Dear Duffy School Community, 

Autumn is well and truly here, and it's such a beautiful time of year, with falling leaves and vibrant colours. It’s a great reminder to slow down and appreciate the changing season.

This Sunday marks the end of daylight saving time for 2025. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour! This change will give us more daylight in the mornings and less in the evenings. It’s a perfect time to adjust our routines and make the most of those extra hours of morning light.

I am pleased to announce some new appointments to our School Board. Vikas Sharma has been appointed as the P&C member, and Catherine Moore will join as the Board's Teacher Representative, alongside Rachel Pummeroy. Chris Curran (Parent Member) has been reappointed, and Dan Heap will continue as our School Board Chair. These appointments take effect from 1 April 2025. We look forward to working with this team and thank them for their ongoing commitment to our school community and to ACT public schools.

Term one is always a busy time for the young athletes at Duffy School. Following the excitement of our recent Swimming Carnival and water fun activities, our students are now setting their sights on the upcoming Cross Country Carnival. Organising the event has been a team effort, and I’d like to extend my thanks to Chris Currie and his team for their oversight of this important event.

Please see further information below on how you can get involved in this event.

As this is our last newsletter before the school holidays, we wish everyone a safe and relaxing break and look forward to welcoming students back to school on Tuesday, 29th April.

Warm regards,
Katie, Arilia, Sarah, Fiona, and Julian.

Our School Improvement Plan (2021-2025) remained focused on two main priorities: 

Nine weeks into the school year we can see improvements in:

• Strengthened teacher collaboration and professional learning around best-practice maths instruction.

• Established consistent processes for collecting, analysing, and responding to student data.

• Positive student mindset shifts towards maths, with greater confidence in tackling number tasks.

• Professional learning opportunities enhancing teacher knowledge of best-practice maths instruction.

• Greater consistency in teaching approaches across year levels.

• Improved student ability to articulate mathematical thinking using common language.

• Greater fluency in number facts and operations across all year levels.

• Lesson planning informed by areas of student needs.

•  Linking lessons to real world situations

Hundreds of individuals have volunteered as mentors to ACT public school students in our primary and secondary schools through this program, providing an extra tier of support for students.

The volunteers typically meet weekly with students. They engage with them through one-on-one activities to support literacy and numeracy, or work together on craft, cooking, Meccano or Lego projects. They share insights gained through their own lives and boost confidence and attitudes to learning through conversation and connection.

Mal Ferguson is a long-time volunteer not only at Duffy Primary School but across many ACT public schools. We thank Mal for the enormous contribution he has made to so many young people’s lives here at Duffy.

Healthy Schools Network ACT:

The Healthy Schools Network ACT (the Network) is a collaboration of local Not-For-Profit organisations that actively promote health and wellbeing in ACT primary schools and secondary schools. The Network connects educational settings with community services. Contains information and resources about parenting workshops around mental health and wellbeing for children and young people.

Parent & Carer Support Courses Term 1, 2025 - Healthy Schools Network ACT

https://www.healthyschoolsact.com.au/southside-initiative/perks-0-8

Mindmap:

ACT Youth Portal is a dedicated portal for children and young people (up to 25 years of age) to help navigate Canberra’s mental health system and to find the right service and support. This Portal can be used by children and young people themselves as well as parents, carers and professionals supporting a young person.

https://www.mindmap.act.gov.au/s/

School holiday programme:

Tidbinbilla offer a school holiday program with free activities for kids of all ages (once the park entry fee has been paid).

What's on - Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve - Canberra

School Photo Day

Our School Photo Day will run on Friday the 2nd of May, Week 2 of Term 2 for the primary school and the Wombats preschool class. 

On Tuesday 6th of May of Week 3 there will be a second session for the Possums preschool class and a catch up for anyone who missed out. 

All students should now have received a photo envelope which is to be returned to Front Office. The latest date to hand this note back is Friday the 2nd of May. If you have not received a photo envelope, please check with classroom teachers. Front Office will have spare copies if the envelope is lost. Front Office also has Sibling Photo Packs if you wish for your children to participate. 

Voluntary Contributions

A letter regarding Voluntary Contributions will be sent home this week. The school allocates its funds provided by the ACT Government to provide quality teaching and learning resources for both staff and all students. 

Whilst these funds enable the school to provide a very good resource level, Duffy Primary School aims to provide the highest level of challenge for every student; to do this we need your support. The School Board relies on voluntary contributions to provide these additional resources. 

Under section 27 of the Education Act 2004, the following principles apply in relation to financial contributions: 

• each contribution is voluntary. 

• a student is not refused benefits or services because parent/s do not make a contribution. 

• a student is not approached or harassed for contributions; 

• any record of contributions is confidential. 

If you are in a position to make a voluntary contribution, please use QuickWeb via the school website or contact the Front Office for ETPOS. 

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with the Pump Track working bee. It has been wonderful to see students so involved in using the pump track each day. We are looking forward to using it more throughout the year 

Seeking Expressions of Interest for Appointed Members on ACT Public School Boards

The Education Directorate is seeking expressions of interest for the Appointed Member position on school boards across the ACT.

School boards assist in shaping the strategic direction and priorities for schools, such as by:

·         Monitoring and reviewing school performance

·         Reviewing curriculum

·         Reviewing and helping to implement policies

·         Approving the school budget

·         Developing relationships in the school community

·         Encouraging parent participation in student learning

·         Making recommendations.

Typically, school boards are composed of:

·         The school’s principal

·         3 parent and citizen members

·         2 staff members

·         2 student members (at high schools and colleges)

·         1 Appointed Member

·         Up to 2 Board Appointed Members (if any)

An Appointed Member is generally an individual from outside the immediate school community who is interested in and dedicated to public education. They offer an independent perspective to board discussion and decision-making. Appointments are made for up to two years, with the possibility of re-appointment.

We encourage people with diverse backgrounds, skills and experience, and an interest in public schools, to apply by submitting an expression of interest form to the School Boards Team by 5pm, Friday 9 May 2025.

For more information on joining a school board, please visit the Education Directorate website.

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.

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

Mindfulness Podcast Series - ACT Education Directorate