Newsletter 11th December 2024

Principal's Message

Date Reminders

Tomorrow is the last day of school for students (there are no swimming lessons).  Friday morning is the last day for staff (the office closes at 11:30am).  We wish everyone a happy holiday. The office opens again on Thursday 30^th January 2025, but students don’t start back until Wednesday 5^th February.

Year 6 Graduation and Ringing of the Bell

The Year 6 class will have their graduation ceremony this evening at Lifestreams.  This will commence at 5pm and be followed by the Year 5/6 social dance at the same venue at 7pm.  On Thursday 12^th December, the Year 6s will spend the day on the foreshore, as is tradition, and then return to ring the school bell at the end of the day.  Parents interested in seeing this symbolic final bell are encouraged to be at school no later than 2:15pm that day.

School Development Days - 2025

The Pupil Free Days (School Development Days) in 2025 will be as follows:

3-4 Feb – Week 1 Term 1 - Mon-Tuesday

19^th May  – Week4, Term 2 - Monday

18^th August  – Week 5 Term 3 - Monday

13^th October – Week 1 Term 4 - Monday

19^th December  – Week 10 Term 4 - Friday

Please note these in your diaries - they might be a good chance for having long-weekend family trips.

Farewells

Apart from our Year 6 students as they begin the transition to high school, we also say farewell to all families and staff who are moving on too: some to new schools, some overseas/interstate and some moving onto the next chapter of their lives.  We wish all families leaving KPS all the best for the future and we thank them for the contribution they have made during their time at KPS.  We especially thank all those people who have been active members of the P&C and Board. 

We say a big thank you and farewell to the following staff who have given much to our school over the year(s):

Teachers -

• Maria Andrews (retiring but still doing relief teaching at KPS)
• Cate Handley-Smith (has been doing some relief teaching over the past two years)
• Sarah Mehnert
• Annette Newman
• Natasha Wiese

Education Assistants –

• Tegan Fox
• Veronica McPhail – retiring after working at KPS for over 20 years

Staff away for 2025 only - we wish them an enjoyable and productive year -

• Tracey Carpenter
• Jack Powers
• Sheree Ramsay

Facilities Works

Over the holidays there will be a number of works are being carried out on the school site.  We will be having our classrooms around the quadrangle (Rooms 1-10) painted.  The Pre-primary playground will also be redeveloped ready for the start of the 2025 school year.

Class Lists

On Tuesday the 4^th February you will receive an email via Consent 2 Go.  It will ask you to update your child’s information and inform you of the class your child has been assigned to.  Class lists will be posted on the MUSIC window at noon the same day, if your child wishes to see who else is in the class.  These lists will be removed from the windows at 4pm that day.

Classroom Staff

Below is the staff allocated to each classroom for 2022. While the class structures are subject to change if the student numbers change, the staff should remain the same.

Classes for 2025

NB – Students have now been placed in classrooms for 2025 so classroom placement requests will no longer be considered.

Student Semester Reports

A link to your child’s semester reports was emailed out to you yesterday Tuesday (10^th December).  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 students who start looking at scholarships and high school enrolments for 2026.  While we can send you another link later, it is an additional impost on our busy office staff.

So, please remember to save a copy of these reports to your computer as the link will disappear after a month.

2025 Contributions and Charges Information

Please find the Contributions and Charges information for 2025 in the flyer below.

What's Coming Up

Facilities Works

Over the holidays there will be a number of works being carried out on the school site.  We will be having our classrooms around the quadrangle (Rooms 1-10) painted.  The Pre-primary playground will also be redeveloped ready for the start of the 2025 school year.

Keep Our School Safe

During the holiday period, school premises are more vulnerable than usual and can become targets to a small number of offenders.

We are having the Pre-primary playground upgraded and Rooms 1-10 painted so there will be worker around.

If you live near the school or are passing by, please keep an eye on our grounds for us.  Listen for unusual noises; look for suspicious vehicles and notice if groups of children or teenagers are congregating around the school.  Your involvement can really make a difference in preventing damage to our school.  I urge you to report any suspicious activities to:

SCHOOL WATCH – 1800 177 777

POLICE – 131 444

Japanese Exchange – Hosts Wanted

We have some Japanese students visiting WA and our school next year.  Are you interested and willing to host a student for a week at your home?  It is a great cultural exchange opportunity.  If you are willing and able to host a student, please send in your expression of interest to our Japanese Language teacher, Margo Whittle (Whittle sensei). 

Margo.Whittle1@education.wa.edu.au

Protecting Children in the Gaming World

Roblox

On Monday 2^nd December on The 7.30 Report aired an important and incredibly relevant story about Roblox.  There are many children who use Roblox and other online gaming platforms.  While they have positives, there are also areas that we, as adults, need to be well aware of and proactive with to keep our children safe.  Gaming platforms are not covered by the new laws coming in for children under 16, so we need to be even more vigilant.

Please take the time to watch the story and think about how it may relate to your child. 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-02/roblox-9-year-old-child-targeted-by-sexual-predator/104659312

Sports News

Swimming Lessons

We have had a wonderful time at swimming lessons over the last eight days at Aqualife Aquatic Centre. Certificates will be given out to all students today or tomorrow. All students will receive a certificate outlining their achievements over the lessons.

