Principal's Report

Welcome to Term 4! I trust that everyone had a restful holiday. From speaking with children, it was lovely to hear that many families had the opportunity to travel while others enjoyed relaxing and doing things in Melbourne. 

We have had a very smooth start to the final term of the year, which is shaping to be yet another busy but exciting term of learning for the students. For our Grade 6 students, Term 4 will mark the end of their primary schooling. This is a significant milestone, and the Level 6 teachers have planned many engaging and memorable activities for the students as they approach graduation. We feel privileged to share this experience with them, and I encourage our Grade 6 students to take in and enjoy the days ahead. 

New Water Stations/ School Facility Updates

Students are enjoying two new water stations due to JSC fundraising efforts and a generous donation from one of our DPS families. 

Our new water stations allow students to drink from the fountains and refill their drink bottles. One is located near the school library, and the other is near the oval on the Senior Playground side. I trust that all students will use the drink fountains appropriately to ensure longevity. 

Over the school holidays, we have had tradespeople on site to work on various facility works, including roof repairs and cleaning of gutters. In addition, Mick, our groundsman, continues to maintain our gardens and take care of our general maintenance around the school. We are still waiting for our new shade shelter. We secured funding for this project as part of a Department initiative late last year. I am pleased to report that the steel powder coating is almost completed, and the installation is not too far off.

We look forward to having another shaded play/ learning area on our grounds before the end of term.

COVID-19 Update Highlights from 

You may be aware that the Victorian Government has announced changes to the COVID-19 isolation requirements as of 12/10/2020

The Department of Health strongly recommends that students and school staff:

* who test positive to COVID-19 stay home and isolate for 5 days and do not attend school after 5 days if they are still symptomatic

* who are symptomatic but have not tested positive not attend school. This does not include students with pre-existing conditions such as hay fever.

Parents and carers are recommended to continue to report their child having COVID-19 to both the school and the Department of Health.

We will, however, no longer report occurrences of positive cases to the school community.

We ask parents and carers to continue to remain vigilant in preventing COVID-19 transmission. Any student who is unwell should continue to remain at home. This is about keeping students healthy and well in our school and reducing the spread of both COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.

Free rapid antigen tests are available at the school for those who need them.

Parents and carers will be contacted if their child shows symptoms while at school.

Students who wish to wear a mask should continue to do so.

To keep our school as safe as possible, we will also continue to use air purifiers and other COVID-19 prevention measures.

Thanks for your continued efforts to keep our school community safe and well.