Term 2, Week 2 - Friday 9 May, 2025

Calendar

From the Principal

This week:

• Great news for public schools
• Student-led conferences and reports
• Anzac Day
• Mother’s Day Thank You

Great news for public schools

The election result over the weekend was great news for public schools. In March, the Commonwealth and NSW governments reached an Agreement to fully and fairly fund New South Wales public schools.

As part of the agreement, the Commonwealth will provide an additional five per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) to NSW. This will lift the Commonwealth contribution from 20 per cent to 25 per cent of the SRS by 2034 and will see an estimated $4.8 billion in additional Commonwealth funding to NSW public schools over the next 10 years.

Commonwealth funding will be tied to the reforms needed to lift education standards across the country, including more individualised support for students, continuing evidence-based teaching practices, and more mental health and wellbeing support for schools. This represents the biggest ever new investment in NSW public schools by the Australian Government.

Thank you to everyone who supported the P&C’s Democracy Sausage barbecue on election day – it was so very successful. The P&C volunteers were a well-oiled machine as they fed hungry voters, sold raffle tickets and raised money for the air-conditioning project. A mighty effort and thank you!

Student-led conferences and reports

Due to the change to class structures at the end of Term 1, we did not schedule our usual end-of-term 1 student-led conferences.

If you would like an opportunity to catch up with your child's teacher in the next few weeks before we start the Semester 1 reporting process in Week 5, please send them a portal message, and they will organise a time to either meet you or call you.

After Semester 1 reports are distributed, every family will be offered the usual opportunity for an interview.

Last year in Semester 2 we were required to change our reporting format to comply with the Department of Education policy and standards at the time. The policy was revised and our new format no longer meets the new requirements and the Semester 1 report will be different again.

Reports will be published to the parent portal on the last day of Term 2. Please go into the portal to download the report to save it. This is particularly important for Year 6 students as once they head off to high school, parents no longer have access to the portal and the reports.

ANZAC Day

My apologies that I did not include this great photo of our School Captain, India Kirk at the MacMasters Beach SLSC ANZAC service in the last newsletter.

Mother’s Day

Many thanks to our P&C President Sally Webb and her team of amazing volunteers who helped the P&C to run our Mother’s Day stall yesterday.

I hope all mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers and anyone who has a mothering role, will enjoy your special day this Sunday.

Hope you all have a great Mother’s Day next Sunday and will see you back next week at our great school.

Trish Peters

Principal

News from Around the School

News from KC & KD

In KC and KD, we have been learning about the features of 2D shapes. We have explored how new shapes can be made by joining and separating existing shapes. The classes used geoboards, stretching rubber bands, to make different 2D shapes and then explored the environment around the school, identifying shapes in everyday objects.

In Art, Kindergarten examined the paper cut out artworks of Henri Matisse. They explored the shapes used in the artworks and considered the layering and position of the shapes to represent movement and objects. The students were given a range of coloured shapes to use to create their own collage artwork.

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 20

Next

News from 3B

During MAPPEN lessons, students in 3B have actively engaged in an in-depth exploration of the concept of Identity and the various elements that shape who they are. They have thoughtfully examined the impact of media, influential role models, and social pressures on their developing sense of self.

As a culminating assessment for Term 1, students showcased their understanding by contributing to an Identity Art Exhibition, combining digital technologies with creative expression. Each student produced a self-portrait, a mind map, and an exhibit statement that together reflect their individual journey of self-discovery.

In 3B, we take pride in celebrating the uniqueness of every student, embracing the diverse qualities that make our classroom an inspiring and inclusive learning environment!

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 10

Next

Assembly Roster for Early Stage 1 (Kindy) and Stage 1 (Years 1 & 2) for 2025

Please see below the roster for Early Stage 1 and Stage 1 for 2025.  Please note that assemblies are now run fortnightly starting Week 2 (Friday 9 May).

If there are any changes to the below, families will be notified by the Sentral Parent Portal;

We look forward to seeing as many families as possible. 

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 and Community News

It’s been a busy and wonderful few weeks for the P&C! The KPS Grannies hosted a fantastic market stall down at Macs Beach, we filled everyone’s bellies with delicious sausage sandwiches at the election BBQ, and we celebrated our mums and carers at our annual Mother’s Day Stall.

Grandparents KPS Stall – Easter Saturday
On Easter Saturday, the Kincumber Public School P&C hosted the Grandparents KPS Stall at MacMasters Beach Surf Club. I attended the morning, and what a day it was! The sun was shining and the water perfect for a swim, our amazing grandparents—along with their enthusiastic Kincumber Potential Support committee—truly outdid themselves.

The stall offered a wonderful variety of great holiday reads and delicious homemade goods, including preserves, chutneys, pickles, cakes and slices. A highlight of the day was the firewood raffle, with a trailer load of Southern Highlands hardwood delivered locally to the lucky winner.

