Newsletter 7th May 2025
Principal's Message
Pupil Free Day – Monday 19th May
As you will be aware, we did not have our usual pupil-free (school development) day at the start of this term. The reason for this is that the planned professional learning for the staff was not available on that day, so we have had to shift the day to accommodate this training. We will need to do that again in Term 3. We really prefer to have the pupil free days on the first day of term, whenever possible but, for a series of four trainings, over two years (2024/2025), we have had to shift the day to accommodate this much in-demand training. Please note the next pupil-free day in your diary.
Principal on Long Service Leave
I will be on long service leave from 14th May (next Wednesday) until 20th June. I will be back in Week 9. During this time, Clare Brook will take on the principal role from 14th May to 30th May. Then Clint McNerney will take over from 3rd June until 20th June. I will be in Central and East Asia, so I will not be available at all during this period.
Ashley Griffith (S4), Megan Mehnert (Rm 4) and Emma Williams (P1) will be filling the deputy roles, taking one or two days a week out of their classrooms to do so.
2026 Kindy Enrolments
2026 Kindy enrolments opened on 28th April 2025 and will close on 18th July 2025. If you’re planning to enrol your child, be sure to submit your application for enrolment within this timeframe.
For more details and to complete your enrolment, please see the link below.
Wendy Gardner
Special Needs Education Assistant
(Started with us in Term 1)
Welcome New Staff
As we mentioned in our last newsletter, we have some new staff members this term. Please make them welcome.
Venus Karel
Special Needs Education Assistant
Katelyn Collard
Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer & Special Needs Education Assistant
Surya Vijayakumar
Education Assistant
Colleen Bentley
School Officer
Alana Elliott
Maths Enrichment & Junior Science Teacher
Alabaster (Ali) Ridley
Education Assistant
Annual Report and Business Plan
We have uploaded our 2024 Annual Report to our website. We have also uploaded the new Business Plan for 2025-2027.
Annual Reports - Kensington Primary School
School Business Plan - Kensington Primary School.
WA Student Assistance Payment
All Western Australian school students (Kindergarten to Year 12) currently enrolled in a public school, registered non-government school, or home-schooled, with a valid WA student number (WASN), are eligible to claim this payment.
The WA Student Assistance Payment is available to claim within the ServiceWA app. More information about setting up the app and step-by-step instructional videos are available on ServiceWA app: Support. The ServiceWA app is the fastest and most convenient way to claim the payment; however, alternative claim methods will be available for those unable to access ServiceWA. More information is available at WA Student Assistance Payment.
The school will assist parents and carers to identify a student’s WASN or provide support to submit a claim in exceptional circumstances. Please check last semester’s report for your WASN number. Parents with new students can email the school to obtain this number – kensington.ps@education.wa.edu.au
This week's Value
Foyer Display - Pre Primary 1
In Pre-primary 1 we have been learning about the rainforests of the world to tie in with our Biological Science focus for the term. We have read a wide range of non-fiction books to find facts about the plants and animals that live there. We have shared some interesting facts to go along with our rainforest art.
What's Been Happening
Containers for Change Artwork Competition
The new bike shed has an area for the Containers for Change bins. We wish to cut some holes in the wall to allow the containers to be dropped into the bins from outside. We would love the children to come up with some artwork that could be added to the wall that incorporates the holes in the design. For example, the holes could be the mouths of some characters in the artwork. Below is the template for the artwork. You should have received a paper copy at the end of last term, but the link below gives you a digital version in case it is useful. Entries must be received by Friday 9th May.
Student Voice Forum
Last term the Student Council ran their Student Voice Forum. Two students from each of the classes from Year 1-6 joined the forum. The Student Council asked for their feedback on:
- New ideas for the school
- What they would like to change in the school
- What charities we could support financially or with service and how we could raise funds
- What we could name our factions after (new faction name ideas)
Over the next few newsletters, we will share their feedback.
The Student Council will consider what ideas they can work on, and this can include how they will spend their $2000 budget (funded by the P&C).
New Ideas
Junior School | Senior School |
Gym room Pool with a water slide Bike track, BMX Merry Go Round Treehouse Water Play Hammock and camping area Creek More books Pond Wheelchair swing Teddy picnic Mini waterfall in nature playground Birdbath Shade cloth over the playground Bookshelves outside of the library | Year 5/6 learn another language Cooking area Swings Garden for junior, kindy and pre-primary Safety box for swing (no go boundary) Swimming pool Chemistry – science experiment Challenge course Bee hives Add a canteen Add more security to the garden – cameras, gates |
You Can Now Recycle Your Batteries at Kensington PS - How?
