Dear Families, Friends and Students,

Hello to all Glen Dhu families and community members. It is hard to believe that Term 1 is already halfway over! What a fantastic start to 2025 we continue to have with lots of wonderful events over the last fortnight that have showcased what an amazing school community we have. These include our Welcome Back BBQ, Billy Tea Bush Band visit, school photos and our 3-6 Athletics Carnival. Thank you to everyone who has been able to join us for these events.

Staffing News

In exciting staffing news for Glen Dhu Primary School, we are delighted to welcome Mrs Nicole Lynch to our leadership team as Acting AST for 2025. Mrs Lynch has previously worked in a number of leadership roles at Kings Meadows High School. We warmly welcome Nicole to the Glen Dhu Primary School community. Please introduce yourself when you see Nicole around the school.

Welcome Back BBQ and Bush Dance

Thank you to all families who came along to our Welcome Back BBQ and Bush Dance yesterday evening. This was a wonderful way for families to be able to meet their child’s teacher, talk with other families, enjoy a sausage in bread and dance the night away at the Bush Dance. Students were lucky enough to be able to participate in sessions with the Billy Tea Bush Band with buddy classes during the day, learning the dances that they enjoyed with their families during the evening session. Thank you to all families who attended, along with the Billy Tea Bush Band and Kings Meadows and Prospect High Schools.

Athletics

I was disappointed to miss seeing students in action during the 3-6 Athletics Carnival on Monday 3 March. I have heard from many people that the enthusiasm and participation shown on the day was of the same high level of participation and sporting behaviours we expect from Glen Dhu students. Well done to all members in both Waterworth and Kildea. Events like the Athletics Carnival take a considerable amount of time to organise. Thank you to Ellen Parsons for the time spent ensuring the day was well organised and successful for all. Thank you also to staff who assisted with many different roles on the day including arriving even earlier than usual to set up and for assisting with pack up and running events. One of the most special things about GDPS is the way we all work together to ensure days such as this run so smoothly for our students. Thank you also to Grade 9 and 10 helpers from Kings Meadows High School who represented their school proudly on the day.

Pool Works and Parking

You will have seen our recent Facebook post about some changes to parking in the pool carpark due to the demolition of the pool buildings. Please follow all signage to ensure smooth traffic flow and only park in designated parking spots. We are aware that parking at the end of the day in particular can be challenging, but all traffic signs must be followed, including not parking in ‘no standing’ zones or picking up and dropping off at the school crossing. Thank you for your understanding and support to keep all students safe at school.

In the last half of term we look forward to Harmony Week with a celebration next Wednesday, our student leaders attending the GRIP Leadership Conference, the 3-4 and 5-6 Basketball Tournaments, the Art Gallery Opening and our grade 5-6s heading to Camp Clayton in the last week of term.

Welcomes and Farewells

We welcome the follow new family to our school community and wish them a happy and successful time of learning and friendship with us: Ayen R. We farewelled Harper C, Kai T.

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.

Congratulations to the following students who have received certificates at our Grade 3-6 Assembly on Monday 3 March.

CLASS	STUDENTS
3-4A	Elna J, Nash H
3-4B	Akira N, Imama A, Nicholas L
3-4C	Ayla B, Connor S
4-5A	Poppy D, Leo M
5-6A	Oliver S, Alivia Y
5-6B	Jacob M, Jack L-O

Harmony Week at Glen Dhu Primary School

Did you know 49% of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was? At Glen Dhu Primary School 20% of our students speak a language other than English at home. Our cultural diversity is one of the things that makes both Australia and Glen Dhu Primary School so special.

Monday March 17 until Sunday March 23 is Harmony Week- a time to celebrate diversity and inclusion across Australia. We will celebrate Harmony Week at GDPS with a dress up day to recognise family cultures on Wednesday March 19. Students are invited to wear orange or an outfit that links to their cultural identity.

What: Wear orange or an outfit linked to your cultural identity

When: Wednesday March 19

5-6C will be selling Zooper Doopers for $1 during Break 2 on Tuesday for Term 1.

Dear Parents/Carers,

We will have a catchup photo day for students who were absent on Tuesday 4 March on Thursday 13 March 9.00am - 10 am in the library. This will be the last opportunity for your child to have their photo taken.

Dear Parent/Carers,

If you have received medical forms that require filling out, please return to the school office as soon as possible. If your child no longer requires medication please still return the forms with "no longer requiring medication".

12-24 March	NAPLAN Grade 3 and Grade 5 Students
13 March	MSP Catch up photo day (Absentees) 9.00am - 10am
13 March	Student Leaders to GRIP Conference - Tailrace
19 March	Harmony Day - Wear orange or an outfit linked to your cultural identity
27 March	LSSSA Athletics Carnival (Selected students)
29-30 March	Grade 5-6 Schools Basketball Tournament
5-6 April	Grade 3-4 Schools Basketball Tournament
9-11 April	Grade 5-6 Camp
11 April	Last Day Term 1

	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

Canteen Enterprise has started. We have treats for students to purchase on a Thursday or Friday lunchtime.

New Reading and Spelling Programs in 2025

You might hear your child talking about UFLI or Word Origins. These are the programs that all DECYP school are using from 2025 onwards to support students to become successful readers.

UFLI is being used by our 1-2 classes. UFLI teaches students the sounds that letters make and provides opportunities to use these sounds to read and write words. UFLI lessons happen at 9:30 everyday in our 1-2 classes.

Our 3-6 classes are using a spelling and word study program called Word Origins. Word Origins teaches students how words are spelt and the reasons why we might spell a word that way.

Ask your child about some of their exciting UFLI or Word Origins learning!

Subway Lunches are on Wednesdays.

Lunches can be ordered multiple weeks in advance. Don't forget to update your child's profile to their 2025 class (they are listed as Kinder A etc. rather than their teacher's name this year). Please email contact@subsforyou.com for more information.

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. Helpers can volunteer for a day, a week or day a fortnight. We would love to hear from you.

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.

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 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

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.

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.

If you are intrested in knowing more about Saver Plus, please collect a Saver Plus letter from the office.