Term 1, Week 3 - 14 February, 2025

Calendar

From the Principal

Updates and Thank You's

We've had a very settled start to the new school year and it's such a delight to see our newest students learning the rules, routines and procedures of "big school". They are doing a great job adjusting!!

We are all very grateful that our school community is so supportive and responsive to our request for help. On our first day back, a lovely parent mowed the grass outside the school gate - thanks Mr Beale, it was very generous of you to do this! We also had a good response to our request for someone to take on our grounds maintenance role and we have already onboarded one of our parents. You will have noticed that the grass has been mowed and things are starting to look a whole lot better.

Mr Murphy and Mr Wright are undertaking a stocktake of sports equipment and would love some parent volunteers to come up and help. If you have some time to come up during the day on 21 February, please reach out via the portal or school email to enquire about how you can help.

You might notice that the Kimbarra Close Pedestrian gate has been rehung to swing inwards in preparation for the new intercom system which is almost installed. This will mean that between the hours of 8.50am and 2.30pm you will need to press the intercom to be given access and asked to come to the office to sign in. We'll let you know via the portal when the new system commences. Please talk with your children about the importance of being inside the school gate by 8.50am to avoid having to be buzzed in.

Enjoy your weekend.

Trish Peters
Principal

News from Around the School

Stage 3

What a fantastic start to the year Stage 3 has had! All three classes have been busy getting to know their new teachers, building relationships, and establishing rules and routines. The students have immersed themselves in reading Storm Boy, enhancing their numeracy skills, and, of course, meeting their new buddies. All three teachers are excited to meet with the parents and carers of our Stage 3 students at the upcoming Meet and Greet next week.

My New Gallery

Meet the Teacher Breakfast - Thursday 20 Febraury

Athletics Help Required

We are looking for volunteers to help with our Term 1, 2025 Athletics Training Program. 

If you have done your Induction Training through the office and are able to help with the below, please contact the office and leave your details.  Thank you.

Entertainment Book - Sail into Big Savings!

Looking for the ultimate way to save and support Kincumber Public School P&C? With an Entertainment Membership, you’ll unlock a treasure trove of rewards while making a difference!  Join now:  www.entertainment.com.au and select Kincumber Public School P&C for your fundraiser!

Here’s what’s on deck when you purchase today:

• The chance to win a dream Club Med holiday to Bali
• A bonus Multi-City upgrade, with up to 50% off dining, shopping & travel across Australia, New Zealand & Bali
• 20% of your purchase goes directly to support our fundraiser

Hurry – this offer won’t last forever! Don’t let these savings drift away—seas the day and dive into incredible deals now!

Order your membership here: https://subscribe.entertainment.com.au/fundraiser/34h166

NSW Health Primary School Dental Program

NSW Health are offering free dental check-up and preventive care to all students as part of a school-based mobile dental program.  Children should have their teeth checked by their first birthday and every year after that.

The Dental Van will be at Kincumber Public School from the 3 March to 18 March, 2025.

Please return your consent form/s by this Friday 14 February, 2025.  If you have misplaced your form, please send your child to the office to collect a new one.

New Ethics Day and Time

Could you be an ethics teacher for Kincumber Public School?  We are seeking volunteers so that we can provide ethics classes for all the families who have requested it for their children.

Ethics teachers receive full training by Primary Ethics, the not-for-profit organisation approved to design curriculum and training for the ethics program. Training consists of a two day workshop and short online modules. Lesson materials are provided. Suitable volunteers have an interest in children’s education and development of critical thinking skills and must be available at 11.30am Fridays each week.

In ethics classes, children learn how to think logically, disagree respectfully and support their arguments with evidence, rather than act according to blind habit or peer pressure.

Children discuss topic such as:

• imagining how others feel
• how do we treat living things?
• what is laziness?
• how do we disagree in a respectful way?
• fairness
  

If you are looking for an opportunity to make a valuable contribution to our school, please visit www.primaryethics.com.au or contact Julia Kosheleva on 0402 414 041 or Julia.kosheleva@primaryethics.com.au

Changes to the NSW Department of Education’s enrolment policy for 2025

Please see below a parent fact sheet on "Changes to the enrolment policy".

Lost Property

Lost property is now located in the school office.

Please make sure that your children’s school jackets and hats are labelled with their full name, not initials, in legible writing as this makes it easier to return the item of clothing to your child if found.

Unclaimed items will be donated to charity if not claimed at the end of each term.

P&C News

P&C Update  

Welcome back to KPS and welcome to those who are new to KPS.  

Our next P&C meeting will be held on Monday night, 6pm, 17 February 2025 in the teacher's room. Everyone is welcome. At this meeting we will be discussing our plans for events for the year, calling on volunteers to assist and more.  

