Newsletter 4th May 2022
Principal's Message
Welcome back to Term 2
It has been great to come back to school with far less restrictions. We are, however, still restricted by the works going on with the new roofs and the basketball court upgrade will be starting this term too. So, we will have to be patient and flexible. But, as with COVID, this will mean we do have issues to deal with as we cannot run all the events we would like to because space will be limited. This means that we can start up assemblies (but they will be run differently to allow every class to present items), running club, choir etc., but we can’t start up Baha'i as we don’t have the space, given we have had to move classes out of rooms to accommodate the re-roofing process.
Re-roofing
We are now moving into the wet months and so this may impact the planned re-roofing schedule. However, the plan at this stage is to re-roof Rooms 4-7 this week and next, then start on the Rooms 8-10 wing in Week 4 and 5. The P1 building will then be re-roofed in Week 6 (first week of June). That’s the plan but, as you know, the original plan was to re-roof the school in the Christmas holidays and we all know how that went.
Basketball Courts
On Monday we had our pre-start meeting for the basketball/netball courts. As the requirements for these types of courts have changed since they were first installed, we can no longer fit all four courts. Instead, we will have 2 multipurpose courts (basketball, netball, volleyball and tennis). To fit these and the kiss and drive we will have to extend the court area toward the spida climbing frame. We also need to relocate the cricket nets to the oval. This will enable the P&C to extend the bike shed too. These works will start this term once the roofing work allows it.
COVID Update
Parents must inform the school of their child’s close contact status. Students who return to school must follow the requirements set out by the WA Government including daily RATs. We have not received the RATs for students yet but will, in due course, provide 20 RATs per student. In the meantime, if you are stuck, please let us know and we will do our best to arrange for your RATs to be provided from our staff allocation.
Close contact
A close contact is defined as:
- a household member or intimate partner of a person with COVID-19 who has had contact with them during their infectious period
- someone who has had close personal interaction with a person with COVID-19 during their infectious period, where they spent greater than 4 hours of cumulative contact with them in a residential setting in any 24-hour period, (i.e. a home, accommodation facility) where masks have been removed by both people during the period of contact
- someone who is directed by WA Health that they are a close contact.
Close contacts with no symptoms are not required to isolate for 7 days, but must:
- undertake a daily Rapid Antigen Test and obtain a negative result
- wear a mask when leaving the house
- avoid high-risk settings, including hospitals, healthcare settings, aged care facilities, residential care facilities (including disability care facilities and mental health residential facilities) and correctional facilities unless they work at these locations. Relevant workers entering high risk settings are subject to additional obligations.
Testing and isolation protocols
Students and staff who are symptomatic must stay home and test for COVID-19.
Refer to the WA Government’s testing and isolation protocols for details on testing and isolation requirements for students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 or been identified as close contacts.
Upcoming Events to Mark in Your Diary
Mother’s Day
A reminder to children and dads that it is Mother’s Day this Sunday. We hope all mothers have a wonderful day and realise their value to their family and the community.
NAPLAN
NAPLAN testing for Years 3 and 5 students starts next Tuesday. The schedule is shown below (please scroll down to its own section). This will be the first time the Year 5s have completed a NAPLAN assessment as their Year 3 test was cancelled in 2020. However, they are not the only Year 5s in this boat – nationwide this will be the first NAPLAN test the Year 5s have sat. There may be some more anxiety because of this apprehension. We encourage all parents to remind their children in Years 3 and 5 that we just want them to try their best – to be proud of their efforts and not as concerned about the outcome or comparing their results. It's also important that they know that it is normal to feel a bit of stress. Perhaps discuss some calming strategies with your child.
Friendship Program
Positive friendships is a 6-week program designed to help children reach their relational potential and grow their ability to make quality friendships. It explores finding the right friends, determining if the friendships are healthy, and how to make them healthier. It will equip them with tools to grow their emotional intelligence and encourage them to actively practice the social skills for healthier and stronger relationships. This program will begin on Tuesdays at lunchtimes starting on 17th May. It is, at this stage, being offered to Year 5 students only. If you would like your child to participate, please let their teacher know.
Sorry Day – Parent workshop – Thursday 26th May 5:30 – 6:30pm
We have invited two Aboriginal Education Officers to the school to present their acclaimed Blanket Activity to the Year 5/6 students. Two years ago, they visited to do the same and the students found it very moving and enlightening. As the name suggests, the Blanket Activity begins with blankets arranged on the floor to represent Australia before the arrival of European explorers and settlers.
