As this will be my final contribution to the school’s newsletter, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to everyone who has been a part of the amazing Drysdale Primary School Community and supported the school over the last ten years. The Potato Fair on Friday was an excellent measure of how we operate as a community. It was a huge team effort all focused on improving the school for the children who are educated here.

Over the last ten years we have made Drysdale Primary a school in which everyone can succeed. We are very well known and celebrated for the strength of the inclusion program. We do look after children with additional needs exceptionally well. What really sets Drysdale Primary apart is that we also look after all the other children too. For example, we have a much higher than average number of children participating the Victorian High Achievers Program. We do our best to ensure that every student is the best that they can be.

I would also like to thank Neil Searle who was the School Council President in 2013. Neil shared a vision for what we could achieve and provided a lot of support and encouragement through the first half of our journey.

Finally, I must acknowledge my wife, Carole, who has supported me through the 29 years of being a principal both here in Australia and in English schools before that. She is very understanding of the demands of the role, a massive support and very wise. Being a school Principal is an unparalleled opportunity to make a difference for so many young people. I have loved the challenges and seeing how the children have grown and succeeded.

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From Thursday our leader and principal, Phil Dunlop-Moore, is taking leave during Term 2 and will then be retiring. He has been the principal of DPS for more than 10 years and has led the school through many changes including the pandemic in more recent years. He has always worked on school improvement with student learning needs and outcomes at the core of any decision, looking to enhance and provide a strong educational experience for all.

We thank him for his service to education, both in the UK and Australia, and to the DPS community and its students, families and staff. We wish Phil all the best for his leave and retirement in the coming months.

This Thursday afternoon DPS is hosting a short assembly to farewell Phil Dunlop-Moore at 2pm in the Hall. School will be dismissed at 2:30pm for the end of term, we hope you can make it to celebrate Phil and all he has achieved in his career.

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WE DID IT! A massive thank you to everyone that came and was part of our amazing Drysdale Primary School Potato Fair!

We hope you enjoyed the food and activities, had a Twisty Potato, enjoyed the kids rides, joined in on the Wildlife Encounters or maybe dunked a teacher or two!! Most importantly, we hope you took home a photo booth picture and some great memories!

Overall it was great to see so many community members attend our event. We all came together to celebrate our school, our town, the history of the area as a potato farming community and to have some fun! We have received lots of positive feedback overall on the event so thanks again!

Did you see The Bunyip and Hawky – the students loved having them at school early in the day too!

Guess the weight of the Springdale Community garden pumpkin had everyone guessing. The weight was 8.65kg.

A special acknowledgement needs to go to our major sponsor Stockdale and Leggo Drysdale, for the live auction and support, we couldn’t have done it financially without them. Harris HMC and PFG Financial Services Barwon Heads also for their contribution of sponsorship and all the local business donations that made the raffles such a huge success.

Winners – ONLINE RAFFLE

1. Jodie

2. Amy

3. Lizzie

Winners – EASTER RAFFLE

1. Caitrin

2. Carly

3. Bec

To our market stall holders that made items to sell at the fair and took many hours getting ready, we are grateful for your support. Thanks to all the families and school community (including Alumni and their parents) that attended, baked, dropped off second hand books and contributed through volunteering to make the event amazing. Thanks to our School Council and the Parents and Friends Group at Drysdale Primary School that continue to work together and volunteer their time to help where needed for the benefit of the whole school community. To all our community groups and sporting clubs that set up displays, were part of the night, added to the atmosphere and helped us celebrate all our area has to offer.

To our Drysdale Primary School teachers, leadership team and all staff, a major school event doesn’t happen without your support and engagement, we appreciate all that you do. A special acknowledgement to Donna, Catherine and Julie B in the school office for your time and effort over and above what is normally already a busy week. To Bec Hoyne for coordinating the working bee so our grounds were immaculate and Trent Stephens for his musical talents. To Nic Alonso and Bridget Garbutt for your passion and energy leading up to and on the night of the event to make it such a success.

To Lachlan Cartledge for providing live music from the Outdoor Stage which was enjoyed by all. The presentation from Mayor Trent Sullivan and also the attendance from local councilor Jim Mason and his wife Lynne was also greatly appreciated. To all the families that stayed for their child to participate in the Mini Colour Run, the photos look amazing with the setting sun adding some extra colour!

Overall the objective of the School Fair was to bring back community spirit – it was a team effort of school and community engagement that achieved this at Potato Fair 2023!

