School News
Superhero Bridget 20/11/2023
This week Bridget could be nominated for the School Value of Excellence and the Learning Disposition- Resilience.
It is amazing to see how far this superhero has come this year! Bridget is organised and always strives for excellence, often being a reliable classroom expert, that others can go to when they need help.
Bridget has overcome many challenges and stepped out of her comfort zone. This has been particularly noticeable in the way she now accepts feedback and use it as an opportunity to improve and progress her learning. She even tackled the callosal flying fox on Year 2 camp with a great big smile and supported others to take the leap!
Bridget has been a kind and caring individual towards the younger students in the class, always offering them a helping hand, especially when navigating the laptops. She arrives to school and enters the classroom with a warm smile and a ready to learn attitude. At times Bridget can be feisty, standing up for what she believes in, an important strength that will help you succeed in the future.
Congratulations Bridget, we hope you had a great week!
Classroom Awards
Congratulations to the following students for receiving classroom awards: Atticus, Isabelle, Elsie, Poppy, Scarlett, Isaac, Patrick, Samantha, Oliver, Eve, Bentley, Harrison, Lincoln, Brielle, Poppy, Abby, Paxton, Escher, Max, Dien, Roy, Percy, Ciara, Brax, Olive, Nour, Emilia, Thristan, Johanna, , Olive
Art
Congratulations to the following students for receiving Art awards:
Riley, Isaac, Kayla
Specialist News
Music News
Time Travel
Here are a few pics and some lovely comments from our fabulous show…
Instrumental Concert
On Monday 11th December students learning an instrument will be performing in the GP room at 6pm. It would be great to have some parents arrive at 5.40 to set up chairs and help pack them up at the end of the evening. Please let me know if you can help out: polly.christie@education.vic.gov.au
Bush Dance
Grade prep-2 have been learning bush dances to present to friends and family at the P&F Picnic. There is a live band for the dances, and another special guest live band… we are looking forward to celebrating the end of the year with a Bush Dance on Friday 1st December, 5pm-8pm. BYP Picnic.
Choir
The choir is sounding amazing, and last week we even had new members join! Our final performance for the year will be at the end of year assembly on Tuesday 19th Dec.
In the music classroom
We are finishing off the term with dancing in prep-2, ukulele in grade 3-4 and grade 5-6 are rehearsing a song written for them through the Branch Out program. Grade 5-6 can really sing.
Looking forward to seeing you at one of the KPS end of year music events,
Ms Polly
PE News
In Term 4 we have all appreciated the dryer weather which allows us to complete more of our PE sessions outside. With a focus on striking this term students have played Cricket, Golf, Mini-Golf, Modified Hockey and Pickleball.
Our 3/4 and 5/6 students have also commenced preparations for next year’s interschool sports by practising Volleyball, T-Ball, Cricket and Soccer. Earlier in the term two students represented our school at the Regional Athletics Championships in Bendigo and our boys basketball team competed and won the Division Championships in Castlemaine. Our 5/6 students listened to an engaging presentation by Olympic sailor, Tess Lloyd, as part of the Victorian Institute of Sports Be Fit. Be Well program and prior to the end of the year all students in years 1 to 6 will complete a netball clinic run by the Kyneton Netball Association.
French
The Year 5 and 6 students are learning about the geography and culture of French-speaking Africa. They are each researching one of the 21 francophone countries in Africa to learn more about this culturally diverse continent. They enjoyed the visit from Melbourne Djembe who led them in a French West African drumming and dance workshop.
The Year 3 and 4 students have been exploring different holidays in France and Canada. They enjoyed learning about Le jour d ’armistice. They baked le gateau du poilu in the shape of le bleuet or cornflower, the traditional flower of remembrance in France, learned the WW1 connection between Victoria and a little French town called Villers-Bretonneux and looked at the role the arts have in remembering and healing.
The Year 1 and 2 students enjoyed their visit from the French Circus School as part of their circus unit. They have learned to talk about parts of the body through games, ELLA learning apps, writing drawing and singing.
The Preps have been busy learning to count to 10 and learning words for talking about healthy fruits and drinks. They have enjoyed using the ELLA learning apps, singing, writing, drawing and playing.
Well done to all the KPS students for a great Term 4.
2024 Book Pack Ordering - due Friday 8th December
Information regarding the 2024 Parent Payments and book pack ordering has been sent home and posted on Compass.
School book packs are ordered through our third party provider Maxim Office Group and need to be placed by Friday 8th December 2023 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.
Please use the below link using the code KYNEPS to place your order
Full Parent Payment information is attached below
Final P&F Meeting for 2023
The end of the year is swiftly approaching - so we better have our last meeting for 2023!
Meeting will be held next week on Tuesday 28th November, at the Kyneton Hotel from 7:30pm. Come along and join in - you don't have to be a member, the more the merrier.
We will be wrapping up the year and focusing on the end of year family bush dance event to be held on the 1st December - only a week away! (See flyer below)
Many thanks,
Alwyn - on behalf of the KPS Parents and Friends
2024 Foundation Enrolments
Our transition program commenced this Tuesday with our 2024 Studio 5A students. It was great to see their smiling faces and they seemed to have a great time in their session.
Further sessions are as follows:
Tuesday 28th November 2023 from 2:30pm - 3:15pm – Students in Studio 5B
The below sessions will include all of the Foundation students and will be held as follows:
Tuesday 5th December – 2:30pm – 3:15pm
Tuesday 12th December – 12:00pm – 1:30pm
On the final transition day, students are asked to bring along a snack, drink bottle and hat as they will have an opportunity to have a play outside.
Members of our Leadership Team will also be available for any questions you may have about 2024.
- Alistair Rayner – Principal
- Julie Arnephy – Assistant Principal
- Michelle Thompson – Learning Specialist
They will be located in the staff room and be available for any drop in chats and a cuppa.
We will be in touch once students have been allocated to their Studio but please feel free to contact the school if you have any questions in the meantime.
2024 Class Lists
Staff will soon begin working on our 2024 class lists. If your child/ren will not be attending KPS in 2024 please let the office know so we can take this into consideration when planning our classes for next year.
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 – 3:40. 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.
2023 Uniform
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.