Dear Parents and Carers,

A warm welcome back after what we hope was an enjoyable winter break. Over the school holidays the NSW DoE installed a new kitchen into our staff room (formerly K/1 Gawura). We were all very excited to see this lovely new space for our staff. We finally have a space to use during our breaks that can comfortably accommodate everyone.

Student toilets

The makeover planned for both toilet blocks is booked in for Saturday, 12th August. Since our return from holidays, I have been asked many, many times from our students when the bathroom improvements are happening so students are most excited. They have told me how much they are looking forward to seeing the designs and positive affirmations they voted for.

Once the installation is complete, we will share photos on the DPS Facebook page.

Adult toilet

We have noticed some adults using the student toilets at morning drop-off, afternoon pick-up or school events. Due to child protection requirements, student bathrooms are to be used by our students only.

There is a toilet available for adult use. It is located next to the school canteen. Please do not lock the toilet when you are finished to ensure others can access the facilities.

Kindergarten Expo next Wednesday

Do you have a child ready for school in 2024? Come and join us for an informal chat about what big school looks like at Dundas PS on Wednesday, 2nd August from 6pm-7pm in the school hall. Guests will be able to walk around, collect information and ask the questions they want to ask from experienced staff. Staff will have stalls set up around the hall. Stalls will include:

specific Kindergarten information
literacy
numeracy
science/technology
creative and performing arts
library
EAL/D
extra-curricular groups
school communication

On arrival, guests will be given a DPS tote bag for any collected information and materials.

Education Week Open Day

Please join us for our Education Week Open Day on Thursday, 3rd August (next week). This year’s Education Week theme is ‘175 years of public education in NSW’ and focuses on learning from the past, celebrating our achievements and embracing the future with confidence.

Athletics Carnival Thank You

Thank you to Mrs Taylor for organising the K-2 Athletics Carnival last Friday. Thank you to Ms Edwards for organising the 3-6 Athletics Carnival this week. Both events were great days, both non-stop and lots of fun for the children who participated. There are posts on our Facebook page which includes some wonderful photos from both events. Here is a link to our Facebook page.

A big thank you to the parent volunteers who helped on both days. Without your help, we would not have been able to run the carnivals.

Students and medication

A friendly reminder that students are not permitted to have medication in their bags or on their person while at school. Students are not allowed to self-administer pain tablets (such as Panadol, Nurofen etc) or prescribed medication.

When a medical practitioner has prescribed medication that must be administered during the school day, parents/carers must:

• notify the school

• provide up to date information as required

• supply the medication and any 'consumables' necessary for its administration in a timely way.

Parents/carers of children who require prescribed medication to be administered at school must complete a written request. Please contact the school office for the relevant document.

All medication must be in its original container and labelled with the student’s name, dosage, name of medication. Students must not carry medications unless there is a written agreement between the school and the student's parents/ carers.

NAPLAN Information for Parents and Carers of children in Years 3 and 5

NAPLAN 2023 individual student reports have arrived and were sent home with children yesterday. Please find below some important information to know about individual student results and NAPLAN 2023.

New proficiency standards

From 2023, the individual student report will look different to previous years. One significant change is that NAPLAN results are now reported against 4 levels of proficiency:

• Exceeding: the student’s result exceeds expectations at the time of testing.

• Strong: the student’s result meets challenging but reasonable expectations at the time of testing.

• Developing: the student’s result indicates that they are working towards expectations at the time of testing.

• Needs additional support: the student’s result indicates that they are not achieving the learning outcomes that are expected at the time of testing. They are likely to need additional support to progress satisfactorily.

There is a standard for each assessment area at each year level. The NAPLAN measurement scale and time series have also been reset. For more information see the individual student report brochure for parents and carers (click here). The brochure is available in other languages on the NAPLAN results and reports website.

NAPLAN reports and ongoing assessments

NAPLAN tests are only one aspect of each school’s assessment and reporting process. As they are held once every 2 years for each student, they cannot replace the extensive, ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance. For information about how to read individual student reports watch the reading the NAPLAN Individual Student Report video.

