From Daniel 

Structure Literacy - having a big impact already!

As you know, we have been introducing some big changes to our Literacy learning approach this year.  And it is already having a big impact on student learning.  We are seeing terrific results as students settle into our new routines.

Two weeks ago, we held our Structured Literacy Info Nights for parents.  These nights were well attended and gave parents a clear idea of our new approach.  We outlined the research behind what we do, how it looks in the classroom, how we cater for a range of student needs and how parents can help at home.  We have summarised the information we covered on these nights into a special booklet just for parents.  Covering the research and our structured approach, this booklet will be a good resource for you as we continue to partner together in providing the best opportunities for your children. The booklet will come home today, in hard copy, and be available for download on our website.

Universal Screening and Diagnostics

Three times a year we undertake universal screening to ensure we are meeting the basic needs of every single one of our students.  Just like a doctor checks our blood check almost every visit (just to see if we are at risk of any underlying or undiagnosed issues), a universal screener is a carefully designed tool that checks in on students to see if there are any underlying areas where there may be a risk of students not making expected growth.  These screeners highlight for us which students should be making expected growth with our usual, Tier 1 universal  practices, and which might require additional Tier 2 supports. This is a key strategy in our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support approach. 

Once we have an understanding of growth expectations, we use a diagnostic tool to hone on the specific skills and knowledge students need to develop to maximise their learning growth. 

We use two main screeners at KPS. They are research based and provide valuable evidence to inform our teachers' planning.

Acadience Literacy and Numeracy screener:  This screener provides a clear indication of a student's capacity in essential literacy and numeracy skills at their expected level, and the areas they may need targeted support to ensure maximum growth.  Based on an extensively researched approach, original known as Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) and coming from the University of Oregon in the USA, Acadience is an resource for our teachers to use to monitor key skills in literacy and numeracy.

• Acadience Reading screens for Phonemic Awareness, Phonics skills, Accuracy and Fluency skills, Comprehension, and Vocabulary levels.   

• Acadience Maths screens a students capacity for Number Identification, Quantity Discrimination, Computation skills, and Concept Application and Problem Solving.

Social, Academic, and Emotional Behaviour Risk Screener (SAEBRS):  The SAEBRS tool takes in both student and teacher perspectives to provide an insight into areas in which students might need additional support in their social, academic or emotional behaviours.  We use this to provide additional support for our students through our Tier 1 universal SWPBS lessons, and guiding our targeted, Tier 2 additional supports for certain groups of students.

• Social - Our new Wellbeing team m is using the data gathered by SAEBRS to identify students who need additional supports to access and engage at a social level at school.  The team are working with students both in class and in the yard to support them to connect with and collaborate with their peers, develop friendships and build improved connections to school and their learning.  This is more outward focused work, supporting students in understanding and getting along with others.

• Academic - Our classroom based ES team draw on the SAEBRS data to identify students who benefit from targeted support in the classroom to access and engage with the curriculum.  Rather than identifying content based areas, this focuses on learning behaviours such as managing distractions and productiveness during learning time.

• Emotional -  The emotional area of SAEBRS provides data to inform Olivia Liddicoat, our Student Wellbeing Officer and Counsellor, and supports her meeting students' emotional needs.  This work has more of an inward focus and supports students in understanding themselves and navigating their own feelings and responses.

STAR Literacy Diagnostics:  We are using this diagnostic to tool for teachers to drill into exactly which areas students have strengths and areas for improvement.  This tool is used in Foundation and Juniors to identify exactly which areas of literacy development a student is ready for, and which skill need to be focused on in the classroom.  From Yrs 3 to 6, the tool provides a good insight into students' comprehension skills and shapes our intervention programs.

These tools, along with other assessments, provide us with solid evidence of student progress and underpin our planning to meet every child's needs.  We regularly report student progress through our Continuous Assessment on Sentral.

SWPBS Celebrations Continue

We recently held a Celebration Day after our students attained a full tree of THREE THOUSAND positive acknowledgements, and we are already well on our way to another treeful of feathers - with almost 14 birds - thats a total of over 4300 positive acknowledgements so far this year.  A great reflection of the fabulous attitude and effort of our students.  

Another big acknowledge this week came to us from the Department of Education.  We have, once again, been presented with a Gold Award for the high standard with which we have implemented School Wide Positive Behaviour Support as a school.  This is the third year in a row that we have recieved this award, a huge honour as there are very few schools across the state who have achieved this level of success.

This award recognises how well we, as a Kilsyth Primary School team, have developed and implemented our practices in establishing and maintaining a positive learning environment with a focus on supporting all of our students in their Academic, Social and Emotional learning and behaviours.

Beyond the most visual element of SWPBS, our acknowledgement system of feathers, our school culture and practice is built on the fundamental principles of SWPBS.  We take a tiered approach (explained below) as we seek to meet the needs of every student in our school.  We respond consistently with appropriate action following incidents of when our values and expectations of Excellence, Resilience and Respect have not been met.  We have a keen understanding of the 'function of behaviour' to ensure our responses meet student need at the core.  

