Term 1, Week 7 - 14 March, 2025

Calendar

From the Principal

This week:

• Changes to Class Organisation
• K – 6 Easter Hat Parade
• The Library is Back in Business
• P & C AGM
• The Gate
• Student-led Conferences

Changes to Class Organisation

As I foreshadowed in a previous newsletter, some changes to our classes structure were needed, as we have recently enrolled a number of students in Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4) and class sizes are unsustainable. To optimise the learning environment for students and increase the amount of teaching time for them, it is necessary for us to make some big changes which will be disruptive in the short term, but productive in the long term.

We will create a 2/3 composite class which Mrs Rendall and Mrs Woodard Knight will teach and will re-form the four Year 1 and 2 classes into three Stage 1 classes. Mr Webber, Mrs Purcell, Mrs McNally and Mr Hayter will stay on Stage 1 and Mrs Wicks, Mrs Follett and Mr Wright will stay on stage 2. These changes do not affect kindergarten or Stage 3 classes.

The timeline for change is that early next week, letters will go home to advise parents the classes their child/ren will be in. On Friday 21 March we will have a transition morning for stages 1 and 2 only, and on Monday of week 9, students will begin in their new classes.

Every effort has been made to consider previous requests and teacher advice about grouping to maximise engaged learning time and we know that this is a disruption, but we are a “have-a-go’ school and know that this is NOT a catastrophe. As Miss McPhee says, “things change and that’s okay!”.

Please support us to transition smoothly and maintain continuity of learning by supporting your children to maintain a positive and resilient view of this necessary change.

K – 6 Easter Hat Parade

Last year we had our first K – 6 Easter Hat Parade. Every student will have the chance to participate in the parade again this year, and all parents/carers will be invited to come along and watch on Thursday 10 April, the day before the School Cross Country Carnival.

The P&C will promote the day and plan some fund-raising activities as well, with more details to come. Tentatively we have planned for the parade and activities to take place between 1.30pm and 2.40pm so we can use the morning learning session for its intended purpose and the time from 11.30am – 2.00pm to prepare and parade. Clean-up will be from 2.00pm so we can tidy up and get rubbish to the bins before we leave at 2.40pm. These details may change, so look out for portal messages.

Our school tradition of making hats at school will continue, and like last year, we have put a sustainability twist on our hat-making and ask that you support us by only sending in items to make hats that follow the reduce, re-use, recycle and re-imagine principle and do not purchase anything new to make hats from.

We are proposing a combined Stage 3 - Kindy 'develop and make' of the hats with Stage 3 having done the 'research and plan' the week before during RFF time. This would allow the older students time to explore the recycled resources that we already have and identify what additional items need to be sourced from you.

Watch out for portal communications from individual teachers for class information and general information broadcast to the whole school next week after the P&C meeting on Monday night!

The Library is Back in Business!

I am delighted that to advise that we have had a tremendous response to the library’s re-opening after the reno! We have had parents and kids come into the refreshed library space on Tuesday and Thursday mornings to read together and to borrow!

All students are welcome to come to the library before school to return books and browse for new ones on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Access to books is easier and our collection has been modernised significantly.

You can take the overdue or lost notices off the fridge and stop worrying – we are starting from scratch!

P&C AGM

At next Monday’s P&C AGM, a new executive team will be elected. I thank your current P&C committee for their commitment and vision for our school:

• President – Belinda Cusack
• Vice Presidents – Sally Webb + Jayne Laffan
• Treasurer – Jayne Laffan
• Secretary – Kellie Ward

There will be a face-to-face parent induction meeting before the main event.

The Gate

The new gate system is working and the gate swings inwards again – I don’t know about you, but I could never get used to it swinging outwards!

We have ordered new metal signs to install on the gate to advise the process to gain access between 8.50am and 2.30pm.

Don’t forget “If you’re late, you’re locked out!” and have to buzz in.

Student Led Conferences

Student led conferences are usually held late in Term 1. They form part of our reporting process and, after the Meet the Teacher opportunity, are another way to develop a strong partnership with your child’s teacher.

Due to the class changes we will postpone them until early in Term 2.

To book a conference we will send a portal notification in the first week of Term 2 and advise when the portal booking system will open.

Just what is a student-led conference?

Firstly a student-led conference is linked with our mid-year reporting process.  They differ from a teacher-directed parent teacher interview, as the student is actively involved in the process.  They take the form of a scripted conversation between the student, their parents and their teacher, allowing students to demonstrate their individual growth and any particular achievements of which they are proud.

A number of conferences take place in a classroom at the same time with children talking with parents about the learning, their achievements and possible goals on their own and then with the teacher. Check out this link on our school website to learn more.

It is a time to share achievements so far and academic, behaviour and social goals for the next term in a supportive and celebratory environment.

This year teachers will have a guided conversation with students about their specific goals so that ALL students are setting challenging, but achievable goals that will be reported on in the Semester One report.

What if I want a one-on-one parent-teacher interview?

Some parents feel that the student-led conference does not give the opportunity to discuss their child’s achievements, behaviour and social needs directly and privately with their teacher.  However, we strongly encourage parents to make an appointment to discuss these issues directly with their teacher at any stage during the year.  You don’t need to wait until the mid-year report to discuss your child’s progress – make an appointment any time!

