Principals' Message

We trust you all had an enjoyable holiday spending time with family and friends. The students have had a great week settling back into school life and have enjoyed reconnecting with their friends and teachers. 

Our fabulous teachers have planned many highly engaging learning opportunities for your children throughout the term. Please see the year level newsletter and highlights in this edition of Snippets to learn more.  We are also very excited about Science Week, Book Week, Writers Festival, ART Show, Prep 100 Days of School, 3-6 Athletics Carnival and Year Level 3/4 Camp all happening this term.  Please check Compass regularly for newsfeeds and updates. 

International Students

We warmly welcome our international students and their families who have joined Donvale Primary School for term. 16 students (Grades 1-6) have joined us from USA, China and Korea. We hope all students have an enjoyable learning experience with us and that they come away with lifelong memories.   Thank you to Mr Kho for his work with supporting the students with their learning and transitioning into the classroom setting. Students will experience both learning in the classroom and lessons designed to expand students' knowledge about Australian culture. 

Mobile Phone Policy

As we begin a new semester it is important that all families are aware of Donvale Primary School Mobile Phones Policy which outlines the requirements of the Minister of Education. The use of technology is important, but the risks and benefits need to be managed. 

 The Department of Education has in place a mobile phone ban that requires students who bring mobiles phones to school to have them switched off and securely put away during school hours. 

The aim of this policy is to provide:

• a safe environment to learn without inappropriate mobile phone use (including cyberbullying) or distractions
• greater opportunities for social interaction and physical activity during recess and lunchtimes.

Definition: A mobile phone is a telephone with access to a cellular (telecommunication) system, with or without a physical connection to a network. For the purpose of this policy, “mobile phone” refers to mobile phones and any device that may connect to or have a similar functionality to a mobile phone such as smart watches. If your child has a SMART watch with this capability, it must either be switched off to 'school mode' or handed in at the office. 

We ask for the support of all our families, staff and students in continuing to support the implementation of this policy in our school. 

Further information 

Exceptions: For a small number of students with particular health needs, an exception to the policy may be granted. Please contact Mrs. Michelle Rassias if you would like to discuss this.

Emergencies: In the event of an emergency or if you need to immediately contact your child, I ask that families contact the school office who will pass on a message as required. 

School mobile phone policy: A copy of our school’s local mobile phone policy, which implements the government’s mobile policy in line with our local context, is available here:

https://www.donvaleps.vic.edu.au/source/BUILD/Mobile-Phone-Policy-2020.pdf  

Parent support: The Mobile phones in schools webpage provides links to resources for families to help them balance their children’s time using mobile phones.

Looking forward to another great term of teaching and learning at Donvale Primary School!

Mrs Larissa Vesdrevanis                                 Mrs Michelle Rassias

Principal                                                               Assistant Principal