Newsletter 14th June 2023
Principal's Message
Student Semester Reports
A link to your child’s semester reports will be emailed out to you on Tuesday 27th June. Please remember to download it and save it in your computer files (or print it out) as the link is only active for four weeks. This might be particularly important for parents of Year 5/6 students who start looking at scholarships and high school enrolments for 2024/5. While we can send you another link later, it is an additional impost on our busy office staff.
Wet Weather Gear
We have been having a lot of wet weather lately. Unless it is heavy rain, strong winds or thunderstorms, students are allowed to play outside if they have appropriate wet weather gear (raincoats etc, but not umbrellas). Otherwise, students are required to stay undercover. This isn’t as much fun as playing outdoors so we encourage all students to bring their wet weather gear to school each day (raincoats, gumboots etc).
Prohibited Items
Please note that we cannot permit students to bring aerosol deodorant or any aerosol products to school. This is a health and safey issue. The other obvious ones are any weapons (including replicas or toys), matches, lighters, alcohol or drugs, including prescription. Prescription drugs, if required to be administered during the school day, should be given to the office along with a medication request form (available at the office). We also ask that students not bring mobile devices to school. If they are required, they must stay in bags during the school day. Toys and sports equipment should remain at home too. Thank you for your support.
COVID and Flu Season
We have been hit pretty hard this year with illnesses. The flu has been laying children and adults alike low for several days (if not a couple of weeks). COVID is also in the school. We encourage everyone to get their vaccinations and to stay home if you have any symptoms. Being off school for several days has an impact on learning. But being off for a couple of weeks and having half the class out is even more problematic. So, it is better to prevent the spread by following our well-known hygiene practices, getting vaccinated and staying home when unwell (to prevent the spread of the virus and to give your body a chance to fight the bug and get well quicker).
Before School Supervision
Please remember that the school does not provide supervision for students before 8:15am. Between 8:15 – 8:30am, any student on the school grounds (except at organised events such as running club) should be seated in the quadrangle. At 8:30am, the classroom doors are opened for students to prepare for the day. This is the preferred time for students to arrive. If you must drop your child at school before 8:15am, then please use the OSHClub. Their details are below. There is a cost involved in using the OSHClub but the school does not provide free supervision before 8:15am. You will be contacted by the school if your child arrives before 8:15am on a regular basis.
Students should be collected as soon as possible after 3pm. Any students not collected by parents by 3:15pm each day will need to be collected at the office. Please let the school know if you are going to be late. The office is not able to supervise your child if you are going to be over half an hour late. Again, OSHClub is available after school. You can register for this for free so that you can use this in an emergency.
Enrolling for Pre-primary and Kindergarten for 2024 Now Open
If your child will be four years old by 30 June 2024, you should enrol them in Kindergarten now. Applications close on 21 July 2023. Likewise, it is time to enrol you child in Pre-primary if they turn five by 30th June 2024. Find out more by contacting the school or visiting education.wa.edu.au/enrol.
Pre-Primary applications have been sent home to current Kindy students. Once completed, please return these to the office. If your child will not be continuing to Pre-primary at Kensington Primary School, please let the office know.
Upcoming Events
Pyjama Day for Telethon Kids
On Thursday 29th June (second last day of term) the Student Council is having a Pyjama Day to raise funds for Telethon Kids. Students are invited to wear their pyjamas to school that day for a gold coin donation. Coins will be collected by the Student Council on the day and donated to Telethon Kids.
What's Been Going On At KPS
Walk for Reconciliation
The Student Council attended the Walk for Reconciliation at Kings Park, which entailed moving through a series of stations that showcased Aboriginal Culture. Starting with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, students walked through Kaarta Koomba (Kings Park) engaging in a range of cultural immersion opportunities including dancing, arts and craft workshops (making jewellery and dolls and participating in making a collaborative dot painting) and an opportunity to learn more about The Voice and the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Students then returned to school and started planning events for the whole school celebration of NAIDOC week at the start of Term 3.
The Walk for Reconciliation is an annual free public event and well worth the time. The students thoroughly enjoyed the experience and Kings Park put on a lovely day to be outside in beautiful surroundings.
Student Voice Forum
On 9th May the Student Council met with representatives from each Year 1-6 classroom. They asked the students for feedback on what they liked about the school, what they didn’t like, any new ideas to improve the school and any ideas for charities we could support as a school (giving back to the wider community). In the last two newsletters we reported the responses to the first two questions. In this newsletter we are reporting their new ideas.
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Sports News
Running Club
Running Club continues Tuesday and Friday mornings on the oval or the running track from 8.00am – 8.30am. New runners are welcome. Parents will be sent a Consent2Go to give permission once their child has attended their first session.
P & C News
DUCKS Family Climbing Day, 10 June 2023
KPS Dads and Families
We had just shy of 50 people join in the DUCKs dads and kids family climbing day, with 28 KPS kids joining with their dads, some mums and partners at the Rockface Indoor Climbing Centre. A large group of our eager kids quickly found themselves on the low bouldering wall once their climbing shoes were on. Parents had an introduction to belaying the ropes for those new to it and a refresher for everyone else. It was pleasing to see so many smiles on the faces of our kids as they climbed, dashed about and played together. I would like to express a heartfelt thank you to all the dads and mums who took the time on their weekend to get their kids involved. Everyone seemed to have a great time. Special thanks to Justin Nicholls and his son Jacob for preparing food and catering the event to keep us all happy and refreshed.
Save the date:
Hills Dads and Kids family day hike (bushwalk)
Saturday 5 August 2023
We have plans for a gentle to moderate half-day bushwalk in the hills in the first weekend of August. Please note the date in your calendar and keep an eye out in the next school newsletter, WhatsApp class messages or DUCKs group emails for further details.
For any questions, please contact:
Thank you to all the KPS Dads and father-figures supporting the children of our school.
All the best,
Conrad Slee - DUCKs
Dads United for the Children of Kensington (primary)
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
