For 35 years, Ms. Ginnane has been the steadfast heart of Kingsville Primary School, dedicating a significant portion of her career in education to the advancement of the school and its community. Her long-standing leadership has provided stability, fostered growth, and cultivated a spirit of excellence that resonates throughout the school. Under her guidance, Kingsville has embraced innovative teaching methods and fostered a nurturing environment where every student feels valued and seen. Her tenure is marked by numerous milestones, from initiating groundbreaking programs to celebrating academic and extracurricular successes.

The school has been fortunate to have a leader as committed and hardworking as Ms. Ginnane. Her unwavering dedication and tireless efforts have profoundly impacted Kingsville Primary, leading it to be a high functioning school within a broad thriving educational community. Through her hard work and commitment, she leaves the school in a strong position for the next generation of leaders to pick up the gauntlet and carry on.

As we all wish her the best as she transitions into the next phase of her life, she shares this with the community of Kingsville Primary School…

As we approach the end of Semester 1 it is timely for me as Principal of Kingsville Primary School to provide my last newsletter message.

In Term 4 2023 I communicated details of my leave and the completion of my Principal Class contract at KPS in July 2024, to the school council and community. 

I have always ensured a message in newsletters and now after well over a thousand of these during a thirty plus year tenure, the time has come for the final edition.

It is not possible in a newsletter message to attempt to note or make extensive reference to the development and achievements of the school over the long period of time. Thankfully, these are well documented and have been retained in numerous school records including school council materials, principal’s reports, newsletters and school review documents. They are also I hope held in the memories of thousands of students, families and staff who, during my long term as Principal, were part of “our story”.

Each member individually and collectively have been contributors, creators and in fact the very essence of the daily life and joy of being a KPS learning community member.

Our historic school on August 15^th this year will have provided an outstanding student learning environment for 105 years. During that period 1919 – 2024 there have been 18 principals with the average time served in the role excluding my own term being 3.2 years. Twelve Principals served 4 or less years and the longest term apart from my own was 10 years.

As the only female Principal and the longest serving – 35 years, I am often asked why I remained so long in the role. My response to this is always first and foremost because of the students.

I have as a long-term Victorian Government Principal class member both at KPS and for a time prior at Footscray West PS, been involved with many other schools and their students. These have included schools from within our Melbourne Maribyrnong Network, the large South -West Victoria Region and the International Baccalaureate PYP network in Victoria. I have also been fortunate to have been part of a Victorian Government Initiative – The High Performing Principals Program. This initiative saw me join with other acknowledged Principals in our region along with a Regional leader and as a team we spent time in a number of schools in the United Kingdom.

Students in all these schools were welcoming and took a great deal of pride in showcasing their learning and school environments. Without fail, however KPS students have stood out in so many ways in every year I have been fortunate to be their Principal. Outstanding every day, week, year and decade they have always motivated, delighted and amazed me. Their care for each other and pride in their school, along with the respect and friendship they have always attributed to me is something I will never forget.

Many other factors contributed to my long term and the opportunity to work with and learn from a developing and diverse community was always something I actively embraced.

When I was appointed Principal Kingsville was a very different school and community. A much smaller student enrolment (low 200’s) and a very high percentage of students from a non-English speaking background. As Principal I did not have an Assistant Principal for the first 6 years however, I was supported by leadership, staff, active school councils, engaged parents / carers and those amazing KPS students.

The school grew, the socio-economic levels shifted dramatically and KPS continued to evolve and respond to many changes. Regardless of the time and circumstances a constant for me has always been a solidarity, resilience, connectedness of community members.

When times were challenging, and circumstances posed a possible danger to students a few examples being –

• back in 1991 -Coode Island explosion
• the significant local industrial fire of 2018
• the challenge of the Covid years

the community “huddled” so to speak, came together and supported each other. When individual families have had very difficult times including serious illness or death how our community moved to provide support and care has always been outstanding.

When times have been positive and there have been many instances of both significant and daily achievement we have come together, celebrated and acknowledged. So many wonderful examples over time including –

• community engagement and fundraising events
• a year of celebration 2019 school Centenary
• weekly student Friday assemblies and the legendary Kingsville awards
• opportunities for students to share their learning with families
• concerts, productions, exhibitions, camps
• extensive opportunities for student voice and agency
• Kingsville PS being authorised to offer the Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate on the 9/9/2009

As I reflect on these, I am proud to say many are now part of the fabric of KPS life and I hope they will continue to be in the future.

