Issue No. 39 – 7th December 2018

General Guidelines for Parents when making any Payments to the school: Preferred method of payment is BPay. Your BPay reference number can be located on your family statement and will remain the same throughout your child’s time at KPS. EFT/credit card facilities are available over the counter at the main office. Cash payments – correct money is required as there is not always access to change. Please do not send large amounts of cash with your child. Receipts will be issued through your child’s classroom. To help the office in finalising accounts, where possible, please limit payments in the last week of any school term. Sharyn Fletcher, Business Manager School Council President Glen Yates 0447 520 058 School Council email yates.glen.j@edumail.vic.gov.au School Uniform Primary School Wear 9768 0342 OSHC Camp Australia co-ordinator Arshdeep 0401 054 261

2018 Dates to Remember

Fliers/Information attached 2019 Term datesChildren at school 2019 Page 12 Term 1 – 29th January (Years 1-6 students Road Safety Page 13 begin on 30th January) to 5th April Camp Aust. Hol. Prog. Pages 14-17 Term 2 – 23rd April to 28th June Raffle Tickets Page 18 Term 3 – 15th July to 20th September Term 4 – 7th October to 20th December

Term 4 December Tue 11th Dec Secondary Transition Day

KPS Step Up Day Thur 13th Dec Swim Team selection process, Roberts St Pool 6.50a.m. – 8a.m.

Foundation 2019 Picnic/social event Fri 14th Dec Swim Team selection process, Roberts St Pool 6.50a.m. – 8a.m.

FOKPS Christmas raffle drawn Mon 17th Dec Year 6 Graduation ceremony Tue 18th Dec Parent Helpers morning tea 11a.m. in staffroom Wed 19th Dec Grade parties Thur 20th Dec Casual Clothes Day (FOKPS event – gold coin donation) Fri 21st Dec Casual Clothes Day (FOKPS event)

Last day Term 4 (1.30p.m. dismissal)

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Acting Principal’s Message As Kingsville Primary School gains knowledge of enrolments for 2019 the planning of the workforce is being finalised, along with the school classroom and specialist provision. In 2019 Kingsville will have 658 children enrolled across seven levels. Whilst many factors impact on what the organisation of the school will be in any year, student numbers at each

level of the school will always be a major impacting factor. At Kingsville Primary School, where needed, composite classes will be the considered structure. Kingsville has had a long history of composite classes; over the last 28 years we have had composite classes for 24 of those years. In 2019 this tradition will continue in the 3 and 4 levels of the school. In 2019 there will be 27 classrooms or as they are often referred to “communities of learners”. Five Foundation, four Level 1, four Level 2, seven composite Level 3/4, four Level 5 and three Level 6 along with four specialist areas; Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Physical Education and LOTE- Italian.

Currently across Victoria 70% of schools are reported to have some form of composite or multi aged

aspect in their school organisation. Composite classes are a practical response to the problem of uneven

grade enrolments; for example, when there are too many students to form one "straight" grade but not

enough to form two. Combining students in this way is often an expedient administrative solution that not

only allows schools to ensure more consistent class sizes, but enables them to address gender balance

issues within each class; more easily match teachers to student needs; maximise school and teacher

funding and resources; and cope with declining or increasing enrolments.

Research, which has been predominantly conducted in primary schools, suggests there is no discernible difference between composite and straight grade classrooms in terms of academic performance. However, benefits relating to student independence, responsibility and study habits have been highlighted. For example, younger children within a composite grade generally aspire to emulate older children in their work, and older children enjoy leadership and mentoring opportunities that lift their self-esteem. Some say composite classrooms are more flexible, allow children to work at their own pace, offer a wider range of friendship opportunities, and encourage more co-operation and tolerance. According to experts, education is about more than academic achievement and age is not an accurate predictor of a child's development.

Wide-ranging student abilities exist in children of the same age, and not just in composite classes. Every group or cohort of students must be viewed as composite by nature. Differentiated instruction by teachers informed by deep knowledge of each child is required to be evidenced regardless of the range of ages in a particular class. Furthermore, it is the teacher and their relationship with the students that plays a key role and is significant in the development of students.

