Over the past week, our Year 3 and Year 5 students have shown tremendous resilience and commitment as they completed their NAPLAN assessments. This year’s testing period certainly came with its challenges, including the unexpected statewide system outage, but our students (and teachers!) approached the situation with calm, patience and a positive attitude.

I would like to congratulate all our Year 3 and Year 5 learners for the way they handled themselves throughout the week. They demonstrated many of the qualities we value in the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) Learner Profile.

Our students were risk-takers, approaching each assessment with courage and a willingness to do their best. They showed they were communicators-carefully reading, thinking and expressing their ideas. Importantly, they were also balanced and reflective - managing the changes to the schedule and staying focused even when things did not go exactly as planned.

The way our students adapted to the disruption also highlighted how principled and caring they are—supporting one another, following instructions and respecting the testing environment so everyone could do their best.

NAPLAN is just one moment in a much bigger learning journey. What mattered most this week was the perseverance, integrity and positive mindset our students demonstrated. We are very proud of the effort they showed and the maturity with which they navigated an unusual testing week.

Thank you as well to our teachers and support staff who worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the assessments could continue as smoothly as possible.

Congratulations again to our Year 3 and Year 5 students—you represented our school wonderfully.

Emma

We understand that there are times when families need to pick up students early to attend appointments or for other reasons during the day. We ask that in these instances families come into the office and sign your child out through our Compass station at the office.
It has become a bit of a habit for families to call ahead and ask office staff to get students ready and have them wait at the office. Sometimes this has resulted in students waiting in the office for up to half an hour and we ask families to understand under our duty of care; it is not appropriate for office staff to be supervising students whilst they wait in the office.
We also prefer to physically see you pick up your child, not send them out to the street to meet you. We are happy to support you getting your child quickly in an emergency, however, respectfully request that you allow enough time to come in and sign them out if picking up during the day.

As parents and carers may be aware, staff at our school who are Australian Education Union (AEU) members have been negotiating, alongside teachers, education support staff, assistant principals, and principals from public schools around Victoria, with the state government and Department of Education for improvements to pay and employment conditions. Negotiations have been occurring over the last seven months, and the state government has not made any offer at all to this point in time.

Currently, Victorian public schools are the lowest funded in Australia and there are significant staffing shortages across Victoria. Victorian public school teachers are also the lowest paid teachers in Australia, with many education support employees and school leaders paid less than their colleagues in other state and territories who do the same role.

AEU members are seeking pay increases and reductions to excessive workloads, with the aim of ensuring the retention of existing employees and the attraction of the next generation to enable the ongoing provision of a high-quality education to students. Because there has not been any offer, AEU members are undertaking a vote to endorse industrial action, with the union calling a statewide 24-hour stopwork for Tuesday 24 March, should the government not respond properly to key claims.

The AEU has written to our school council outlining some of the issues that school staff need resolved, including school funding and staffing shortages, as well as pay and conditions. The union acknowledges that a decision to stop work is not one to be taken lightly and regrets the impact it has on students and their families, with the state government able to avoid such action if a fair and decent offer is made to employees. If the industrial action goes ahead, we will provide our school community with all the information needed to manage the situation.

It goes without saying, that as a school community, we support all of the staff in our school and expect them to be paid reasonably and have fair conditions of work.

We are now over the hump of this 10-week term. It is therefore time to provide some information and direction regarding our Traditional Yearly Easter Hat Parade that occurs at the school on the last day of term, Thursday April 2nd.

Easter is still some time away but as usual the signs are out there with ‘eggs’, ‘chickens’ and ‘rabbits’ so to speak, in the shops already. It is not too early however, for parents and children’s minds to turn to Easter Bonnets “with all the trims upon it”.

Our 2025 event was truly spectacular and has grown over the many years from a school assembly style event to a ‘Gala Occasion’. Holding our parade is a delightful way to finish the term. I am always so thrilled in the ways parents and extended families embrace this event.

Parade Details

Date:   Thursday April 2nd

Time:   9:15 – 10:30 approximately

Location:   in the area in front of the deck

Audience:  Parents, grandparents, family and friends

Dress Code for audience:      

• audience members are encouraged to wear a hat or a head wear creation or just have an Easter touch
• some seating available on the steps of the deck

So all “old” KPS parents you have been through the Easter Hat Challenge before, new parents here are some guidelines for you.

1. as always, I recommend don’t panic, we do not want Kingsville parents staying up creating “millinery masterpieces” into the wee small hours
2. we do want it to be all about participation and fun for the students and creating great memories of events and traditions during their primary school life. 

So, families get together to create your headgear e.g.

• a Kingsville creation
• a school sun hat decorated
• traditional Easter theme
• PYP “Profile of the Learner” hat (and we might see):

• balanced
• open minded caring creative hats

or

• other traditional Easter symbols

Yes, usually a football theme will always sneak in somewhere as well and that is fine. Teachers provide a great example and will always create and wear a hat and parade with their class.

So, glue guns to the ready yet again and, let the imagination go and see what happens. Some members of our support staff team will again form a panel of observers who will cast their eyes over all entries and acknowledge special efforts from each class. Not the best, biggest or fanciest – just a special effort award for a member of each class and yes, a parent one as well.

Remember this is a casual clothes day so take that into consideration regarding the overall practicality of hat. Also, the weather i.e. on windy days hats may need more attachment to the head. In some years there have been cases of students matching their casual clothes outfits to their Easter hat theme – extraordinary efforts.

Do you love to go skiing or snowboarding?? Want to represent Kingsville in skiing or snowboarding? And want to have a go/try racing? It’s simple to come and join the Kingsville Primary team! Events for prep to grade 6 run from August 17th to August 19th at Mount Buller.