My partnership with many school councils and my collaboration with the Department of Education at a Regional and Central level have ensured many gains for KPS. As I look back on some of these I would like to highlight a small number which I feel have provided value to the school community. –

• an out of hours care provision for families in any school community is vital and at KPS the development over many years of this provision has been significant

• from the early 1990’s having a tiny afterschool program (10 students) in a portable classroom sponsored by the City of Maribyrnong to

• a growing program run by the KPS School Council to

• a now comprehensive significant program provided by an external provider

The extensive provision now is based in a stand-alone facility for Out of School Hours Care.  Some 20 years ago I, along with the then School Council negotiated with the government to retain a building tagged for removal. The School Council took up ownership of this relocatable and resourced the refurbishment. So many schools do not have a distinct separate from classrooms OSHC facility and, I hope school councils of the future work to maintain this facility.

I also collaborated with school council in working to ensure a compulsory school uniform and dress code were determined. This was maintained, reviewed, and updated over time.

I also reflect upon a significant number of major building works including Capitol works over my time as Principal. These have included the provision of a new Visual Arts Center, extensions to the school hall and a total refiguration of offices and classrooms at the ground level. When the (BER) Building Education Revolution 2009 – 2011 opportunity arose KPS was successful in negotiating approval to design an individual building rather than accept the standard model.

Grounds works have also been significant, and I am very proud of the fencing, oval, signage and community garden projects to name just a few.

Over time it was my great pleasure to undertake a number of projects with the students and community and one which continued for a number of years was what was called “Where in the world are you reading?”. This saw hundreds of photos of students being provided reading in locations far and wide becoming a visual display that delighted so many and gave rise to much discussion and comment.

Now after 55 years after working for the government and 35 spent as Principal at KPS, it is time as they say to – exit stage left. What an honor and privilege it has been to have had the opportunity to serve as Principal of this historic and significant school.

To the students, staff, school council and parents / carers who have worked with me over the decades in building and nurturing this wonderful “place” of learning and living, my sincere thanks.

I know Kingsville will move ahead now in a new chapter of school leadership with joy, passion, energy and enthusiasm.

Kathleen Ginnane
Principal

 

Last Friday afternoon, the staff hosted a ‘high tea’ for Ms. Ginnane, a delightful soiree to honour her service to education and Kingsville Primary School. On Wednesday morning, Ms. Ginnane visited all the children, embarking on a Grand Tour of the classes. She was celebrated with a guard of honour by the Foundation to Year 2 students and the sharing of cherished memories and significant events from her time at Kingsville. Each Year 3 to 6 class group also presented her with a small gift organised by the staff as a token of appreciation.

These two events aligned with Ms. Ginnane's wishes, emphasising her deep connection with the staff and students throughout her career. She desired that any acknowledgment of her time as Principal of Kingsville Primary School would reflect the relationships she built and the impact she had on the school community to which she dedicated a significant portion of her career.

Hi there, we’re Eloise and Alice. This is our first official Captain’s Corner! On the 12th of June 2024, Kath Ginnane, our terrific principal said her farewells to Kingsville Primary School. She started her years at KPS in 1989 and has been the leader of our school until 2024. To honour her time, the students of Kingsville expressed their gratitude. The foundations and 1/2s created a guard of honour and a timeline for when she made her way through the school. Meanwhile, the 3-6s lined up and presented her with memories from her time at Kingsville Primary, and a few thoughtful gifts! Not to mention, the School Captains led her on the memorable journey through time. All the members of our school will miss her very much and we wish her good luck for the coming years!

Eloise and Alice

School Captains

In a heartwarming event that bridged the past and present, five former students returned to Kingsville today to share a rich historical narrative that occurred 75 years ago and present two commemorative framed picture of their significant achievement as Kingsville students. This act of reconnection underscores the importance of valuing history and maintaining a continuous bond with significant places that have shaped lives.

The returning students, accomplished individuals in various fields, gathered to narrate a significant chapter from their school’s history. Their stories painted a picture of days gone by, filled with the camaraderie that defined their formative years. I’m sure their stories sparked our current student’s imagination with their tales of perseverance and the enduring spirit of the school community.

