The Kangaroo

150th Celebrations

Thank you for celebrating 150 years with us! We appreciate everyone who came along, travelled distance to be with us, helped with preparations, loaned us equipment, volunteered on the day or helped with packing up. We couldn't have managed the day without you all.

Time Capsule

Over the next few weeks, our students will be writing letters, taking photos, making artworks and collecting materials to be included in the time capsule. If you would like to contribute an idea or an item, please let me know. 

Father's Day Stall

Thank you to Sally Thompson-Cox for co-ordinating another successful Father's Day stall. Thank you to Heidi Smart and Lisa Cochrane for helping out on the day. 

SRE, Ethics and Non-Scripture

NSW public schools allow time for Special religious education (SRE) and Special education in ethics (SEE), where authorised teachers of approved providers are available.

Schools support SRE and SEE by:

• ensuring no academic instruction or formal school activities occur during time set aside for SRE/SEE
• providing adequate learning facilities for the delivery of SRE/SEE during school hours
• providing families with access to current information about SRE/SEE.

Recently I have had questions from parents around the options our school currently has on offer during. At the end of the newsletter I have included some information from Ben Barber, Children's Minister at the Church of the Good Shepherd as well as information from Sally Thompson-Cox, the Primary Ethics coordinator which I hope will provide the information parents need to make decisions on the most suitable group for your child to attend. Feel free to contact Ben or Sally to discuss this information further. 

Dentist Visit

Unfortunately, we did not meet the minimum numbers for the free dental visits.

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.   Students in Years 3 and 4 will complete the challenge this Wednesday the 7th of September. 

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. 

Each year Kangaroo Valley Public School have the opportunity to perform at the Folk Festival (15 October). This year Mrs Gripper will be 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 KVPS students to fill our dedicated school time slot on the main stage between 10.30 and 11am. Students should register their interest with Mrs Gripper and begin practicing. Mrs Gripper has already held the first audition to select students who are dedicated to showcasing their musical talents during the school time slot. If you missed the audition due to illness, please see Mrs Gripper to reschedule your audition. 

Any interested students can still perform as part of the 'Open Mic' festival event which will be separate to our school time slot. Any student who attends to perform can stay until 12 with their parents to watch Mic Conway to perform on the main stage. Students under 12 years of age are free! KVPS Parents will need to purchase tickets if staying after midday. 

Kindergarten Orientation and Parent Information Sessions

Session 1: 20th October

Session 2: 27th October

Session 3: 3rd November

Our parent information session will be held on Wednesday 9th November from 2pm. It will be a great opportunity to meet our principal, School Counsellor and P&C President. You can submit questions to be answered during the information session by completing the google form https://forms.gle/6WBFSEHAtfKf5v3s5

School Counsellor Information Session NEW Date

Our School Counsellor Information Session will now be held on Wednesday 14th September at 2pm in the hall. Mel Bolton would love parents to answer any questions you might have about the role of the school counsellor or supports that you feel the community might need. 

Celebrate SASS Recognition Week

Last week we started our SASS Recognition Week celebrations a little early (I got a little excited about the event) so we will continue our celebrations this week. We think our SAS staff are pretty amazing so why not celebrate over the fortnight!

School Administrative and Support Staff Recognition Week is actually this week. Thank you Mrs Barton, Mrs Dryden, Miss Sharyn, Mr Roberts and Mr Bourke for all that you do for our school. I would like to thank our SAS Staff for their valuable work each and every day and for their contribution to supporting great teaching and learning outcomes in our school. 

 Communications

The best way to contact me for urgent matters that require a response within the day, please contact me at the school by phone 02 4465 1182 otherwise I can be contacted by email, jennifer.arnott3@det.nsw.edu.au

Jen Arnott

Relieving Principal

Luke Wright, Elsie Moffat and Samson Hole had the wonderful experience of representing the Shoalhaven District in the South Coast Regional Athletics Carnival on Friday held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. Elsie competed strongly in the junior girls long jump but her best result came in the shot put throwing 6.16m and placing 3rd out of 23 competitors! She is now heading to the state finals in Sydney representing our school and the south coast! Congratulations Elsie!

Luke competed very well against a strong field for the 11yr boys shot put event. We are still awaiting his final results. Congratulations Luke on a fantastic effort!

