Dear Families, Friends and Students,

Welcome!

Our start to 2025 has been superb, settled and highly successful and we thank all families for their partnership with us. Every child has arrived at school ready to learn, play and get along well with everyone in our school community.

Our professional learning for staff has focused on the statewide reading priority as well as current evidence about the importance of routines to support learning. Every teacher at Glen Dhu has been teaching routines for moving into the classroom and getting started with learning. Visits to classrooms show students are responding well to our high expectations for settled and focused learning behaviours. We look forward to a wonderful year of learning, play and fun together at Glen Dhu.

Meet Our Team

We welcome several new staff to our Glen Dhu team this year. Please read below to learn more about our newest members:

Ms Monique Schouten	Mrs Nikita Logerrian	Mr Harry Summers
Mrs Natasha Jones	Ms Ellen Parsons	Ms Lacey Maynard

Check out our Facebook page for further details of each of our teams. All staff members will be included in posts to introduce our whole team as we all work together to support high-level learning for everyone.

Slide Update

You may have noticed that work on our slide started last week, with new concrete walls poured this week as part of the project. We are all excited to watch the progress of the works, with a completion date later this term. Further details will be shared when available.

Welcome BBQ

Save the date for Tuesday 11 March starting with open classrooms at 4:30pm. The BBQ will start at 5pm with entertainment by the Billy Tea Bush Band. All students will work with band members during the day to learn a number of bush dances with an open invitation for all children and family members to join in during the evening performance. We hope you will come along and join the fun! Thanks to our School Association which has co-funded this opportunity for students. BBQ sausages and hamburgers will be available as well as drinks and icypoles for children.

NAPLAN 2025

Students will be sitting NAPLAN between 12 and 24 March 2025.

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.

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 us at school if you have any further queries.

Belonging at Glen Dhu

You may have noticed our messages on Facebook about our many school uniform options and our high expectations for full uniform. We know that wearing uniform builds a strong sense of belonging and helps to support success. We have a broad range of options to ensure every child can choose a uniform style which suits. Our high expectation for full uniform helps to build our culture of kindness, belonging and acceptance for difference. Thank you to all families for reminding your child about the expectations for wearing only options which are included in our uniform list.

Navy shorts or skort

Navy and white check summer dress

Blue polo top with logo

Plain light blue polo top

Navy rugby top with logo

Navy fleece jacket with logo

Plain navy jacket or long sleeve top

Navy windproof jacket with logo

Navy track pants

Shoes – black, white or navy

Socks – black, white or navy

PE – sports uniform – polo top with logo, navy shorts

& suitable running shoes & socks– white, black or navy.

Nut Aware

For the safety of students with severe allergies and to help keep everyone safe, we strive to keep our school free from nuts. Please do not hesitate to discuss any information or concerns you have with us. Thank you for helping to ensure our school is a safe environment for everyone.

5/6 Camp

Our 5/6 students will head to Camp Clayton in Week 10 as a wonderful way to finish Term 1 together. Camp helps students to develop and practise initiative and independence and allows for many opportunities to further develop friendships and social connections. Classes will head to Camp Clayton on Wednesday 9 April and return on Friday 11 April ready for the Term 1 holiday break. Further details about this will be shared soon.

Welcomes and Farewells

We welcome the following new families to our school community and wish them a happy and successful time of learning and friendship with us: Nicholas and Savannah L, Uvin S, Voilet S, Victoria B. We farewelled Agrim G, Idris and Ibraheem O, Bjorn L, Astrid L.

Regards

Lee Craw

Principal

Uniform

The School Association has some stock left over from the transfer of uniform to Midfords that we are clearing at heavily discounted prices.

For all orders please head to the link below to purchase.

We will deliver uniform items to your child's class within 7 days of the order being placed.

https://glen-dhu-primary-school-association.square.site/ +

Unifrom items will also be on sale at the Welcome Back BBQ.

School hats are also available from the office for $10.

Limited items available.....while stocks last.

School Association Facebook Page

Don't forget to become a member of our private Facebook page 'Glen Dhu Primary School Association', so you can keep up to date with upcoming events and information. You will be asked to complete a series of questions to ensure membership is exclusive to GDPS parents. This page is facilitated by the School Association executive and endorsed by the school.

Glen Dhu Primary School Association | Facebook

Meetings

The School Association meets in week 3 and 8 of each term. All parents at GDPS are members of the association and are welcome to attend these meetings as guests. RSVP via email is essential for attendance; glendhusa@gmail.com

We Are Your Voice

If you have any items you would like to raise with the School Association executive, please feel free to send us an email; glendhusa@gmail.com. Relevant items can be added to our agenda but must be received one week prior to the meeting to be considered. We welcome all contributions and ideas from parents.

We look forward to sharing more exciting events with you next newsletter!

Kind Regards

Mel Prewer - Chairperson School Association

Volunteering at GDPS

The School Association are always looking for helpers and volunteers for our events and activities. To be able to assist all volunteers MUST have 2 things:

Working with Vulnerable People Card- Apply for registration to work with vulnerable people | Service Tasmania
Safeguarding Training : https://www.decyp.tas.gov.au/safe-children/safeguarding-children/safeguarding-training/

A copy of both your Working With Vulnerable People card and Safeguarding Training certificate need to be shown to the office prior to being able to assist at an event at the school. Safeguarding training must be completed every year. This includes parent help, being a member on school association, excursions and helping at SA events.

