Principal's Update

"Meet the Teacher" week

This week, parents and carers have been meeting with their child’s teacher to share information about their child and collaborate with the teacher to set learning goals for 2025.

Initial feedback from teachers and parents has been extremely positive with teachers receiving a lot of very helpful information and parents feeling valued and true ‘partners’ in their child’s learning. 

The Learning Goal sheets are also proving to be a very useful resource. If your child’s teacher has not received a Learning Goals sheet for 2025, please send it in as soon as possible. 

I would like to thank my wonderful teachers who have made themselves available over 3 days to meet with parents and carers. 

2025 Voluntary Contribution

This week, Dundas Public School parents and carers received information about the 2025 voluntary school contribution of $51 per student. 

Since then, the school has received some queries from families asking about the learning resources contribution that has been accepted in the past. 

The NSW Department of Education has implemented a new policy regarding voluntary contributions from families, which affects how schools can request financial support for learning resources.

Under this new directive, schools are no longer permitted to ask for financial contributions specifically aimed at covering the costs of learning resources.

Approaching staff when there is a concern

As a vital part of our school community, your partnership in fostering a positive learning environment is greatly appreciated. I would like to take a moment to remind everyone of the importance of respectful behaviour towards our dedicated school staff, especially during challenging times.

When issues arise, it is natural to feel concerned or frustrated. However, it is essential to communicate these feelings respectfully. Our staff members are here to support your children and work through any difficulties that may occur. By engaging in constructive dialogue, we can find solutions that benefit our students and maintain a harmonious school environment.

Additionally, I would like to highlight the role of our Community Charter, which emphasises the values of respect, integrity, and collaboration. This charter serves as a guiding principle for our interactions within the school community. Upholding these values not only enhances our school culture but also sets a positive example for our students.

At Dundas Public School, there is a code of conduct for parents and visitors that is on our school website. A link to the page can be found here.

Parents and visitors are expected to:                 

• treat all persons associated with the school with respect and courtesy
• make appointments in advance of expecting to obtain an interview
• allow staff to supervise and manage students without interference
• never approach students in the school with a view to making allegations against or threatening students
• discuss issues or concerns about the school, staff or students through the correct procedures (as outlined below)
• follow school procedures governing entry and behaviour on school grounds.
• use language that is always appropriate in the presence of students, staff or visitors.

In those cases, where people wishing to express concerns do so in an offensive, aggressive, threatening or violent manner, the principal (or nominee) has the legal authority to:

• terminate any phone conversation or meeting
• direct the person to immediately leave the school grounds
• call the Police to remove the person should he/she refuse
• withdraw permission (by letter) for the person to enter the grounds without the Principal's permission and/or subsequently limit that person's contact with school staff.
• seek further legal avenues.

Your cooperation is sought in maintaining an effective, safe and happy school.

Award system

At the end of 2024, Dundas Public School asked our school community to give us feedback on our current award process as staff had identified it as something that should be reviewed and improved. The feedback we received has been extremely helpful in identifying what needs to be changed to ensure that school awards are valued and achievable. This feedback was shared with staff at the beginning of this term.

Some of the feedback included:

• ‘simplicity is key’

• ‘should be less confusing. I find it hard to understand how they work’.

• ‘the current system feels virtually unobtainable, it's a rare child who gets a Wattle before they reach year 6 and I think this would demotivate many’.

The previous award process required students to receive 5 bronze awards to receive 1 silver, 5 silvers to receive a gold, 5 gold awards to receive a wattle award. This was requiring students to receive a large total of 125 awards to achieve a wattle award. 

Staff agreed with the community feedback and spent time in stage groups developing a simpler award process that would be simple, valued, consistent and importantly, achievable. 

So, this year we are implementing a different awards process.

The simpler process will require students to earn 4 bronze words to receive a silver, 4 silvers to receive a gold, 4 golds to receive a wattle award. This will require students to collect a total of 64 awards to achieve a wattle award instead of 125! Students will still need to work hard to strive for a wattle award. Even with this simpler system, there will be students who graduate Dundas Public school without achieving a wattle award. 

Teachers will recognise student effort, achievement, progress, citizenship, leadership, creativity, resilience etc through bronze awards. In addition, students can receive 3 bronze awards a year by completing the readers club program, a bronze award for entering additional activities (such as the Easter Eggstravanza) and earn a silver award by completing the Premiers Reading Challenge each year. 

The more involved and engaged students are with their learning and school activities, the more they can be rewarded by earning bronze and silver awards.

Students will receive their bronze award in class from their class teacher, science teacher, library teacher, EAL/D teacher etc. Class teachers will be responsible for monitoring student bronze awards. 

When students have 4 bronze awards, they hand them to their teacher to receive their silver award. 

When students have 4 silver awards, they hand them to their teacher to receive their gold award and so on. 

Silver and gold awards will be presented at assemblies. These awards will be recorded and tracked.

