Principal's Report

Firstly, a huge shout out to Eleanor and Cody for raising money for the Starlight Children's Foundation by participating in a Super Swim. They swam an impressive 20km and raised over $800.00. Congratulations Eleanor and Cody!

Over the past two weeks, we have conducted our 'Get to Know You' interviews. Through conversations with teachers and parents, these interviews have offered the opportunity for you to familiarise yourself with your child's teacher and for the teacher to gain a deeper understanding of your child's needs and family background. 

At Donvale, we emphasise the importance of partnering with you in your child's educational journey. Your family's experiences can shape our teaching and learning programs, ensuring that our practices are responsive, authentic, and meaningful. By being aware of students' daily lives, teachers can deliver more effective instruction and support as needed. Our Open Classrooms and Welcome Back BBQ initiative also facilitated connections and community engagement as a precursor to the 'Get to Know You' interviews. 

Thank you to Jayde Valentine and Olivia Thomas for leading a comprehensive Prep Parent Information Session on Thursday. We conducted two sessions, one in the morning and one in the evening, to ensure that all parents had the opportunity to participate. During the sessions, I emphasized how all staff at Donvale are dedicated to your child's educational journey from Prep to Grade 6. There is a collective responsibility for all our children, and we all play a role in supporting them on their journey. I am incredibly proud of our staff for their commitment and care for our students.

The distinction between a good school and a great school lies in the commitment and cohesion of the school community.  Last week, Nicole Werner, MP for Warrandyte, attended our whole school assembly to present leadership badges to our students. I was delighted to receive a lovely letter from Nicole, and I would like to share an excerpt from her letter acknowledging our community. 

“Thank you for your invitation to be part of the presentation ceremony. It was such a pleasure to be there! The students are so well-mannered and there is such a strong sense of community, which is such a testament to the wonderful culture you and your team have fostered in the school.”

We are very proud of our approach to building strong connections with families and are excited about creating more opportunities this year to further strengthen our partnership. 

Thank you to those families who have volunteered for the Parents Association and School Council. We are excited to collaborate with you and offer a fulfilling experience for both you and your children. We encourage more families to engage in school activities and extend a warm welcome to all. Please visit our Parents Association Page in Snippets to sign up and participate in our school-wide initiatives and Canteen Duty.

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend ahead.