This year we are also working towards getting air conditioning into the classrooms. This will be a long-term plan, but something we are committed to achieving.  

What is the P&C?  

For those not familiar with the P&C, I thought I’d provide some information.   

The Parents & Citizens Association (P&C) is a school-based organisation with a membership open to parents, teachers, students and interested citizens.  Membership costs $1.  

The objectives of the P&C 

1. to promote the interests of the school by bringing parents, citizens, students and teaching staff into close co-operation; and
2. to assist in providing facilities and equipment for the school and promoting the recreation and welfare of the students at the school.

What do the P&C members do at KPS? 

• Events - The P&C at KPS runs fundraising events for the school, including Mother's Day stall, Father's Day stall, bake sales, disco’s and the Easter raffle.  

• Tenders - The P&C also applies for tenders for additional funding from various sources.  

• Partnerships – The P&C approaches local businesses to provide funds or services for the school.  

What happens at a meeting? 

A P&C meeting occurs on the third Monday of the month (excluding school holidays). A meeting starts with short updates from the P&C President, the school Principal, the P&C Treasurer and then a fundraiser update. Items can then be raised by P&C members and discussed with the school representatives. Any proposal is voted on.  

Each event or project that the P&C works on usually requires a group of members to work together to plan and run, often they meet outside of the meetings. It can be a great opportunity to meet with likeminded parents and create something new with friends. The Executive members will support these activities.  

Additionally, a special meeting will be held in March, before the usual meeting. This meeting is an Annual General Meeting. At this meeting Executive Roles are voted on and a President, two Vice Presidents, a Treasurer and a Secretary are selected.  

I hope to see you at a meeting soon. To ask any questions, please email admin@kpspc.onmicrosoft.com.  

Kind regards,  

Belinda Cusack  
KPS P&C President 

P&C Treasurer Position Available

The P&C is currently looking for a Treasurer. If you're interested in taking on this important role, we'd love to hear from you!  Please contact admin@kpspc.onmicrosoft.com

Donate Your Bottles and Cans to KPS!

Thanks to our hardworking P&C team, we're thrilled to announce that you can now support Kincumber Public School by donating your eligible bottles and cans directly from ANY Return and Earn machine using the Return and Earn app!  It's super easy and makes a huge difference for our students. Here's how:

• Download and Open the Return and Earn app
• Search for "KPS" under the "Charities" menu
• Press "Set as Payout" to make KPS your active donation method
• Scan the app and start returning your containers
• Press "TRANSFER" on the RVM screen when you're done
• 100% of your refunds will go to KPS P&C, helping us provide valuable resources ad events for our amazing students

Community News

Jump Street School of Performing Arts

Give Blood in Terrigal

Got a bit of time next week? Time to give blood and change lives? 1 in 3 people in Terrigal will need blood, and they need people like you to give it. We’re rolling into town on 25 February to 1 March. Don’t forget to pre-book your spot at Lifeblood.com.au, on our app or on 13 14 95.

Terrigal Mobile Blood Donor Centre - appointments still available  as at today ....

Tuesday 25 February ... 12.30 – 6.45 pm (19 appointments still available)
Wednesday 26 February ... 12.30 – 6.45 pm (25 appointments still available)
Thursday 27 February ... 12.30 – 6.45 pm (30 appointments still available)
Friday 28 February ... 8.00 am – 2.15 pm (23 appointments still available)
Saturday 1 March ... 8.00 am – 2.15 pm (31 appointments still available)

Central Coast Family Support Services

Little Friends Scholarship Program - Applications are Now Open

Imagine you’re a child who has suddenly lost your home and all your possessions because you’ve had to flee domestic or family violence. Imagine how alone this child feels, the trauma they’ve experienced. Like every other child, they not only want to feel safe, secure and loved, they also want to fit in, not stand out from their peers. Maybe they've even had to change schools and make new friends.

Made to feel different because they no longer have the right uniform or school shoes, or their parent can’t afford to pay for a laptop, school excursions, or the long-awaited school camp. Maybe they’ve had to drop out of the music lessons or sporting competitions they once attended and loved to be part of.

This is where the Little Friends Scholarship Program comes in to support our youngest Australians who have already been through so much.

An initiative of Friends with Dignity, these valuable scholarships help fund education and extracurricular activities for five to 18-year-olds, putting children affected by domestic or family violence on an equal footing with their peers.

Scholarships are up to a maximum value of $500 per child.

If you have families within your school community or support community who are financially disadvantaged due to domestic or family violence, we encourage you to inform these families about the scholarship program and support them in submitting their application for funding to assist them with the cost of educational and extra-curricular expenses for their child/ren.

More information about the Little Friends Scholarship Program and access to the online application can be found below.

Are you Looking for Part-Time Work and Want to Make a Difference?

