Newsletter 3rd May 2023
Principal's Message
Welcome to Term 2
I hope everyone had a lovely holiday and are ready for another busy term. We have our athletics faction carnival, Reconciliation Week, swimming lessons (PP-Year 5), the artist in residence program (mosaic workshops for Year 1, 3 & 6 this year – the other grades will be next year) as well as a variety of other events. This week we have the P&C running the annual Colour Run (5th May) and we have Student Voice Forums run by the Student Councillors the following week. Walk Safely to School is also coming up in Week 4 (Friday 19th May) run by the Faction Captains. Keep your eye on the SZapp calendar.
Changes to Room 10 Staffing
Mrs Di Filmer has been given a deputy position at Victoria Park PS this term. Congratulations to Mrs Filmer, but she will be missed here. Mrs Bushen, who has worked in Mrs Filmer’s class in Term 1 while she was acting deputy here, will take over the class for the term. We are very pleased to have Mrs Bushen back.
SZapp Update – action required
We have been made aware that SZapp has been updated. We have emailed you information on how to manage this as well as provided a link to instructions on a website via SMS. Below is that information too. Please let us know of any glitches so we can inform SZapp and get them addressed.
Annual Report
The 2022 Annual Report has been finalised and published. You can find it by clicking on the links for the Department’s Schools Online page for KPS or our own website. The Annual Report was a collaboration between the school and the School Board. Thanks, as usual, go to Mrs Tracey Carpenter for doing all the graphic design work.
School Reports Kensington Primary School (det.wa.edu.au)
Annual Reports - Kensington Primary School (kensingtonps.wa.edu.au)
RATS – Saliva and Nasal
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.
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.
Free Furniture
The furniture outside the staffroom (in the quadrangle) is available for anyone who wants it. We are happy to receive a token donation but the important thing is to dispose of the furniture as soon as possible. Anything left will require us to pay someone to take it away. You will be helping us out if you can find a better use for it.
Ms Zavodja’s Baby
Great news! Ms Zavodja gave birth to Luca Milo Lardi on Monday 24th April at 2pm. He weighed 4.1kg (over 9 pounds). Mother and baby are doing well.
Upcoming Events
TREK 2 SCHOOL – Year 5 & 6
Kensington Primary School is taking part in the TREK2School Study led by the Telethon Kids Institute. The school has participated in a similar study a few years ago so it will be good to compare results.
Information about the study was sent to parents of Year 5 and 6 students recently. Please review the information provided, and if you and/or your child wish to participate, please complete the consent form online at https://redcap.link/vo8u0qek by Monday, May 15th.
Best wishes,
TREK2School Research Team
A copy of the flyer that was sent via the teachers is below.
Premier's Reading Challenge Starts Soon
Anyone from Kindergarten to Year 10 can register to take part in the challenge. You can access over 7,000 book titles, which can be logged onto your child's bookshelf. While the challenge is for your child to log a minimum of 12 books, feel free to log more!
You can log a book that is on the booklist, or add a book.
By logging books, your child can be in the running to win fantastic weekly prizes. The prizes include experiences such as a zipline from Matagarup Bridge.
All students who log a minimum of 12 books over the challenge are also in the running for an end-of-year prize.
We want everyone to be able to access books in any format. We have partnered with the State Library of Western Australia, who has a wide and growing range of electronic resources available for members and visitors.
These include eBooks, online journals, audiobooks, eMagazines, current and historical newspapers and content services such as Ancestry and Kanopy. You can access these resources with your local public library membership. Your school library may also have these books.
Find out more about the Premier's Reading Challenge prizes.
The challenge starts on Monday 8th of May.
Foyer Display - Room 5
Each student in Room 5, Year 2 has set two goals they want to achieve this term. Each goal is about how to improve an area of their schoolwork. Examples include learning their times tables, improving their narrative writing or their scientific explanation. Each child then produced an image of themselves using coloured card and placed their goal inside their jackets. We hope you have time to check out our display and we will let you know if we kick our goals at the end of the term!
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!
Important Items
Lost Property
The lost property outside the staffroom is overflowing. Please come and check if any items belong to your child. To help keep lost property to a minimum please ensure all school items are clearly labelled.
Bike Locker
These two bikes are still in the bike locker. If they are not claimed by the end of next week they will be donated to a charity.
