12 March 2025
-
Messages From the Principal
-
Messages From the Deputy Principal
-
Messages From the Deputy Principal
-
Messages From the Manager Corporate Services
-
EALD – English as Additional Language/Dialect
-
ECE – Early Childhood Education
-
Wellbeing Officer
-
Sports Report
-
P & C
-
Keyed Up Music
-
Better Health Program
-
Curtin University Hockey Club
-
Career Conversations
-
2025 Term Dates
Messages From the Principal

Strategic Planning
We have commenced the planning cycle for the next Business Plan 2026-2029. Earlier this week you would have received a letter via School Stream from Ms Robins regarding the Diagnostic Inventory of School Alignment survey (DISA). I ask that you please take the time to complete the survey by clicking on the link. The data will be used to develop our new business plan. The link will be open until 3pm on Wednesday 2 April. Thank you for your continued support and assistance.


Encouragement of student “voice”
A powerful vision & defined values
An embedded revitalisation process
Community perceptions and attitudes
Promotional activities in the community
Focused resource decision-making processes
Traffic Around the School
Thank you to those demonstrating absolute caution and alertness around our school during drop-off and pick-up. I ask that if you see careless behaviour, report it to the police. The school has worked tirelessly to build and create a safe environment. Some of the initiatives include re-marking the “Kiss, Click and Drive” bays; installing fencing to control the exits and entries to the school; additional parking for staff that has freed up the parents pick-up and drop-off carpark to the west of the school; and educating our community. Let’s work together with courtesy to keep our children safe.



Students’ individual wellbeing
Embedded community engagement processes
Communities of support for the school’s vision and outcomes
NAPLAN
Mr Taylor and our staff have been working hard to prepare our students for the upcoming NAPLAN testing for Years 3 and 5. Testing commenced last Wednesday 12 March and will conclude on Monday 24 March. Parents will receive a timetable closer to the dates, outlining the tests that your child will be undertaking on certain days. Please ensure that children have plenty of sleep the night before and have had a nutritious breakfast.
Curriculum development and adaptation
Schoolwide analysis of successful T L&A practices
The creation of a schoolwide pedagogical framework
Linking of SWP principles to emerging systemic policies and innovative programs
School Board
Our next School Board meeting will be held on Monday 24 March.
Embedded community engagement processes
Communities of support for the school’s vision and outcomes
High expectations, by the school’s communities, for student & school outcomes
P&C
Our P&C has been working hard to prepare for their AGM. This was held last Tuesday, and I would like to thank the outgoing Executive members, congratulate Indah Yildiz for being re-elected as President and welcome the incoming volunteers. Please check the P&C website for a complete list. I look forward to further developing our partnership and value adding to our school and our educational program, benefiting all our students.
Embedded community engagement processes
Communities of support for the school’s vision and outcomes
High expectations, by the school’s communities, for student & school outcomes
Swimming Carnival
A reminder that our swimming carnival will be held in Week 8, Thursday 27 March for Years 4 – 6 at the Bayswater Waves.
Student achievement
Students’ individual wellbeing
Embedded community engagement processes
Design of learning environments – classroom, schoolwide
Works
- Signage around the school. We are reviewing the signage around the school in a hope that the messages are clearer, limiting confusion and keeping everyone safe.
School resourcing
Aesthetic environment
An embedded revitalisation process
Design of learning environments – classroom, schoolwide
Mr Peter Jakimowiez
Principal
Messages From the Deputy Principal
Parliament Role Play
Last week, Room 4 students stepped into the shoes of real politicians in a lively Parliament role play, debating and voting on a bill to abolish homework!
With passionate arguments from both sides, the Government and Opposition made their case, while the Speaker of the House ensured order.
A fantastic way to learn about democracy, debate, and decision-making—plus, some very strong opinions on homework!
Well done to the students, and Mr Ruddle, on a fantastic way to learn about Parliament.








Grip Leadership Conference
In Week 3, our Student Councillors attended the Grip Leadership Conference at the PCEC.
They attended workshops on:
*The Responsibilities of a Student Leader
*Leadership Through Friendship
*New Ideas to Help Others
*Achieving Your Idea Before the End of the Year
We look forward to seeing these plans in action throughout the year!


Mr Ben Taylor
Deputy Principal
Messages From the Deputy Principal

2025 Whole School Survey
DISA – Diagnostic Inventory of School Alignment
The DISA survey is undertaken by our school community (staff, Year 5 & 6 students, parents, broader community) every two years and gauges our impact in the six areas of school performance.
It is a research and evidence-based tool for assessing whole school alignment. The more aligned a school community is towards common practices, strategies and beliefs, the better the outcomes for students and the school community.
We invite parents and families to complete this survey that provides an opportunity to build on our excellence, as we begin to develop the DHPS Business Plan 2026-2029. The data will be cross-examined by staff, student and parent representatives.
Please refer to the DHPS Business Plan 2022-2025 on the website should you need to review our schools robust strategic planning and exemplary approach to teaching and learning prior to completing the survey, which will take no more than 10 minutes to complete.
The survey closes for parents and families at 3pm on Wednesday 2April 2025.
Encouragement of student “voice”
A powerful vision & defined values
An embedded revitalisation process
Community perceptions and attitudes
Promotional activities in the community
Focused resource decision-making processes
Ms Michelle Robins
Deputy Principal
Messages From the Manager Corporate Services
Absences From School
A reminder that our preferred method of contact for student absences is through the School Stream app. Simply click the absences button as shown on the picture below, complete the questions and submit.
This ensures that we have a paper trail of evidence for all absences as well as being a simple and quick way to communicate with the school. This form is also required to be completed for any term-time vacations.

