Issue 2, 8 March 2024, Week 5 Term 1

Dear Families,

Welcome to the latest addition of our School Newsletter. One of our school goals, which is documented within our school plans and communicated across our various platforms, is strengthening the learning partnership between home and school. This partnership between home and school was recently on display when we held our Meet the Teacher event. I would like to thank all the families that attended and to our amazing and dedicated volunteers for being on hand from very early in the day to assist. Your commitment ensured the event was a huge success. It was lovely to see beaming smiles everywhere and to witness parents and students interacting and building those important connections.

As always we appreciate any feedback you can provide on all learning matters, but also our community events. If you have any suggestions on how we could improve, or if you would like to share ideas for future community events, please do not hesitate in coming to see me or contacting me at angela.crane@decyp.tas.gov.au. Planning is already well underway and we look forward to hosting our next community event.

NAPLAN Testing

Our Year 3 and 5 students will complete NAPLAN Testing in Weeks 6 and 7, beginning 13 March. With the exception of the Year 3 Writing test, NAPLAN testing is now conducted online. This method provides better assessment and more accurate results. The assessments will feature a tailored test design, meaning the questions a student receives will depend on their answers to previous questions.

NAPLAN Online 2024 will include four components: Writing, Numeracy, Conventions of Language and Reading. NAPLAN results will provide further evidence to assist teachers in supporting and/or extending our students and will ensure each student reaches their full potential. However while this assessment is important, it is just one form of assessment that teachers collect throughout the year to inform teaching and learning. The best way you can help your child prepare for NAPLAN is to reassure your child that NAPLAN tests are part of their school program and to urge them to simply do the best they can on the day. If you have any questions about your child’s preparation for NAPLAN, please make a time to speak with their teacher.

Bush Adventures

This week Ms Jade Primrose our wonderful Kitchen/Garden educator commenced our Bush Adventures program for Kindergarten and Prep students for 2024. Our students gain huge benefits from taking part in regular outdoor play and learning in nature, bringing the curriculum alive. The program will see Kinder and Prep classes heading outside each Wednesday to immerse themselves in our outdoor environment. Bush Adventures is in its early phases at Kingston Primary School and we aim to expand the program. The goals for Bush Adventures have been developed and include:

• Increased understanding and applied knowledge of nature pedagogy, inquiry learning and child-led learning through modelling a best practice, high quality nature play program;
• Support the children to begin to increase; emotional regulation, self-confidence, resilience, and connection to place and nature;
• Begin to foster an increased sense of belonging and connection to the Little Bush site and the local community through immersive and meaningful nature play-based learning experiences;
• Provide a space for teachers and staff to begin to experience success, feel engaged with and able to contribute constructively to nature play-based, child-led inquiry learning;
• Provide an opportunity for our Early Years students only recently available at Kingston Primary School.

Attendance

Being at school is the best place for our children. It is where they learn and grow alongside their friends and peers 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. At our Support Meetings we implement provisions to support all students to attend regularly as well as any other measures that may be required. Additional supports can include anything from Breakfast Club to assisting students with bus travel. We do understand that there is ongoing illness which can prevent students from attending regularly. In this instance it is vital that the school is contacted so that attendance can be marked accordingly. However we encourage families to ensure that students are attending school when they can to reap 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 and develop at an astounding rate during those critical 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. These sessions allow parents, teachers and children to play and learn alongside one another. Please follow our school Facebook page, Kingston Primary School for updates.

Do you have a child aged 0 to 4 years of age? Or know somebody that does? We would love to meet you at our sessions. We are so pleased to share with families our Term 1 calendar.

Kindergarten 2025

In 2025 we plan to have two Kindergarten classes and we already have a list of confirmed enrolments. If you have a Kinder aged child in 2025 (a child born in 2020), please collect an Enrolment Pack from the School Office and return it by the end of Week 1, Term 2 so that we can secure your enrolment. Please contact the Office should you wish to meet with our Early Years Team to learn more about the fantastic opportunities Kingston Primary School has to offer!