School News

Classroom Awards

Congratulations to the following students for receiving classroom awards: Atticus, Blake, Alex, Declan, Emmett, Haylie, Alex, Van, Lylah.

Grade 5/6 News

We're thrilled to kick off the new school year with a burst of energy and enthusiasm as we welcome our new Grade 5s to the senior school, and witness our Grade 6s embarking on their final year of Primary school.

In a whirlwind of excitement, the first week was jam-packed with activities and discussions aimed at setting the tone for the year ahead. Over three energetic days, we delved into exploring the expectations, routines, and cherished traditions of each of the Studios.

A highlight of the week was when students engaged in some self-reflection by writing letters to their future selves. These letters, carefully penned with hopes and aspirations, will remain sealed until the end of the academic year. Students poured their thoughts onto paper, envisioning what they believe the year will hold, sharing current endeavours, and setting both academic and personal goals they aim to achieve.

We look forward to witnessing the growth, achievements, and unforgettable moments that await us in Grade 5/6. Let's make this year one to remember!

Breakfast Club

Welcome to 2024! I am pleased that we are once again able to offer Breakfast Club to our students each morning from Tuesday to Friday. This is a fabulous opportunity for students to eat a piece or two of toast, top up their bellies ready for the day and meet up with their friends in the canteen area. However, this can not happen without our amazing volunteers who possess the needed buttering and toasting skills!

Some feedback from students last year was 'Toast never tasted so good!', 'This is my favourite part of the day' and 'Sometimes I don't have time to have breakfast so I know I can when I get to school'.If you can spare 30 minutes once a week, can you please contact Sarah (Canteen extraordinaire). Sarah can be contacted via email at sarah.lockhart2@education.vic.gov.auIf you have any queries, please do not hesitate to ask either Sarah or myself. 

Thank you! Michelle Thompson

Mental Health and Wellbeing Teacher

School Nurse visit

 Important information regarding the Primary School Nursing Program has been sent home. This is a free health and wellbeing service offered to all Victorian students in their first year of school. We highly recommend all students participate in this free service as it is extremely beneficial.

The program aims to assist with the early identification of children with potential health, wellbeing or development concerns which may impact on their education and offers screening which may include: Hearing, vision, speech, dental, motor skills and behaviour and social skills.

Please see the attached form for more information, the form also includes a QR code that you can scan to complete a questionnaire and give consent for your child to participate. You will also receive the QR code on a card in the information pack we send home.

2024 Swimming Program

Information has been sent home regarding our 2024 swimming program which starts on 26th February 2024 for students in Years 1-6.

Students will swim in the following groups:

 Foundation students will participate in the swimming program in Term 2 and further information will follow closer to the date for these families.

Please return the pink swimming assessment form by this Friday 8th February. 

Payment and consent is also required on Compass and is due by Friday 16th February 2024.

If you have a credit or CSEF please select this payment option in Compass during the payment process.

2024 School Photo Day *New Date*

We previously advised that our 2024 school photo day was booked for Friday 15th March 2024. This has now been changed to Friday 8th March 2024.

Information regarding online ordering of photos will be sent out soon.

Meet the Teacher Chats

Our 2024 Meet the Teacher Chats with classroom teachers will take place on Wednesday 28th February. 

Meet the Teacher Chats are an opportunity for you to have a chat with your child's teacher and discuss student goals in Term One, students are encouraged to also be present. 

These meetings will be for 10 minutes and will be held in your child’s studio commencing at 12:10 pm until 6:00 pm.

You will need to book a time on the Compass Portal in Conferences.  

School will finish at 11:40am for all students at Kyneton Primary School on this day. 

Buses will not be running at this early time so bus travellers will need to make other arrangements. 

If you have any queries, please contact your child’s teacher or the office.

If you have a matter you would like to discuss with a specialist teacher, please email that teacher to arrange a booking time –

ART – Nathan MOUNTFORD – Nathan.Mountford@education.vic.gov.au      

FRENCH – Sherry VARGA – Sherry.Varga@education.vic.gov.au

MUSIC – Polly CHRISTIE – Polly.Christie@education.vic.gov.au

PHYSICAL EDUCATION – Kirk ANSTEE – Kirk.Anstee@education.vic.gov.au

Parent Payments

Thank you to the families who have paid the $130 Parent Payment.

These funds are used for – 

• Curriculum Contributions – items and activities that students use, or participate in, to access the Curriculum.
• Other Contributions – for non-curriculum items and activities such as memberships, subscriptions to programs and affiliations.
• Extra Curricular Items – the Kyneton Primary School Yearbook

If you would like to pay for these please use one of the following methods -

• Compass portal
• EFT - at the office or by phone
• Cash - at the office
• Direct Bank Transfer - BSB 063-000 Account No 14033609 - use your child’s name as the reference
• BPay - contact the school office for your personalised identification details
• Centrepay - use of this method is available to recipients of Centrelink payments

Please do not hesitate to contact the office for more information or for any other query you may have.

Full Parent Payment information is attached below

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 $125 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.

Hats required in Term 1

In line with our Sun Safe policy children are required to wear the school uniform wide brimmed or bucket hats when playing outside in Term 1 and Term 4. Please ensure your child brings their hat to school every day for outside play. 

Hats are $11 and available to purchase from our uniform supplier AGS Prints or from the school office.

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.