2nd December 2024 Arabella

This week’s superhero is a shining example of someone who embodies our school values of excellence, respect, and responsibility.

Arabella's respectful demeanor is evident in every interaction she has, as she consistently treats peers, teachers, and visitors with kindness and courtesy. She listens attentively, making careful note of the details of what others have said.

Responsibility is another hallmark of Arabella's character. She takes great care of her belongings and helps maintain our classroom space, ensuring it is a pleasant place for everyone. In her learning, she demonstrates a mature sense of accountability, always seeking and applying feedback to improve her skills and understanding. She continually challenges herself to reach new heights and find new ways to improve.

If you find yourself wandering through the Bunjil building, you will often see Arabella engrossed in a book or with pencils in hand, creating her next masterpiece. All members of our class know that her creativity is where she truly shines. Whether through imaginative writing, problem-solving, or artistic expression, she brings a unique perspective that we are always in awe of. While Arabella can be quiet and unassuming, those who take the time to know her quickly recognise her kindness, thoughtfulness, and creativity.

Studio 8 is so grateful that we have spent the year with such an amazing superhero, and we are so excited to finally congratulate her.

Congratulations Arabella, we hope you had a great week!

9th December 2024 Brody

This week’s superhero is a student who has truly been a joy to teach. Brody has given his best effort in every area throughout the year and has made remarkable progress in his learning. He is not only a kind and caring individual, but he has also built strong friendships both in and outside the classroom.

Brody is receiving this award for consistently demonstrating the school value of respect and for embracing an adventurous approach to learning.

This shows respect in many ways. Brody takes responsibility for his own well-being by recognising when he needs his medication and taking it, ensuring he doesn’t suffer from hayfever symptoms. He also shows respect for his teachers, peers, his belongings, and the learning environment. He just needs to remember to pack up his pencil case each day, without the teacher nagging!!!

As an adventurous learner, Brody approaches challenges with a positive, can-do attitude. He embraces new experiences, takes risks in his thinking, and explains his ideas clearly to help others understand. Brody's confidence in his abilities allows him to grow and succeed.

Studio 4 is fortunate to have such an incredible student.

Congratulations Brody, we hope you've had a great week!

Classroom Awards

Congratulations to the following students for receiving classroom awards: Stella, Olivia, Alyssa, Alfred, Elizabeth, Ella, Eli, Chiko, Roy, Emilia, Gene, Zoe, Charlotte, Mavis, Micah, Bella, Rio, Bronte, Campbell, Brandy, Abel, Jimmy, Chenula, Phoenix, Alesha, Huntyr, Sonny.

Student Council

Cohen, Emmett, Billy, Emma, Hazel, Claire, Maeve, Mikayla.

Grade 5/6 News

Gardening and Sustainability

Huntyr, Eli, Huddson, Bronte, Evelyn, Storm, Daisy, Huon, Cameron, Isabelle, Mila, Aria, Hailey, Imogen, Lila, Oliver,

Chess Champions 2024

Semester 2

KPS Chess Champion

Liam McMeekin

Runner Up

Henry Hull

3rd Place

Cohen Gardner

Fighting Spirit

Chenula Perera

Girls Section Winner

Myla Hanson

End of Year Music Concerts

We are so proud of the hard work and dedication our students have shown in music this year. We can’t wait to celebrate their achievements with you!

KPS Choir Performance

Date: Tuesday, December 17th

Time: 2:55 PM

Location: Music Room Courtyard

Join us for a joyful outdoor celebration of the students’ musical accomplishments.

KPS Choir performance at the final assembly

Date: Thursday, December 19th

Time: 9:00 AM

Location: GP Room

We look forward to celebrating with you and recognizing the amazing achievements of all our students!

Warm regards,

Ms. Polly

French Day 2024

On Thursday, 28th November, our school celebrated French Day. It was wonderful to see both students and staff dressed in French colours and costumes, embracing the spirit of the day and enjoying the wonderful range of French-themed activities.

The teachers enjoyed stepping back as our Year 5 and 6 students took charge, leading activities for the younger students. In the lead-up to the event, these senior students were busy researching, planning, and preparing unique activities for Prep to Year 4 children, all centred around the theme: French Inventors, Innovators, and Influencers. Judging by the smiles and glowing reviews, their efforts were an outstanding success!

