We plan to hold a number of celebrations to mark the occasion and invite all past and present staff, parents & students to join us for the launch of our 25th anniversary at the DFPS First Term Excellence Assembly, on Wednesday April 17 at 11:45am in the School Gymnasium.

Please let us know if you can attend – email margaret.hawkes@education.tas.gov.au or phone 62 658116.

We would love to see you there.

P.S. Do you have some memories you would like to share? Please contact Margaret at the school office before the day if you would like to contribute.

• Breakfast Club info
• Canteen Menu
• 0-4 @ Dodges timetable
• After School Care info
• Scholastic Book Club info
• Levies 2013
• Staffing 2013
• Strategic plan – vision, mission and values
• Help with problems & complaints

What else would you like to access here? Bus travel info, after school activities, school banking, what else? Please contact Melinda on 0408554934 with your suggestions.

• Head lice (tiny bugs) and nits (the eggs) only live on human heads.
• They don’t care if the hair is long or short, clean or dirty.
• The best and cheapest way to remove them is with inexpensive conditioner and a nit comb.
• You will need to re-treat your child several times before all the eggs will be gone.

Go to School A to Z to find out more about nit buster myth busters and how to really come to grips with nits.

For all Kinder parents and other new families there will be a cuppa available in the school library 8.45-9.30am Tue-Fri this week if you’d like to drop in for a chat when it’s time to leave your child’s classroom.

(By the way, Kinders have a staggered start so your child’s first day is the day on the info book, then go by the calendar after that.)

Lots planned for this year including celebrating our school’s 25th anniversary as well as sports, music, drama, fundraisers and other events to look forward to. More details soon.

Carlton Beach and huge plumes of smoke over Primrose Sands as the bushfire headed towards Dunalley, Friday 4/1/13.

Our hearts go out to all affected by the devastating fires, especially at Dunalley, Copping and Primrose Sands and all the Dunalley School community.

A huge thanks to all the fabulous firefighters, police, sea rescue and everyone working tirelessly to keep us safe. Great job Tas Fire Service, Dodges Ferry Fire Brigade and 936 ABC Radio keeping everyone informed.

Dodges Ferry’s Community Recreation Centre gym at the school became a temporary refuge for people in the Forcett and southern beaches area who needed a safer place to go to as bushfires threatened their homes.

Dodges Ferry principal Andy Bennett was bushwalking on the far SW coast with school chaplain David Walker when David was airlifted out by ABC helicopter to be reunited with his family on Sunday. Back from the walk Monday night, Andy contacted Dodges Ferry staff (all safe) and visited the Dodges Ferry Fire Station and the community refuge at Sorell to get a better sense of the local situation.

The Prime Minister and Premier toured the fire affected areas on Monday and the government announced that Dunalley Primary School will be rebuilt.

All that remains of 128 year old Dunalley Primary School is the school gym that was built only a couple of years ago and the toilet block.

Andy Bennett and Dunalley principal Matt Kenny are part of a team preparing for the new school year and best available options for Dunalley’s 130 students.

Elizabeth Knox and the Dunalley School Committee are rallying community support,  gathering classroom, playground and other supplies the school will need and urging the government, other schools, businesses and individuals to help replace what was destroyed in the firestorm on Friday.

The Dodges Ferry Primary School Association have offered to help replace the new school uniform tops bought by the Dunalley parent body but lost in the fire.

Dodges Ferry fitness centre Healthy Horizons is running a kids Zumbtomic “Dance for Dunalley” on Thursday 17th January, collecting books for the Dunalley School appeal.

Okines Community House and other local organisations are planning fundraisers and other support.

As bushfires continue across Tasmania, please stay safe and remember:

• Keep up to date with Tasmanian Fire Service online and the TFS and Dodges Ferry Fire Brigade on Facebook and ABC Local Radio (936 AM in the south east).
• Check the detailed bushfire recovery Q&A for who to contact, how to get help, how to help others…
• Make cash donations to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal or to Salvation Army, Bendigo Bank etc so that emergency services can provide support as/when needed. Donated goods often do not meet actual needs and recovery organisers will appeal for specific items if needed.
• If you want to help the recovery effort long-term the best thing to do is to register with Volunteering Tasmania on 1800 677 895 or (03) 6231 5550 between 9am and 4pm.
• Follow the Dodges Ferry School Community on Facebook for updates about our school and helping Dunalley School too.

The School Association passed on parent concerns to Council in late 2011. Since then speed limit signs near the school have been moved/upgraded.

Where the footpath crosses Carlton Beach Road at the intersection with First and Third Avenues, Council upgraded the children crossing signs with larger, brighter signs both sides. After wider public consultation, works are now underway to re-align the road way and add kerbing and guttering, concrete paths and a pedestrian refuge.

Further footpath improvements are planned for Carlton Beach Road and First Ave.

See here for more details.

Prizes to be won, eats and treats to purchase and lots more fun!

When: Friday 23rd November
Where: Dodges Ferry Football Club
Who: Grade 3 – 6 children
Time: 4PM to 6PM
Cost: $2 Entry Fee

Parents welcome to stay with or sign your child in/out. Fully supervised, no passes out and no BYO food/drinks.

All proceeds will go towards improving our school equipment and environment.

Any questions, please contact Serena @ 0457 060 679.

Gina calling the winner

Selena Stennings is the lucky winner of the $4000 MTA travel voucher and Alison Taylor won the $500 travel voucher in the bookseller bonus draw. Selena and Alison both have children at our school.

The lucky locals were drawn from more than 1100 ticket holders from Queensland to South Australia and all parts of Tasmania as well as the Sorell and Southern Beaches communities.

A huge thanks to everyone who bought and sold tickets, especially Gina Edwards and MTA Travel for helping to sell more than 500 tickets as well as donate commissions from the travel bookings.

Buy a ticket and you could win a $4000 MTA voucher for travel of your choice. Tickets at the school office, Okines House and local shops until 18th October.

Sell a book of 10 tickets to go into the bonus draw for a $500 travel voucher. Booksellers please return books and money to the school office by 3.00pm Thursday 18th October.

The raffle will now be drawn on Friday 19th October at the school.

At today’s Excellence Awards Assembly we welcomed back local builder, surfer and sailing adventurer Tobias Fahey (DFPS 1990-1997) who is preparing to sail solo, non-stop, unassisted, around the world. We are excited to follow Tobias’ adventures in the coming months and look forward to seeing Tobias on his return.