Our journey takes us on an immersive exploration of the nation-to-nation relationship with Aboriginal people, working toward reconciliation and empowering people to build bridges of understanding and respect. It is an experiential teaching tool to share the historical and contemporary relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people of Australia.
All parents are invited to attend this same workshop on the night of Thursday 26th May – Sorry Day. Please RSVP on the events calendar of the SZapp (scroll down to the bottom of the event) or contact the school. Places are limited though – so first come-first served.
Reconciliation Week
We are very excited to have organised our first smoking ceremony to commemorate Reconciliation Week. This will be held on Monday 30th May at 9am. Parents are welcome to stay and watch this.
Dropping off Lunches/Equipment for Students
If you need to drop off lunches or equipment to your child during the school day, please leave it at the office where the children can collect it. If your child doesn’t know you will be dropping it off and to come to the office, please let the office staff know so they can inform your child.
Student Leaders
The full list of 2022 student leaders is shown below:
Kindy 2023 applications for enrolment
If your child was born between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019, you can now submit an application for enrolment for Kindy 2023. Please drop by the office to collect an application form or, alternatively, you can email kensington.ps@education.wa.edu.au and an application form can be emailed to you. Applications close on Friday, 22 July 2022.
Pre-primary 2023 applications for enrolment
All children must re-apply for Pre-primary - it is not an automatic process that they are re-enrolled. Application forms for Pre-primary 2023 will be sent home to all current Kensington Kindy kids within the next few weeks so please watch out for these.
Honours and Values awards
Perseverance
Committing to goals and overcoming obstacles no matter what it takes. Choosing your committments wisely, and then don't give up!
High School Scholarships
Congratulations to the following student who has received a high school scholarship:
Katya - Tennis, Applecross SHS
Foyer Display
How to Catch a Falling Star
"Once there was a boy, and that boy loved stars very much. So much that he decided to catch one of his very own" (How to Catch a Falling Star by Oliver Jeffers).
This story reminded us of the powerful expression: "I can't yet" but, with perseverance and problem solving, we can do anything. The children created their own inventions to catch a star. It was a magical reminder that dreams can come true, if you believe and have the determination.
Pre-primary 3
Sports News
Sporting Schools Grant
We have been successful in receiving funding from the Federal government for this term. The sports we will use the funding for are AFL and soccer. Funding will be used to buy equipment and for coaching sessions.
Running Club
Running Club recommenced yesterday with 50 enthusiastic runners. We will continue each Tuesday and Friday from 8.00 – 8.30am on the oval. Students from Kindy to Year 6 are welcome to attend. Parents of younger students must attend to assist with supervision.
NAPLAN Timetable
The following is the schedule for NAPLAN online 2022. All Year 3 and 5 students will be sitting NAPLAN during Week 3 and 4. Tests will be completed online with the exception of Year 3 Writing, which is still a paper-based test. If a student is absent due to illness we will endeavour to get them to sit a catch-up test.
Times | Monday9/5 | Tuesday 10/5 | Wednesday 11/5 | Thursday 12/5 | Friday 13/5 |
8:50am -10:50am | Yr 3 and Yr 5 Writing Test | Yr 3 Reading Test | Yr 3 Language Conventions Test | Yr 3 Numeracy Test | |
11:30am-1:30pm | Yr 5 Reading Test | Yr 5 Language Conventions Test | Yr 5 Numeracy Test | ||
Monday 16/5 | Tuesday 17/5 | Wednesday 18/5 | Thursday 19/5 | Friday 20/5 | |
8:50am -10:50am | Catch-up | Catch-up | Catch-up | Catch-up | Catch-up |
11:30am-1:30pm | Catch-up | Catch-up | Catch-up | Catch-up |
School Board
Both the P&C and the School Board are now able to meet face to face on the school site. The P&C met last night and the School Board will meet next Monday. The Board will be organising a schedule of policy reviews. The first will be reviewing the Extreme Weather policy. The Board will also be developing our community survey (National School Opinion Survey), which occurs biennially and is due this year. It surveys the parents, staff and Year 5 & 6 students.
P & C News
DUCKs Wheels around the River
DUCKs Election Day BBQ Helpers needed
Election Day Bake Sale
Colour Run
P&C Quiz Night - details coming soon!
Containers for Change
We have a wheely bin and/or a wool bale in the quadrangle where you can deposit containers, help the environment and fundraise for the school all at once. We hope, with sufficient support from everyone, to expand this program.