Welcome to our Doncaster Primary School Webpage. Here you will find information about our school as well as updates on recent events. Doncaster Primary School aims to create strong partnerships with our students, families and the wider community.
DPS is the fourth school I have had the pleasure of leading as Principal. I often say I have never worked with a more caring and professional group of educators. Our school is a busy place with many different opportunities and events occurring each day.
I would like to acknowledge that families are the first and most enduring influence on a child’s development and play a significant role in a child’s learning. We aim to make the transition from kindergarten to school as smooth and positive as possible. We will work in partnership with you to help your child develop excellent academic, cultural, physical and social skills.
Curriculum Planning at DPS is outstanding, and a credit to our leadership and teaching teams. Our dedicated team work hard to ensure our students receive a well rounded program that aims to develop the whole child. Core subjects such as Literacy and Mathematics are very important, but we also have a high priority on other subjects. We are proud of the extra support and challenge programs we offer at DPS. Our Everest Program and High Achievers Programs extend and challenge our brightest. We also have an excellent tutoring program, this is not only for those students who need extra assistance, it is for our high achievers who we challenge further. We encourage all students to participate in the NAPLAN testing and celebrate our consistently high results with pride.
Doncaster Primary is a wonderful school with a dedicated staff who are highly qualified and committed to ongoing improvement for all students. With a student population of approximately 550, we are situated in the Doncaster Hill precinct on spacious grounds. Students enjoy a range of areas in which to play and develop including our veggie garden and chook house.
Facilities include a wonderful, full size gymnasium, Library, Art Room, Science Room modern classrooms, canteen, full size football oval, basketball courts, Volleyball court, cricket pitch, cricket nets and other spaces including playground equipment for students of all ages to explore. Children also enjoy using our synthetic play areas across the middle of the school. There are many mature shade-trees, lawn areas and play areas. In the last five years students have been involved in planting many trees and shrubs which has provided a great sense of pride in our school. We have also recently completed our Indigenous garden with our five metre gecko as a central figure.
Academically, we provide a challenging and comprehensive curriculum for each child in a caring and stimulating environment. Our teachers are highly skilled professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds. Many of our staff speak a second language. 63% of students come from a background with a language other than English. DPS is a dynamic, thriving, learning community made up of a diversity of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
We aim to facilitate success in all areas of learning and encourage children to develop to their full potential, academically, emotionally, physically and socially. At DPS we encourage the development of confident, articulate and independent learners who demonstrate self-discipline, self-reliance and a pride in themselves and their school. Our School Wide Positive Behaviours Program guides our approach to ensuring all students feel a strong sense of belong at “their” school.
Each child’s happiness, confidence, feelings of security and belonging are all coupled with an emphasis on attaining the highest standards for each and every child. We aim for them to be literate and numerate, to promote their health and wellbeing and to encourage interaction with others in a positive and caring way. We speak often about making good choices. Our incursion, excursion, student leadership, speaking competition and camps to name a few promote personal growth, resilience and confidence in students.
We are a positive Education School.
At Doncaster Primary School, each child is provided with care and support, where relationships with peers and staff convey respect, creating a sense of belonging and connectedness. Children are nurtured in an environment characterised by high expectations with opportunities for participation, leadership, goal setting, autonomy and personal development through a range of extra-curricular activities. With parents, we share responsibility for encouraging children to develop a sense of purpose while building resilience.
Our recent School Review highlighted many strengths at DPS. Our students reported to feeling cared for and respected by each other and their teachers.
At DPS we believe that children learn best when:
Parents are encouraged to participate in our curriculum programs, sporting events, school activities and groups such as Parents and Friends Association, our Fathering Project, School Council and School Council sub-committees. We welcome your support, as your involvement will strengthen links between home and school and enhance the educational achievements of the children. Parental involvement covers a wide range of activities including: shared reading, fund raising, sporting activities and special events and activities. Programs at DPS are supported formally by a hard working School Council and Parents and Friends Association.
We enjoy an open and friendly atmosphere and welcome community input and feedback about your school.
I look forward to welcoming you to DPS. If at any time you wish to discuss any aspect of our school, or your child’s welfare, please do not hesitate to contact me for a chat, or to arrange an interview time.
At DPS we live by our values – Determination, Pride, and Success.
I invite you to contact me personally if you have any questions or would like a tour of our wonderful school of which I am exceedingly proud to lead.
Jim Hill
Principal