ANZAC Ceremony
Thank you to Mr Griffiths and S4 for organising our ANZAC Day service. A big thank you to Captain Jason Greenwell, 13th Engineer Regiment of the Australian Army, who presented the ANZAC speech. Thank you also to those families who sent flowers for the wreaths, and also to the parents who helped out in putting them together.
Captain Jason Greenwell, from the 13th Engineer Regiment of the Australian Army with our Head Boy and Head Girl.
Upcoming Events
Discover the magic of reading
Register your child for the Premier's Reading Challenge! From 7 April to 27 June 2025, students from Kindergarten to Year 12 can discover the joy of reading and log their progress for a chance to win weekly prizes.
School Dental Service
Every year, the Dental Health Service (DHS) offers parents and carers the chance to register their kids for free dental care at the school Dental Service (SDS). The offer is open to every student from the year they turn 5 until their 17th birthday and includes check-ups, fillings and simple extractions.
If you would like further information on the DHS services and the SDS, please visit our website:
Sport News
Walk to School Day Friday 16th May 2025
Kensington is participating in the Walk to School Day. We are encouraging everyone to walk to school, or at least part of the way, on Friday 16th May.
We are planning to meet at Morris Mundy and walk to school at 8.15am. The local police will accompany us.
Active kids learn better!
Running Club
We run Tuesday and Friday mornings from 8.00 – 8.30am. Tuesday we run on the track on the basketball court and Friday on the oval. A consent2go will be emailed to you when you child attends their first session. New runners are welcome.
Proposed Faction Cross Country Program Friday 30th May 2025.
Parents are welcome to attend.
Medallions and ribbons will be presented after each event.
The Faction Shield will be presented to the winning Faction in the UCA at 2.50pm.
An event will not commence before the allocated time, but it may be later than the set time.
Event | Time | Year group. | Event | Time | Year group. |
1 | 9.00 | Yr. 6 Girls | 9 | 11.40 | Yr. 2 Girls |
2 | Yr. 6 Boys | 10 | Yr. 2 Boys | ||
3 | 9.30 | Yr. 3 Girls | 11 | 12.00 | Yr. 4 Girls |
4 | Yr. 3 Boys | 12 | Yr. 4 Boys | ||
5 | 10.00 | Yr. 1 Girls | 13 | 12.20 | Yr. 5 Girls |
6 | Yr. 1 Boys | 14 | Yr. 5 Boys | ||
7 | 10.30 | PP. Girls | |||
8 | PP. Boys |
The inter school cross-country is in Term 3, Thursday 31st July. Runners from Yr. 3 - 6 will be selected from the faction carnival to compete.
School Sport WA Cross-country is on Wednesday 28th May. Details are on the SSWA website for those who are interested.
School Board
Meeting - 5:30pm 12th May in Staffroom
The School Board will meet next Monday. The Board is reviewing the Terms of Reference and Constitution in regard to length of term and option to re-nominate more than once. The Board will look at some financial documents (Finance Agreement and school budget) and hear more about the Business Plan priority – Play and Inquiry.
P & C News
Containers for change bins
The new Containers for Change bins are now located inside the bike shed. Please ensure that only eligible containers are placed in these bins. Currently, the bins are accessible only from inside the bike shed until the outside art installation is completed later in the year.
Colour Run - 16th May
The P&Cs big fundraiser, the Colour Run, is coming up - sponsorship forms have gone out via each classroom. There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs this year (pictured on the sponsorship forms)
Election BBQ
Thanks to our Kindy class reps and other volunteers for running another successful fundraiser BBQ and Bakesale for the election. Fantastic effort and great to see so many volunteers out supporting our school.
Busy Bee - 18th May
The P&C will be holding a busy bee to complete some of the projects from this year's wish list, mainly working on improving grounds and playgrounds around the school. Please join the WhatsApp group for the event if you’d like to volunteer; many hands make light work.
Containers for Change
Cosmos on Campus
Your galactic adventure awaits…
Explore every crater, valley and mountain on Mars.
Feet on the ground but head in the stars? Fall into a wormhole of discovery, where science, art and imagination collide at Cosmos on Campus. See Earth as astronauts do, ponder the vast mysteries of the universe, and lose yourself in the endless wonder of the night sky.
