Farewell to Alana Lava

Tomorrow, we say a heartfelt farewell to Alana Lava as she leaves her role as Assistant Principal at Lilydale District School. Alana is a dedicated and caring leader who has worked at Lilydale District School for 18 years. As teacher, Advanced Skills Teacher, and Assistant Principal, she has been deeply committed to supporting students in their learning and wellbeing, while also guiding and mentoring our staff. Alana is known for her extremely calm approach, strong work ethic and the genuine relationships she has developed with students, families, and colleagues. Her quiet and unassuming approach has been appreciated by all who have worked with her. I know you will join me in wishing Alana success in her new role as Advanced Skills Teacher at Invermay Primary School.

Welcome to Ian Quigley

Lilydale District School is happy to welcome Ian Quigley to the role of Assistant Principal for the remainder of the year. Ian brings a wealth of experience, having previously worked as both an Advanced Skills Teacher and an Assistant Principal. One of Ian’s strengths is developing strong relationships with students and their families. Ian is looking forward to working alongside our team and contributing to the work we are doing together.

Ian will be visiting our school tomorrow afternoon and will begin work on Monday, 8 September. I know you will join me in making Ian feel welcome.

The 2025 School Satisfaction Survey is Open

At Lilydale District School we value the voices of our families. Your feedback helps us to understand what we are doing well and where we can improve.

The annual Family Satisfaction Survey is now open and closes on Friday, 19 September. By completing it, you are helping us make decisions that support the best outcomes for all students. It only takes 5 minutes, but your input makes a significant difference.

This year we have achieved so much:

• An overhaul of our front garden area
• The introduction of the HUB learning space to support learning for all
• A redesign of our Year 7 and 8 learning areas
• The introduction of lineup for all primary school students
• The continuation of routines that support an orderly learning environment
• Installed new playground into Kinder
• Created opportunities for parent involvement – Mother’s Day and Father’s Day

We encourage all parent and carers to take part and tell us how we are going. The more responses we receive, the clearer the picture we gain of our school community. Currently we have twenty-two parents who have completed the survey, but we would like more. The survey is conducted on a secure website and all responses are anonymous and confidential.

Please check your email/messages for the survey link or contact the office if you need assistance.

Thank you for supporting our school by sharing your thoughts.

Supporting Every Student’s Literacy Journey: Our Approach

At our school, we are committed to making sure every child and young person receives the literacy support they need—when they need it. That is why we use a consistent, evidence-based approach across all Department schools called the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). Here’s how MTSS works:

• Tier 1 – For all students: Every child is taught to read using proven, evidence-based teaching strategies.
• Tier 2 – For some students: Those who need extra time and practice with specific literacy skills work in smaller groups. Once they have mastered the skill, they return to Tier 1.
• Tier 3 – For a few students: These learners receive one-on-one support to help them learn specific literacy skills, alongside the learning in Tiers 1.

This system ensures that every student gets the right amount of help at the right time. Whether it is extra practice or individual support, MTSS is our way of making sure no student is left behind in their literacy journey. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about how your child’s learning is supported, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher.

Warm regards,

Karen Hay
Principal

Year 3-4s making rain clouds in a jar as part of the water cycle unit for science.

This term in Health and Physical Education, students have been diving into two exciting and important areas of learning.

Health: Exploring Stereotypes and Identity

In Health, our focus has been on understanding stereotypes and how they shape our perceptions of ourselves and others. Through discussions, role plays, and reflective activities, students have explored:

• What stereotypes are and where they come from
• How societal norms influence identity and relationships
• Ways to challenge unfair assumptions and celebrate individuality

This unit has encouraged students to think critically and compassionately, helping them build stronger interpersonal skills and a deeper understanding of diversity.

PE: Net and Wall Games – Spotlight on Tennis

In PE, students have been developing their net and wall game skills, with a particular emphasis on tennis. They've been working on:

• Forehand and backhand techniques
• Serving and rallying
• Court positioning and movement
• Game strategies and sportsmanship

Whether beginners or seasoned players, students have shown great enthusiasm and improvement. The tennis unit has not only built physical skills but also promoted teamwork, resilience, and fair play.

Exploring Futures: Year 9 Students Dive into Career Pathways

This year, our Year 9 students have been actively exploring the wide range of career and educational opportunities available to them, laying strong foundations for their Transition program and life beyond Year 10. Through a variety of hands-on experiences and engaging events, students have gained valuable insights into different industries and pathways.

One highlight was the Speed Careering event, where students connected with guest speakers from local colleges, employment agencies, TasTAFE, and AFL Tasmania. These sessions offered a fast-paced and informative look into potential future careers and study options.

Students also took part in the Smith Family Work Inspirations Program, which included site visits to Bunnings, ACL Bearings, Hotel Grand Chancellor, and UTAS Stadium. These excursions gave students a behind-the-scenes look at real workplaces and helped them understand the skills and attitudes valued by employers.

In another exciting opportunity, the Australian Maritime College brought in ship simulators, allowing students to experience maritime navigation firsthand while learning about careers in the maritime industry. They also heard from Dan Hart and representatives from Arbre about apprenticeships and training programs available in Tasmania.

Additionally, some Year 9 students participated in the Beacon Foundation Growth Industry Partnership, which included a visit to Bell Bay Aluminium, offering a glimpse into large-scale industrial operations and future job prospects.

We feel incredibly fortunate to be able to offer these opportunities to our students. The experiences have sparked curiosity, built confidence, and helped our Year 9 cohort begin to shape their future pathways. It’s been a fantastic year of growth and discovery!

High School – Student of the Week

Every week, all staff, Student Leaders and the wider community have the opportunity to nominate a high school student as a ‘Lilydale Legend’. These nominations acknowledge when another person has noticed the student demonstrating our school values of being safe, respectful and learning. If a student is nominated by multiple people their name will appear twice. Lilydale Legends for the week will get recognised in our high school assembly and receive a certificate. Congratulations to the Lilydale Legends for Week 4, 5 and 6 - Term 3.

Week 4

Week 5

Being SunSmart in Tasmania means using sun protection when UV levels reach 3 and above, this occurs from September to April. From May to August, sun protection is not recommended unless near highly reflective surfaces such as snow or being outdoors for extended periods.

Therefore, this means implementing sun protection measures from the beginning of the school year until the end of April and again from the beginning of September until the end of the school year. Implementing sun protection measures throughout Terms 1 and 4 only is insufficient to protect against UV risks.

Students in Kinder to Year 6 will be required to wear SunSafe hats from 1st September through until the end of April 2026.

The Lilydale School Association is an elected group of people including the school's Principal, teachers, parent/carers, and community members.

The committee is required to hold a minimum of four meetings a year (one meeting per school term) and we meet on the 1st/2nd Monday of the nominated month.

The School Association Committee has the important role of supporting the school in a variety of ways including policy development, financial arrangements, evaluation of school performance and encourages positive community engagement.

Being an elected member or an interested meeting observer, is a great way to stay informed!

Our next scheduled meeting:

When:  Monday, 20 October, 2025
Where: Year 7/8 Room
Time:   7:00pm

We have also scheduled meetings for Monday, 17 November, 2025

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

Thankyou.