Central to the event was the presentation of two framed photos, honouring the school's history: the 1954 Metropolitan Football Premiership and the 1953 District Football Premiership. These photos serve as both a physical reminder of past achievements and a source of inspiration for future generations.

By having returning students highlight the continued connection between past and present students, the connection fosters a sense of community and belonging, reminding everyone that they are part of a larger narrative.

The visiting alumni left the students with a powerful message: appreciate what you have now, as it is these moments that will shape your future. They urged the students to engage deeply with their school experience, to make meaningful connections, and to contribute positively to the legacy they are inheriting.

Jeff McDonald

Assistant Principal

Last week we officially launched our schools Instagram account - kingsvilleps

Thank you to everyone for your positive feedback.

As a school, we are always looking for ways to connect with our families and broader community. At Kingsville we have so much to share and celebrate and wanted to be able to do this as timely and as interestingly as possible.

The decision to join Instagram was not one that was taken lightly or rushed in to. We spent time ‘stalking’ the accounts of other local schools, looking into our legal permissions and obligations as well as thinking about how it sits with us as a school ethically. In the end it was decided that our school was too good not to share!

We completely understand that social media is not for everyone and fully respect your right as a family to make the decisions that feel best for you. The school website has our ‘Photo Permissions’ policy listed as well as our consent form if you would like a refresher.

If you would prefer your child not to be included in any of our posts, that is ok with us! Please just send the office an email letting them know and we will get that fixed for you.

Our page is still in its very early stages, and we can’t wait to see how it evolves. I hope you are going to enjoy our content as much as we are going to enjoy putting it together for you.

If you have any other ways that you would like to see our school connect with families and the community, we would love to hear them!

At Kingsville Primary School we see the written reports as just one component of a comprehensive reporting and assessment agenda. There are throughout the year a range of reporting actions including ongoing parent-teacher communications, planned meetings, student led conferences, open afternoons, share and connect times, NAPLAN results and year 6 Exhibition to name just a few.

These all have the potential to provide parents and students with additional information regarding the growth they are making.

So, at this stage of the year when attention turns to the mid-year reports, I ask parents to view these as just one component of a much broader achievement story.

Think of the many and varied learning experiences and your child/children’s personal efforts. Reflect on the many everyday efforts, contributions, and achievements e.g.

• getting up to perform at assembly
• being a member of a collaborative team and learning community
• taking up a leadership role
• taking personal action
• volunteering to assist or take on specific tasks
• club organising or membership
• concert and/or choir involvement
• sporting, musical, dramatic and creative efforts and achievements
• showing resilience by going on camps or trips
• finding their voice in so many different ways

Again, these are just a few examples of a very large number that show learning, growth, development, and achievement of our students both individually and collectively.

Underpinning the mid-year reports are a range of tasks completed by teachers to ensure the student reports are relevant, meaningful, and truly reflect the individual progress of each child.

These tasks include moderation where teachers reflect upon student work samples, anecdotal records, and the results of a range of assessment tasks. This is a vital step to ensure valid assessment which is accurate, appropriate, and fair.

A great deal of time and effort is involved in the ongoing student assessment and completion of twice yearly student reports.

As Assessement and Reporting coordinator, I congratulate 2024 staff for their commitment to this vital component of their work. I am confident the reports will provide parents with clear information about their child/children’s achievement and areas for future growth and development.

Parents/carers please celebrate with your child/children their reports, congratulate them on, the efforts they have made on the journey as a lifelong learner.

Reports will be available to families in the last week of this term via Compass.

Blagma Veljanoska
Assessment and Reporting Coordinator

Once semester reports are shared with families, there is an opportunity for parents/carers to make a booking with their child’s teachers to unpack or discuss aspects of the report.  To facilitate this, the first week of Term 3 will be dedicated for staff to engage in parent meetings after school, allowing added flexibility for parents and teachers to organise any discussions. Staff will be available Tuesday and Thursday afternoon until 4.45pm in this week to discuss any aspects of your child’s report.

This opportunity is designed to answer specific questions or queries that haven’t already been addresses in the semester reports or during the student led conferences.

If parents/carers would like to take up this opportunity, we ask that you have read the reports and shared with the teacher the questions you have from the report. This context allows the teacher to be prepared and for the meeting to be focused.

To arrange a time (10-15 minutes) to meet with your child’s teacher you will need to contact them directly to arrange a mutually suitable time. Email is the preferred option for this.

