Issue 16, 1 November 2024, Week 3 Term 4
Dear families,
It was so fabulous to extend a welcome today to our newest members of the Kingston Primary School community, our Kindergarten students of 2025! It was a joy to see their smiling faces at our first Pre-Kinder session. Their excitement and curiosity were infectious and we can't wait to embark on this incredible learning journey with them.
Throughout these sessions we encourage you to discuss with us any questions or concerns you may have. Understandably this can be a huge transition for children, but also for parents and carers. My twins are also beginning Kindergarten next year and despite working in and leading a school, I also have my own questions that I ask their Teacher. You are always welcome to chat with us and together we can create a successful and fulfilling year for your child.
Please note our Launching into Learning sessions will continue to run as normal throughout the Pre-Kindergarten weeks.
Last Friday on the Student-Free Day our dedicated Classroom Teachers and Teacher Assistants gathered to further their Professional Development. Our focus was in the crucial area of Word Recognition Instruction. This collaborative session provided an invaluable opportunity to delve deeper into effective teaching strategies and ensure consistency across all classrooms.
During the session we engaged in thoughtful conversations about the importance of explicit and systematic instruction in Word Recognition. We explored various instructional strategies and approaches to teach Phonics, Phonemic Awareness and Sight Word Recognition. By sharing best practices and discussing challenges we strengthened our collective understanding of how to effectively support our students' Reading development.
To further enhance our instructional consistency we continued documenting our teaching practices. This involves collating detailed information on how specific components of Word Recognition is taught in each classroom. By ensuring consistency from Prep to Year 6 we aim to ensure that all students receive a comprehensive and high-quality education.
We believe that by investing in our own Professional Learning we are better equipped to empower our students to become confident and skilled readers. We are committed to providing our students with the best possible education and this collaborative effort is a significant step towards achieving that goal.
Progressive Achievement Testing
Our Prep to Year 6 students are currently completing Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT). This PAT testing window will run until the end of Week 4. PAT testing includes two components: Reading and Numeracy. These results will provide further evidence to assist teachers in supporting and/or extending our students, ensuring each student reaches their full potential. However it is important to note that PAT testing is just one form of assessment Teachers collect throughout the year to inform teaching and learning. If you have any questions around PAT testing please do not hesitate in coming to see one of the helpful Senior Staff members.
Attendance Matters
Regular attendance is crucial for student success. We encourage all students to attend school every day to make the most of their learning opportunities and to stay connected with their peers and teachers. At Kingston Primary School we are always working hard with families and students to increase our daily attendance rate. Although we have seen improvement in attendance, our current attendance rate sits at 89 percent. Attendance every day will ensure success for all students.
Please stay connected through our fortnightly newsletter, Social Media posts, Schoolzine and Seesaw or drop in and have a chat with one of our fabulous team.
That’s all from me this week. Have a wonderful weekend.
