Junior School Information

Welcome Back!

Dear Kinross Wolaroi Students & Families, 

As I am sure you are aware, the beginning of Term 1 is fast approaching. I hope you and your families have had a lovely break, and I look forward to your safe and happy return to Kinross Wolaroi. 

After nearly two years of domestic border closures, it was wonderful to have Christmas with nearly all of my siblings, nieces and nephews. This year provided some time away in Tasmania. I was fortunate to go trekking through Cradle Mountain, travel up the Franklin River and go wandering through many old buildings from our convict past. I have loved reading a few books, seeing films, walking, and spending loads of time with the people and animals I love. 

I am so looking forward to hearing your stories from over the summer.

The start of the year brings changes for us all to adjust to, so I am sending you this letter to let you know important times, meeting points, and items you will need to bring, so whether you are a new KWS student or a returning one, you can feel confident and at ease entering into 2022 at KWS.

Class allocations for 2022

I know are one of the most anticipated surprises as you return to school. Who is your teacher going to be? When forming classes, our aim is to achieve the most homogenous academic groups to best meet the academic needs of all students. Friendship surveys, teacher recommendations, gender and academic readiness have all been thoroughly investigated in the formation of classes for 2022. I know you are going to love learning with your teacher this year and they look forward to welcoming you on your return to School. 

Junior School Staff

Leadership Team

Class Teachers

Pre-Kinder support staff

Student support staff

Specialist Teaching Staff

Returning to School after the summer break can for some students create a few nerves. If knowing who your class teacher is before starting on Tuesday 1 February would help settle the butterflies ask mum or dad to email me on dhayward@kws.nsw.edu.au.

School Times in 2022 

School commences for 2022 on Tuesday 1 February at 8:45am and will conclude at 3:00pm for Pre-Kinder and 3:15pm for Years K-6. However, for Week 1 Kindergarten will finish at 3:00pm to allow the students (and their parents!) to adjust to the pick-up arrangements. All K-6 students are picked up from the Stop n Go. There are staff members on hand to assist you at pick up. All Pre-Kinder drop off and pick up is through adult to adult handover in Pre Kinder.

Remember to be present by the time the bell rings in the morning to ensure you meet your new teachers, and to establish a good routine for the start of the year.

Where to meet: 

ELC – Kindergarten: ELC and Kindergarten students can be dropped off directly at your classroom. Mum and dad are more than welcome to come with you on your first day.

Years 1 – 3: You meet your teachers on the handball courts. Years 4-6 will meet your teachers in the under cover area. You can place your bag in a row behind one of the grade lunch tubs. You can then play in the internal playground until the 8:45 bell rings.

What you will need to bring: 

• Full Summer uniform (please remember that your hat must be worn when travelling to and from school). Blazers are not required on this first day. I am very excited to see many students wearing our new School uniform.
   
• Crunch & Sip (an item of fruit or vegetable and a water bottle for the mid-morning break), recess and lunch. Please note the canteen will be open for lunch orders ONLY. Orders must be placed online using Flexischools. Please refer to the Junior School Handbook for full details on ordering.
   
• Please note: at Kinross Wolaroi we endeavour to minimise the amount of waste we are producing. We encourage parents, where possible, to employ the use of re-useable (and labelled!) containers.
   
• Remind your parents (or whoever picks you up) to display a family name on their car visor to assist in the assist the efficient, safe and effective operation of Stop n Go. 
   
• No need to bring stationery, exercise books or textbooks. These are all provided by the School. Your teacher may invite you to bring in your own pencil case.

Label Everything! 

Remember: what is labelled, can be returned should it be misplaced! 

Specialists Classes

You will receive a letter from your class teacher outlining more detail about your year of learning including your timetable; however, so you know what to expect during Week 1: 

• There are no specialist lessons on Tuesday
   
• For students who are interested in joining an after school music ensemble placement experiences will be held on Tuesday during the School day, remember to bring your instrument. More information about this event will be coming.
   