Become an Assisted Travel Support Officer. See below for further information...

What is Saver Plus?

Saver Plus is a program for people on lower incomes. It’s about enhancing financial skills, to develop (and keep) good savings habits.  Since 2003, Saver Plus has supported more than 60,000 people to start saving.

Saver Plus has helped overcome the barriers around education expenses. And sets families up for a brighter future.

To be eligible you must have all of the following:

• A Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card  
• An eligible Centrelink payment*
• Be studying yourself OR have a child in school (can be starting school next year)
• Have regular income from work (either yourself or your partner)* including Carers Payment/Child Support/Cash in hand
• Be 18+ years old
• Agree to join in free online financial education workshops called MoneyMinded
• Not completed Saver Plus previously

* Many types of income and Centrelink payments are eligible, see the Saver Plus terms and conditions for more information.

What are the eligible savings goals?

Eligible savings goals are education related products or services eg:​

We also offer Saver Plus in 6 languages:  Arabic, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Karen, Burmese, and Dari. Don’t forget to ask for brochures in language if your school needs them.

If families would like to check their eligibility and receive a call back please include our enquiry link - Our Saver Plus financial literacy program (thesmithfamily.com.au) or they’re welcome to call our national number 1300 610 355 and a local coordinator will contact them directly.

Here is the Saver Plus 2-minute explainer video ...

Busways - Changes to School Bus Service 2588 Commencing Monday 24 February, 2025

Please see the letter below advising of changes to the School Bus Service 2588 commencing Monday 24 February, 2025.  The below letter will be distributed to students on the affected Busways service. 

For further information please refer to our schools timetabled services at: 

https://www.busways.com.au/nsw/school-services/school-timetables 

and select the link adjacent to our schools’ name; “New timetable | 24 Feb 2025”. Alternatively, you can contact Busways Customer Service on 1300 69 2929 or infoline@busways.com.au.

Kind Regards,
Busways Group
Head Office
5 Bridge St, Pymble, NSW, 2073

The Y Kincumber OSHC

Triple P Positive Parenting Program - Free program for separating and divorcing parents

Quick Reference Guides for Parents

What is the School Student Broadband Initiative?

One lesson that schools and the government learned from the "learning from home" periods in 2020 and 2021 was that not all students had access to effective and reliable internet services. As a result, many students were strongly disadvantaged, impacting the continuity of their education.

Did you know that the Australian Government in conjunction with the NBN, offer the School Student Broadband Initiative to address this gap? If your school has any students that live in an area that can access the NBN, but do not currently have an NBN service at home, please let them know about the initiative.

Eligible families will be provided with home internet service at no cost until 31 December 2025, through a participating internet provider over the National Broadband Network. The link above provides all the necessary information for eligible families to take advantage of this initiative.

Canteen

• Canteen lunch and recess orders can be processed through the online ordering system Sentral StudentPayPlus or paid in cash at school on the day
• Small items are available for purchase across the counter.  Please do not send your child with more than $5
• Cut-off time for both on-line and cash orders on the day is 8.00am. You can order up to a month in advance on-line
• Canteen orders will be delivered to classrooms
• Lunch - 10.50am (eat lunch in classroom) to 11.30am
• Recess - 1.00pm to 1.25pm

Canteen and Uniform Ordering Information

We are now using Sentral StudentPayPlus for canteen and uniform orders. Please use the links below to help set up your account if you have not already done so.

Please note:  if you have any credit with QuickCliq, you'll need to contact QuickCliq direct to apply for a refund.

Uniform Shop

All uniform items can ONLY be ordered online via Sentral StudentPayPlus. Uniform orders will be delivered to students in their classrooms the following day.

If you require an item that is showing as out-of-stock on the Sentral StudentPayPlus, please let the office know so that we can place the order.

Parents are now able to order a Kincumber Public School logo backpack via the Harlequin online store.  They will be despatched directly to your home address.  Please see a link below to their website and the flyer for more information.

School Student Travel Information for Parents and Students

School Travel Passes

Applications are now open for 2025 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel. 

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their School Opal card at their nominated postal address from mid-January 2025.

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.

In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.

Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Terms of Use

Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use.

This includes travel within the approved times between 6.30am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times.

All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.

Apply now for 2025 School Opal Cards

Getting to school by bus in 2025

Will your child be catching the bus to school next year? Applications are now open for a 2025 School Opal cards.  As it’s a busy time of year, we highly recommend you make this application before the end of this year. It’s also good to check the bus timetable to make your child’s journey to school as easy as possible. Here is how it works:

School Opal cards

• All students catching the bus in 2025 will need a School Opal card.
• Under the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS), eligible students can apply for free or subsided travel between home and school.
• For more information about the SSTS and how to apply for a School Opal Card, visit 
  https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/#/ from a desktop computer, and click 'apply for a school travel pass'. 

