Newsletter 16th November 2022
Principal's Message
2023 Booklists
You will find the 2023 booklist information on the SZapp app under the tile called ‘Booklists’ (bottom left button on the app) or on our website at the following link: Booklists - Kensington Primary School (kensingtonps.wa.edu.au)
2023 Contributions and Charges Information
Please find the Contributions and Charges information for 2023 in the flyer below.
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
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.
What's Been Going On At KPS
Outdoor Classroom Day
Last week the classes had an amazing day learning outdoors.
DUCKS Camp Out on the Oval
I believe the DUCKS ran another successful camp this year. Thanks to Justin and Conrad for organising this lovely event. Thanks also to Mr Griffiths who attended the whole event and Mr Powers who attended the evening. Without these gentlemen, there would be no camp.
Upcoming Events
Parent Helper Morning Tea & Christmas Concert
KPS is lucky to enjoy a huge amount of support from the community to provide a broad range of programs and facilities for our students. We wish to express our appreciation to all our parent helpers and volunteers. Following the Christmas concert (starting at 9:30am), to which everyone is invited, we will also have a parent helper morning tea in the staffroom. If you have been involved in helping out at the school this year, we hope you will be able to attend on Wednesday 30th November at approximately 10:30am.
There will be two Christmas concerts on Wednesday 30th November. The first will be at 9:30am and the second at 7pm in the undercover area. We ask that all those children involved in the concert attend both events.
Foyer Display
S1 - The Power of Persuasion
Students in S1 have explored different texts and media that are used to persuade. The class viewed and discussed the persuasive techniques used in both print and video advertisements. Students wrote persuasive letters and designed advertisements to market a product of their choice.
Honours and Values awards
Respect
An attitude of treating ourselves, others and all living things with dignity and courtesy. Treating others as we want to be treated.
High School Scholarships
Special congratulations to the following student who has been accepted into a specialist program for high school:
- Maya K – Fashion and Design Program at Kent Street SHS
Sports News
Swimming Lessons
Swimming lessons for PP – Year 5 students will be in Week 9 and 10. Swimming is a compulsory part of our school program. Parents must complete the Consent2Go online and return the swimming enrolment form to their classroom teacher. Classroom teachers will provide more information to their class in Week 8 regarding lesson times, breaks and changing.
Running Club
There will be no session on Friday 18th November. We will run next Tuesday and continue until Tuesday of Week 8 when will have a breakfast to celebrate the last day of running club for the year.
Tennis
We have started tennis sessions funded by sporting schools. A qualified tennis coach assists Mrs Stanford with lessons.
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 this Friday 18th November 2022. A Word version of the form is available on request from the office.
P&C fundraising update
Quiz on December 9th
There are still some tables available for the quiz and due to popular demand, we're making individual tickets available. If you can't form a group of 8 but want to come along we'll add you to a table.
Tickets are $120 for a table or $15 per person
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
The disco is booked for Friday 2nd December. Junior disco (K-2) will be from 4pm-5:15pm and Senior disco (Yr 3-6) will be from 5:15pm to 6:30pm.
Students have been asked to provide the school with some of their favourite songs so it's sure to be a fun night. $2 entry and there will be plenty of treats available for purchase. Parents are welcome to attend and learn some of the latest 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.
DUCKs Wrap - Camp Out – 11 November 2022
With over 280 people, the 8th DUCKs Camp-Out was Kensington’s biggest destination on Friday night. Big games, big portions of food, big hits on the silent disco….it was a big success.
Our local firies showed up with a truck to educate and entertain dads and kids alike, whilst up on the oval the fire pits were glowing for the marshmallow toasting. A great team of dad cooks BBQ’d over 300 snags and 100 steaks for dinner, served with a range of salads. I’m always amazed at how little green salad we consume – just two small bags – whilst we have no problem devouring 2.6 kg of marshmallows and 40 kg of watermelon!
No-one comes to the camp-out for a good night’s sleep, so the morning coffees from Little Banksia were very welcome, together with the BBQ bacon and egg sandwiches (kudos to the dads grilling toast…it’s never been so unburnt).
Once again we were wrapped up by 8 am and the campers disappeared for the rest of the weekend’s activities and no doubt an afternoon nap.
It was lovely to get some feedback in the morning…
"My daughter told me this camp is the best thing that happens at school all year" (we’re glad it’s among the highlights of the school year!)
"My daughter wishes tonight was yesterday...so we could do it all over again" (next year, next year!)
Thank you all for another brilliant DUCKs camp out.
Containers for Change
We have a wheely bin and 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.