Principal's Update

End of Term 3 

Next week is the last week of Term 3. Spring school holidays will be 2 weeks from Monday 29 September to Friday 10 October.  

Staff have a Staff Development Day on Monday 13 October. Students return to start Term 4 on Tuesday 14 October.  

Celebrating Yr 5 NAPLAN success 

DPS staff are thrilled with the Year 5 NAPLAN results, especially the uplift in numeracy and reading scores from 2024. The graphs below compare Year 5 NAPLAN results to the scores from 2023 and 2024. The top dark blue line in each graph represents Dundas PS. The light blue dotted line shows how other schools similar to DPS scored and the lower grey dotted line represents the average state score. 

We are very proud to show how DPS scored above both the state and similar school group in each assessment area.  

Dundas PS recognises that we still have much work to do. Staff are currently analysing Year 3 NAPLAN data as well as Check In Assessment data for Years 3-6. 

Planning for 2026 

Soon, we will be commencing the process of organising classes for 2026. Dundas Public school will continue to form stage classes in 2026, continuing our ‘Stages, not ages’ approach. 

Stage-based classes provide a framework that recognises the unique developmental needs of students. By focusing on personalised learning, motivation, and holistic development, these classes create an environment that promotes both academic success and personal growth. As educators continue to explore innovative teaching methods, stage-based classes stand out as a beneficial approach in fostering effective learning experiences.  

If you will be moving from our school at the end of this year it would be appreciated if you could contact the office. 

Also, if you have any special social considerations you would like the school to be aware of in planning classes (e.g. siblings close in age), you are welcome to send a letter/email to Dundas Public School providing details by Friday 17 October. Please note this is not a request for teachers. 

Kindergarten enrolments for 2026 

It is that time of year where we are planning for 2026. To inform our decision making we need to have a clear idea about enrolments. Every child contributes toward staffing and funding entitlements from the Ministry of Education. 

DPS is now finalising Kindergarten enrolments for 2026. Every child is entitled to be enrolled at the government school that is designated for the intake area within which the child's home is situated and that the child is eligible to attend.  

Kindergarten 

• All children must be in compulsory schooling by their 6th birthday. 
• Children can start kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn 5 on or before 31 July that year. 
• Students should start school at the beginning of the school year. 

If you live in our intake area and would like to apply to enrol at our school, start by submitting an online enrolment application. Online enrolment is currently only available for Australian or New Zealand citizens and permanent residents. 

If you are not able to apply online or you prefer not to, download the paper application to enrol (PDF 768.4KB) form. Please complete the form in English. A translated application to enrol may help you do this. 

Online enrolment can also be used for out-of-area enrolment. Please note that out-of-area enrolment procedures are subject to the department’s enrolment policy. 

Enrolment applications are finalised at the school. 

2025 NAIDOC Day @ DPS 

This year, our students and staff worked with Aboriginal artists from Dalmarri to produce this mural which represents each of our twelve classes and the bonds that connect those within our school community. Each circle is a class group and is shown as a meeting place within our school. 

The mural will be displayed in the office area of the admin building.  

School Disco 

On Friday, 26th September (last day of Term 3), the school has organised a fun school disco during the school day for students. The theme is ‘Light and bright’ so students are encouraged to wear their brightest mufti on that day. Covered shoulders and closed shoes should always be worn during mufti days for sun and safety reasons.  

Entry to the disco is $10 per student to be paid via School Bytes. 

Entry includes the disco, access to the photo booth, a snack pack and a glow stick. 

Additional glow stick glasses will be available for purchase on the day for $2.  

Yr 3-6 free Handball Tournament 

The Term 4 Handball Competition is fast approaching and the excitement levels in the playground are through the roof! Students in Yrs 3-6 are invited to participate in the competition which will be held on Tuesday and Thursday during lunch time.  

Permission notes have already been handed out and need to be returned to the letter box in the office by Friday 26 September. This is a fantastic opportunity for Stage 3 students to demonstrate their leadership skills as they referee, score and guide teams.  

The draw will be released Term 4, Week 1.  

This is a FREE activity.  

Thank you to Ms Chan and Mr Raven for organising this school event. 

Build update 

A works notification was shared with the school community on the SENTRAL parent portal, which includes information planned for the 2-week school holiday break. Works planned for this period will include: 

• digging trenches to lay cables and pipes for the services  

• work outside of the school grounds to connect the school’s services to the main lines on Calder Road and Kissing Point Road 

• installing a new fire hydrant  

• using a mobile crane to put up metal frames for the new building. 

