School News
Superhero Jude 27/02/2023
Last week Jude received the award for the school values of excellence and respect.
Jude displays a positive attitude towards all aspects of school life and is only too happy to challenge himself in all areas. He always does his best with his classroom tasks and readily takes on feedback and applies this to his work.
Jude happily shares ideas and opinions in the classroom and is very well liked by his peers. He walks into the classroom with a smile each day and his exemplary manners and respectful nature are embraced by his teachers and his classmates.
As a grade 2 student, Jude is a fantastic classmate, role model and friend and is always happy to include, help and challenge others. He has been lucky enough to land in a studio this year where he has his closest friends who he loves having a joke with, but also loves learning with. We have no doubt that he will one day achieve his dream of becoming a soccer player. We are very lucky to have this Jude in Studio One this year.
Congratulations Jude, we hope you had a great week!
Classroom Awards
Congratulations to the following students for receiving classroom awards: Jack, Kaiden, Riley, Evie, Hayden, Evelyn, Beren, Daisy, Hazel, Brielle, Aiden, Olivia, Ella.
School Photo Day - NEXT Tuesday 14th March
Our school photo day is Tuesday 14th March 2023 following the Labour Day public holiday on Monday.
Please see the flyer below with information on how to place photos orders. A hard copy has also been sent home with students.
Orders can ONLY be placed online prior to photo day. No cash orders can be accepted at the office.
The schools unique access key is 8V845UBK and to order your school photos you will need to log onto https://www.leadingimage.com.au
Please note that family photos need to be placed before 4:30pm the day before photo day to ensure a family photo is taken. No late orders can be placed for family photos.
Photos will start promptly at 9am so children need to be at school on time, in full school uniform and bring their best smile. If you have any queries regarding photo orders please contact Leading Image at info@leadingimage.com.au or call them on 1800 750 586.
Swimming Program - Updated Schedule
Unfortunately, due to staff shortages at the Aquatic Centre there has been a major reorganisation of our swimming timetable.
Please see the updated schedule below.
Walk/Ride to School Day 24th March 2023
What is ride to school day?
Ride to School Day (also known as National Ride2School Day) is a special day held in Australia each year to promote and develop physical activity in children. The idea of the day is that children cycle, walk, scoot or skate all or part of the way to school, instead of being driven. Kyneton Primary is a regular participating school in this initiative and again this year, we encourage students on Friday the 24th of March where possible, to join in. You could also park the car further away and walk some of the way. Every little bit counts!
P&F Membership and AGM
The Parents and Friends Association is a group of parents and friends of Kyneton Primary School who wish to have a positive presence and represent the interests of families and students at KPS. Our role is to make opportunities for families and parents to get together and meet new people, have fun, and also hold events to fundraise for the school. We are currently looking into putting some hard earned money towards improving the school grounds.
We are always after new members to be part of the group, and the level of involvement is up to you – attending meetings, having a say in decisions being made, helping out at events, etc. It is not a big commitment and we really are a nice bunch of people! You can find a registration form attached or simply fill one out at the office. Please email us at kpspnf@gmail.com if you would like to know more and if you would like information about office bearer positions.
Our first meeting for the year is the AGM on Monday 20th March at 9:30 am after the school assembly in the staff room. Come along, and get involved, it would be great to have you on board!
Many thanks, Alwyn
(on behalf of the KPS Parents and Friends)
Pesky Plastics Art Competition
Students of all ages are invited to participate in this Term one competition. You can create any kind of artwork, but it must include at least one piece of single-use plastic to show the impact plastic has on our environment. Artwork can be but not limited to a wall art, collage, assemblage.
Maximum sizing for the artwork 60cmWx 60cmH x 4cmD. Artwork can be mailed to PO Box 151, Kyneton 3444 or dropped off at a MRSC Customer Service Centre by the 6th of April 2023 with a brief description of the piece and how it relates to the impact of single -use plastic. Art pieces will be on display at the Discovery Centre at Hanging Rock Reserve.
Winners will receive a worm farm or a compost bin to take home. Please see the attachment for more information.
Please email the Gardening and Sustainability teacher megan.matthews@education.vic.gov.au with a photo to be included in the school newsletter.
Small Jars Needed
We are needing small jars for the well-being room for some activities. If you have any, could you please send them along to the office?
Thank you
Michelle Thompson
School Gates and Opening Times
Just a few reminders and potentially new information for our new families. In the morning all gates will be open for access to the school site at 8:45 as this is when 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.
* 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.
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 still like to pay for these please use one of the following methods -
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
COVID-19 Reminder
The latest COVID-19 Advice for schools arrived yesterday. Below is a summary of the most important pieces of information.
COVIDSafe measures for schools
COVIDSafe measures have changed but all Victorian government schools are required to continue to implement important practices to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Schools must continue to take the important steps of ensuring air purifiers are in use, external ventilation is maximised, good personal hygiene is encouraged and face masks continue to be made available for staff, students and visitors who wish to wear them.
Rapid antigen testing
It is recommended that rapid antigen tests (RATs) are used by students and staff:
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19 infection, no matter how mild
- If you are a household or close contact of someone who has COVID-19
- If you are a social contact of someone who has COVID-19.
The Department of Health recommends that all Victorians should report their positive RAT result to the Department of Health online, or by calling 1800 675 398.Students (or their parents) should also report a positive result to their school, either through the COVID Test portal or by phone or written notification.
Face masks
Current advice from the Victorian government is available at Face masks.
Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask should be supported to do so, and schools should continue to make face masks available for staff, students and visitors.
The Department of Health recommends that masks should be worn by a person who is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 when leaving home.
Additionally, the Department of Health recommends that masks should be worn by a person who has COVID-19 for at least 7 days after a positive test when they need to leave home.
Infection prevention and control
All staff, students and visitors to schools should practise good hand hygiene, particularly on arrival to school, before and after eating, after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing or using the toilet. Staff should direct or supervise young students where required.
Managing a confirmed case of COVID-19 in schools
The Department of Health recommends that a person who tests positive to COVID-19 report that result to their employer, school and household.Where a student or staff member is identified as a positive case, the following steps should be taken:
Identification and Notification
- Parents/carers should complete the Student COVID-19 COVID Test Portal if a student tests positive to COVID-19 (via a PCR or rapid antigen test). Where a parent/carer informs the school by phone or written notification.
- Students who report a positive result are recommended to isolate for a minimum of 5 days and not attend school until their symptoms have resolved. Students who isolate as a result of a positive COVID-19 test should be supported in the same way as students with an extended absence due to illness or injury, with learning materials provided to support their continued learning.
- There is no longer a requirement for principals to inform the school community of a positive case associated with the school.