Student results

When reading your child’s NAPLAN 2023 results please keep in mind:

• From 2023, new proficiency standards were introduced to NAPLAN reporting. This reporting replaces the previous numerical NAPLAN reporting bands and national minimum standards.

• A performance result less than expected may indicate the student requires more targeted support or may just reflect other factors that affected their performance on that day.  

• Proficiency standards provide clear information on student achievement. They are set at a challenging but reasonable level expected for the child at the time of NAPLAN testing, based mainly on what has been taught in previous years of schooling.

• Individual students may demonstrate different skills or understandings depending on which parts of the tests they performed more strongly in. Students whose results fall near the top of a proficiency level will be able to demonstrate more of the skills, or more complex understanding. Students whose results fall near the lower end of a level will be able to demonstrate fewer of the skills, or less complex understanding.

• It is important to remember NAPLAN tests are one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. They complement ongoing assessments so that teachers can best support teaching and learning. The achievement demonstrated in classroom-based assessments and reporting through AE grades provide parents with timely feedback on how their child is progressing.

We encourage any parent or carer who is concerned about their child’s NAPLAN results to talk to your child’s teacher. If your child results indicate ‘Needs additional support’, please contact your child’s teacher to discuss, as additional support may already be available to those students who need it.  

Draft Plan for NSW Public Education

From the Department of Education:

Have your say on your child's education. The NSW Department of Education is developing a new plan for NSW public education [included at the end of this newsletter]. We want to hear from our parents, carers, and community on this important work.

Our plan for NSW public education outlines how we will create an outstanding and equitable education system and uplift trust and pride in the teaching profession.

It sets aspirations for every learner.

We invite you to have your say on this important work. You can do this by visiting the Department's plan for NSW public education webpage at: https://education.nsw.gov.au/about-us/campaigns-andinitiatives/draft-plan-for-nsw-public-education.html

On this page you will find an online engagement platform that can be used to share feedback on the plan. The platform has been designed for everyone to have their say and will take about 10 minutes to complete.

The platform will be available for six weeks, from Monday 17 July 2023 to Friday 25 August 2023. We encourage you to share your feedback during this period.

If you have any questions about the draft plan, or the consultation, please contact the team directly by email at engageTD@det.nsw.edu.au .

Thank you for supporting our work in NSW public schools.

Semester 1 student reports

I would like to thank all staff for the work that has gone into the Semester 1 student reports and Parent/Teacher Interviews. The process to complete the student reports is a long and complex one that starts at the beginning of the year.

Kindergarten enrolment for 2024

Dundas Public School is now taking online enrolments for Kindergarten 2024.

Go to our school website and select the enrolment tab at the top of the page. A link to the page is below.

https://dundas-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/enrolment.html

The flyer below contains information regarding our Kindergarten Expo and Orientation sessions. Feel free to share this with friends/neighbours who may have a child starting Kindergarten.

Celebrating school attendance

Last term, 177 students (representing 53% of our students) received a bronze award for achieving an overall attendance rate of 95% or higher for Term 2.

This term, we will be rewarding students with a bronze award for making an improvement in their overall attendance of 5% or greater. Students who achieve this goal will receive their Term 3 Attendance award in week 10.

Applications for Extended Leave (Travel during a school term)

Families are encouraged to travel during school holidays. If travel during school term is necessary, discuss this with the school. Family holidays and travel taken during the school term are not considered leave unless it is for specified special circumstances, such as an important life event (wedding or bereavement).

Policy states ‘14.6. Where a principal considers that the travel is appropriate during school term, the principal should issue the parent with an Application for Extended Leave – Travel for completion and inform the parent that if the Application is accepted, the absences will be recorded as “L” – Leave.’

Applications for Extended Leave that do not include justifiable reasons, will not be approved for leave and a certificate of extended leave will not be issued. Following policy, these absences will be recorded as ‘explained but unjustified’.

Below is a link to the Application for Extended Leave form.

https://education.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/main-education/policy-library/public/implementation-documents/pd-2005-0259-02-2.pdf

If the travel period exceeds 50 school days, students may be eligible to enrol in distance education.

Draft Plan

Kind regards,

Lee Shipley

Principal

Dates to Remember

Term 3