3

All year groups on campus 5-days a week

Full-time face-to-face teaching on campus for all students, 5-days a week.

• No excursions, camps, activities or inter-school activities. 
• Munch Monitor for canteen orders.
• Uniform Shop open online 
• Extend Before and After School Care available daily.
• Mini-bus service as normal.
• Aquatic Centre will remain open.
• No visitors or parents on site.
• Library Facilities: Library open to staff and students. 7.30am to 6pm Monday - Thursday 7.30am to 4pm Fridays

PHASE 4

All students on campus 5-days a week, with activities considered

Full-time face-to-face teaching on campus for all students, 5-days a week.

We anticipate the resumption of many school activities. Activities will continue to be modified and adapted to respond to NSW Public Health Advice. 

Examples would include:

• Co-curricular activities, such as clubs and music ensembles
• Sport with limited numbers and, at this stage, no parents/visitors allowed on site. 
• Click here for NSW Health advice in this regard. 
• Excursions, incursions and programs such as Duke of Edinburgh 
• The number of, and reasons for allowing visitors on campus

A risk assessment will be completed for all school activities and be reviewed prior to the resumption of that activity. 

External service providers will be required to have their COVID-19 safety plans presented to and approved by the School before they can start operating on campus again. 

We want students to know that when you ask the question, you’re not expected to fix their problems or know the best way to help and support them. But everyone can listen to what they’re saying and tell a teacher, school counsellor or trusted adult if they are worried about someone.

To help spread the R U OK? message in the Junior School, students were encouraged to wear something yellow to their morning class Zoom, where teachers talked to students about the signs of how to spot when a friend might be struggling. The Junior School Wellbeing friends, Pinky and Bluey also made a special video for students to watch on Seesaw. 

If you are interested in reading more tips the R U OK? website has a plethora of information and resources that guide you on what to say when they’re not OK. Find the information here at www.ruok.org.au

We hope that all the girls in the Junior School know that they are seen as unique individuals, created in God’s image, and valued for just being themselves. 

If your daughter would like to speak to one of the Junior School Counsellors, email: counsellor.junior@danebank.nsw.edu.au and one of the school counsellors will respond and work with you to determine the level of support required. 

Given that Danebank has moved to a distance learning platform for the short term, the biggest change to our services will be the way that the Counselling Team delivers counselling and support to you directly. This will primarily mean that in-person face-to-face appointments will not be possible during this time.

We know that the extension of the lockdown has been disheartening for many of us and that there are additional pressures on families and our girls. Please encourage your daughter to reach out to our wellbeing staff and to utilise our counselling services. Our procedures for connecting with our counselling services are linked here. When and/or if counselling is requested, our counsellors will email you the required consent form (which can be viewed at this link). 

The supports available are listed below for you. 

In the Senior School

• Senior School Counsellors are Ms Hanslow and Mrs Middleton. You can contact counsellor.senior@danebank.nsw.edu.au if you require support. Sessions will be run via Zoom or phone. Please read about our Zoom Child Safe practices and print and sign the consent form for Senior School students when it is sent home from the counsellor. 

• Year Coordinators

• Mrs Flick (Assistant Head of Senior School) mary-ann.flick@danebank.nsw.edu.au

• Mrs Vos (Director of Students P-12) lisa.vos@danebank.nsw.edu.au 

• Mrs Tiina Hufton (Head of Senior School) tiina.hufton@danebank.nsw.edu.au

In the Junior School

• Junior School Counsellors are Miss Jackson and Miss Petith. You can contact counsellor.junior@danebank.nsw.edu.au if you require support. Sessions will be run via Zoom or phone. Please read about our Zoom Child Safe practices and print and sign the consent form for Junior School students when it is sent home from the counsellor. 

• Class teachers or Stage Coordinators 

• Mrs Fraser or Mrs Uebel (Assistant Heads of Junior School) 

• Mrs Buckley (Head of Junior School) 

In addition, Lifeline (13 11 14) and Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) can be accessed for phone and online counselling 24/7. 
eHeadspace also offers free online and telephone support and counselling between 9am and 1am. 

This week we are talking about Big Emotions that can spill over like a volcano.

Here are two worksheets you might find helpful:

• 'Volcano of Emotions' - helps us identify what upsets/annoys us and has space to write down what helps us healthily let our feelings out.
• How to make an erupting volcano at home. 

Smiling Mind is an awesome place to find fun activities, resources and videos to learn and practice mindfulness and support your wellbeing. Download the free app today. In our often busy, stressful lives mindfulness is a way to help us be calm, grounded and focus on the present moment.

Video Inspiration

Check out the 1st episode of the "Feeling It" series from Smiling Mind and learn about your self-care essentials.  

