From Daniel 

Welcome to 2026!

I'd like to start the year with a very warm welcome. It is such a delight to have so many wonderful young people coming into our school each day and doing some fabulous learning.  As the year has started I truly enjoyed seeing everyone from last year and having the opportunity to meet a few new people too. The largest group of people I have met have been Foundation students, obviously, who are full of energy and anticipation as they begin their schooling life.  I have also spent time with a few students joining us from other schools who have quickly made friends and become an integral part of our community.  Finally, I have had the privilege of connecting with parents, some new and some who I have known for many years.  I am so proud of the fantastic community we have hear at KPS.

On behalf of our staff and our School Council, I welcome you all to 2026 at Kilsyth Primary School.  A year full of promise and positive directions.

It has been a great start…

We have made a truly smooth start to the school year here at KPS.  Our classes have begun and students have settled in to our lesson routines beautifully and our Literacy and Numeracy classes are in full swing.

Low Variance Routines

Once again we are establishing strong learning routines in the classroom.  These are research informed and evidence based and follow a Science of Learning approach.  You might here your child refer to these when they are chatting about their day, or you might use some of these words when you are asking about their day.

Each newsletter this year I will share a routine with you and give you some of the background behind it and why it is effective in the classroom. This week it is Paired Reading.

Paired reading is an excellent routine to assist students in developing fluency.  There are three aspects of fluency that students develop as their oral reading improves:

• Accuracy - they get the words right.
• Rate - they read at an appropriate speed.  Sometimes we call this 'Goldilocks' pace - not too fast and not too slow
• Prosody - with expression.  It should sound like they are talking normally, not like a robot.

All three of these are important, and are best developed through regular practice.  Reading with your child at home is a HUGE help to us as we develop this skill.

In class we use a few different variations of this routine.  

PHRASE CUED TEXT (10-15 minutes)

1. Mark text with a slash after each phrase. (no right or wrong placement)

2. Model proper and improper phrasing, drawing attention to the marks.

3. Have student read with proper phrasing, giving feedback at end.

4. Repeat until pace and prosody improve, giving feedback each time.

5. Have student read the text without marks.

PAIRED READING (10 minutes)

The adult sits side by side with the student and they read text from the same book (or sheet) in unison. The adult sets the pace and models prosody. 

As the student’s confidence builds, or they give a signal, the adult backs off in volume, reading very quietly or stopping completely until further support is required, and they join in again.

FLUENCY DEVELOPMENT LESSON (FDL) (Up to 15 minutes)

1. Select a text of 50 - 200 words

2. Teacher reads text aloud 2-3 times.

3. Read text out loud together once.

4. Pairs read the text, repeating it 2-3 times each before swapping and then

give each other feedback. 

5. Students read once the following day

PARTNERS IN TURN (10 minutes)

1. Partner A reads for 1 minute.

2. Partner B reads for 1 minute (repeating the same text as Partner A, or continuing on).

3. The pair retells what they have read for 1 minute.

4. Repeat 3 times. (new section of text)

5. In the final minute students give feedback and thank each other.

PARTNERS IN UNISON (10 minutes)

1. A stronger reader (A) is partnered with a peer needing support (B).

2. Partner A & B read text in unison for 1 minute.

3. Partner A reads same text for 1 minute , then Partner B repeats.

4. Repeat 3 times.(new section of text)

5. In the final minute students give feedback and thank each other.

ECHO READ (10 minutes)

1. The adult reads a section of the text making sure they are reading with prosody.

2. The students tracks along with their finger as the adult reads.

3. The student echos what the adult reads

4. The student tries to match the prosody of the adult

5. The student tries to match the volume of the adult.

Getting Groovy at KPS

Music classes with Gary Pinto are in full swing!  Students are loving the opportunity to make beautiful music together.  Gary is a genuinely awesome guy and is bringing a true passion and love of music to our school.  I am looking forward to being able to share some of this music with you in coming newsletters. 

School Production

Also on the performing arts front, this year is a Production year at KPS.  Mrs Simpson is our producer this year and is finalising script and venue arrangements at this ver moment (well, maybe not at this exact moment, I am not sure what time you are reading this.)

More information will come soon.

Our team this year…

We have put together a fabulous team this year.  With a breadth of experience and expertise, we are all well prepared to provide the best possible learning opportunities for our students.