The activities created and led by the Year 5 and 6 students included:

Baking pain au chocolat like August Zang
Playing basketball like Victor Wembanyama
Painting like Claude Monet, Georges Seurat, Berthe Morisot and Paul Cézanne
Making chocolate truffles like Auguste Escoffier
Crafting chocolate sculptures like Amaury Guichon
Playing soccer like N’Golo Kanté and Kylian Mbappé
Building Eiffel Towers like Gustave Eiffel
Creating cheese (hats) like Marie Harel
Constructing a palace like Louis XIV
Playing pétanque like Jules Lenoir
Baking tarte Tatin like the Tatin sisters
Designing World Cup trophies like Jules Rimet
Launching cannons like Napoléon Bonaparte
Writing and reading Braille like Louis Braille
Baking palmiers like Cyril Lignac
Designing fashion and luggage like Coco Chanel and Louis Vuitton
Making paper models of chef Marie-Antoine Carême
Decorating macarons and meringues like Pierre Hermé and François Massialot
Making a map of France like Clovis I
Designing hot air balloons like the Montgolfier Brothers
Designing luxury cars like Ettore Bugatti
Making helicopters and planes like Paul Cornu and Clément Ader
Exploring x-rays like Marie Curie
Making movies like the Lumière Brothers
Creating parachutes like Louis-Sébastien Lenormand
Baking potatoes like Antoine Parmentier

In the afternoon, we welcomed Jacques et Philippe, a mime and accordionist duo, whose performance had the students rolling with laughter at Jacques’ silent yet hilarious antics.

The day concluded with a performance by our school choir, singing two French classics, J’entends le Moulin and Vent Frais. Families joined us to enjoy crêpes and explore the activities on display across the school. Although the crêpe truck sold out before 3:30 pm, it was lovely to see families visiting classrooms and engaging with the students’ projects.

A special thank you to all the families who supported Crêpes for Change. Your contributions will directly support at-risk youth into employment and out of homelessness through the work of For Change Co.

We owe the success of French Day 2024 to our dedicated Year 5 and 6 teachers and students, the enthusiastic parents who supported costumes and projects, Miss Polly, who prepared the choir and led some lively cancan dancing and our French teacher Madame Varga.

When asked about her favourite part of the day, Eva from Studio 2 summed it up beautifully: “The happiness.”

We’re already looking forward to French Day 2026!

P & F Art Expo and End of Year Celebration

Everyone is invited to an amazing ART EXPO and End of Year Celebration on Friday 13th December from 5pm onwards here at KPS. All students will have a piece of art on display in a unique and interactive Art Exhibition. There will be art activities, a food truck, ice cream, and live music - what more could you ask for!

So pop Friday 13th December in your diary, count down the days, grab the family, and see you there! More details to come!

Very proudly supported by the Parents and Friends and KPS

Book Pack Orders due this Sunday 15th December

Book pack orders for 2025 are due to be placed by Sunday 15th December 2024. These are purchased directly from Maxim Office Group and delivered to the school for collection on 29th January 2025.

Please note there will be a late payment fee of $15 imposed by Maxim Office Group for any orders placed after this date.

Detailed ordering instructions are included in the Parent Payment information below.

Orders can be placed here https://www.maximbooklists.com.au using the school code of KYNEPS.

Volunteers Morning Tea - Thursday 19th December

We are delighted to invite our volunteers to a special Morning Tea following our final school awards assembly on Thursday 19th December at 10:30am, to celebrate and honour the invaluable contributions that you make to improve our school community.

Your dedication, hard work, and support have made a significant impact on our students and staff, and we want to take this opportunity to show our gratitude. Please join us for a relaxed morning filled with delicious treats and heartfelt appreciation.

We look forward to celebrating you and the amazing work you do!

Please RSVP to the office for catering purposes. You are also welcome to attend our final assembly which begins around 9:15am.

Confirmed Cases of Whooping Cough

We have recently been informed of some confirmed case of Pertussis – Whooping Cough in the Year 1, Year 5 and Year 6 areas.

Signs and Symptoms of Whooping Cough:

Whooping cough usually starts with cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose and dry cough, which last for about one week.
After that, a more definite cough develops, which may last for 10 weeks or more. The cough comes in long spells and often ends with a high-pitched 'whoop' sound when the child breathes in.
Some children cough so much they vomit afterwards.
Children are usually well between coughing spells.

If you think your child may have Whooping Cough please see your doctor. Children with pertussis must not go to primary school and children’s service for 21 days after the onset of cough, or until they have received 5 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment.

Unvaccinated contacts aged less than 7 years old in the same room as the case should be excluded from primary school and children's services for 14 days from the last exposure to the infectious case, or until they have received 5 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment.

For more information see: https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Whooping_cough

Canteen Helpers desperately needed for the remainder of Term 4

Only a few more weeks left in 2024 and we need just a few more Volunteers.

We have had amazing Volunteers helping this year in the Canteen. I would like to thank each of you. It’s been busy and some days super busy but we all managed with happy smiles and everyone gets their food even if it is a little late sometimes.

We still need Volunteers for the last few Fridays of the Term. Come join the fun and you can get to choose the music we listen to (as long as it has no swearing). Jazz, Disney, Classical, 80’s Rock or 00’s British Pop, you can choose.

I have created a signup sheet which makes it really easy for you to see what days and times we need volunteers.

