Kyneton Primary School Newsletter

Principal's Message to the School Community

Dear KPS Community,

As we bid farewell to another vibrant Term 3, it’s time to reflect on the moments that made it truly special. Among those shining moments were our Daffodil Festival Stall and heartwarming Father’s Day celebrations. And behind the scenes, there were unsung heroes—the parents and friends who stepped up to volunteer their time and talent. Your kindness, generosity, and willingness to roll up your sleeves to make our school community stronger. You’ve shown our children what it means to give selflessly, and for that, we are immensely grateful. As we head into the well-deserved break, take a moment to pat yourselves on the back. You’ve made a difference.

 

I also continue to be incredibly humbled and proud of the work of all of our staff and the relationships they build with colleagues, students and families. I urge all of our staff to reflect on their achievements that as individuals and teams you have every day with our students. Make sure that when the end of Term 3 arrives, you take a well-earned break and spend time doing things that will regenerate you for a busy final term of the year.

Wishing everyone a restful holiday and looking forward to more shared moments in Term 4!

 

Alistair Rayner

Principal

 

School Council President’s Report

Dear KPS Community,

I’m pleased to share an update from our recent School Council meeting on 12 September.

 

Diversity and Respectful Relationships

A letter from a parent regarding diversity within our school led to a thoughtful discussion on how we can continue to foster an inclusive environment for all families. You may notice a new artwork celebrating diversity and inclusion displayed in the front entrance when you next visit the front office.

We discussed the Respectful Relationships curriculum and its key role in promoting respect, positive attitudes, and behaviours, teaching children how to build healthy relationships, resilience, and confidence. The curriculum is delivered in an age-appropriate manner across all grades, covering both health and physical education as well as personal and social capability. Students develop knowledge and skills to strengthen their sense of self and manage safe and respectful relationships. The personal and social capability curriculum helps students recognise and regulate emotions, develop empathy, and establish a framework for positive relationships.

In addition, we reviewed our school’s Student Attitudes to School data, which is particularly strong in these areas. Here are some key highlights from the 2024 data:

  • Respect for Diversity:
    KPS: 87% (State average: 77%)
    • All students are treated fairly at this school: 82%
    • It is okay to be different at this school: 93%
  • Sense of Inclusion:
    KPS: 93% (State average: 88%)
    • I have friends at this school: 98%
    • I have lots of chances to be part of class activities: 88%
    • My teacher makes me feel like I matter: 91%
    • My teacher makes sure all students feel included: 96%

Regarding cultural diversity, our Humanities studies take a whole-school approach, embedded within the MAPPEN units delivered across all year levels. These units are highlighted in the Curriculum Overview that goes out early each term through Compass. Parents are always welcome to reach out to teachers with any questions.

We are also awaiting data from the recent Department of Education Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey, which will help us identify any areas the School Council may need to explore further. There’s still time to contribute before the survey closes tomorrow, so please contact the office if you need the survey resent to you. This data will also help shape the more tailored questions we plan to include in the Kyneton Primary parent survey, which we’ll be sending out in Term 4.

 

Year 6 Camp Approval

We’re excited to announce that the Year 6 camp has been approved and will take place from 23-25 October. Students were actively involved in crafting the itinerary for an exciting exploration of Melbourne's CBD. The camp promises to be a memorable experience for our students.

 

AIP Update and Staff Professional Development

Our focus on refining the Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) continues, with additional meetings taking place between our external educational consultant and PLC teams. We are working on setting tighter SMART goals within our PLC inquiries to ensure our objectives are clear and achievable.

Our planned CUST Indigenous training was postponed due to the KESO staff attending the funeral of a local elder. This important training will be rescheduled for 2025. In its place, staff participated in a session on Respectful Relationships, focusing on family violence and how to respond to disclosures. Jackie Dickie also led a session on how we work within the Berry St model for children with disabilities.

Additionally, staff have undertaken training on managing Type 1 diabetes, ensuring we are well-prepared to support students with this condition. Teachers continue to implement necessary adjustments for students within the Tier 2 framework, reflecting our ongoing commitment to meeting diverse learning needs.

 

Enrolments

Prep enrolments for 2025 currently stand at 45. School leadership is in the process of discussing class structures with the school’s Consultative Committee.

 

Financial Updates

We had a positive discussion regarding the school’s financial position. The canteen is operating sustainably, with a small profit reported for the first half of the year. Budget adjustments have also been made in response to new funding details from the Department of Education.

 

Disability and Neurodiversity Inclusion

The Parents and Friends Committee reported on discussions from their last meeting, where they explored the possibility of starting a Disability & Neurodiversity inclusion support group. A proposal is being put together for the School Council to consider forming a sub-committee dedicated to this area.

 

Thank you once again for your ongoing support and involvement in our school community. 

I wish all students and staff a fun and reenergising school holidays before we head into Term 4.

 

Katy McGrath

School Council President