Working Bee: The two day Working Bee this past weekend was a huge

success with all the work planned being completed. With many thanks to the

Lighthouse Church team and our parent community who we were able to add

softfall to all our playgrounds as well as the senior seating area at the back of

the Senior Building, tidy up the veggie garden area including weeding, trimming

trees and clean out the garden shed, clean out our various storage rooms

around the school, tidy up the garden bed in front of the GP building, paint the

car park fence, tidy up the school’s front garden, sweeping, blowing and

weeding. This is a massive amount of work, which could only have been

accomplished with the wonderful support of our community. A big thank you

to the following families who joined us on either Saturday or Sunday of this

past weekend to lend a helping hand: Cowley, Condos, Thatiot, Cope, Gao,

Oldham, Bailey, Valentine, Bishop, Solman, Ehlert, Cooper, Ungureanu, Brown,

Raftopoulos, Martin, Webber, Merton, Disimone / Huang and Panesar families.

A big thank you also to the Lighthouse Church team who worked tirelessly

throughout Saturday morning – we certainly could not have completed all our

jobs without their help. We are so grateful for their support and look forward

to continuing our relationship with them.

School site upgrades: Our School site upgrades have commenced with

our junior playground equipment situated on the ‘rainbow’ side of the school

being completely boxed in and filled with soft fall. This now enables a much

safer play area for our students to enjoy not to mention making this area of

our school a far more attractive place to be. Approval for the $77,000 Planned

Maintenance funding from the Department is now not too far away.

It is intended for this money to be spent on:

repairing the asphalt at the entrance to our pick up / drop off zone

creating three asphalted pathways around the school allowing for more

safer access to the school grounds

installing new gates at the entrance and exit to the pick-up / drop off

zones

creating a retaining wall along the Elata Street school boundary

installing a fence along the western boundary of the school adjacent to

the oval and old kinder

Q u o t e o f t h e w e e k :

30th March 2017 Elata Street, Donvale

Phone: 03-9842 3373 Fax: 03-9841 7033

Email: Donvale.ps@edumail.vic. gov.au

Our Values

Respect

Responsibility

Resilience

Compassion

FROM THE PRINCIPAL - Lena Clark

School opened

Monday 7th August 1967

installing security and flood lighting in the junior and senior areas of the school

installing new drinking taps to the breezeway student drinking troughs

polishing the drinking troughs, hand washing troughs and urinals in the toilets so that they look

almost brand new

replacing and repairing plumbing and toilets in the toilet block

erecting fencing that will enclose the back of the performing arts building creating a storage area.

As you can see, we have arranged for quite a bit of much needed work to take place around our school.

Hopefully we will be able to do some of this during the school holidays however, if this is not possible, it

will occur shortly afterwards.

Changed parking conditions: The parking conditions on Elata Street have changed. The Council

have now made this area a ‘no standing’ zone during the times of 8.00am – 9.30am and 3.00pm – 4.00pm

on school days. Parents are asked to be aware of these changed conditions to avoid receiving a fine.

End Term 1: Another term has very quickly flown by as we look forward to our term break. Thank you

to the staff of DPS – just a wonderful team of educators who work tirelessly for our students. Thank you

for your commitment and dedication to what really is a very challenging but extremely rewarding career.

As I am commencing my holidays a couple of days earlier, I would like to take this opportunity to wish

everyone a very happy Easter and a safe and relaxing holiday. I will be on leave from today with Ian

McKinlay in the Acting Principal role during this time. I look forward to seeing you all back safely at the

beginning of Term 2 on Tuesday 18th April. The staff have many wonderful learning experiences

planned for our students; I know it’s going to be yet another busy but wonderful term.

Kind Regards

Lena Clark

A reminder that there will be an early dismissal of 2.30pm tomorrow

Friday 31st March. Assembly will commence at 1.45pm.

Some important dates for your diary:

Curriculum Days Term 2 – Friday 21st April & Friday 5th May

School Photos – Special 50th birthday celebration Thursday 20th April

Open Day / Night Wednesday 24th May

FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL - Ian McKinlay

As many of you may already know one of Donvale’s most loved Integration Aides Karen Durante has

been bravely fighting brain cancer over the past 3 years. Last Sunday Karen and her family flew to Sydney

for her third operation. On Monday Karen underwent surgery lasting several hours and the reports

coming through now are that she is beginning to make the steady post-surgery recovery the doctors had

anticipated. Karen is indeed blessed to have the wonderful love and care of her family and a group of

close girlfriends. I would like to make special mention of the unwavering support and kindness that Bec

Signorini, Lashay Cartledge, Anthea Keep and others have provided Karen with during this difficult time.

To help meet the increasing costs of surgery and care, a gofundme has been organised by Karen’s family

and friends on Facebook. If you feel you were able to contribute in any small way the Durante family

would be very grateful. As a school community our thoughts and prayers are with Karen as she continues

her brave fight.

https://www.gofundme.com/support-karens-brain-cancer-battle

Ian McKinlay

GENERAL

Getting involved in School Banking is easy!

All you need to do to get involved in the School Banking program is a Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver

account. You can open an account for your child in one of two ways:

1. Online

Visit commbank.com.au/schoolbanking and click on the link to open a Youthsaver account.

2. In branch

Visit a Commonwealth Bank branch with identification for yourself and your child, like a driver’s licence

and birth certificate.

If your child has an existing Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver account they can start banking straight

away. They just need to bring their deposit in every week on School Banking day using their Dollarmites

deposit wallet.

School Banking day is Monday. If you would like to know more about School Banking, please ask for a

2017 School Banking program information pack from the school office or visit commbank.com.au/

schoolbanking.

Please note: Bank books can be sent to school on Tuesday 18th of April (First day of term

2). There will be no banking in week 2 due to ANZAC day.

