Newsletter 29th November 2023

Principal's Message

Parent Helper Morning Tea & Christmas Concert

Thank you to everyone who attended this morning’s Christmas Concert and Parent Helper Morning Tea.  If you missed the concert, there is a repeat performance tonight at 7pm.  Congratulations to Mrs Dewing and her team of helpers and the Junior Choir for a wonderful performance.  We are very grateful for their huge efforts.  Can’t wait to see it all again.

I wish to take the opportunity to thank all our parents and volunteers who have helped at the school over this very busy year. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child.  We have a wonderful village.

Gifts

We have a very generous community, and the staff are very grateful for the generosity shown at this time of year to them.  Please be aware though, that staff cannot accept gifts from individuals valued at over $100 or from groups valued at over $500.  We don’t want to appear unappreciative, but it is DoE policy, so staff will have to return the gifts.  Please don’t see these amounts as a target though, as it is extremely rare that this is ever an issue.

2024 Booklists

You will find the 2024 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:  Kensington Primary School (kensingtonps.wa.edu.au) - For Parent - Booklists, or go direct to:

Booklists - Kensington Primary School (kensingtonps.wa.edu.au)

2024 Contributions and Charges Information

Please find the Contributions and Charges information for 2024 in the flyer below.

Kensington PS Community Culture Survey

We would love to get your feedback on our school.

Below is a link to a school survey that is an opportunity to understand how we are progressing in developing an effective school culture.

Your responses will help us understand areas where we are performing well and areas for further development. There are two types of responses you are able to provide: rating scale and open text comment.

The survey is completely confidential. You do not need to provide your name and we will not be able to identify you individually.

https://www.schoolsurvey.edu.au/s/Kensingtonparents2023

Please complete this survey by 1st December 2023.

Reconciliation Action Plan Update

The Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) committee was established in 2021 and meets regularly.  It has met again this term and settled on the wording for our RAP vision statement. We may well continue to tinker with this but this what we are using, at this stage, moving forward.  The next step and focus for 2024 is to develop our plans for the 14 mandatory actions.

The Vision Statement for our Reconciliation Action Plan is:

At Kensington PS we seek reconciliation by building strong relationships and working together in partnership to ensure that all students are able to participate equally and equitably in our nation. We are committed to ensuring Aboriginal cultures and histories form a proud part of our school identity. To achieve this, we will:

• Listen and share
• Learn and understand
• Appreciate and value
• Respect each other

Upcoming Events

Holiday Works

We believe there will be some works happening over these holidays.  This will include some renovations to the donga (near the office).  This is the reason the uniform shop will be moving to Vista Street while this happens.

There will also be some repair work on the basketball courts too.

What's Been Going On

Year 5 Student Elections for 2024

The Year 5 students who nominated for an elected student council position in 2024 presented their speeches on Monday 27th November.  Voting followed immediately after.  The speeches and elections of faction leaders will occur on Thursday 30th November.  The results of these elections will be announced on the last day of term.  All Year 6 students will be given a leadership position of some kind in 2024.

Foyer Display - Kindy

Kindy 1

Kindy 2

Swimming Lessons Week 9/10 at Belmont Oasis

Swimming lessons for pre-primary to Yr. 5 students commence on Monday. Students will wear their bathers to school and bring a change of clothes to change into after the lesson has completed and they are back at school.

 Students will wear their bathers to the pool and take a towel, shoes (sandals or thongs) and goggles(optional). The classroom teacher has details of lesson times.

Please note parents may attend lessons; however, it is requested that you do not approach your child during lessons or speak with the swimming teachers.  Should you have any questions these should be directed through Mrs Stanford or Mr McNerney.

The cost for parent spectators is $2.00.

Sports News

State Cricket Final

Last Friday our boys and girls team competed in the state T20 cricket final at the WACA.

The boys played off in the final and lost narrowly to Applecross P S. The girls played off for third/fourth place and won against a team that had beaten them in the earlier rounds to be placed third. It was an amazing day and great opportunity to play on the hollowed WACA turf.

Thanks to Mr Powers, Leanne, and Amy for their coaching at the carnival. Thanks to the many parents and grandparents who came down to support the teams.

Girls Cricket

If you are interested in a free trial of cricket, see the attached flyer for a holiday program with our local club, South Perth.

Jump Jam

Thank you to our jam team - Sara, Harriet, Sophia, Sofia, Amberlee, Laila, Maya, Hayley, Flynn, Sabrina, Sienna, Caitlyn, Charlotte, Zoe, Lani, Annabelle, Amelie, Anna, Harminah and Sarah who have committed to rehearsing once a week for the whole year to successfully lead the school in our jump jam sessions. Fantastic effort!

Sport Monitors

Thank you to our sport monitors who daily put equipment out and in and make sure balls are pumped up and ready to use. It has been a huge job throughout the year and they havee done it magnificently and without complaint.

