News

Coronavirus - Department of Education statement

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 18:55:33 AEDT

The department is working with the Ministry of Health to monitor and respond to the unfolding international novel coronavirus situation.

Get up-to-date information about the department's response to novel coronavirus.

#Ready2020 – a great year starts here

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 13:06:39 AEDT

Starting school is a big moment in a child’s life. Here’s how to make the most of it.

We can’t wait for you to join us for a great year – the first step towards a lifelong love of learning.

Visit the department’s primary school resources for hints, tips and checklists to make a great start to the new school year, whether your child is starting Kindergarten or Year 6.

You’ll find:

Getting ready for primary school booklet – everything you need to be #Ready2020
Daisy’s First Day – the story of Daisy the koala’s first adventure at Kindergarten
advice from teachers – they’ve been through this before.

Video – #Ready2020: First day of Kindy

Duration – 1:00

Staying healthy into the new school year

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 16:20:52 AEDT

Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way to protect your family from harmful diseases this holiday season and into 2020. Visit your doctor for general health and vaccination advice.

Immunisation not only protects you and your family but also others in your community, by reducing the spread of preventable diseases.

Children starting school in 2020 must have up-to-date immunisations to enrol.

These vaccinations help protect children from highly infectious and severe diseases including whooping cough and measles.

Travel health

If you’re travelling overseas during the school holidays, you may need vaccinations or medication – both for general health protection and for region-specific diseases.

If you’re travelling to the Northern Hemisphere, you may even need a flu shot.

Find out more about staying healthy while travelling.

NSW schools respond to bushfires

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:48:00 AEDT

Many schools are responding to the catastrophic fire rating that is affecting communities across the state this week.

We are continuously updating the School safety page with a list of government and non-government schools, as well as TAFE NSW campuses that are currently non-operational.

While some schools are temporarily non-operational due to localised fires, many others in high-risk areas are non-operational as a precautionary measure.

Schools in some areas are being used as emergency evacuation centres at the direction of the Rural Fire Service.

For schools that are currently operational, school pickups and dropoffs will continue as usual. If your school is currently non-operational, it will likely remain so tomorrow.

Large scale distressing events affect our school communities in many ways. Headspace’s mental health support resource (PDF 100.52KB) is available to help students, teachers and school staff respond to the bushfires.

Visit the School safety page for updates. The department’s Facebook and Twitter accounts will also provide updates during this period.

Grab a ticket to Schools Spectacular 2019

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 14:15:41 AEDT

Will you be joining us at Schools Spectacular 2019? Tickets are on sale now. Experience our live show featuring a cast of thousands of public school students from across metropolitan, rural and remote regions of NSW.

Students from different ages, cultures and backgrounds will share the spotlight as they dance, play and sing for you. Choose from one of our four massive performances at Qudos Bank Arena on Friday 22 November and Saturday 23 November.

This year's events will feature:

more than 380 schools
5,500 performers
a 3000-strong choir
2,300 dancers
an 80-piece symphony orchestra
a world-class stage band.

Group bookings

Need to make a group booking for over 10 people? Complete the Schools Preview Order Form 2019 (PDF 110KB) to attend the discounted 11am Friday matinee. The Friday matinee is discounted for school students and accompanying teachers.

If you’d like to grab a spot at one of the other three remaining shows complete the Group Booking Form 2019 (PDF 110KB).

Tickets for you and your family and friends

Save you and your family a spot online or by phone on 132 849.

Video – Schools Spectacular 2019

Duration: 0:26

Friends of Kitchener Meeting Notes 28-11-18

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 06:13:15 AEDT

Friends of Kitchener Meeting 28-11-18

Present: Kristelle, Rachel, Erin, Rebecca, Chris and Linda

5/6 Silent Movies Premiere!

Notes from the 24-10-18 meeting

*PBL rewards-raffle tickets have started. Peer support sessions on Friendly Talk and Hands and Feet to Self- delivered by leaders and have been well received.

*Thanks to Rachelle and Kristelle for coming to the parent information session for 2019 Kinders and to Rebecca for organising the pie drive- raised $209.

*Ozobots purchased using Spend for our School funding.

*Sun screen purchased for each class and a sunscreen station set up in the playground.

*Buddy bench (aeroplane) donated to the school by year 6.

*Captains, ministers and AET leaders announced. I will talk with the Minister for the Environment on the Police plastics project to recycle cling wrap etc for road fill.

*Policy meeting update- Consequences flowchart is starting to be developed to provide consistency across the school.

New business

*Riley’s mum would like to donate a merit board for Dux of the school starting with Riley. Everyone agreed that this was a great idea. Discussed making the Honour Boards more visible in the SPR.

