Last school newsletter for 2025.

Acknowledging Recent Events

Our hearts go out to those who have been affected by the tragic events that unfolded last weekend. These difficult times remind us of the importance of kindness, support, and unity.

At Dundas Public School, we are committed to providing a safe and caring environment where every student, family, and staff member feels supported. If you or your child need someone to talk to or require additional support, please do not hesitate to reach out to our school counsellors or staff members.

Together, we will continue to stand strong as a community, supporting one another with compassion and understanding.

Final school newsletter for 2025

As we reach the final week of the school year, this will be our last school newsletter for 2025. Each year, I am required to complete an Annual School Report (ASR), which provides a comprehensive overview of our school’s achievements, initiatives, and goals. The ASR is published on our school website for the whole community to access. The 2025 ASR will be published on our school website in Term 1 2026.

Included in this report are special end-of-year messages from our school captains, the P&C, and myself as principal. I thought our school community would enjoy reading these reflections and insights, so I have shared those messages below for you to enjoy.

Thank you for your ongoing support throughout the year, and we look forward to a fantastic 2026 ahead!

Message from the principal

This year, Dundas Public School has continued to build on its proud foundation of excellence and innovation. We have worked diligently to embed new student management procedures, refine our award systems, and develop improved personalised learning pathways—all of which contribute to creating a positive and supportive environment where every student has an opportunity to thrive. 

Our commitment to high expectations and fostering critical, creative, and confident thinkers is evident through our teaching practices in ‘The Dundas Way,’ which incorporates research-informed strategies to support our learners in a consistent, inclusive manner. We have also embraced reflective professional learning for our staff, ensuring continual growth and best practices in all classrooms. Our tailored maths groups have allowed our students to engage deeply with their learning, catering to their unique strengths and needs. 

Sporting achievements have been a highlight of our year, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of our students. Our Junior Girls Netball Team, coached by the fabulous Ms Coppini, triumphed in their PSSA competition—a wonderful testament to teamwork and perseverance. We also proudly celebrate April and Aayden, who competed at the NSW PSSA Swimming Championships, with Aayden going on to represent at the School Sport Australia Swimming Championship, returning with an impressive haul of one bronze and two gold medals. Additionally, Kaiden’s selection for the Merrylands Parramatta Primary Schools Sports Association’s touch football, AFL and rugby union teams, and Casey’s, Jessica’s and Sofia’s selection for the Merrylands Parramatta Primary Schools Sports Association’s football team is a fantastic recognition of their skill and commitment. Congratulations to all our sporting representatives for making us proud. 

Significant to our growth and community spirit this year has been the establishment of our Student Parliament which will be implemented next year, which empowers our students to develop leadership skills and have a meaningful voice in our school. Additionally, the embedding of restorative practices has encouraged responsibility, reflection, and resolution within our learning community. 

I want to take this moment to acknowledge and sincerely thank Sonya Kral for her dedicated service as our P&C President over the past four years. We sincerely thank Sonya Kral for her invaluable contributions over the past four years, including establishing a leadership framework for a completely new P&C executive team, representing the parent body on numerous employment panels, expertly guiding the P&C and school through the tender process to transition the OOSH service from P&C management to an external provider, serving on the PRG group overseeing the school upgrade build, coordinating multiple successful fundraising initiatives that resulted in a new playground and cubby village, and skilfully steering the P&C through the handover of the school canteen management to a new enthusiastic vendor starting day 1 next year. Sonya’s commitment, leadership, and partnership have been invaluable to Dundas Public School. To our new P&C President, Laura Wear and the entire P&C executive, your ongoing support and hard work continue to strengthen our school community and enrich the experiences of our students and staff—thank you. 

To the extraordinary staff at Dundas Public School, your passion, dedication, and willingness to go above and beyond for our students never goes unnoticed. You are the heart of this school, and I am continually inspired by your commitment to every child’s success and wellbeing. 

