Newsletter 16th October 2024
Principal's Message
Classroom Open Night Tonight
I hope you are all aware that tonight we have all our classrooms open for your child(ren) to show you what they have been learning and doing in class. While this is not an opportunity to have a meeting with their classroom teacher, it is a lovely way to discuss your child’s schooling with your child. We also have the Art Exhibition where all students have a piece of work displayed in the art room in the Senior Block. The art teachers, Mrs Bennett and Mrs Carpenter, are opening their doors at 4:30pm. The classroom doors will not open until 5pm and all doors will close at 6:30pm. The P&C have a sausage sizzle in the quadrangle, so you can pop down for some dinner there. Thanks to the DUCKs for organising this.
Class Placement 2025
We are currently working on classes for 2025. Parents who wish to raise particular student needs are invited to write to the principal expressing their request. It should be noted that this expression must focus on legitimate educational reasons and that there are no guarantees that requests will be met. It does, however, allow for consideration of parent views regarding class placement. Parents are asked to present written requests no later than Friday 22 November 2025 (Week 7, Term 4). If requests are not in writing, they will not be taken into account when placing students.
Responsibility for the placement of students rests with the principal.
Class Structures:
While some schools have made it school policy to have all classes as split classes (for educational and philosophical reasons) this is not the case at Kensington PS. The reasoning behind the split classes here is due to student numbers and the need for the school to work within industrial and financial constraints.
Research, the experience of teachers and school administrators as well as data about student performance suggests that there is no significant difference when it comes to analysing the outcomes of student learning between being placed in a ‘straight’ class or a multi-aged class. Whichever way a school is organised, the most important factor in ensuring successful learning is a focus on identifying and addressing the individual needs of each student.
Studies here and overseas show that children in split classes are often more confident, cooperate better, work better in team situations, are assertive, show more initiative, are more independent learners and better problem solvers. They tend to more easily make friends outside their peer group.
The school must cater for any student, within the school boundaries, who wishes to enrol. While the school numbers and cohort sizes vary from year to year, class structures will vary from year to year, to meet those needs. The school will do its best for all students, while working within the realities of population variance, finances and industrial agreements.
Some years we have very few split classes, other years, we have more. Some years we even have to have more than one split class with the same grades (e.g., two Year 1/2 classes) in order to ensure a reasonable number of students in each grade within the class.
Class Placements:
Creating equitable classes, where students requiring specialised academic, social, emotional and / or behavioural plans are distributed fairly amongst all staff members is a priority, as it enables staff to best cater for individual student needs in the most manageable and effective manner.
Planning for 2025 Survey
It's that time of year again when we start to look at how many students we will have in 2025 and to plan to staff the school to meet those needs. We have created a Microsoft Form to enable you to inform us about whether or not your child is returning in 2025 (current PP – Year 5 students only). You may complete one form (see the link below) for your family. However, if you have differing plans for each of your children currently attending our school (excluding the Year 6s), please complete separate forms for each.
Please complete your forms by Friday 11th October.
Honours and Values Awards
Foyer Display - Room 9
In Room 9 we are grateful every day!
Music News
Telethon promotion "Incredible Together"
The Senior Choir was very excited to be invited to be a part of the Telethon promotion "Incredible Together" last Wednesday. Over 1000 children from 34 schools came together at Elizabeth Quay to sing and dance to the Guy Sebastian song "Choir". The enthusiastic singing and dancing was filmed from cameras positioned around the quay, from a drone overhead and from a very clever cameraman on an electric surfboard. The event will be played this week on Channel 7 in the lead-up to Telethon on October 19th - 20th.
Massed Choir Festival
The next big event for the Senior Choir is the Massed Choir Festival at HBF Stadium on Saturday evening November 2nd. Parents are reminded that tickets for the Concert are available at www.ticketmaster.com.au. Please see the link below. Choose the SATURDAY night performance (2nd NOVEMBER, CONCERT 3). As you look at the stage, the Kensington Choir will be on the left. Adult tickets are $40 and Concession tickets are $30. You are sure to be impressed by the 600 students on stage performing 12 songs accompanied by a live band and string quartet.
Junior Choir
The Junior Choir is busy rehearsing for this year's Christmas Musical "The Night Before Christmas." They will perform at the morning Christmas Assembly on Wednesday November 27th and then again in the evening for friends and family. Please mark this in your diary. Rehearsals are every Monday morning at 8.00am.