Children should be taught "by stages, not ages". The Victorian Curriculum F-10 is a continuum of learning that children progress along and is set out as a series of learning progressions. This continuum enables teachers to identify the point of learning progression of each individual student and to plan for the appropriate next steps in learning.

As already mentioned, it is strongly researched and believed that grade structure is immaterial and

schools should be providing a ‘differentiated’ curriculum anyway: one that caters to all children as

individuals, according to their needs. At Kingsville Primary School children are grouped, based on our

extensive assessment schedule, in accordance to their needs. All of our groupings are fluid allowing

students to work in a group or independently to best suits their learning needs.

Despite favourable research regarding student cognitive and social growth in composite classrooms,

negative perceptions persist, particularly among parents. Many fear their children will be unable to keep

up with work, will have fewer friendships, that younger children will be overlooked or that older children

will not be sufficiently challenged, that children with learning difficulties will suffer more anxiety or, that

the curriculum for each year level will be inadequately covered.

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To date, Australian research into composite classes has failed to uncover any significant negative or

downside to multi age classes. Teachers actually manage workloads for a range of ages and abilities in

any given class, not just composite classes. There will always be a mix of ages and abilities whether it is

a straight or composite class.

Whatever choices Kingsville Primary School make in relation to grade structure we will most definitely

have the students and their learning needs at the forefront of the decision making process. The quality of

teaching, combined with student interest and engagement, are considered more important than class

structure, whatever form it may take.

The West Footscray to Yarraville Water Main Renewal Project This significant project being carried out by Melbourne Water and John Holland-KBR was mentioned early this year in the newsletter. In preparation for interruptions expected in the July break, the school outlined information to manage the situation to ensure minimal disruptions. This planning ended up being unnecessary as the project scope changed focus. In the last week the school has been meeting with representatives from the two groups, Melbourne Water and John Holland-KBR, and they have informed the school that the stage of works around Kingsville will begin in the new year. At this point the respresentatives have provided general information to the school and toured members of leadership to a section of work to assist in understanding what the project involves. Further to this, an advisor from John Holland-KBR visited Kingsville highlighting specific details regarding the upcoming works along Julian Street and Somerville Road. Discussions around the importance of traffic management, school access and noise impacts took place and John Holland-KBR advisors took this information away to review their approach to both work with and around the school. It is expected that interruption to Julian Street will begin on the 7th of January and, Somerville Road and Bishop Street will be impacted from the 1st to the 14th of February. Further details will be avaliable to the school community in upcoming newsletters and when neccesary during the school break via Compass posts as Melbourne Water and John Holland-KBR communicate with the school. Christmas Hamper Raffle See details in newsletter of November 30th Thank you generous Kingsville families, the “Christmas Goodies” tubs and baskets are filling up with donations for the Christmas Raffle. Please keep these coming in next week and I’m confident we will have a record number of beautiful hampers. Thank you to Friends of KPS for organising this end of year fundraiser. Message from Friends of KPS Shopping guide for this weekend for Christmas Hamper donations Whilst all donations are very gratefully accepted see full list of details in newsletter of November 30th there are some festive items we are short one. So any

gingerbread

shortbread

puddings

christmas cakes

‘gourmet’ crackers

christmas foods

would be very much appreciated

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Final whole school assembly of the year Friday 21st December This will include our traditional Christmas carols and student, teacher and community ‘sing a long’. Please note Children will be at school on the 20th and 21st December and dismissal will be at 1.30p.m. on Friday 21st December from the classrooms. It is very important that children are not left waiting after 1.30p.m. on that day. Whilst teachers are of course still on duty until 3.45p.m. they do need to have a lunch break after 1.30p.m. Children not collected will need to sit together in the school foyer. Whilst this is a safe spot it is not a great place to be on the last day of the school year when everyone else has gone home. So, mark it clearly on your calendars and esure arrangements are in place for this early dismissal Casual Clothes Day At the end of every school year there are 2 CASUAL CLOTHES DAYS. Well 1 ½ really as we finish at 1.30p.m. This year the days are

Thursday December 20th and

Friday December 21st a gold coin is always requested on these days and as 2 days are involved we would love the small gold coin. Target - 629 x $2 = $1258.00

This target is possible however all gold coins or donations are greatly appreciated. . Student Leadership 2018 Congratulations to all members of the 2018 leadership team – Holly Green Benjamin Budlender Prisha Gautam William Stembridge You have carried out your roles at a very high level and have been exceptional role models for all other students. You really have ’led’ this year and we are confident that you will carry your leadership skills forward into your secondary education.

