2nd September 2024 Evie

This week’s superhero is receiving the award for the school value of ‘Excellence’. Evie is a charismatic, friendly person, warm, open and kind with all of the members of her class. She has a light-hearted, giggly and bubbly personality who is constantly beaming with positivity. Her growth in maturity this year has been pleasing to witness. Evie is also an adventurous learner! There is no task or obstacle too difficult for her to tackle in the classroom where she extends herself and views making mistakes as an opportunity to grow.

Evie doesn’t concern herself with being first in the line or first at a game, she is happy enough to just participate and enjoy being with her classmates and having fun. She is an all-round good sport who always has a smile on her face and can find the positives in any situation, and her classmates easily absorb this attitude. Whether Evie is creating fairy gardens, playing tiggy or dancing, she can often be heard before she is seen in the yard with her infectious laugh.

This little pocket rocket certainly has a ‘glass half full’ attitude and it has been an absolute pleasure to have her in our classroom. We just know that the future will be so bright for Evie, and nothing will stop her from fulfilling her potential.

Dressing up as the black princess last week was the perfect choice for this superhero.

Congratulations Evie, we hope you had a fantastic week.

26th August 2024 Scout

This week's Super Hero is being recognised for demonstrating the school value of Excellence.

From the moment Scout started at our school, she has shown a remarkable commitment to doing her best in every aspect of school life.

Each day, she arrives with a bright smile, ready to take on whatever challenges come her way. Scout never lets the little things bother her, instead choosing to focus on the positive and on doing her very best.

Whether it’s lending a helping hand, offering a kind word, or simply being there when someone needs a friend, Scout consistently shows that she values and cares for her classmates. Her friendly nature and willingness to include others make her a joy to be around, and she truly makes our classroom a better place.

For all these reasons, we are proud to recognise Scout as a shining example of what it means to be a 'Great Mate.'

Congratulations Scout, we hope you had a fantastic week.

Classroom Awards

Congratulations to the following students for receiving classroom awards: Emma, Fred, River, Demi, Kaleb, Molly, Savannah, Sam, Lincoln, Callum, Adelia, Thomas, Emilia, Kai, Sonny, Teddy, Frankie, Huddson, Olivia, Evelyn, Johanna, Neve, Elizabeth, Atticus, Carmen, Crawford, Eve, Meg.

Year 5/6 News

Sport News

NFL Flag Victorian State Championships @ Melbourne

During Term Two, students in years 3 to 6 explored the basic skills of NFL Flag. NFL Flag is a modified, non-contact version of American Football with 5 players a side and both boys and girls playing together. Players wear belts with flags to be pulled instead of tackling. NFL Flag will be a part of the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028

A squad of 12 year 6’s were selected to delve further and explore the tactical side of the game in preparation to compete in the NFL Flag Victorian State Championships. The carrot, the winner of each State Championships goes on to compete in the National Championships on the Gold Coast (all expenses paid!). The winner of those National Championships then becomes Team Australia at the NFL Flag International Championships in the USA in 2025 (all expenses paid!). Amazing!

On the 2nd August our team headed to Melbourne to compete for the State Championship. In what was our first official game, we won, and began to dream! While we competed hard in our remaining games the State title was not to be. We finished the day with 2 wins and 4 losses to place 6th in the State. An amazing achievement at our first attempt.

CDSSA District Basketball @ Sunbury

On Tuesday 6th August our senior boys and girls teams competed in the CDSSA District Basketball Championships in Sunbury. Both teams were outstanding winning 7 games and only narrowly losing 1 each. Across their 8 matches the boys scored 123 points while only conceding 43 and the girls scored 127 points while only conceding 11 points. Both teams have qualified for the Division Championships in Castlemaine early next term. Congratulations and good luck.

CDSSA District Athletics @ Bendigo

After a postponement due to bad weather our 2024 athletics team finally travelled to Bendigo on Monday 19th August to compete against other schools in our Goldfields District. Our 38 students from years 3 to 6 competed in 60 events across the day. Remarkably they placed in 35 of these 60 events. Special mentions to our five winners – Evie V in the 12/13 girls high jump, Clyde DS in the 12/13 boys 200m, Freyr PN in the 11 boys shot put, Alyssa S in the 11 girls shot put and Matilda C in the 12/13 girls shot put. All students gave it their all and should be proud of their efforts. Good luck to the above-named students who will be progressing to the Division Championships in Bendigo on September 16th.

