Term 1 2023, an eleven week term has come to an end. As Principal I would like to acknowledge the combined efforts of students, parents and staff. Collective efforts of all parties have ensured a positive and successful beginning to the 2023 school year.

A special mention of our 64 Foundation students who have settled into the routine of school life we are very proud of every one of them. They are a confident group who have demonstrated they are fast learners and, they are all very important members of our school community. Congratulations also to our 342 Year 1- 5 students who have taken up the challenges of moving to their new year level and have had a very successful first term. Finally, let us not forget our 80 Year 6 students who have moved into their final year of primary school. They are engaging, caring, passionate, hardworking and excellent role models for all younger students. A high percentage of these students began at Kingsville in Prep and, all Year 6 students are living examples of what epitomizes a Kingsville student in every sense of the word. 

There have been many highlights during this first term including information nights, parent teacher meetings, water safety programs, excursions, Ride 2 school day, and of course our amazing Hot March Night just to name a few. Achievements have also included the establishment of the 2023 – 2024 School Council, subcommittees and, working parties.  Our student leaders have been appointed and Junior School Council membership is being finalized. In addition to all of this there have been many achievements on a daily basis across the school setting during the 11 weeks which, have enriched the learning environments.

We finished the term today with our traditional Kingsville Easter Hat Parade. This is a delightful way to mark the end of term 1 and, it has developed over the last few years from a school assembly style event to a gala occasion and I always like to claim it is the “millinery event of the year”.  We had fine weather and a large audience made up of parents, grandparents, family members and friends from near and far.

The millenary creations were amazing – fun, colourful, creative, and proudly worn by a very high percentage of students. I hope these ‘works of art’ are kept for a long time to come and they would certainly make great table centrepieces over the holiday period. Well done to everyone and thank you to KPS families for their combined artistic and engineering efforts which resulted in spectacular head wear.

Thank you also Kingsville families for contributing and being part of the Easter raffle fundraising event. The winners were announced earlier today and, the students from the lucky families were acknowledged at the end of the Easter Hat parade.

The Hot March Night (see more details in a seperate article), was also a great event we were able to hold at the end of term 1. As Principal, I greeted many families as they checked in and congratulations to all attendees for the preparations obvious due to the poor weather. Raincoats, umbrellas, pull along “wagons” with supplies – well done Kingsville families. As the weather deteriorated and the band had to move into the hall later in the evening, a parent disco to outdo any student disco eventuated. Great music, amazing KPS parent dance moves and a fun time held by all.

I hope all students have an enjoyable term break and I along with all staff look forward to welcoming you and your family back for term 2 beginning Monday April 24^th.

As I noted in the newsletter of March 24^th as Principal I will be taking a period of Long Service Leave (30 days) at the beginning term 2. Jeff McDonald KPS substantive Assistant Principal, will be Acting Principal during my leave. Jeff has capably acted in this role on a number of occasions previously and, I am confident that the KPS learning community will support Jeff in this role.

The “hottest night” in the year turned into a wet and cold night, however this did not dampen the spirits of the school community who took up the challenge and engaged with others to enjoy themselves. They absolutely demonstrated the attribute of being ‘courageous’ shown by their resourcefulness and resilience in the face of challenge and change. The night was a huge success, with many of F-2 parents and carers commenting on their wonderful first experience of being part of and enjoying the company of others in the Kingsville community.

Events like this are only achieved through the time and effort of the FOKPS (Friends of KPS) School Council subcommittee and working parties. The HMN working party as well as the many volunteers who worked behind the scenes setting up, running stalls and cleaning up on Friday night and Saturday morning your efforts, ensured a successful event.

Thank you to all those who were able to attend the event. It was wonderful to have the school community be able to gather together without restrictions. Involvement in opportunities like this allow for engagement, build school culture, traditions, values and relationships across and though all members of the community.

The FOKPS calendar of yearly events always lists casual clothes days which take place at the end of each term.

To the students who did wear casual clothes today well done. Also to the families who contributed the requested gold coin donation or other, your contributions are as always greatly appreciated.