| Date | Event |
| 14 November | Year 6 Waratah Band Rehearsal, 3.30pm-4.30pm, Kingston High School |
| 15 November | Pre-Kinder Session in Anita Grey's Kindergarten Room, 9.30am - 10.30am |
| 19 - 21 November | Year 5/6 Camp at The Lea |
| 22 November | Combined Schools Band and Choir Annual Concert, MyState Bank Arena |
| 22 November | Pre-Kinder Session in Anita Grey's Kindergarten Room, 9.30am - 10.30am |
| 27 November | Kingston High School Orientation Day for Grade 6 students |
| 28 November | Whole School Assembly, GP Room, 1.45pm |
| 29 November | Tasmanian Schools Triathlon Challenge, Bellerive Beach |
| 29 November | Prep Barker and Prep Doyle excursion to Playhouse Theatre and Kingston Park |
| 29 November | Year 1/2 Excursion to Botanical Gardens for Alice in Wonderland performance |
| 29 November | GMC Advisors Family Picnic, 4.30pm - 6.30pm |
| 3 December | Volunteers Morning Tea and Christmas Raffle Draw |
| 4 - 6 December | School Captains Book Drive for Saltbush |
| 9 December | Student Achievement Assembly 2.00pm - 2.40pm |
| 11 December | 5/6 Munday Fundraising Christmas Market |
| 13 December | Year 3/4 excursion to Botanical Gardens for Alice in Wonderland performance |
| 18 December | Year 6 Leavers Assembly, GP Room, 1.30pm |
| 19 December | Year 6 Big Day Out |
| 19 December | Term 4 ends |
The Drop Off/Pick Up Zone operates between 8.25am – 8.55am and 2.45pm – 3.20pm every school day. In order for this concept to operate effectively, Parents/Guardians are requested to adhere to the following:
- Please do not park and/or leave your car unattended in the Drop Off/Pick Up Zone during the above times;
- Please do not queue in the driveway leading up to the Drop Off/Pick Up Zone as this causes delays for the buses entering the area;
- Please do not drive into, or drop students off in the Staff Parking/Bus Zone (top carpark) at any time.
Thank you for your understanding and co-operation in keeping our students safe.
Due to Michelle Studley having to step down from her position, last night the School Association called for a new Chairperson and Simone Allison was elected unopposed. Congratulations Simone from all members of the School Association Committee.
CHALLENGE
Each week all Prep and Grade 1/2 classes participate in a 50 minute Gross Motor Program called 'Challenge'. During this lesson students participate in activities that focus on developing physical skills that will enable them to participate successfully in a variety of games and physical activities at school, at home and in the community.
Gross Motor Skills are also important for everyday self-care like dressing (where you need to be able to stand on one leg to put your leg into a pant leg without falling over).
Each week students rotate around 5 different activities with one of these activities always focusing on the development of Fine Motor Skills.
For each activity students can choose to participate at the easiest level but are also given different options to further challenge themselves, for example the use of different size or different shaped balls for a throwing and catching activity can add different levels of difficulty to the challenge.
Every year we do a full inventory check of our School Library at the end of the year/beginning of the following year to assess and organise the Library areas. Therefore we ask that the following items be returned by the end of these weeks at the latest:
Week 6, beginning Monday 18 November – Home Readers to be returned.
Week 8, beginning Monday 2 December – Library Books to be returned.
We appreciate your cooperation with this very important task.
We invite you to join Australia’s biggest Garage Sale! The Kingston Primary School Association will be holding a Garage Sale Trail site in the school car park for the 2024 Garage Sale Trail. Kingston Primary families are offered a site for free to sell their unwanted items.
- Items can be sold in front of the car and the size of the site will be the length of your car.
- Food and coffee vans run by Kingston Primary School families will also be welcome at no cost. A Council Permit will be required as per any food sales in the community. It can be found here – https://www.kingborough.tas.gov.au/forms-2/community-forms/.
- The sale will be on Saturday 9 November 2024, from 10am until 2pm. If the weather is not favourable, the sale will be postponed until the following week, 16 November 2024.
- Stalls can begin arriving and setting up from 9am and we would appreciate it if no stalls were taken down until 2pm.
- The movement of vehicles through the sale area will be prohibited between 10am and 2pm for the safety of the stallholders and customers.
- Anyone wishing to have a stall must register by returning this form or contacting Samara at kingstonpsassociation@gmail.com by Sunday 3 November 2024.
- In the event of weather postponement, all registered stall holders will be notified at 5pm on Friday 8 November 2024.
- Promotion for the sale will be done by the School Association and the School.
- Registration forms are available at the School Office. By signing the Registration form, you agree to the terms and conditions of the Garage Sale Trail as set out at the QR Code below.
If you have any questions, please contact Samara at kingstonpsassociation@gmail.com.
For more information about Garage Sale Trail, please go to https://www.garagesaletrail.com.au/ We look forward to a fun day!