It is with a heavy heart that we remember and honour Mrs Jennifer Benco, our EAL/D teacher, who devoted herself to our students and community with incredible warmth, expertise, and a wonderful sense of humour. Mrs Benco’s passion for education and kindness deeply impacted us all, and she will be forever missed. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the fabric of our school. 

As we celebrate, let us reflect on the values that guide us—high expectations, valuing the future, wellbeing, and the power of partnership. It is through these values that we prepare our students not only to succeed academically but to become resilient, respectful, and engaged citizens ready to thrive in a dynamic and changing world. 

To the students, I congratulate you all on your achievements this year. Remember that learning is a journey, and every challenge overcome is a step towards your future. Keep striving for excellence, be curious, and support one another as you grow. 

Message from the P&C

Thank you all for allowing me the opportunity to continue as President for a fourth year. It's been an honour to serve in this role, and I’m grateful for the trust and support of our school community. As we move into a new year, I look forward to supporting our new President, Laura Wear. 

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our 2025 executive team; Laura and James as Vice Presidents, Erin as Secretary, and Rebecca as Treasurer. Your dedication, reliability, and countless volunteer hours have been the backbone of our P&C. 

A special mention must also go to our unofficial fifth executive member, Joanne. Thank you, Joanne, for reviving our P&C Facebook page and turning it into an actual source of information rather than digital tumbleweed. Your creativity, consistency, and can-do attitude never go unnoticed. You even single handedly organised World Teachers’ Day, which was so appreciated. 

Reflecting on the past 12 months, the time has flown. The highlight, of course, was the 2025 School Fete in June. The success of the fete was all thanks to the incredible teamwork and commitment of our fete committee, volunteers and sponsors. To everyone who donated their time, energy, or sanity, I say thank you. The funds raised will make a lasting impact on our school for years to come. 

In other news, the canteen continues to remain open under the capable and patient leadership of Melissa. Melissa, you’re a hero and we thank you for keeping the canteen open and operating. We are still going through the tender process and look forward to getting an external provider in to take over in 2026. 

A big thank you also to Jet, our Uniform Shop Manager, who has been fantastic, and has been keeping up with orders even whilst heavily pregnant! 

I’m also super proud to share that all our P&C employees received pay increases in July in line with the correct modern awards. It might not sound exciting but is a huge deal for us as we continue to be a fair, transparent, and very compliant employer.  

This year, Lee and I continued our collaboration with the Department of Education on the new classroom build. It’s great to see the building taking shape, and even better to see that it hasn’t taken over the entire field, which was a real concern at one stage.  

Our Mother’s Day and Father’s Day stalls were once again huge successes. We also managed to keep every gift under $5 again this year, despite the rising costs of everything.  

For World Teachers’ Day, we hosted a coffee van on site so our amazing teachers and staff could enjoy a well-deserved treat. It was a small gesture to recognise their incredible work, and a huge thank you again to Joanne for organising it all. 

And now, as we head toward the end of the year, we’re gearing up for our biggest P&C Community Christmas Celebration, being held on Friday 12 December 2025. 

To all parents, carers, and volunteers who have given their time, energy, and ideas this year, thank you. Your involvement and enthusiasm are what make this school such a wonderful, connected community where our children can learn, grow, and feel like they belong. 

And finally, to Lee, thank you once again for your ongoing partnership and support. Your commitment to making this school better for every student never goes unnoticed. 

Thank you, everyone, it has been an incredible year, and we look forward to another successful year in 2026. 

Message from the school captains

A message from the 2025 School Captains 

Being school captain wasn't just a title or a badge or a role to us, it was a purpose and a promise. To help when we could and to guide others to the path of success. We hope that during our time here we have lived up to that promise and made the school community, teachers and parents proud. 

Our favourite moments were either hosting assemblies and seeing fellow peers smile when they or their friends got an award or representing DPS at the Remembrance Day service in Parramatta and laying a wreath. We loved visiting preschool’s and reading books to the future DPS kindies. 

