Duffy Primary School is a Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL) school. Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL), is an evidence-based, multi-tiered behavioural framework that supports positive outcomes for all students in their social, emotional, and academic development. The focus is on building whole school, proactive systems, and practices, which reduce the need for reactive interventions. 

In preparation for 2025 we are keen to consult with the broader community about our current implementation and how this can be strengthened. If you would like to be apart of this important work, please email Sarah Moore at Sarah.Moore@ed.act.edu.au by Friday 29th November. 

Our Semester 2 reports will NOT contain a written comment. Parents/ carers are invited to attend a Learning Conferences (previously Parent Teacher Interviews) with their child. This conference forms a very important part of our semester reporting process by providing  a more dynamic and interactive approach to reporting, promoting deeper understanding, effective communication, and meaningful engagement between teachers, students, and parents.  

This semester Learning Conferences will be held Term 4  Week 8 Monday 2 December -Friday 6th December. Students (P-Year 6) are to attend the Learning Conference with their parents/ carers. 

HOW TO MAKE A BOOKING WITH YOUR CHILD/REN'S TEACHER

1. Sign up to Parent Portal

2. Bookings will be made via Parent Portal 

3. Log into 'Parent Portal' - Click on to the 'Parent Teacher Interview ' tab

4. Select date/ time for Learning Conference 

5. Booking will then be confirmed. 

Access to bookings CLOSES TODAY Friday 22nd November.  Please call or email the Front Office if you have any issues with the booking process. 

PARENT PORTAL

All excursions and requests for payment (2025 Book Packs) are now available on the Parent Portal.

Please remember to pay for, PHOUSE and TREETOPS excursions if your child/children are attending. If you have not signed up for the Portal, the front office will happily assist with you.

SECURITY 

We ask for $50 per child per year to cover the costs of exercise books, art resources, portfolios as well as headphones in our senior primary years. We also supplement this contribution to purchase

Keeping our children safe at school requires that anyone (including parents) coming into the school need to sign in and sign out at the front office.

Please remind your child/children, if they ride their bike to school, to use the spider playground entry gate. Some children are still riding through the carpark, and I have witnessed some near misses with cars.

LOST PROPERTY

There is an enormous amount of un-named lost property accumulating at the school. It will be dropped at the op shop at the end of next week.

HATS

Please remind your child/children that following the NO HAT, NO PLAY, will safeguard their skin from potential skin cancer in later years.

Alice Lollback – Business Manager

E: alice.lollback@ed.act.edu.au

Phone: 6142 2513

Assemblies

Wednesday assemblies now commence from 2:30pm-3pm. Please check our website for an Assembly Roster for the year. 

School Board Vacancies

POSITIONS VACANT: Duffy Primary School Board Members

The Duffy Primary School Board is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the school and acting in the best interests of the school and its students.

The board meets regularly throughout the year and is comprised of representative members from various stakeholder groups e.g. parent/caregiver members, P&C association and/or local community members and staff members.

Several board positions will become vacant in March 2025, and we will seek nominations in early Term 1 to fill the following roles:

·         2x staff member – with a term of 2 years

·         1x parent member – with a term of 2 years

·         1x P&C member – with a term of 2 years

To learn more about the roles and responsibilities of board members, visit the School Boards page.

Further information about the nomination process will be provided early Term 1.

The ACT public school term dates for 2026-2030, including student-free days, are now available on the Education Directorate’s website. Each year, the first day of every term is a student-free day. We use student-free days for staff development, enabling us to plan in a student-free environment.

Use these dates when planning your future holidays.

Join Libraries ACT for a Speechie Library Talk in November 

Do you have a child between the ages of 0 and 5? Are you interested in supporting their language and literacy development? Libraries ACT has an exciting event coming up you won't want to miss.

Speech Pathology Australia's (SPA) Speechie Library Talks (SLTs) will be held in November, connecting libraries and their communities with local speech pathologists, or "Speechies." These free presentations are designed to assist parents and caregivers in building their child's language and literacy skills. They will also share practical tips and strategies that can be used at home.

For more information, a presentation outline and to secure your spots visit the Libraries ACT website.

Free Period Products Available at ACT Schools

 All ACT public schools are stocked with free period products so students can access them no matter their circumstances. This is part of the ACT Government’s commitment to ensuring students feel comfortable and confident within our schools.