The list below contains a few new faces (and some ‘old’ faces in new roles):

Teaching and Learning:

• Mrs Karen Black leads the Teaching and Learning team, which includes:
  • Foundation - Ms Alysha Toner,  supported by Patrick, Leora and Dani
  • Juniors - Mrs Scarlett Clerke and Mrs Karen Black, supported by Theresa, Matt and Aaron
  • Middles - Ms Lisa Hubbard and Mr Nathan Shanks, supported by Jane and Aaron
  • Seniors - Ms Alison Harris and Mr Taila Donald, supported by Karina
  • Specialists
    • Science - Mrs Emma Sceberras
    • Visual Art - Mrs Melissa Simpson
    • ICT and PE - Ms KD Donnelly
  • Intervention support provided by Rhonda and Mary

Student Wellbeing

• Mr Taila Donald is leading our Wellbeing Team this year, which includes
  • School Wellbeing Officer - Ms Lily Dix 
  • Student engagement support provided by Lou
  • Connections Team Leader - Mr Anthony Lyon supported by Lou and Mary

School Admin 

• Mrs Pip Sciffer is our leading our School Admin team this year, very well supported by Janine on our front desk and additional support from Rhonda.  

   

• Mrs Maddy Meyland, as I am sure you are aware, will be welcoming her second child into the world a few months time.  Maddy is working with us for a few more weeks before starting her maternity leave in early March.  We are so very grateful for the wonderful support and guidance Maddy has provided over recent years.    We wish you, Liam and the beautiful little Mia all the very best Maddy.  Congratulations! And we look forward to having Mia introduce us all to her new sibling soon.

Everyone on our team has a clear focus on supporting your child.  If you have any queries at all, please feel free to ask any member of staff and they will be sure to help you or direct you to the best team member to support you.

School Council

We have a great School Council here at Kilsyth Primary School.  A group of commited parents, staff and community members who take on the responsibility of governing the school.

At the beginning of each year we call for nominations and hold an election for new School Council Members.  The term for membership is 2 years.  This year we have 2 parent positions open for nomination.

Parents on School Councils provide important viewpoints and have valuable skills that can help shape the direction of the school.

Those parents who become active on a School Council find their involvement satisfying in itself and may also find that their children feel a greater sense of belonging.

The most obvious way to become involved is to vote in the elections. However, a ballot will only be held if more people nominate as candidates than there are positions vacant.

I encourage you to seriously consider standing for election as a member of the School Council or encouraging another person to stand for election.  You can read more about the process on the DET Website.

A notice board will be put up outside the General Office next week and will provide an overview of the process and nomination forms available for parents.

School Council Election Timeline

• Friday 20/2/2024 -Notice of election and call for nominations
• Friday 27/2/2024 - Closing date for nominations
• Monday 2/3/2024- List of candidates and nominators will be posted and Ballot papers distributed (if election required)
• Monday 9/3/2024 - Ballot closes (if required)
• Tuesday 10/3/2024 - Outcome announced
• Thursday 19/3/2024 - First meeting of new School Council 

We LOVE having parents involved at our school.   Whether it be an occasional working bee, a weekly reading sesssion, or helping out in the canteen, research has shown that students feel a stronger connection and achieve better outcomes at school when their parents are actively involve.  There are lots of ways you can participate in activities at our school.  

There is a list on our website (https://kilsythps.vic.edu.au/volunteer/) that shows some of the things you can volunteer for.  Just click the orange "View" button to sign up.

MOST URGENTLY WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR:

Breakfast Clubon Tuesday mornings - 8am to 9am.  Cooking toast, making cereal and chatting with a group of amazing young people while they enjoy their breakfast.

Zooper Doopers on Wednesday at recess - 10.45am - 11.45am.  Selling zooper doopers to appreciative young people who are attempting to avoid an ice-cream headache.

IF YOU CAN HELP WITH EITHER OF THESE WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!

Coming up soon, we will also be putting a callout for volunteers to help run some fluency building literacy activities in classrooms across the school.  We have a few members of our local community who come in and listen to our students read each week, and we would love to have some parents join us so more students can take part in this great opportunity.  We will be providing training for those who are interested.  Keep a look out on Sentral for more information soon.

You will need a valid Working With Children Check to volunteer.  These are free for volunteers and can be applied for here:  Apply for WWC . 

 If you have any queries please contact our office on 9725 4320.

Thank you for supporting us by volunteering your time.  We look forward to having you join our team.

Thanks again for your support in making this such a smooth start to the year.  I am looking forward to great things at KPS in 2026!

All the best

Daniel