We have also enjoyed all the camps that we have gone on with our friends and made memories that will stay with us forever, Luna Park with the best of the best Year 6. A special thanks to all our friends for making those experiences memorable and fun. 

We hope that we have made everyone feel that they belonged even more at this school. We hope that you try your best in learning and make your own path to success. We hope you try out for a leadership role when you are in Year 6 and build your leadership skills. 

Thank you to all the teachers who have guided and supported us through this primary school journey. Thank you for giving us the best time here. Thank you for the best primary school experience.  

Thank you, Dundas Public School and Dundas community. It was an honour and privilege to have been Dundas Public School’s school captains. 

Jessica and Archie. 

A Farewell to Our Year 6 Graduates

As our Year 6 students prepare to leave Dundas Public School and step boldly into the next chapter of their educational journey, we celebrate the unique light each of you has brought to our community.

You have been more than just students—you have been a source of joy, inspiration, and pride. Your dedication, kindness, and spirit have left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to teach and support you.

Remember, this is just the beginning. Embrace every challenge with courage, pursue your dreams with passion, and never stop believing in your ability to make a difference. The future is bright, and you hold the power to shape it.

Year 6, keep pushing boundaries and reaching for the stars. Dundas Public School will always be cheering you on—don’t forget where you started and always carry our community with you. Your journey is just beginning. Make it extraordinary.

Staffing Changes for 2026

As we look ahead to 2026, Dundas Public School will welcome several exciting changes to our team.

Mr Dean has decided to take a well-deserved year’s leave but will kindly be available for casual days at Dundas PS throughout the year. We thank him for his ongoing support and look forward to his occasional visits.

We are pleased to announce that Ms Edwards will be returning to Dundas next year after spending a year as Assistant Principal Curriculum & Instruction (APC&I) at Lynwood Park Public School. Ms Edwards will be stepping into the APC&I role here, which was vacated by Mrs Zalaf as she takes on a Curriculum Officer role at Parramatta.

Ms Lo has made the difficult decision to return to high school teaching in 2026. We will greatly miss her contributions to our school community and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

We are also excited to welcome Ms Lilyrose to Dundas Public School as our new EAL/D teacher. Ms Lilyrose has already visited the school this week and is looking forward to joining our wonderful team. She will be working alongside Mrs Upton, who will teach EAL/D three days a week.

Mrs Sheaves will split her time between teaching library one day per week and science on another day, adding valuable expertise to both areas.

Additionally, we welcome Mr Smith and Mr Yu, who will both be taking full-time classes next year. Their enthusiasm and dedication will be a great addition to our classrooms.

Finally, Mrs Green will be returning to Dundas full-time and will be teaching a Kindergarten class. To say Mrs Green is excited is an understatement!

Mr Stopps, our General Assistant, has decided to resign his position and I am hopeful that a new General Assistant will be allocated to our school in 2026.

These changes reflect our ongoing commitment to providing the best educational experience for our students, and we look forward to a fantastic year ahead with our dedicated staff.

Class structure for 2026

After a highly successful year of implementing stage classes at Dundas Public School, we are excited to confirm that this class structure will continue into 2026.

This approach groups students according to their learning stage rather than their exact year level, bringing a range of important benefits to our school community.

Widening Social and Friendship Circles
By working within stage classes, students have the opportunity to interact and build friendships with a larger and more diverse group of peers. This helps them develop stronger social skills, empathy, and a sense of community as they collaborate with classmates they might not have met in a traditional year-level setting. It promotes inclusivity and helps strengthen connections across different age groups.

Encouraging Greater Maturity and Leadership
The stage class structure allows younger students to learn alongside older peers, creating a natural environment for mentoring and leadership. Younger students benefit from observing and working with those who are slightly more advanced, while older students develop confidence as they support and collaborate with their peers. This dynamic encourages personal growth, responsibility, and maturity among all students.
Enhancing Teacher Collaboration and Learning Opportunities
For our teaching staff, stage classes encourage a more collaborative and flexible approach to planning and instruction. Teachers work closely as a team to design lessons that cater to varying needs within the same stage, allowing for targeted and differentiated teaching strategies. This teamwork fosters professional growth and innovative teaching methods, ultimately enhancing the learning experience for every student.

