Newsletter 18th September 2024
Principal's Message
Reminder that Term 4 starts on Monday
As we have had to move the usual School Development Day from the first day of term to Week 5 in order to accommodate the Berry Street staff training, the first day for students next term will be Monday 7th October. Please note that the next pupil free day will be 4th November.
Swooping Magpies
It is magpie swooping season as it is their nesting season. We have been told that we have a magpie nearby that is swooping but have not had any issues during school time. However, this is typical. Swooping usually occurs when there are not a lot of people about, unlike when the school day is in full swing where lots of people are milling about.
Magpies are intelligent birds, able to recognise up to 100 individual people and will swoop riders from 50-100 metres away from their nest!
To reduce the risk of being swooped: be aware of where a magpie is nesting and avoid the area if possible.
Experts advise against fighting back against the bird or running away quickly. It is important to stay calm, if you panic or wave your arms around to fend them off, this is more likely to appear as aggressive behaviour and provoke further swooping. You should move away from the area slowly. Keep your head down and try not to turn around to see where the bird is coming from, as this will expose your face and eyes to potential injury if the bird is returning to swoop again.
1 – Give magpies a wide berth
Magpies often live and nest in the same area their entire lives and tend to defend the territory within 50 to 100 metres of their nest. If you’re out and about on your bike, walking your dog or going for a jog, the best way to avoid being swooped is to change your route for the breeding season which lasts 6 to 8 weeks.
2 – Don’t run….or stop
If you are swooped on, don’t run or fight back. If you’re on a bike, get off it. Stay calm and walk quickly through the area.
3 – Protect your head
Magpies usually swoop from behind and will just clear your head. Some will strike the top of your head with their wings, beak or claws so try to protect your head and eyes by wearing a wide brimmed hat and glasses or walk with an open umbrella above your head.
4 – Walk with friends
Walk or ride in groups, as swooping birds usually only target individuals. You can also place a sign nearby to warn others or let your local council know so they can install a sign for the period.
5 – Keep your cool
Do not act aggressively. If you wave your arms about or shout, the magpies will see you as a threat to the nest – and they can recognise your face and have very long memories!
For more information check out: Everything you need to know about magpie swooping season (environment.sa.gov.au)
Planning for 2025 Survey
It's that time of year again when we start to look at how many students we will have in 2025 and to plan to staff the school to meet those needs. We have created a Microsoft Form to enable you to inform us about whether or not your child is returning in 2025 (current PP – Year 5 students only). You may complete one form (see the link below) for your family. However, if you have differing plans for each of your children currently attending our school (excluding the Year 6s), please complete separate forms for each.
Please complete your forms by Friday 11th October.
Honours and Values Awards
Foyer Display - S3
The Year 6 students in S3 investigated natural disasters and how they work. Here are some examples of a few of the natural disasters that were covered in Science.
Whats's Been Happening
Mill Point Rotary Club Peace Poles
We are very pleased to be the proud recipients of a Peace Pole. The Mill Point Rotary club recently installed it at the front of the school, outside the principal’s office. The Peace Pole has the peace message (May Peace Prevail on Earth) written in English, Japanese, Noongar and Braille. The Peace Pole movement was started in Japan by the visionary Masahisa Goi. He was deeply distressed by the catastrophic devastation caused by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, instantly killing an estimated 200,000 people. In 1955 he began a mission to spread this simple message “May Peace Prevail on Earth”. This peace pole is one of over 500 planted across Australia. It joins 250,000 planted world-wide.
The pole symbolizes the universal desire for peace and serves as a reminder to promote harmony and understanding amongst people.
Thank you to the Rotary Club members Wayne and David for installation.
Speak Up Awards
Each year, there is a state-wide speaking competition called the Speak Up Awards, where students from across WA write, rehearse and perform a speech about a topic of their choosing in front of an audience.
Around 110 students participated in the initial rounds, including Jonah, Emmy and Jessie from KPS.
A huge congratulations to Jessie from S2, who was selected to go through to the semi-finals and then made it through to the grand final as one of the final 14 students. She presented her speech about climate change to a massive audience on Friday night and did a phenomenal job. Jessie was only one of two Year 5 students to make it to the grand final, which is a tremendous achievement for her. We are so proud of the effort, courage and talent she has shown over the year in creating her speech and presenting it to large audiences. Well done, Jessie!
Bike Shed and Basketball Courts
As you many remember, as an election commitment, the Labor state government provided $300,000 to Kensington Primary School to resurface our basketball/netball courts. As this came under budget, the government agree that the remaining $42,000 could be added to the P&C’s bike shed initiative. The final sections of bike shed fencing will be installed soon.
