Newsletter 8th May 2024
Principal's Message
School Development Day - staff training
As you know, we had a pupil free day on Monday to allow staff to obtain their first day of training in the Berry Street Education Model. Staff looked at how to support students with self-regulation and further develop clear, consistent predictable routines across the school. In Term 2, staff will attend the second day of training for this model (4th November). If you wish to have find out more about this model, please check out their website. Berry Street Education Model – Learning and Resources | Berry Street
Bookbook Owl Returns
Our Southern Boobook owl, immortalised in the mural on the donga near the office, has returned for its annual visit. It perches in the peppermint tree near the music room and junior playground. Boobooks are nocturnal. Please be aware of its presence and ensure that it has a safe stay at the school.
Playing After School
Just a reminder that the OSHClub has a deed of licence to use the undercover area (and some other rooms), basketball court (near the undercover area) and the nearby playground equipment areas and amphitheatre. They happily allow our community to use the playground until 4pm, but we must ensure that only OSHClub students and staff use it after this time, for safety reasons. So, please leave the area by 4pm. Likewise, please ensure you leave the early childhood area by that time to allow our staff to work in quiet and without interruption.
Playground Upgrades
As you may be aware, the P&C have recently had a busy-bee in the early childhood areas. This was to tidy up the play area and clear away unnecessary items. This also prepared the area for further improvements. We will be adding an extra course of limestone around the lower sandpit to enable us to build up the soil in the playground to cover the tree roots. The P&C has also commissioned a nature play designer to develop designs for upgrading this area and for the naturescape area near the basketball courts to be revamped, following the deterioration of the wooden poles that used to hold up the web. Once the bikeshed is complete, this will be the focus for the P&C fundraising.
Honours and Values Awards
Perseverance
Committing to goals and overcoming obstacles no matter what it takes.
Choosing your commitments wisely, and then don't give up!
What's Coming Up
Koora Wangkininy Boodja Workshop/Experience
We have special guests working with our 5/6 students on 30th May to commemorate Reconciliation Week. Parents are also invited to this special interactive activity workshop (the same one the Year 5/6 students and our staff have attended) for parents at 5:30pm on Thursday 30th May. This is a very moving and enlightening experience and, for those who were never taught much about Aboriginal histories, this is a must do experience. Please RSVP to the office via email or phone (kensington.ps@education.wa.edu.au or 6436 8448).
Walk Safely to School Day – Friday 10th May
Everyone is encouraged to walk safely to school on Friday to be part of this special event. Please wear wet weather gear if the weather is inclement, but wearing sports gear for this event is also encouraged. The Eagles will meet walkers on the basketball courts at the school. You might like to join the running club before at 8am.
P&C Artist in Residence Program - Mosaics
This program began last year when the Year 1,3 and 6 students were involved. This year, students in Year 1, Year 3, Year 5 and Year 6 will be involved. Students will work in small groups with Mosaic artist's to finish off the mosaic creation for the Makrau season in the quadrangle. The artwork will be fixed to the panels along the ramp in the quad area next to last year's creations.
Colour Run on Friday 17th May
Next Friday we also have our annual Colour Run. You should be receiving a paper copy of a sponsorship form from your child today. Please support the P&C by obtaining sponsors for your child. The event should be great fun. If you are happy for your child to run through a shower of coloured powder, we suggest they wear a t-shirt that it is OK to get coloured. If you and your child do not wish to run through the coloured powder, there will be a lane to run through to avoid this.
Kite Kinetics
Next Friday we also have Mike Alvarez visiting the school to show his amazing kites and teach the Year 2-6 children to make their own. Kites are very significant in the Japanese culture, so this event has been arranged by Whittle sensei. You should have received a Consent 2 Go invitation for this event. You can also use Consent 2 Go to pay for your child to be involved (we encourage full participation). Please ensure you have given permission and paid the $7 fee by Wednesday.
National Simultaneous Storytime
National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and our involvement is organised by our library officer extraordinaire, Mrs Rankin-Hume. Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. Now in its 24th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6. This year we will be reading Aura Parker’s Bowerbird Blues. Mrs Rankin-Hume has put up a lovely display in the library in preparation. The event will be held across the school on Wednesday 22nd May.
