Newsletter 30th October 2024
Principal's Message
Pupil Free Day – Next Monday 4th November
Just a reminder that next Monday is a pupil free day as staff will be involved in training. Students should not attend school. There will be no one to supervise students. We hope you have a lovely long weekend.
Student Semester Reports
The Department has provided clarification of the requirements for end-of-semester reports. In light of this information, we are reviewing our school’s assessment and reporting plan.
The Department has worked with the School Curriculum and Standards Authority to clarify the following:
- There is a requirement to provide an overall teacher comment, the content of which is determined by the school.
- There is no requirement to provide learning area comments (including in English and Mathematics).
- There is no requirement to provide grades at the strand or sub-strand level.
- There is no requirement to provide a learning area comment or attachments, such as photos, for students with special educational needs. Reporting for these students aligns with the individual education plan that was developed with parents.
Kensington Primary School will align with these requirements. The main difference you will see is that there will be no English and Maths comments. The overall comments will still be provided along with grades for each learning area. English and Maths will still have grades for each sub-strand/learning area component (English – Reading &Viewing, Writing and Speaking & Listening; Maths – Number & Algebra, Measurement & Geometry and Statistics & Probability – the latter being for older year levels only).
Gifts
We have a very generous community, and the staff are very grateful for the generosity shown at this time of year to them. Please be aware though, that staff cannot accept gifts from individuals valued at over $100 or from groups valued at over $500. We don’t want to appear unappreciative, but it is DoE policy, so staff will have to return any gifts valued above these amounts. Please don’t see these amounts as a target though, as it is extremely rare that this is ever an issue.
2025 Booklists, Contributions and Charges
Please find the Contributions and Charges information for 2024 in the flyer below.
We are currently awaiting some final details before releasing 2025 Booklists. We will notify families via SZapp once everything is confirmed.
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.
Welcome to our New School Psychologist
We would like to introduce you to our new school psychologist, Charlotte (Lottie) Hitch, who will be working at Kensington while Rhianna Nelson is on leave. It is great to have her on the team.
Rhianna Nelson will be with us for a few more weeks and will complete a thorough handover with Lottie.
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.
Honours and Values Awards
High School Programs and Scholarships
Congratulations to the following students who have received offers for specialist high school programs and scholarships in 2025.
Freddie – Specialist Hockey Program at Como Secondary College
Thariq – Specialist Aviation Program at Kent Street SHS
Foyer Display - S2
Technology & Design
What's Coming Up
What's Been Happening
Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Launch
Last week we launched our RAP with a Welcome to County and smoking ceremony conducted by Mrs Robyn Collard (Nanna Robyn). She also worked with the Year 3s and 4s, sharing stories and language. Mr Tryce Rioli and Mr Josh Kelly assisted her and taught the Year 3 and 4 students a dance about kangaroos (yongka) and emus (Wetj). Thank you to the RAP committee – Mrs Jacqui Roe, Mr Wayne Newhill, Mrs Katja Grovsdenovic, Mrs Megan Mehnert, Mrs Clare Brook and Mr Clint McNerney for their contributions over the past few years. Thank you to all the parents who attended the launch. A special thanks to the staff and volunteers who helped with babysitting. Our RAP plan will soon appear on the Narragunnawali website (https://www.narragunnawali.org.au/).
Classroom Open Classrooms Night
Thank you to everyone who attending our Open Classrooms Night. There was a lovely atmosphere and the children’s hard work (along with their staff’s) was wonderful to see. Thank you to the Ed and his team for running the sausage sizzle. The aim was not to raise money, but to add to the wonderful ‘vibe’.
World Teachers Day and Thank Your Cleaner Day
Thank you to everyone who helped make these days special. Your generosity and kind words were heart-warming.
Crazy Hair Day to Clean our Oceans
The Student Council organised a Crazy Hair Day to raise funds to clean our oceans. Thanks to everyone who participated and donated, we raised $379.30. Each class selected a winner who was presented with a certificate and medallion. One overall winner was selected from K-1, Year 2-3 and Years 4-6.
