Principal's Update

Welcome Back

A huge welcome back to our DPS school community. In 2025, school newsletters will be shared with the community in weeks 3, 6 and week 9. Feedback from the community was that there was often information that was repeated, so reducing the number of newsletters and spacing them every 3 weeks, will help to reduce this duplication. 

Students have settled into their 2025 stage classes and the school is establishing new routines and expectations. This week, teachers have been focusing on getting to know their new students, building a positive rapport and trust, and explicitly teaching behavioural expectations both in the classroom as well as different settings around the school.

Next week, teachers will start delivering their Term 1 Teaching and Learning programs. More information will be shared on Term 1 curriculum focus areas in the Term 1 Areas of Focus documents.

Please read this document which outlines the teaching and learning for that term. There will be 4 Areas of Focus documents shared throughout the year. 

2025 Staffing Update

As announced late last year, both Mr McSeveny and Ms Edwards are working at schools much closer to home this year. 

We welcome Mr Littlejohn to Dundas Public School as Assistant Principal. Mr Littlejohn was successful in gaining this position through the merit selection process at the end of 2024. Mr Littlejohn brings with him much experience and expertise and we are very excited to have him as a permanent member of staff at DPS. Mr Littlejohn is the Stage 3 Assistant Principal for 2025.

We also welcome Miss Zadro as Assistant Principal of Stage 1 at DPS this year. Miss Zadro is an experienced Assistant Principal, and we are also excited to have her here at DPS this year. 

Below is an overview of the staffing structure for 2025. A reminder that the DPS website also has this and other information.

2025 Dundas Public School staffing organisation.

Leadership: 

Principal                                               Lee Shipley 

APC&I   & ES1 AP                                  Lynda Zalaf 

Instructional Leader                              Claire Green (M-W) 

Stage 1 Assistant Principal                     Renata Zadro 

Stage 2 Assistant Principal                     Bel Chan 

Stage 3 Assistant Principal                     Nick Littlejohn 

Leader Wellbeing                                      Chau Luu (M-Th) 

School Admin Manager                         Melise Piccolo 

Admin: 

School Admin Officer                            Tracey Haddock 

School Admin Officer                            Carmel Impala (M-Th) 

School Admin Officer                            Sieun Lee (M & F) 

General Assistant                                  Dave Stopps (M,Tu & Th) 

Class Organisation: 

K Babuk                                                Andrea Haworth 

K Warin                                                Josh Jones 

Stage 1 Bunduluk                                  Jane Upton (M-Tu); Connie Sheaves (W-F) 

Stage 1 Malya                                       Renata Zadro 

Stage 1 Wirriga                                     Anna Saviour 

Stage 2 Baruwaluri                                Emma Barnett 

Stage 2 Dingu                                        Desiree Coppini 

Stage 2 Wilbung                                    Josh Raven 

4/5 Gudugulung                                    Bel Chan 

Stage 3 Guruwin                                   Jason Dean 

Stage 3 Mariong                                    Kathy Keegan 

Stage 3 Wallu-mil                                  Nick Littlejohn 

Specialist & Support Team: 

EAL/D                                                   Jen Benco 

QTSS (1 day)                                         Jane Upton (Wed) Stage 1 Malya 

QTSS (2 days)                       Anshree Singh (Tues-Wed) 4/5 Gudugulung & Stage 3 Wallu-mil 

Science RFF                                           Amber Taouk (M-W) 

Library RFF                                           Trudie Bohan (M-Th)      

SLSO Support                                        Sam Besgrove (Mon-Wed) 

SLSO Support                                        Tracie O’Sullivan (Thurs-Fri) 

Maths Groups Stages 1-3

This year, Dundas Public School will be delivering mathematics in a different way. Students in Stages 1-3 will be learning maths concepts in different groups with possibly a different teacher. 

We are making this change for several reasons. Maths groups allow us to group students based on their current skill levels and learning needs, which enables us to tailor our teaching methods and materials to better suit each group.