Premier's Reading Challenge
WA school students, from Kindergarten to Year 10, are encouraged to participate and uncover great mysteries through the world of books and reading for this exciting challenge.
With so many great prizes up for grabs, it’s a fantastic opportunity to embark on more adventures and reap the benefits of reading.
Foyer Display - Room 5
After reading 'The Snail And The Whale' by Julia Donaldson , Room 5 were inspired to create our own origami whales along with another character to demonstrate dialogue between characters. We are working on adding in speech into out narrative stories to make them more engaging. We hope that you enjoy the conversations.
What's Been Happening
Student Voice Forum
In the last newsletter, we provided the feedback obtained through the Student Council run Student Voice Forums. Two students from each of the classes from Year 1-6 joined the forum. Below are the new ideas the students gave the student council.
New Ideas
Junior School | Senior School |
· Playground/ swing / bigger · Books · Toys · Cricket pitch · Space · Lego · Nature play · Games · Spider Year 1, 2 · More buddy time · More hoops · Bigger class · Smaller oval · More flying foxes · Pillows · Beanbags · More languages to learn · Better bathrooms · Resting places · Sushi once a month · Hot dog sale once a year · Library books · Benches, plants in Quad | · Halloween parade · Bigger library · Update uniform · Extend nature play · Fence on kitchen garden · More equipment in senior block · Bigger and better Kindy playground · More bushes · Longer first break · New laptops · Small canteen · Marking oval/footy · Leaver hoodies · Bigger music room · Senior science · Metal garden beds · Juice · sports carnival – played with Friday sports like T ball · More sports in Faction Carnival · Year 5 to have jobs (like Year 6) |
Crunch&Sip
Sport News
Sporting Schools
This term our grant from sporting schools is being used to fund football(soccer) and AFL sessions with selected classes. You will receive a consent2go if your child’s class is participating.
If you are interested in playing football(soccer) on the weekend, the local club’s websites are:
Vic Park SC https://www.vicparksc.com
Perth Saints FC: https://www.perthsaintsfc.com
Curtin University: https://curtinfootball.teamapp.com/?_webpage=v1
South Perth united: https://www.southperthunitedfc.com.a
Our local AFL club is South Perth Stingrays: South Perth Junior Football Club – Australian Rules Football (spjfc.org.au)
Walk to School Day
Friday 10th 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 this Friday 10th May.
Students may wear a sporting uniform as part of the day’s activities. Faction captains will be at all the gates to hand out tattoos to students who walk to school.
We will have some visitors from the West Coast Eagles to greet and hand out gear in the undercover area. Active kids learn better!
Running Club
On Friday, running club with be on the basketball court track. New runners are always welcome. We are averaging 60 runners at each session. We run Tuesday and Friday morning from 8.00 – 8.30am. A consent2go will be emailed to you when you child attends their first session.
Music News
SAVE THE DATES
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 Concert Hall Rehearsal - Wednesday 11th September 8:45am - 12:30pm
Rehearsal at HBF Stadium Mt Claremont - Thursday 31st October 8:45am - 2:15pm
Concert and Tech Rehearsal at HBF Stadium - Saturday 2nd November 4:15pm - 9:00pm
Our Concert date is on a Saturday and we would love to have every students in Years 5 & 6 enjoy the exciting experience of performing in a Massed Choir of 500 voices. It is the culmination of 26 weeks of Choir Rehearsals and it is an outstanding concert for parents to enjoy. Please mark these dates in your diary.
School Board
Due to the industrial action, the Board will not be meeting in person on Monday 29th April, as planned. They will review the budget, funding agreement and be updated on some staffing changes and other operational areas via email.
P & C News
Mother’s Day Raffles
Tickets are now live for the Mother's Day raffle- there is an exciting group of prizes up for grabs, you won’t want to miss having a chance to win.
A big thanks to the local businesses who have donated prizes and to the wonderful Kindy class reps for organizing.
2024 KPS Colour Run
Save the date: Friday 17th May 2pm
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.
Containers for Change
Community News
Belonging Across Borders
As the Commissioner for Children and Young People of WA, it is my job to listen to the voices of all children and young people – including those who have moved to Australia, and those who were born here, but their parents are from overseas.
We want to hear about your experiences and what you think would help other children and young people who come to Australia to live.
