Principal’s Message Wow – it’s hard to believe that we have nearly completed the first term of learning for 2018. Each of our classrooms have settled into routines and are working consistently towards their learning goals. I am very impressed by the students application to all learning tasks and look forward to the celebrations of success in the coming week. This term represents one quarter of their learning for the year and is a big reason why attendance is so important. Going to school every day is a vital part of your child’s education. Students learn new things at school every day – missing school puts them behind. Each missed day is associated with progressively lower achievement in numeracy, writing and reading.

Vehicle Safety Your child’s safety and the safety of all children at our school are of prime importance. I have recently received reports from neighbours informing me that they have witnessed some of our parents or carers driving and parking in a very dangerous manner, even illegally in our school zone. I will be advising these neighbours to provide more information (make and colour of car, car registration number etc.) and this will be passed onto the police. I am most disturbed that there are adults in our school community who have no regard for our children - every life is precious. Please drive carefully around our community.

Supervision Supervision for students begins at 8:45am. We ask that students arrive at school after that time. Any students who arrive before this time, will be required to sit in the quadrangle until 8:45am. They are not to be playing. This is an important time for staff to prepare for the day and attend any meetings.

Tell Them From Me Survey Next week we will invite our Year 4, 5 and 6 students to give some feedback on how they think the school is catering for our students. This information is a key strategy to give our students a voice in how our school is running and meeting their needs.

The information they provide will drive some of the improvement measures in our new school plan. The survey will take place during the afternoons next week. All information collected does not allow individual students to be identified and is not shared outside our school. If you are unsure about your child’s participation or do not wish them to participate please contact the school by Friday 6 April 2018.

Kris Carey Principal

Congratulations to Anna Gillard who received her

School Excellence Award for demonstrating

exceptional getting along skills.

School Excellence Award

Bronze Awards

Newsletter Term 1 2018 Weeks 10 & 11

Week 10 - 2/4/18 Mon Easter Monday Tues Scripture/Ethics Wed T Ball Gala Day, Infants Cross Country, Ukulele Fri Assembly-2-3R, Primary Cross Country, Music Bus, School Sport

Week 11– 9/4/18 Tues Scripture/Ethics Wed Ukulele Thurs Anzac Assembly—School Captains Fri Music Bus, School Sport

P&C NEWS UPDATE! Run Dudley is fast approaching….later this week we will commence selling wrist bands @ $10 per child (for children over 5 yrs) for entry to the jumping castle, so get in quick to avoid disappointment! Below is a summary of the resolutions from our last P&C meeting held 12 March 2018. Minutes of last meeting and reports (Principal,

Treasurer, Fundraising and Canteen) accepted In-principle support provided for the future focus

library and bike racks as targets for Run Dudley, and for our longer term planning, for a list of other potential fundraising items to be provided by DPS next meeting.

P&C agrees to Reading Eggs and Mathletics contribution of $3, 773.50. DPS to advise P&C if book pack payment included these resources, and in future take them out of the cost of the book packs.

P&C agrees to employ a paid canteen supervisor from term 3, 2018 as a casual on a 3 month trial basis @ 2 days per wk for 6hrs per day, being a cost of $3,593 and agrees to provide additional funding as required for a period of up to 12 months, after which review and evaluation will be conducted.

P&C purchase a thermomix for the canteen at cost of $2089.00

P&C won’t adopt a Communications Officer position, but the Secretary will review and redraft draft Communications Policy for discussion at next P&C meeting

P&C accepts the P&C Federation Constitution and agrees that the fundraising aim for 2018 is as per the constitution being to support the priority needs identified by DPS

Upcoming dates, to note in your calendar, for fundraising events: 6 May—Run Dudley, early May—Mothers Day Stall date TBC, 17 June—Bunnings BBQ1, 31 August—Father’s Day Breakfast, October—Crazy Camel dates TBC, 25 November—Bunnings BBQ2, December—Carols Evening date TBC.

Anzac Assembly

Please note the date has changed for our

Anzac Assembly. It will now be held on Thursday

12 April.

From the Library…. The Newcastle Writer’s Festival is celebrated at the end of this week – 6 to 8 April. There is a great program on offer – why not check out the activities or visit the festival which happens in the Civic Precinct, Newcastle. http://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/ Last week, The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) announced the books they’ve chosen to be shortlisted for 2018. This list includes six books from each category (picture books, early childhood books, books for younger readers, books for older readers, information books, books by new illustrators). This will be narrowed down to one from each category, with the winner being announced during Book Week in August. You can find the list of books at https://cbca.org.au/short-list-2018 Lest We Forget In 2018 we continue to celebrate the 100 year anniversary commemoration of WWI – which occurred from 1914-1918. Of note for Dudley is the fact that our school library – the Jeffries-Currey Memorial Library – is named after two highly decorated heroes from this campaign, who were once students at our school. Captain Clarence Smith Jeffries (1894-1917) and Private William Matthew Currey (1895-1948), were both recipients of the Victoria Cross, awarded in recognition of their outstanding courage and bravery during the theatre of WWI. For more information about these gallant young men go to https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10676249 or https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10676273

Art Club Thank you to artist and art therapist, Alanya van de Wiel, who is sharing her creative skills with our lucky students. Her children, Noa and Nadav are new students to our school this year. Alanya is currently trialling ‘Art Club’ on Fridays at lunch time for a small group of Stage 2 students who have the opportunity to explore their creativity and connect in a safe and supportive environment. She is keen to offer Art club to more groups throughout the year for five-week intervals. Alanya will also be helping with some whole class lessons throughout the year. Parents can contact her at: arttherapyspark@gmail.com. A big thank you also to the Jefferson family (from Ear Nose Throat Newcastle) for making a generous donation to our Art Club.

Save The Date!

Our school production ‘Mystical’

will take place in Term 3 - Week 9 19 and 20 September 2018.

ICAS Exam Dates Digital Technology……………………………………………..Tuesday 8 May Science…………………………………………………………….Tuesday 29 May Spelling……………………………………………………...Wednesday 13 June Writing…………………………………………………………..Thursday 14 June English……………………………………………………………...Tuesday 31 July Mathematics………………………………………………..Tuesday 14 August

Infant Cross Country Wednesday 4 April—10.00am to 11.00am

Primary Cross Country Thursday 5 April—Commences 9.30am

Coles Vouchers All vouchers need to be in to the

school by Friday 6 April 2018