Newsletter 13th November 2024
Principal's Message
Student Semester Reports
The Department has provided clarification of the requirements for end-of-semester reports. In light of this information, we are reviewing our school’s assessment and reporting plan.
The Department has worked with the School Curriculum and Standards Authority to clarify the following:
- There is a requirement to provide an overall teacher comment, the content of which is determined by the school.
- There is no requirement to provide learning area comments (including in English and Mathematics).
- There is no requirement to provide grades at the strand or sub-strand level.
- There is no requirement to provide a learning area comment or attachments, such as photos, for students with special educational needs. Reporting for these students aligns with the individual education plan that was developed with parents.
Kensington Primary School will align with these requirements. The main difference you will see is that there will be no English and Maths comments. The overall comments will still be provided along with grades for each learning area. English and Maths will still have grades for each sub-strand/learning area component (English – Reading & Viewing, Writing and Speaking & Listening; Maths – Number & Algebra, Measurement & Geometry and Statistics & Probability – the latter being for older year levels only).
Bike Shed
We have had a break-in at our bike shed over a recent weekend and some bikes were stolen. Please do not leave bikes in the bike shed over night as the shed is not completely enclosed or tamper proof. Without people on site, it can be a target for thieves.
Gifts
We have a very generous community, and the staff are very grateful for the generosity shown at this time of year to them. Please be aware though, that staff cannot accept gifts from individuals valued at over $100 or from groups valued at over $500. We don’t want to appear unappreciative, but it is DoE policy, so staff will have to return any gifts valued above these amounts. Please don’t see these amounts as a target though, as it is extremely rare that this is ever an issue.
2025 Booklists, Contributions and Charges
Please find the Contributions and Charges, as well as the book list information for 2025, in the flyers below. Online ordering is open from 1st December 2024. Further information regarding online orders is linked below.
This year our booklist provider is Vaucluse News Agency, located at 81B Angelo St, South Perth WA 6151. Vaucluse News Agency is not offering an online payment option or delivery. Once your order has been placed, it will be ready for collection from 2nd January 2025 or within 2 business days after this date.
For any questions, please contact Vaucluse News Agency at 9367 1027.
Booklist Steps to online order
1. Enter the following code into the field provided: 5Banksia73
2. Once you have entered the code for your school you can then enter your children's name (click add new student).
3. Select the manage order button for the student, then select their school and their grade and then click on the add to order button. This will create a list of items for the student.
The recommendation quantities for each item will be in place. Edit the quantities if you wish.
If you don't want to make any changes and you do not have more than one child*** click FINISH at the top right of the list. This will then take you to the cart page where you can follow the steps provided to complete your order.
If you have more than one student, please return to the student(s) tab and select the 'manage order' button for any other children you have and repeat the steps for their school, class and order. Once you have completed the steps for all the children you can then click FINISH at the top right of the list.
This will then take you to the cart page where you can follow the steps provided to complete your order.
Class Placement 2025
We are currently working on classes for 2025. Parents who wish to raise particular student needs are invited to write to the principal expressing their request. It should be noted that this expression must focus on legitimate educational reasons and that there are no guarantees that requests will be met. It does, however, allow for consideration of parent views regarding class placement. Parents are asked to present written requests no later than Friday 22 November 2025 (Week 7, Term 4). If requests are not in writing, they will not be taken into account when placing students.
Responsibility for the placement of students rests with the principal.
For more information on how we make class placements, please see the previous newsletters.
Honours and Values Awards
High School Programs and Scholarships
Congratulations to the following students who have received offers for specialist high school programs and scholarships in 2025.
Anvay – Selective Academic program at Mt Lawley SHS, Specialist Aviation Program at Kent Street SHS and Specialist EMITS Program at Como Secondary College.
William – Advanced Music Program at St George’s Anglican Grammar School
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Eye Level Maths Olympiad
Congratulations to the following students who participated in the Eye Level Maths Olympiad which took place at the Willetton Basketball Stadium on Saturday, November 9th.