Samson competed in the 100m sprint placing first in his heat and 14th overall out of a field of 44 fast competitors. There was less than 1 second in the race for Sam’s event (Between 1st and 14th.) 1st place ran 14.80 seconds in the heats, Samson ran 15.63 seconds in his heat. He missed the final 10 by 0.24 of a second! It’s a great indication of the level of competition! 

He also successfully jumped 120cms in the high jump placing 5th on a count back. The kids were all thrilled to wear the Shoalhaven district competition singlet and receive their South Coast Athletics hoodies. A fabulous experience at a wonderful venue with good friends.

Goodluck Elsie for State!!!!

-Mrs Kate Hole

A massive congratulations to Samson Hole, Levi Cox, Isaac Cox, Caleb Winch, Harry Nelson, Elsie Moffat, Colbie Ashcroft & Matilda McLennan for successfully competing and WINNING the Todd Woodbridge Cup Zone tennis event in Moss Vale today. Our Kangaroo Valley kids came out on top overall after playing 4 great rounds against other local schools. They all competed so well and were thrilled to take home the win. Levi and Elsie received awards for their exemplary behaviour and sportsmanship on court. The kids have been practising hard and we are very proud of their effort & determination and their dedication to the team. The next round is the State Finals at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis World on 14th November! Wish us luck!

-Mrs Kate Hole

Monday

1/2, K/1 Library lessons with Mrs Gripper

1/2, 2/3 Art Lessons with Miss Delmenico

Tuesday

4/5/6, 2/3 Library lessons with Mrs Gripper

K/1, 4/5/6 Art Lessons with Miss Delmenico

Choral Festival Rehearsal at IRPS departing 9.15am

Wednesday

Canteen Open 

Years 3 & 4 Bebris Problem Solving Challenge with Miss Arnott

Thursday

SRE and Ethics Classes 

Music

Friday

AFL Clinics 

Scope IT Sessions 

Play Based Learning

Garden Club from 2pm-3pm

The next P&C meeting is on Friday 23rd September 8:30am in the school Library. This meeting will focus on brainstorming ideas for upgrading and improving the school grounds and much of the money raised this year will go towards this project. It would be great to have as much parent input as possible at this meeting so please come along.

Trudie

Trudie Jarnason

P&C President

Part of our 150th fundraising efforts include the opportunity to have your name engraved into a paver that will be installed in a footpath in the school grounds, from the classrooms up to the oval and back areas. 

We hope to end up with a great selection of pavers, representing past and present students and staff and members of the KVPS community. 

There are two options

 -pavers with text only, and 

- pavers with a hand drawn picture*

Payment can either be cash or bank transfer.  Any amendments to previously submitted forms can also be sent to Robin.  Please email Robin if you are interested in purchasing a text only paver or to arrange a hand drawn paver if this is of interest. 

Robin Moffat

robinmoffat13@gmail.com

Anglican Christian SRE is provided by Anglican teachers who are authorised and trained by the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, who are an approved SRE provider. Teachers provide education in Christian beliefs and practices for children in years K-6. The SRE curriculum used in this school is produced by Christian Education Publications and is approved by the SRE provider. The curriculum explores the good news about Jesus Christ found in the Bible and the depth of God’s love for people. Each lesson has been developed to be taught in an age-appropriate manner. Lessons include activities which make the lessons fun and inclusive for children and young people, and also give them the opportunity to critically explore and deepen their faith, pray, and reflect. Research has shown that SRE contributes to students’ wholistic education as it nurtures their spiritual wellbeing. For more information about the SRE curriculum used in this school visit whysre.com.au.

Primary Ethics classes are taught by specially trained volunteers who are mostly parents or carers from within the community. Primary Ethics classes are free of charge.

To enable Primary Ethics classes to run we are required to have a minimum of 8 students in a stage select to study Ethics during the allotted SRE/SEE timeslot.

Our school has 4 stages and currently we have 2 classes running in Stage 2 and 3 but unfortunately we have not been able to meet the minimum in Kindy and stage 1, hope this can change in the future and this is why we are asking for expressions of interest.

If you are interested in your child attending Ethics classes, please advise the office via email or complete the expression of interest form attached. This can be done at any time during the school year.

If you have any questions please feel free to call me on 0434 191 525 to discuss.

Warm regards

Sally Thompson-Cox Mum of Levi (Year 4) and Isaac (Year 3)