Mathematics Awards
This year the Maths Enrichment students, once again, participated in mathematics challenges run by APSMO (Australasian Problem-Solving Mathematical Olympiads). The Year 2, 3 and 4 Maths Enrichment students participated in the Maths Explorer challenges while the Year 5 Maths Enrichment students, plus a group of selected Year 6 students, competed in the Maths Olympiad. The contest required students to complete four challenges during Terms 2 and 3. The results were tallied throughout the contests, and at this week’s assembly, the following awards were presented:
Maths Olympiad:
1st – Xavier from S3 (top 25% in Australia)
James from S2 (top 25% in Australia)
3rd – Thomas from S4 (top 25% in Australia)
Aadi from S1 (top 25% in Australia)
Special Encouragement Award:
Year 5 – Jessie from S2
Maths Explorer:
1st – Thea from Room 9
2nd – Catherine from Room 10
Taylor from Room 10
Special Encouragement Awards:
Year 2 – Harrison from Room 5
Year 3 – Chloe from Room 7
Year 4 – Sebastian from S1
Congratulations to all award winners and to every student who participated in the APSMO contests. All students readily embraced the challenges with much determination and perseverance shown. Well done to everybody on their fantastic efforts.
Elise Pedley – Maths Enrichment teacher
School Board
Our Vision
This year we have sought feedback from staff, students and the School Board to update our Vision Statement. You will remember that it was a very simple statement – Develop our students’ potential, enabling their positive contribution to the world. With the help of AI, we collated all the new ideas, and the following statement (3 pillars) was approved.
- Wellbeing and Individual Strengths: Cultivating a joyful, secure environment and fostering unique talents.
- Lifelong Learning: Igniting continuous growth, curiosity, and the pursuit of knowledge.
- Community and Responsibility: Building supportive connections, and inspiring compassionate, accountable leaders.
OSH Club
P & C News
Year 6 Graduation Leavers Polo’s - 2025 Order Form
Dear parents of year 5 students,
It is a tradition at Kensington Primary school, that the year 6 students wear a graduation/Leavers polo as part of their uniform. Student names will be printed on the back of the polos.
The current year 5s have designed and voted for their preferred logo. Well done to all the kids for their cooperation and great enthusiasm during this process. Many thanks to the Parents for confirming your child’s name and correct spelling.
We are now taking orders for the Polos to send off for printing.
The cost of each Polo is $40 size 10-16 & $42.00 for Small Adult.
Place your order using this link listed below on trybookings
Event Name: 2025 Year 6 Leavers Polo’s Order opens from 17th October 2024
Or complete the order form linked below and place it in the P&C box in the office
Ordering closes: Friday 1st November 2024
PLEASE NO LATER OR YOUR CHILD MAY MISS OUT.
This is the only chance to place an order. NO orders will be placed in 2024
The Leavers Polos will be ready for collection at the start of the school year on Tuesday 4th February 2024 between 12-2 pm.
There are Polos in varied size Remember your Child will grow, it is better to go a bigger size than what they are in this year
Many thanks,
Kristina Kotua and the P&C
DUCKs Dads and Kids Campout and Silent Disco, Friday 8 November 2024
1 Week 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)
Containers for Change
Community News
The competition is open to all local primary school kids in Swan from years 1 to 6, and closes on Friday, 6 December. The overall winner will even have their artwork published in the Southern Chronicles! Plus, every entry will be proudly displayed on my office windows.
Here are the prizes:
🥇 1st Place: $100 gift voucher + book prize
🥈 2nd Place: $75 gift voucher + book prize
🥉 3rd Place: $50 gift voucher + book prize
🎨 How to Submit Drawings:
Drop Off: My office at G3, 59 Albany Highway, Vic Park WA 6105
Email: 📧 Zaneta.mascarenhas.mp@aph.gov.au
Post: 📮 PO Box 1060, Victoria Park WA 6981
Promote the Saver Plus program to parents for assistance with education expenses
Saver Plus is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services and ANZ. The program is delivered in WA by The Smith Family.
Saver Plus is a financial education program for families on a tight budget to develop life-long savings habits.
To find out how the program can build financial skills, refer to link below.