Acting Principal's Report

Hello DPW Community,

Water Safety Week

This week is water safety week. 

With the summer holidays almost here, many families could be spending time around water. This is a reminder to make sure we are all being safe around water. Sadly, there has been an increase in drownings in Victoria, especially at beaches, rivers, and lakes. Please take extra care and follow these important safety tips:

• Always swim between the red and yellow flags at the beach
• Never swim alone, or let your child swim unsupervised
• Be aware of the water environment before entering the water
• Avoid diving into water until you know how shallow or deep it is

To help with improving your child’s swimming ability over the holidays, you can enrol your child into VICSWIM. VICSWIM is a 5-day intensive learn to swim and water safety program for children aged 4 to 12 years, run in the summer holidays. VICSWIM is particularly helpful for those who may not access swimming lessons regularly. The Victorian Government subsidises the program, which is run by Aquatics and Recreation Victoria.

VICSWIM Program details -

Dates: Monday 5 January to Friday 23 January 2026

Time: 5 lessons, 30 minutes each 

Location: at 140 venues across the state. To find your nearest location, refer to VICSWIM 2026 venues

Cost: $43 per child for the week.

For more information and to book (log in required), refer to the VICSWIM website.

DPW Upcoming Events

Celebrations of Learning 

Tomorrow afternoon, we invite all families to join us in the classrooms for our Celebrations of Learning. This is a wonderful opportunity to see what your child has been working on and share in their achievements. We’d love to see as many families as possible.

Foundation 2026 Classes

On Tuesday 9th December, our new 2026 Foundation students will have a very special morning. It’s their final visit to school, after 7 transition sessions, where they’ll meet their teacher and spend time getting to know each other as a class. This is an exciting step in their school journey and a wonderful opportunity to continue building friendships and confidence before the new year begins. 

Whole School Concert – Friday, 12 December

The following Friday morning is our Whole School Concert—a highlight of the year! Bring along a chair or picnic rug and get ready to be entertained by our fabulous students as they perform their class dances. This year’s theme will take you on a journey through the cinematic universe—from spies and K-pop to mad scientists and Minions (and plenty more surprises!). Clap your hands, tap your feet, and enjoy the show!

Step-Up Morning

This morning will be a very exciting morning for students and teachers! The Years 1–6 Step-Up Morning will be held on Thursday, 18 December 2025, from 9:15 am to 10:45 am. This is an opportunity for students to spend time in their new classrooms with their new teachers and lay the foundations for their classroom community for 2026.

Year 6 Students

Our Year 6 students have an exciting few weeks ahead as they prepare to take their next big step into secondary school.

• Tuesday, 9 December – Secondary Orientation Day

  Students will spend the day at their respective State Secondary Colleges. This experience is designed to ease any nerves and give them a taste of what secondary school life is really like—finding their way around, meeting new teachers, and learning what to expect.

• Preparing for the Transition

  To help with this change, our Year 6 team has been running special classes that mimic a secondary timetable. Students have been moving between different teachers and classrooms throughout the day, building confidence and independence.

• Thursday, 11 December – Adventure Park Excursion

  A full day of fun awaits at Adventure Park! Fingers crossed for perfect weather so everyone can enjoy the water play and rides.

• Wednesday, 17 December – Year 6 Graduation

  A very special evening to celebrate our graduates and their incredible journey through primary school.

• Friday, 19 December – Guard of Honour

  On the final day, we’ll farewell our Year 6 students with the traditional Guard of Honour—a heartfelt send-off as they walk through the school one last time.

Friday, 19 December – Last Day of School

The final day of the 2025 school year is Friday, 19 December. Please note that school will finish early at 1:30 pm.

Kindest Regards,

Deanne Scott

Principal