Room 4 - Isaac, Affan
Room 5 - Harrison
Room 6 - William
Room 7 - Chloe, Xavier
Room 8 - Nathan
Room 10 - Catherine
S1 - Aadi
S2 - Jessie
The students had 50 minutes to complete 50 maths problems, so it was quite the challenge! I would like to express my gratitude to all of the parents who registered their children and took them to the contest. Well done to everyone involved.
Elise Pedley - Maths Enrichment teacher
Foyer Display - Room 10
To celebrate World Kindness Day 2024, in Room 10, we have been thoughtfully reflecting on, and discussing, the various ways we demonstrate kindness to ourselves, to others, and to our world. We invite you to explore and celebrate the many unique ways we express kindness!
What's Coming Up
Parent Helper Morning Tea & Christmas Concert
KPS is lucky to enjoy a huge amount of support from the community to provide a broad range of programs and facilities for our students. We wish to express our appreciation to all our parent helpers and volunteers. Following the Christmas concert (starting at 9:30am), to which everyone is invited, we will also have a parent helper morning tea in the staffroom. If you have been involved in helping out at the school this year, we hope you will be able to attend on Wednesday 27th November at approximately 10:30am.
There will be two Christmas concerts on Wednesday 27th November. The first will be at 9:30am and the second at 7pm in the undercover area. We ask that all those children involved in the concert attend both events.
What's Been Happening
Outdoor Classroom Day
Last week our classes celebrated Outdoor Classrooms Day by getting outdoors with their buddy classes. Here are some photos of some of the activities they engaged in with their little/big buddies.
P&C News
DUCKs Dads and Kids Campout, 8 November 2024
What an amazing event the 2024 DUCKs Dads and Kids Campout was. We had a record of over 430 people attend the event - an absolutely astonishingly successful result. On its 10th anniversary, the DUCKs Dads and Kids Campout has blossomed well beyond the vision of The Fathering Project all those years ago. We couldn't be more pleased with the outcome we achieved as a group. We would like to also thank the support of mums at the school and such a proactive and positive school community. We have all the ingredients to bring quality gold-class fathering to the children of our school and a positive environment where dads support other dads to be their best. It is absolutely fabulous to see this shining brightly in our dads and kids at the campout.
The Campout organising team of Conrad Slee, Brett Miller, Jeremy Hogben, Terry Lewis, Geoff Baker, Alex Marinica and Cameron White all worked hard to make this the very best event for the wider dad group and our kids. I'm proud of the team for what we achieved, and for all the dads and parent volunteers who all stepped up and contributed in their own ways, whether it be cooking at the barbecue (and Jeremy's amazing catering and food coordination), electrical set-up (thanks Ben), running the Silent Disco (Geoff - you will always be a Legend in the kids' eyes), running the fire pit (Brett, Alex and the team), collecting morning coffees (James and Co.), and cleaning up (James, Cameron and so many others), all our Legend dads and the superstar supporter mums in the background.
Smiles on the faces of kids and dads alike, the mild and clear afternoon was filled with laughter as kids got into the afternoon activities. The kids chased the giant ball, played giant games, did tug-o-war until new games were found, explored tents, hung out with our local police who kindly accepted the invitation to drop by, then eat, chat and be merry. Dads chilled, played with their kids and talked amongst themselves. Many chilled vibes. We had a short talk by a visitor from The Fathering Project who told us how "blown away" he was "by the amazing work of this dads' group" and how great it was to see so many dads connecting with their kids. As the night fell and the fires started up, kids roasted marshmallows, cracked their glowsticks, darted here and there, then bopped the night away in the Silent Disco entertainment zone. It was an absolute pleasure to see kids using their independence to explore, enjoy seemingly endless sausages, salads and slices of watermelon, make their own milo and find fun whatever way worked for them. When the time approached, dads and kids did their night-time routines, brushed teeth and headed to bed for a well-deserved rest before the early start. The older kids hung out longer and made the most of their emerging independence. It was wonderful to see and be a part of.
