Principal's News

2026 Classes and Staffing 

Grade placements are well underway and the complex task of getting even grades with a good mix of academic and social considerations as well as taking friendships into account, is coming along nicely. Grades should be relatively settled by our final transition session next Tuesday. 

We are pleased to be able to share our staffing for 2026, we have a great team put together and look forward to a great 2026.

Prep

Lizzie Eliott, Aaron McKinnis, Via Martin

Juniors

Tara van Winckel, Taylah Renkin, Rachel Bright, Denise Dean, Lauren Whitehand

Middles 

Tamsin Angus, Ruby Gleeson, Nikki Hyndman, Meaghan Spiteri, Brendan Belfrage

Seniors 

Lucy Croxford, Kellie Thomas, Josh Burnie, Raelee Hovey, Daniel Anderson 

Specialists 

Shane Kennedy, Trent Stephens, Bron Osborne, Melinda Henderson, Bridget Garbutt

Learning Intervention 

Ingrid Orvis - 2 days

Learning Specialist/PMSS 

Simon Keogh

Mental Health Practitioner 

Tash Irvine - 2 days

Social Worker 

Anthony Martino - 4 days

Inclusion Leader - TBC 

We are also saying goodbye to Nic Alonso (temporarily) as she takes up a role as an Inclusion Outreach Coach at Warringa Park School. Nic will be sorely missed next year but this is an amazing opportunity for her, and we wish her all the best. 

Alice Kuenzer is also taking 12 months leave and we wish her the best for 2026.

I would also like to thank Josh Bride, Chelsea Peaurt and Julia Coventry for all their hard work this year and wish them the best for 2026.

Transition

Our final whole school transition will be held next Tuesday 9th December, from 9:30am - 12:30pm. This will be a great opportunity for us to trial our grade lists and ensure everyone is set up for a successful year ahead. 

Creating our classes is a big task and has input from many staff across the school. We look forward to students meeting their class teachers and peer groups for 2026 and settling in to their new classroom spaces in preparation for next year. 

School Uniform

Please send a note to your child’s teacher if your child is out of uniform for the day. It helps staff avoid that awkward conversation. Please keep doing your best to have your children attend in full school uniform.

Families leaving

It’s that time of the year when some families are on the move. Perhaps to different towns, cities or even overseas. If you are a family that is on the move and leaving DPS, please email the admin team ASAP so we can help with transferring information to the new school (if required) and to help us plan accurately for next year. 

To the families who have confirmed they are on the move, we sincerely wish you all the best, thank you for your contribution to the school and please know that you are always welcome to visit and attend our various functions. 

How to support your child under 16 with the new social media age restrictions 

From 10 December 2025, the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 will require social media platforms to:

• prevent children and young people under 16 from having a social media account
• deactivate or freeze existing accounts held by people under 16.

Delaying access to social media protects the health and wellbeing of young people and gives them extra time to build real world connections and digital literacy skills. 

The responsibility will be on the social media platforms, not parents, carers, children or schools, to implement these new restrictions. 

Most popular social media platforms will be age restricted. These include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit and YouTube.

Messaging services and online games, as well as apps and platforms that support health and education, can still be used. 

How to help under 16s prepare for the change 

Parents and carers play an important role in supporting their children to be safe online. 

To help get under 16s ready for the social media minimum age requirements, you can go to the eSafety website to learn more about the social media age restrictions and find tips on how to talk about social media age restrictions with young people.

What the change means for our school 

At our school, all age-restricted social media platforms are blocked for student use on the school network. 

To keep up to date about the new social media age restrictions, visit the eSafety website and subscribe to their newsletter.