Free period products are available at our school’s front office. Students can access them at any time by talking to our helpful front office staff.

Sanitary pads are available from the front offices of primary schools, while pads and tampons are available at the front offices of high schools and colleges.

Because menstruation is a fact of life, we believe free access to period products should be too.

To learn more about this equity initiative and other places where free period products are available, please visit: https://www.act.gov.au/community/women/free-period-products

Uniform Shop

Term 4 is here and 2025 is fast approaching! Now is a good time to consider getting uniforms and avoid the back to school last minute rush.

A rack of uniform items has been taken to pre-school for families to see what is available to purchase from the uniform shop.

You can purchase uniforms through:

• flexi schools, place your orders by Thursday 5 December to receive uniforms this year. Any orders placed after that time will be held over to 2025.

• Coming into the uniform shop.  The shop is open between 8.30-9am each Friday until week 9 (6 Dec). We have plenty of stock on hand as well as pre-loved items available.

If you have any school uniform items that are still in good condition donations are gladly accepted either at the uniform shop when open or school reception.

Term 4, Week 3 - Merit Awards

Term 4, Week 5 - Merit Awards

Public Transport Behaviour: A Message for Families

We are seeking your support to address a growing concern: the inappropriate behaviours of some students on public transport. Unfortunately, these behaviours have escalated, becoming offensive and even violent at times, impacting other passengers and bus drivers.

As members of our community, bus drivers and passengers deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. We all have a role to play in ensuring the safety and comfort of everyone using public transport.

At school, we will be reminding students of the expectations for travelling on buses and light rail and we kindly ask you to have these important conversations at home as well. Here are a few key behaviours to discuss with your young person:

· Be polite and listen to the driver or transport officer.

· Show respect to the driver and other passengers - inappropriate language or physical violence is never acceptable.

· Remember to tap on and pay for your trip*

· Look after the bus or light rail vehicle - avoid leaving rubbish or causing damage, and hand in any lost items.

· Avoid disruptive behaviour - eating, drinking, and making loud noises can disturb others.

· Be considerate - give up your seat to someone who needs it more, such as an elderly person, someone who is pregnant, or someone with a disability.

Anyone behaving inappropriately on public transport may be asked to leave, and ACT Policing may be contacted.

Together, by reinforcing these expectations at school and at home, we can ensure a safe, respectful, and pleasant journey for all.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in this matter. For more information on public transport etiquette, please visit the Transport Canberra website.

Help Us Create a better Education Directorate Website Experience

Share your thoughts on the Education Directorate website. This website has general information on education in the ACT and is where you go to enrol in ACT public schools. It is different to your school’s website.

Help us create a better website experience by completing a short 5-minute survey before Friday 30 August 2024.

Parentline ACT

Parentline ACT offers free and confidential telephone counselling for parents and carers in the Australian Capital Territory. This service provides guidance and assistance on various parenting issues, ensuring you have the support you need with no appointment necessary. Parentline ACT is open on Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. For support, call (02) 6287 3833.

Get ready for MyWay+ 

MyWay+ is Transport Canberra’s next generation ticketing system that puts all public transport services in one place, MyWay+ will offer more ways to pay for public transport and introduce new digital platforms for journey planning and accessing real-time information. 

With more ways to pay, you can choose what works best for you and your family! 

The switchover to MyWay+ is expected later this year. Until then, students should continue to use their current MyWay card or a paper ticket from a ticket vending machine to pay for travel on Transport Canberra bus and light rail services. You can also: 

• Ensure your child’s MyWay card is registered to protect the balance. Transport Canberra can only process refunds and transfer credits for registered MyWay cards. 

• Sign up to Transport Canberra’s weekly e-news for regular updates. 

• Connect with Transport Canberra on social media. For more information on MyWay+ visit Transport Canberra – MyWay+. 

Free travel during MyWay+ transition, starts Friday 20 September

The next major phase for MyWay+ will start from Friday 20 September ahead of the next generation ticketing system going live this November. To get ready for the new ticketing system, the old equipment will need to be removed and new MyWay+ validators installed in both buses and along the light rail alignment.

As a result:

• travel will be free from 20 September

• NXTBUS will not be available during this transition period.

Literacy People's Literacy Learning Modules - A guide for engaging parents and carers

Mindfulness Podcast Series - ACT Education Directorate