We are proud of the progress our students and staff have made with this structure and look forward to continuing to build a supportive, engaging, and enriching learning environment through stage classes in 2026.

Important Information About Classroom Moves for 2026

As we prepare for the completion of our six new classrooms, we would like to inform families about the arrangements for the start of the 2026 school year.

Before the new classrooms are ready for use, the classes that will be moving into these spaces will begin the year in demountable classrooms. This temporary relocation will ensure a smooth transition and minimal disruption to learning.

Out of the six new classrooms being built, four will be allocated to Stage 3 classes, while the remaining two classrooms will be designated for Stage 2 classes.

Science RFF will start the year in the Gawura room but will move into the Wallu-mil room once the build is complete.

Please refer to the 2026 school map below.

Maths groups continuing in 2026

After a very successful year implementing streamed maths groups across Stages 1 to 3 at Dundas Public School, we are pleased to announce that this approach will continue in 2026.

Streaming maths allows students to work in groups that best match their individual learning needs and skill levels, enabling more targeted and effective teaching. This structure helps students build confidence in their mathematical abilities by providing tailored support and appropriate challenges.

The benefits of streamed maths groups include:

Improved Learning Outcomes: By grouping students according to their current understanding and skills, teachers can focus on specific learning goals, ensuring all students progress at a suitable pace.
Enhanced Student Engagement: Students are more engaged when working on tasks that suit their level, which fosters a positive attitude towards maths and encourages a growth mindset.
Tailored Teaching Strategies: Teachers can implement differentiated teaching practices within these groups, providing specialised activities and resources that meet diverse learning needs.
Opportunities for Peer Learning: Streaming also offers students chances to collaborate with peers at a similar level, promoting teamwork and support within the group.

We are proud of the progress our students have made this year through streamed maths groups and look forward to continuing this successful approach in 2026 to ensure every student achieves their best in maths.

Arrangements for the First Day Back

The first day back for all students will be Monday 2nd February, 2026.

When the bell rings at 9.00am, the students will line up at the COLA area in their 2025 class lines, where they will be met by their 2025 teacher (where possible) and informed of the plans. At this stage, we anticipate moving into our 2026 classes during that week as soon as student enrolment numbers have been confirmed and absent families contacted.

Any new students starting at Dundas in Years 1 to 6 for the first time should present at the school office at 9am.

I know your reassuring words go a long way to settle the children’s nerves on the first day back. Thank you for supporting them positively when the new year starts.

Stay Up to Date with School Events

Parents and carers can keep up to date with all upcoming school events by visiting the ‘Events’ page on our school website. New events are continually added throughout the year to ensure our school community stays well informed.

We have already started adding events for 2026, so be sure to check regularly to stay in the loop about important dates and activities.

Important Update: School Bytes to be our sole Portal in 2026

From 2026 onward, Dundas Public School will be using only School Bytes for our parent portal, attendance, and student reports. We will no longer be using SENTRAL for these purposes.

After careful consideration, it has become clear that running both SENTRAL and School Bytes is no longer financially sustainable. School Bytes provides the same functionality and features, ensuring that parents and carers continue to have easy access to important information about their child’s learning and attendance.

You can register for the parent portal NOW. Alternatively, you can visit https://portal.schoolbytes.education

Remember to ‘Create a new account’.

Below is a guide to set up your parent portal account.

We appreciate your understanding during this transition and will provide support to help everyone become familiar with School Bytes if needed.

Exciting Planned Works for 2026

We are pleased to share with our school community the exciting, planned improvement works scheduled for 2026. These projects will enhance our school environment and create better spaces for our students to learn, play, and grow.

