Newsletter 2nd November 2022
Principal's Message
Biennial Community Surveys
Every two years we survey our community using the National School Satisfaction Survey. This survey is created by the Department and modified for our community by the School Board. This year is a survey year. Below is a link to the parent/carer survey. We ask that you complete this survey by Friday 2nd December. Print out the thank you page when you have finished and give a copy to your children. They will earn an icy pole and the class with the best response rate will also earn a class prize. You don’t miss out either as you could win a free ticket to the HeartKids Gala Ball held at the Crown on 13 May and worth $250.
This information is very important to the school as it helps us evaluate our work and identify what is working well and what can be improved. We also survey our staff and the Year 5/6 students to get their feedback. The Board then uses this information to guide our efforts to continually ensure that we are offering the community the best education for their children.
https://www.schoolsurvey.edu.au/s/KPSparents2022
Teacher Awarded
Professional Teaching Council of WA has awarded one of our staff with an Outstanding Professional Service Award. This was presented to Whittle sensei on 19th October. The citation read as follows:
“Margo has been on the Japanese Language Teachers’ Association of WA (JLTAWA) Committee for more than 25 years, and for much of that time has held the position of Treasurer. Margo is more than the Treasurer, however. She is our fount of knowledge for all things JLTAWA related. She also ensures all memberships are up to date, liaises with PTCWA and our website designer, runs the Calligraphy Competition, and assists in the smooth running of our Kaiwa Day and Japanese Language Speech Contest. Margo is a regular presenter at our annual conferences and was the recipient of the Modern Language Teachers’ Association of WA Hilde Dixon Award in 2020 and JLTAWA’s Teacher of the Year Award in 2017. In addition to her many JLTAWA duties, Margo has also supported countless graduate teachers through mentorship. She is passionate in all she does, and her enthusiasm for teaching and all things Japanese is contagious.”
We congratulate Margo Whittle (sensei) on receiving this recognition.
Class Placement 2023
We are currently working on classes for 2023. 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 25 November 2022 (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.
Protective Behaviours Booklet for Parents
Although every child has the right to feel safe at all times, each year thousands of children across Australia experience abuse. It is estimated that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys will be subject to some form of unwanted sexual activity before the age of 18 (Australian Institute of Criminology, 1993). The protective behaviours program is based on two themes:
- We all have the right to feel safe at all times
- We can talk with someone about anything, no matter what it is
Throughout the year our staff teach children about protective behaviours, reinforcing key messages all year, every year. However, parents can help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to keep their children safe.
By sharing protective behaviours with your child, you will be helping to develop lifelong skills of assertiveness, self-confidence, problem solving, communication, resilience and help seeking. You will find that the activities and discussions in this handbook are simple and presented in a fun, child-friendly way, designed not to frighten children but inform them of some of the vital skills of personal safety.
The link below will take you to a useful resource from the Department of Education developed for parents. Let’s all work together to keep our children safe.
Road Safety – e-scooters and bicycles
We have recently been notified by members of the community that they have seen students from our school darting across roads without taking sufficient time to check the traffic. If your children ride to and from school, please take the time to revise traffic rules and expectations.
Free RATs For Collection At The Office
What's Been Going On At KPS
Telethon - Anisha
It was lovely to see one of our students at Telethon as a special Telethon kid this year. Anisha and her family, as well as two of our lovely EAs (Emmalise Johnston and Tegan Fox), were treated as VIPs because of this on Sunday 23rd October.
Classroom Open Night
Thank you to the DUCKs for the lovely sausage sizzle and to the staff for all the work preparing for the open night. It was lovely seeing so many students and their families.
Crazy Hair Day for the Ukraine
The Student Council raised approximately $557 to support the Ukraine. They also awarded four Crazy Hair Day trophies and gave out 90 merit certificates to the winners and finalists. The trophy winners were:
K-P: Mackenzie
Rooms 1-5: Ruby
Rooms 6-10: Parker
S1-S4: Zakaria
Thank you to everyone for participating. A big thank you to the student council for organising this event and taking these photos.
Crazy Hair Day Photos
Upcoming Events
Working with children and child safety online workshop for parents and guardians
About this event
Join us for a free online workshop to learn more about what rights and obligations you have as a parent or guardian under the WWC Act.
Delivered by the WWC Screening Unit in collaboration with the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Young People.