Blagma Veljanoska
Assessment and Reporting Coordinator

In 2024 Kingsville will continue to have two teacher planning weeks, one in Semester 1 & one in Semester 2.

The Semester 2 planning week take place in Term 3, Week 1, beginning Monday 15^th July.

What happens during this week?
Over the course of planning week each cohort of teachers is allocated a day to collaboratively plan the teaching and learning experiences and opportunities that will take place throughout the semester. This planning is driven by student, class and cohort data, making the teaching and learning relevant, meaningful and timely for students.

Kingsville, through the PYP framework, utilises an inquiry-based, student-centred, transdisciplinary curriculum framework that builds conceptual understanding. Through acknowledging and aiming to meet the diverse needs of the student – physically, socially, intellectually, and emotionally – the programme aims to create learning that is engaging, relevant challenging and significant.

Within their teaching teams, teachers will also develop a yearly Program of Inquiry, mapping out the six transdisciplinary units of the Primary Years Programme across the year, and connecting the Learning Areas of English, Maths, Humanities, Science, Health and PE, Technology and The Arts to these units of inquiry.

Planning week is a significant undertaking by the school, both logistically and financially, however we value the time this provides for teachers to plan, develop, and implement high-quality, targeted teaching and learning programs.

On the day that teaching teams are planning the classroom program is supported by the specialist teachers and casual relief teachers.

The dates of different levels planning are:

• Monday 15th July:           Specialist
• Tuesday 16th July:           Level 3/4
• Wednesday 17th July:      Level 5 & Level 6
• Thursday 18th July:         Level 1/2
• Friday 19th July:             Foundation

Student-led conferences offer an opportunity for staff and students to invite families into our classrooms, and for students to share their learning and growth. The conferences are a chance to celebrate what each child has achieved over the semester through conversation and the sharing of chosen pieces of work.

At KPS, the student-led conferences are an important part of our reporting and assessment program, working alongside other components such as semester reports, learning tasks, parent-teacher meetings and share and connects. These all have the potential to provide parents and the students themselves with additional information regarding achievement, effort and involvement.

For those unfamiliar with the student-led conferences, they are a student-led conversation the child and their parents/carers, with the teacher supporting the process as required. The booking system for student led conferences is open via Compass. Families will be able to book in for a 15-minute conference in their child’s classroom. Multiple conferences run at the same time in the room, led by the student with the classroom teacher facilitating as required.

Student led conferences will be held on Wednesday 26^th June with the exception of FMC, which will occur early in Term 3.

Sam Eason
Assistant Principal

NAIDOC Week Competition
NAIDOC Week is coming up in the school holidays (7th - 14th July). NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. To celebrate this important date at Kingsville P.S, students have the opportunity to submit an entry into a nation wide competition. This competition is open to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. It is not compulsory, however there are some great prizes that can be won! Some entries will even be displayed in local council chambers, libraries and in Parliament House!

NAIDOC week 
Our Student Council Representatives will be informing their classes about NAIDOC week and the competition over the next few days.

For Prep - Year 2, it is a colouring in competition, with winners receiving gift cards and movie tickets. The sheet to be coloured will be handed out by classroom teachers.

For Years 3 - 6, it is a poetry competition, with winners receiving gift cards, smart watches and cameras. The poem must be typed on A4 paper and must include the students name, grade and class. The theme for the poem is 'My Voice, My Culture'.

All entries are due to Lucy (Performing Arts / Tutoring Program teacher) no later than Friday 21st July. Unfortunately, late entries can’t be accepted, as they have to be mailed to Sydney for judging.

Before posting the entries off for judging, the SRC will make photocopies and create a school display for our community to enjoy.

Thank you,

Lucy Oates (Teacher) and the Student Representative Council (SRC)

Please see below the list of children who will be presented with their award on Friday 21^st June:

2024 Student Free Days

Term 4 - Monday 18th November

2024 Term Dates

Term 2            Monday 15th April to Friday 28th June
Term 3            Monday 15th July to Friday 20th September
Term 4            Monday 7th October to Friday 20th December

Roster for Assembly Items – Term 2

21^st June – Assembly item – 12A

28^th June – No item


Key Sports Dates

Wednesday 20th June - Regional Cross Country Carnival

Happy Birthday to April P, Summer W, Louie J, Jonah A, Havaiana C, Hugo B, Logan C, Buni S, Nini F, Lily S, Charlie A, Bella B.