Top End Group School, NT Australia

DUNDEE BEACH SCHOOL

Welcome to our School!

Dundee School opened in February 1998. At that time there were very few resources and a bare school-yard. Water was pumped from the local community bore into a single water tank that often ran out in the Dry Season. There was no school vehicle.

Since then, a Parent & Friends Group was created and community support is high. The school grounds have been fenced and beautified and play equipment has been purchased and erected. An additional two water tanks have been installed.

The school now has a library and 8 computers connected via satellite to the Internet and LATIS network. .

A school vehicle (4WD Troopcarrier) has been provided, and we are now able to take students on excursions to great places, such as the annual Adelaide River TEGS festival, Batchelor Outdoor Education Unit and the Croc Fest in Katherine .

There is one Teaching Principal at Dundee Beach School and one full-time Teacher’s Assistant. There is one classroom for all students. The classroom incorporates separate areas for both the office, and computer/library resource rooms.

Current enrolment (Transition to Year 7) is 6.

Location

Dundee Beach is situated on the coast and located approximately 180km South West of Darwin on the edge of Fog Bay. Access to Dundee Beach is through Fog Bay Road which also provides access to well known fishing destinations Fog Bay, the Perron Islands, Point Blaze and Bynoe Harbour.

Click on the map below to see exactly where we are in the NT!

Special Features/Programs

Quality teaching program using whole group, small group and individual programs.
Years 2 to 7 learn Indonesian and Auslan.
Strong environmental emphasis. Continuing Anti-Litter Campaign project involving designing, creating and erecting signs throughout the community. Currently working with COASTCARE in conducting quarterly Marine Debris Surveys, and studying the effects of marine debris on native wildlife and local habitat. In 2005, we will also be working with COASTCARE to conduct a Soil Erosion Survey on a nearby beach cliff.
Monthly school newsletter.
Intended participation in 2005 Croc Festival in Katherine.
Annual school concert for community.
A behaviour management policy that promotes student’s rights, responsibilities and social skills through implementation of the ‘Peace Builders 2001’ program.
Literacy and numeracy in accordance with TEGS and school policies. This includes implementation of the ‘Count Me In, Too’ program and intended purchase of new homework readers for all grades in 2005

School Accommodation & Living Conditions

In 2003 an air conditioned, two bedroom teacher’s residence, with verandah, car port, garden shed, water tank and fenced garden was built near the school. Electricity is provided 24 hours a day by generators that also power the school.

Community

The Dundee Beach community was originally created as a weekend retreat. Despite the absence of town power and water facilities, and the difficulties associated with dirt road access, some block owners chose to live here on a permanent basis. We are now a small population (yet to be accurately identified, estimated to be somewhere between 300 – 500 people) residing beside beautiful Fog Bay. Population figures include nearby Dundee Forest, Dundee Downs and Bynoe Haven developments. We are best known for our great fishing destinations, including the Finniss River, Bynoe Harbour, Fog Bay, Point Blaze and the Perron Islands.

At present there is no main supply of power or water, but this is soon to change, with the expectation that town power will be supplied to the Lodge of Dundee by the end of 2005 and throughout the community in oncoming years. The road is constantly being upgraded and recent new sections of bitumen have made access a lot easier on vehicles. Water is supplied through community windmills or individual block owner’s resources such as rainwater tanks, dams and bores.

The Lodge of Dundee and Sandpalms Roadhouse provide accommodation, dining, Post Office facilities, fuel and some food supplies. We have Volunteer Bushfire Brigades, Trailer Boat Clubs, an Envirocare group and a local Progress Association.