• Year 1 will have PE on a Monday with their first lesson in Week 2
   
• Pre-K will have PE on Tuesday and Thursday
   
• Years 2, 5 and 6 will have PE on Wednesday
   
• Kindergarten and Year 3 will have PE on Thursday
   
• Year 4 will have PE on a Friday

On PE days all students come dressed in their PE uniform for the day. Please refer to the Kinross Wolaroi Uniform Policy so you know what to wear. I bet you have done a lot of growing over the summer so now would be a good time to check the fit and length of your School uniform and sports uniform. Make sure your dress touches your knee and your shorts are just above your knee. And don’t forget to polish your black shoes! For some students now is the time to purchase a new pair of shoes for school. 

Music

JS Music Co-Curricular Ensembles – Placement Sessions on Tuesday 1 February

After the disruption to our cocurricular rehearsals last year, we are looking forward to reinvigorating our music program in 2022! It is important that we place each student in the most appropriate group. Any NEW students and ALL students who were part of the following groups in 2021 will be asked to prepare a short section from a favourite piece to play. Students can join the following groups.

Groups will begin rehearsals in WEEK 2, except for Koristers and JS Chamber Ensemble.

JS Beginner Strings - for students in Year 1 upwards. Students must be receiving individual tuition. Students should be able to read music at a beginner level and should be able use all three fingers in 1st position.

JS String Orchestra - for students who are approximately AMEB Grade 1-2 standard. Studentsmust be receiving individual tuition. Students should be confident reading music and able to sight-read.

JS Concert Band - for students who are at a level of Grade1/2 AMEB standard. Students must be receiving individual tuition. This group is also open to beginner students who can play the first 7 noteson their instrument.

JS Chamber Ensemble is open by invitation to advanced players (Grade 3+). Students will also be asked to play a short sight-reading exercise.

Koristers is an auditioned choir for boys and girls in Years 5 to 8. Students who were in this group in 2021 will be asked to re-audition and any other students interested in trying out are encouraged to do so. Students will be asked to sing the first verse of the National Anthem and do some aural activities. It is helpful if students can already read music.

Students will be required to bring their instrument and music on TUESDAY 1 FEBRUARY and will be directed to the Music Room during the day.

The draft rehearsal timetablefor 2022 groups is below.

N.B The runningof JS Drum Corp and Dance Groups will be advised in the coming weeks.

Questions about Musicianship classescan be directed to Katherine Howarth (Instrumental Coordinator) kahowarth@kws.nsw.edu.au

Any queries about this program, please contact Kate Sinclair, Junior School Performing Arts Coordinator at ksinclair@kws.nsw.edu.au 

Sport

Sport training will commence for most students in Years 3-6 on Wednesday 2 February, concluding at 4:30pm, with pick up by 4:45pm. More information regarding this activity and which groups will start on Wednesday will be sent in coming days.

Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Mrs Hayward

A little message for your parents

What do I need to know about returning to campus?

Arrival at School

Staff are on supervision from 8:25am. To ensure our duty of care please do not arrive before this time to assist in adhering to COVID 19 Health guidelines in regard to accessing the School. 

As February 1 is our first day back at School you are very welcome to walk with your child into the School. We ask that parents wear a mask and no linger too long. If you prefer to drop off at Stop n Go staff will assist students exiting the car. For personal safety, we do not want children or staff to step off the curb, to go behind cars to access the boot. If you have bulkier items in the boot, or if your child is unable to access the curb side door please park and be mindful of traffic in the car park when assisting children to the curb before returning to your car. 

If your child should arrive after 8:45am they will need to attend Junior School Reception to sign in and will be directed to their class

Departure from School

All students traveling by private car are dropped off and picked up from the ‘Stop n Go’ zone. 

In the interest of duty-of-care, all students are collected by 3:30pm. In the case of an unforeseen event that delays you, please notify Junior School Reception of your intention to be late. Some days there are obvious delays in the traffic. In these circumstances, be assured of staff’s preparedness to be flexible in pick up times.