Mrs Jackie Kelly
EALD – English as Additional Language/Dialect
At Dianella Heights PS we are proud of our multicultural and diverse student cohort. Did you know that there are 44 different home languages spoken by the families of our school community? Some of these include Bosnian, Cantonese, Farsi, Gujarati, Hebrew, Kurdish, Mongolian, Spanish and Vietnamese, just to name a few. This information was collected from our recently completed student census data.
Dianella Heights provides EAL/D (English as an Additional Language or Dialect) small group sessions to some of these students. In the sessions there is a focus on oral language in the early years setting and writing in the primary setting.
This term the Pre-Primary students engaged in the Talk for Writing program and focussed on retelling the story, ‘Shoes from Grandpa.’ They created a story map to assist in the retell of the story as well as retelling the story with real objects. Thank you to our models for allowing us to dress them up in a blouse with ribbons and bows, mittens softer than kittens, and a scarf to make us all laugh. The students enjoyed labelling the clothing items, comparing mittens to gloves, discussing what weather we wear these items of clothing in as well as retelling the story with actions.




Natalie McInnes
EAL/D Teacher
ECE – Early Childhood Education
In the past few weeks, our ECE students have been busy learning and growing! Here's a glimpse into some of the exciting things happening in our classrooms:
Kindergarten News
Literacy Adventures
We have been diving into the magic of words! Our young learners have been looking closely at what makes a word and identifying whether they are short or long. It’s been so much fun as we explore different kinds of words and their sounds. We also spent time reading and exploring the beloved book The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The children have been practicing story sequencing, oral retelling, and using related vocabulary from the story. To make the experience even more memorable, we had a surprise in our classroom—a cocoon appeared, and after some time, it turned into a beautiful butterfly! It was a fantastic way to reinforce our learning.
Numeracy Fun
In numeracy, we have been focusing on numbers up to 5, practicing counting, and recognizing numbers in various contexts. Our numeracy craft display is coming along wonderfully, and the children’s cutting skills are improving every day!
Social and Emotional Learning
In our social-emotional learning (SEL) journey, we’ve been focusing on identifying and exploring our emotions. We’ve begun linking our feelings to the Zones of Regulation program, where the children are learning strategies to help manage their big emotions. It's been a great conversation starter, and we are already seeing some great self-regulation in action.
Additionally, we’ve been talking about our class as a family, highlighting the importance of kindness, respect, and empathy. To celebrate this, we made class friendship bracelets, each one representing the different values we display towards each other.
Physical Education Fun
In our PhysEd program, we have been learning the skills of static balance and jumping. To consolidate our skills, we ended the unit with some fun games that the children absolutely love! It’s been wonderful to see how the kids are improving their physical skills while having so much fun.
Nurse Hayley’s Visit
This week, Nurse Hayley visited the kindergarten classrooms to introduce herself and explain what happens when students come to see her for their 4-year-old screening in the coming weeks. She answered the students' questions and reassured them about the process, helping to make them feel comfortable.
If you haven’t already done so, please remember to return your health forms to the school. These forms are needed to complete the screenings and ensure we have up-to-date health information for each child.
Pre-Primary
On Entry Testing
We are well underway with our On Entry testing, which helps us better understand each child’s strengths and learning needs. This information will guide our teaching and ensure that every child is supported in their learning journey.
Health Program – Identifying Emotions
Our health program has kicked off with a focus on identifying and understanding emotions. We’ve been exploring different feelings and discussing strategies to manage them. A key part of this is reviewing the Zones of Regulation, helping children recognise their emotional states and how to self-regulate.
Science – Living and Non-Living Things
In Science, we are learning about the fascinating world around us! The children are engaging in discussions and activities to distinguish between living and non-living things. They are excited to explore how these objects grow, change, and interact with their environment.
Home Reading Program – Coming Soon
We are thrilled to announce that our Home Reading Program will begin in Week 6. This program is a wonderful opportunity for children to practice their reading skills at home, with support from you. More details will be provided closer to the start date.
Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to create a positive and engaging learning environment for all our students.




Wellbeing Officer
Aussie of the Month
Nicolas C in Year 4 was recognised as our Aussie of the Month at the last assembly. Congratulations Nicolas on being an outstanding member of our community!

Focus Virtue
Our last focus virtue was Respect.
These are the wonderful students who were recognised for practicing respect.