Wattle awards will continue to be presented at our Assemblies of Excellence at the end of the year. 

Principal Awards

There was much discussion between staff about where the principal award fit within our revised and improved awards system and it was agreed upon that the principal award will sit outside the bronze, silver, gold and wattle award process. It was decided to keep it separate as the Principal Award Celebration Breakfast held at the end of Semester 1 and Semester 2, is its own reward. Feedback from students is that they really enjoy the exclusivity of the special principal award breakfast celebration with a parent/carer there to help celebrate with them. 

Current students

Over the coming weeks, students will be asked to bring in the bronze, silver and gold awards they have earned so far so we can ensure that no student is disadvantaged while we make this transition to the simpler award system. 

For new students

One of the challenges schools are faced with is trying to accommodate new students to the award system. It is unfair for new students to start at the very beginning with no chance of achieving the wattle award. DPS has developed starting points for when new students enter our school, so all students have the opportunity to be recognised and work towards earning a wattle award. 

Beahviour Expectations

Over the next 2 terms we will be having a weekly focus of the behaviour expectations at the different settings around our school. 

Next week in week 7 we will be starting with behaviour expectations at all settings. 

In week 8, students will be revising the behaviour expectations in classrooms.

In week 9, students will be revising the behaviour expectations on the Village Green, COLA and play equipment.

School Bytes

Excursions and school events require a great deal of organisation. All school excursions/events will have a deadline where the event closes to the community. This deadline is selected to ensure that the school has enough time to make any changes to the event organisation, such as cancelling bus bookings and staffing organisation. 

Bus companies require at least 24 hours notice for any bus cancellations. 

School Bytes has been set up that parents/carers must tick the consent box and complete payment before the permission is finalised.

Please be advised, we will no longer open an event once the deadline has passed. Permissions and payment must be completed before the deadline. 

2025 NAPLAN dates

In 2025, NAPLAN will take place from Wednesday 12 to Monday 24 March.

Students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 who are enrolled at a school are expected to participate in 4 NAPLAN tests:

• writing
• reading
• conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation)
• numeracy.

All schools in NSW complete NAPLAN online. However, Year 3 students do the writing test on paper. Teachers will ensure students are familiar with the format of the tests before the NAPLAN test window.

Supporting your child

NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills your child is already learning at school.

It is important to remember that NAPLAN is not about passing or failing. It is about assessing learning progress.

The best approach for preparing your child for NAPLAN is to encourage your child to do the best they can on the day.

Excessive preparation or the use of coaching providers is not recommended.

If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact your child’s teacher in the first instance.

Students’ digital skills

The digital skills needed to complete NAPLAN are skills students use in everyday classroom activities.

Students do not need to be able to touch type. The online test is not about keyboard skills.

Public demonstration site

The public demonstration site is available for students, teachers and parents to get familiar with the types of questions, tools and functions used in the NAPLAN tests. It includes demonstration tests for each NAPLAN year level, test domain (writing, reading, conventions of language, and numeracy), and alternative tests for students with disability.

Summary of parent feedback (Term4, 2025)

Last term, parents were invited to complete a survey (paper or online). We received 24 responses in total (14 online and 10 paper responses). Not quite the result that we were hoping for. 

However, the information we did receive from the parents who completed the survey was thoughtful and valued by DPS staff. I thought I could summarise some of the main take aways. 

100% of responses agree that being a ‘safe, respectful learner’ is still relevant today. We wholeheartedly agree and have a new design to showcase our school expectations. 

100% of responses agree that the school vision statement is still relevant. The school vision statement is below.

Dundas Public School partners with parents and the wider community to provide a quality education that values the future of all students. We will do this by:

-having high expectations for academic excellence – Dundas Public School will create a learning culture where students strive for learning excellence and are confident, creative and critical thinkers.

-valuing the future – Dundas Public School will create a future focused and innovative learning environment giving students the skills and attitudes to enable them to live effectively as lifelong learners, engaging in a dynamic and changing world

-encouraging values and wellbeing – Dundas Public School will teach students to be culturally inclusive, resilient citizens by valuing respect, responsibility and learning success

-building partnerships - Dundas Public School will ensure that parents and caregivers, students and teachers all play a valuable role in building our school and community.

When asked why Dundas Public School is a great school we received the following responses:

• ‘Because the teachers care’​

• ‘Supportive and caring teachers, small classes’​

• ‘Dundas Public School is a great school because: 

  • Inclusive Environment: It celebrates cultural diversity, ensuring every student feels valued and supported. 

  • Focus on Holistic Development: The school prioritizes academics, wellbeing, and leadership opportunities, nurturing well-rounded individuals. 