Funds raised from this event will go toward supporting extra educational resources and enrichment programs at Kincumber Public School, tailored to benefit both individual students and groups as required.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed, attended, and supported this beautiful community event.

Sally - KPS Committee Member - President

Election Day Sausage Sizzle – Thank You! 
Belinda Cusack and I (Corrin Baines) would like to thank everyone who helped make our Election Day Sausage Sizzle a sizzling success! 

We’d like to give a special shout-out to: 

• Our early risers who setup and fired up the BBQ at 7am 
• The friendly faces on the serving line keeping things moving 
• The runners who kept the process going 
• Those who stayed to clean up  
• Everyone who spread the word 
• And of course — the wonderful local community who showed up, supported, and enjoyed a snag! 

We met so many wonderful community members who donated beyond the cost of the sausage to our air conditioning effort.  Apparently, KPS holds the title of collecting the most votes for Robertson, around 1800 votes.  Events like these show the amazing spirit of our school community. We couldn’t do it without you! 

If you couldn’t make it down to the school on Saturday, and would like to donate to the air conditioning campaign, please use this link - www.givenow.com.au/kpspandcaircon 

Corrin - KPS Committee member – Vice President

Mother’s Day Stall – A Wonderful Celebration
What an amazing day! This year’s Mother’s Day Stall was a truly special event, thanks to our dedicated Mother's Day team who went above and beyond to deliver a beautiful experience for our students.

The stall was filled with thoughtfully selected and beautifully wrapped gifts that we know will bring so much joy to our KPS mums and carers this Sunday. It was heart-warming to see the excitement on the children’s faces as they carefully chose gifts with so much love and pride.

A huge thank you to our wonderful school community for supporting the stall. We wish all our KPS mums and carers a very Happy Mother’s Day – we’re sure you’ll love your child’s chosen gift just as much as they loved selecting it for you.

Sally - P&C Member - President

In Community News
The Kincumber Public School P&C would like to give a huge shout-out to The KPS Run Club!

Founded and organised by KPS parent Tina Stafford, Run Club began in Term 1 to help students prepare for the Cross Country – and what a fantastic turnout it had! With so many families getting involved, the Run Club quickly became a much-loved community initiative, and we’re thrilled to share that Tina has brought it back for Term 2!

Whether you're preparing for zone or simply looking for a fun and healthy way to start your Tuesday, Run Club is open to all KPS families. It's a wonderful chance to get active together, set personal goals, and enjoy the community spirit that makes KPS so special.

Thank you, Tina, for your incredible effort and dedication. The time and energy you’ve put into creating such a positive, inclusive space for our school community is truly appreciated.

Run Club meets Tuesday mornings at the skate park at Frost Oval. Meet at 8:00am for an 8:15am start. Whether it’s one lap or a few, the challenge is up to you!

If you’d like to join, please use the following link.  KPS Run Club is a community-run initiative – all details are available via the link only: https://m.me/j/AbbA2RVJrY_9aZLJ/

Let’s keep running, KPS!

Upcoming Information:

• Next Meeting 19 May, 2025
  

Thank you everyone for your continued support of the KPS P&C and our wonderful school.

KPS P&C Meeting Highlights - 28 April, 2025

The P&C are looking for a Secretary!

Kincumber Public School P&C is seeking a new Secretary to join their amazing team.

The role includes preparing meeting agendas and minutes, handling correspondence, and keeping accurate records — perfect for someone organised who loves supporting our school community! 

If this sounds like you (or someone you know), email us at admin@kpspc.onmicrosoft.com with your name, contact details, and preferred time to chat.

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—seize the day and dive into incredible deals now!

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

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

Positive Partnerships Free Workshop for Parents and Carers

Give life. 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 27 to 31 May. Don’t forget to pre-book your spot at Lifeblood.com.au, on our app or on 13 14 95

Nunyara Influenza Vaccination Clinic

Clinics are run on on Thursdays from 8am to 7pm.

Available to all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community members and their families.

Call 4320 2698 to book in or walk in. Parking available on site.

Headspace - Free Mental Health Services to Young People 12-25

Want to Make Health Changes? Join Go4Fun Online

Families with primary school-aged children can access the free Go4Fun Online healthy lifestyle program anywhere, any time to support your family’s wellbeing.

Your personal health coach supports your goals and gives you advice relevant to you and your family situation.

The calls with your health coach are supported by online sessions and weekly activities you do together as a family. You also have access to a closed Facebook group to connect with other Go4Fun Online families on their journey.

Families learn practical skills together, such as:

• understanding food groups, serving sizes and food labels
• reducing screen time with fun, creative games
• helping to prepare food
• sharing activity ideas family members can do together

Visit the website for more information and to register.

Australian Navy Cadets - TS Hawkesbury @ Point Clare ... Back for Term 2

TS Hawkesbury will be returning to regular parades for Term 2, starting 3 May, 2025. 

