KURUNJANG PRIMARY SCHOOL ~ “Learning Together”

NEWSLETTER 5 - 2018

Thursday 1st March 2018

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Today you have received information regarding our first student learning conferences for 2018, scheduled for Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th March, for all year levels F-6. Please ensure you are able to log on to COMPASS to book a time with your child/ren’s teacher/s. Please note the 2 information sessions conducted by Assistant Principals Wendy McCall and Tom Goddard, for parents who would like assistance in accessing COMPASS if they have not done previously. If you are not able to access a computer at home, you are most welcome to book conference times at school. Interest in your child’s learning at school actually increases their potential for success and the information which you can provide the teachers and vice versa, will ensure that all that is needed to be shared, can be, to make the children’s learning optimal.

Accessing the ongoing reporting comments for each unit taught, and semester reports, via COMPASS will be the only method used in 2018, following the transition to electronic reporting in 2017. In addition to reporting it also has the advantage for you in receiving notifications such as reminders of curriculum days or forthcoming or current school events such as school camp.

Yesterday, it also had the advantage of notifying the community of an incident requiring enacting our emergency management processes. A staff member’s sighting of a snake slithering from the oval under a relocatable, resulted in lock down while a snake catcher was contacted. Unfortunately extensive searching under the relocatable and elsewhere in the grounds failed to locate the snake. The staff and students did a magnificent job during the day, with not just remaining inside at both breaks and during session times, but with the resulting and necessary adjustment to timetable and room changes, and whole class supervised trips to the toilets and canteen. We very much appreciated the support by parents in person and on social media later in the day.

We have some important events next week which include for the students, the school photos on Tuesday. Please ensure the children are in complete uniform. Jim Asimakopolous from the Department of Education, will be working with the year 3/4s on Wednesday about inclusion and abilities education. The Year 5/6s are attending Sunnystones camp on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

For parents and carers you are invited to either self-nominate or nominate another parent in our forthcoming school council elections. There is a letter attached to the newsletter explaining the work of school council and we invite interested persons to nominate another or self-nominate to a position on school council. Please pop into the office for the respective nomination forms for lodging before 4.00pm on the 15th March.

We also invite any interested parents/carers/community members to come to school next Monday at 2.10pm to 3.10 pm to hear and view the preliminary plans by BRAND architects for the new joint user community hub building/teaching garden planned for the reserve adjacent to the school (east fence). The preliminary plans will be available in the main building central foyer for 2 weeks, for all to peruse and comment before a subsequent meeting, at 2.10pm - 3.10pm on Monday 19th March to discuss people’s opinions and recommendations.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Please enjoy a cuppa with us as well as the presentation on both dates.

~ Learning Together

STUDENT OF THE WEEK

AWARDS

Student of the week awards are made each week and announced in the newsletter on a Thursday. The awards are presented to the

students at assembly on Friday at 2.30pm in the Gym.

Parents are most welcome to attend.

3/4 Ryan ~ CJ Fox 3/4 Ryan ~ Miranda Tynkkynen

3/4 Eudey ~ Emily Veleski 3/4 Eudey ~ Chinaedum Anoruo

3/4 D’Elia ~ Jessica Brugger 3/4 D’Elia ~ Danyell Davies 3/4 Kirstin ~ Xavier Tellis

3/4 Kirstin ~ Erin Lui 5/6 McGettigan ~ Lachlan Anderson

5/6 McGettigan ~ Joshua Buckland Prior 5/6 Otto ~ Lilly Wilson

5/6 Otto ~ Destiny Faauma 5/6 Sharon ~ Bailey Smyth

5/6 Sharon ~ Robert Muratori 5/6 Stephanie ~ Nyok Nyok 5/6 Stephanie ~ Ryan Smith

FORWARD PLANNING

Tuesday 6th March

School Photo Day Wednesday 7th to Friday 9th March

Grade 5/6 Camp Friday 9th March

Year 1/2 Billy Cart Incursion ~ Payment Due Monday 12th March

Public Holiday ~ Labor Day Tuesday 13th March & Wednesday 14th March

Learning Conferences ~ More information to come

Thursday 15th & Friday 16th March

Year 1/2 Billy Cart Incursion

School Council Nomination ~ Forms Due 4.00pm Friday 23rd March

Crazy Hair/Hat Day ~ Gold Coin Donation

PFA NEWS

If you would like to assist the PFA in any way please leave your details at the office or contact Elizabeth Bajada on 0404 525 975 or lizbajada@hotmail.com.

