'Tis the season!!!

It was so wonderful to celebrate Christmas with our terrific school community at our Carols last week.

It is always a great opportunity to see our students amazing talents, and to share a meal together... and yes ... even to hear some "fabulous" Christmas cracker jokes... ;)

So many families joined us this year. It was just wonderful to see. And the community spirit was electric.

Thanks to everyone for a terrific evening. Our OSHC and Parent Engagement Group teams were in top form providing a smashing barbeque, raffle, and lucky dip. Thank you all for all your hard work!

2026 Classes and School Structure

Last week our students all practised being "slightly" bigger kids as they head into their 2026 classes for the morning. It looks like we will have some fabulous grades next year. On average our class sizes remain at a fabulous 16 students per class. We are very excited to have 24 Foundation students joining us next year.

We are saying farewell to a small number of staff this year:

Ms Shannen May is pursuing a 12 month Acting Leader opportunity at Box Hill North PS and is expected back here at KPS in 2027.
Ms Alee Stevenson is taking 12 months leave with her family and is expected back, refreshed, in 2027.
Mrs Phoebe Dyett has secured a position at Oxley College for 2026.
Miss Olivia Liddicoat will be taking on a role in wellbeing closer to home at Coburg Secondary College next year.

We are looking to maintain stability in our staffing profile and are welcoming just two new staff in 2026. Mrs Jess Jovanoski is joining us from Bayswater PS. Jess has a breadth of experience that we look forward to building into our team. The second new staff member will be a new Student Wellbeing Officer. This position is still being filled. We will be interviewing in late January and announcing at the start of the school year.

In 2026 we will have the following School Structure:

Principal: Mr Daniel Gooding

Assistant Principal: Mr Taila Donald and Mrs Karen Black (1 day per week each)

Foundation: Ms Alysha Toner

Foundation Support: Ms Mary Mumbler and Mrs Theresa Philpott

Juniors Teachers: Mrs Jess Jovanoski, Mrs Scarlett Clerke and Mrs Karen Black

Juniors Support: Mrs Mwaka Derksen and Mrs Rhonda Sneddon

Middles Teachers: Ms Lisa Hubbard and Mr Nathan Shanks

Middles Support: Ms Jane Evans

Seniors: Mr Taila Donald, Ms Alison Harris and Miss KD Donnelly

Seniors Support: Mrs Karina Ely

Science Teacher: Mrs Emma Sceberras

Art Teacher: Mrs Melissa Simpson

ICT Teacher: Miss KD Donnelly

PE Teachers: Mr Nathan Shanks, Mr Taila Donald and Miss KD Donnelly

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader: Mr Taila Donald

Wellbeing Support: Miss Lou Gooding (and SWO to be announced)

Connections Leader: Mr Anthony Lyon

Business Manager: Mrs Maddy Meyland (until March) and Mrs Pip Sciffer

Reception: The Amazing Mrs Janine Batten.

And a reminder that our music program will begin in 2026 and will be run by Mr Gary Pinto, and instrumental music lessons will be available upon request through Pathfinder Music.

2026 Student Leaders

At Kilsyth Primary School we value student leadership greatly. We define a student leader not by the badge that they wear, but by the behaviours they show and values they exemplify. We consider all students in senior school as having the capacity to lead and influence the culture of our school and we provide many opportunities for students to gain leadership experience.

As part of our strategy to build our student leaders and increase the opportunities for student voice and agency in our school, all Year 5 students have written and presented a speech to their fellow students (year 3-6) about their strengths and leadership aspirations. All students from Year 3-6 have then voted for two leaders. These votes, along with teacher feedback and observation of student strengths and capacity to lead, and advice from our current student leader group, have been taken into consideration by the School's Leadership Team. Six students have been selected to be named as Student Leaders in 2026 - two will act as SRC leaders, and four will be general student leaders.

We expect all of our senior students to model our values of Excellence, Resilience and Respect and to lead their peers through example. The six students recognised with a badge have shown a commitment to being role models and leaders within our school community above and beyond this common expectation. We are very proud of all of our students and the leadership capacity of all of our senior school students this year.

Please join us for our FINAL school assembly on Friday 19th December AT 9.10AM!!

Our final assembly for the year will be held in the hall on Friday 19th December at 9.10am.

PLEASE NOTE THE TIME.

At this assembly will be announcing the 2025 Graduating Class Award winners. We will also be celebrating all our Year 6 students and announcing our 2026 School Captains and SRC Chairs.

Please Join US!

LAST DAY DISMISSAL

1.30PM

FRIDAY 19th DECEMBER

A reminder that we finish for the year on Friday 19th December at 1.30pm.

Parents are invited to join us on the oval from 1.15pm as we say farewell our Class of 2025.

See you in 2026...

Tuesday 27th January - Curriculum and Student-Free Day (Office closed)

Wednesday 28th January - Curriculum and Student-Free Day (Office open)

Thursday 29th January - All students return to school (Foundation in two groups for part days)

Have a GREAT Christmas...

... a safe and Happy New Year...

... all the best !

Daniel

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