Activity Challenge

The uncertainty of this lockdown and COVID-19 can make us feel pretty anxious and worried, not to mention the long amounts of screen time for distance learning, so it's important to take care of ourselves. What are your self-care essentials? Complete this sheet and each day use at least one of your chill, flex, create and connect activities. 

Below are a links to some apps that can help you to maintain good mental health.

Week 4, Term 3 Welcome message from Mrs Buckley, Head of Junior School.

 Week 3, Term 3 Welcome message from Mrs Buckley, Head of Junior School.

Week 2, Term 3 Welcome message from Mrs Buckley, Head of Junior School.

Week 1, Term 3 Welcome message from Mrs Buckley, Head of Junior School.

• Early Stage One (Seesaw, Reading Eggs, Mathseeds, ABC Kids)
• Stage One (Seesaw, Wixie, ABC Kids, Sunshine Online, Oxford Owl)
• Stage Two ( Seesaw, Canvas, Sketchpad, ABC Education, NASA, Funbrain)
• Stage Three (Seesaw, Smiling Mind, Switch Zoo, iMaths, TopMarks, Funbrain)
• Coding  (Scratch, Tynker, Code.org, Maker Empire)

Junior sport may be on hold for term 3, but why not practice some skills at home! 
These training journals contain sport-specific skills as well as general fitness ideas which students can do at home. 
Download and print a hard copy as another option for screen-free physical activity time. 

• Basketball
• Hockey

When school returns we look forward to providing a covid safe afterschool training session for the girls to show off their skills in modified games of Hockey and Basketball.

Mrs Jolene Cullen
Junior School Sport Facilitator

Weekly challenges will be made by sport specialist coaches, including the expertise of Gymnastics Coach Alex Barrett and Personal Trainer Wade Barrett as well as members of the Danebank community.

To join in the fun and gain some more ideas for keeping fit as a family during distance learning, check out Seesaw each Friday afternoon for the Weekly sport DaneFit announcement.

We congratulate the following Stage 3 Finalists: 

(Year 5) 

Billie Soravia, Kristina Paunovski, Ruby Ninic, Samantha Cheah, Karen Ghaly, Jessica Kelly

(Year 6) 

Alana Beaton, Angela Cao, Aleeya Waterhouse, Annika Goldsmith, Alessandra Giompaolo-Ferguson, Christine Poulos

During Week 4 Pinky & Bluey took some time to think about their friendships, especially ways to stay connected to their friends during distance learning. Pinky & Bluey know that it is really important for our wellbeing to stay connected.

Here is a friendship recipe worksheet you might like to use to write down your ideas.

Along with you, your parents and your teachers I look forward to being able to celebrate your graduation in person, once this is possible. For now, I pray this passage from Philippians 4 for you:  

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. - Dr Emma Burgess

If you have any questions or would like to sign up please contact our Director of Sport 7-12 via email here. This is a great way to ensure that our girls stay active and in prime fitness for Saturday Sport when it can recommence. We also welcome parent participation.

To be eligible for a Term 3 Sport Pocket or Duke of Ed hours the requirements are:

• Log sessions with our training tracker
  ( to log sessions - 20 mins up to 1 hour) 
• Minimum total of 2 hours each week

The classes vary between; Yoga, Pilates, HIIT, Cardio, Tai Boxing, Zumba, Tik Tok, Circuit, Abs/Butts/Thighs, Stretch & Strength, Themed (eg Olympic theme, Sports specific, fitness challenges, upper/lower body focus).

We are so appreciative to our two instructors, Julie Baggetto who not only records the girls sessions and shares but also shares her daily adult classes. All are available for 3 days following the session so you can catch up or repeat a favourite.

Phoebe is here on practicum as her Final Year from UTS studying Exercise and Sports Science. We are blessed with Phoebe’s fitness instructor qualification and experience at Crunch and F-45.

It is so lovely to be involved in the zoom sessions and seeing the girls connected, being active and having fun…… you don’t need to be an expert!!

It is encouraging to see the numbers participating in the DANEfit growing, it’s never too late to join in one, all or a few sessions, click here. 

