Message From Principal

Welcome all students and families!

Welcome to our first newsletter of 2026! I would like to welcome all of our students and families back to Dinjerra for the year. A special welcome goes out to all of our new students and our Prep students who have been transitioning into school life! 

Term 1 is a busy one, with our students settling into their classrooms. Our important first learning unit from weeks 1-3 is called ‘Create The Environment For Learning’, and it focuses students and staff on developing shared classroom routines and procedures. This is a crucial time, as this period sets up the classroom and learning culture for the terms to come. 

In Week 4, students will begin our first Concept Curriculum Unit, which will run until the end of Term 1. The unit is focused on building Personal and Social Capability. Here are the unit titles from Prep to 6: 

• Preps: My Family 
• 1/2s: Learning Side by Side, Growing as Friends
• 3/4s: Our Cultural Heritages 
• 5/6s: My Personal Strengths. 

IMPORTANT DATES

We have some important dates and events for you to add to your calendars for Term (T) 1:

T1 Week 4:

Parent Information Sessions from 3:35pm on  various dates - More information below:

Year 1/2- Monday 16th February 

Year 5/6  - Tuesday 17th February

Year 3/4 - Wednesday 18th February 

Year Prep  - Thursday 19th February 

Special MJ - The Musical performance for students - Friday 20th February 

T1 Week 5:

Meet and Greet Parent Teacher Interviews Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th February 

Curriculum Day - No school for students - Wednesday 25th February 

T1 Week 7:

Labour Day Public Holiday - No school for students - Monday 9th March

NAPLAN Assessments - Wednesday 11th to Friday 13th March - Year 3 and Year 5 students only 

T1 Week 8:

5/6 Beach Program - Wednesday 18th March 

Harmony Night - Celebration of Learning and BYO Picnic Dinner- Friday 20th March from 4:00 - 6:00pm

T1 Week 9:

5/6 Swimming Program at Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre - Monday 23rd to Friday 27th March

T1 Week 10:

Colour Run - Whole School Fundraiser Event - Thursday 2nd April  - 11:40am-1:00pm

Term 1 Special Lunch and BBQ Picnic - Sausage Sizzle 1:00pm

End of Term Assembly including the Easter Raffle - from 1:50pm

End of Term Dismissal - 2:30pm. 

Parent info sessions - Week 4

We would like to invite you all into classrooms next week, for our annual Parent Information Sessions. These after school sessions are designed for parents, carers and adult family members, so that you are informed on what is happening in your child's classroom and year level.

The teachers from the Year Level team will present information to you and cover the following aspects:

• what learning looks like in your child's 2026 classroom and year level
• homework and how to support your child with their learning
• important dates and special events
• camps
• swimming
• School Wide Positive Behaviours (SWPBS)
• technology
• There will also be time for parent questions at the end!

The Parent Information Sessions begin at 3:35pm on the following afternoons:

Monday 16.02: Year 3/4 - please go to the 3/4B classroom - Rm 7

Tuesday 17.02: Year 5/6 - please go to the 5/6B classroom - Rm 10

Wednesday 18.02: Year 1/2 - please go to the 1/2C classroom - Rm 6

Thursday 19.02: Year Prep - please go to the Prep B classroom - Rm 2

While the sessions are on, students can be supervised in the quadrangle by our staff. 

Meet and Greet Parent Teacher Interviews 

These are scheduled for T1 Week 5 on:

•     Tuesday 24th February 2:30pm to 6:00pm

•     Wednesday 25th February 2:30pm to 6:00pm (also our curriculum day - student free day)

The first formal interview will focus on building relationships between school and home, allowing parents and teachers to share important information and needs regarding their children’s learning, wellbeing and transition. 

The classroom teacher will go through assigned Cycle Individual Goals (which parents will have access beforehand on Compass Learning Tasks - available from Monday 23rd February). The classroom teacher will discuss the action plan for these goals, and what families can do at home to support their children in practising their goals. 

The interview will go for 10 minutes. (Please ensure you are on time for your booking). If you require any support in booking interviews, please contact the office.

You will need to book on Compass. If you go to your child’s profile, the Conferences should show up. 

Select Meet and Greet Parent Teacher Interviews and select a time with your child’s classroom teacher. 

Specialists Parent Teacher Interviews will be open for bookings shortly, on a separate Conference cycle. Interpreters are available to be booked through Compass. 

Fundraising Sub-Committee - first meeting - Friday 20th February @ 9:15am

I am happy to announce that Marta Rodrigues will be leading the Fundraising Sub-Committee this year, supported by family members Kylie and Sue. The committee strives towards challenging fundraising targets each year. 

Our families generated a fundraising profit of $10,000, which paid for our new seating around the quadrangle, and our two new upcoming murals (we are still in the design process with artist, Erin Heywood). The committee meets monthly and the first meeting is scheduled for Friday 20th February at 9:15am. 

All are welcome to attend. The Fundraising Sub-Committee can always do with more volunteers, so if you are keen to join, please contact Marta on marta.rodrigues@education.vic.gov.au or otherwise leave a message at the office. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! 

Breakfast Club - Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:45-9:00am

Thank you to our amazing family volunteers, led by Connie Tarei, mum of Ellie-May and Jack. If children haven't had breakfast, or would like a second helping, the Breakfast Club is for you on two mornings per week.

If you are interested in volunteering from 8:00-9:00am on a permanent or casual basis, please contact Connie on 0481 150 398. 

Curriculum Day - Wednesday 25th February

There will be no school for students on Wednesday 25th February. Our staff will be participating in professional learning from 8:45am-2:00pm. The foci are:

• Teaching Staff: Professional Learning Communities (PLC) Teaching and Learning Cycle
• Education Support Staff: Sensory Regulation - presented by our DET Inclusion Outreach Coach, Rose Cuddy.
•  

From 2:30pm to 6:00pm, teachers will facilitate the one on one Meet and Greet Parent Teacher Interviews. 

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Parent Payments 

Thank you to the families who have already paid the Parent Payments at the office or via Compass. If you go to your Compass app, you will be able to see the breakdown of payments and pay in sections. 

Please contact Karlee Griffiths, our business manager if you would like support with the payments. The Department of Education and Training’s (DET) policy is that the Parent Payments are voluntary. Any contribution really does help the functioning of our school and cover stationery and classroom costs. Thanks in advance. 

Farewell to our crossing supervisor, Tu!

Many of you have been asking about the crossing supervisor’s whereabouts. We have found out that Tu has retired. Tu spends a lot of time at the Quang Minh Temple. We would like to thank her for her time supporting our families cross over South Road. 

Upcoming Cultural Celebrations 

We have some important cultural events and celebrations coming up in the next month. Ramadan will begin on Monday 16th February and conclude on approximately Thursday 19th March. I wish all of our Muslim families the best as they show such dedication to their faith. 

Lunar New Year is scheduled for Tuesday 17th February. This celebration, for many Asian countries, marks the beginning of the new year on the lunisolar calendar, which was developed in Ancient China. 

2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse. Fun Fact: I am actually a Wooden Horse, born in 1978, so I am looking forward to a great year! 😀Happy Lunar New Year to our families who celebrate it!