Newsletter 26th May 2021
Principal's Message
Junior Primary Toilet Designs
The final votes are in and the design for the boys’ junior primary toilet decoration will be “Minecraft” and the girls’ junior toilet’s theme will be “Emojis”. A big thanks goes to the Student Councillors who organised the suggestion box and the voting. This information has been given to the P&C who will organise the redecoration. Thanks to the P&C for funding and coordinating this.
Good hygiene in the Cold and Flu Season
It is important that we all continue to follow good hygiene processes to ensure that illnesses, including, but not confined to, COVID-19, do not spread in the community. This is the time of year where flus and colds are prevalent. Please do not send children who are unwell to school as we wish to prevent the spread of infections to enable all students to attend school as regularly as possible.
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2021
This coming week, starting tomorrow, is National Reconciliation Week. It is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The focus is on valuing and respecting the special place, culture, rights and contributions of the First Peoples of Australia.
The 2021 National Reconciliation Week theme this year is More than a word. Reconciliation takes action.
We have already made a start this week by inviting our Aboriginal parents to a Reconciliation Action Planning session as well as planting a native hibiscus in the new garden beds near the carpark. The hibiscus was chosen by Stolen Generation groups to represent the resilience of those who were removed from their families at this time. The mauve colour of the flower represents healing and compassion. It is a hardy plant that grows all around Australia and is an appropriate emblem for showing respect and support for the Stolen Generation.
This is the first action in our school’s developing Reconciliation Action Plan.
Green Lab
The City of South Perth has partnered with Millennium Kids (MK), youth sustainability and environment organisation, to offer our school, through our student councillors, the opportunity to participate in Green Lab. This program provides skills and resources to engage our student councillors in developing conservation projects using local bushland and/or green spaces in our school grounds as an outdoor classroom. This will take place on 4th June and we will keep you informed of any outcomes and plans.
Business Plan – Cultural and Environmental Citizenship
The above Green Lab and Reconciliation Week activities, with which the school is involved, contributes to our Business Plan priority area of Cultural and Environmental Citizenship. These activities play a small, but important, part in developing our students into active and well-informed citizens.
Cyber Safety Article
While we don’t wish to scare anyone, as they say – forewarned is forearmed – we just thought you should be aware of some troubling developments in the cyber-safety area. Later this term, 24th June, there will be a Cyber Safety parent workshop for all parents (even if you have been before, it is well worth going as it is updated and new each year) presented by Paul Litherland, ex police officer, and sponsored by the P&C. I suggest you pop that in your diary and come along. Meanwhile, you might like to take a look at the article attached here .
Fathering Project
As you know, our DUCKS (Dads United for Children of Kensington School) began from Dave Mundy attending a Fathering Project event. The Fathering Project aims to inspire and equip fathers and father-figures to positively engage with the children in their lives – for the benefit of kids. For a number of years now, our DUCKS have organised events every term to encourage and support fathers to take an active part in their children’s lives. Recently, Dave’s story was filmed and added to the Fathering Project’s “Real Dad Stories”. Dave’s story is Episode 1. Click the link here to watch this episode. Thanks to Dave for his generosity in sharing his story and for all his wonderful work organising DUCKS events.
Vandalism
We have had a spate of vandalism recently. The police have been notified and collected forensics. Unfortunately, we have had some more since yesterday, particularly in the vegetable garden, ruining students' efforts in that area. If you are on site after school, could you please keep an eye on the school grounds. Please call School Watch on 1800 177 777 or the Police 000/9222 1111.
Reminder: After School Supervision
When children are on the school grounds, the staff have a duty of care to supervise them. However, once students leave the grounds at the end of the day, or when parents collect them, we are no longer responsible for students. However, this means that, should a child stay on the school grounds with their parent, the parent must be with their child to ensure supervision. We cannot have students roaming the grounds unsupervised as it puts everyone in a difficult/dangerous position.
