Principal's Message to the School Community
A Wonderful Start to Term 2
It has been fantastic to see such a positive and settled start to Term 2 across the school. Students have returned with enthusiasm, ready to learn, and it has been wonderful to see classrooms buzzing with energy and focus. Thank you to our students, staff and families for helping make the beginning of the term such a success.
We would also like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the many community members who have volunteered their time in our school this year. Whether helping in classrooms, supporting reading programs, assisting with excursions and sporting events, contributing to fundraising, or lending a hand behind the scenes, your generosity and commitment are deeply appreciated.
Research consistently shows that when parents and carers are involved in schools, students benefit academically, socially and emotionally. Children whose families are actively engaged in school life often show greater confidence, improved learning outcomes and a stronger sense of wellbeing. Seeing familiar adults involved in the school helps students feel supported and valued, and reinforces the important message that learning is valued by both home and school.
Parent and community volunteering also strengthens relationships across the whole school community. It builds trust, promotes open communication and fosters a genuine sense of connectedness and belonging. When families, staff and community members work together, schools become more welcoming, inclusive and supportive environments for everyone.
Thank you once again to all who give their time so freely. Your involvement makes a meaningful difference and helps make our school a vibrant, connected and caring place to learn and grow.
Kind regards,
Alistair Rayner
Principal
School Council President’s Report – March Meeting
Following a special meeting to elect office bearers, we held our March School Council Meeting at the end of last term. This was the first meeting of our new 2026 School Council.
Our 2026 School Council members are:
- Katy McGrath – President
- Caryn Wright – Vice-President
- Steven Sheppard – Treasurer
- Samantha Lewis – Secretary
- Alistair Rayner
- Julie Arnephy
- Stephanie Priest
- Andrew Young
- Zanna Moran
- Elisha Matthews
- Patrick Lane
- Cherree Kennedy
We warmly welcome new parent member Cherree Kennedy and new Department member Stephanie Priest, along with all returning members. We also acknowledge and thank outgoing Council members Ellie Treacey and Lauren Richardson for their valuable contributions.
We look forward to working together this year to support the continued governance, growth and future direction of our school. Please find a summary of updates from our March meeting below.
2025 Annual Report
Council reviewed and endorsed the draft 2025 Annual Report, which reflects Kyneton Primary’s overall performance, progress and areas of continued focus.
The report highlights the ongoing work across the school to support student learning, wellbeing and engagement. It also reflects the continued integration of the school’s learning dispositions —problem solver, curious, creative, collaborative, adventurous and resilient — into classroom practice and the broader school environment. These dispositions shape the way our students approach learning and engage with the world around them.
Key highlights included in the report are:
- A solid majority of students are achieving at or above the expected Victorian Curriculum standards in English and Mathematics, with a continued focus on lifting outcomes for students who are just below standard.
- NAPLAN results showed strong performance, particularly in the top two proficiency levels, with reading growth identified as a standout strength.
- Numeracy remains an important area of targeted focus, with continued work planned to strengthen conceptual understanding, fluency and reasoning.
- Student connectedness remains strong, with KPS reporting stronger student connectedness than both similar schools and the State in 2025.
- Students’ perceptions of how bullying is managed remains stronger than the State average, reflecting the school’s ongoing focus on clear processes, follow-through and student wellbeing.
- Attendance data shows positive improvement, with average absence days reducing compared with the school’s four-year average and improving faster than broader system comparators.
- The school continues to provide a wide range of enriching experiences, including excursions, incursions, camps, swimming, the Year 3–6 Production, Art Show, Book Week Parade, sport, choir and instrumental music, and other community events.
- Strong partnerships between home and school continue to be central to supporting student learning, attendance, wellbeing and engagement.
- Investment in classroom resources, evidence-informed teaching practice and ongoing professional learning for staff remains a high priority.
- The school’s financial position has been carefully managed, with the 2025 deficit significantly reduced from the initial projection through careful staffing, budget oversight and advice from the Department.
The Annual Report provides an important opportunity to reflect on the work being done across the school and to recognise the commitment of staff, students, families and the wider KPS community. It also highlights the strength of Kyneton Primary School as a connected, caring and active school community, while identifying clear areas for continued focus and improvement.
Correspondence
School Council received correspondence from the President of the Australian Education Union prior to the recent industrial action, which was discussed after the action had taken place.
