MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL

Farewell to Ash De Neef and Welcome to Joseph Batrouney!

On Friday 29th May, we bid a fitting farewell to our beloved Music teacher Ash De Neef. As I explained in our previous newsletter, Ash has accepted a position within RMIT University. Ash has positively contributed to the culture of Dinjerra through his Australian Children’s Music Foundation (ACMF) role and Instrumental Music teacher. I wish Ash all the best for his next chapter in his career and secretly hope that he could rejoin Dinjerra again at some point in the future. 

Last week we welcomed Ash’s replacement. Please join me in welcoming ACMF and Instrumental Music teacher, Joseph Batroumey (Joe). Joe will join us from the beginning of Term 3, so there will be a few weeks with no Music lessons. Welcome Joe! 

Semester Reports - Change for Written Comments

There is a slight change to the upcoming Semester Reports. 

The current AEU ban is on written comments for semester reports. This means that teachers are not required to write comments such as the general comments this semester. With this decrease in workload, it made sense to relocate the student free curriculum day for report writing to Semester 2, when full reporting requirements will be back in place. 

For the upcoming semester reports, parents will still receive:

• Progression points (the dot points to show the level of achievement in each subject)
• Ratings for Effort and Behaviour in each subject
• The check box for Personal and Social Capability check box
• Import of the Cycle 1 Reading, Writing and Mathematics goals and progress comments.
•  

The reports will not contain:

• A general comment
• A curriculum overview (detailing the learning for the semester)

Semester Reports will be published on Compass in the last week of Term 2. We will also provide a hard copy to be sent home. 

Year 3/4 Camp to Sovereign Hill

In Week 6, our Year 3/4 students enjoyed many activities and learnt so much about Australian History and the Gold Rush of the 1850s at the Sovereign Hill camp. Activities included candle making, gold panning, visiting a gold mine and a light show. Our staff got through the night with only a few students awake, up and dressed at 3:30am, ready for the next day to begin! Thanks to John for organising and to the 3/4 teaching and ES team: Hai, Marta, Carla, Leyla and Rosemary and parents Michael Palmer and Mi Nguyen for supporting all of the students. Please see the upcoming pages for Year 3 /4’s camp reflections and photos. 

Reconciliation Week 

Thanks to Rebecca Clark for organising learning resources for Reconciliation Week. The theme for this year’s Reconciliation Week was ‘All In’.  The student presentations at assembly last week showed that our students are really understanding the significance of Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week. Thanks to Vicki for organising the choir and Illi to present a great rendition of ‘Beds are Burning’.  

I would like to make a special note of the assembly last Friday, I was impressed with our leaders, especially Maisie, in how she hosted the students who were presenting their learning. What a great school captain Maisie is. 

School Photos - Say Cheese! 

Our annual School Photos will take place on Wednesday 17th June. Photo forms will go home as soon as we receive them. Please select the photo package you would like, pay online to the photo organisation, and return the form to school. Please ensure that students are wearing full school uniforms and that they have practised their best smiles!

Public Holiday - Monday 8th June

Please note that next Monday 8th June is a public holiday for the King’s Birthday. We will see you back at school on Tuesday 9th June. 

Family Holidays

If your family is planning to go on a holiday longer than 5 days during the school term, could you please email me at natalie.vulic@education.vic.gov.au before you leave. Please include details such as departing and returning date and reason for travel. 

Fundraising

We have 2 fundraising events coming up this term, which have been organised by our Junior School Council:

1. Friday 12th June @ 3:30pm: Cake Stall - On the morning of Friday 12th, if you can, please bring a cake or some cupcakes to be sold in the afternoon after assembly at 3:30pm.
2. For the month of June: Loose Change Competition - Each class will raise money in jars, so please bring in your loose change! Winners will be announced at assembly on the last day of Term 2 - Friday 26th June. 

Celebration of Learning - families invited 

In Week 10 on Thursday 25th June, families are invited to attend the Term 2 Celebration of Learning in your child/ren’s classroom/s. The session will go from 9:05am until 10:00am. 

Remaining Student Free Days for 2026: