Issue 12, 23 August 2024, Week 5 Term 3

Dear families,

Despite the wet weather over recent weeks, it is great to see the weather start to turn, with warmer days and lighter evenings signalling that Spring is around the corner.

It was wonderful to see our students so excited and invested in Book Week. The conversations around the school about why they like particular books, and why they have chosen to dress as a certain character from a story were fantastic. The parade was a huge success and saw fantastic participation from across all grades!

It would be remiss of me to fail to acknowledge David O’Byrne and Angela Briant for continuing to support our school through the generous donation of a costume library. The smiles on the faces of students that were able to participate in our celebrations because of Ange and David’s generosity was immeasurable. On behalf of our school community, thank you!

Also, a huge thank you to all the parents, grandparents and Kingston Primary friends who attended our parade, but also put many hours of work into making and organising costumes. This made the week a huge success. As always, receiving feedback on community events like this is critical to Kingston Primary, as we are constantly striving to improve in making connections with our community. Therefore, if you were able to attend the parade and have any suggestions on how we can accommodate our growing school, then please email me at angela.crane@decyp.tas.gov.au.

Attendance

Being at school is the best place for our children. It is where they learn and grow alongside their friends, and where they benefit the most.

At Kingston Primary we have processes in place to record student attendance and plan for regular engagement in school when attendance is challenging. Putting provisions and plans in place at Kingston Primary School to support all students to attend regularly are discussed regularly in our Support Meetings. It is at these meetings additional supports are arranged. These supports can include anything from Breakfast Club to assisting students with bus travel.

We do understand that there is ongoing illness, particularly at this time of the year, and this can prevent students from attending regularly. In this instance it is vitally important that the school is contacted so that attendance can be marked accordingly. However we encourage families to ensure that students are attending school as regularly as possible to gain the rewards of being at school every day. Every day counts in the ongoing success of student learning.

Launching into Learning

Launching into Learning is a free program for families for children from birth to 4 years of age. We know children learn a lot in the early years of life and Launching into Learning provides opportunities for you to give your child the very best start. Sessions are run by our Early Years Educators, Mrs Anita Grey and Mrs Jess Suffolk. We have moved our sessions for Term 3 and 4 to our newly renovated Kindergarten space as well as a gross motor and cooking session.

The change in format for our sessions will allow our little learners enrolled for Kindergarten in 2025 and beyond to become familiar, comfortable and connected to what will be their place of learning. Please follow our school Facebook page, Kingston Primary School for regular updates.

Uniform

Wearing a school uniform is more than just a tradition developed over time; it’s a vital part of our school culture and a core way of how we show pride in our school.

Uniforms help to create a sense of equality among students, reducing the pressures associated with fashion trends and socio-economic differences. They also foster a sense of belonging, reinforcing the identity of our school community.

When students wear their uniforms they are reminded that they are part of something bigger, contributing to a focused and respectful learning environment. Students wearing their uniform before and after school in public are walking advertisements for Kingston Primary. Let’s show the broader Kingborough community how great our school and students are!

As we continue to uphold this important standard, it supports both individual and collective success. Uniform can be available for purchase between 8.25am and 8.50am Monday - Friday, or via our school Qkr app. We understand that missing uniform can be a cause of frustration for our families, with a cost associated in replacing the missing item. Please reach out if you need assistance, as we have processes in place to support our families.

With warmth,

Ange Crane
Principal