The total number of gold coins was  ------- 192.

The total amount raised by casual clothes day term 1 was $284.60.

Kingsville Primary School staff will be holding a Foundation/Prep Information Evening on May 10th in the school hall. The session is an introduction to KPS with an opportunity find out about who we are, and our enrolment process and procedures. It is also a chance to meet the Principal, Assistant Principals, and current early years staff.

This evening is for “all and any” interested and prospective parents who have children eligible to begin primary school in 2024. The audience is not restricted to families living in the Kingsville PS enrolment neighbourhood zone.

• Where: Kingsville Primary School Hall 58 Bishop Street, Kingsville (Enter via Bishop St double gates to the Hall)
• When: Wednesday 10th May 2023 7.00 – 8.00 pm

Responses from parents / carers wishing to attend are expected and are important in assisting us in organising the event.

Bookings are required RSVP by: Ph: 9314 5869 Email: kingsville.ps@education.vic.gov.au with a subject line of ‘2024 Foundation Information Session'.

Information has been sent to a large number of pre-school / kindergarten and, childcare centres in the immediate area and, further across the Yarraville/ Footscray/ Seddon/ Spotswood/ Newport areas. This is in line with our practice each year.

We request that current KPS parents assist in the advertising of this event by spreading the word amongst friends, neighbours etc to help us raise awareness in the area.

If KPS parents / carers are informing friends and neighbours about the event, please let them know they need to respond to the school.

Student enrolments 2024

KPS families with siblings for Foundation 2024

Preparing for student enrolments for the next school year always begins early in Term 2.

Step 1

• establish what the requirement for places will be from current KPS families for 2024

So;

we need a response now or, as soon as possible from any current families who are likely to request a placement for a child into Foundation 2024. Whilst there may be some ‘in question’ placements e.g. age, or possible residential move or, a further year in pre-school please lodge your details now to assist us in this first planning stage.

If there are any need for changes later in the year then your request can be adjusted.

Please email us  kingsville.ps@education.vic.gov.au  with subject line Foundation Enrolment 2024

s we hurtle towards our the end of our first term of 2023, I would like to congratulate all students, staff and families for their efforts. As Kath has discussed in her message, this 11 week term has been full of learning, events and seen the development of community within and across classrooms. 

At this time, as we head into a well-earned break, I wanted to share some information and context to the idea of being Internationally Minded.  

The Learner Profile – The IB mission statement in action 

Kingsville Primary School has been an authorized IB World School for 14 years offering the Primary Years Program (PYP) of the International Baccalaureate.  

The aim of all IB programmes is for students to develop and demonstrate international-mindedness. It is a multifaceted concept that captures a way of thinking, being and acting. Internationally minded students are open to others and to the world, and are cognizant of our deep interconnectedness (IB 2017). 

A key feature of the PYP is the PYP Learner Profile. The learner profile supports students in developing international-mindedness and in taking action for positive change. Exercising their agency, students take ownership of their learning, express their ideas and opinions, and reflect on their development of the learner profile attributes. 

The PYP Learner Profile provides a consistent language and understanding at Kingsville for students, staff, and the wider Kingsville PS community. They develop and underpin our school culture via classroom essential agreements, restorative practices, collaborative discussions and student wellbeing and engagement policies.  

The Learner Profile attributes are: 

• Inquirers 
• Knowledgeable 
• Thinkers 

• Communicators 
• Principled 
• Open-minded 
• Caring 
• Risk-takers 

• Balanced 

Through the promotion and development of attributes, both at school and at home, Kingsville students understand what it means to be a citizen in our modern world. A truly internationally minded citizen is one who lives the learner profile, personally, at school, at home and in the wider world.  

As we move through the year, we’ll unpack the different attributes via the newsletter and provide ideas and resources that could be used at home to develop and discuss them at home.  

TUTOR LEARNING INITIATIVE: INFORMATION FOR PARENTS, CARERS AND FAMILIES

The successful Tutor Learning Initiative (TLI) is being extended for 2023. This has enabled schools across Victoria, such as Kingsville to retain our 2022 tutor Sheri Seyit and also recruit a new tutor Megan Chen.

