We would like to welcome some new permanent staff to Lilydale for 2025. We know they have already had a positive influence on their classes and around the school, building new relationships and becoming familiar with our beautiful school.

Karen Hay - Principal

Antonio Zanchetta - Teacher
7 & 8 HASS, 7 & 8 English, 9 & 10 English, Study HUB

Jess Currant - School Business Manager

Sophie Tucker - Speech Pathologist, Tuesdays every fortnight.
Photo unavailable at time of printing.

We are very excited to welcome some new "Enrolments" into the Food and Fibre department for 2025.

Dear Families

I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Principal of Lilydale District School. I feel very privileged to join the school community.

Throughout my thirty-year career in education, I have been passionate about creating learning environments where every student feels valued, challenged, and supported. Schools thrive when there is a strong partnership between families, staff, and the wider community. My goal is to build on Lilydale’s strengths whilst continuing to develop a culture of respect, collaboration and belonging.

As I step into this role I am committed to:

• Supporting students to reach their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally
• Empowering teachers and staff with tools and resources they need to successfully undertake their role
• Engaging families as partners in their child’s education
• Upholding Lilydale’s traditions while exploring opportunities for growth and improvement.

In the coming weeks and months, I look forward to meeting you – whether at school events or informal conversations. Please feel free to stop by, introduce yourself, and share your thoughts about what makes Lilydale special and how we continue to grow. Your insights and perspectives are invaluable as we work together to make our school the best I can be for every student.

Thank you for welcoming me into this community. I am excited about the work ahead and confident that, together, we will achieve great things.

Warm Regards,

Karen Hay
Principal

The Department of Education, Children and Young People prohibit students using mobile phones in Tasmanian Government Schools. We are pleased to report that our students diligently work towards adhering to this policy, resulting in notable improvements in both their learning experiences and social interactions.

The restrictions MUST comply with the following elements: 

• Students MUST have their mobile phones switched off and stored during school hours.
• Appropriate storage in locked cabinets or the office is provided where needed. Primary students are required to store their mobile phones at the school office.
• Students MUST set ‘smart watches’ to ‘aeroplane mode’.
• All communication from families with students during school hours MUST be through the school office.
• Wireless ‘earbuds’ or ‘headphone’ must not be worn. No listening devices can be connected to phones.
• Where restrictions are not adhered to by students, Principals will utilise their existing ‘Respectful Student Behaviour Policy’.

We extend our gratitude to our students for contributing to a positive learning environment by adhering to the mobile phone policy. We also encourage parents to support their children in following this policy, as it significantly benefits their learning and social development.

On behalf of the school community, we offer our deepest condolences to Jessie, Kerry and family on the passing of our long term bus driver Mr David Brown, who passed away on Sunday, 2nd February.

David was an active supporter of the school. Not only transporting our students to and from school, but also to excursions and sporting events. He was an active member of our P&F Association, School Association and sponsor of our end of year awards.

Mr Brown's funeral will be held at the Lilydale Memorial Hall, on Thursday, 13 February at 11.00am.

He will be sadly missed by many.

We are very excited for a busy year of Physical Education. Students are expected to wear a school hat, bring a positive and a have a go attitude during PE class. Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle to class to stay hydrated. Thanks HPE Staff.

Our school has appointed Erin Page as our Safeguarding Lead. Safeguarding Leads are appointed in every DECYP school and CFLC in Tasmania to help ensure children and young people are known, safe, well and learning.

As Safeguarding Lead, Erin Page will enhance our efforts in promoting and nurturing a culture of safeguarding at our school. This will enable us to better support the wellbeing of all our students and reinforce the understanding that keeping children and young people safe is everyone's responsibility. By improving our safeguarding culture, we can create a safer and more supportive environment for all.

For further information on Safeguarding in Schools and CFLCs, please visit the DECYP Keeping children safe through safeguarding webpage.

2025 Volunteer Requirements

As we kick off the new school year, we want to remind our school community about the important requirements for volunteering at our school.

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students, it is mandatory for all volunteers to have their RWVP (Registration for Working with Vulnerable People) and to have completed the Our Obligations - Safeguard Training 15-minute video before engaging with children and young people in a volunteer capacity at our school. Certificates for the training video are valid for 12 months from the date of completion. These steps are essential in helping us maintain a safe and supportive environment for our children.

To apply for a Registration for Working with Vulnerable People, please visit the website via this link:

Apply for registration to work with vulnerable people | Service Tasmania

To complete the Our Obligations - Safeguarding Training 15-minute video, please visit the website via this link:

Compulsory Safeguarding Training for Workers - Department for Education, Children and Young People

Volunteers arre a vital part of our school community, and we are excited to collaborate with you in the year ahead!

Erin Page

Safeguarding Lead Lilydale District School

Did you know… Tooth decay has a significant impact on a child’s health and wellbeing.

* Cavities and tooth decay are preventable with good oral hygiene habits.  

* All it takes is 2 minutes every day twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.   

* Spit and don’t rinse the fluoride toothpaste once finished brushing  

Oral Health Services Tasmania (OHST) will be delivering the Fissure Sealant and Fluoride Varnish Program (FSFVP) at LDS in March 2025. This programme is only funded for children is a certain age group. If you receive a consent form, please sign as return so we can take advantage of this free service.

Oral Health Services Tasmania also provides FREE dental care for ALL children and teenagers with a current Medicare card.

If you are concerned about your child teeth, please ring, and make an appointment with your local children’s dentist, or if you would like some advice, please feel free to contact Nurse Lauren, primary school health nurse. Lauren.frost@decyp.tas.gov.au

Parents/guardians who are applying for STAS for the first time need to apply online at: www.onlinesubmission.education.tas.gov.au

Alternatively applicants can search STAS in Google and be taken directly to the online application site. Applications can be completed on any electronic device including mobile phones. Parents/guardians must hold a current Centrelink concession card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs concession card to be eligible.

STAS 2025 assessment letters have been posted to all families. 

If a parent/guardian wishes to add a newly enrolling or additional student to their existing STAS file they need to email their full name, the student’s full name, date of birth and school attending in 2025 to: stas@decyp.tas.gov.au and the file will be updated. Financial Assistance Services will also accept details of newly enrolled children of families who are approved for STAS directly from schools via email to stas@decyp.tas.gov.au.
For queries, please contact stas@decyp.tas.gov.au

Our School Association usually meets on the second Monday of each month in the Kinder space. Our first meeting for this year will be on Monday, 3 March at 7:00pm. We would love to see more people at the meetings and invite you to attend.

If you need to get in contact with members of the School Association, please contact the school office on 6395 0100. Thank you.

Please note: Due to unforseen circumstances our Annual General Meeting will not be held in April. A new date will be advised.

Please note: Unfortunately we are currently out of stock for the following items:

Polo Shirts - Sizes 6, 10 and low in stock for Size 12
Bucket Hats - Sizes Medium and Large.

Once these items are back in stock, we will advise via the newsletter and facebook.

Apologies for the inconvenience.