Staff feedback

• "I just finished my day with the Pilates recording. It was great! I might use it again tomorrow morning. Maybe I should get more involved and use the other recordings!  Thanks for sharing….  Just a keen newbie" - Miss Browne (Science Teacher)
• "Thank you SO MUCH Kerrie !!! This is awesome." - Mrs Attwood (Junior School)
• I was only thinking this morning that I would have to replace my daily walk with something else. You have provided the perfect solution. - Mrs Bourke (Junior School)
• "Just did it. Feel so much better!" - Ms Pay 

Quotes from Students 

• "The online fitness sessions have encouraged me to stay active during this uncertain time and has been a good distraction from my studies. Danebank is lucky to have our amazing instructor Julie to keep us motivated and active. I have loved participating in these fitness sessions for my final term of Danebank sport."- Miriam Melki Year 12
• "The DANEfit zoom classes have been an enjoyable experience and a fun way to keep active during lockdown. The sessions run by our enthusiastic fitness instructors are engaging and the variety of different exercises helps keep me motivated and positive while at home. It’s a great way to stay connected with everyone at school and focus on our wellbeing." - Alisa Pontifix Year 11
• "Loved it I would totally enjoy it and do it again" - Maddie Collins Year 10
• "I loved it"- Eve Koutros Year 7 
• "It was great!!!" - Millie Chen Year 7 
• "I find that danefit is really helping me to feel happy and healthier during lockdown, and it is a really fun activity because it gets you up and moving from a long day at school or a great wake up activity."
• "Danefit is really amazing and I love how you can do it with anyone in your family! It pushed me but I also get a break with the medium ones and yoga, this is one of the reasons I love this program!!"
• "Overall Danefit is really good, and Phoebe is a great instructor. I really enjoy her teaching methods and it is really nice how she puts time out of her day to do this for us." - Tara Effeney Year 7

Quotes from parents re students:

• "Just walked into the house  to loads of laughter from my 2 doing the exercises- they loved it!  It just brightens them up after a day full of sitting. So good!" - Stella Brown (Alex Year 11, Freya 8)
• "Zoe and Olivia are loving joining you on DANEfit, thank you so much  for organising this for the girls. I love watching them getting involved from a distance, whether from our front yard or their bedrooms."
• "Thanks again for all that you are doing to keep the girls fit during these crazy times, hoping that term 4 Saturday sport returns to normal!" - Jacqui Lassau (Zoe & Blake) Year 7 
• "Danefit has become an integral part of our lockdown sanity strategy! We love the variety of the workouts and it's been great for our physical and mental wellbeing. Julie's energy is contagious (in a good way!) and we're so grateful for her taking the time to keep us healthy, happy and zen."
  Ariana Crawford & her Mum (Year 7)

Quotes from parents re participating with their daughter: 

• "I just wanted to say what an excellent online program Danefit has been for Zara and all the girls, especially being stuck at home in this hard lockdown for so long.  I know that Zara text’s her friends in the morning to see if they are up and ready for the lessons.  It keeps them in contact and they have a shared daily goal."
• "Julie, the fitness instructor is amazing, always coming up with new dance routines and exercise classes that are engaging and fun!  The dance moves certainly get my heart rate up, but I especially enjoy her yoga classes!"
• "Zara and I have so much fun doing the lessons and giggling at each other’s uncoordinated dance moves .  But it keeps us healthy and active and is such a great start to the day!"
• "Thank you so much for organising Danefit – what an outstanding initiative and I hope that it continues."

- Kerrie Banfield, Director of Sport

Cawthorn explores themes related to childhood, place and identity, creating breathtakingly intricate works that hover between abstraction and figuration. Students were particularly inspired by her recent exhibition ‘Songbird’ at the Shoalhaven Regional Art Gallery. It was a rich and authentic conversation, in which Cawthorn inspired students to be analytical in their work, creative in spirit and connected to each other.

 The End of the World is Bigger than Love by Davina Bell - Winner of the 2021 CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers

Identical twin sisters Summer and Winter live alone on a remote island, sheltered from a destroyed world. They survive on rations stockpiled by their father and spend their days deep in their mother’s collection of classic literature—until a mysterious stranger upends their carefully constructed reality.

At first, Edward is a welcome distraction. But who is he really, and why has he come? As love blooms and the world stops spinning, the secrets of the girls’ past begin to unravel and escape is the only option.

A sumptuously written novel of love and grief; of sisterly affection and the ultimate sacrifice; of technological progress and climate catastrophe; of an enigmatic bear and a talking whale—The End of the World Is Bigger than Love is unlike anything you’ve read before.

Aster’s Good, Right Things by Kate Gordon - Winner of the 2021 CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers

Eleven-year-old Aster attends a school for gifted kids, but she doesn’t think she’s special at all. If she was, her mother wouldn’t have left. 

Each day Aster must do a good, right thing—a challenge she sets herself, to make someone else’s life better. Nobody can know about her ‘things’, because then they won’t count. And if she doesn’t do them, she's sure everything will go wrong. 

Then she meets Xavier. He has his own kind of special missions to make life better. When they do these missions together, Aster feels free, but if she stops doing her good, right things will everything fall apart?

We are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad - 2021 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Shortlist Book

Sometimes it's good to be wild.

Sometimes you have to be wild.

