Welcome to the end of Term 1. It has arrived upon us incredibly quickly, and I wish to thank each and every one of you for your connection to our school and for the commitment and hard work you show every day in supporting your children to be ready for learning.

As Term 1 draws to an end, we can only reflect on how lucky we have been to undertake most of this term without major disruptions and challenges. How fortunate that the learning and teaching and events have unfolded as planned during the term and as our teachers continue to work hard this week to undertake their extensive planning for Term 2, we are somewhat optimistic and hopeful that this landscape will continue into next term. Please refer below to a letter from our Director General Education Directorate, Katy Haire.

There is so much to be grateful for as we reflect on Term 1 2023.

2024 Enrolments

A very big thank you to the families that communicate with and about our school in such a positive manner. This often comes as feedback from families that are enrolling at our school. Enrolments for the 2024 school year for students transitioning schools or starting at a school open 6am on Wednesday 26 April. Families can apply online.

Information about the school in your child’s Priority Enrolment Area can be found on the Education Directorate website. During the school holidays a list of school information sessions for prospective students will be published. Alternately you can visit school websites to find out more about your child’s new school.

School Photos

A reminder our school photos are early next term:

24th April - Possums/Galahs Preschool School Photos
26th April - Years K - 6 School Photos
27th April - Wombat Preschool School Photos

End of Term 1

Please note that the last day of Term 1 is today, Thursday 6th April.

Term 2 will begin on Monday 24th April with ANZAC DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY Tuesday 25th April. As a school community we will be commemorating ANZAC Day on Monday 24th April at our Monday Morning WOW. Our school choir will be performing to mark this special occasion. Everyone is invited to attend.

School Board Members for 2023

Congratulations to our recently appointed Duffy Primary School board. These members will serve our school board commencing 1 April 2023 and ending on 31 March 2025.

With every best wish for a wonderful term break with your beautiful families. Stay Safe.

Regards,

Katie, Arilia, Sarah and Katie

SPOTLIGHT ON LEARNING - YEAR 4

S.T.E.M.

STEM has been a big focus this term with students embarking on many challenges, cumulating in two separate design tasks, leading to a STEM Fair for each.

The first project focussed on pre-colonial days and the problem of survival.

'What technology did they have to build to ensure they survived?'

The second project involved students identifying an everyday problem and designing a solution for this.

Students engaged with the Engineering and Design process as they brainstormed solutions, discussed materials and their properties and drafted their final designs. Construction was completed, followed by an evaluation of the process.

STEM projects have provided the students with many learning opportunities including working collaboratively, problem solving and effective evaluative skills. Additionally, students have been growing as learners while working with others, developed their time management skills and are becoming self-managers whilst engaging in longer term projects.

The Arts

Students began a journey within an integrated Arts and English unit, by immersing themselves into Indigenous symbols and the language these represent. They completed a matching symbols activity which were then used to create charts.

The journey continued with students collecting items from nature to be used as their natural paintbrushes. They practiced painting these symbols on segments of large Rainbow Serpents, now hanging in their learning space.

Traditionally, First Nations People would record their families stories on possum or kangaroo skins, when their children were born. Students wrote their own stories on an image of a kangaroo skin.

The learning journey continued with students viewing Indigenous creation stories, and then writing their own. They then drafted story boards to plan the illustrations they will be painting for their own books.

The beginning of illustrating their stories, is a watercolour wash. The first layer of 4 on each page. Students will continue painting their pictures using a variety of acrylics. Persistence is a part of this journey.

They will add details and highlight colours on top of previously painted pages. The final layer will focus on incorporating Indigenous symbols and dot work onto their artwork.

This learning journey will involve a long term focus that will assist students to develop their self management skills. They will become self directed learners as they work on multiple pages, revisit storyboards and revise their writing.

This journey will finish with the completion of their Dream Time storybook. Revising and editing has begun and will continue into early next term. Year 4 students are on the journey of becoming Writers, Authors and Publishers.

SCHOOL LEADERS

Prime Minister

Barney Mungoven

Deputy Prime Minister

Kleio Slater

Speaker

Nina Aubrey

AWARDS

These will be presented at Monday Morning WOW (Monday 24th April)

Merit Awards

Nio A - KBS

Charlie F - KBS

Zemirah S - KDL

Oliver C - KDL

Henry I - KRP

Lauren N - KRP

Logan P - 1EO

Eddie P - 1EO

Hayden T - 1ET

Gustaf P - 1ET

Veronica R - 1SF

Alex D - 1SF

Isaac G - 2KJ

Jackson F - 2KJ

Fenn W - 3SZ

Jasmine D - 3SZ

Stella W - 3MS

Marley B - 3MS

Jesse S - 3VS

Ali A - 3VS

Fatin M - 4BH

Erik Z - 4BH

Trina K - 5GA

Trisha K - 5GA

Aidan K - 5CM

Elliot B - 5CM

Athena L - 6LK

Nalia P - 6LK

Shannon H - 6ZG

Eboney B - 6ZG

HEROES CORNER

Duffy primary, for the first time, entered a team in the Schools Chess Challenge on Sunday 26 March.