We will announce to the school community the fundraising amount raised once all the finances are reconciled.

We are already looking forward to planning our next major event, possibly our school celebration of 150 years in 2025!! THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!

Please see read more for a gallery of photos

Read more…

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The annual House Cross Country is being held this Thursday 6th April (the final day of Term 1) down at the Drysdale Recreation Reserve for all students in Years 3-6.

For many students, this is one of the highlights of the school year and for the Year 3s especially, it is their first opportunity to participate in a school sporting event. All students have spent this term training for the event and should be able to complete their race.

To successfully run this event, we require at least 6 more parents/carers to volunteer as course marshals to help students around the course. A huge thank you to the 4 parents who have already volunteered their time.

It would also be helpful to have a parent/carer to assist each class on their walk to and from the Reserve.

Any parents/carers who are able to volunteer their morning can register their details on our volunteer form – https://forms.gle/6YtoWJftqZmSWALw8

Click read more to view an outline of the morning.  Read more…

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A huge thank you to the Clifton Springs Golf Club who have provided us with $2,500 of sponsorship to support the continued operation of our Breakfast Club Program.

The program has grown since it was introduced almost two years ago from offering about 40 toasties on Friday’s to over 150 on both Monday and Friday mornings. Cheese toasties are still the clear favourite however jam and vegemite have grown in popularity each term.

This sponsorship ensures that the program can continue for the remainder of the year and into the following year. It is a great addition to our school and our staff thoroughly enjoy greeting so many students each week and helping them with a healthy breakfast to be ready to learn.

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School photo day will be on Wednesday 3rd May, more information to follow next term.

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Last Day Of Term 1  – Thursday 6th April at 2.30pm. Please note the earlier finish. 

Term 2 Resumes – Wednesday 26th April – Students return on this date. 

Please note:  Monday 24th April is a Curriculum Day and Tuesday 25th April is ANZAC Day Public holiday.

 

Important dates and information:

Thursday 6th April – Middle and Senior Years House Cross Country

 

 

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Picture Plate templates will be sent home this week. Picture plates are a great keepsake of those primary school years.

For those wishing to participate in this fundraiser, organised by the Parents and Friends group, here are some tips:

· Use strong, bright marker pens, paints and good quality photos. You don’t have to use special pens, just make sure the colours are bright and bold.

· Don’t use pencils, crayons, metallics, fluoros or glitter. These don’t show up very well on the finished product.

· Draw inside the drawing area marked on the template. Up to 2cm can get trimmed off from one or more edges during manufacture, so make sure to keep important names and dates away from the edge.

· Write your child’s name and class in the box in the top right corner of the template sheet.

· Photos should be glued in place well. Large, bright close-ups are best as they will slightly blur and darken during manufacturing.

· Any marks in the drawing area may show up on the final product. Rub out any pencil marks properly or use a fresh sheet of drawing paper.

· Don’t roll, fold or crease the paper. Keep it flat and free from damage.

Picture Plates are $30 each and mugs (Year 6) are $25. To pay for your picture plate please use this link (please note a $1 processing fee will be applied): https://pay.pictureproducts.com/DRYCSA/92934/

Please return completed templates to your child’s classroom teacher during the first week of Term 2 and no later than Thursday 27th April. Payment must be made prior to this date.

The products take up to 6 weeks to be manufactured and will be returned to the school for distribution.

If you would like additional templates, they can be collected from the office this week.

Any questions can be directed to the Parents and Friends group via email: dpsparentsandfriendsgroup@gmail.com

Have fun creating!

 

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Bellarine Secondary College’s Farm My School official launch with Costa Georgiadis. There will be garden tours, delicious food and live music.

This Thursday 6th April from 4.00pm
At Bellarine Secondary College Drysdale campus
All proceeds go toward Farm My School.
Book tickets now at Humanitix.com

For more information please see read more for a copy of the flyer

Read more…

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Although it feels as though the school year has only just begun bookings are now open for the Autumn school holiday program at Drysdale Primary school. We have a wide range of activities
planned, with amazing excursions, including to the Archie Brothers Circus Arcade in Melbourne, as well as going to the movies to see Mario and to Narana. We also have some awesome incursions and service based days.

To view the program and to make bookings please go to http://www.theircare.com.au/holiday-programs

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For our community news from :

Clifton Springs Tennis Club – Free Tennis Clinic on the 22/04/2023.

Please see read more for copy of flyer

Read more…

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