PFA EASTER RAFFLE

The PFA is kindly requesting new Easter item donations to assist us in making hampers for our Easter raffle.

All donations can be left in the office, and all donators will receive an entry into the draw for a Sellers prize.

The PFA is a great way to be involved in your school community as well as make some new friends.

Liz and the PFA

APPLICATIONS FOR CSEF

CAMPS, SPORTS & EXCURSION FUND

If you have a valid means tested concession card or you are a temporary foster parent you may be eligible to get assistance through the CSEF. Please collect an application form from the school office and return it with your current Health Care/Concession card ASAP.

If you started at Kurunjang Primary School last year and did not apply for CSEF here, are new to the school this year or your circumstances have changed you will have to fill out the CSEF form and return it to the school office. If you applied for CSEF last year at Kurunjang Primary School your application has automatically been processed. If you have any questions or are unsure if you are eligible to apply for CSEF please contact Vee-arnie at the school office.

STUDENT MEDICATIONS FORMS

New medical forms have been given to students who require them. Could all forms be returned to the Office as soon as possible. If your child no longer has medical conditions or allergens have changed we need to be notified in writing. All Anaphylaxis,

Asthma, Allergy and medical conditions need to be updated yearly as per department guidelines.

Thank you ~ Stacey Williams

WEDNESDAY’S MULTICULTURAL

PLAYGROUP AT KPS

Children 0-5 years are offered the opportunity to join Playgroup with VICSEG.

PLAYGROUP AT KPS ~ FRIDAY’S 9-11AM

Children from 0-5yrs. Come along and meet new people while your child learns through play experiences.

New members welcome however, you must phone to register. For further information on any of our playgroups, please contact Kathleen McInnes on 9743 0633.

Friday 9th ~ Winter

DISTRICT SWIMMING

On Tuesday the 27th of February, our school swimming team travelled to the Melton Wave Pool to compete against other schools in the Melton District. Our team consisted of Kobe Dennehy, Felicity Collyer, Phoenix Merrett, Gabby Moutsos, Georgia Ullrich and Hazlee Whakataka.

The students should be congratulated on the way they conducted themselves; showing the school values and great sportsmanship.

Big congratulations to Gabby who came third in the 12/13 year old girls individual Freestyle, Backstroke and Butterfly events. She swam hard but was up against some tough competition and as a result, unfortunately won’t progress to the Divisional event this year.

Well done also to Kobe, Georgia, Hazlee and Gabby who made up our Freestyle Relay team in the 12/13 year old girls event and earnt a third place ribbon.

Thank you to all the parents who came to show their support and cheer us on.

A massive thanks to Gabby’s mum Lennor, for getting everyone to their correct event on time and for looking after the team while I was undertaking time keeping duties.

Well done everyone. A great day had by all. Alicia Goodes ~ P.E teacher

CRAZY HAT/COLOURED HAIR DAY

As part of the JSC commitment to giving back to the community, KPS will be holding a crazy hat/ coloured hair day on 23rd March to raise money for the World’s Greatest Shave.

All students participating will need to bring a gold coin donation. We look forward to seeing some of the creative hairstyles and crazy hats students come to school with.

Mrs Burton & JSC

BREAKFAST CLUB

Due to school photos being taken on Tuesday 6th March, breakfast club will not operate on this morning.