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Transition 2019 incoming families Thank you to all the speakers who contributed at the final transition session today. Current KPS Parents Abby Lewicki (parent of Hazel FLI) Narelle Watson (parent of Louie FCM and Mack 2GJ) Thank you for your down to earth practical advice and the reflections regarding your journey. The information you provided was extremely valuable for our incoming Foundation parents. Students Ermias Mersha Chilli Schmidt Frida Crawford Henry Salmon Arthur Jennins Ayla Matat Leah Watsford Today all of these students spoke eloquently and confidently at the final session of the transition program for 2019 Foundation families. They presented themselves in a very mature and professional manner. They told their story, added humour and even gave some advice for beginning parents. On behalf of all Kingsville students and staff we thank you. Successful Program Over the last 3 weeks we have seen over 250 students and families come along to the school. The children, currently preschoolers have all benefited greatly from a comprehensive school experience. The parents, carers and sometimes grandparents, have been a wonderful class. They have listened attentively, paid attention, asked sensible questions, taken plenty of notes and even laughed at my jokes. I know you will join me in welcoming them to our school community. They will ‘take over’ the school oval on December 13th for their new family soiree/picnic. This is now a yearly tradition and one where we know parents make contact with other new parents. Often long term friendships between parents and families begin at this event. Thank you to Blagma Veljanoska,Leading Teacher who has ‘event managed’ a very successful Transition Program once again. Also to current Foundation teachers, support staff for the roles they carried out and, the variety of ‘courageous’ teachers for taking the Friday assembly over the three weeks. Peter Ritchie, Assistant Principal/PYP co-ordinator

Choir News Thank you to all the members of the F-6 choir and their families who attended the annual Kingsville Carols on Thursday night. The children sang ‘Merry Christmas Around the World’ and ‘Jingle Bell Rock’. Congratulations on a job well one. Frances and Jane, Choir co coordinators/extraordinaires

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Kingsville Primary School – School Council Are you interested? School Councils play a key role in Victorian Government schools. At Kingsville Primary School we have a long history of very successful and active governance teams who have helped establish the broad direction and vision for the school. Successive councils have carried out their key roles effectively and in doing so enhanced the educational opportunities of our students over a long period of time. The School Council election process in government schools begin straight away in Term 1 (see timeline below) Vacancies 2019-2020 School Council membership The size and configuration of Kingsville Primary School School Council is set down in its Constituting Order and is –

Parent members – 7 Community member - 1 DET members – 4 (including the Principals as Executive Officer) A total of 12 members.

For the 2019/2020 council year there will be

3 Parent vacancies and 2 teacher/DET vacancy

Elected terms are for 2 years.

Last 2 weeks of 2018 school year and first week of 2019 school year

raising community awareness regarding school council membership opportunities

providing details of school council vacancies – role of parent members, and expectation of members

setting up questions and answer opportunities

via email and placing information on Compass

Monday 4th February

Call for nominations

Monday 11th February Nominations close 4pm

Display list of candidates, nominator & seconder

Declare new School Council if nominations accepted equal the number of vacancies

If the nominations are less than the number of vacancies in either category, call again for nominations for a 3 day period.

Monday 18th February

If election required – distribute ballot papers by this date

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Monday 18th February If no election required hold the first School Council meeting of new School Council i.e. first special meeting to elect office bearers followed by first full meeting

If election required – current School Council meets for the last time on this day

Monday 25th February

Close of ballot for election (if required)

Tuesday 26th February

Count votes & declare poll

Wednesday 27th February

New School Council able to meet from this date

Monday 18th March

First meeting of new school council if election required to elect office bearers

Friday 29th March Government compliance attained

Kingsville Awards To be presented on Friday 14th December

FEE Thomas Gordon 34KG Sam Land

34GP Kevin Tran and Reese Warn 5GM Jevon Davies and Jack Thurston

34HL Emily Li 6JD Ava Leach and Brodie Clutterbuck

34JL Oliver Cannington 6MM Ayub Naghar and Josh Diamond

Happy Birthday 6th to 12th December Happy Birthday Arwen Jeffery, Dylan madden, William Friedmann, Isaac Reed, Dakira Nguyen, Genevieve Bennetts, Etienne Casemore, Sophie Luong and Omer Abubaker.

