School News

5th May 2025    Elizabeth

This week’s superhero is recognised for demonstrating excellence, respect, and care.

Elizabeth is a joy to have in the classroom. She arrives each day with her bright, toothless smile and a wonderfully positive attitude towards learning. She consistently works hard towards achieving her goals and always aims to do her personal best.

Elizabeth is someone who can always be counted on to help others. Whether it's organising books in the reading room, updating the class calendar, assisting a classmate on the computer, or even moving sports equipment during recess or lunch for the next PE class, she is always eager to lend a helping hand.

This superhero demonstrates great respect and care for both her teachers and classmates. Elizabeth listens to others, shares her ideas and experiences, and follows instructions the first time. Her caring and friendly nature shows she truly understands the value of being kind.

With her bubbly personality, sense of humour, and respectful manner, Elizabeth from Studio 3 enriches our classroom and is an absolute pleasure to teach.

Keep being your wonderful, smiley self! 

Congratulations Elizabeth, we hope you've had a fantastic week.

12th May 2025     Maeve

This week’s Superhero will be receiving their award for Excellence.

It’s honestly hard to believe that Maeve hasn’t already received this award—somehow she’s flown under the radar like a true superhero in disguise! This incredible student is one of the kindest, most caring people you’ll ever meet. She’s a fantastic friend, always ready to lend a helping hand, a listening ear, or a kind word when someone needs it. You can always rely on her to do the right thing, even when no one’s watching.

Not only is Maeve a lovely human being, but she’s also a hardworking, neat, and diligent student who sets the gold standard for others. Her work is always beautifully presented, thoughtfully completed, and done with pride. And let’s talk about her writing—wow! This year, Maeve's writing has gone to a whole new level. With incredible use of figurative language, creativity, and flair, she’s crafting stories and pieces that make you stop and say, “Did she really write this?”

Maeve is the kind of student who makes the classroom a better place every single day—quietly, confidently, and with a smile. If superheroes wore school uniforms, hers would have a cape by now! 

Congratulations Maeve, we hope you've had a fantastic week.

Classroom Awards

Congratulations to the following student for receiving a classroom award: Winnie, Poppy, Jai, Jarvis, Xavier, Madison, Bentley, Hugo, Huon, Pfeiffer, Clancy, Oscar, Nils, Daphne, Max, Matari, Ruby, Meadow, Sonny, Zane, Thristan, Emily, Max, Imogen, Henry, Escher, Dylan, Ava, Daisy, Harlow, Bao, Penny.

Scholastic Book Fair

Thank you to all who have purchased books and supported our school library. 

It was lovely to see so many come along to our sales days. This has allowed me to purchase a lot of fantastic new books for our students to read.

I'd also like to thank those who have donated to the REACH Siem Reap Foundation. REACH was very happy with our supporting their important role of educating children in Siem Reap, Cambodia. 

All back ordered books arrived today and will be sent home with the children.

Kind regards

Denise Gathercole

Librarian

Foundation Swimming Program

Our Foundation swimming program starts next Monday 19th May and will run every day next week. 

Students will need to bring swimwear, swimming cap (compulsory), towel, a bag for wet clothes and their school bag. Please name all items of clothing and encourage your child to be responsible for all items. If children are wearing their bathers to school remember to pack underwear.

Due to the timing of lessons, lunch orders are not available for students during swimming week.

Working Bee - Sunday 18th May

Our second working bee of the year is planned for Sunday May 18 from 10 am.

Our working bees are a fun opportunity to create and maintain our school gardens and outdoor learning and play spaces. Lunch is provided by the P&F to feed the hungry workers. Children are welcome on the understanding that you take full responsibility for their supervision and wellbeing. It’s a great chance for families that are new to the school to mix and mingle with the school community.

Some of the tasks to be completed include:

• Tidying fallen leaves
• Construction of a raised garden bed/retaining wall
• Weeding
• Mulching
• Tidying up playground areas

The school has a limited number of tools, so please bring along any of your own that you are happy to use. Wheelbarrows, shovels and garden forks, weeding tubs, trowels, secateurs and the like are all very handy. Don’t forget your gardening gloves and anything else you need to stay safe and comfortable.

See you there!