Running Club

Our last running club for the year was held yesterday with a run and breakfast. This year we have averaged 40 – 60 runners each session, with a total enrolment of 130 students from K – Yr. 6. Well done runners. Thank you to our parent helpers Mel and James. Mel has completed her last running session at Kensington, she has been assisting weekly for many years. Her input has been greatly appreciated by everyone. All the best to our Year 6 contingent of runners, we hope you continue running in high school. Keep running over the holidays and we will recommence Term 2 next year.

Sporting Schools

Thanks to sporting schools funding the Year 3s have completed a 6-week Bike education course. They have learnt many aspects of safe riding. If you are interested in a safe cycling course follow this link. https://www.peopleonbicycles.com.au/our-services/training/group-training/

S3 and S4 have had sessions of badminton over the last 2 weeks as an introduction to the sport.

Spinning Plates

There are a limited number of circus spinning plates available for sale. They are $5.00. Please see Mrs Stanford in the PE office if you would like one.

School Board

The final School Board meeting will be held on Monday 4^th December.  The Board will be looking at reviewing the school vision statement, the Pupil Free days for 2024 and the finances.

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 or the online form at  https://forms.gle/hbkvqvZQGYc9cWqr5

If you don’t use the online form at the link above you will need to submit it to the P&C’s email address or in the P&C box at the office.  All applications are due by Friday 1^st December 2023. A paper version of the form is available on request from the office.

Heads up!

It's almost Christmas! But before the silly season we have a busy rest of the school year to get through! See our upcoming dates below (including our parent mixer disco!)

There will be lots of opportunities for you to volunteer or support our last few events of the year. 

Link below to get in early - sign up now to volunteer your time as it's the first weekend back at school! 

UNIFORM SHOP CLOSED IN DECEMBER
(online orders will still be delivered to classrooms during this time.)

We will be setting up a temporary shop for Term 1 next year while works are carried out at our current location.

Late December & January orders will be available for pickup from Vista Street kindy, Tuesday 30th of January between 12 & 2pm.

Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Thank you for your patience during this time of transition.

Uniforms

Follow the QR code for a direct link to the uniform shop to order online. Include your child’s name and classroom and we will deliver the following Thursday. Easy as! Happen to have ordered the wrong size? No problem, we are happy to exchange, just leave the tags on. Wondering what to do with uniforms you’ve outgrown? Leave them in the red donation bin located next to Room 7.

Reminder - the uniform shop has moved to the donga with the bright mural next to the staff car park.

Containers for Change

Community News

Code Camp

Code Camp are offering a weekly coding After-School program, starting in Term 1. Code Camp After-School allows kids to hone their creative skills and keep practising through weekly sessions over the term! Our fun and engaging content ensures students learn new creative skills in a safe, educational environment.

Please note, the school is only providing a venue.  We are not responsible for the program.

Please find the booking link HERE
Parents will receive a $15 Early-Bird saving if they enrol by 15 December. You just need to use the following discount code when booking on our website: T124EB

Penrhos College Scholarships Open Now

Penrhos College offers a range of scholarships that celebrate students for their academic and/or extra-curricular strengths.

Whether students possess academic prowess, musical or creative talent, or are facing financial barriers, a range of scholarships to study at Penrhos College in 2025 are now available, including a NEW Red Dragon Impact Scholarship that offers an incredible 95% remission of tuition.

Head to penrhos.wa.edu/au for more information and to apply.  

Applications close on Friday, 26 January 2024.

Kidsport Funding

Financial assistance is available for eligible children, aged 5 to 18 years, to use for sporting club fees. Parents and guardians can now apply for $300 per financial year to help their children take part in community sports and recreation.

Host Families For International Students from Brazil Attending Como SC Semester 1 2024

Western Australian public schools have a long history of providing education to international students. Each year we welcome students from over 30 countries around the world into our schools.

As part of a scholarship program, the Brazilian Government is sponsoring 100 students from Brazil to spend 1 semester studying in a public high school in Western Australia. Como Secondary College has the opportunity to enrol a number of these students in our school; however, we need families to host and provide accommodation to them.

Host a Brazilian student for Term 1 and 2, 2024

We are seeking caring host families within the school community who are willing to host a Brazilian student for Term 1 and 2 in 2024. Students in the program are aged between 15 and 17 years old and will be enrolling in either Year 10 or Year 11.

What we seek in host families:

• each student will require their own room
• a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere
• a safe and comfortable living space.

As a homestay host:

• you will receive full support from both the school and the Australian Homestay Network
• homestay hosts will receive financial reimbursement of $355 per week. This is a contribution towards the expenses associated with hosting a student.

How to get involved:

If you are interested in hosting a Brazilian student, please register your interest to receive more information. https://www.homestaynetwork.org/como-secondary-college-hosts/

We have posted this information on our Facebook page if you would like to share https://www.facebook.com/ComoSC/