CANTEEN

Ham & Salad Sandwich Strawberry Frozen Yoghurt

$5.00

OSHCLUB NEWS

OSHClub Kurunjang BSC: 6:50am-8:50am & ASC: 3:10pm-6:30pm each day during the school term. We are operating in Room MB(E)3, the room next to the playroom.

Our program provides a healthy breakfast and afternoon tea each day. Permanent and occasional vacancies are available for Before School & After School Care.

Please feel free to come in and see our program and the fun activities our staff provide!

Program Phone: 0400 028 149 Coordinator: Brittany Assistant: Danielle

All families must be enrolled to attend the program. Please create an account online at www.oshclub.com.au. All bookings and cancellations can also be managed via your online account. For on the day bookings please contact the Coordinator direct at the program.

ABSENCES:

Did you know? If a child misses over 20 days every half year, this equates to 2 ½ years of learning between Foundation and Year 12.

LATE ARRIVALS:

If your child is running late for any particular reason, please take them to the office to be signed into school. A late pass will be issued to your child to be given to the teacher

CHANGE OF DETAILS

If you have changed any of your contact details could you please advise the school office ASAP so that our records can be updated. It is vitally important that we have current contact details in order to call parents.

COLES SPORTS FOR

SCHOOLS 2018 HAS STARTED

Kurunjang Primary School has registered to participate in the Sports for Schools program. If you shop at Coles collect your

vouchers when shopping and bring them to school by the 11th May 2018. We have a collection box for vouchers to be placed in at the school office and there is also a collection box for vouchers at Coles at Woodgrove.

The vouchers will be redeemed for sports equipment for all of our students to use in their PE sessions or during recess and lunchtime breaks.

Helen Craig and Christine Butcher Coles Sports for Schools

School Council Election 2018 - Information for Parents

What is a school council and what does it do?

All government schools in Victoria have a school council. They are legally constituted bodies that are given powers to set the key directions of a school within state-wide guidelines. In doing this, a school council is able to directly influence the quality of education that the school provides for its students.

Who is on the school council?

For most school councils, there are three possible categories of membership:

A mandated elected Parent category - more than one-third of the total members must be from this category. Department of Education and Training (DET) employees can be Parent members at their child's school as long as they are not engaged in work at the school.

A mandated elected DET employee category - members of this category may make up no more than one-third of the total membership of school council. The principal of the school is automatically one of these members.

An optional Community member category - members are co-opted by a decision of the council because of their special skills, interests or experiences. DET employees are not eligible to be Community members.

Generally, the term of office for all members is two years. The term of office of half the members expires each year, creating vacancies for the annual school council elections.

Why is Parent membership so important?

Parents on school councils provide important viewpoints and have valuable skills that can help shape the direction of the school.

Those parents who become active on a school council find their involvement satisfying in itself and may also find that their children feel a greater sense of belonging.

How can you become involved?

The most obvious way is to vote in the elections, which are held in Term 1 each year. However, ballots are only held if more people nominate as candidates than there are positions vacant.

In view of this, you might seriously consider

standing for election as a member of the school council

encouraging another person to stand for election.

Do I need special experience to be on school council?

No. What you do need is an interest in your child's school and the desire to work in partnership with others to help shape the school's future.

What do you need to do to stand for election?

The principal will issue a Notice of Election and Call for Nominations following the commencement of Term i each year. All school council elections must be completed by the end of March unless the usual time line has been varied by the Minister.

If you decide to stand for election, you can arrange for someone to nominate you as a candidate or you can nominate yourself in the Parent category.

DET employees whose child is enrolled in a school in which they are not engaged in work are eligible to nominate for parent membership of the school council at that school.

Once the nomination form is completed, return it to the principal within the time stated on the Notice of Election. You will receive a Nomination Form Receipt in the mail following the receipt of your completed nomination.

Generally, if there are more nominations received than there are vacancies on council, a ballot will be conducted during the two weeks after the call for nominations has closed.

Remember

Ask at the school for help if you would like to stand for election and are not sure what to do

Consider standing for election to council this year

Be sure to vote in the elections.

Contact the principal for further information

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