SWPBS is a fundamental element of everything we do at KPS.  We are very of our staff team and the depth and fidelity to which they have implemented our approach.  We are very proud of students who have listened and learned and committed to our approach.  We are very proud of our community who have taken to SWPBS and embraced the positive approach we take.  We are very proud to have been presented with this award and are totally committed to continue improving in our practices in this area.

End of Term Arrangements

A reminder that next Friday is the last day of Term One.  

We will be finishing at 2.30pm on Friday 4th April.

We will be holding and assembly at 2pm on Friday 4th April.  It would be terrific if you are able to join us.

Also on Friday 4th, at 9am, we will be holding our Easter Hat Parade.  Students are encouraged to make a colourful Easter hat and wear it proudly for the parade.  This will be held in the area outside the hall (weather permitting) and we would love to see lots of parents come along and support the parade.  We will also be drawing our Easter Raffle during the parade, so hopefully you will have an armload of prizes to take home afterward.

Start of Term Arrangements

Monday 21st  April is Easter Monday and a public holiday.  Students do not attend school on this day and therefore it is a bonus day of the school holidays this year.

Tuesday 22nd April is a Pupil Free Day - staff will be meeting off site.  Students do not attend school on this day and therefore it is a second bonus day of the school holidays this year.

Have a safe and enjoyable holiday break.

Staff Changes in Term Two

There will be a few minor changes to our team next term as a couple of staff move into new roles.

• Miss Shannen May - Miss May will be returning to KPS after a period of Maternity Leave.   Working three days a week, Miss May will be taking on the role of  Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (MHWL) in Term 2.  This is a relatively new role, introduced by the Department of Education this year.  Mr Taila Donald has been filling in for Shannen as MHWL during Term 1.  We are looking forward to having Shannen return to our team.  I know she is looking forward to re-connecting with parents, students and families. 

   

• Mr Taila Donald - As mentioned above, Taila has been acting in the MHWL role in Term 1.  This has taken him from Senior A for 5 hours a week.  During this time, Miss KD Donnelly has been teaching SRA numeracy lessons.  With Shannen returning, Taila will resume taking SRA for both Literacy and Numeracy.  We are very thankful to Taila for his work during Term 1.  In Term 2, Taila will continue to work as our Student Engagement Leader, working with staff across to the school to support improved student engagement both academically and socially.

   

• Miss KD Donnelly - With Mr Taila returning to SRA full time, Miss KD Donnelly will move into Literacy teaching in Junior A.  Miss Donnelly is a highly experienced Junior School teacher and is looking forward to teaching in this area again.  Mrs Alee Stevenson will remain the key contact for parents for JRA as she teaches the class from Monday to Wednesday.  If you have any queries or concerns on a Thursday or Friday, you can email Alee, check in with Miss Gaudion or Mr Gooding or contact the office on 9725 4320 and we will be sure to help out.

   

• Mr Anthony Lyon - Mr Lyon has been leading the implementation of our Connections program, whilst teaching Junior A on a Thursday and Friday.  Now that Miss Donnelly is able to return to Junior school Literacy, Mr Lyon will be expanding his work with Connections.  He will continue running our full Connections Program with students from Years 3-6 on a Wednesday.  We will be introducing Mini-Connections in the Juniors School with Mr Lyon taking each class out separately for a an hour each Thursday.  During this time students will be participating in outdoor learning, focusing on sustainability and hands on experiences.  The Mini-Connections program will also include Mr Lyon working with small groups of students who will benefit from a hands on approach to developing social skills.  These targeted small groups will work with Mr Lyon on minor "maintenance" type activities, gardening, and perhaps building a thing or two.

We are looking forward to the big impact these small positional changes within our staff team  will have on supporting stability in our classrooms and creating strong learning opportunities for our students.

2026 Enrolments are opening soon

We begin to take enrolments for Foundation for 2026 from the beginning of next term.  I have been doing a great number of tours for prospective families already this term and will be continuing to offer these into the future.

If you, or anyone you know, are seeking enrolment in Foundation in 2026 please contact us as soon as possible to arrange a tour and get on our mailing list to be kept up to date with all of our transition arrangements.  

We absolutely love showing our wonderful school to prospective parents!!

It is also timely to remind you of our Virtual Tour, available on our website.  By clicking on the button on the main page of our website (or the link below), you are able to take a virtual tour and check out the fabulous learning envrionment that is Kilsyth Primary School.  Take a look at our grounds with the aerial overview, or immerse yourself in the 360 degree panoramic photography of our classrooms and outdoor spaces.

Take a look, check it out, share it with friends and family.

Reminder: New Out of School Hours Care provider

We are excited to announce that we have now partnered with an independent Outside of School Hours Care (OSHC) provider called TheirCare. 

TheirCare provides a stimulating and safe environment for all children. During sessions, children develop life-skills, friendships, confidence, and creativity through play-based programs.

We look forward to welcoming TheirCare to the Kilsyth Primary School community in Term 2, 2025. 

For further information, visit www.theircare.com.au or call our support office on 1300 072 410

All the best

Daniel

(One of our Foundation students has lost a very important item - her most special friend Slothy.  If your child has accidentally brought Slothy home for a visit, could you please let the office know. 

 We would love to reunite these special friends)