School News

25th November 2024   

This week’s Superhero is being recognised for embodying our school values of persistence and pride. Olive has shown remarkable growth in confidence and engagement, embracing challenges with determination and celebrating their successes. What stands out most this year is Olive's radiant smile—an expression of her growing self-assurance and deepening connection with peers and teachers. Olive consistently embraces challenges, demonstrating persistence and a desire to improve. She seek help when needed and approaches tasks with determination. Particularly in Mathematics, Olive tackle challenges, leading to well-deserved success and a sense of accomplishment. It is wonderful to see Olive recognising her achievements and taking pride in her progress. Olive is demonstrating growing confidence, persistence, and a greater willingness to express themselves.

Congratulations Olive, we hope you've had a great week!

Classroom Awards

Congratulations to the following students for receiving classroom awards: Freya, Finnegan, Max, Esther, Oliver, Shivani, Lettie, Logan, Clark, William, Aubrey, Arabella, Daisy, Isobel, Kaiden, Archie, Elliott, Eva, Angus, Brielle, Penny, Lettie and Claire.

Colour Run

Thank you for all your support. It is with great pleasure to share that our Colour Explosion School Run 4 Fun was a huge success.

It is fantastic to see the spirit and enthusiasm that was displayed in supporting our school. Seeing the smiles on the student’s faces and everyone coming together as they ran was truly amazing!

We raised around $10,500, which will go towards new sports uniforms and after student consultation, allow us to purchase some additional sporting resources.

The incentive prizes have been ordered and are on their way. An update about distribution of the prizes will be provided in due course. Thank you to anyone that donated to a cause, your donation has been transferred and will be very much appreciated.

Again, our most sincere thanks for your support and fundraising efforts. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Be Fit Be Well Guest Speaker

On Thursday 21st November students from years 3 to 6 participated in an engaging presentation by Olympic taekwondo athlete, Reba Stewart, as part of the Victorian Institute of Sports Be Fit. Be Well program. Reba’s message to the students emphasised the link between physical activity and wellbeing. Reba spoke about her varied experiences as an athlete, from discovering taekwondo at an early age, the training requirement as an elite athlete, her Olympic experience and her aspirations to compete at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Students even had the opportunity to learn a few new taekwondo moves! 

Regional Basketball

On Friday 1st November our boys’ basketball team made the big trip to Swan Hill to compete in the Loddon Mallee Regional Basketball Championships. Playing against some of the state’s top primary school teams the boys’ played four competitive matches. Congratulations to all of the boys for making it through to this stage of the competition.

Kyneton Show Art Display

Thank you to everyone who viewed the artwork display at the Kyneton Show on the weekend. If you didn’t get the opportunity to, please find below a pdf document with photographs of our display. Everyone should feel very proud of the creative minds and talent at KPS. Well done also to those of you who entered individually. 

End of Year Music Concerts

We are so proud of the hard work and dedication our students have shown in music this year. We can’t wait to celebrate their achievements with you!

Upcoming Performances

French Day KPS Choir performance

Date: Thursday, November 28th

Time: 2:20 PM

Location: GP RoomEnjoy a special performance by the choir to mark this wonderful day.

Instrumental Music Concert

Date: Tuesday, December 3rd

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: GP RoomFeaturing guitar, violin, trumpet, trombone, ukulele, and voice performances. (The keyboard concert was held last term.)

Prep–2 Christmas Concert

Date: Wednesday, December 4th

Time: 5:00 PM

Location: GP RoomPrep–2 classes will spread Christmas cheer with the festive songs they’ve been practicing.

KPS Choir Performance

Date: Tuesday, December 17th

Time: 2:55 PM

Location: Music Room Courtyard

Join us for a joyful outdoor celebration of the students’ musical accomplishments.

KPS Choir performance at the final assembly 

Date: Thursday, December 19th

Time: 9:00 AM

Location: GP Room

We look forward to celebrating with you and recognizing the amazing achievements of all our students!

Warm regards,

Ms. Polly

P & F Art Expo and End of Year Celebration

Everyone is invited to an amazing ART EXPO and End of Year Celebration on Friday 13th December from 5pm onwards here at KPS. All students will have a piece of art on display in a unique and interactive Art Exhibition. There will be art activities, a food truck, ice cream, and live music - what more could you ask for! 

So pop Friday 13th December in your diary, count down the days, grab the family, and see you there! More details to come!