When the Russian Army marches into East Prussia at the end of the war, the Wolf family must flee. Liesl, Otto and their baby sister Mia find themselves lost and alone, in a blizzard, in the middle of a war zone. Liesl has promised Mama that she will keep her brother and sister safe.

But sometimes, to survive, you have to do bad things. Dangerous things. Wild things.

Sometimes to survive, you must become a wolf.

Study Skills Tip for September

Students and Sleep 

Why is sleep so important? 

Quality sleep improves your mental, emotional, and physical performance. It also improves your immune system, balances your hormones, boosts your metabolism, and improves your brain function. Sleep is when your brain files or removes all the clutter that accumulates in a day of learning and thinking so you are refreshed and ready with energy for the next day. Getting good sleep is important for both your mind and body. 

How much sleep do I need?

Different people need a different amount of sleep in order to function optimally during the day.  Whilst most adults need about 8 hours sleep a night, many teenagers need more like 9-10 hours of sleep per night.  Working out how much sleep you need will take a little time and perseverance.  Record how you feel during the day based on how much sleep you had a night and a pattern will start to appear.

Top Tips for getting to sleep / sleep routine / falling asleep

Have a regular bed time and wake up time.  A regular bed time helps to set your body clock so your body knows it is time to sleep.  Waking up at (or near) the same time each day also helps your body to establish a sleep pattern.  Get plenty of sunlight during the day too.

1. Establish a bed time ritual.  Doing a series of actions before bed also helps your body to prepare for sleep.  Ideas include, a warm bath or shower, reading a book, listening to quiet music or doing some gentle stretches.
2. Avoid technology in the hour before bed, including TV, computers and phones.
3. Exercise during the day so that your body is ready for rest at night.
4. Don’t eat big meals at night.  Eat as early as possible and try to avoid rich, heavy food close to bed time.
5. Limit your caffeine during the day and don’t drink any caffeine in the afternoon or evening.
6. Don’t have too much liquid in the evening.
7. Worrying about problems at school or with friends often stops you from getting to sleep.  Talk to a trusted person about things that are worrying you to find ways to solve your problems.  You could also try some relaxation exercises such as meditation or positive visualisation.
8. Have your room as dark as possible when trying to get to sleep.  Use a sleep mask if you need to avoid light e.g. from electronic devices, street lights etc.

Staying Asleep

• Make sure the temperature of your room is comfortable.  Too cold and you may have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.  Too warm and the heat will also wake you.
• Having a quiet environment will help you stay asleep.  If loud noises often wake you, having some consistent “white noise” can be helpful.  Earplugs may also work for some people.
• A comfortable bed which is large enough for you to spread out and is supportive will help you to sleep well, as will a comfortable pillow which provides the right amount of support for your neck.
• Good ventilation in your room helps to get rid of toxins and keep the air you are breathing fresh.  A potted plant in your room may help.
• Make sure you go to the toilet just before you get into bed.  

Good quality sleep

• Smelling lavender while you sleep might improve the quality of your sleep.  Try a few drops of lavender oil in your washing or on your pillow, or using lavender scented soap.
• Have a good sleep environment.  Clear your room of clutter.  Dust regularly.  Have calming colours in your room.
• Try rearranging your room according to Feng Shui principles, whereby you can see the door from your bed, but your bed is not directly facing the door.  This may mean putting your bed on an angle. 

Feeling refreshed after sleep

• First thing in the morning, drink a glass of water to help you wake up and rehydrate.
•  Do some gentle stretches or more vigorous exercise first thing in the morning as part of your morning ritual.  This will also help to set your body clock.
•  Practice deep breathing while you are still in bed to make sure your body is able to take in lots of oxygen and expel carbon dioxide.

Where to go for help or more information

If you try out the tips here and are still having trouble with falling asleep or staying asleep, try talking to your doctor to see if there is a medical or other reason.

You can learn more about how to optimise your performance as a student at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au

Username: Danebank

Password:  watermelon21

Loren recalls: "I was in class so I couldn't get really excited... but I was excited. The next morning I had to wake up super early to get the script, practice and record it.  After the recording, I waited to listened to myself on the radio. After that I got to go on live radio and got asked some questions, like what school I went to. It was a great experience and I wish to do it again someday." You can also listen to Loren's conversation with the radio crew by clicking here. Well done Loren.

 Responsibilities during online learning 

• Set yourself up in a quiet area, at a desk or table where you can work effectively and successfully.

• Follow your timetable and school hours (8.15am to 3pm).

• Join the zoom session at the beginning of each lesson with camera on. Set your background on blur or add a picture to protect your privacy, especially when working from your bedroom.

• Monitor Canvas and your emails regularly for announcements, instructions and feedback from your teachers and staff.

