Hello and welcome everyone, to the start of the 2024 school year! It's my pleasure to stand before

you as we embark on another exciting journey of learning, growth, and discovery.

As we commence this new academic year, let us reflect on the successes and challenges of the past and look forward with anticipation and enthusiasm to the opportunities that lie ahead. Our school community is a vibrant tapestry of individuals, each with unique talents, aspirations, and perspectives. Together, we form a supportive environment where every student can thrive and achieve their fullest potential.

This year, we will continue to uphold our commitment to academic excellence, fostering a love for learning, and nurturing the intellectual curiosity of our students. We will embrace innovation and creativity in our teaching practices, equipping our students with the skills, knowledge, and resilience they need to navigate an ever-changing world. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all children, young people and staff feel safe, valued and supported.

But beyond academics, let us also remember the importance of kindness, empathy, and inclusivity. Let us strive to create a school culture where every voice is valued, every opinion is respected, and every individual feels seen, heard, and supported. Our Department of Education for Children and Young People have introduced new values that underpin our way of working. I strongly believe that these are a true reflection of the Port Dalrymple culture and represent the foundation the school community. We will start to embed these as we transition into 2024.

As we embark on this journey together, let us forge strong bonds of friendship and teamwork, celebrate our achievements, and lift each other up in times of need. With dedication, perseverance, and a shared sense of purpose, there is no limit to what we can accomplish.

I am excited to see what this school year holds for each and every one of us. Let us embrace the opportunities, overcome the challenges, and make this year one of growth, fulfillment, and joy.

I seek the support of parents in continuing to develop a school community that has high aspirations for our young people. This requires us to work in partnership to encourage positive moral
and ethical behaviour that is free from harassment, discrimination and bullying. Every child has the right to feel safe, build positive relationships and to be connected. Our school community welcomes those who treat other respectfully, make and effort to be the best they can and those who are supportive of all. Last year we discussed the role of bystanders and their responsibility to promoting positive behaviour.

We have begun the year with a tight process regarding the use of mobile devices by students during learning time. The Department Education (DECYP) takes the safe and responsible use of digital technologies, student wellbeing and the development of social and emotional skills very seriously. We live in a technology rich world where mobile phones are an important tool for life and work. However, research and consultation with the Tasmanian community has found that mobile phones are a distraction from learning and impact the development of positive personal relationships at school.

Our new timetable structure provides ample opportunity for students to access bathrooms, food and support during break times. Our focus is to provide quality learning opportunities that are personalised, differentiated and accessible for each student. This uninterrupted time will build on student literacy, numeracy and academic learning for four 70 minute block a day.

We have many new faces in our staff this year. Working along side me to lead the school is a team with a breath of diverse experience that together will support our young people to connect and engage in learning.

Welcome once again to the 2024 school year. Let's make it a memorable one! Thank you.

Teacher across all grades will make contact with you to introduce themselves and to discus how they can work with you to support your young person to have greater success at school. We will

This year we will begin a new journey to support students in developing skills to cope with the world around them. We will engage with The Resilience Project, initially with all students in Grades 5-10, while our Kinder to 4 will continue with the ZONES of Regulation as a tool to support regulation skills and social and emotional learnings.

The Resilience Project delivers emotionally engaging programs to schools, sports clubs and businesses, providing practical, evidence-based mental health strategies to build resilience and happiness.

Through presentations, school curriculum, and Wellbeing Journals, we share the benefits of Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness, and easy ways to practise these in everyday life. We also incorporate Emotional Literacy, Connection and Physical Health education and activities as they are foundational contributors to positive mental health.

Our Mission

To teach positive mental health strategies to help people become happier

Why?

• 1 in 4 adolescents have a mental illness
• 1 in 7 primary schools kids have a mental illness
• 1 in 5 adults will experience mental ill-health throughout the year
• 65% of adolescents do not seek help for mental illness

Why The Resilience Project?

Our whole school wellbeing program teaches and supports positive mental health in the classroom, staffroom and wider community. Our program is emotionally 

engaging, practical, proven to have impact through evidence based evaluations, and is delivered in 800+ schools. Every school has their own dedicated partnership manager to support

the successful implementation of the program.

The research is clear; the more positive emotion you experience, the more resilient you will be. For that reason we focus on three key pillars that have been proven to cultivate positive

emotion; Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness (GEM), with Emotional Literacy being a foundational skill to practise these strategies.

For parents

Presentations:

• Suite of inspiring digital clips to provide a home school connection

 Engagement Initiatives:

• Dedicated online parent/carer hub with supporting resources
• TRP@HOME – practical wellbeing activities for parents/carers and their children
• Parent communication, including:
• Parent/carer newsletter
• Supporting parent/carer communications

We featured in the DECYP Learning News this week, showcasing the work, commitment and focus of embedding our values across our school community.

