The Wattle

Principal's Update

At Dundas Public School we do our best always

Dear Parents and Carers,

School gates 

Senior students lock and unlock the school gates daily as part of their leadership role. To minimise their time outside of morning literacy sessions, we will be closing the 4 pedestrian gates a few minutes after the 9am bell. We ask for the community to understand this change and move quickly to their gate as soon as the bell rings. 

Kindy Orientation 

This week was our 2nd chance to get to know our 2024 Kindy students. It was a wonderful morning where students made friends, did craft, learnt and performed a new song, and left with a Dundas PS balloon. Thank you to Mrs Zalaf, Mrs Luu and Mrs Green for organising the morning. Thank you to Mrs Piccolo, Mrs Haddock and Mrs Impala for organising the morning tea for parents and carers. 

 

I have been reliably informed that our 2024 Kindy students are very ready for big school. 

Week 7 – Curriculum Planning week

This year, class teachers are entitled to additional hours off class every term to improve their knowledge and understanding about the new English and mathematics curriculum syllabus documents. Next week, we have arranged for stage teams to have time together to achieve this goal. To enable this to occur, Mrs Zalaf has arranged for our specialist teachers and some casual teachers to be allocated classes. All classes will continue to be taught their learning program as usual. In summary, the planning days for each stage is as follows:

  • Monday – Early Stage 1 (Kindy)
  • Tuesday – Stage 2
  • Wednesday – Stage 1
  • Thursday – Stage 3

League Tag competition 

As mentioned in the previous newsletter the League Tag initiative is a student leadership and wellbeing program. Senior students help to run the competition by being responsible for their teams, setting up and packing away equipment, help officiate at the games in different roles, while modelling good sportsmanship and fairness to team members and spectators.  

 

The League Tag competition gained some more players this week which is an excellent outcome. Participating students have started checking the points table regularly and I have been receiving questions from students about what will happen if teams are tied. 

Next week (week 7) is our final round of the regular competition. 

 

In week 8, we will have 8 teams playing 4 games in the quarter finals.

 

In week 9, 4 teams will play 2 games in the semi finals. 

 

On Thursday, 14th December (2nd last day of the year), we will be inviting the school community to come and watch the grand final where the 2 final teams will play each other. Both teams will be rewarded with trophies at the award ceremony after the game. 

So save the date!! 

 

We have made a website to keep everyone updated on the finals. We hope to share the link later today. 

 

3 days to get your Selective High schools application in! 

Application for Year 7 Selective High School Placement in 2024 (reminder from previous newsletter)

Selective high schools cater for high potential and intellectually gifted students. Applications are currently open for entry to Year 7 in 2024 close on 20 November 2023. 

Apply online at: shsoc.education.nsw.gov.au

 

Where are they located?

There are 47 selective high schools for Year 7 entry each year, including an online class, Aurora College, for rural and remote students.

Updating school contact details

Please notify the admin office if your contact details change. We must be able to contact parents and carers if your child is unwell or is injured. Therefore, we must have up to date mobile numbers as soon as possible.

2024 Planning (reminder from previous newsletter)

All families should have received an email asking parents and carers to indicate their intentions for 2024. It would be appreciated if all families could please complete the short form by the end of week 6, Friday 17th November. 

2024 Classes and Planning (reminder from previous newsletter)

Planning for 2024 classes is underway and will continue throughout Term 4. The number of classes in our school is determined according to the Department of Education’s staffing formula, which is linked to the number of students enrolled. 

 

Teachers will be collaboratively providing information to support class placements, taking many factors into consideration such as academic ability, attitude and commitment towards learning, as well as emotional and social needs. Student friendship groups are also one of many considerations. 

 

Speaking of friendships, each year we ask the children to nominate 5 peers on a ‘friendship list’. We try to ensure that each child is placed with at least one of their selected friends in all but a very few instances. Please speak to your child about their friendship choices, thinking about nominating friends who may good to share a class with and those who they may prefer to socialise with at recess and lunchtime. 

 

Forming classes involves considerable time and care. It is not a process about one child; all of our students at Dundas PS are important. Every child is placed in reference to a bigger plan of how students, classes and teachers come together, all bound by the Department’s staffing allocation and the number of classes in our school. 

 

I know that many of you value the hard work and time that goes into this process. Please be aware that requesting a particular teacher that you would like your child to have, or not have, will not be necessary. We are yet to finalise the classes/grades that teachers will be taking next year, and teachers will not necessarily be teaching the same grade/s as they are currently teaching. However, please let us know via the school email about any factors regarding your child’s class for 2024 that you would like us to be mindful of.

Kindergarten enrolment for 2024 (reminder from previous newsletter)

Dundas Public School is now taking online enrolments for Kindergarten 2024. 

Go to our school website and select the enrolment tab at the top of the page. A link to the page is below.

 

https://dundas-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/enrolment.html

 

Feel free to share this with friends/neighbours who may have a child starting Kindergarten.

 

 

Kind regards,

Lee Shipley

Principal