From the Office

Roosters Looking for New Homes

We have some adorable Belgian d'Uccle roosters looking for new homes!  They are pure bred, stay small and don't crow as loudly as regular roosters.  They would make a great addition to an existing flock.

If you want to see what they look like fully grown, please come and see our rooster, Rocky.

For more information, please contact Rebekah Shurley via email at: rebekah.shurley@dcs.tas.edu.au 

Introducing our new ‘Central Office’ (Student Admin)

Our new Central Office (Student Admin) will become the main connection point for all current DCS families and students. It is located near the parent parking area, alongside the Jiloa Centre (in the old music room). True to its name, this space sits at the heart of our school and will be the place for day-to-day student and family needs.

We have also relocated our Uniform Shop into the Central Office, making it a convenient ‘one-stop’ space for families. 

You can visit the Central Office for things such as:

• Late student arrivals and early collections
• Dropping off student medication
• Purchasing uniform items
• Signing in for Parent Help
• Collecting an unwell student

• General enquiries for current Primary or Secondary students

   

What about the Front Office?

Our Front Office will continue to welcome visitors to the school, accept deliveries, and support families and guests who are new to DCS. 

Primary First Aid Updates

Primary First Aid is now be located in the former Uniform Shop, right next to our Shiloh Student Wellbeing area. This will allow First Aid and Shiloh to work closely together to better support each child.

• First Aid will support students who need first aid and basic medical care

• Shiloh will support students who need a break, emotional support, or some extra TLC

   

If a student (Primary or Secondary) needs to be collected, they will be brought to the Central Office to wait safely with staff until a parent or carer arrives.

We are genuinely excited about these changes and believe they will make help create a smoother, more caring experience for our families and students. Thank you for your continued partnership, grace, and support as we grow together as a community.

Parking & Drop Off Information

A few friendly reminders about parking and drop-off arrangements:

• Parking is available along both sides of the driveway as you enter from Lapthorne Close
• Please use the pedestrian crossings when moving across the Kiss and Collect driveway area
• Please do not park in any of the parking spaces opposite the main school entrance

• If parking on Lapthorne Close or Jiloa Way, please be mindful not to park too close to, or across, neighbouring driveways

   

For our Secondary students, pick-up from the Don Oval is also a great option.

Kiss and Collect

If you are just dropping off students or collecting them at the end of the day and do not need to leave your vehicle, please use the Kiss and Collect zone (entry via Lapthorne Close). This greatly helps to keep traffic moving.

Please note that Kiss and Collect does not open until Primary students are released at 3:00pm in the afternoon.

The first few mornings can be quite busy, so we kindly ask everyone to drive slowly, take extra care around students and families, and be patient as we all settle back into school routines. You will also see additional staff on duty in the mornings to assist with traffic flow and support everyone’s safety.

Thank you for working with us to create the safest possible environment for our students and families. We are looking forward to a great year together!

Student Medications

Does your child require medication to be taken whilst at school?

Whether medication needs to be taken on a short term or long term basis (prescription or over the counter), a completed medical form is required before we can administer the medication.

The medication must be in its original packaging with a pharmaceutical label attached.  Please see the team in the Central Office if you require further information.

Asthma and Anaphylaxis Medication

Due to current health regulations, children who may require a Ventolin inhaler or Epi-Pen must have a current Asthma or Anaphylaxis Action Plan.

These plans assist us to provide Asthma or Anaphylaxis first aid to your child, should the need arise.

Please make sure we have a copy as soon as possible.  These can be obtained from your local GP.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Central Office.

First Aid

From time to time, students may need to visit the first aid office for treatment.  If the reason for the visit is considered minor, such as: administering routine medications, applying bandaids to cuts/grazes etc, parents will be notified via an email.  If staff believe an injury may warrant further investigation, a phone call will be made to parents.

NAPLAN 2026

Students in Years 3, 5 7 and 9 will be sitting NAPLAN between March 11th and 23rd 2026.

The National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning at school. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for, and students are not expected to do so.

Students will complete tests in Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language (Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation) and Numeracy.

NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance; however, students and parents may use individual results to discuss progress with teachers.

NAPLAN has been held in March since 2023, having previously taken place in May. This change was made so school systems would have access to results earlier in the school year. These results can then be used to inform teaching and learning plans for the remainder of the year.

Why NAPLAN is conducted online

NAPLAN online provides a better assessment and more precise results.

One of the main benefits of NAPLAN online is that it uses tailored (or adaptive) testing. This means that students receive questions better suited to their abilities, so they can show what they know and can do.

Online testing also allows us to provide a wide range of accessibility options to support students with disability to access NAPLAN.

Feedback from students is that they find the online test more engaging.

Please note that students in Year 3 complete the Writing Test on paper.

Parent information brochures and other resources

Your questions answered on NAPLAN and what it means for your child: NAPLAN information brochure for parents and carers

The link will take you to the official National Assessment Program (NAP) website.

Please contact the school if you have any further queries.

Jiloa News. . . Keeping Our Community Informed 

Our weekly Jiloa News is one of our methods of keeping our school families and wider community informed of all of the exciting events happening at DCS. 

Did you know grandparents and extended family can also receive Jiloa News? It’s a wonderful way for them to stay connected with our assemblies, events and celebrations at DCS.

If you would like family members to receive Jiloa News, simply send us their name and email address. You can email the details to admin@dcs.tas.edu.au or call the Central Office on 6423 1373. 

School Communications - DCS Schoolbox App

Term 1 is a busy time of year with lots of events happening, so good communication between home and school is more important than ever.

Our main platform for sharing important information is Schoolbox. To make sure you receive all updates relevant to your children and family, we encourage you to download the DCS Schoolbox app. Once installed, you’ll receive notifications whenever new information is available, helping you stay up to date with school news.

To log in, you’ll need your parent Schoolbox username (usually the letter P or S followed by numbers) and your Schoolbox password. If you’re unsure of your login details, please contact the office for assistance.

Once logged in, follow the steps below to install the app on your phone or device. The app gives you quick and easy access to:

• School events

• Teacher news and updates

• Learning moments

• Timetables

Step-by-step instructions for installing the app are included below.

Extended Leave Applications

A reminder that an Extended Leave Application is required for any student absences for an extended period of time. This applies in particular to families taking extended holidays (longer than one week) during school terms.  

Parents must notify the school in advance for a planned absence (such as a holiday or appointment) and this will be placed into the school attendance system. Family holidays are required by State Law to be marked as unauthorised absences (See 3.3 in Attendance Policy with reference to the Education Act 2016). Parents wishing to take their children travelling during the school term for a period longer than one week, will need to complete an ‘Application for Extended Leave’ form and receive approval from the Principal prior to travelling. 

Please contact the Central Office if you require an Application for Extended Leave form.