Jump Jam

Thank you to our jump jam team - Winter, Nina, Isabel, Oliver, Penny, Parker, Lara, Chelsea, Chloe, Eliza, Mya, Emmerson, Ava, Lily and Sabine, who have committed to rehearsing once a week all year to successfully lead the school in jump jam sessions. Your performances at the Christmas concerts were fantastic.

Sport Monitors

Thank you to our sport monitors - Morgan, Oliver, Freddie, Daniel, Mason, Griffin, Xavier, Noah and Elodie who daily put equipment out and in and make sure all the balls are pumped and ready to use. It has been a huge job throughout the year. You have done it magnificently and without complaint.

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.

Thank You

A huge thank you to all parents and the DUCKS who have supported the PE/Sport program at Kensington. Have a fun filled, active, relaxing holiday and Happy Christmas!
Raema Stanford.

School Board

School Board Elections

The School Board currently meets twice a term - on the third and ninth Monday of each term at 5:30pm in the staffroom.  Claire Stone is the current chair of the school board.  There are some vacancies on the board next year.  If you are interested in nominating yourself, you will be asked to complete a nomination form and return it to the school by Thursday 27^th  February 2025.  In next year’s first newsletter this form and an information sheet will be provided, which gives potential nominees an overview of the Board and how it runs.  If you are interested in finding out more, please consider speaking with current Board members.  A list of current Board members can be found on the school website. Please note – all Board members are now required to give consent for the Department of Education to undertake a National Police History Check into their backgrounds.  They are also required to complete some online training.

Supporting Our School Community Over the Christmas Holidays

Dear Kensington Primary School Families,

As the holiday season approaches, we understand that while it can be a joyful time for many, it can also bring unique challenges. To ensure that our community feels supported during this period, we’ve compiled a list of resources and services available over the Christmas break.

Wellbeing Support for Families:

Kids Helpline (For children and young people aged 5–25):
Phone: 1800 55 1800 | kidshelpline.com.au
Available 24/7 for confidential counselling and support.

Lifeline Australia (For all ages):
Phone: 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au
Offering crisis support and assistance 24/7.

CAMHS Crisis Connect (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services):
Phone: 1800 048 636
Available 24/7 for children, young people, and families needing urgent mental health support.

In case of an emergency, please attend your nearest hospital emergency department.

Community Resources

Ngala Parenting Line (Support for parents and caregivers):
Phone: 08 9368 9368 |ngala.com.au/parenting-line
Provides guidance, strategies, and a listening ear for parenting challenges. Available 8am–8pm, 7
days a week.

Anglicare WA:
Phone: 1300 11 44 46 | anglicarewa.org.au
Offers financial assistance, housing support, family counselling, youth services, and mental health
programs.

Ruah Community Services:
Phone: 137 824 | ruah.org.au
Provides free family services, mental health and wellness support, housing and homelessness
assistance, and legal services.

MindSpot:
Phone: 1800 61 44 34 | mindspot.org.au
Free telephone and online services for managing anxiety, stress, low mood, or depression, including
online assessments and treatments.

Head to Health:
Phone: 1800 595 212 | headtohealth.gov.au
Connects individuals to local mental health services.

Carer Gateway:
Phone: 1800 422 737 | https://www.carergateway.gov.au/
Provides phone and in-person counselling, online resources, and skills courses to support carers.

Food Assistance

Foodbank WA:
Online: foodbank.org.au/find-food/?state=wa
Annual Christmas Appeal providing food and grocery support through local branches.

The Salvation Army:
Online: salvationarmy.org.au
Offers food hampers, Christmas gifts, and meals for families in need during the festive season.

Vinnies WA (St. Vincent de Paul Society):
Online: vinnies.org.au
Provides Christmas hampers and support to those in need through local services.

Tips for reducing stress this holiday

1. Set Realistic Expectations
• Why: Unrealistic expectations about creating the "perfect" holiday can increase stress.
Acknowledge that it’s okay if not everything goes as planned.
• How: Involve children in setting achievable holiday goals and focus on meaningful
activities.

2. Maintain Routines
• Why: Children thrive on routine, and disruptions can lead to emotional dysregulation.
• How: Keep consistent bedtimes, meals, and screen time limits, even during the holidays.

3. Encourage Physical Activity
• Why: Exercise is a natural stress reliever and mood booster.
• How: Plan family walks, trips to the park, or outdoor games.

4. Model Healthy Stress Management
• Why: Children learn coping mechanisms by observing adults.
• How: Show how to manage stress by practicing mindfulness, delegating tasks, and
communicating calmly.

5. Plan for Downtime
• Why: Over-scheduling can lead to burnout for both parents and children.
• How: Leave unstructured time for relaxation and spontaneous play.

6. Be Mindful of Financial Strain
• Why: Financial stress is a common holiday challenge.
• How: Set a budget, prioritize needs, and explore cost-effective ways to celebrate, like DIY
gifts.

7. Ask for Help When Needed
• Why: Support from others lightens the emotional load.
• How: Share responsibilities with your partner, family, or community groups, and reach out
for professional support if needed.

We hope these resources help support you and your loved ones over the Christmas period. Wishing
you all a safe and joyful holiday season!

Containers for Change