• Learning in any form requires commitment and being present and actively engaged.

• Complete all tasks with integrity and academic honesty.

• Do your best work, meeting timelines and due dates.

• Communicate proactively with your teachers if you cannot meet deadlines or require additional support.

• Collaborate and support classmates in their learning.

• Your online behaviour must reflect that of the School’s Code of Behaviour & Acceptable Use of Technology policies. Be respectful and display good online manners with your peers and teachers.

• Seek out and communicate with school staff as different needs arise.

• Sign out of all social media apps and turn messaging notifications off.

Be ready to learn at home

Your space

• Here's how to sit at your desk.

Online Zoom sessions: clothing, etiquette and work-space

• Remember you will be live conferencing using ZOOM.
• Dress appropriately for your online classes. Dress at home is mufti; dress at school is uniform. Danebank expectations for appropriate dress when wearing mufti to school, also applies when learning from home.
• Log on to Canvas and your email to check for announcements each period.
• Be seated and ready to start your online classes at 8.20am (or as per your normal school timetable).
• Join the Zoom session at the beginning of each lesson with your camera on. Remember, you are part of a learning community. 
• Understand how online behaviours affect others. Talk to your teachers online as you would in class.
• Sign out of all social media apps and turn messaging notifications off.
• Situate your device within your home or work-space so that it has an appropriate backdrop that does not expose any teacher or student to inappropriate imagery or conduct.
• Be safe, protect your privacy, security and wellbeing.
• Like at school, keep your smartphone off and away. 

NOTE: Should any student within the meeting behave inappropriately, be dressed inappropriately or be situated in an inappropriate location, your teacher will end the conversation immediately and contact you or your parent (if necessary) via email to pass on advice as to how you might be better prepared next time.

Be healthy

• Have your water bottle handy.
• During breaks, move, stretch your legs and get some fresh air - don’t sit all day at your computer.
• Have recess and lunch, eating healthy food
• With no commute to school, take advantage of the downtime and allow yourself to step outside, exercise, or find other ways to relax and regain your focus. 

Ask questions

Stumped by something? Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Click here to check the Who to Contact tab further down on this portal. 

Sue Whiting reads to Year 7 from her short-listed book, The Book of Chance.

Sue Whiting’s novels are available to borrow as eBooks via the Library catalogue.

The Book of Chance:  A suspenseful novel where Chance, the main character, takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as she questions right and wrong, real or fake, and seeks the truth at home and in her online world.

Missing: Mackenzie da Luca’s mother is missing – she’s vanished without a trace in the jungles of Panama. Now, 116 days later Mackenzie and her dad are in those same jungles. Her dad is desperate to find out what’s happened to his wife. And Mackenzie is desperate to make sure he doesn’t ...

Portraits of Celina: A ghost story. A love story. A story of revenge. It’s as if the wooden chest is luring me, urging me to open it – daring me almost. Open me up. Look inside. Come on, just for a second; it won’t hurt. Celina O’Malley was sixteen years old when she disappeared. Now, almost forty years later, Bayley is sleeping in Celina’s room, wearing her clothes, hearing her voice. What does Celina want?

Kat Colmer

Kat Colmer spoke to students in Years 9 and 10 about how to generate original story ideas and gave practical tips on how to create sensory experiences through descriptive writing.  Like Sue Whiting, Kat Colmer also advocated the use of a notebook in which to scribble ideas which could be drawn upon for inspiration. During her zoom presentation, Kat engaged the girls through interactive polls on genre and elements of story.  Not surprisingly, the genre with the most votes was romance!

As well as her own novels The Third Kiss, Can’t Beat the Chemistry and Remind Me Why I’m Here, Kat also recommended the following books:

Unrequited by Emma Grey

‘It’s the literary equivalent of eating Tim Tams in your PJs on a Sunday afternoon. I loved this book’ - Rebecca Sparrow, author of The Year Nick McGowan Came to Stay

Seventeen-year-old Kat Hartland loathes Unrequited, the world’s biggest boy band.  She’s 100 per cent immune to ‘perfect’ singer Angus Marsden and his unfailingly predictable lyrics. Show her the anti-fan club … she wants to be its president! Just give her a proper musician.  But when Kat comes face to face with Angus Marsden himself, things start to get complicated. Throw in a deranged female singer, an enraged fandom, final exams, a part in a musical and a mum who just doesn’t get it.

The Protected by Claire Zorn

I have three months left to call Katie my older sister. Then the gap will close and I will pass her. I will get older. But Katie will always be fifteen, eleven months and twenty-one days old.  Hannah should feel terrible but for the first time in ages, she feels a glimmer of hope and isn’t afraid anymore. Is it because the elusive Josh is taking an interest in her? Or does it run deeper than that? and for aspiring writers:

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer's craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have.  King's advice is grounded in the vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported, near-fatal accident in 1999 - and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery. 