Next Focus Virtue
The next focus virtue is Excellence.
You are practicing excellence when you:
- Give your best to whatever you do
- Give your best to relationships
- Set worthy and realistic goals
- Remember to plan and practice
- Don’t try to do everything
- Develop your special gifts
What might excellence look like at home?
- Putting time and care into small tasks and chores
- Encouraging a family member to keep trying when they don’t achieve something the first time
- Marking out time in the week to focus on doing something you’re really interested in
- Helping kids foster and strengthen friendships by organising playdates
- Talking about personal goals around the dinner table, and brainstorming ways to achieve them

Jess Lewis
Wellbeing Officer
Sports Report
2025 Faction Swimming Carnival – Year 4-6
This year's swimming carnival is being Held on Thursday 27 March at Bayswater Waves Swimming Pool. A School Stream notice has been sent to all Year 4 – 6 students as this is a compulsory event. Students will compete in 25m and 50m events, and a choice of novelty events. Please ensure that the School Stream is returned with event selection by the end of today. These events cannot go ahead without the help of parent volunteers. Please consider assisting at our Dianella Heights Primary School swimming carnival.
Students Achievements
Over the Labour Day long weekend, 3 talented Dianella Heights Primary School students had the honour of representing our school at the highly competitive Interdistrict State T-ball Championship at Yokine Reserve. This intense three-day event brought together top players from across the state, all vying for the coveted champion titles.
A huge congratulations to Kevin S (Under 11s), Parker H (Under 11s) and George S (under 9s) for their outstanding performances throughout the competition. The level of competition was fierce, but each student rose to the challenge, showcasing exceptional skill and determination. Their hard work and commitment truly shone on the field, and they made us incredibly proud.

Year 6 students Maria K, Ronan C and Enzo S competed in the state athletics championships last weekend. Maria for the triple jump and 100m sprint; Ronan in the long jump; and Enzo in the 1.1km walk. Congratulations on competing at such a high standard!



Dianella Heights Primary School would like to thank Peta Williamson for the very generous donation of sports equipment from the Thunder Netball Club. We are so thankful to you and the club for your donations.

Be a Sporting Hero Free Dress Day and Sports Equipment Collection in support of FAIR GAME
WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Students at Dianella Heights Primary School are invited to come to school on Friday 11 April dressed as their favourite sporting hero or in their team colours, in return for a gold coin donation. We are supporting Fair Game, a WA charity that recycles sports equipment and distributes it to children in remote, regional and underserviced communities across the state.
On the last day of Term 1, Friday 11 April:
- Come dressed as your favourite sporting hero or in your team colours.
- Bring any unwanted or outgrown sports equipment to donate – most needed items are runners, footy boots, footballs, soccer balls and basketballs. Please make sure donations are clean and in good useable condition with plenty of life left in them. Please place in the bin provided in the bottom undercover area.
- We are not able to take helmets or clothing.
- Your gold coin donation and pre-loved equipment makes you a sporting hero as it enables another child to enjoy the benefits of playing sport too.
Collection of old sports equipment and shoes in good condition can be brought into school and given to Mrs Hesse in the bottom undercover area from Monday 17 March until Wednesday 19 March.

Simone Hesse
P.E. Teacher
P & C
Kaya everyone,
I would like to thank all volunteers, bakers and everyone else who supported our P&C Election Day Sausage Sizzle last Saturday. From picking up supplies and slicing onions to BBQ chefs, special bakers and servers - we couldn’t have done it without you – thank you! Volunteering creates lasting relationships that enrich lives and strengthen communities.
We hope to share more memories as we continue to plan more fundraisers throughout the year.

Warm regards,
Indah Yildiz
P & C President
Keyed Up Music
Now available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Better Health Program


Curtin University Hockey Club

Career Conversations
Get ready, Wembley Career Conversations are back – Pathways and opportunities for 2025
We’re excited to announce that the Department of Education is returning to Wembley on Tuesday 1 April, to bring you Career Conversations - Pathways and opportunities 2025.
This is your chance to join us for an inspiring, free event where you and your young people can dive into a conversation about post-school options and hear directly from our industry experts. Whether you're curious about career pathways, university options, or training opportunities, this event has something for everyone!
Don’t miss out – reserve your place today by booking through the link below:
Reserve Your Spot
We can’t wait to see you there and help shape the future of your young people!

2025 Term Dates
Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 | |
First Day | Wednesday 5 February | Tuesday 29 April | Tuesday 22 July | Monday 13 October |
Last Day | Friday 11 April (PUBLIC HOLIDAY – Monday 3 March) | Friday 4 July (PUBLIC HOLIDAY – Monday 2 June) | Friday 26 September | Thursday 18 December |
Staff Development Days | Monday 3 February Tuesday 4 February | Monday 28 April Friday 30 May | Monday 21 July | Friday 19 December |
The Term Planner has been published on School Stream.
Noticeboard
We warmly invite parents of prospective students to visit our school for a tour of the facilities and gain an understanding of the opportunties available for our students.
Read More
United Reds Football League - Registrations Now Open
An opportunity for all children, of all abilities, aged 8 to 12 to experience the thrill of soccer.
If you have any questions or want to join a local team contact the clubs or Inclusion Solutions - info@inclusionsolutions.org.au or 9443 7226.
Read More