From The Principal's Desk
Term 1 Week 1 2023
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to the school year and a big welcome to our new staff, students and families. The school year is off and running. It was a great start to the year with our Grade 1-6 students commencing their school term on Tuesday.
We also welcome a number of new families and students into the school with the current enrolment of the school at 508 students in 25 classrooms.
Our classes have settled in really smoothly and are enjoying being back into a routine and catching up with friends. This year all our classrooms are ready for action and a lot of work has been done towards the end of 2022. A big thank you to David Young, Marnie Cooper and Stephanie Lindsay who led the school in 2022 and prepared our staffing list for this year.
Staffing welcomes and farewells
New staff – warm welcome to:
I have also returned back to Delacombe PS as Principal after taking leave from the school. I am looking forward to the year ahead in what I believe will be a positive one. We are fortunate to have recruited some talented and eager staff to build into what is already a fantastic school staff and we have some extra spaces in which to do some wonderful and creative programs. You will hear more about some of these programs in coming weeks.
Departing staff – a fond farewell to:
Mrs Marcia Read – Educational support has moved across to Lucas PS
Mrs Amber Bull – Educational support has moved across to Mt Clear PS for Term 1
Mrs Kate Peldys – family leave
Mrs Clara Shell – family leave
We wish them all the best and thank them for their contribution to our school.
Mrs Wendy Ruddick has taken leave from Term 1 and we have Mrs Kate Tanaka filling in for Garden classes. We also have Mrs Lynden Walker who will be taking leave after Term 1 for over 12 months. As a result we will be advertising the position through the Department of Education recruitment channel (Recruitment online) and also through SEEK. If you know anyone who is interested in our Kitchen Specialist at Delacombe PS please get in contact with myself or Marnie Cooper or encourage them to apply.
School Update :
Open House in classrooms - Monday 13th February
Our staff recognised the importance of parents meeting their child’s classroom teacher and specialist teachers from the start of the year. Providing this opportunity to see the classroom your child is learning in is valued by many parents and provides an immediate connection to the teacher. We had discussed a few styles in which this could take place and settled upon an Open House style. The Open House approach allows you and your child to visit the classroom, visit the specialist areas and see the teacher and physical spaces.
This approach is less formal than a Parent teacher interview and is flexible in its arrangement. We have set the date for Monday 13th February between 4.00pm and 5.30pm to participate in the Open House (no bookings required). If there is specific information regarding your child that you feel the teacher may need to know, another meeting time might be best to be arranged.
Mr Costanzo's Open House in 5A will occur on Tuesday 14th Feburary between 4:00pm and 5:30pm.
Attendance:
We pride ourselves on our high level of attendance at school. Remember “it’s not okay to be away”, every minute of learning counts and if your child misses school for no reason they are at risk of missing valuable learning. If your child is sick and is absent from school please send a note to the class teacher explaining the absence or ring the office.
Prep First Day
Tomorrow Friday 3rd February is our Prep's first day of school. We invite all Prep parents our DPS Cafe after drop off time in the morning, for a complementary coffee and biscuit.
School Assembly
Our first school assembly will occur next Wednesday 8th February at 2.30pm in the stadium. Our new captains will commence their first assembly for 2023 year and parents and carers are always welcome to attend.
Grade 5 & 6 School swimming
Our swimming sessions commence next week for our Grade 6s and Grade 5s. Notes have been sent out regarding key details for the event.
Grade 6 Camp
Our Grade 6 Camp will begin on the 20th February for two nights and three days. It always a busy three days for our students and teachers but a great way to make new friends and learn about the significant sights of Melbourne. Keep an eye out on Compass for more information coming out tonight.
School Fete
House Athletic Sports:
Thursday 23rd March is our House Athletic Sports Day for students in Grade 3-6. This will occur at school and it will be the first time we can use our long jump pit in the event. We are fortunate to hold such a carnival at our own school and parents are encouraged to enjoy and support the day.
The sports day for our Prep –Grade 2 will be later in the year.
Parent Liaison Group
We are looking to continue on with our Parent Liason Group that started last year.
The Parent Liaison Group will meet with school leadership members twice each term to discuss issues that are important to the effective running of the school. For example, the team will discuss issues like school reports, Parent Teacher Interviews, Special event organisation, data from surveys and assessment programs like NAPLAN just to name a few.
These discussions will allow the school leadership to get the parent perspective in order to plan more effectively for the future.
In order to get a cross section of parent representatives, we are looking for a parent from each classroom to join the team.
Please fill in the INSIGHT Notification on your parent Compass home page if you are interested in being part of this team.
The first meeting will be at on Thursday 16th February 2.30pm - 3.20pm
Other important dates :
Breakfast club starts next week and is on Wednesday to Friday commencing at 8.10am.
Have a great week – Scott, Marnie and Stephanie