Music News

Confirmed Cases of Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

We have been informed of two confirmed cases of Pertussis – Whooping Cough in Year 4 and 5.

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.
Note that older children and adults may not have the classical symptoms of whooping cough and may present with only a persistent cough

The Loddon Mallee Public Health unit recommends that any child who has had any of the above symptoms in the last 2 weeks should go to their Doctor to be tested for Whooping Cough. Children with pertussis can remain contagious and must not go to school for 21 days after the onset of symptoms, 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 please see the below information sheet provided by the Loddon Mallee Public Health unit of Bendigo Health.

KPS Choir Performance

We're thrilled to announce that tickets are now available for a special performance by the Kyneton Primary School Choir, the largest primary school choir in the district! These talented young singers, full of enthusiasm and love for music, will be joining forces with the amazing Resonance String Orchestra. Known for their stunning performances of both classical and modern music, they’re sure to make this concert a night to remember!

Don't miss this extraordinary concert, taking place at the Kyneton Town Hall on Friday, 6th September. It's sure to be an unforgettable evening of music and talent!

BOOKINGS: https://MRARTS.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/138403

Daffodil Parade Stall - Volunteers Needed!

Come along and support KPS by buying some delicious food at the Daffodil Festival Grand Parade and Fair on 15th September. It is such a fun community event for the town and we always love being involved!

This year we have two stalls:

- Free Range Pulled Pork Rolls - vegetarian and gluten free options available

- Cake Stall (a notice will be sent home shortly asking for baking donations)

This is our biggest fundraiser for the year and requires a lot of volunteers to run smoothly - if you feel like you can spare an hour or so to help out please get in touch at kpspnf@gmail.com

Many thanks,

Alwyn (on behalf of the KPS Parents and Friends)

School Saving Bonus

Please see below information regarding the recently announced School Saving Bonus of $400 per student available to families enrolled in a government school from Prep to Year 12 in 2025.

The Department of Education will be using contact information stored in our system to contact families with information on how to access this bonus so it is important we have your most current contact information.

Please make time to check your contact information in Compass and make any necessary changes before 18 October 2024.

Urgent Canteen Help Required

Thursdays and Fridays are by far the busiest canteen days and to ensure our students can get their lunch on time we reply heavily on our amazing volunteers. It also helps create a great school community. Many of our long term Volunteers are no longer able to help.

You can become a regular volunteer or just help out just once. Every bit helps. I have created a sign up sheet which makes it really easy for you to see what days and times we need volunteers.

If you can help please sign up here volunteersignup.org/JX3YF.

Volunteers will need to have a valid Working with Childrens Check and complete a quick OHS induction at the office. If you only have an hour free on a Thursday or Friday contact me directly with what day you can help. The children at KPS always love seeing Parents, Grandparents or Older Sibling helping. It also helps create a great school community.

Cheers

Sarah Lockhart

Canteen Manager

sarah.lockhart2@education.vic.gov.au

2025 Prep Enrolments

As recommended in the Department of Education Prep enrolment timeline, 2025 Prep enrolments should now be submitted. If you have a child enrolling at KPS in 2025 and would like an enrolment pack please drop into the office or we can send one home with their older sibling.

Our Prep transition program will commence in Term 4.

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.

Contact Details

There are times when we will need to contact you during a school day. It is important we have your most up to date contact details on file.

Please update these on Compass or email the school at kyneton.ps@education.vic.gov.au so we can update our records. Please include parent/carers’ name, address, phone numbers, email address and emergency contact details.

Student Attendance

If your child is sick or absent, you are required to notify the school as soon as possible on the day of absence, by logging your child’s absence using our school’s Parental Portal in Compass.

Notifying the school of your child’s absence either prior to, or on the day that they will be away, helps ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and will fulfil your legal responsibility.

Victorian government schools are required to contact parents/carers as soon as practicable on the same day of an unexplained student absence. If your child is absent on a particular day and you have not contacted the school to explain why, the absence will be marked as unexplained. It is a DET requirement that we have a reason for each child's absence.

This system also promotes daily school attendance. Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education, they learn new things every day – missing school puts them behind.

The Kyneton Primary School Attendance Policy which outlines the school’s processes and procedures for monitoring, recording and following-up of student absences is available on our website www.kynetonprimaryschool.com.au

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.