The workshop will cover:
- What is a WWC Check and how to know when it is required
- What to consider when engaging services to work with your children
- When you may be the employer under the WWC Act and your obligations
- Other child safe strategies that help protect your children
- Role of the WWC Screening Unit and the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Young People
- How to raise concerns
DATE AND TIME
Thursday 10 November 2022
12:00pm - 1:00pm (AWST)
LOCATION
Online event - access link will be provided closer to the date
Register on Eventbrite to attend the free online Parents and Guardians: Your Rights and Obligations workshop.
For more information about the event, contact the Department of Communities by emailing WWCEvents@communities.wa.gov.au.
Foyer Display
Room 5 - Animals of Australia
In Room 5 we have been looking at Australian animals. Here are some of the animals we have researched.
Honours and Values awards
Creativity
Discovering the power of imagination! Encouraging original thought, curiosity and daring to see things in new ways. Identifying your own special strengths.
Sports News
School Sport WA Champions Carnival
Sam, Ava and Mackenzie entered the School Sport WA Champions Athletics Carnival. All did extremely well competing against the top athletes in the state. Ava placed 4th in the 1500m, Mackenzie placed 9th in the long jump and Sam placed 3rd in the 100m and 200m. We are so proud of their achievements.
Year 3 Bike Education
The Year 3 students have commenced their bike ed program. For next week only, the program will be on Wednesday 9th November and not on Tuesday. Please bring your bikes and helmets on Wednesday.
Running Club
Running club is back! We run on Tuesday and Friday mornings at 8.00am on the oval. Come along for an energetic way to start your day – active kids learn better. Pre-primary and Kindy runners must be accompanied by a parent. There will be no session on Friday 18th November. We will then continue until Tuesday of Week 8 (29th November).
School Board
School Board Open Meeting
The final School Board meeting will be held on Tuesday 6th December. All are welcome to attend and see what the Board is all about. They will review what they have been doing this year. The meeting will start at 5:30pm in the staffroom.
P & C News
P&C Wishlist
Have you got any ideas for things the P&C could fund to enrich our school? If so, please submit a wish list request using the form below and submit it to the P&C’s email address or in the P&C box at the office by Friday 18th November 2022. A Word version of the form is available on request from the office.
P&C fundraising update
Happy Halloween everyone, hope you had a wonderful time celebrating it.
Quiz on December 9th
We don't mean to scare you, but did you know that tables for Kensington's greatest quiz are selling quickly? There'll be plenty of drinks and opportunities to meet fellow parents/carers.
Apparently, some of our Year 1 parents are very confident that they'll take out top prize....Get together a table of 8 and join your fellow parents/grandparents/carers and teachers for a great night.
Tickets are $120 for a table, only $15 each so great value and a great cause!
https://www.trybooking.com/CCZET
This year's dress-up theme is movies/TV shows and there will be prizes for best dressed.
The P&C is looking for parents to donate prizes we can use throughout the night for some great games. If you have a business or are just able to donate anything please let your class rep know.
Looking forward to seeing you there!!
End-of-year disco
Don't forget to mark your calendars for the Kid's disco party. The DJ has been booked so get practicing those moves!
Icy Poles
Icy Poles are back for Term 4. Don't forget those gold coins every Friday!
Finally, the Fundraising Committee is always looking for new ideas and new helpers – if you have a fundraising idea or would like to get involved then please contact us at kensingtonpsfundraising@gmail.com.
2022 DUCK’s DADS AND KIDS CAMP – Friday 11 November
Tickets are selling fast…JUST OVER A WEEK UNTIL the DUCKs Camp Out & Silent DISCO!
From 4.30pm on the KPS oval
Pitch a tent or swag with your kids. Show us your moves at the Silent Disco! Famous BBQ dinner, breakfast and Little Banksia Coffee included.
The kids always love this event, so lock it in the diary and we’ll see you there!!
$40 per family (regardless of how many children). This includes dinner and breakfast, morning coffee for dads, marshmallow toasting, and the silent disco.
We’ll be wrapped up by 8am Saturday morning, so the oval can be used for cricket and the kids can get off to weekend sport etc.
Whilst DUCKs activities are aimed at encouraging Dads to get active in their kids' lives, we understand that there’s not always a father figure available. As always DUCKs activities are also open to mums who would like to attend.
Note Education Department requires kids to attend with their own parent. Vegetarian and GF will be catered for. If camping really isn’t your thing, you can come for dinner and breakfast.
Please use the link below to book:
https://www.trybooking.com/965038
Justin Nicholls
Keep an eye on your WhatsApp class group messages, the school newsletter and elsewhere for the next DUCKs event. PLEASE get in touch with Justin or Conrad if you have future event ideas or wish to organise an event yourself - we will provide all the help and guidance you need. DUCKS.KPS@gmail.com
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.
Community News