Bronwyn Jones
PRINCIPAL
Pre Primary 2022 Application for Enrolment
Enrolment forms were sent home to all current Kindergarten students. If you wish to enrol your child into Kensington Pre Primary for 2022 you must complete the 'Application for Enrolment' form. This form must be completed and returned along with the required documents back to the school office as soon as possisble. Thank you.
Applications for Kindergarten 2022
are now open!
If your child is born between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2018, you can apply to enrol them in our school.
Please visit the school office to pick up an 'Application for Enrolment' form or alternatively you may complete this editable pdf. Download the document, save it to your computer, complete and return it by emailing kensington.ps@education.wa.edu.au
Complete one form per child and return the completed form to us, along with a copy of:
- your child’s birth certificate, Australian passport or citizenship papers if both parents were born overseas or visa grant papers if applicable.
- two pieces of evidence of your address – your most recent gas, water or electricity bill and your rates notice or lease agreement.
As Kindergarten is pre-compulsory schooling, there is no guarantee of a place in your local school. All applications received by 3:00pm on July 23rd 2021 are equally considered against Department of Education criteria.
Values & Honour Awards
Respect
An attitude of treating ourselves, others and all living things with dignity and courtesy. Treating others as we want to be treated.
Classroom Foyer Display
Room 1
The children in Room 1 have been very busy working on building up their Strength and Resilience. In Room 1 we have been investigating the story "Billy the Brave Knight".
During literacy tasks we have:
- Story mapped the plot.
- Made props to use to retell the story.
- Analysed character traits and used an adjective to describe ourselves.
- Created our own class book of the story.
- Discussed and recorded what we can do if we feel scared, frightened or unsafe.
We hope you enjoy our display.
Teacher - Debb Dellar
Library
National Simultaneous Storytime happened last Wednesday. The story "Give Me Some Space"by Philip Bunting was read by an astronaut currently living and working at the International Space Station, Dr Shannon Walker. Thanks to Mrs Rankin-Hume and Mrs Backhouse for organising our participation in this event.
Sports News
Senior Sport
Our Year 5 and 6 students have been working hard towards selection for the Winter Carnival in Week 10. The sports played are hockey, AFL, soccer, netball and basketball. Thanks to Amy, Mel and Janet who come weekly to coach our teams.
Sport Notice Board
The Sport notice board is outside the staff room and displays all kinds of information regarding opportunities to play sport. At the moment there is information about athletics, volleyball, fencing, sailing, golf and taekwondo. The cross country maps are there too so you can prepare for the faction cross country that is on next term. There are also articles about past or current students that make the news in our local paper on the board.
Running Club
Come along on Tuesday or Friday morning to start your day energetically. We run on the oval from 8.00am. to 8.30am. New runners always welcome.
Sporting Schools Funding
We have now completed a hockey and AFL program funded by the Federal government. We will not have funding next term as you can only have funding for 3 out of the 4 terms. I will apply again for Term 4 funding with the aim to have a Bike Education program as we did last year for the Year 3 students.
Teacher - Raema Stanford
P & C News
DUCKS Astronomy night - TONIGHT May 26th
On Wednesday May 26th, there will be a total lunar eclipse visible from Perth. From 6:30-8:00pm, the DUCKS will hold a telescope night on the KPS oval. There will also be a Q&A session with astronomers, and a sausage sizzle. Cost $10 per family to cover the catering. Please come and join us! Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/m8c8cnj6.
Lost and Found
Found - Apple Airpods. For more information see the front office.
Waterwise
Groundwater from garden bores makes up a lot of residential water use. But climate change means it's more important than ever to save all the water we can for the drier months ahead.
Just by switching off, we can save around 5 billion litres of water over winter - when plants and lawns don't require as much water. Simply press your irrigation controller's 'snooze' or 'off' button and you'll be helping WA save precious water for when we need it most.
Think climate change. Be waterwise.