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Annual Year 6 Poetry Slam Students in year 6 have been undertaking a writing unit focusing on poetry where they have continued to discover the fun and flexibility of poetry through poetry slams and audio/video submissions. We have explored a number of literary and poetic devices in songs and spoken word poetry.

On Thursday 29th November, the grade 6 cohort met together to share some of their pieces. Courageous students were nominated by their class to share their work to an audience that hung on their every word. Themes ranged from Playstation controllers and the length of assembly to philosophical musings about beauty and life. Below is only a small sample of some of the outstanding poetry coming out of the BER building in 2018.

Also – stayed tuned to Compass newsfeeds to download a copy of the ‘2018 Year 6 Poetry Slam Review’ which includes all 17 poems performed at the Poetry Slam.

Well done to all year 6 students.

Jennifer Duckworth, year 6 teacher

Assembly By Ben Budlender, 6SE Friday, dreaded Friday, Everyone hates Friday, For one reason Assembly The teachers waffle on for hours and hours, About the fete, and Austin Powers, How can you talk about that we’ve all got a life and that’s a fact I’m taking a stand for all those kids, Who don’t have a voice? Join with me we can make a change It can be more fun if we just stand together Create this resolution Give us retribution Absolution A new constitution Where the kids can make the rules Every single molecule in the school is boring Do you think it’s adoring, no it’s appalling How you guys, Waffle on for hours and hours While the teachers glower Right at you face Now that’s something we need to change Bring them to the driving range We can go crashing Bashing, overlapping While that happens tell them to, Shorten Assembly!

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Life By Ermias Mersha, 6MM

Embrace and enjoy life When you’re an adult you might have a wife, Next thing you know, on the news Someone has died from a knife These things are horrific People die People cry People lie People don’t have enough time to say their goodbyes before their love one’s Die I want everyone to give their Mum and Dad A kiss with bliss because you Never know when this Can turn to abyss Punching your friend with your fist Won’t help the troubles upon your list So remember this please Abolish all the bullies Polish your attitude And accomplish all your goals Be nice to the people such as your Friends Because you’ll never know when it’s The End and you’re dead, So I’m going to clear this up because practise makes progress not perfect

Forgotten By Hadlee Koop Thought I’d get roses But I got replaced Thought I'd get attention But I got erased Once a girl who knew it all Now just a photo on a wall Waiting in the ground, deep in the dirt Body lies still, mind on alert Everyone’s forgotten, that really stings Walking your halls, though you can’t see Wish I could stay, remembered and free I’m nothing to you You’re everything to me.

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Pixelated By Will Coghlan Video games have many levels and stages Like life but instead there’s plagues and wages, and much more players With unanswered prayers and praises But what if pixelated and there was a restart button So people wouldn’t have to toughen But what if we were pixelated would we still feel love and hatred? If we were pixelated would there be pixel paper poems with pixel paper people and pixel paper problems? If we were pixelated would we be controlled? Would our leaders be the gamers? Could we even change and mould? If we were pixelated would we all be the same? Or would we have differences? Would there be people to blame for the world broken and plain? Well that descent matter because we are more than pixels and life’s more than a game Then I see pixels fading of the screen And I realise it’s all just a pixel dream

Beauty By Brianna Hunt, 6JD Beauty. A strange concept. Inside you, Outside you. Around you, everywhere. You don’t see it. No-one is born beautiful, You are born as you. Be kind, be happy. That is pure beauty. Not fake, plastic, make-up-ised images. That's disgusting, not beautiful. No matter your hair, your eyes, Whether you walk with flair or not. So what, if you’re not considered “hot” By society? Even if you move quietly, Just as long as you act politely Towards other beings In this world. That is beauty. Not starving to be skinny. Not covering yourself in powders In order to be someone else. It's not spending hours on looking “good” It's not turning yourself into a fake, plastic, barbie doll. That’s disgusting and wrong. And if you ask me, Inner beauty wins in the race of importance Because what’s inside, is what counts.

