Newsletter 9th June 2021
Principal's Message
Virtual Tour and School Brochure
We have recently added a virtual school tour and a school brochure to our website. Thanks to Professor Chris Brook for developing the virtual tour and to the School Board for developing the school brochure. If you know of anyone considering enrolling at KPS – direct them to our home page where they can find a link to our brochure and our virtual tour, and check them out yourself. Below, we have details about enrolment for 2022 in Kindy and Pre-primary classes.
Cyber Safety Workshop
As you also know, we have Paul Litherland from Surf Online Safe visiting the school on Thursday 24th June. He will run workshops with the Year 5/6 students during the afternoon and a parent workshop between 7-8:30pm in the Music Room. Thanks to the P&C for continuing to fund this event. For parents, it is important to arm yourself with this knowledge to protect your children. Please join us for this vital and eye-opening presentation. If you attended this event last time, please note that the information is ever changing and you will receive new and updated information. You can book your seat through our SZapp calendar events by clicking on this event.
Green Lab
On Friday, the Student Councillors attended a full day event with Millennium Kids called Green Lab. They learnt about how to assess and survey our environment as a wildlife habitat. The students, motivated by the return of our owl, wish to protect and encourage birdlife at the school through education programs and planting. This is something they will be working on throughout 2021 with the support of Millennium Kids and the wider community. If you have contacts or are able to offer your support, please let the principal, Bronwyn Jones, know.
Basketball Court Resurfacing
Last week we received written confirmation that we will shortly receive $300,000, as committed during the 2021 State election, for resurfacing our basketball courts. The process for planning and tendering etc. can be time consuming so we will need to be patient - but it is very pleasing to know that things are moving forward.
Colour Run
The forecast for Friday is currently 60% chance of rain, with the previous day at 100% chance of rain. If we need to postpone this event, we will let you know via the SZapp on Thursday afternoon.
Otherwise, we are happy to see parents on the oval at 2pm for this event, continuing to follow COVID guidelines.
Gardener
We are looking for a gardener/handy person and would love your help with getting the message out. If you know of anyone interested in this position, please give them the flyer linked below or on our SZapp.
Applications close on 14th June.
Ramp
Next semester we hope to have an update to our ramp in the quadrangle to ensure it is compliant with today’s standards. This should not cause as much disruption as the other two ramps caused.
Quadrangle
We have removed some hedges from our quadrangle garden beds which were not looking great ever since the termite infestation caused the taller bushes to be removed, along with a good amount of verandah floorboards, in 2016. We are planning on replacing these garden beds with a Japanese garden (funded by the P&C), a meadow for our ‘cow’ and a bush tucker bed.
Student Semester Reports
A link to your child’s semester reports will be emailed out to you on 29th June. Please remember to download it and save it in your computer files (or print it out) as the link is only active for 4 weeks. This might be particularly important for parents of Year 5 students who start looking at scholarships and high school enrolments for 2023. While we can send you another link later, it is an additional impost on our busy office staff.
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 supporting documents, to the school office as soon as possible. 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
Integrity
Being honest and standing up for what you believe is right. Doing the right thing even if it is hard.
High School Scholarships
Special congratulations to Sophia from S3 who has been accepted into the Specialist Volleyball Program at Rossmoyne Senior High School in 2022.
Classroom Foyer Display
Room S2
Science
We have been learning about the Solar System and are currently building 3D models to demonstrate our understanding of the relative size of the planets and their order from the sun. We have also completed a task to demonstrate our understanding of rotating, orbiting and gravitational pull (called our ROG-er task J).
Health
We have recently completed a “Please Help!” task to demonstrate our understandings about:
1. Why relationships change
2. Building new relationships
3. Ways in which inappropriate emotional responses can impact on relationships
The students wrote advice for dealing with common childhood problems.
Teacher - Maria Andrews
Sports News
Running Club
Come along on Tuesday or Friday mornings to start your day energetically. We run on the oval from 8.00am. to 8.30am. New runners always welcome.
Winter Carnival
The Winter Carnival for selected Year 5/6 students is on Friday June 25. A Consent2Go will be sent out this week for parent permission. Fixtures for each sport, site map and parking details will be attached and parents are welcome to attend. There is no cost thanks to the P&C who have funded the bus to Curtin University.
Cross-Country
The Faction Cross-Country is on the first Friday of Term 3, July 23. The program will be in the next newsletter. Cross Country maps are on the Sport notice board. Runners from Year 3 – 6 will be selected from this event to represent Kensington in the Interschool Cross-Country on Thursday August 5.
Sport Notice Board
Please check the sport notice board for information about holiday sporting programs.