If you can help in the volunteersignup.org/9QBEX

Volunteers will need to have a valid Working with Children’s Check(Volunteer), this is free and easy to apply for. You will also need to complete a quick OHS induction at office.

I look forward to seeing a few new faces soon.

Cheers

Sarah Lockhart

Canteen Manager

sarah.lockhart2@education.vic.gov.au

Early Collection of Students from School

We understand that there are many reasons why you might need to collect students from school early, however, we ask that you please keep these to a minimum where possible.

Our school PA system works by buildings so when an announcement is made it will be heard throughout the whole building and the closest relocatable classroom. These announcements are very disruptive especially when some days announcements are being made on numerous occasions within short periods. These disruptions are having an impact on student learning.

We ask for your assistance with some strategies to assist with this matter:

Email the teacher or the office early in the day with the time you will be collecting your child/ren so we can, hopefully, have them waiting at the office for you.
When possible, collect your child just before recess (11 – 11:40am) or lunchtime (1:40 – 2:20pm) rather than during the middle of class times.
Announcements for collecting children will not be made during class time. If you need to collect your child during class time please come to the office to sign your child/ren out as an early departure and then go to the classroom to collect them.

We understand there can be emergency situations, however, we hope you will give your support and enable all children to receive as much learning as possible.

2025 Parent Payment and Book Pack Ordering Information

Information regarding the 2025 Parent Payments and book pack ordering has been sent home.

Please be aware there are two separate payments:

School book pack orders are to be placed with Maxim Office Group by Sunday 15th December 2024 to ensure they are delivered to the school directly and ready for collection on Tuesday 30th January 2024. Please note there will be a late payment fee of $15 imposed by Maxim Office Group for any orders placed after this date.
Curriculum contributions, other contributions and extra-curricular item amounts totalling $140.00 are paid direct to Kyneton Primary School and can be made in 2025.

These documents contain important information, so we kindly ask that you take the time to read them carefully. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the school office.

Electronic copies of these documents are below and are also available on our school website and in the School Resources section in the Compass Parent Portal.

Volunteers at KPS

It is great to see so many family volunteers helping out in various ways here at school.

Department of Education policy requires all volunteers at KPS to complete an induction prior to coming onsite. This also includes excursion volunteers. This includes having a current Working With Children's Check (WWCC), completing a confidentiality document and OHS induction. For volunteers that are not parents of current students we also need emergency contact details. Applying for a Working With Children's Check is free for volunteers and can be completed online here:

This documentation is available at the office and only take 5-10 minutes to complete. Once inducted volunteers can sign in and out at the office kiosk each time they visit.

Thank you for your assistance with this.

School Gates and Opening Times

In the morning all gates will be open for access to the school site at 8:45 as this is when under industrial arrangements staff supervision in the yard commences. No students are allowed onsite until this time.

In the afternoon all gates will be open at 3:15 for access to the school site. Access to the office during the school day is via the pedestrian gate on Edgecombe St.

The new ramp/path between the school and the kindergarten is now operational. Access to the school grounds using the ramp is between the hours of 8:45 – 4.00. On either side of these hours, the bottom of the ramp will be chained off. Access outside of these hours needs to be arranged through the school office or a staff member by calling 5422 1855.

A reminder to all members of the school community the staff car park is not to be used to walk between the school and the kindergarten for safety reasons. Now that the ramp/path is operational the pedestrian gate next to the car park gates should be used following the path, crossing the road in front of the boom gate using the marked pedestrian crossing and then down the ramp.

* Please do not access the school site at any time via the staff car park for safety

reasons.

* Please do not park in the kinder carpark unless it is your kinder day and you are a kinder family.

Uniform Ordering

School uniforms are available for purchase online direct from A Plus Schoolwear www.aplusschoolwear.com.au

When ordering uniforms please put the studio number of your child for easier delivery.

Once uniforms arrive at school, they will be sent home with your child.

Students Arriving Late

Students arriving late to school should come to the office, accompanied by an adult, and sign in either on the Compass Kiosk or in the late book. They will then be issued a late pass to take to class and their arrival at school will be updated on the roll. This will avoid parents/guardians receiving notification that their child is not at school when they have arrived late.

Accessing Compass

Compass is our main way of communicating with our families. It is important that parents access the Parental Portal in Compass at https://kynetonps.vic.jdlf.com.au

Using our parent portal will enable you to –

View up-to-date class and school attendance information
Approve or enter upcoming or past absences for your son/daughter
Update your registered email and mobile number (used for SMS alters)
Access information regarding upcoming events and news
Access your child’s Semester Reports
Book your Parent/Student/Teacher conferences

We encourage families to download the Compass App and to enable notification to ensure you receive all communications.

Please click on the “Welcome to Compass” booklets for further assistance or contact the office.

Community News

A few messages from our community

Click on the arrow to view all notices.