Very proudly supported by the Parents and Friends and KPS

2025 Transition Morning

On Tuesday 10th December our students will spend the morning in their new classes for 2025. This will give them an opportunity to meet their new teacher and classmates. If your child will not be returning to KPS in 2025 and you have not yet notified the office, please let us know so we can cater for these children on the day. 

Confirmed Cases of Whooping Cough

We have recently been informed of some confirmed case of Pertussis – Whooping Cough in the Year 1, Year 5 and Year 6 areas.

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.

If you think your child may have Whooping Cough please see your doctor. Children with pertussis must not go to primary school and children’s service for 21 days after the onset of cough, 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 see: https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Whooping_cough

Canteen Helpers desperately needed for the remainder of Term 4

Only a few more weeks left in 2024 and we need just a few more Volunteers.

We have had amazing Volunteers helping this year in the Canteen. I would like to thank each of you. It’s been busy and some days super busy but we all managed with happy smiles and everyone gets their food even if it is a little late sometimes.

We still need Volunteers for the last few Fridays of the Term. Come join the fun and you can get to choose the music we listen to (as long as it has no swearing). Jazz, Disney, Classical, 80’s Rock or 00’s British Pop, you can choose.

I have created a signup sheet which makes it really easy for you to see what days and times we need volunteers. 

If you can help in the volunteersignup.org/9QBEX

Volunteers will need to have a valid Working with Children’s Check(Volunteer), this is free and easy to apply for. You will also need to complete a quick OHS induction at office.

I look forward to seeing a few new faces soon.

Cheers

Sarah Lockhart

Canteen Manager

sarah.lockhart2@education.vic.gov.au

Volunteers Morning Tea - Thursday 19th December

We are delighted to invite our volunteers to a special Morning Tea following our final school awards assembly on Thursday 19th December at 10:30am, to celebrate and honour the invaluable contributions that you make to improve our school community. 

Your dedication, hard work, and support have made a significant impact on our students and staff, and we want to take this opportunity to show our gratitude. Please join us for a relaxed morning filled with delicious treats and heartfelt appreciation.

We look forward to celebrating you and the amazing work you do!

Please RSVP to the office for catering purposes. You are also welcome to attend our final assembly which begins around 9am. 

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 are having 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.

2025 Parent Payment and Book Pack Ordering Information

Information regarding the 2025 Parent Payments and book pack ordering has been sent home.

Please be aware there are two separate payments:

• School book pack orders are to be placed with Maxim Office Group by Sunday 15th December 2024 to ensure they are delivered to the school directly and ready for collection on Tuesday 30th January 2024. Please note there will be a late payment fee of $15 imposed by Maxim Office Group for any orders placed after this date.
• Curriculum contributions, other contributions and extra-curricular item amounts totalling $140.00 are paid direct to Kyneton Primary School and can be made in 2025.

These documents contain important information, so we kindly ask that you take the time to read them carefully. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the school office.

Electronic copies of these documents are below and are also available on our school website and in the School Resources section in the Compass Parent Portal.

School Saving Bonus

The Victorian Government is delivering the School Saving Bonus – a one-off $400 support for government school students from Prep to Year 12 in 2025.

From Tuesday 26 November 2024, you will receive an email from the Department of Education with your unique $400 School Saving Bonus code.

The School Saving Bonus will help families cover the cost of uniforms, textbooks, excursions, activities and more.

If you have multiple children enrolled in Victorian government schools for 2025, you will receive one School Saving Bonus code email per child. These emails might arrive on different days. Please make sure to check your spam/junk email folder.

Parents and carers can use the School Saving Bonus code in store at school-nominated suppliers. Parents and carers can also choose to access the School Saving Bonus online system, where they can allocate part or all the $400 bonus to use at school nominated-online suppliers or for school activities.  

To learn more about the School Saving Bonus, visit School Saving Bonus | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au). A step-by-step user guide will be available on the webpage on 26 November.  

If you have not received your School Saving Bonus code via email by Friday 29 November, please contact the Department of Education by emailing school.saving.bonus@education.vic.gov.au 

Hats required in Term 4

A reminder that students are required to wear a sun smart hat during break times in Term 1 and Term 4. Caps are not permitted.

KPS hats can be purchased from the office for $12.

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 rely 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/9QBEX. 

Volunteers will need to have a valid Working with Children's 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

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.

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.