Competition winner

Congratulations to Sasha Campbell of Year 7 who is the winner of our mammoth Book Week literature quiz.  Sasha has won a Gift Certificate from Booktopia with 49 out of 50 correct answers!  Well done to the many students who participated in the competition ….. and better luck next year!

REMINDER: How to borrow ebooks from home

Sora provides the quickest and easiest way to get started with digital titles from our school. After downloading the app, you can simply log into the Danebank Library collection to instantly access hundreds of ebooks and audiobooks on virtually any device. Get started today at https://soraapp.com.

It's back! Our annual Photographic Competition - with a slight change. As we begin this one in lockdown, all submissions will be digital.

Our theme this year is "The Garden". 

Dr Burgess has been talking about flourishing throughout 2021 and whilst we find ourselves at home more than usual right now, we can still bloom where we are planted. Take inspiration from your garden at home, gardens in the neighbourhood or metaphorical gardens - it is open to interpretation.

When you have selected the photo you want to submit, send your entry through along with the entry form, to the following email address: community@danebank.nsw.edu.au

All the details are on the entry form linked here.

Don't forget, all photos must be your own and taken between September 2020 to September 2021. Entries close 17 September 2021.
Happy gardening!
Mrs Philomena Kezelos, Acting Assistant Head of Senior School/Head of Creative and Performing Arts

Please download your poster here or create your own!

• Poster 1
• Poster 2
• Poster 3
• Poster 4
• Poster 5

Creative Kids vouchers

Don't forget to make use of the Creative Kids vouchers on offer from the NSW Government. Parents and carers can apply for a voucher with a value of up to $100 per calendar year for each student aged 4.5 to 18 years old enrolled in school.

You can use the voucher for a variety of creative programs with approved Creative Kids providers. You can also easily order online art-packs for your children while during this lock-down.

• Check the eligibility requirements and the types of activities.
• Apply for the voucher here.

• Creative writing: Students could imagine what it would be like to spend a whole day with a fictional book character. Who would they choose and why? What would they do?
• Write as a story or journal entry and illustrate with a picture of themselves with that character
• What would Mrs Buckley say?... Read a book
• Write a letter to a family member or friend
• Write a song
• Make a word bank of ‘wow words' to use in writing next term (remember the power of the verbs)
• Try sketching a beautiful flower from your garden 
• Design and create a series of gift cards (Birthday, Thank you, Easter, Christmas)
• Take a photo of yourself reading your favourite book in your favourite reading nook at home
• Students might like to watch the following link of children reading the picture book 'Chalk' and also model this idea to record themselves reading a favourite book. Alternatively they could use chalk or pencils to illustrate what they would draw if they found magic chalk at a playground. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MomQf_CTksM

Colin Buchannan: Kids Talks, Songs and activities

• Research your family ancestry. Start or add to your Family Tree
• Online Sudoku puzzles (various levels of difficulty) 
• Video link on how to complete Sudoku puzzles efficiently 
• Interview the oldest person you know (via phone, email or face time) and find out how they entertained themselves when they were your age
• Online Science Workshops 
• QAGOMA: Learning resources for primary and secondary levels
• Design and make some jewellery
• QAGOMA: Kids Learning
• Compile some of your families favourite recipes in to a Family Cook Book
• TATE: Kids Learning 
• Create a board game
• Ideas for home learning 
• Learn some basic first aid skills (treating bee stings, simple cuts, when to call for help)
• Learn how to create a series of origami animals
• Kids National Geographic

• World Museum Tours
• Tennessee Aquarium
• NASA - Virtual Tour
• National Museum of Natural History - Virtual Tour
• The Met Museum for Kids
• The Google Art Project
• Musei Vaticani - Virtual Tour
• The Holocaust Museum - Online Exhibitions
• Womens History Museum online exhibits
• Great Wall of China - Virtual Tour 
• The Philadelphia Museum of Art
• SCAD Museum of Art
• Science Museum
• WOOL Covilha Urban Art Festival
• Beluga Webcam, Georgia Aquarium
• British Museum, London
• Guggenheim Museum, New York
• MoMA The Museum of Modern Art, New York
• National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
• Uffizi Gallery, Florence
• Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
• Benaki Museum, Athens
• Picasso Museum, Barcelona
• The Rijksmuseum Museum, Amsterdam 
• The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
• Musée d’Orsay, Paris
• Smithsonian Institute Museum
• Biennale of Sydney
• Art Gallery NSW Education Resources
• Australian Museum, Sydney
• Museum of Contemporary Art Learning Resources
• Earth Observatory NASA 
• Australian Tours 
• The British Library's Harry Potter exhibition 

