KSS_Newsletter_W1T4

Principal Update

Welcome back to Term 4!  We have had a wonderful first week back at school, ending with our amazing Colour Splatacular  organised by our P and C.  Thank you to our P and C for planning a memorable experience for our students.  Thank you to all who attended.  We look forward to sharing some photos of the afternoon with you all soon.

Our newsletters form an important part of the communication between school and home.  Newsletters provide opportunities to share what is happening at school, as well as share some other important information from the Department of Education.  If you have any feedback about what you would like to see more of in the newsletter, please email admin@kingstonss.eq.edu.au.

At our school, we deeply value respectful relationships as they play a crucial role in promoting student learning and wellbeing.  Establishing safe and healthy collaborative schools requires more than just effort; it takes a community. You may have noticed that the Department of Education has released a campaign around schools being workplaces and, just like any workplace, abuse or aggression of any kind is unacceptable.  While most interactions are extremely positive, there is no excuse for harassing behaviour towards staff.  You may notice some posters up around the school in coming days, as well as updates in our newsletter. Everyone must work together to ensure that communication and behaviour throughout our school remains respectful.  We recognise that there will be times when parents, caregivers, and community members may wish to exercise their right to voice complaints or express concerns regarding the school's decisions, performance or actions. Information on our complaints management process can be found on our website, along with our Parent Community Code of Conduct.

Thank you,

Robyn Marshall

Deputy Principal Update

Behaviour focus

Our current behaviour focus, be safe, has had a specific focus on listening carefully and following instructions. Demonstrating this behaviour supports safe, positive and productive learning environments. This focus provides an opportunity for families to discuss and reflect on active listening and the importance of following instructions promptly at home and at school.

Powering into Prep

Our enrolments for Prep 2025 have commenced. If you have a child born between July 2019-June 2020 they are eligible to enrol for Prep for next year.

Prep 2025 orientation sessions, Powering into Prep, commence on Thursday, 10 October. During these sessions, prospective students and their parents will engage in activities in a Prep classroom, becoming familiar with the school environment.

Sessions will run each Thursday from 9-10am, with the final session on 5 December. Parents are to wait with their child/ren in the undercover Prep area to be collected by a Prep teacher at 9am.

We look forward to seeing our 2025 Preps at the sessions, wearing their new school shirts.

UQ Hearing Screener- Prep

Our school has engaged the UQ Health & Rehabilitation Clinics to provide a Hearing Screening Program for our Prep students. The screening will be performed by Master of Audiology Students under the direct supervision of a qualified Senior Audiologist.

Students in Prep, who have returned their consent form, are eligible to be screened on the 2 or 23 October. This program offers an opportunity to identify any hearing concerns and provide information for further hearing testing, if required.

Guidance Officer Update

Learning For Life Scholarships (Smith Family)

What is Learning for Life?

Learning for Life provides families with opportunities to increase their children’s success at school, TAFE and university. Achieving a good education can lead to better job prospects, the security of a regular income and the skills to participate in community life. Learning for Life helps each child reach their potential by supporting their education from primary through to post school studies.

What Learning for Life can offer:

• Programs to help improve reading, numeracy, leadership, computer and finance skills.
• Financial support in the form of a scholarship to help pay for the cost of education eg. school uniforms and shoes, text books, course materials, excursions.
• Access to a local Family Partnerships Coordinator who can link families into services to increase engagement in education.

Who is eligible for Learning for Life?

To be eligible for Learning for life, families must meet the following criteria:

• live in a community where The Smith Family has a
• presence and attend a partner school
• possess a Health Care Card or Pension Concession Card
• demonstrate a commitment to education (i.e. children
• attend school regularly)
• be referred to us by one of our partner schools.

Who funds Learning for Life scholarships?

The Smith Family’s Learning for Life scholarships are funded by caring sponsors who want to help young Australians and their families. They may sponsor alone, through their workplace, or share with another caring Australian. Learning for Life allows students and sponsors to build a relationship with one another through letter writing. Sponsors can provide encouragement and support to their student and in return students can keep their sponsors updated on their progress, and future plans and dreams. Each year, sponsors are sent a Student Profile completed by their student so they can learn a little about the student they are supporting. To protect everyone’s privacy, The Smith Family manages all correspondence. Sponsors only know their student’s first name, age and the state in which they live. In return, the student only knows their sponsor’s first name and state.

How do I apply for Learning for Life Scholarship?

If you would like to apply for a Learning for Life Scholarship, please collect an expression of interest form from the office, fill it in and return to the school.

Screen Time

Is your child’s online time getting in the way of their sleep and exercise? Is it impacting their face-to-face connections with family and friends?

How much is too much?

Navigating the right amount of screen time depends on a range of factors including: your child’s age and maturity, the content they are watching, their needs and your family’s routine. The quality and nature of what your child is doing online, and your involvement, are important factors.

Signs that online activity is having a negative impact on your child or family include: 

• less interest in social activities (seeing friends or playing sport)
• tiredness, sleep disturbance, headaches, eye strain 
• changes in eating patterns
• reduced personal hygiene
• obsession with particular websites or games
• extreme anger when being asked to take a break from online activity
• appearing anxious or irritable when away from the computer
• becoming withdrawn from friends and family

What to do if you are concerned

• Talk to your child about how much time they spend online and explain why it is worrying and what they could be missing out on. 
• Try not to show that you disapprove or they might shut down communication altogether. 
• Talking to your child’s teacher may also reveal academic or social issues, and the school may also be able to provide support.
• If you are worried about issues including cyberbullying, gaming, grooming or unwanted contact, get help for your child by speaking to your family GP.

Help your child manage their online time

• Keep an eye on the games, apps and devices your child uses. Chat with your child regularly and help them stay aware of how much time they are spending on different online and offline activities. 
• Include positive things outside the online world in your conversations, such as what they love in life, careers they are interested in and new hobbies.
• Join in. Play games together as a family, or explore some joint online projects. Rather than being just a solitary activity, online time can then become another way of strengthening connections as well as building social skills.
• Where possible, avoid limiting online time as a punishment as this approach may inflate its importance to children.

Use the available technology

• Parental controls are software tools that allow you to monitor and limit what your child sees and does online.
• There are also apps and software to measure online time as well as set time limits on device use or internet access.

Device-free zones and times can help you manage screen time:

• no devices in the bedroom
• all screens off after a certain time
• all screens off at least one hour before bedtime
• all family members switch off at dinner time
• devices charged overnight in a place your child cannot access

Attendance Update

Attending school everyday is important for all of our students!  Please read the brochure below in regards to attendance.