Sports News
Running Club
Running Club commenced last Friday. This year we are using Consent2Go as a permission for your child to attend. Once you child has attended once you will be sent an invite to give permission for your child to participate. So far this term in two sessions we have had 42 runners attend.
Running club will be on Tuesday and Friday mornings 8.00 – 8.30am on the oval or on the running track. Parents of Kindy, PP and Year 1 students must attend with their child. Please see Mrs Stanford if you require more details.
Walk to School - Friday 19th May
Kensington is participating in the Walk to School Day. We are encouraging everyone to walk to school, or part of the way to school, on Friday 19th May. There will be more details in the next newsletter.
School Board
As you know, we have new Board members now. Over the last newsletters we acknowledged the outgoing members. However, I also wish to acknowledge Simon Keen’s contribution to the Board in his tenure as our chairperson in 2022. His guidance and leadership have been very much appreciated. Simon remains on the Board for a further year, but Mrs Claire Stone has taken on the role of the chairperson and her vice chair is Lara Parsons. Mrs Brook and Mrs Dash continue as the secretaries.
The Board’s next meeting is on Monday 8th May at 5:30pm in the staffroom. The Board will review the Student Leader Election Guidelines, confirm the community representatives, look at how the school is implementing its plans in the area of Environmental Citizenship and review the attendance target.
P & C News
2023 Colour Run - Friday 12th May
Term 2 fundraising activities kick off this Friday, May 5th at 2pm with the annual Colour Run. Prizes are bigger and better this year so please make sure to get those sponsorship forms back to the office (even if you're doing a bank transfer) by Friday 12th May. Note that the office does not carry change so, if you're paying by cash, you're just going to have to round it up :)
There is a lot of work that goes into ensuring the kids have a good experience so thanks in advance to our volunteers as well as Ms. Stanford. Fingers crossed the weather forecast is accurate as conditions look to be perfect for the run. Please ensure that the children have a white t-shirt and a hat for the event. They can always use their school hat as we know the powder does wash off. If your child is worried/anxious about the powder we will have a detour that will allow them to avoid it.
We are planning a couple more events before the end of the year so stay tuned for more information. The funds are important to help improve the experience of our children in the school so thanks again for your contributions.
If you would like to know more or can help in any way then please contact us at kensingtonpsfundraising@gmail.com. We’re always looking for people that can help out!
Uniform Shop
The uniform shop is back up and running from the donga between the office and staff carpark. It is the building that has the mural with the owl and pink and grey galah on it. The shop is open on Thursday mornings (8:20am-8:50am).
DUCKS Term 2 update
Thank you to all the KPS Dads and Families that continue to support DUCKs and the children of KPS in 2023. It is great to see so many dads around the school, active in their kids lives and supporting the great work of the teachers. Welcome back to Term 2 and we look forwarding to seeing you about.
Dads - We have a couple of upcoming events to please add to your calendar:
Dads Catch-up: Thursday 11 May 2023, 7:30 pm, KPS Music Room
RSVP
Dads and Kids Indoor Climbing: Saturday 10 June 2023, 2:00pm, Rockface in Balcatta (please note the changed date). All welcome to this family event.
RSVP
For any new dads that want to join the group or for further information, please email us at:
Lastly, a reminder that DUCKs is a member of The Fathering Project, and we encourage all dads to sign-up for weekly tips and updates at:
All the best,
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
Learning how to use the toilet
Like most parents, you may be looking forward to the day when your child no longer needs nappies. Toilet training can seem like a big task, especially when family and friends may offer lots of different advice. This workshop provides some suggestions and strategies on how to start toilet training with your toddler.
**NOTE: This session does not include 'medical' based problems. Parents with medical based problems may be referred to speak with the Community Health Nurse**
The next workshop will take place this Monday 1 May, 7pm-9pm. Please see the WebEx details below, to share with any relevant families in your school.
Join Webex meeting
Meeting number (access code): 2654 625 6764 Meeting password: 9KSdunfqR62
Join from a video system or application
Dial 26546256764@educationwa.webex.com
You can also dial 210.4.202.4 and enter your meeting number.
Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only)
+61892645678,,26546256764## Perth
Join by phone
+61892645678 Perth
Global call-in numbers