April

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

17

Easter Monday - Public Holiday

18

Term 2 resumes

19

20

SCHOOL PHOTOS

21

Curriculum Day - Student Free Day

24 25

Anzac Day - Public Holiday

26 27 28

1.30: Parents Association Meeting in the Library

Friday 31st March

9.00-11.00 Class

11.00-11.30 Recess

11.30-12.30 Class

12.40-1.30 Lunch

1.45-2.15 Assembly

2.30 Dismissal

SCHOOL PHOTOS

Photo envelopes were handed out today.

MATHS FUN AT HOME - Mr Reiter, Maths co-ordinator

MANDARIN - Ms Serina Lee

2017年1月30日

Term One Wrap

Mandarin Music Group (MMG)

We have welcomed many new members to MMG this term and students have been practising a familiar

song combining Mandarin and English. The Group is excited and looking forward to performing it to the

school community next term!

Wishing all Donvale families a safe, fun and happy school holiday!

Serina Lee (李老师 lǐ lǎo shi)

Term One has passed by in a flash! Students started off the year looking at Chinese New Year celebrations and learning how to say which animal zodiac year they were born in. We welcomed the Year of the Rooster! Students from Grade One to Six consolidated learning about how to ask for help and ways of replying to a request for help. They did a superb job of acting out skits of situations relevant to using the learned phrases as well as illustrating comics to demonstrate their understanding. They also learned how to ask and respond about where something might be located (here, there and where) as well as some personal pronouns. Foundation students learned basic Mandarin greetings, how to say, write and recognise numbers one to five in Mandarin as well as a variety of songs to introduce them to Mandarin. They have done a great job! To celebrate Harmony Day and Cultural Diversity week, students thought discussed what ‘culture’ means and about ways many different cultures contribute to shaping Australia – this is an ongoing conversation!

PERFORMING ARTS NEWS - Mrs Keep

Performing Arts Term 1

This term students have been focussing on dance; dancing safely, with a partner, creating short add-on

sequences and choreographing complete songs. Foundation students have also been learning to name and

play a variety of our percussion instruments.

Students have worked so well in

their groups. - Anthea Keep

Program Update

Dear families,

This week our goal was ‘Easter activities’. The children made a fantastic effort in working towards achieving this

goal. It was great to see everyone engaging to the planned activities this week. Some of the highlights of the week

included Easter bunny hats, volleyball, making kids passport and an amazing’ water save poster’. Many of these

activities were suggested by the children and it was fantastic to see them getting involved and demonstrating

leadership skills when explaining the activities to the rest of the group.

As this week was the last week of the term, wish you a great holiday!

See you next term

Sherry and Clare

Remember bookings can be made right until 12pm the night before, or you can book on the day by calling or leaving the

text message but there will be an extra charge of $3.00 for bookings within 24 hours. If you’re ever stuck and would like

your child to attend OSH After School Care you can call me or leave a message on 0402 362 443 and I will get back to

you. For some reason if you need to cancel the child from attending the after school care session you can cancel online if

it is before 24 hours or leave a text message on the program phone (0402362443/98422261) if it is on the day.

Please remember to update the contact details (Especially the phone

numbers and address) on the enrolment form if there is any change. This can

be done online at www.oshclub.com.au

Cross buns for sale at Friday Recess

Icy Tubes too.

thanks to all the wonderful Marshalls for helping out

on Tabloid Sports Day on Wednesday,

also to everyone that helped put up the marquees.

Everyone had a great time!!

PARENT ASSOCIATION NEWS

THANKS TO THE WORKING BEE SAUSAGE SIZZLERS -

LAST SUNDAY WAS A FEAST AFTER LOTS OF WORK DONE!

and even more to make a bunch!

Come to the next PA Meeting - Friday 28 April @ 1.30pm

DONVALE BASKETBALL CLUB – News & Views!

Diamonds tried their very best against their school mates Donvale Daisies. Although we went down 18

-34 we worked as a team and fought to the end.

Open girls had their first game in three weeks after the long weekend and a bye, playing at the East

Doncaster courts for the first time this year. They came up against a team with some accurate shooters

who made the most of their opportunities. Some great work under the basket by Ruby, who deserved a

goal but couldn’t get one to drop. The girls hustled better in defense in the second half, but couldn’t

redress the score deficit and had a loss.

The Dinosaurs met a very fast paced team, full of run and energy. The boys listened well to their coach

and with great passing they ran out the game and won well.

Birthday Wishes To

Andrew F, Pella S, Thomas W, Jake F, Amy L, Abby V, Jaimee E, Jimmy T, Ruben C, April S,

Dominic B, Charlotte E, Cooper R, Mehar L, Indi M, Maxwell T, Aysha Mc

Who are celebrating birthdays from the 31ST March to 20th April

The Department of Education & Training, Donvale Primary School its Management, and teachers

do not endorse the products or services of any advertiser listed in this publication. No

representation, warranty or undertaking is given or made in relation to the accuracy or

completeness of the information presented in this publication, or any claims made by the

advertisers.

A Guide for 21st Century Parents with Michael Carr-Gregg

Parents are invited to join us for a free Seminar with Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, one of Australia's highest profile adolescent and child psychologists. He believes that the risks of the online environment can be managed and that technologies can be deployed to improve the mental health and well-being of young people. Michael is the resident parent expert on Channel 7's Sunrise as well as psychologist for the Morning Show with Neil Mitchell on Radio 3AW. TUESDAY 2 MAY, 7.30PM - 9.00PM at Ivanhoe Grammar Buckley Hall, The Ridgeway Campus Bookings are essential. RSVP by 27 April Enquiries and bookings: community@ivanhoe.com.au or 9490 - 3401