• Wild Life Zoo, Sydney - live feeding demonstrations 
• Taronga Zoo TV
• San Diego Zoo
• Sea Life Sydney
• Australian Egg Farms
• The Cincinnati Zoo: Facebook Live Feed
• Atlanta Zoo: "Panda Cam" livestream 
• Georgia Aquarium: aquarium's live cam
• Houston Zoo: live cam
• Monterey Bay Aquarium
• National Aquarium, Baltimore
• Farm Food 360
• www.weareteachers.com/best-virtual-field-trips/

See your notes in SeeSaw on how to log in. Log in through iDanenet → Junior School → Orbit → Storybox → login code is on the screen.

Storybox has some great activity sheets to go with the books online. Here is an example of an activity:

The Activity Time For the book Grandad's Teeth. Collect and compare fingerprints. 

What you need:

• Greylead and sticky tape OR
• Ink and paper OR
• Oil, dark-coloured paper and talcum powder

Ask each family member to first press their finger on to a "wet" item before pressing it on to a surface to collect their fingerprint. 
Try: 

• Colouring a patch of white paper with thick greylead pencil.
• Press a finger on to this before pressing on to the sticky side of a piece of sticky tape.
• Pressing a finger on to ink before pressing on to white paper.
• Pressing on to an oily surface (this could be your forehead or a sponge dipped in oil) before pressing on to a dark piece of paper. Then lightly sprinkle over the fingerprint with talcum powder).
• Compare the fingerprints of your family members. 

GOING FURTHER:

• Use talcum powder to try to lift fingerprints from household objects.
• Try to match these fingerprints to the family database of fingerprints you have created.

• Find things in your garage to build a tree swing (with an adult)
• Walk your dog
• Make an obstacle course around your house/yard
• Gardening - planting veggies and herbs
• Choreograph a dance and video it
• Bikes/scooters/roller skates/skateboards/hula hoops
• Practise your skipping for ‘Jump Rope for Heart’
• Scavenger Hunts 
• Cosmic Kids Yoga
• GoNoodle
• Adventure 2 Fitness
• Just Dance Kids
• Kids Zumba
• Kidzbop
• Sport Supermovers

• Help with some chores around the house - washing, cleaning, cooking, gardening
• Readers Theatre with favourite books and poems - dress up and film yourself reading a story with expression.
• Stem challenges: Make a shelter that can protect from sun/wind and rain
• Build a cubby
• Find things in your garage to build a tree swing (with an adult)
• Pitch a tent and camp out in the lounge room or back yard
• Learn to build a fire with an adult in a fire pit and discuss what a fire needs to burn. (toast marshmallows or make damper on the fire)
• Make a musical instrument
• Gardening - planting veggies and herbs
• Make a billy cart with an adult
• Cooking eg. Make pizzas (homemade dough) 
• Learn to knit
• Practice musical instruments
• Learn to braid hair
• Play a card or board game with your family
• LEGO
• Challenge yourself with a Rubik's Cube (some solutions here)
• Learn to tie shoe laces

The following resources are available to assist families to support their children in being responsible online users:

• Cyber safe families – an overview of cyber safety
• Technology and wellbeing – useful tips and tools
• Digital citizenship – a collection of articles and resources to maximise students’ use of technology.

The one hour session is broken into 17 bite sized chunks of mini-videos. 
Topics covered are:

• How can families make the home environment a better space for learning?
• How much schoolwork should students be doing each day?
• What is the best way to approach the day’s learning?
• How involved should parents be and what if they also have to work at home?
• How important is it to stick to the curriculum?
• Any specific advice for senior students?
• What if students have trouble learning this way?
• What should senior students do if they feel they are disadvantaged?
• How can students stay motivated to do their schoolwork at home?
• How can students stay more focused in online lessons?
• What do you need to know about webinars?
• How much screen time can students have outside of schooltime?
• What can students do outside of their schoolwork to be more effective learners?
• What are the top tips for parents?
• What are the top tips for students?
• Where can you get help from?

• talk to your whole family about the infection – understanding the situation will reduce anxiety
• help your daughter to think about how they have coped with difficult situations in the past and reassuring them that they will cope with this situation too
• remind them that the isolation won’t last forever
• exercise regularly - exercise is a proven treatment for stress and depression.
• encourage your daughter to keep in touch with family members and friends via telephone, email or social media (where appropriate). 

By submitting this content, you are providing Danebank with your permission to share them publicly on your behalf and you grant the School a royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to use, reproduce, perform and communicate the work in hard copy and digital form. The Head of Community Engagement reserves the right to refuse any content deemed as unsuitable for publication or sharing. Further details regarding collection of information can be found in our school policies. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know by emailing community@danebank.nsw.edu.au.