The planned works include:

installation of a new shade shelter in the Outdoor Recreation Area (ORA)
new shade shelter over the play equipment to provide better sun protection
construction of a dedicated bike shelter to encourage safe and convenient bike storage
updated school signage at Calder Road and Kissing Point Road entrances for improved visibility and school identity
a new and improved chicken coop to support our environmental and sustainability programs
a new flagpole designed to proudly incorporate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags alongside the Australian flag

These enhancements reflect our ongoing commitment to providing a safe, welcoming, and enriching environment for all students.

New Safety Measure Installed at Calder Road Staff Driveway Entry

In response to the tragic events that occurred at Rouse Hill Public School in October this year, we have taken additional safety measures to protect our school community. We are pleased to inform you that a flashing globe has been installed on the fence at the Calder Road staff driveway entry.

This flashing light will activate whenever the gate is opening, signalling that a car is either entering or exiting the staff car park. We hope this visual alert will provide an extra layer of safety for our families and pedestrians using Calder Road, helping to reduce the risk of accidents.

Our priority is the safety and well-being of everyone on our school grounds, and we appreciate your ongoing support in keeping our community safe.

Change to Play Bell Times in 2026

In 2026, Dundas Public School will be making a minor adjustment to our play bell schedule. Instead of having a 40-minute lunch break followed by a 20-minute afternoon tea, we will move to two equal play periods of 30 minutes each.

This change comes primarily in response to feedback and observations that many students found the 40-minute play period challenging to stay engaged within, often leading to some poor choices in the final 10 minutes of lunch. By splitting playtime evenly, we aim to provide students with more balanced breaks during the day to help maintain focus, energy, and positive behaviour.

Canteen Management Update for 2026

We would like to inform our school community that, beginning in 2026, the Dundas Public School canteen will no longer be run by the Dundas PS P&C. Earlier this year, the P&C voted to tender the management of the canteen, and as a result, a new group will be taking over its operation.

We will provide more detailed information about the new canteen management at the start of 2026. In the meantime, we ask for your patience and support as the new team establishes their systems and finalises menu options.

From the staff of Dundas PS, I would like to sincerely thank Melissa for her commitment to serving the school community as she expertly managed the school canteen. It has been an absolute pleasure working with you!

I would also like to thank the community volunteers who gave their time to help in the school canteen. It has been much appreciated.

Uniform Shop Relocation early 2026

We would like to inform the school community that the uniform shop will be relocating to the Mulgo Room, which is the former CAPA room.

This move is necessary because the small Fun Club demountable, currently located near the Village Green, will be removed along with the other class demountables next year. To best support our Kindergarten to Year 2 students, the Fun Club must be situated close to the Village Green and will therefore be relocating to the current uniform shop space.

The P&C are hoping to organise an afternoon when parents and carers can come together to help move the uniform stock, storage, and shelving to the new Mulgo Room. We also need assistance with moving the large counter bench and relocating it to the new space.

We welcome any help and will share further details about the moving day early next year. Thank you for your ongoing support during this transition.

Final message for 2025

As the year draws to a close, we would like to take a moment to extend our heartfelt wishes to the entire Dundas school community. We hope this festive season brings you a wonderful, restful, and joyful break filled with meaningful time spent with family, friends, and loved ones. This time of year, is an important opportunity to relax, recharge, and reflect on the successes and challenges of the past twelve months.

We want to sincerely thank every member of our community—students, parents, caregivers, staff, and volunteers—for their unwavering commitment and support throughout 2025. It is through your collective efforts, dedication, and enthusiasm that our students continue to grow, achieve, and thrive in a positive and nurturing environment. Whether it’s through classroom learning, extracurricular activities, or community events, your contributions have played a vital role in our school’s success.

As we look forward to the new school year, we are excited to welcome everyone back to our wonderful school campus on Monday, 2nd February 2026. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and inspiring learning environment that challenges and supports each student to reach their full potential. Together, we will continue to build on the strong foundations laid this year and embark on new opportunities for growth and achievement.

From all of us at Dundas School, we wish you a safe, peaceful, and joyous holiday season. Enjoy the break, and we can’t wait to see you refreshed and ready for an exciting year ahead!

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