From The Principal's Desk

Dear Parents and Carers,

I would like to extend a very warm welcome back to all students and their families/carers for the final term of 2025. We have certainly achieved a lot this year and I am sure you will all agree that the growth in student learning behaviours and academic achievement has been very pleasing. Already this term we have seen everyone return to school in a settled way and are building on their progress from Term 3.

Term 4 is an action packed term  full of opportunities and learning experiences that encourage students to put all those newly learned skills to the test.  Looking to the term ahead, there are many events to look forward to, such as:

• Swimming for Preps and Grades 1
• Transition for our Grade 6s into secondary school 
• The Writers’ Festival (Weds 22nd Oct)
• Grade 6 Passport to Success
• Grade 5 Leadership selection process
• Grade 2 Sleepover
• The Kinder transition Program
• Prep - 2 Athletics
• Division Cricket 5-6

• Grade 3 Camp - Cave Hill Creek
• Prep Excursion to Pevan and Sarah
• Energy Breakthrough 
• Grade 6 Graduation
• Meet Your Teacher Day
• Picnic Day (at school)
• Grade 5 and 6 Health Days
• Colour Run 
• Bulldogs Read finale
• Multicultural day 
• End of Year Student Reports.

In order to keep up to date with school dates, please keep an eye on the newsletter and Compass newsfeed.

This term our uniform and sun smart policy means that all students playing outside require a sunsmart hat.  These hats are available for sale at the front office and students who do not have a hat will be directed to a shaded area for play.

Classes for 2026

It is getting to that time where we will start to place students in grades for 2026.  

This term we welcome some new staff to our school and believe we have completed our hiring process of staff for 2026.  I would like to welcome Michelle Thompson who joins the school as the Wellbeing Specialist and has been in a similar role at Kyneton PS.   One of the initiatives Michelle will lead this term will be the re-introduction of a Multicultural day at Delacombe PS.

We also welcome some of our new educational support staff who have been on board with us in a casual capacity and are now part of our permanent staffing.

• Paul McDougall
• Eliza Karslake  
• Lexi McCann 
• Karen Martin from River Bend PS

In terms of announcements of staff returning our school welcomes back from overseas Mr Brandon Egan and also Mrs Bianca Walters (formerly Ms Bianca Gerrard).  There are some further updates of staff that will be taking leave in 2026 and will be updated in the coming weeks and farewells arranged.  

In 2026 we anticipate that we may receive another large intake of Grade Prep students in 2026 and we have planned for 31 classrooms for currently 679 students in the following way.  At this stage we have planned for 5 Prep classrooms and will consider whether we do need to offer 5 classrooms instead of 4 classrooms.

As a result of our staffing structure we will have a few changes.  Teachers will change year levels for their own personal development or to have a change from the year level they have been in.  We ask that parents not request teachers for grades as we will have changes occurring and believe that the staff we have employed for 2026 will be great additions to our school.  We will look to make you aware of our full staffing towards the end of the year.

Student Separation Requests for 2026 Class Placements 

Over the course of the next month, the process of developing classes for 2026 will begin. There are a range of processes that are considered such as academic, social and emotional wellbeing to balance a class. If you feel strongly that your child will not work productively with another student, we would require this request in writing before Monday the 27th of October. This must be addressed to Mr Phillips and/or Mr Columbro. We strive to achieve the best educational outcomes for all students when undertaking such a rigorous process.

ENERGY BREAKTHROUGH TEAM 

With less than 5 weeks to go until the Energy Breakthrough team compete in Maryborough, it all systems go for the team.  On Tuesday 14th October the team were involved in a practice day at the Haddon Kart track known as the 'Test and Tune' day.  It was a good opportunity to race against 19 other teams in preparation for Maryborough. This year we have 3 teams competing and they are ready for action.

FACILITIES UPDATE 

During the holidays we had some work completed on some of the ramps around the school to improve the safety for students, parents and staff.  We also had some issues on our stadium exit door and this was attended to in the first week of the holidays.

During our next break we will have our new Grade 5-6 playground installed and we hope to have this ready for use on the first day back of school in 2026.  

Late this week Mr Columbro and I will be meeting with our current Grade 5 students to explain to them the process for applying for student leadership positions at our school. This process will involve student written applications, in some cases interviews and also voting from their peers.  If your child is interested they should be receiving the information in school and applications should be submitted to me by Monday 28th October.

On Friday 25th October it will be World Teachers’ Day.  At Delacombe PS we will look to celebrate our wonderful teachers with a morning tea and thank them for all their hard work they do for our children.

PARENT LIAISON

The next date set for the Parent Liaison is Thursday 30th October at 2.30pm.  This session is time to talk about what is coming up at school and listen to any other suggestions from parents. 

Topics that will be on the agenda are: 

• P-2 Athletics - any food to be provided 
• End of year raffle
• Recent parent and student surveys

All parents are welcome to attend, just check in at the front office to attend this session.

PARENT REMINDERS 

• Writers’ Festival is Wednesday 22nd October - commencing 9am in the stadium 
• School Assembly is Friday 24th October at 2.30pm in the stadium 
• Friday 3rd November (day before Melbourne Cup)  is a student free day