Newsletter 22nd March 2023
Principal's Message
Introducing our New Deputy
We welcome our new deputy principal, Mr Clint McNerney, who is replacing Mrs Backhouse while she is coordinating PEAC in the North Metro area. Mr McNerney is an experienced deputy having come from Warnbro Primary School. He has also taken up a role on the School Board too. If you attended the P&C meeting last night, the assembly this morning, or are attending the School Board meeting next week, you will have had an opportunity to meet Mr McNerney. Please feel free to introduce yourselves when you see him around. We look forward to working with and learning from him. New ideas and improved ways of doing things are always welcome.
New Courts
The courts have now been completed and handed back to the school. Netball and Basketball practice has occurred on them, and Mrs Stanford has been making great use of them too, including teaching the children the basic rules of four square/square ball. The running track has also been popular. Thanks to Mr Geoff Baker, MLA for pledging the funding to the school as part of an election commitment. We have been wanting this since before I came to the school. It was great to have the new roof installed last year too, as that has been something we have wanted for a long time as well.
The P&C are now able to begin work, in earnest, on the expansion of the Bike Shed and the rejuvenation of the naturescape that were reliant on the courts being finished before they could be progressed.
RATS – Saliva and Nasal
We have been told that we will shortly be receiving more RATs. However, we still have a lot of them left over from last year. If you want saliva or nasal RATs, please pop into the office and we would be only too happy to give them to you – as many as you would like. We will have some available at the parent-teacher interviews too.
Regular testing for COVID-19 continues to be an effective strategy to keep our schools and communities safe. It is best to test if you have COVID-19 like symptoms such as:
- fever (37.5°C or more)
- cough
- shortness of breath
- sore throat
- runny nose
- loss of smell or taste.
Pedestrians Accessing the Kiss and Wave Drive Through Gates
We encourage all parents and children to use the pedestrian gates to access the school, rather than the gates used by cars to drive through the kiss and wave. Apart from holding up traffic, this can be unsafe for children especially, who don’t always have the ability to process the traffic information in a timely manner. It is also worrying for drivers.
Upcoming Events
ANZAC Ceremony
We will have our annual ANZAC day ceremony on the morning of the early close – Wednesday 5th April at 9:30am. The school band and choir will perform. We encourage all students who are able, to bring a flower to contribute to the class wreath that morning.
Early Close – Wednesday 5th April
Early Close – Parent Teacher Meetings
As you should already be aware, you can now book a meeting with your child(ren)'s teacher(s) in Week 9 and 10 (including during the early close sessions). Room 1 parents can book sessions in Weeks 8-9 (this week and next). You can do this via the internet website or via the SZapp.
To use the SZapp, click on the tile called "Interview Bookings" (bottom right tile) and then complete a registration and follow the process to select a booking time.
To book online go to https://kensingtonprimary.schoolzineplus.com/parentinterviews23 and follow that process.
These are 12-minute sessions and only one session per parent should be booked per student. There will be no double sessions allowed using these booking sessions. We look forward to seeing you face-to-face. If you can't make a face-to-face session, please contact your teacher. Only face-to-face sessions are available on Wednesday 5th April early close.
What's Been Going On At KPS
Harmony Day – Tuesday 21st March
As usual, we celebrated Harmony Day on 21st March. Students were encouraged to wear orange or dress in a national costume representing their heritage. Students worked with their buddies from another (younger/older) class in the afternoon. Because of NAPLAN we were unable to run any of our usual morning events. However, Room 5 treated us to a specially themed Harmony Day assembly this morning, with a lovely acrostic poem and a song with an appropriate message.
Movie Night
Thank you to the P&C, especially to the Year 6 parents, for running the Movie Night last week. I believe it was a very financially successful event and a lovely community event too.
Foyer Display - Art
Creating harmony through art
Years 1-6 contributed to the collaborative foyer display for Harmony Week. Focusing on Colour Theory, students learnt how the colour wheel is a tool used in art and design to show colours and their relationship to one another - how colours that look good together are called colour harmonies. Each class were allocated 2 analogous watercolours from the colour wheel to create blends on watercolour paper. To complete their hearts, students used acrylic paint pens to apply line and pattern - another element of art focus within the Visual Arts curriculum.
Honours and Values Awards
Safety
Securing and protecting everyone, including our school’s reputation and our environment.
High School Scholarships
Special congratulations to Cooper who has been accepted into the Specialist Tennis Program at Applecross SHS
Sports News
Vortex
Thanks to Midland Clarke Rubber for their generous donation of 32 vortexes to the PE program. They will be used to support the throwing program and improve our throwing technique. Thank you, Andrew.(Kensington PS parent)
Sporting Schools
Thanks to sporting schools funding we have an additional coach that assists with some PE sessions, new tennis racquets and 2 more mini nets.
Inter School Carnivals
Thursday 30th March selected Year 5/6 will compete in the Victoria Park area summer carnival. We will play tee ball, volleyball, Newcombe ball and cricket (boys and girls’ teams).