This targeted approach ensures that students receive the appropriate level of challenge and support, fostering their confidence and engagement in the subject. By learning alongside peers at similar levels, students can collaborate more effectively, share ideas, and motivate one another. 

Additionally, this approach allows teachers to focus on specific strategies and concepts that align with each group's needs, ultimately enhancing overall learning outcomes in mathematics. We believe that this approach will help your child reach their full potential and develop a strong foundation in maths. Maths groups will be occurring across the school at the same time, 4 days a week (Monday to Thursday). 

Students will be able to move groupings if it is determined they require more support or need more challenge from mathematical content. 

Each teacher teaching a maths group will be responsible for completing the semester student reports and will meet at Parent Teacher interviews to discuss the student’s academic progress in the area of mathematics. 

Swimming Carnival

The school swimming carnival was held this week on Tuesday, 11th February and we were excited to hold it for the first time at the Parramatta Aquatic Centre. It was a very successful day at a beautiful new venue. 

The Zone swimming carnival is being held on 5th March 2025. 

A big thank you to Ms Chan, Mr Littlejohn and Mr Dean for organising the day. 

Meet the Teacher Meetings

Last year, we surveyed the community to gather feedback on our traditional 'Meet the Teacher' presentations in the classrooms, as we noticed a decline in parent attendance. Based on the feedback received, Dundas PS is trialling a new approach this year.

We are inviting parents and caregivers to meet with their child’s teacher individually. During these sessions, parents and caregivers will have the opportunity to share important information about their child and collaborate with the teacher to set learning goals.

Meet the Teacher sessions will be held in Week 6 of Term 1. Meetings will be held this week on Tuesday 4th March, Wednesday 5th March or Thursday 6th March (subject to teacher availability).

All parents must complete a Learning Goal form which will be sent home next week. The Learning Goal sheet must be brought to the Meet the Teacher meeting.

Parents will be able to book their meeting time from Wednesday 19th February at 9:00am and will close on Friday 28th February at 3:00pm. Meetings are scheduled for 10 minutes.

You will be able to view the days your child’s teacher is available on the school interview website. All meetings will be held in your child’s classroom.

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.

Selective High Schools/Opportunity Class

Applications are now open for selective high school and opportunity class entry in 2026. Applications close 21 February 2025.

To apply online, select here.

Term 1 Sport

There will not be PSSA sport in Term 1 this year. At the end of 2024, schools in the Merrylands Parramatta PSSA competition made the decision to have school sport in Term 1. Weekly winter PSSA competitions will be held in Terms 2 and 3.  A summer gala day will be held in Term 4 for selected sports.

More information will be shared with the community later in the term.

This term, students will participate in a weekly school sport program each Friday. Students are to wear their sports uniform on Fridays. 

School Events on DPS website

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

The ‘Events’ page can be accessed here.

Homework 

Homework is designed to consolidate and reinforce learning. For older students, it helps develop good study habits, time management, concentration and self-discipline. We cannot emphasis enough the importance of your child reading and being read to every day. 

Parents are invited to select one option from the following:

• Yes, I do want my child to participate in the Homework Program, including Readers Club

• I would like my child to participate in Readers Club ONLY.

• No, I do not want my child to participate in the Homework Program or Readers Club.

A friendly reminder that class teachers require all students to have returned their ‘Student Participation in Homework K-6’ note.

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. 

Parent Parking

We understand that parking congestion is a real problem around Dundas Public School. As a result of safety concerns, in 2022 Parramatta Council reviewed parking restrictions on Calder Road (outside Dundas Public School). Changes included the addition of a Bus Zone and a Drop-off and Pick-up Zone. 

This is a photo taken today of the relevant parking sign located on Calder Road. 

P&C School Canteen

Canteen volunteers now require a Level 1 Food Handling certificate to volunteer in the canteen. Please contact the DPS P&C if you have any questions.

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