	2025
Term 1	Thursday 6 February - Friday 11 April
Term 2	Monday 28 April - Friday 4 July
Term 3	Monday 21 July - Friday 26 September
Term 4	Monday 13 October - Thursday 18 December

Student Free Days - 2025

Friday - 6 June

Friday 31 October

26 February	Launceston Cup Day Holiday - Students do not attend school
3 March	Athletics Carnival
4 March	Student Photo Day KINA and Prep - Grade 6
11 March	WELCOME BACK BBQ - Late Afternoon
13 March	Catch up photos taken and KINB

Basketball 2025 is coming to Term 1

Dates – 5/6 29-30 March

Grade 3/4 5-6 April

Please see Ms Leale for a from and more information.

It was wonderful to have the Esk Band Program at school to speak with our Grade 4 to 6 students. They showcased the wide range of instruments available, and we hope the session helped inspire excitement about joining this amazing program.

During the session, students had the chance to hear the unique sounds of each instrument available in the program. All interested children are encouraged to select the instruments they enjoyed the most, based on both sound and general appeal.

The Esk Band Program works with student in Grades 4 to 6, and makes learning and hiring an instrument very affordable, at a cost of less than $13 a week! A flyer with detailed enrolment information will be sent home with students. For those interested in joining, please note that the enrolment forms are due back at the school office by Friday, 28th February.

Dear Parents/Carers,

We will be having our student/staff photos taken on Tuesday 4 March for KINA and Prep - Grade 6. We will have KINB class plus catchup day for students who were absent on Thursday morning 13 March. Ordering slips will be sent home soon. Sibling photo orders will also be at the office soon. MSP will be our photographers.

No smoking is permitted on school or DECYP property. This includes grounds and carparks. Thank you for setting a healthy example for all students.

Volunteering at Glen Dhu Primary School in 2025

We love having families involved in their children’s education at Glen Dhu Primary School.

Did you know if you want to volunteer at school as parent help, on an excursion or in Breakfast or Reading Club you need to complete Mandatory Safeguarding Training? This is to help keep all our children safe and so that you know what to do if you see or hear something that concerns you.

The training is easy! Watch the 15 minute video at the link below, save a copy of your certificate to show at the school office and you are ready to go!

Compulsory Safeguarding Training for Workers - Department for Education, Children and Young People

Training must be completed every 12 months.

Thank you for helping to keep out children safe!

We are always looking for volunteers for our Breakfast Club every morning from 8:30-9.00 am. If you would like to help just let the school office know.

We are an allergy aware school and need your support as we have a number of students with severe allergies to nuts as well as some other common allergens. Students are asked not to bring any food items that contain nuts or traces of nuts. If you are not sure, please keep this as a home food rather than a school lunch box item. For example, peanut butter, nutella and many muesli bars contain nuts and CANNOT be brought to school! Thank you for your support in helping to keep everyone safe.

Rotary Readers

The South Launceston Rotary Club supports Reading Club on Wednesday and Thursday mornings.

The Club is seeking to enlist a few parents/friends to assist the 14 volunteers in delivering the program.

If you have an interest, in doing this please contact the Club's Community Service Director, Harry Galea (0400 059 897). The Rotary Club will assist parents to obtain a Working with Vulnerable People card required by the Education Department. Mandatory Reporting training will also need to be completed.

Our school uniforms can now be purchased from Midford School Uniforms located at 132 Charles Street Launceston. They also offer online services Midford School Uniforms | School Uniforms Online and School Wear | Midford.

School hats are available at the office $10.

We will be communicating with parents via email throughout the year and want to keep our email contact list as accurate as possible. Please notify the office if your email changes, in person by phone: 6344 1349 or email: glen.dhu.primary@decyp.tas.gov.au

To access our newsletter see below. If you wish to have a hard copy please let the school office know.

SZapp Version 4.0.0

There is a new version of SZapp available for Android and IOS Devices. Please ensure that you have updated to this version to assure you receive communications from the school.

If you are using an Android Device, you will need to uninstall the old app and install the new version.

IOS Devices (iPhones) will be able to update without requiring a re-install.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we are confident that the improvements in the new version will make it worth it.

An online guide on how to install and register/login to SZapp is available on the Schoolzine Website here:

Click here to view the Installation Instructions

If you experience any difficulties with completing this process, please reach out to Schoolzine using support@schoolzine.com. To assist with your query, they ask that you provide a description of the issue you are facing, the email address you are using when facing this issue and a screenshot of the issue.

Friends of the Library Book Sale

Friends of the Library, Launceston’s Annual Library Book Fair will be held on Saturday 1 March 2025, 9.00am – 1.00pm at St Ailbe’s Hall, 46 Margaret Street, Launceston

This is Launceston’s best book sale with a wide range of good quality donated secondhand books – crime, thrillers, science fiction, romance, children’s, cooking, health, parenting, travel, crafts, gardening, sports, war, DVDs, jigsaws, collectables and Tasmaniana – all at rock bottom prices.