The theme for Education Week this year is creating futures - education changes lives. This year we continue to celebrate the journey students and learners take throughout the NSW Education system, focusing on how we are creating futures for our students, staff and families.
From the first days in our Kangaroo Valley Community Preschool to post-school pathways, our education system is preparing young people to be agile thinkers and lifelong learners.
We celebrate all types of learning that occurs at all levels across our education system and we have a shared responsibility in helping to shape the lives and create the future of today’s learners.
I think you will agree that our recent newsletters highlight all the wonderful things that our school has on offer for our students, not just in Education Week, but across the school year.
Decodable Reading Information Workshop
Please complete this survey for Kangaroo Valley Public School teachers to plan a workshop that is relevant for you and your family. We will use the information in this form to determine what is included in the workshop, as well as which time bests suits our interested parents and carers.
https://forms.gle/o4Arcy6f76A7NHT96
School Counsellor Parent Information Session
Our parent information session with school counsellor, Mel Bolton will now be held on Wednesday 17th August at 2pm for any interested parents who would like to know more about the role of the school counsellor and what supports are on offer for students. Mel would also like to hear from parents what the needs of the school are from a parent perspective so feel free to come along.
Kindergarten Readiness Information Session
Are you wondering if your child is ready to start Kindergarten in 2023? We will be holding an information session on school readiness with our Kindergarten teacher and Principal on Tuesday 16th August at 2.30pm. This will include a tour of our school.
Further information sessions will be provided with school specific information.
Bebras Australia Computational Thinking Challenge
The 2022 Bebras Australia Computational Thinking Challenge (digitalcareers.csiro.au/bebras) is part of an international initiative that promotes Computational Thinking amongst students. Bebras is aligned with and supports the Australian Digital Technologies Curriculum. The Challenge is delivered online and will be held, at the discretion of the school (between the 22nd of August to the 11th of September). Students in Years 5 and 6 will complete the challenge on Wednesday the 31st of August (Week 7). Students in Years 3 and 4 will complete the challenge on Wednesday the 7th of August (Week 8).
Students in Years 3-6 may choose to participate and must return a signed consent form. The challenge is voluntary and is not compulsory. Only students who wish to participate will be given a consent form for parents to sign. Students can choose to complete the challenge as an individual, or within a team. Students from Years 3 and 4 receive 60 minutes to complete the challenge. Students from Years 5 and 6 receive 45 minutes to complete the challenge. The challenge automatically ends when the time is up.
If you have any further questions about the Bebras Challenge, you can follow the link above, or email Miss Jarvis (School Co-ordinator) at mary.jarvis2@det.nsw.edu.au.
ScopeIT Education
Our school will be participating in Digital Technology workshops run by Scope IT Education starting on Friday in Week 6. ScopeIT Education is Australia’s leading digital technologies educator. Their goal is to equip the upcoming generation with skills to turn their imaginations into technological reality, enhancing not only their educational outcomes but also their future employment prospects. This is being funded by the School P&C.
Sporting Schools grant - AFL Clinics
Our school has received a Sporting Schools grant for Term 3. Sporting Schools is an Australian Government initiative designed to help schools increase children's participation in sport and connect them with community sport opportunities.
Sporting Schools programs are provided free to children and their families to help students build the confidence and capability to be active for life.
We have used the grant to book AFL skills clinics. AFL Clinics commenced last Friday and will continue every Friday for the remainder of the term. This will replace our normal Sport session on a Friday. Students will need to remember their hats, drink bottles and to wear shoes suitable for sport and mud!
We are looking at using our next Sporting Schools grant to get a gymnastics program at KVPS!
District Athletics Carnival Update
The District Athletics Carnival has been postponed and moved again to Wednesday 10th August at Myimbarr Community Park, Wattle Road, Flinders/Shellharbour. This is home to Lake Illawarra Little Athletics. All events will be held on the day starting at 8am. There is no longer a cost. A program will be provided soon. Lake Illawarra Athletics Centre is running a canteen on the day.
Education Week
On Wednesday 3rd August, We invite parents to come along to the school at 12pm for a short Assembly followed by open classrooms, Book Fair and BBQ. The canteen will be open for recess as normal on the day. We invite parents to stay for lunch and purchase a sausage sandwich from our canteen.
Students can purchase a book to take home or purchase a book to donate to the school library to be borrowed and enjoyed for many years to come. Payments on the day can be made in the office with cash or via the school website https://kangaroova-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/ Make a payment Tab.
K-2 Illawarra Environmental Education Centre ExcursionAn excursion has been planned on Friday 12th August for students in Kindergarten to Year 2. The students will be travelling to the Illawarra Environmental Education Centre (IEEC) in Killalea State Park (Years 1 and 2) and Kiama (Kindergarten) as part of our Geography and Science programs. Please note: the bus will be departing school at 8.20am
Book Week Street Parade
Book Week is fast approaching and the theme for this year is Dream with your Eyes Open. On Tuesday 23rd August we will be parading our book character costumes departing the school gates at approximately 9.30am. Please help us celebrate Book Week by joining us for the parade.
Science Week
As part of Science Week, we will be having an incursion from Science Space in Wollongong to run some Science shows and STEM activities on Friday 19th August. The P&C have agreed to fund the cost of the day and we look forward to the visit.
Kangaroo Valley Folk FestivalEach year Kangaroo Valley Public School have the opportunity to perform at the Folk Festival (October). This year Miss Jarvis and Mrs Gripper are supporting students to perform songs we have been learning at school. We will be learning songs to perform as a whole school, as well as a song from the KV Songbirds (School Choir). After these performances, we would like to showcase the musical talents of our students who wish to participate. These students should register their interest with Miss Jarvis and begin practising. Miss Jarvis and Mrs Gripper will hold auditions in Week 7 (Tuesday 30th August) to select students who are dedicated to showcasing their musical talents.
Assistant Principal Curriculum and Instruction
The advertised permanent position for an Assistant Principal Curriculum and Instruction at Kangaroo Valley Public School closes on Wednesday 3rd August. The successful candidate will have a full day a week dedicated to leading curriculum and mentoring staff rather than a teaching role on the specific day.
KVPS Uniforms
We are currently seeking old KVPS uniforms that we could borrow for our 150th celebrations. If you have any old school shirts or dresses from any time period and would be willing to loan them to us, please contact Mrs Barton in the office.
Vegetable garden and Chickens
We hope to get our vegetable garden up and running again as well as some repairs to our chicken coop to get our chickens back!
We would love some parents, grandparents or community members to help out with a gardening club one or two lunch times a week to help get some veggies into our school canteen again. Thank you Laura Nelson and Jennifer Williams who have volunteered to help out! We are hoping to start a gardening group with student, parent and community participation on Fridays from 1.20pm onwards to allow students to join in during the lunch break as well as continue into the play based learning session if they wish.
Our chicken coop needs a new roof and some fencing repairs to keep the chickens safe before we get some chickens again. We would also need some volunteers to help with chicken holiday care to make the return of the chickens possible!
If you think you might be able to help with either of these projects, we would love to hear from you.
Dental Visits
If you would like your child to access free dental clinics during Week 5, please return permission notes to the office as soon as possible. Minimum numbers are required to ensure that they visit us.
Crossing Supervisor
We are still looking for a School Crossing Supervisor! The position could be job shared if this suits, for example, one person could do the morning while another person could do the afternoons. If you are interested in the position please contact Sandhini Chaudhary via email sandhini.chadhary@transport.nsw.gov.au or phone 0466 343 704.
Email: jennifer.arnott3@det.nsw.edu.au
Miss Arnott - Relieving Principal