To assist with the smooth flow of traffic and keep our students’ safe families are asked to: 

• Adhere to a 10 km/h limit and do not use your mobile phone in the line 
• Always move to the ‘top’ most position in the ‘Stop n Go’ zone to prevent congestion and the necessity for cars to cut into spaces 
• In the afternoon flags identify spaces for cars to move to 
• All families are to display their family name in the front window to expedite allocating children to cars.
• Wear a mask, remain in cars, staff will assist students as needed and will place bags inside the car 
• Students only alight and exit cars on the curb side 
• Follow the directions of the staff. Please view our road safety video: KWS Traffic Safety - Bing video

Buses

All students travelling on buses must obey regulations and safety procedures as set out by the bus companies. All students wait for and are supervised by a teacher on duty for afternoon departures. Supervising teachers will meet students catching buses from: Allenby Road outside the Junior School Office and the gym by the round garden.

Before and After School Care

Gowrie NSW Kinross Wolaroi Outside School Hours Care is excited to welcoming pre-Kinder children to their after-school care program which will be operating 3:00-6:00 pm, as well as welcoming back existing children and families for 2022 when school recommences.  If you are requiring outside school hours care for 2022 please reach out to the Gowrie NSW enrolment team by completing the enquiry form here and one of their friendly enrolment consultants will contact you, or email enrolments@gowriensw.com.au . There is no fee attached to enroll in this facility and all Kinross Wolaroi Junior School families are encouraged to sign up for those occasions where you might be running late at pick up time. 

Health

The School has strict guidelines regarding unwell students. Any child who is unwell, has an infectious or contagious ailment, must be kept at home. Students should not attend school if unwell, even with mild symptoms which could potentially be COVID-19. Any person with any COVID-19 symptoms will be sent home and unable to return to school unless they have:

• isolated for 10 days, when no medical certificate is available
• a negative COVID-19 test result and are symptom free.

If you are uncertain, please consult your GP prior to sending your child to school.

Absence

If a student is unable to attend School for part, all of one day or several days, the following procedures apply: 

• Notify Junior School Reception via email junioroffice@kws.nsw.edu.au before the day of absence or 
• On the day, email or telephone Junior School Reception on 02 6392 0316 between 8.30am and 9.00am 
• All absence notifications require an email including the student’s name and class, reason for absence and a medical certificate as appropriate

Uniform

Years K-6: Summer School Uniform, the exception is PE gear on days when PE or sport is scheduled

School Shoes 

Before parents go off to buy new school shoes for the new school year – I would like to take the opportunity to remind you of the school shoe requirements. When wearing School uniform all students are to wear black school shoes (Lace-up, Buckle or Velcro). This includes enclosed black leather or leather-look school shoes, such as those illustrated here.  

Nail polish

Nail polishis not permitted while in School uniform.

Hairstyles

No Unusual or unorthodox haircuts and colours are not permitted. Girls whose hair reaches to the middle of the collar must have their hair tied back with a Black Watch tartan, navy blue or Black Watch green. Boys in all year groups have hair which is neat and off the collar.

Jewelry

Jewelry is not worn with the School uniform. This includes rings, bracelets, chains and wristbands. Students may only have piercings in earlobes. Earrings are small, 3mm in diameter, plain gold or silver studs, and only one per ear. No other piercings are permitted. Medical alert bracelets may be worn.

Masks

Masks are mandatory under the Public Health Orders for all staff and any visitors to site. This includes parents and carers dropping off and picking students. Masks are not mandatory for Junior School students but are recommended, especially when travelling on buses.

Term One Events

In Term One we have a few planned events we hope may take place. We will be sending more information soon to assist with planning your calendars for the next few weeks. Then as the term progresses, we will provide more details as to what is occurring and what these events will look like as we continue to navigate the latest COVID advice. If you have any questions, please contact Junior School reception via email juniorschooloffice@kws.nsw.edu.au or phone 02 6392 0316.

Communication 

In order for communication with you to be as timely and accurate as possible please ensure we have your current email address and phone number on our database. Please telephone the Junior School (6392 0316) or email junioroffice@kws.nsw.edu.au to update your details.

More information will be coming soon in regards to the upcoming year. Our Pre-Kinder Handbook and Junior School Handbook are a useful starting point for questions you may have or knowing who to contact.

On behalf of the Junior School staff I would like to extend a warm welcome to all junior School families. We are looking forward to seeing you on campus soon.

Warm regards

Denise Hayward

Head of Junior School.