Welcome to our first online newsletter!! We are very excited to move to this platform to share the wonderful events and celebrations that happen each and every day at Karoo. Please let us know any feedback about the newsletter and how you find it, as we will take it on board and refine it over the coming weeks.

Working Bee

The school was buzzing last weekend with the efforts of staff, students and parents who were pitching in to ensure our school looks tip top for the 30 Year Carnival coming up in October. Focus was on the memorial gardens, painting the snake and fences in the Foundation area, installing mud huts and of painting the rotunda. A H U G E thankyou to the James family (Raphaela Yr 6) for their very generous donation of all of the paint and brushes that were used on the day.

Line upgrading

You may have also noticed the work being done around Karoo. The staff carpark, basketball and netball courts, bat tennis, foursquare and new hopscotch lines have also been freshened up around the school over the weekend. New foursquare areas have also been added as a result of student voice too.

30 Year Carnival Banners

Have you seen the wonderful banners that we have hanging up outside the school to advertise our upcoming 30 Year Carnival? Thankyou to Tony Khouri who arranged for Reliable Signs in Dandenong South to donate the massive banners. They look AMAZING!

Year 3 Camp

The Year 3s arrived back from camp today and no doubt there will be lots of tired bodies on the bus! The vast majority of the students attended and had a wonderful time. This was the first school camp almost all attendees had been on, and the success of the three days was a credit to their maturity and behaviour. When Ms Kuusela and I visited, the camp staff all commented on the wonderful manners shown by our students and they are to be congratulated on the excellent work over the three days. A huge thankyou to the staff Robyn Harris, Claire Moyle, Matt Leeson, Kerry Legg and Robyn Guzzardi who spent time away from their families, and our parent helpers Stephen Varney, Neil McKay, Megan Gilby and Ben McFarlin for their time and support for the three days. By all accounts, it was an outstanding success and memories were created that will last a lifetime!

Primary School Public Speaking Competition

As part of our extension and enrichment program, Karoo entered in the Public Speaking competition which was held at Rowville Secondary School last Monday night. This was the first time that Karoo has entered the Primary School’s Public Speaking competition and we were proudly represented by Year 6 students Jake Walker and Isabelle Gillespie.

Science Week this week

Karoo students are thrilled to be given another opportunity to experience Science Week in 2022. Ms Amy Batchelor has arranged an exciting week for students from Foundation to Year 6 with extra sessions developing marble runs.

Book Week next week

It will be very exciting to see everyone gather on Wednesday 24th August for Book Week Parade in the school gym at 9.10am. The theme this year is Dream with Eyes Open. Come dressed as a favourite book character. Students will also be experiencing an engaging session with a real life author, Michael Wagner, on Tuesday morning.

State Schools Spectacular

The 2022 Victorian State Schools Spectacular brings together government school communities from across Victoria to produce a 3-hour live show including music, dance, circus arts, puppetry and skating.

This year’s show will be performed to an audience of about 12,000 people at John Cain Arena on Saturday 10 September. There are two performances, one at 1 pm and one at 6:30 pm.

Talented Victorian students will feature on stage, while many other students will work behind the scenes, gaining unique, on-the-job, professional experience.

Kim Davidson and Claire Moyle are coordinating the 16 Year 5 Students who will be representing Karoo PS.

For a fun, family entertainment experience, and to cheer on students from the audience, be quick to secure tickets through Ticketek.

Adult tickets cost $40; children aged under 15, $20; and concession, $30.

Buy 10 tickets and get one adult ticket free (the 11th ticket is free) by calling Group Bookings on 1300 364 001.

Ms Kuusela and I are really looking forward to going to cheer on the performance!

Fathers’ Day Evening

On Thursday 1st September we will be celebrating Fathers’ Day with our inaugural Father’s Day Night. This will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the dad, grandpas and special men in the Karoo community. It will be a wonderful evening and all families are invited. We need lots of helpers to run the day so any help you can give is appreciated. The KPA will provide more information about signing up to help.

NAPLAN

This month we are expecting that NAPLAN results for students in Years 3 and 5 will be sent to schools and then distributed to parents. The tests which were undertaken in May provide additional information to compliment assessments in Literacy and Numeracy undertaken by the classroom teachers during the year. The results are also useful at a whole school level as we reflect on the impact of our programs and practices.

Inclusion and Diversity

Karoo Primary School has a long term culture of respect and inclusion, including respect for each student’s individual learning pathways.

Karoo Primary School has a commitment to making sure every member of our school community, regardless of their background or personal attributes, is treated with respect and dignity. These ideals are part of the everyday conversations that we have as a staff group and with our students. Our school is also increasing in diversity, something that I know we all value, and something that adds to our students’ emotional intelligence and the breadth of their learning.

From time to time, some of our students may need extra support in relation to their behaviours or their learning. We are committed to ensuring these supports are provided, and making sure all our students are in a safe and supportive learning environment at our school. These may include:

developing Behaviour Management plans and Individual Education plans;
including students in learning intervention programs such as HAS (High Ability Students), TLI (Tutor Learning Initiative) and LEAP (Literacy Enhancement Assessment Program);
regularly talking about respectful relationships and what this means;
regularly meeting with parents in student support groups;
providing social and emotional regulation programs like Zones of Regulation and RRRR; and
engaging additional services through our well-being team, which includes Department staff, outside agencies and specialist professionals to support our students when they need it.

Please find a link to our Inclusion and Diversity Policy on our website.

We hope you enjoy reading the newsletter in this new format!

Have a wonderful week,

Danielle Heatley

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