Duncan Cocking

Volunteer Working Bee Coordinator

Parents and Friends Association News

Election Day Sausage Sizzle & Cake Stall

A heartfelt thank you to all the parents and students who volunteered their time and energy on the day. Your efforts in preparing treats, grilling sausages, and serving drinks made the event a resounding success.

We sold out by 12:15 PM and raised close to $2,000! These funds will be allocated towards purchasing KPS-branded marquees for sports events and future fundraising activities. Additionally, a portion will support the Mobok Garden plans.

Mother's / Carer's Day Stall

A big thank you to all the parents who helped purchase gifts for the children to buy and to the Dads who assisted in selling items on the day. We hope everyone enjoyed the gifts chosen by your children.

Next Parents and Friends Meeting

• Date: Wednesday, 28th May
• Time: 7:30 PM
• Location: Kyneton Hotel

New members are always welcome! Come along and share your ideas. If you have any questions, please contact us at kpspnf@gmail.com.

Your continued support strengthens our school community. Thank you!

Sarah Lockhart 

Parents and Friends President

Canteen News

🌱 Sustainability Initiative: Bring Your Own Container

To reduce paper and plastic waste, we invite all students who order sushi to bring a clean, reusable container labelled with their name. This small change can significantly decrease our reliance on single-use packaging.

Benefits:

• Environmental Impact: Reduces single-use packaging waste.
• Cost Savings: Lowers packaging expenses.
• Educational Opportunity: Promotes environmental responsibility among students

🍲 Upcoming Hot Meal Specials

As the weather cools, we're excited to introduce a hot meal special on Wednesdays or Thursdays. 

Each week we will have ONE meal special comforting classics such as:

• Apricot Chicken
• Pumpkin Risotto
• Lentil Dahl

These dishes are not only delicious but also nutritious and popular among students 

📬 Share Your Family's Favorite Recipe

We'd love to feature recipes from our KPS families! If you have a cherished family recipe that you'd like to share, please send it to us. Your contribution could be the next hot meal special at our canteen!

How to Submit:

• Email: Send your recipe to  sarah.lockhart2@education.vic.gov.au
• Include: Ingredients, preparation steps, and any special notes or stories about the dish.

Let's work together to make our canteen more sustainable and community-focused!

We are always looking for volunteers to help out in the Canteen, especially on Thursdays and Fridays. If you’re interested in lending a hand, please get in touch with:

📧 Sarah Lockhart

✉️ sarah.lockhart2@education.vic.gov.au

📞 Or call the school and ask to speak with her directly.

Your help is always appreciated and makes a big difference!

Join Our Breakfast Club Team! 🍞☕

We still have a few spots available for anyone interested in joining our Breakfast Club team. As the mornings get colder, more and more of our students are stopping by for some warm toast to start their day.

If you have a little time to spare in the morning and would like to help make a difference, we’d love to have you on board!

Please reach out if you're interested or would like more information

Sarah Lockhart

Canteen Manager

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) applications 

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund helps eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you have a valid means-tested concession card, such as a Veterans Affairs Gold Card, Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible. There is also a special consideration category for asylum seeker and refugee families.

Payment amounts this year are $154 for eligible primary school students. Payments are made direct to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions and sporting activities for the benefit of your child. 

If you have previously applied for CSEF through our school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year, unless there has been a change in your family circumstances. 

If you would like to apply for the first time, please complete the attached form or call the office to request a form.

Please return completed forms to the school office as soon as possible. A copy of the form is attached below. We will require a copy of your valid health care card with the application.

Instrumental Music Program

Our instrumental music program at KPS offers an excellent opportunity for students in Years 2–6 to learn from highly experienced teachers.

Students can choose from a variety of instruments, including guitar, violin, ukulele, voice, keyboard, trumpet, clarinet, and flute.

Spots are still available for some instruments. Please refer to the below information letter for further information. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at polly.christie@education.vic.gov.au.

Ms Polly Christie

Music Teacher (M,T,W,Th)

Kyneton Primary School

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 have 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.

School Gates and Opening Times

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

Access to the office during the school day is via the pedestrian gate on Edgecombe St or the ramp between the kindergarten to the school.

Please do not use the large gate near the junior playground from the kindergarten car park to access the school. There is no safe pedestrian access through the kinder carpark for families to walk.

* 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.