On Tuesday 4th April the selected swim team will compete in the inter school carnival. We will compete against Victoria Park and East Victoria Park.
Best wishes to all our teams, we know they will uphold our Kensington CRISP values as they compete.
Bikes
These 2 bikes have been in the bike shed for a long time. If they are not claimed by the end of term, they will be donated to a charity.
Japanese News
Everyone is excited about the Japanese students visiting our school community next week.
They will attend English classes in the morning and spend the afternoon and break times with some of our students and in classes. The students will be hosted by families from within our school community. Thank you to all families who offered to host one of these students and to offer our school this unique opportunity.
Please find attached information about the upcoming Perth Japanese Festival to be held this Saturday in Supreme Court Gardens 11am-6.30pm that may be of interest to you and your family.
Whittle sensei
Japanese language teacher
Music News
Save the Dates - Massed Choir Festival
The following dates are very important for all students in Years 5 and 6.
They are the rehearsal and concert dates for this year's Massed Choir Festival.
Churchlands Rehearsal - Friday 25th August 11.30am - 3.00pm.
Perth Concert Hall Rehearsal - Thursday 21st September 9.00am - 2.00pm.
Perth Concert Hall Tech Rehearsal and Concert - Friday 22nd September 4.45pm - 9.00pm.
Our Concert date on Friday 22nd September is the last day of Term 3.
Please don't book an early holiday or a Friday night flight. The Concert is a very exciting experience for the children, and an outstanding performance for parents to enjoy. It is the culmination of 24 weeks of Choir Rehearsals. Please mark this date in your diary.
School Board
School Board Members
We have a new parent Board member, two parent Board members who are taking up a second term, and two new staff Board members this year. Our first meeting with the new members will be on Monday 27th March. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the outgoing Board members (Adam Bartle, Erin Sutton, Ashley Griffiths, and Rhonda Skinner) for their wonderful commitment to the school. Their guidance, advice, and efforts have made a great difference to our school.
Our new (or renewing) parent representatives are:
- Lara Parsons – 2 years (returning after a break)
- Claire Stone – 2 years (returning for a second term)
- Elizabeth Pickles – 2 years (returning after completing a 6-month term)
- One vacant position – 2 years
Our new staff representatives are:
- Jemma Marris (Pre-primary teacher) – 2 years
- Clint McNerney (Deputy Principal) – up to 2 years
Returning for a second term is Clare Brook – 2 years.
Community members will be decided by the Board members at the next meeting.
We will publish the updated Board on our website.
Next Board Meeting
Monday 27th March at 5:30 pm in the staff meeting. The Board will elect a Chair, a Deputy Chair, and a Secretary and select two community members. This will be followed by a Board dinner to welcome new members and farewell old.
P & C News
Movie Under the Stars - Thank you
Thank you so much to everyone who came to our movie night on Friday. It was a great success - and everyone looked like they had a ball!
Thanks again to our wonderful sponsors
We also had an amount of cash handed in to our stall. If you remember losing some cash on the night, please get in touch via the front office.
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The DUCKs Movie Night BBQ was a whopper. A big thank you to the brilliant team of helpers who cooked up 150 Burgers and 350 Hot Dogs in just 2 hours ensuring movie goers were well fed. A stiff breeze made cooking a challenge and at least a few napkins made it to Vic Park, but the team worked double shifts to keep the line moving! We loved having some new people join the BBQ team too.
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Our first P&C fundraising event for 2023 was a fantastic success!
Thank you to the Yr6 cohort, parent volunteers and DUCK's for organising a fabulous Movie Night! It was great to see so many families come together under the stars
P & C Reminders
DUCKs March 2023 Dads update
Thank you to all the dads that came along to our Dads Catch-up on 9th March at the school. It was great to see you there sharing stories and ideas with one another. We had 16 dads attend the meeting, and a number of apologies due to other commitments. We appreciate you taking the time to get involved. We talked about the history of DUCKs, our many successful events over the years, the importance of fathering, personal success stories, plus our individual hopes and ideas for 2023. DUCKs is working on a detailed calendar of activities for dads, father-figures, kids and families, so please watch this space and add yourself to the DUCKs email list at:
2023 Dates (confirmed, more to follow)
Please add to your calendar:
24 June 2023 - DUCKs Indoor Climbing
19 August 2023 - DUCKs Bush Walk in the hills
10 November 2023 - DUCKs CampOut on the oval
Thank you also to Justin Nicholls, all the dads and family members who helped run the DUCKs barbecue at the Movie Night last week on 17 March. You all did a stellar job.
Justin will be handing over the DUCKs BBQ tongs in a few months and would love to hear from anyone keen to pick up this unofficial, but very rewarding role for the P&C – j.nicholls@live.com
Thanks all,
Conrad Slee - DUCKs
Dads United for the Children of Kensington (primary school)
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.
Community News