The team played 7 games of chess, back to back, against some of the best primary school chess players in Canberra and held their own. They were such good ambassadors for Duffy primary, showing excellent sportsmanship and performed very well under pressure.

Pictured from left to right:

Connor (yr 4), Ryder (yr 4), Isaac (yr 2) and Lennox (yr 2).

P & C NEWS

The P&C Committee would like to wish everyone in the school community a Happy Easter, and a safe and fun-filled holiday.

Bakers Delight

Don’t forget to mention Duffy Primary School when buying hot cross buns and other baked goodies from Baker’s Delight Cooleman Court BEFORE your purchase is rung up – the school receives credits for every purchase made. These credits help us run events like school barbeques and other fundraising events.

Volunteer for a committee position

We are still looking to fill some gaps on the committee, so if you’re interested in being more involved in the school community, please consider volunteering to fill one of these positions:

· Assistant Treasurer

· Pre-school Representative

· Uniform Shop Coordinator (this is a supported role, with helpers ready to go)

You can learn more about what each role requires here: https://www.duffypandc.org.au/wp/about/

If you're keen to know more, or would like to fill a gap please send us a message or email duffypandc@gmail.com

Next P&C Meeting: 2nd May at 7pm

Find the Duffy Primary Parents and Citizens Association on

Facebook!

@duffypandc

Don’t forget to connect with your Year level parent community on Facebook – this is a great way to stay connected, get year/school specific information and even organise gatherings.

Just search “DPS Year” on google and the groups will pop up, or head to the Duffy Primary Parents and Citizens Facebook page for more info.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Opening soon: 2024 school year enrolments

Enrolments for the 2024 school year for students transitioning schools or starting at a school open 6am on Wednesday 26 April. Families can apply online. Information about the school in your child’s Priority Enrolment Area can be found on the Education Directorate website. During the school holidays a list of school information sessions for prospective students will be published. Alternately you can visit school websites to find out more about your child’s new school.

Mt Stromlo High School Information Night

This year Mount Stromlo High School will be hosting their Information Night on Thursday 18th May. The evening will begin in the school hall at 5.30pm with an address from our school Principal, Mr Peter Radford. Following this, our Year 10 students, and staff will lead tours of the school for our prospective students and parents. This evening is great opportunity to get a feel for our school community and the great things your child will learn at Mount Stromlo. We look forward to seeing you there.

Active Streets

Have you noticed this logo on footpaths and shared paths in Canberra and wondered what it is?

The logo is part of the Active Streets for Schools program, which is a program to make the environment around schools safer to ride, walk, scooter or skate to and from school.

The logos will be around our school soon as part of the Active Streets program to promote walking and riding routes highlighted on our school map. The pavement stencils help to promote ‘part way’ drop off and collection points for families that live too far away to use active travel for the entire journey.

The logos also help to promote to the broader community that they are in the vicinity of the school and children are likely to be present.

As part of the program, educational resources have been distributed to certain year groups throughout the school to teach children about independent travel.

There are a number of benefits of children walking and riding to school, including safety in numbers, the health of the children, reduced congestion and less impact on the environment.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41VJf4idpbs&list=PLnX8HposULFqM9PxXXnEE3_MXiej4hGvt&index=3

Future of Education Student Equity Fund 2023

Applications are now open for the 2023 Future of Education Equity Fund. The fund provides financial support to eligible families with students in preschool to year 12. The one-off annual payment helps cover costs of everyday basics to assist with educational and wellbeing needs. Students from preschool to year 12 attending ACT schools (including non-government schools) or other approved forms of education that meet the eligibility criteria can apply. Payments of $400 for preschool students, $500 for primary school students and $750 for high-school and college students are available.

Learning For Life

The flyer below shares information about an opportunity that has been made available to families at our school called the Learning for Life Scholarship Program. It’s run by the Smith Family organisation. They provide financial support to families who are eligible to help with costs related to education, such as book packs, uniforms and excursions. They also provide access to education programs that can further support your child.

To be eligible, you must;