Teacher - Raema Stanford
P & C News
Fathering Project – Cyber Safety YouTube Clip
Professor Donna Cross from Edith Cowan University, an expert in reducing bullying, including cyber bullying, has filmed a webinar for the Fathering Project (Fathering Channel) to provide parents with a critical insight into the findings from research on the effects of communication technology such as the internet, mobile technology and its usage on children, particularly on cyber bullying and cyber safety. This YouTube clip runs for 45 mins and is worth a look. It might get you thinking and prepared for the parent workshop, advertised above, which is being run at the school in the evening of the 24th June with Paul Litherland.
https://thefatheringproject.org/fathering-channel/cyber-safety-webinar/
Lunar Eclipse
Thanks to the DUCKS and Dr James Miller-Jones for organising this lovely evening. While our view of the Lunar Eclipse wasn’t perfect, the event was very enjoyable, fun and interesting. We thank James and his colleagues and friends who brought along their telescopes and explained the lunar eclipse to us. The sausage sizzle was delicious, as was the pumpkin soup. Thanks to all the dads involved. It was a very popular event with about 200 registrations.
SCHOOL BANKING
Attention all School Bankers! We are running a competition with raffle draw prizes for consistent school banker deposits for Term 2. Please bring in your deposit to us outside the Music Room on Thursday mornings (8.30-8.50) for your chance in the draw. All new bankers welcome! Raffle to be drawn at the last school assembly this term.
School Board
The next meeting is on Monday 14th June at 5:30pm in the staffroom. We will be discussing School Banking, the School Review in Term 4, the meeting schedule, finances and the Environmental Citizenship aspect of our Business Plan.
Lost and Found
Found - Apple Airpods. For more information see the front office.
Stolen
A child's scooter was stolen from the locked bike shed over the weekend. It has the name Seth engraved on the handle bars. Please contact the school if you have any information regarding the whereabouts of this scooter.
Thank you.
Social Emotional
Goals for our supportive school culture
Schools are increasingly recognising the need to address bullying, resilience and social skills. Our school will be taking further steps this year to create a friendly and supportive culture. The resources we will use are based on evidence from 12 years of empirical research from the Child Health Promotion Research Centre. The resource materials aim to help schools to encourage positive social behaviour and reduce bullying behaviour. Actions we take will include running a cyber safety workshop for parents and Year 5/6 students; continuing our Buddy Program, Values program, teaching Growth Mindsets and offering opportunities and supports through our Chaplaincy program; as well as providing lunch time activities such as Loose Parts Play.
Our goals are to:
- Provide all students with opportunities to develop and practise getting along with other children through classroom learning activities.
- Create a positive social environment within our school which actively discourages bullying including cyber bullying.
- Continue to encourage staff, students and parents to treat all school community members with respect, care and compassion.
- Implement a clear and consistent approach to managing reported bullying incidents.
- Provide parents with resources and strategies to help them communicate more effectively with their children about bullying.
Community News
North Metropolitan TAFE
Looking for work or a career change?
Can you see yourself working in a school?
Need help to find work in the coronavirus craziness?
Schools and other organisations are regularly hiring people for the following roles:
· Gardener, cleaner, administration, management, canteen, education assistants and many other roles.
Starting in July 2021, North Metropolitan TAFE are running a one-semester course on the skills required to be a successful candidate for employment in a school or elsewhere. The course aids in preparation for entry into gardening, cleaning, administration, management, education assistant and any other types of work.
We have had huge success supporting people to find work and the chances of gaining employment are strong. This course is suitable for existing gardeners, cleaners, administrators etc., and people looking to change career or people looking for a return to work.
The course includes:
• Training in skills specific to the role you are interested in e.g. IT skills
• Work experience in a school or other organisation
• Help and support to find work
• Help accessing further training as required e.g. Certificate III in Education Support
• Development of your job application cover letter, resume and help with selection criteria
Entry requirements:
• 18+
• Strong work ethic
• Good oral and written communication
• Must be able to read procedures, safety sheets and chemical bottles
• Must be able to send and receive emails
• Successful completion of an entry interview
• Working With Children Check and a Department of Education Clearance
Course details:
- Dates - Starts Wed 21st of July and finishes Thu 9th of Dec 2021 (20 weeks)
- Days - 3 days per week, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9:15 until 2:45
- Cost - Approximately $170 (subject to change) total course fee for full 20 weeks
- Location - North Metro TAFE Leederville and on work experience
- Qualification - GATE (Gaining Access to Training and Employment) Certificate I
If you would be interested in this course then please email:
Trudy Smith
Disclaimer: North Metropolitan TAFE does not guarantee work after completing this course. This course supports you to find work. The course is run by North Metropolitan TAFE (RTO code: 52786) and is not endorsed by any authority or government department other than North Metropolitan TAFE.