We are still accepting expressions of interest from any young people; The only requirement is they must be turning 13 in 2025.  The flyer below shows programs that are offered ...

TS Hawkesbury at Point Clare
Time: Saturdays, 08:30am until 3.00pm
Where: 119 Kurrawa Ave, POINT CLARE NSW 2250 - Next to Marine Rescue

How to apply:
Please click https://www.navycadets.gov.au/find-a-unit

This will take you to 'find a unit', please select 2250 and click TS Hawkesbury.  The ANC has units located all across Australia, and each unit has their own different parade times.

Triple P Parenting Programs

Ask any parent how they juggle raising kids while taking time for themselves, and they'll probably tell you it's tough. Many parents have little time, resources or energy to focus on their own needs. This can lead to "parental burnout", a growing syndrome that stems from chronic parenting stress. Symptoms may include emotional disconnection with your children, exhaustion, shame, and feeling overwhelmed or fed up with your role as a parent.

Check out these parenting tips from Triple P to help you put your own needs back in the picture.

Reframe self-care
Self-care is not selfish – it's one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your loved ones. Taking care of yourself can help you feel more confident in your parenting skills and better equipped to handle stressful situations. This, in turn, benefits children and helps create positive family environments.

Start small
Self-care is often portrayed as a luxury or indulgence, but it can be more about the small, everyday things you can do that add up. Whether it's just taking some deep breaths, going for a walk, or catching up with a friend, even small amounts of time for your wellbeing can gradually add up to make a big difference. 

Be kind to yourself
We all make mistakes and face difficulties, and that's okay. Being kind to yourself is important, especially when things don't go as planned. Practising self-compassion can make a huge difference in how you feel every day. Plus, it sets a great example for children on how to show themselves love and kindness, too.

Get support  
Various factors can cause parental burnout, and it's a sign of strength to ask for help. Consider talking to a loved one or reaching out to helpful resources like Lifeline, Parentline, or your GP. To help make parenting less stressful and more rewarding, try a free online course from the Triple P Positive Parenting Program.

Visit triplep-parenting.net.au to learn more.

Busways - Important Information if Your Child Travels to School by Bus

Please remind your child to tap on and tap off with their Student Opal card when travelling to school by bus.  

Tapping on and tapping off is so important, even for school students with free travel.  It helps Transport for NSW know how many students are using the service and plan better bus services to meet demand.

To apply for a school opal card visit

https://transportnsw.info/school-travel-apply

Free Podiatry Consultations for Children

The University of Newcastle Podiatry Clinic at Wyong Hospital is offering children age 0-17 free lower limb assessments.

Children will be assessed by final year students, supervised by a podiatrist. Children and their families can receive advice on footwear, flat feet, and normal development, and receive treatment of foot warts, foot and leg pain, walking problems, and night-time ‘growing pains’.

When: Monday afternoons from 10 March to 26 May, 2025

To make a booking, or for more information call 4394 7280.

Free Group Meetups for Parents/Carers of Children with Disability, Delay and Autism

We’re gathering every fortnight at the Rotary Park in Terrigal.  Parents and carers can expect a casual drop-in session offering free coffee, engaging conversation, and meaningful connection in an informal, judgment-free space.

We understand that parents and carers can feel isolated and unconnected to community. At Belongside Families we are hoping to create self-sustaining community groups of people who are able to get together, chat and share their knowledge and resources with each other. We believe that sharing stories and support can make a big difference.

If you'd like to know a little bit more about who we are and what we do, below is a link to our website 
https://belongsidefamilies.org.au/

Australian Air League (NSW Group)

Central Coast Junior Chess Club

Private Chess Lessons

Carers Change Lives

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...

Saver Plus Program

Term 2 is a great time to support families with Saver Plus—a free program that helps eligible parents save for school costs, while receiving up to $500 in matched funds.

What can families use the money for?  
Saver Plus can help cover the cost of school uniforms, excursions, camps, technology, sports fees, and more.

Who can join?  
Participants must:

• Have a child in school (or study themselves)
• Have a Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card
• Have some income (self or partner)
• Be 18+ years old

Why Saver Plus works:

• $500 matched savings to ease school expenses
• Free online money skills workshops called Money Minded
• Proven to improve financial wellbeing and savings confidence

Visit www.saverplus.org.au for more details. 1300 610 355

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 - Term 2 Enrolments Now Open!

The Music Bus has opened their term 2 enrolments and are inviting new students to apply.

Classes offered are: · Keyboard (Prep-y6) · Ukulele (Prep-y6) · Drums (y1-y6) · Guitar (Y2-y6)

Lessons are:

• 30 minute duration - once per week
• held in the hi tech music classroom on wheels on our site
• cost $22 per week ($24 drums) payable by the term on commencement

If you wish to take part please complete this expression of interest form.

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

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