Bus timetables

Busways is the school bus operator that runs your schools’ bus services. To find your child’s school bus timetable visit the Busways website by using the following steps:

1. Go to busways.com.au/nsw 
2. Click on ‘school services’ in the navigation bar and then proceed to ‘school timetables’
3. Enter the school’s name in the field that says ‘enter a school name’
4. Select the school’s name and the timetable should open on your device. If you are unable to find or search for the school’s name, use the drop-down menus on the same web page to find the school.
5. Once the timetable is opened, you will be able to identify which school bus services are available in your area for your child to use.

Photo courtesy of Transport for NSW

The Music Bus classes are back for 2025 - Enrol Now!

The Music Bus classes are back at our school in 2025 and it's time to enrol for Term 1.

Classes offered are : Keyboard, Guitar, Drums, Ukulele

If you wish to enrol, please complete this Expression of Interest Form as soon as possible as places will fill quickly.

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/ee4627a5204c46158e1ab17e7c8069c6

For more general information about the program, go to www.themusicbus.com.au

Attendance Matters

Research highlights a clear correlation between student attendance and positive student outcomes. This research tells us that students with an attendance rate above 90% have greater academic and social success. Parents can view term attendance rates for their child/ren in the Sentral Attendance portal.

ALL student absences must be explained within 7 days, this is a Department of Education policy. Parents can lodge student absences through the Sentral Parent Portal at any time within the 7 days.

Online Enrolment System

The Online Enrolment System is designed to provide flexibility for parents to submit an Application to Enrol in a NSW Government School online at the time that best suits you. The application can be accessed on all browsers and mobile devices including iOS and Android.

The online application process is currently available to:

• Local and out of area enrolments
• Children who are Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens or permanent residents
• Children who live in NSW

We offer our support and encourage you to complete your application to enrol online. If however, you do not feel comfortable completing an application online, a paper copy will be available for collection from the front office or can be downloaded from the Department’s going to a public school site.

Parent Portal

Kincumber Public School uses the Sentral ‘Parent Portal’ for a variety of communication purposes.

We broadcast messages to the whole school, stages, individual classes and students. This might include reminders for upcoming events, excursions and may also include notes.

Parents are able to use 2-way messaging for important but not urgent communication regarding student wellbeing and learning. This should not be considered an instant messaging service as teachers DO NOT receive notifications and will only get them after logging into our system at a convenient time during the school day. We understand that many families have flexible working hours and will need to send or respond to portal information at a time convenient to them.  We also expect that families will understand that teachers will manage communications to you in the same way.

You can download the Sentral Parent Portal to your smart phone and receive notifications to help you stay up to date with what’s happening in school.

Rachel Andrew 
Assistant Principal – ES1 and School Improvement 

Before and After School Care (OOSH)

Here at Kincumber OSHC all of our fees can be subsidised by the new childcare subsidy, and we accept both permanent and casual bookings.

Please drop in, contact us on 0408 658 187 or via email at oshc.kincumber@ymcansw.org.au for more information.

Enrolments are done online. Please visit www.ymcansw.org.au/childrens-services and follow the prompts.

Road Safety – a Shared Responsibility 

When thinking about road safety, what is shared responsibility? 

It’s a way for us, individually, to ensure the safety of everyone in our community. 

Central Coast Council regularly reviews the environment around our many schools, improving areas such as the setup of parking restrictions or the upgrading of crossings. Supporting schools to educate their school community about road safety outside schools is also a role of our Council. 

Everyone in the school community - parents, grandparents, carers, teachers, students, bus drivers, crossing supervisors and motorists passing through the area – all have a responsibility for the road safety of our children. 

 Please consider the following to help keep the members of your school community safe 

• If you drop off or pick up children to or from school, please follow the Road Rules 
• There are designated areas that allow for parking but there are also areas that do not allow parking 
• Pedestrian and / or School Crossings provide the safest options for crossing the road 
• Speed limits are set at 40 km/hour to help keep people around school areas - especially children - safe. 

Road safety around schools is about shared responsibility. Addressing road safety issues are not always about needing more parking spaces. 

Children are great imitators so please set a good example and model safe behaviour. 

The Safe System Approach to Road Safety has been adopted in NSW. The following is taken from the NSW Towards Zero Road Safety Campaign: 

People are at the heart of the safe system approach to road safety. 

Road safety is a shared responsibility – everyone needs to make safe decisions on and around the road to prioritise safety. 

All road users owe it to themselves and to everyone else on the road to follow the road rules and drive to the conditions. Crashes can be prevented, and lives can be saved, by making safe choices. 

Source: NSW Centre for Road Safety  

Traffic Around School