What's Coming Up
Thank Your Cleaner Day
This is a chance to thank our hard-working cleaning staff that cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. We want our cleaners to know that they are valued and appreciated. Coincidentally it is our Classroom Open Night, which is an added obstacle for getting the cleaning done as our doors open before our cleaners are finished. So, if you see them around – please thank them for their dedication and service.
World Teachers’ Day
Let’s celebrate Australia’s teachers for their skilled work in educating, inspiring and supporting our students.
Hats off to teachers on World Teachers’ Day!
On Friday 25th October, we will be celebrating World Teachers’ Day. You can show your appreciation by posting a “hats off” selfie on social media either on your own or with family or friends. Grab a hat – beret, beanie, bucket, bowler – and remember to tag #WorldTeachersDay2024 and tag @ aitsl
NB AITSL is the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership.
Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Launch
Our RAP committee have been working hard to produce a RAP for 2025. We are launching this on Wednesday 23rd at 2:30pm in our undercover area. We will have a Welcome to Country by Robyn Collard and a Smoking Ceremony. Our students in Year 3/4 will also work with Robyn and her grandsons prior to this to engage in storytelling and dance.
Crazy Hair Day – Team Seas
The Student Council is organising a Crazy Hair Day to raise funds for Team Seas. Dress up your hair on Tuesday 29th October and make a gold coin donation.
School Board
School Board – Open Meeting
Our School Board meets twice a term, and the next meeting is an Open Meeting for any interested parents to attend and see what the Board does. This might be of particular interest if you are considering joining the Board next year or in the future. Our meeting begins at 5:30pm on Monday 21st October in the staffroom.
P & C News
DUCKs Dads and Kids Campout and Silent Disco, Friday 8 November 2024
3 Weeks to go until our annual DUCKs Dads and Kids Campout and Silent Disco on Friday 8 November 2024, from 4pm onwards on the school oval and finishing at 8 a.m. Saturday 9 November. On it's 10th anniversary, this annual campout is an initiative of The Fathering Project that keeps improving and evolving. Building on the success of last year, we would love to invite all dads at the school to sign up and get involved. There is a buzz about the school and excitement in the air, so let's make it awesome. Our DUCKs Campout team of dads has been busy getting everything planned to make it fun for all. Mothers are welcome to come along if they wish, or take the night off and have a night out with friends. We have a range of afternoon games and activities planned, so please make your booking and get your camping gear ready. Dinner will be our famous campout barbecue, followed by marshmallow roasting, and breakfast in the morning includes eggs, bacon, toast and juice prepared by the DUCKs team, plus morning coffees from the Little Banksia cafe brought to us on the oval. We also have milo and tea available, and cater for vegetarian and gluten free dietary needs. We look forward to seeing you there.
The DUCKs Campout also includes a Silent Disco on the Friday Night from about 7:30pm to 8:30pm, so if for some reason you are not able to stay the whole night, please sign up and join the BBQ dinner and Silent Disco. DJ Geoff is ready to get these kids dancing!
This year we will also have a designated quieter area on the oval for Kindy to Year 1 kids to camp together (behind the S4 building of the Senior Area) to make it a friendlier and more manageable experience for dads with younger children, and more enjoyable for the kids. Dads with older kids - can you please ensure this area behind S4 is left clear for the younger ones.
Dads - please book via the link below ASAP to help with us calculating the numbers for catering.
Click here to sign up for the DUCKs Campout:
https://www.trybooking.com/CVSOX
No camping gear? - No problem. There are several companies that hire out camping equipment in Perth, or camping stores in surrounding areas that you can choose from.
Please email us at DUCKS.KPS@gmail.com to join and for further information or questions. Further information is available via the booking link and other information will be sent to attendees prior to the event.
Thank you also to all the dads and families that joined in the Father's Day get together at Perth Zoo in September.
We also look forward to seeing those that can make it to the KPS School Open Night tonight.
Thanks guys,
Conrad Slee - DUCKs (Dads United for the Children of Kensington)
Spare Leavers Shirts
We have 2 x size 16 leavers shirts to spare. If you are interested in purchasing this shirt, please email kensington.ps@education.wa.edu.au to organise collection. These shirts are $25 each, cash only payment and exact change only is expected.
Containers for Change
Community News
VacSwim will be offered free to families for the December and January programs. In addition, where venue entry fees apply these will be free for each child participating in VacSwim. This will remove financial barriers for many families. To ensure as many children as possible can access swimming lessons there will be an initial enrolment of one program per child, with additional programs offered, where available. VacSwim summer enrolments are now open and close on 16 October 2024.