Thank you to Geoff Baker, MLA for ensuring funding for these initiatives. He has already asked the school and P&C for their suggestions for any future initiatives such as the nature-scape and air conditioning for the next election.
Story Dog Fundraiser
Thank you to everyone that dressed up as an animal and/or donated to this wonderful cause. Patch was able to see our students dressed up as animals to support this program. The Student Council were able to raise $341.85 to support our Story Dog program.
Farm to Plate, KPS style
S1 and S2 have been cooking in the last few weeks, using the potatoes, herbs and kale from the school vegetable garden. After planting and caring for these plants for the past few months, students were thrilled to pick and cook with their own produce. Well done S1 and S2! You have done an amazing job in the garden this year.
Uniform Information
Sport News
Interschool Carnival
Well done Kensington on a fantastic team effort to win the inter school carnival
Our runners across the board ran brilliantly and the effort continued into the team games. We finished the carnival by winning the grand relay. Congratulations to our individual champions in Nevaeh Yr. 4 champion girl, Cooper Yr. 4 runner up champion boy and Ava Yr. 5 runner up champion girl. Thanks to our Yr. 6 team managers, helpers and staff who assisted at the carnival.
Thanks to all the parents who came and supported our team.
The final scores were:
1st Kensington 924
2nd Lathlain 755
3rd EVPPS 706
4th Vic Park 667
5th Millen 646
6th Bentley 406
Wheel Life Program
The Year 4 – 6 students participated in a PE lesson in a wheelchair. The students enjoyed the session and had a taste of what it would be like to be in a wheelchair and play basketball. They also played floor volleyball, which is a sport that was played at the recent Para Olympics.
Squash
The Year 4 – 6 students played squash using inflatable squash courts. Thanks to Squash WA for sponsoring this free event. We do have squash courts on Banksia Tce for anyone wanting to continue playing squash.
Bike Education
The Yr. 3 students have completed 4 weeks of bike education. The introductory program is designed to create a strong base foundation of bike control and safety. This will allow participants to ride proficiently in traffic free environments, such as the playground, and to learn bike control in a fun way.
Spinning Plates
There are a limited number of spinning plates available for sale. They are $5.00. Please see Mrs Stanford in the PE office if you would like one.
Library News
Book Week 2024
In the Library this week…
WOW! What a week we had to celebrate Book Week 2024.
It was wonderful to see such excitement around books and reading.
Our annual dress-up day was a great success.
Congratulations to all students and staff who came dressed up.
You helped make the day so much fun.
Here are some photos from the day.
The Book Week skit was based on the book,
“Gymnastica Fantastica”.
Thank you to the staff who helped make this possible.
Library lunch times were busy during book week.
We were inspired by Bob Graham’s book titled “The Concrete Garden”. Children decorated the area outside the library with wonderful chalk drawings. What a difference the children made!
Our visiting Book Week guests were a huge success with students.
Thanks to the South Perth Library, we hosted Karen Blair, Norman Jorgensen and Tamara Moss.
Craft activities were also very popular.
Well done to staff and students for making Book Week 2024 a smash hit!
Lastly, I would like to thank the Kensington P&C, especially Kimberley Skinner for organising and running the Book Week Book Fair.
A total of $283 was donated to our school library from sales at the Book Fair.
P & C News
Spare Leavers Shirts
We have 2 x size 16 leavers shirts to spare. If you are interested in purchasing this shirt, please email kensington.ps@education.wa.edu.au to organise collection. These shirts are $25 each, cash only payment and exact change only is expected.
Containers for Change
Community News
VacSwim will be offered free to families for the December and January programs. In addition, where venue entry fees apply these will be free for each child participating in VacSwim. This will remove financial barriers for many families. To ensure as many children as possible can access swimming lessons there will be an initial enrolment of one program per child, with additional programs offered, where available. VacSwim summer enrolments are now open and close on 16 October 2024.
Have your say
Plant the seed for a greener future
We’re developing a new urban greening strategy.
We want your feedback to help to make a greener, cooler and more liveable place for us to live, work and visit.
Learn more at Your Say South Perth.
How to get involved
Share your thoughts
Complete the survey online
Or pick up a hard copy from the South Perth Civic Centre or one of the City’s libraries.
Pop-up events
Chat to us in person
Join us at one of our two family-friendly, pop-up events:
Date: Wednesday 18 September 2024
Time: 4-7pm
Location: John McGrath Pavilion, 97 Hensman St, South Perth
Date: Saturday 5 October 2024
Time: 9am-1pm
Location: Sir James Mitchell Park near Hurlingham playground, South Perth Foreshore
More info
What is urban greening?
Street trees, verges and green corridors
Hurlingham Living Stream, an upcoming environmental initiative