  • Strong Community: The active collaboration between parents, teachers, and students builds a positive and supportive school culture. These qualities make Dundas Public School a welcoming and inspiring place for learning’.​

• ‘DPS is trying to improve school's quality’.​

• ‘Small classroom sizes, low turnover of teachers, strong and advocative principal​’

• ‘Staff are dedicated. Kids are happy. Not many stories of bullying that I heard’.​

• ‘A great learning culture. Learning is made fun’.​

• ‘Small community, traditional yet moving forward’.​

• ‘Supportive admin and school staff make this a great school. Personal check-ins on my children have made their day multiple times this year’.​

• ‘It's small and very close. Everyone knows everyone. Well mostly. This makes it easier for teachers to get closer to students which I think helps them in the long run’.​

• ‘DPS is a great school because they have a wonderful community of staff, parents and students. They are always creating new fun ways to learn. They have lots of activities going on. They always encourage students' positive behaviour by recognising and acknowledging them through awards and rewards. There are many incentives for students to be kind and considerate towards their friends, teachers and parents’.

• ‘It's very diverse’.​

• ‘Dundas is a great school because it nurtures all the children it cares for. It is small and benefits from being so. The teachers really care and are open to communication’.​

• ‘The size of school is very good as children feel part of a great school without being lost in the numbers. Good communication with teachers, excellent opportunities for additional learning support through programs such as MiniLit, speech therapy and sessions parents can be involved in also’.​

• ‘The teachers are good and helpful’​

• ‘A lot of activities are organised by the very dedicated teachers. Kids are given plenty of opportunities to do extracurricular activities such as band, maths Olympiad, peer leaders, sports​’

• ‘It is a beautiful community where everyone seems to know and value each other​’

When asked if there are things at Dundas Public School that could be improved, 54% responses answered nothing or left it blank. 

Two responses identified communication with the community as an area that could be improved. One person said ‘that information across a number of apps is unhelpful’. We agree and are using the Sentral Parent portal for all communication and SchoolBytes for payment. Hopefully that simplifies matters. 

One parent shared that they are concerned ‘that there is an overreliance on technology and that it is overused to support students’ learning’. At Dundas PS technology is just a tool that students use. It is not something that is used in every lesson. Examples of their use include completing an online assessment task, recording their reading fluency so both students and teachers can reflect and give feedback and create a work sample to illustrate their learning mastery.

Another parent shared that Dundas PS could improve by ‘enhancing access to technology and digital resources to support students’ learning. For example, increasing the availability of interactive tools or devices can help prepare students for the digital age. Another improvement could involve creating more outdoor learning spaces or upgrading current playground facilities to encourage physical activity and hands-on learning. Lastly, introducing more student voice initiatives where students can actively share their ideas and feedback could strengthen engagement and foster a greater sense of ownership within the school community’.​ 

DPS is actively working towards ensuring that students have access to technology/devices when required. Student voice is an area of focus for DPS over the next 4 years in our new School Excellence Plan, so we totally agree with this suggestion. DPS would love to invest in creating more outdoor learning spaces and upgrading our current playground facilities. However, to do this would cost a lot of money from the school’s shrinking operational budget. Any additions to our school must be paid for by the school and we cannot afford that at this time unfortunately. 

Thank you to everyone who completed the feedback surveys at the end of 2024. Dundas PS is genuinely interested in hearing from our community and will continue to seek feedback throughout the new school plan period. 

Kissing Point Road pedestrian gate

The Kissing Point Road pedestrian gate (near Camp Australia) has a self-closing mechanism on it. From today, the gate is to always remain closed. The gate will be unlocked in the mornings but will remain closed. It will still be locked during school hours. At 2.50pm the gate will be unlocked but remain closed. 

The gate just needs to be pushed open. Please ensure it closes behind you.

Updating the DPS website

All events and excursions organised for 2025 will be added to the ‘Events’ page on the DPS school website. More dates will continue to be added throughout the year.

The ‘Events’ page can be accessed here. 

School Dismissal

Yesterday afternoon, we had many students in the school office after 3pm. They had not been collected by parents and carers or were not sure of what the 3pm pick-up arrangements were. 

Please ensure that your children know where they are to meet you at 3pm, if they need to go to the Camp Australia service or if they have band or languages school. 

The school office closes at 3:15pm. Students still on school grounds after 3pm will be collected and taken to the school office where parents will be contacted. 

P&C

The first P&C meeting of 2025 is being held next week on Tuesday, 11th march from 6pm-7pm in the staffroom. For those that cannot attend in person, you are most welcome to attend online. The link to access the meeting is below.

Join the meeting.

Save the date - This year, the DPS P&C is organising a school fete to be held on Saturday, 28th June . 

Communication protocols

A reminder to our parents and carers that the class teacher is the first point of contact if you have a concern you would like to discuss. On occasion, matters may need to include the Assistant Principal that is supervising that specific stage. Below is an overview of 2025 Assistant Principal structure.

Kindergarten - Mrs Zalaf

Stage 1 (Years 1 & 2) – Mrs Zadro

Stage 2 (Years 3 & 4) – Ms Chan

Stage 3 (Years 5 & 6) – Mr Littlejohn

Communication platforms