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Crumpets By Eve Astbury A pop of the toaster shakes me awake, My favourite food is at my wait, I stumble through the kitchen door, I always found other breakfast foods such a bore, My eyes lay on the glory before me, Honey and strawberries destined for me, The crumpet that lays there is perfect and crisp, It’s starting to come to a perfect day, Me and my crumpets, Happy days!

Top Row: Amelia Dempsey, Brianna Hunt, Eve Astbury, Eva Jugovic, Hadlee Koop, Ronan Bulic, Luke Crawford, Kalan Doloughan Middle Row: Prisha Gautam, Susie Luong, Jack Hardison, Will Coghlan Bottom Row: Andrew Land, Lachlan Ipsen, Tom Doherty, Ermias Mersha, Ben Budlender

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Camp Australia December is a month to celebrate Christmas The Christmas season is a wonderful time to do art and craft with the children and share ideas. We started the Christmas season with creating Santa Clauses from Christmas forms and parts of Santa and the children were using the materials to stick them on a paper to create their own Santa and then decorate the page. Also we did Christmas Wreaths using a range of materials provided so the children can use their imagination to create their own style of wreath and decorate it the way they wanted. One more activity that we did with the children was creating a Christmas tree using Christmas tree parts and Christmas tree decoration so the children had to stick the tree parts on a paper creating the tree and then decorate the tree using their imaginative skills and decorate the page. Each artwork was unique and individual they way children imagined it. At the end of this year, our last day of Term – 21st December we are to celebrate Christmas at ASC. We will have a range of activities like dancing, listening to music, baking Christmas cookies etc.. On that day we are going to give Certificates to all the children that are graduating this year and leaving Camp Australia.

Will your child / children be at Kingsville in 2019

If you know your child / children will not be returning to Kingsville in 2019 or If they will be only here for a short time e.g. you could be moving in Term 1

Please fill in below if you have not already informed the school

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHILDREN NOT ATTENDING KINGSVILLE P.S. IN 2019 Name: ……………………………………… Year level in 2018: ……… Date finishing at KPS: …………

Name: ……………………………………… Year level in 2018: ……… Date finishing at KPS: …………

Name: ……………………………………… Year level in 2018: ……… Date finishing at KPS: …………

New school (if known): …………………………………………………………………………………… Signature of parent/guardian: ……………………………………………………………………………..

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Road Safety Traffic Signs New parents to the school may not be aware of what traffic signs around the school mean. Failure to follow the instructions of traffic signs can involve large fines issued by Maribyrnong City Council’s Parking Officers (who routinely visit the school area) or by Vic Roads. It is very important that parents do not park on or near the school crossings. Obscuring the view of other drivers and pedestrians is very dangerous, and can lead to children being critically injured. Stopping on or near crossings to unload or collect passengers is also very unsafe. Dropping off or picking up children from school in areas that are no parking or no standing areas is also very dangerous. Double parking is not appropriate responsible driving behaviour. By observing and obeying the traffic signs around the school, we can provide our children with a safe environment.

During hours that cover school drop off and pick up times the speed of vehicles in the school area are reduced to 40km per hour. Fines for speeding in a school area are very expensive and can involve loss of points on your driver’s licence.

When “Children crossing” flags are displayed at a children’s crossing, drivers must stop for all pedestrians who are waiting to cross or have commenced crossing. Drivers must also remain stopped until the crossing is clear. At crossings where these flags are displayed and there is no crossing supervisor drivers must still stop for pedestrians. This “no parking” sign means no parking at all in the indicated areas. If there is no other parking available in the street, please drive to another street nearby instead of disobeying these signs. Double parking, parking on nature strips and parking on crossings are all finable offences and create an unsafe environment for children. The “no standing” sign means drivers cannot stop at the indicated section of road for any reason, including the dropping off or picking up of passengers.

If you intend to park in a street near the school to drop off or collection your children and you find that there are no available legal and safe parking places, please find an available parking place in another street. A short walk to the school is safer than parking in a way that creates a traffic hazard. Please stop and think before you decide to disobey a traffic sign. Not only are you are endangering the lives of children who attend Kingsville Primary School and their siblings, as well as other members of the community, you will also receive heavy fines for traffic infringements.

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