Principal's Report
A message from the Principal Rosemary Cosentino
WELCOME!
Welcome everyone and a special welcome to all our new Preps and Students who have joined the school at higher-grade levels. Our current enrolment is 588 students, 24 grades in total. We have had a wonderfully smooth start to the school year. Our 66 Prep children are truly delightful and are settling well into their new environment.
I wish to extend a very warm welcome to our new staff: Mr Patrick Halpin (Wellbeing & Community Engagement Coordinator), Mrs Leanne Taylor (34T), Miss Madison Pearce (34P), Mrs Ilisa Cooper (34S) and Miss Stacey Galloway (Admin). We also welcome back Mrs Kara Bogicevic (2S), Mrs Janet McLean (Engineering), Mrs Holly Torcasio (1S) and Mrs Stefanie Rossiter (56S).
STUDENT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS 2017
I wish to introduce to the school community the following 2017 student leaders:
School Captains: Daniel and Poppi School Vice Captains: Sam and Maddy
School Leaders: Jeremy, Phoebe, Tanvi and Rando
Digital Communications Leaders: Ryan, Nicolas and Xavier
Environmental Leaders: Mila, Zoe, Abby and Daniela
Sports Leaders: Chris, Bella and Rhys
SRC: TBC
Our student leaders will be presented with their badges at our Friday assembly. We have invited the 2015 school captains, Sarah & Kaillid to reflect on their time as school captains and provide a message to the new student leaders. Don Elgin, an Australian Paralympic amputee athlete who won four medals at three Paralympics and parent of Milie (56W) will be presenting the students with their badges.
SCHOOL COUNCIL NOMINATIONS
Our annual School Council elections are now due; nominations for vacancies are invited. Both in the mandated elected parent and the Department of Education and Training (DET) employee categories. Specifically, our School Council is comprised of nine (9) elected parent representatives, two (2) community members, three (3) elected DET employee representatives, and the school principal (ex-officio). All elected representatives are elected for a two year period with overlapping tenure, so that not all positions are declared vacant in any one year. For this year, we have five (5) elected parent positions vacant, two (2) community member positions and two (2) DET positions.
Retiring members are as follows:
Retiring Members (parent rep eligible for re-election)
Jenni Hosemans, Dorit Patterson, Annette Glasson, Sangeetha Nolte (Sanny)
Retiring Community Members (eligible for re-election)
Dora Kambouris & Glenys Elliot
Retiring Member (DET employee eligible for re-election)
Jenna Herbert
If you are an enthusiastic parent interested in getting more involved and having a say in what our school is doing, or know someone who is, we would love to hear from you. We are looking for people who are committed to improving the educational outcomes for all our students.
Effective councils have a broad range of experience, skills and expertise. Face-to-face and online training is also available to help councillors develop the skills and knowledge for the job. Parents find their involvement satisfying and may find that their children feel a greater sense of belonging.
For more information on what is involved, see: Parent Participation at School and Information for parents.
In calling for nominations for the vacancies in both categories, please note that the appropriate nomination form is available on request from the school office, on Compass, or download a copy from the school newsletter. In the event that we receive more nominations than vacancies in either category, a ballot will be conducted over a two-week period. Please note that nomination forms must be lodged by 4:00PM on Thursday 23rd February.
Q & A WITH THE PRINCIPAL
THURSDAY 16TH MARCH AT 7:00PM
Kingswood is recognised as a great school that builds the foundation that makes a positive difference in the life of each student. At Kingswood we engage our community. A strong partnership between home and school delivers the best schooling experience for the students, parents and teachers.
Our first forum for the year is on Thursday 16th March. It is an opportunity to hear an update from the principal class and to discuss 2016 Parent Opinion Survey results and Student Opinion Survey.
The forum is also an opportunity to meet with members of School Council and to ask questions. We will also stream live through the Kingswood Primary School Parent Facebook page.
Protocols for the forum include the following:
- Questions need to be submitted in writing no later than 4:00PM on Tuesday 14th March
- Questions can be emailed to kingswood.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au, Rosemary Cosentino on Compass or sent to the school office.
THANK YOU
PREP MORNING TEA UNIFORM SHOP
Thank you to the Parent Club for preparing morning tea for our very new Prep parents. I would like thank and acknowledge the following parents who volunteered in the uniform shop in January: Marguerite (parent of Jensen) Jodie (parent of Rhys and Liana) Rachael (parent of Zoe and Toby) Kim (parent of Myall and Yuin) Natalie ( parent of Zach) Karen (parent of Ben) Leisa (parent of Josh and Lochy) and Jan ( parent of Cambell and Elenor)
Thank you to Adrian, parent of Ethan (2D) and Riley (PB) for completing the planter box at the back of Unit E. You have made a positive difference.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
We wish to acknowledge and congratulate Akasha (1S) as winner of the Young Portia Competition 2016 for the age category 5-9 years. This competition was conducted by the National Trust NSW- S.H. Ervin Gallery which is dedicated to Australian Art. For the competition she had to submit a portrait of someone who she admires. Akasha named her art a ‘A Woman’. Her art is displaying at the gallery until late February.
NO DOGS AT SCHOOL
In the interest of student safety, no dogs are allowed in the school grounds even if they are on a lead. Please observe this school rule at all times.