Superhero Josie 19th June, 2023

Josie could have been nominated for any of our school values; however, she is being acknowledged for the school value of Persistence.

This superhero did have a difficult start to the year, adjusting to new teachers and classmates. Josie is to be commended on how she managed to adapt to the change and let her bright and bubbly personality shine through.

Josie always persists to achieve her goals, seeking and taking on feedback across all areas of her learning. This stupendous superhero likes to be challenged and is always willing to take on new learning and tackles tasks with a positive attitude.

Josie enjoys working collaboratively with others and listens respectfully to her classmates’ perspectives. She is also a kind and caring individual. Even though she is only in Year 1, Josie has become a role model for Studio 3. She is always inclusive and looks after her friends. Josie arrives to school and enters her classroom with a warm smile and stories to share.

Superhero Josie 17th July, 2023

This week, Josie is being acknowledged for Persistence and Care. Josie is considerate, bubbly and energetic, and possesses a vibrant soul that radiates positivity. She is always attentive and responsive, showing genuine care and support for the needs of others.

Josie's eagerness to please stems from a deep desire to ensure the well-being and happiness of her peers. Always wearing a smile, she displays exceptional manners and shows respect to her teachers and peers through outstanding speaking and listening skills, always offering supportive words and encouragement.

Julie also demonstrates care for the environment through active participation in the garden sustainability group. She displays a love for eco-friendly options and is passionate about helping animals, wildlife, and preserving the landscape,

This Year 6 student shows persistence in her work. During math lessons, she is always willing to take on challenges and demonstrates grit by pushing herself through any misconceptions or difficult concepts. Simultaneously, she graciously celebrates her accomplishments when she performs well.

Likewise, she is actively working on improving her penmanship, as she recognises that occasional instances of messy handwriting can occur, becoming more conscious of her presentation and striving to ensure readability for others.

Josie is authentic and doesn't pretend to be someone she's not. She is becoming more aware of her amazing abilities as well as the areas she wishes to improve upon. She exhibits positive behaviours and learning dispositions that will underpin her future success, both in the years to come and into adulthood.

Congratulations Josie, we hope you had a great week!

Classroom Awards

Congratulations to the following students for receiving classroom awards: Holly, Bonnie, Harlow, Alfred, Rumaan, Ciara, Hayden, Harper, Gene, Clara, Freyr, Asher, Madeline, Kiaya.

Year 5 & 6 News

More Canteen Helpers Still Required

We are still in desperate need of canteen helpers on Thursdays and Fridays.

We have a very small number of fabulous parents that assist in the canteen but it is just not enough to have consistent help.

The shifts required are as follows:

Thursdays - 1 parent helper required from 12pm - 2pm

Fridays - 2 parent helpers required. One from 11am - 2pm and another from 12pm - 2pm

Please email the school at kyneton.ps@education.vic.gov.au if you can help. All volunteers will need to show a valid a Working With Childrens Check and complete a short OHS Induction before commencing.

We really appreciate your help to enable us to continue to run our wonderful canteen.

2024 Foundation Enrolments

We are working through our enrolment applications for our 2024 Foundation students. If you have a child you wish to enrol for 2024 please drop into the office to collect an enrolment pack. These can also be sent home with your current student if you wish.

Rear Gate Issues

As many of you would be aware we have had problems with the rear gate not opening automatically. If the gate is not open during the hours of 8:45am – 9:15am and 3:15pm – 3:45pm please use the community path to enter via the kindergarten or Edgecombe Street gate.

We ask that adults and children please do not force the gate open as this causes the arm to bend which will cause further damage to the gate. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

Branch Out – Mental Health and Wellbeing

Thank you to our parent community who braved the cold and attended the ‘Branch Out – Mental Health and Wellbeing’ event for parents on Wednesday night.

It was wonderful to see parents so engaged in the presentation led by Professor Sophie Havighurst. Together we learnt more about tuning into our kids and how to best support them with their emotional regulation. It was a fabulous event run in partnership with the Macedon Ranges Shire Council.

How to keep learning…

The joy of learning is that it never ends. For those parents who attended, please refer to your Notebook for helpful tips and referral pathways to use in the day to day.

Tuning in to Kids have offered Kyneton Primary parents’ free access to the learning modules. You can access these by logging in to https://top.org.au/kids/

We urge you to spend the time reviewing the well-researched and evidence based content.

For those who missed it…

For those who couldn’t join us on Wednesday night, please do stay tuned for upcoming Branch Out events and information, and feel free to jump online and learn more about emotion coaching and building resilience in our children. Because we know that “from little things big things grow”, and the steps we take now can branch out and make a huge difference. The link is https://top.org.au/kids/

Please stay tuned as we will be sending out more information regarding a follow up session and access to mental health material.

Michelle and Julie

Current COVID-19 Advice

The latest COVID-19 Advice for schools. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Community News

A few messages from our community

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