KURUNJANG PRIMARY SCHOOL ~ “Learning Together”

NEWSLETTER 1 - 2019

Thursday 7th February, 2019

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Our first newsletter for the new school year is a bumper issue. Please note it will be the last hard copy newsletter as we are reverting to electronic copy, commencing next Thursday. Today’s copy to all students has a number of important attachments for your information for 2019. Please speak to any staff member if we can help you with any of the information.

A very big welcome back to all our Kurunjang Primary School families; particularly the 34 new students who had enrolled at the end of 2018 or at the beginning of this year. We have children who have moved or lived in Kurunjang and transferred from Melton, Melton West, Wedge Park, Coburn, St Anthony’s and Toolern Vale primary schools; a little wider afield transferring from Derrimut, Mossfiel, Greenvale, Roslyn, St Peter Chanel Deer Park, Darley, Bacchus Marsh, Sydenham Hillside primary schools, and Creekside K-9 and Tarneit P-9 colleges. Even further afield, students have enrolled from Queensland; and from overseas – New Zealand, Fiji and Malaysia. This time last year we had 555 students enrolled. We are currently on 594 – and continuing to climb.

We also welcome our 62 teaching, education support and technical staff, including Sarah Quintal and Renae Reading (Year 1/2) Mellissa Barbuto and Blake Mullan (Year 3/4), Narelle Derby (Year 5/6) and Dylan Mraz (Speech Therapy).

Attached is a list of all staff, classes and room/building location in the school. If you haven’t already, we encourage you

to visit your child/ren’s classrooms to see their learning environment and to meet this year’s teachers. As in past years we will be conducting our first learning conferences on the 2 evenings of Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th of March.

Details of the conferences, including how to book times, will be forwarded closer to the time.

We also encourage you to regularly communicate with the staff throughout the year in order to keep abreast of your child/ren’s progress or share information that will assist their learning and wellbeing. If there is something that the teacher should know at the beginning of the day, please let them know while being conscious of the start of instruction time. If the information requires a longer time, please ask the teacher for a mutually agreeable time before or after school. (Staff and team commitments and meetings are scheduled Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3.30pm-4.30pm). Staff will also contact you by phone. Please ensure that all contact details are updated at the office as necessary. Also attached is our Communication/Concerns procedure if any queries or

concerns go beyond the class teacher.

The Statement of Values is a Department of

Education/Kurunjang Primary School document applicable to all people in the school community. It outlines the responsibilities we all share for ensuring a safe, inclusive and respectful community.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Today you have also received information regarding signing up for portal COMPASS App. Existing families are able to update

their personal details via this app and keep abreast of school events etc. As in 2018, ongoing electronic reporting of your

child’s progress will be made on COMPASS. Since 2018 the semester 1 and 2 reports are also forwarded electronically via COMPASS. All parents and carers are also able to access the unit overviews in Maths, English and Inquiry and receive regular progress assessments of their child/ren throughout the year in addition to the 2 end of semester reports, via COMPASS. It is imperative that all parents are on COMPASS so please ensure that you have returned the return slip if you have not done so previously, in order to receive your personalised login details.

Also, as in 2018, student assemblies are conducted at 2.30pm

on Friday afternoons, alternating each week between years F-2 and 3-6, due to the number of students and size of Kurunjang’s gym. The majority of parents and staff consider the Friday afternoon assemblies instead of Monday morning, allows all children to settle immediately into the routine of the school week and learning in their classrooms on Monday morning. We are hoping that as many parents who are available, will be able to join the children and staff for their respective assemblies. This will commence with Years 3-6 this Friday 8th February.

We look forward to a great year working with you in the education and care of your children.

~ Learning Together

FORWARD PLANNING

Tuesday 5th March

School Photo Day Tuesday 12th March & Wednesday 13th March

Parent/Teacher Learning Conferences Monday 7th October, 2019

Curriculum Day ~ Students not required at School Monday 4th November 2019

Curriculum Day ~ Students not required at School

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.