*Centenary note out with the newsletter today- meeting next week depending on preferred time from note.

*Evaluation survey out with the newsletter-due Friday. Reward for the class with the most surveys returned.

*School received packets of free seeds (thanks Erin) and was also successful in the ECO School grant. Students have been picking baby carrots and green strawberries-need to be reminded about not picking fruit and vegetables unless they have checked with an adult.

Current staffing organisation for 2019-not set in concrete.

*Principal position-nothing to report as of yet. Planning for 2019 as if I will start the year. Any information will be communicated with the school community.

*Kindergarten- Chloe Power

*1/2- Tricia Brunton 2.5 days per week focusing on REAL projects and peer critique and Sue Firth 2.5 days per week focusing on explicit teaching of literacy and numeracy-L3 and Targeted Early Numeracy.

*3/4- waiting to hear from staffing about filling the permanent position. I have requested an open merit position- school panel would choose but they may fill it with a transfer. I have asked Steven Kelly to start the year if it’s not filled before day 1.

*5/6- McKenna Hutt

*RFF Creative Arts K-6, library and teacher release for professional learning in class e.g. Tricia to work with Sue and Chloe, in class, on peer critique; release Chloe to work with teachers, in class, on using technology and run parent workshops; release McKenna to work with S2 teacher on REAL projects- Tricia Brunton 2.5 days per week

*Learning and Support Teacher administration-Gaye Couper

*Learning and Support Teacher-Cathy Vogt

Cathy Vogt principal (relieving)

Year 6 2018 gift to the school

Mon, 26 Nov 2018 06:50:11 AEDT

Year 6 has been busy working with the school's general assistant to build and paint a buddy bench for students. It has been designed as an aeroplane and was revealed at the recent presentation ceremony.

Friends of Kitchener Meeting

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 05:40:09 AEDT

Friends of Kitchener Meeting 24-10-18

Present: Cathy, Rachel, Kristelle, Erin, Rebecca and Linda

*Policy meeting for PBL- Rewards survey K-6

Badges

Raffle dip

Merit Awards

Other-Gotchas-15, Dojos-1, Eco-system-5

*5 Gotchas/ Dojos = 1 raffle ticket in class box for Friday Assembly draw. One student from each class drawn out at Assembly. Can be used at the canteen. May be saved up 1 = 50c 2= $1.00 3= $1.50 (ECO system).

*20 Gotchas/ Dojos = a class merit award (give out in class). Still have merit awards at Assembly which go towards Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond Awards.

*3 merit awards = Bronze Award (students could elect to receive a badge) 6 merit awards = Silver Award (badge)

9 merit awards = Gold Award (medal), Diamond award is a diamond shaped trophy.

*Leaders will help teachers to hand out Gotchas on the playground during lunch and recess. They would focus on K-2-limited to five Gotchas. Handed out for PBL focus that week-taught in Peer Support lessons? Cathy to check with teachers.

*Presentation Ceremony survey results published in the Newsletter:

58% happy with morning with morning, 39% wanted it to stay in the evening and 48% of parents were happy either way. Evening this year- parents suggested year about- so morning in 2019.

*Kristelle-Recycling cling wrap etc for road fill. She will investigate and Cathy to check with Bittaba PS- office and teacher said it was going well. Could be incorporated into a REAL project? Contact Police plastics.

*Grandparents Assembly this Friday-2pm- school will provide afternoon tea. Anything else that is brought in will be a bonus.

*Erin-Garden licences – need to make sure that students are not using tools and climbing fences. Can probably set up a produce stall on Friday.

*Rebecca-Pie Drive on this term. Pick up day 22-11-18 so that final orders can be collected after Presentation Assembly if not picked up in the morning.

*Parents to come along to Kinder Information session 1-11-18. Kristelle and Rachel will come to the morning session (maybe Rebecca) Erin will come along if there is an evening session.

*Breakfast Club is running well-parents apologized for not coming. I told them that Monique was doing a great job.

*$1500 to spend-STEM robotics, bush tucker/ sensory plants-decided to buy an Ozobot EVO kit and put some money towards the Centenary fair.

*Centenary celebration suggestions- week of activities, reunion previous students, staff etc, fete/ fair/ markets/ car boot sale, Centenary merchandise stall, rides with wrist bands-each class researches 25 years of history during this time and sets up a stall, wears costumes from the time period-Musical for this instead maybe, dinner somewhere or roast people in the SPR night before the fair day or night of the fair in case people travel. Will have a Centenary committee to organize this.

*Anything else- Kristelle asked if we could have sunscreen under the COLA or in classes. All parents happy for students without hats to stay under the COLA only.

*Rebecca commented on how much Haylee liked having Mr Kelly as a teacher.