The following morning, between early risers and slower risers, we all made it out of our tents, packed-up then enjoyed a barbecue breakfast and a rotation of coffees from our hardworking barista friends at Little Banksia Cafe. Just 16 hours after we started, we concluded our beautiful memory-making event for the around 135 dads and their kids who joined-in to make this the success it was. Thank you to everyone for making this campout everything it could be.
A special shout out is well and truly due to School Principal, Bronwyn Jones (for your tireless support of DUCKs), Year 5/6 classroom teacher Ashley Griffiths (who spent the night with us), the amazing KPS Office team (for distributing flyers to classes and newsletter promos) and all the staff that support the DUCKs Campout. Special thanks to the P&C for supporting the event as well.
We would like to wrap-up this article with some of the voices of KPS dads and children about their takeaway thoughts for the 2024 DUCKs Campout:
Dads:
Ed: "Well done Conrad, Geoff, Jeremy, Brett, Terry (and anyone else I missed) for another great Campout. The kids seemed to have a blast"
Guillaume: "The kids want to do it again :D Good job gentlemen!"
Jay: "Hello Organisers: Everything was great for Tina: food, marshmallows, disco, school oval, etc. So much room for running around and screaming"
Bayan: "Great work gentlemen: Really a wonderful service to the neighbourhood and a great example to the kids about what it means to be a member of the community "
Conrad: "An amazing team effort. Special thanks also to Alex, Cameron and Ben, plus Justin E. Thank you to all the dads who lent a hand to make this event a huge success and a memory our kids will never forget. You're amazing guys."
James M-J "Thanks all - great job! Super fun night"
Philip S: "Thanks everyone. The kids had a blast"
Josh K: "Great job organising it all guys! Arthur had a great time!"
Brett M: "My kids had a blast, all went well"
Cameron: "Thanks all. It was great just like last time : ) "
Chris N: "Thanks to you Conrad and the team of organisers, the kids had a ball and it's great to catch up with parents too" [especially all the dads]
Terry: This event is "proof that kids don't need much more than a piece of rope and a blow-up ball !!!" [... to have fun!]
Tom H: "Thanks for the huge efforts with this event Conrad and team, great vibes"
Aaron: "Totally agree with Tom. Thank you, Conrad, Terry and everyone involved"
Malav: My son "absolutely loved it and is very keen to go next year".
Adam: "It was an excellent event. Well done!"
Enda: "Thanks for
Ben: "It's the highlight of the year"
Dad on the night: "The Silent Disco was great, as the kids could adjust the volume and pick the songs they liked."
Kids:
Alfie B: "I liked setting the tent up and roasting marshmallows over the fire with my friends and dad"
Darcy H (PP) - 1: "I liked the coleslaw, brushing my teeth, staying calm and going to bed as soon as I was asked"
Darcy H (PP) - 2: "The barbecue and, bacon and egg burger, sleeping in a tent with Dad and playing with my friends."
Tina (PP1): The best thing was: "when we roasted marshmallows in the night :-P "
Arlo: "I liked the glow sticks, the food and sleeping with my dad".
Anav: "I enjoyed the Silent Disco"
David: "It was the best day of my life"
Marnie: "I really liked how kind and helpful the organisers were, and they supplied free marshmallows"
May and Leva: "The best bits were the marshmallows, the food and being with friends"
Amelia: "I loved the Silent Disco and camping in a tent with my dad"
Thank you once again to the stellar dads in DUCKs bringing joy to your children's lives.
Looking forward to 2025.
Conrad Slee - DUCKs
Containers for Change
Community News
We are delighted to offer scholarships to students wishing to
study at Penrhos in 2026
Whether it's academic excellence, creative flair, or simply the commitment to learning within our stimulating environment - we offer opportunities for students across the board.
Scholarship opportunities align with the College's areas of interest, including:
- Arts and Humanities (includes English, and other languages)
- Performing Arts (dance, drama, music)
- Creative Arts
- STEM, including Sustainability
- Physical and Health Education