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

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 Kirstin ~ Guneet Kaur 3/4 Kirstin ~ Amelia Liquorish

3/4 Estelle ~ Tanya Taylor 3/4 Estelle ~ Nancy Martinez

3/4 Ryan ~ Lanimarei Fotuaau 3/4 Ryan ~ Zach Ali

3/4 Mellissa ~ Kunwar Singh 3/4 Mellissa ~ Jamika Randall Reid

3/4 Cattanach ~ Kai Forti 3/4 Cattanach ~ Isobelle Wheatley

3/4 Blake ~ Erica Griffiths 3/4 Blake ~ Erin Lui

3/4 Ransome ~ Natalie Martinez 5/6 Krystyna ~ Ashton Lambley 5/6 Krystyna ~ The Whole Grade

5/6 Narelle ~ Jaymie Butcher 5/6 Narelle ~ Renee Liddy

5/6 Rob ~ Ayla Ogle 5/6 Rob ~ Jack Thompson

5/6 Ana ~ Darrian Couwenberg 5/6 Ana ~ Mia Gower

5/6 Goad ~ Chiebuka Anoruo 5/6 Goad ~ Lewis Thompson

INTRODUCING STEM

STEM is a specialist approach to learning and development and integrates the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Through STEM learning, students gain and apply knowledge, deepen their understanding and develop creative and critical thinking skills within a real world context. Through STEM education, students develop important life skills including: Problem solving

creativity

critical analysis

teamwork

independent thinking

initiative

communication

digital literacy

Miss Emily Oliver who has a background in teaching science and a keen interest in sustainability and development will be delivering the STEM program in 2019. All students from years 1-6 at KPS will participate in STEM education equivalent to an hour per week.

STUDENT BANKING

School Student Banking will commence next Tuesday 12th February. School banking day is every Tuesday. If your child does not have a bank account, accounts can be opened by visiting the local

Commonwealth Bank. Any questions can be directed to Rosemary Donald through the School Office.

Rosemary Donald ~ School Banking Co-ordinator

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 8th February Sea Creatures

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.

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.

CANTEEN

6 Nuggets Juice Box (apple or orange

or tropical)

$5.00

LOST LIBRARY BOOKS

If you found any school library books at home over the holidays could they please be returned to the school library ASAP.

Thankyou Lynne Notman ~ Library Technician

APPLICATIONS FOR CSEF

CAMPS, SPORTS & EXCURSION FUND FOR

NEW STUDENTS/FAMILIES

If you are you are a current parent and have additional students at the school this year or you are a new parent this year and 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.

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

WEARING OF SCHOOL HATS

Please note that the wearing of school hats is compulsory in Term 4. Please make sure your

child has a Kurunjang Primary School embroidered hat for Term 4. School hats are only available from PSW in Deer Park.

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

Have you signed up to the Compass App?

In order to keep you up to date with important information Kurunjang Primary School uses a portal system

called COMPASS.

Through Compass you will be able to update personal details such as phone numbers and be kept up to date

with important dates, whole school events, due dates, excursion reminders and the weekly school newsletter.

You will be able to view your childs school Semester report and monthly learning tasks completed throughout

the school year via Compass.

If you have not yet signed up, please return the slip below for you to receive your personalised login details.

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I would like to receive my COMPASS APP details to be kept updated with school events, reminders and

calendar items.

Name: __________________________________________________________________

Student name/s: _________________________________________________________

Class: ____________________________________________________________________

Wilson Pee Wee Tennis (4 – 7 years) MLC Hot Shots (5 – 12 years)

Junior & Adult Coaching (Group & Private Lessons available)

Squad Training for Elite Juniors Mums in Tennis Program

Professional Racquet Restringing Ask us about NEW Cardio Tennis!

Phone: Steve Kelly 0409 173 273