The TLI enables schools to engage qualified teachers as tutors to work with small groups of students and support their learning, with a focus on literacy and numeracy. The initiative is consistent with Australian and international evidence, which shows that small group tutoring is one of the most effective educational interventions available to support students to progress in their learning.

Based on the student’s achievement data and other measures of learning, the school’s leadership team in consultation with the classroom teachers will nominate the students who may benefit from the small group tutoring support provided at school. The first intake will commence week 1 Term 2. Students will engage in the program between 5 and 8 weeks

Families of students selected for the 2023 Tutor Learning Initiative will be contacted directly by the school.

If you have any questions about the Tutor Learning Initiative at Kingsville, please contact Blagma Veljanoska or Sam Eason.

Further information on the Tutor Learning Initiative is available at: Tutor Learning Initiative: extra learning support for your child | Victorian Government (www.vic.gov.au)

We look forward to continuing Kingsville’s TLI program in 2023 to provide small group learning support that will enable our students to flourish now and in the future.

Sunsmart

In line with school policy and government expectations related to being a Sunsmart school students are required to wear sun hats until April 30^th. This means that during the first week of term 2, students are still required to wear hat while in the yard.

Explaining to children that even though the sun is not visible the UV radiation is extremely high from August to the end of April can be tricky. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is both the major cause of skin cancer and we cover up whenever UV levels are 3 or higher. So let us take this task on board together i.e. some explaining at home and some at school.

Some data from Thursday 6^th April:

• Max temperature 25C
• Min temperature 16C
• Max UV 3 between 11am and 4pm
• This day's UV index is moderate. Using sunscreen or other UV protection is recommended. Try to avoid direct sun exposure between 11 AM and 4 PM.

School Photos 2023

School photos will be taken on Tuesday 16^th May. Please clearly mark this date on your family calendars.

Photo packs and other important information will be shared early in term 2.

Local Author

It is always good to hear from local authors and even more so when the author is a past KPS parent.

Leah Young was a parent at Kingsville for many years with three girls moving through the school. Leah was also a very active fundraiser, volunteer, a member of school council and for a period of time School Council President.

Congratulations to Leah Young who has recently had a picture story published

                                  “Daisy Delaney is

                                      1 minute late”

This is a fun rhyming tale set in our own beloved Yarraville.

Kingsville Working Bee

Saturday 6^th May, 10a.m. – 1p.m.            

Please save the date Saturday 6^th May, 10a.m. – 1p.m. (Term 2 week 2)

Our first scheduled working bee for 2023 has been set for Saturday 6^th May. All our working bees are open to the whole school community, Foundation to year 6. We are hoping for a big and varied turnout from our families. This is a great opportunity to help contribute to the ground’s maintenance and development, plus catch up and meet other parents. Working bees are also highly popular with the kids as they help or spend a bit of free time on the oval or playgrounds.

Tasks include:

• garden maintenance – kitchen garden and school gardens
• planting
• mulching (a wheelbarrow and shovel from home)
• grounds maintenance – small sandpit, oiling seating, etc

Please ensure

• you and any children are wearing suitable closed in shoes
• gloves are worn
• children are supervised by parents

Entry will be through the double gates to the hall on Bishop Street. All parents who are volunteering on the day must report to the check in table that will be situated just outside the door of the 5/6 classrooms.  Please read the information set up on the board and sign in on arrival and out on departure.

RESPONSES REQUIRED

To assist the Buildings and Grounds subcommittee to organise this event please respond by Wednesday 3^rd May 2023. 

Responses can be sent:

• to the school email kingsville.ps@education.vic.gov.au please ensure you put “Working Bee’ in the subject line and indicate in the body of the email your Family name, Eldest child’s name, and the number of family members attending the working bee
• by complete the attached slip and return it to the school via your child
• by clicking on the link and complete the form https://forms.office.com/r/cn0hi0PanP