Council discussed the correspondence and the arrangements put in place by the school on the day. We acknowledged the important matters being raised by teachers and Education Support staff through this action, and recognised the professionalism and care shown by all KPS staff during this period.
Council would like to formally acknowledge our strong support for all KPS staff, including those who participated in the industrial action, those who supported their colleagues, and those who were present at school on the day. Council expressed its appreciation for the dedication, professionalism and ongoing commitment of all our staff to students, families and the broader school community.
Council also noted the importance of staff wellbeing, including checking in with staff during and after periods such as this. We were pleased to hear that the arrangements put in place on the day ran smoothly.
We thank all families for their understanding and support during this period.
Finance
The Finance Sub-Committee met in March to review the February financial reports, receipts, staffing credits and a range of current financial matters. Council accepted the February financial statements, including payments and direct debits.
The 2025 school year closed with a deficit of approximately $48,000, which will be deducted from the 2025 Term 3 Cash Grant. While the school is continuing to monitor its 2026 financial position carefully, there are also several funding updates still to be confirmed, including Disability Inclusion funding. Education Support is already in place for students requiring support, and approved funding will help offset some of these existing staffing costs.
Council also reviewed and approved the 2025 canteen profit and loss report, which recorded a small profit for the year. This is a positive result and reflects the ongoing work of Sarah Lockhart as Canteen Manager to provide a valued service to our school community while carefully managing costs.
A new 12-month pest control agreement was also discussed and approved with our current provider. The service has been effective, with fewer pest-related issues observed across the school.
The school will register for the Water Efficiency Program, which uses digital metering technology to alert schools to higher-than-expected water usage. This will support more efficient water monitoring, particularly as we continue to care for the oval and school grounds.
The Committee also noted that a reimbursement from the Victorian School Building Authority remained outstanding for water costs incurred prior to the oval handover, but this has now been resolved.
Parents & Friends
The Parents & Friends Annual General Meeting took place in Term 1, with new office bearers confirmed: Adrian Perry as President, Cherree Kennedy as Secretary and Sarah Lockhart as Treasurer.
It was wonderful to hear that the 2026 Parents & Friends group now has 23 members, with particularly strong representation from new Prep families. This is a fantastic sign of the strength and energy within our parent and carer community.
Parents & Friends received correspondence from the Student Council regarding a proposed Gaga Ball game for the schoolyard. P&F have indicated their support for this initiative, and a quote will now be sought to determine whether the game will be purchased from a supplier or constructed on-site.
The Term 1 working bee was a great success, with a strong turnout and several new families attending for the first time. The new outdoor classroom was installed as part of the works, which is a wonderful addition to the school grounds.
The Welcome BBQ was also well attended, with families enjoying different areas of the school grounds. Feedback was very positive, with the event providing a great opportunity for families to connect and enjoy time together as a school community.
Grounds & Facilities
The school is continuing to monitor water usage and weather conditions to ensure the oval surface is maintained appropriately and to help prevent cracking.
The pergolas outside classrooms have now been stained and are looking fantastic — thanks to our working bee helpers.
Potential grants are being explored to support garden programs, including funding for nursery items, mature trees and related materials.
We are also exploring partnerships and support from the Friends of Kyneton Botanic Gardens and the Kyneton Horticultural Society to assist with plants for the garden area near the new outdoor classroom.
Sustainability
Our community volunteer Mary continues to provide wonderful support to Mrs Tracey and our gardening and sustainability students, assisting with the ongoing maintenance and development of the garden areas.
At the recent Flower and Horticultural Show, the school’s submitted produce received a High Commendation, which is a lovely acknowledgement of the work being done through our garden program.
The worm farm is also thriving, and the new outdoor classroom area is being monitored regularly to ensure it remains clean and well cared for.
Canteen
The canteen has launched its new Cultural Recipes initiative. Families are invited to share recipes that reflect their cultural backgrounds, helping us celebrate the diversity within our KPS community.
Sarah will select recipes to be featured and prepared in the canteen on special themed days. This is a lovely way to bring food, culture and community connection together for our students and families.
Communications
The Communications Sub-Committee will be looking at appropriate content from the 2025 Annual Report that can be shared more widely with the school community. Once finalised, the Annual Report will also be placed on the school website. The focus will be on celebrating positive outcomes and highlighting key achievements across the school.
Thank you to all School Council members for their contributions, and to our broader school community for your continued support of Kyneton Primary School.
Katy McGrath
School Council President