Hope you had a great week at our great school!

Trish Peters
Principal

News from Around the School

1A / 2G / 3E Come & Try Inclusive Athletics Carnival at Mingara

On Wednesday 12 March, our amazing Support Unit students participated in the highly anticipated Come and Try Inclusive Athletics Carnival at Mingara. The day started with a little shower, but it wasn't long before the sun came out, brightening the spirits of everyone involved!

The atmosphere was filled with excitement as students from across the Central Coast came together to compete, cheer, and celebrate. Our students really enjoyed competing in the 50m and 100m sprints, showcasing their enthusiastic participation in various track and field events. From sprints to long jumps, they tackled each event with determination and joy, demonstrating their skills and sportsmanship.

A special highlight of the day was the delightful reunion with some of our past KPS students who have moved on to high school. It was wonderful to see familiar faces and catch up with friends, reminding us all of the strong community spirit that KPS fosters.

The biggest takeaway for our teachers was watching the students socialise and support one another while competing. The camaraderie and friendship on display made the day even more memorable.

A massive thank you goes out to all the parents who came to support their children at the event. Your encouragement means the world to our students and helps create these incredible experiences. Without your involvement, events like this wouldn’t be possible!

We also want to give a huge shoutout to our SLSO’s who attended the event and to those who stayed at school to ensure that all our students received the support they needed. Your dedication is greatly appreciated!

Overall, the Come and Try Athletics Carnival was a huge success, filled with laughter, teamwork, and unforgettable memories. We can't wait for next year’s event! Go KPS! 🎉🏃‍♂️🏅

Mrs Cookie, Miss Pearson and Mrs Gemmell

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Library Update

This week the library opened for most classes, and it has been wonderful for students to foster their love of books again. 

Please return any outstanding library books and remember to bring your library bag on your allocated library day.

The library is open for students, parents and carers from 8.20am until the morning bell at 8.50am on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Come in and enjoy a good book just like 3A did this week!

Library Monitor Update

Congratulations to the following students who received their library badges in a recent assembly and are now new library monitors: Kenza, Dekodah, Neela, Claire, Sophie and Maddie.

We are proud of your commitment, help and effort to support your school library.

Orders Now Open for the KPS Soft Shell Black Zip Jacket and the New Style Hooded Jumper.

With winter just around the corner, we have opened pre-orders for our KPS Soft Shell Black Zip Jacket and KPS Jumper with Hood.

If you would like to order either of these for your child/children, please go into your Sentral Parents app and order and pay. These items are available by pre-orders only so don't miss out.  

We have samples available for the Black Soft Shell Zip Jackets in the office if you are unsure of sizing. 

Pre-orders for both items will close on Friday 21 March, 2025.

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

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

Good afternoon!

I hope Term 1 is off to a great start for you and your children. 

Volunteer Induction Training  

A little reminder, every year volunteers need to attend a one-hour volunteer session before they can volunteer at the school.  Volunteering can include: 

• Canteen duties, breakfast club   
• Helping at P&C events on school grounds  
• Helping a teacher in the classroom or for school events  
• Library help and garden club 

A volunteer induction training session is always held before the P&C AGM. If you’d like to attend, add to your diary 6pm, 17 March 2025, in the teacher's room.  

If you are unable to attend on the night, please call the school and add your name to the waitlist. Another session will be scheduled once there are enough people listed on the waitlist.  

P&C Annual General Meeting (AGM)  

Following the training, we’ll hold our P&C AGM to present annual reports, elect executive roles, and renew memberships (gold coin donation). You will need to be a current member to nominate or vote.  Executive roles to be filled are President, Treasurer, Secretary and two Vice Presidents.  Afterward, a regular P&C meeting will follow. 

For any questions or to get involved, please email admin@kpspc.onmicrosoft.com. I hope to see you on the 17 March.  

On Monday night I will be resigning as President of the P&C, therefore this will be my last update. It has been an honor to work with the P&C members and other community members to deliver more events, fundraise and work with the school to give our kids more. I hope you found these updates helpful. We have achieved so much in the last 2 years, I can’t wait to see what the new Executive can achieve.   

Kind regards,  

Belinda Cusack 
KPS P&C President 

KPS P&C Meeting Highlights - Monday 17 February, 2025

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

Little Leaders - April Camps 2025

Australian Air League (NSW Group)

Central Coast Junior Chess Club

Private Chess Lessons

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...

An Important Message from The Smith Family

We understand that many families are still facing cost of living challenges and rising education expenses. That is why we’re excited to share that Saver Plus can help ease the financial burden of school costs.

With Saver Plus, families can receive $500 in matched funds to assist with expenses like devices, laptops, school uniforms, school camps and school supplies. Here is how it works:

Save up to $50 a month for 10 months, and your savings will be matched up to $500.

 https://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/programs/financial/saver-plus

In additions to financial support, participants will have access to free financial education workshops, that cover budgeting, saving tips and more.

‘Saver Plus has proudly supported Australians for 21 years, and we are thrilled to announce that the Federal Government is committing to funding the program for the next 5 years!

We accept Fulltime, Part time, Casual wages, Child Support, Carers Payment, and Cash in Hand as regular income.

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.

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.

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