A unique take on our values 

Last year was a big year for our relatively new department, with the release a 2024 - 2030 strategic plan and shared values.  We spent a lot of time understanding and embracing all that was new, with this year presenting an exciting opportunity to go deeper and really run with it. 

In adopting our new values: Connection, Responsibility, Courage, Growth and Respect, it has been wonderful to see how they are starting to be depicted and recognised in our schools and the unique ways of doing this. 

Last year Howrah Primary School entwined the new values into their school leadership ceremony and duties. 

This year Port Dalrymple School has started the new school year embracing our values in a beautiful artwork and a series of sculptures. The display was part of a planned upgrade to a ‘tired’ area in the school, which is now a wonderful site for true connection. The central timber-decked space, bordered by the values, signifies the safe space where the school and school community can come together. 

As Port Dalrymple Principal Lynette Burt put so beautifully: “Our values are central to everything we do.” 

A Promising Start to the New Year for K to 4 students

As we start the new school year, it fills me with great joy to witness our young learners embracing their educational journey with enthusiasm and engagement. Our classrooms are filled with energy and excitement of eager students who are already demonstrating a love for learning. Their curiosity and eagerness to learn reflects a positive start to the year.

In addition to our engaged and enthusiastic learners, I am thrilled to see a strong sense of partnership between our teachers and learners. I believe these partnerships will play a pivotal role in our students’ success and holistic development throughout the year.  

As we join together to celebrate this successful beginning to the new year, I look forward to the continued growth and achievements of our students and strengthening family partnerships.

I welcome opportunities to celebrate success and enjoy conversations with students, the highlights so far have been hearing, 

Student voice

“My classroom looks amazing”

“I love working in groups with my friends”

“I get to see my new friend everyday”

“My teacher is nice, she says hello everyday and we have fun”

Here’s to a wonderful year of learning, growth and celebration. I look forward to seeing our students at school each day.

Kristi Eastoe

Assistant Principal

Farewell

This week we join together in farewelling and congratulating Miss Halana Knowles, who will be starting a new leadership journey as AST K to 6 at Campbell Town District High School from Monday 19^TH February.

As Miss Knowles embarks on a new chapter in her life, Port Dalrymple students and staff want to express our deep gratitude for her dedication and passion for education. Miss Knowles’ teaching and leadership has left an indelible mark on our school community, and her guidance has inspired countless students and colleagues alike.

Miss Knowles, we wish you all the best in your future endeavours and hope that your leadership journey continues to be filled with success, fulfillment, and the same positive impact you have made at Port Dalrymple. Farewell, and may your path always be illuminated by the light of knowledge and inspiration.

2023 Outstanding Achievement Awards for Vocational Education and Training (VET)

In late January 2024 a presentation was held at Government House in Hobart to award two of our Year 12 students from 2023. Libby received an award for Certificate II in Tourism and Molli was awarded for the Certificate II in Community Services.

Both girls demonstrated excellence in a VET program and successfully achieved the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE), including having completed a significant amount of VET as a component of the TCE.

VET Award recipients were selected from nominated students by a panel of experts with extensive experience in VET and the educator sector. The panel’s decision was based on nominees’ outstanding achievement against the eligibility criteria, including demonstrated skill, ability, and determination in their chosen industry area.

Port Dalrymple School are extremely proud of Libby and Molli and wish them all the best with their future endeavours.

Gus – Port Dalrymple School Dog

Gus visits our school of a Monday and he is a part of our Student Support team. Some of Gus’s favourite things to do include playing catch in Kindergarten, visiting class rooms and getting endless pats and cuddles in the playground. Students can also take their favourite book and read to Gus in Jayne’s office. 

Gus loves spending time at Port with our students and staff.

If you would like to meet Gus or if you have any concerns about your child being near Gus, please let your teacher or Jayne know.

Students have been enjoying their Swimming and Water Safety Program, each day down at the George Town Pool

Dear Parent/Guardian

Our School will be switching over to a new messaging platform for communicating with you. This will replace our current system MGM Wireless. For communication attendance.

EdSmart is an Australian platform which is designed to improve communication in school communities by allowing electronic messaging such as SMS and emails. It will be used to manage absences messages i.e. you will receive a SMS or email alert if your child is absent from school requesting a response.  It will also allow us to send a communication message to all parents/guardians if needed.

Once we go live with the system this term you will receive a text message to your phone with further details.  The message sender will be a shortened version of our school’s name - Please keep an eye out for it!

Further information is available on the Department’s website

Communicating with your child's school - Department for Education, Children and Young People (decyp.tas.gov.au)