Before you take any screenshots or photos, please follow these important privacy arrangements:

• Do not take screenshots of class groups.
• Ensure your daughter's name is not displayed on the screen or on their work.
• If your daughter is online, have her blur out her background or use a background picture that does not identify her by name, or show where she lives.
• Students are not allowed to take pictures of others online.
• Be mindful of the background in the photo (i.e. do not include identifying features or other siblings/family members unintentionally).

You can help support your daughter during Distance Learning by:

• establishing routines and expectations
• defining a space for your daughter to work in
• monitoring communications from teachers
• beginning and ending each day with a check-in
• taking an active role in helping your daughter process their learning
• encouraging physical activity and/or exercise
• checking in with your daughter regularly to help them manage stress
• monitoring how much time your daughter is spending online
• keeping your daughter social, but set rules around their social media interactions.

Click here to access a Learning Environment Check list from NSW Department of Education

 Join a Zoom Meeting

• Click on the link shared with you

• Click 'launch application' which will install the Zoom launcher on your computer. If needed, you can also install the client by following the directions on their website, https://zoom.us/

• After the Zoom launcher is installed, your meeting will start. 

• If needed, click "join audio conference by computer" to connect your headset/microphone. 

Once the meeting has started you will see the Zoom menu bar at the bottom of the screen. If you do not see the menu bar, move your mouse slightly and the menu will appear. The menu bar may disappear in full screen mode. 

From the menu bar you can:

• Mute/unmute your audio
• Stop/start your video
• Configure your settings for items such as audio and video
• Invite more people to join by email, IM, SMS (mobile users) or meeting ID
• View a list of participants
• Share your desktop (everything you have open) or select a specific application to share (for example, Google Docs)
• Send a message to one person (private chat) or to all participants
• Record the meeting (if you have been granted permission)
• Leave or end the video meeting

Guide

You will need:

• An internet connection - broadband wired or wireless
• Headset/earbuds with microphone
• Webcam - built-in or USB plug in

Enter the Zoom Meeting

Your meeting host/instructor will provide the URL to the Zoom room. Simply click the URL or paste into your browser of choice to open the meeting.

Audio and Video Setup

After joining the Zoom meeting, you will be prompted to join the room’s audio. Zoom allows audio participation through your computer’s internal speakers, a headset, or a phone line. The initial step of joining the audio by computer looks like this: 

• Click on "Join with Computer Audio" so you can listen in and use your mic.
• If you experience audio problems after clicking on "Join with Computer Audio", click the arrow next to the microphone icon in the bottom-left hand corner, and choose "Test Speaker and Microphone".
• If you need to change your audio/video input device, click the arrow next to the microphone/camera icon and select the appropriate device.

Enable/Disable Mic and Video

To mute yourself so others cannot hear you, click on the microphone icon in the bottom-left corner. To unmute, click the microphone icon again. Follow the same process to turn the webcam on and off.

Participants List

The participants list shows all the active members in the meeting, including your instructor(s) and fellow students. To open the participants list, click “Participants” in the bottom menu. This will open a list on the right-hand side of the meeting screen. You can mute yourself or change your display name by hovering over your name in the participants list, clicking on "More", then clicking on "Rename". 

Click here to download a PDF "Zoom Guide" 

Danebank 2021 Parents & Friends Association

Nomination Form

Annual General Meeting - Monday 13 September 2021

Click here to access the 2021 P&F Association Nomination Form

• Both the nominator and nominee must be Financial Members of the Association
• Nominee must hold a valid volunteer Working with Children’s Check (WWCC)

To be elected:

• 1 President
• 2 x Vice Presidents
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Autumn Fair Convener
• Mother’s Day Stall Convener
• Father’s Day Staff Convener
• Birthday Book Convener
• Other Members of P&F Committee

Nominations to be sent to: pandf@danebank.nsw.edu.au

• No later than Friday 3 September 2021

Please visit our website to place your order. www.ranier.com.au

• Please utilise the filters at the top of the page to customise uniform selection.
• Sizing guides linked to each garment will help with size selection.
• Select Collect from Shop or have your order home delivered. Orders will be posted out from November. Collection date will be from November, further details to follow.
• The high school dress is in women’s sizing. If your primary dress is size 14, please order a 10, if your primary dress is a 12, please order an 8.

2022 Pricing lists:

• Pre-K
• Kindergarten - Year 2
• Years 3 - 6
• Years 7 - 9
• Years 10 - 12

If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us via the website www.ranier.com.au/contact or email us on custservice@ranier.com.au

The Deadline for all uniform orders is 24 October 2021.

Junior School

Senior School