Event schedule: https://cdn.revolutionise.com.au/site/oj7mbxrrcigd8sek.pdf

Events are around $65 each. To find out more please email or text Kate via kate.simnett@gmail.com or 0407 812 882. Happy to run an online info session too if that’s helpful.

If you are keen, the one thing you will want to get on to asap is accommodation, as it’s the busiest week of the season :)

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1547515

Dear Kingsville Families,

Friday 20th March is the Official National Ride to School Day! We are having a Kingsville Ride to School Day this Friday.

This is a day where all students are encouraged to ride, walk, scoot, roller skate to school. We are even encouraging families who would usually drive to park a little further away and walk a couple of blocks to school with your child. It’s a great way to start the day!

On the day, bikes and scooters can be placed in the space provided closest to where you enter school. There will be student school council representatives helping direct the traffic. Please hop off your bike or scooter and walk them across the pedestrian crossings and into the school when arriving and leaving.

So, mark Friday 20th March in those calendars and let’s have a healthy start to our day by walking, scooting, riding or roller skating to school.

Lucy Oates
SRC Facilitator

In the back corner of the playground another element of our grounds plan is being created, with the arrival of the container for storage of the loose part materials. This is the beginning of our loose parts play zone. A loose parts play zone is a dedicated area where children can freely explore, build, create, and imagine using a wide variety of open-ended materials that children can combine, redesign, and take apart in endless ways. In this type of space, children take the lead in their play. One day the area might become a castle, a construction site, or a café. The next day it could turn into a spaceship or an obstacle course. Because there are a variety of loose material, children use their imagination, problem-solving skills, and teamwork to create their own experiences, there is no “right” or “wrong” way to use them.

Loose parts play zones support:

• Creativity and imagination
• Collaboration and communication
• Physical development
• Confidence and resilience
• Problem-solving and critical thinking

As an IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) school, play is valued as a powerful pathway for inquiry, student agency and holistic growth. Research shows that play strengthens social, emotional and physical skills, while also fostering creativity, problem-solving, resilience and a sense of joy. These outcomes support positive behaviour, engagement and academic success.

The school is committed to providing active, challenging and inclusive play opportunities that support physical development and self-confidence. Guided by the principle of “Challenge by Choice,” children engage at levels appropriate to them while staff maintain a strong duty of care, ensuring play remains safe, supportive and meaningful.

We envisage our loose parts play zone turning everyday materials into powerful learning tools, giving children the freedom to explore, create, and learn through play. Loose parts play reminds us that some of the richest learning comes from the simplest materials. When children are free to explore, create, and experiment, they build skills that support their learning, confidence, and wellbeing.

Jeff McDonald

Congratulations to all of our District Swimmers!

These students tackled the heat at Brimbank Aquatic Centre and were sensational, showing grit, determination, bravery and strong support for their fellow teammates.

We are proud to announce that 11 of our students have progressed to the Western Metropolitan Primary Swimming Boys/Mixed Girls Regional Finals, which will be held at Kardinia Aquatic Centre on Tuesday 31st March.

Please note: Parents and carers will be responsible for transporting their child/children to and from the event.

Well done to all competitors for representing our school with such pride and sportsmanship. We wish our regional swimmers the very best of luck! 

The 11 students who have progressed to the Regionals Swimming at Geelong are:

1-Zoe C (9/10G) – 50m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly and 4x50m Medley Relay

2-Poppy B (9/10G) – 50m Breaststroke, 4x50m Medley Relay

3-Avery K (9/10G) – 4x50m Medley Relay

4-Lily S (9/10G) – 4x50m Medley Relay

5-Xavier C (9/10B) – 50m Freestyle

6-Zara B (11G) – 50m Breaststroke

7-Nicky C (11B) – 50m Breaststroke

8-Henry M (12/13B) – 50m Freestyle

9-Fergus M (12/13B) – 50m Breaststroke

10-Elliot M (12/13B) – 50m Butterfly, 50m Backstroke

11-Neenah C (12/13G) – 50m Backstroke

For any further questions please contact me directly.












Max Williams
PE Teacher

We are thrilled to welcome the Footscray High School Principal Team to our school as they share valuable insights about their vibrant, inclusive, and progressive learning community.

Parents of students across all grade levels are warmly invited to attend.

Following their short presentation, the Principal Team will be happy to answer any questions and connect with families.

The session will run on Tuesday 17th March, commencing at 5.30pm in the school Hall. 

Assembly Items
Fri 20th Mar - Class EAM
Fri 27th Mar - Class ECJ

Western Bulldogs School Holiday Program – Registrations Open
Looking for a fun and active way to keep the kids moving these school holidays? The Western Bulldogs School Holiday Program is packed with exciting games, footy skill sessions, and teamwork activities designed to help kids build confidence, make new friends, and enjoy the game.

Open to boys and girls aged 4–12, the program welcomes all abilities and experience levels - whether your child is new to footy or already loves the game.

Location: Mission Whitten Oval, Footscray
Dates: Friday 10 & 17 April, 9am-3pm

Give your child a memorable school holiday experience with the Bulldogs!

Register here:
https://play.afl/club-finder-map?formats=holiday_programs&orgId=0ca3ed80-4d11-40bf-b4c4-4b9b740f8a14

• Come and Try Football session
• Free football (soccer) sessions for girls aged 7+ and women of all ages - no experience needed. These sessions are a fun way to learn new skills, have a kick and meet new people. 
• When: Wednesday 18 March from 6-8pm and Saturday 21 March from 9.30-11.30am 
• Location: Yarraville Glory Football Club, McIvor Reserve Yarraville

• Football Coaching workshop
• Free football (soccer) coaching workshop is for women and girls aged 16 years and over. 
• When: Saturday 21 March from 9.30-11.30am 
• Location: Yarraville Glory Football Club, McIvor Reserve Yarraville