There will be changes to the footpath for pedestrians while we connect the services to the outlets on Calder Road and Kissing Point Road.  

This may impact families accessing vacation care at Camp Australia during this period. 

Barricades will be set up on the footpath to divert pedestrians around the work zone. Please see the map on the next page for details. Traffic controllers will be in place as needed to ensure the safety of the community.  

Please be aware that some noise and vibration is expected during these works. 

Thank you to DPS P&C and volunteers 

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the P&C Father’s Day stall such a great event.  

We were so excited to see our Father’s & Special Friend’s Day BBQ Breakfast such a success! There was a lovely atmosphere, a delicious BBQ and fun games on offer– with many dads and carers showing off their skills. 

DPS can offer these important school and community events due to the dedication and commitment of the DPS staff. Without their planning, organisation and time, events such as this would not be possible. On behalf of the DPS community, a huge thank you to the special staff! 

Upgraded school website 

Our new school website was unveiled to our community and we are very proud of how it is looking. A huge thank you to Mrs Haddock for assisting with the new website. Please visit the website regularly as new information and school events are added.  

https://dundas-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/ 

Late attendance and early end of the day pick-ups. 

Please have children at school well before the bell, from 8:30am! 

Also, please walk your children into school if they are quite late. 

It may seem like 10 minutes isn’t that much, but for the typical school day of 6 hours, a student who is only 10 minutes late every day will miss 30 hours of school time that year. If a child is 10 minutes late getting to school, it is more like 20 minutes until they are actually learning. The impact on the class is even larger. If two kids are late, one by 5 minutes and one by 10 minutes, then the class schedule might get pushed back. 

That means the teacher will need to alter something else during the day to account for time the class lost helping a late student catch up. 

Some helpful hints to ensure a great start to the day 

1) Pack backpacks/lunchboxes the night before. The last thing you want to be doing as you are rushing out the door is trying to find lost homework. Make sure everyone’s backpacks are ready to go and prepare home lunches as much as you can. Also fill their water bottles ahead of time and store in the refrigerator. 

2) Lay the school uniform out. Seems too simple to make a difference, but hunting down matching socks or pants without holes in the knees is quite the time consumer.  

3) Set up a ‘last stop’ area. Pick any available area near the door you typically leave through and put everything there for the day: backpacks, phones, homework, and especially coats and shoes.  

4) If all else fails, wake up earlier. Not the most enjoyable solution, but sometimes drastic measures are needed. 

End of the Day Early Pick Ups 

Picking up your child before the end of the school day can seem like a convenient way to get a head start on after-school activities or appointments, but those last few minutes of the school day are surprisingly important!  

It's a key time for students to hear important notices about upcoming events or special school activities. This is also when teachers often wrap up the day's lessons, review what was learned, and make sure everyone is on the same page for the next day. By staying until the final bell, your child gets the full benefit of their education and won't miss out on important information that helps them stay on track and connected to their school community. 

Road safety 

The school has received a number of reports from staff and community members regarding DPS students riding bikes and scooters unsafely on paths and the road. If your child rides a bicycle or scooter to school, I would appreciate if you could talk with them about safe riding habits. 

A friendly reminder that E-scooters are not permitted to be brought to school. They are not to be on school grounds. Parents will be notified to pick up the E-scooter if one is brought to school. 

In NSW, it is illegal to ride a privately owned E-scooter on roads or road-related areas, including footpaths, shared paths, cycle ways and cycle paths. 

If you allow your child to ride a privately owned e-scooter, they are only permitted to ride it on private property. 

Camp Australia- afternoon confusion 

It is now a daily occurrence where students come to the office not sure if they are supposed to be at OOSH that afternoon.  

We ask parents who use the Camp Australia service of an afternoon to PLEASE let their children know in the morning if they are to attend the OOSH service that day. 

We also ask that parents/carers notify Camp Australia if your child is NOT attending OOSH. Doing this simple task will remove Camp Australia from coming to the school office, worried that a child is missing.  

Financial assistance 

We understand that financial hardship can impact families in various ways, and we want to assure you that if you are unable to pay for school contributions such as excursions, events, and camps, you may be eligible for assistance from the school.  

Our school is committed to ensuring that no student or family experiences discrimination or embarrassment due to their financial situation. We encourage you to reach out and discuss your circumstances openly. Please contact the school office to make an appointment with the principal Lee Shipley, who will work with you to find a suitable solution.  

Your child's education and well-being are our top priorities, and we are here to support you during challenging times.