Website: http://www.kendall-p.schools.nsw.edu.au E-mail: kendall-p.school@det.nsw.edu 1

Kendall Public School Newsletter

Term 2 Week 6 - 5th June 2020

Principal’s Message

Staff and students have enjoyed returning to our regular classes and routines over the past fortnight. In many

ways it has been like starting the school year again. With a focus on wellbeing, teachers have worked to

re-establish expectations and positive relationships within their classes. Students have reconnected with friends

and peers, and are adjusting to the routines of learning at school rather than at home. For some, this has been a

smooth transition, but for a few students this has been more challenging after such a long period away from

school. This will improve with time, however, if you have any concerns, please discuss these with the class

teacher.

Student Safety

Afternoon routines have been adjusted to ensure all students depart the school in a safe and orderly manner.

Staff are rostered to supervise students boarding buses, riding bikes or scooters, walking, meeting parents/carers

at the front gate and moving to the Kiss & Drop area.

Despite reminders at morning assemblies, we continue to see some students not following our procedures and putting their safety at risk. Behaviours causing the most concern are:

Students going directly to the front gate to meet parents/carers or cross to the car park. They are expected to

meet the teacher at the Kindergarten rooms and be escorted to the gate. We ask parents not to call children

across the road, particularly whilst buses are there.

Students entering and exiting via car parks. This is extremely dangerous with vehicles regularly accessing these

areas.

Bikes & scooters being ridden through the school grounds where other children are departing. These should be

walked until outside the school.

I ask all parents and carers to reinforce these expectations with your children so that all our students remain safe.

Opportunity Class 2021 Applications

Notes regarding Opportunity Class applications were sent home with Year 4 students this week. I remind families

who are intending to submit an online application that the closing date is Friday 26th June. Please contact Mrs

Cosgrove if you have any questions about this process.

Proud Students

Look at the smiles on these faces! It is been wonderful to see students

happily engaging in their learning at school and excited to share their

accomplishments. Some great artwork from 3/4E and impressive

persuasive writing from Stage 1 students brightened up my week!

Best Wishes,

Leonie Cosgrove

Website: http://www.kendall-p.schools.nsw.edu.au E-mail: kendall-p.school@det.nsw.edu 2

School news

Re-scheduling of School Events Although PSSA sports and representative carnivals are not going ahead, we are still planning to conduct our

school events for cross country and athletics.

Cross Country - Stage 2 and 3 classes have commenced cross country training in their weekly sport and PE

sessions in preparation for the school event on Friday 26th June. Unfortunately, due to physical distancing

and health guidelines, this event will be restricted to students and staff only. We are sorry this year no

parents or community members are able to attend. Stage 2 & 3 students will run the cross country course

starting on the bottom oval at 9:30am. Students are welcome to wear their house colours and make sure to

bring their water bottle and hat The canteen will be open.

Athletics will be a weekly sport focus during Term 3 with a carnival to be held later that term. Depending

on health regulations at that time, the carnival may have a different format to previous years.

School Photos have been booked for 15th September.

Stage 2 and 3 Camps Due to COVID-19 and uncertainty around future government restrictions, we have sadly made the decision

to cancel the planned camps for Stages 2 and 3 this year. Families of Stage 3 students who have paid their

deposit or additional funds will be refunded that money. Notes outlining the refund procedures were sent

home with Stage 3 students on Thursday. If you have not received the note, please contact our Admin Office.

Hardcopy Learning Packs Families who received hard copy learning packs are expected to return the completed work to class teachers.

This will provide evidence of home learning for our attendance records and enable teachers to review

student progress.

Changes to the opportunity class placement process for 2020 Year 4 students

The 2021 Year 5 opportunity class placement process was put on hold in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 situation.

We now have a revised and simplified timeline for the OC placement process to ensure that students and families can have certainty about their placement as soon as possible.

The changes include:

A new date for online applications. Parents must apply between 9 June 2020 and 26 June 2020. Late

applications cannot be accepted.

A new test date - Wednesday 16 September 2020.

To ensure fair and consistent assessment of students across New South Wales, students will be offered places based only on their test results this year – there will be no school assessment scores.

There will also be no opportunity for appeals given the tight timeframes.

For further detailed information I encourage you to visit (https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/

Website: http://www.kendall-p.schools.nsw.edu.au E-mail: kendall-p.school@det.nsw.edu 3

School news

Week 7 Focus Value—Care All people work most effectively when they feel safe, secure, cared for and connected with those around them. We believe in teaching and promoting behaviours that bring people closer together, forming positive relationships that boost productivity, confidence and self-belief.

All students are learning about what behaviours allow them to develop positive relationships as opposed to those behaviours that lead to strained and unproductive relationships.

A core value in supporting this approach is CARE.

Students will participate in learning activities which focus on what it means to care for ourselves and others.

How caring for others can positively affect individuals, groups and the entire culture of our school. Classes are

utilising the following table to recognise caring and connecting behaviours. Why not try them at home? As a rule

we should always ask ourselves, “Will my actions push us further apart? Or will what I say or do bring us closer

together.”

Week 8 Focus Value—Equity

This week our Values Education focus will be on ‘Equity’. This will involve students exploring the concepts of individual needs and fairness.

In the context of our school we will work with students to develop understanding of ‘equity’ ranging from concepts and personal skills such as sharing, identifying needs and looking after the needs of others, through to the more complex issues of social justice, racism and discrimination.

Students will participate in discussions and activities that promote thinking about how we can all work together to make sure that we operate at all times with a sense of fairness and a consideration for the needs of others.

Equity is not treating everybody exactly the same, equity is recognising individual needs and circumstances and doing our best to provide for everyone in a way that promotes success for all.

Connecting Behaviours

Caring

Listening

Supporting

Contributing

Encouraging

Trusting

Respecting

Negotiating Differences

Disconnecting Behaviours

Criticising

Blaming

Complaining

Nagging

Threatening

Punishing

Guilting

Bribing, Rewarding to Control

Website: http://www.kendall-p.schools.nsw.edu.au E-mail: kendall-p.school@det.nsw.edu 4

Interview With Madame Prime Minister By Ruby, Minister of Communication

How have you been going through this global coronavirus pandemic?

It’s been easier for me than a lot of other people but it has been very hard for everyone. I am very grateful to be me.

How old are you?

I have been 11 for 5 days.

What day was your birthday?

Monday, June 1st

How did you cope with online learning?

To be honest, I didn’t like it at all but I was at school a lot.

What is your favourite colour?

I like light blue.

Thank you for letting me interview you Hayley.

School news

Welcome Back to Face to Face Learning

We have loved seeing the class rooms and playground filled with smiling faces, happy

chatter and lots of learning. WELCOME BACK

Website: http://www.kendall-p.schools.nsw.edu.au E-mail: kendall-p.school@det.nsw.edu 5

School news

K1I shared their home schooling experiences with us through their art.

Jack helped his dad fix the car. Logan had her chickens help her do her work.

Macey loved to skip rope lots.

Brody liked using his laptop.