Kingston State School eNewsletter 24 May 2024
From the Principal
Dear Parents & Carers
Welcome to this first initial test of the school newsletter. Once again a big thank you to Mrs Robyn Marshall for setting the wheels in motion and subscribing to schoolzine to deliver this newsletter to you all. At Kingston State School we recognise the importance of positive communication to build community. No decision has been made about the frequency of this newsletter but we felt it was important to test the Schoolzine newsletter engine to ensure it is working. Obviously in coming weeks you will see changes to the layout of the newsletter and the integration of the other tools that are available through this newsletter. The School Calendar component is not operational at this stage.
While I have the opportunity I wanted to thank everyone at Kingston State School for welcoming me into the school for my short stay as the acting Principal. It is always good to see how different schools operate as we are always learning how things can be done differently or more efficiently. So again thanks everyone.
I have seen some great work in classes as your team of teachers work towards supporting all learners. Literacy has been a focus along with building a consistent approach to the positive behaviour for learning practices. The Kingston State School community should be very proud of the school and it's staff.
A couple of short articles below to test the system and share some information.
Thanks everyone and stay safe.
Stephen Rowe
Principal (acting)
National Volunteers Week
This week is National Volunteers Week and I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the volunteers on their support for Kingston State School. Thank you to the P&C, the tuckshop volunteers and the breakfast club volunteers for all your efforts. The school greatly appreciates your support.
From the Deputies
Talofa (Greetings in Samoan) from Mr Toma as I personally and respectfully thank students, staff and parents for your warm welcome into the Kingston State School family. I have been encouraged and embraced through the greetings in different lanaguages that are represented in our school. I have heard 'Kia Ora, Bula, Jarjums, Gidday, Talofa, Mbote and Malo Lelei' with the occational 'whassup' (we'll talk about this later). I look forward to connecting with our families and team here in Kingston.
Term 2 is now at the halfway point and how time has flown. We reflect on the start of Term 2 in the commemoration of our ANZAC ceremony that was well attended and included special guest Major. Mervyn and Local Councilor Teresa Lane. It is encouraging to to move around the classrooms to experience and connect with students and teachers as well continue the PBL (Positive Behaviour for Learning) focus of 'RESPECT' into the routines and expectations of lifelong learning.
Our morniing routine as a whole school in the hall at 8:30am has seen a settling forstudents into the routines and expectations through some weekly TWO WORD messages for each week. 'OneThing' refers to a good start by doing onething good first. The second message is 'beBetter' as a learner, writer, mathematitian, sports person and a citizen. Finally, the third message is 'calmFarm' in our hearts and heads when we find ourselves in a challenging situation we are calm and use the FIVE.
In our PBL journey we will introduce REBOOT in our thinking, seeing and acting as we begin to focus on Term 3. In Week 7 next week we recognise and acknowledge Reconciliation Week 'Now More Than Ever' where workshops by Gunya Meta and Bama Tales and resources distributed to engage and connect students.
Thank you for your welcome,
Carl Toma
Deputy Principal 3 - 6
Messages from the Office
Envelopes are taken directly to MSP Photography in the hall on the day of the photos or ordered online. The office will not be accepting any payments or cash.
New early sign out process. Parents to sign out students at office and then take the slip to the classroom to collect their child. This will minimise disruptions in class and foot traffic in the office.
A REMINDER that the gates on Juers Street are closed between 9:30am and 2:30pm. All access in those times are through gates on Laughlin Street.
STEM Challenge
On Wednesday this week, 16 year 6 students represented Kingston State School at the annual Kingston State College STEM Challenge Day. Students participated in four rotational activities that had them solving a range of STEM challenges. These challenges included building a bridge out of blu tack and toothpicks, building a trebuchet to launch an eraser and cracking an alphabet code.
At the end of the day, our students were crowned champions of the challenge and took home the trophy. Our students did an amazing job demonstrating all of Kingston State School's values and are congratulated for their outstanding efforts.
STEM Challenge
Under 8s Day
Under 8s Day celebrates the importance of learning in the early years of a child's life. This fun morning allowed students under 8 years to share a morning of imagination, play, exploration and fun!
Under 8s Day was initiated by Early Childhood Australia, Queensland, which wanted to create a day dedicated to highlighting the importance of the early years of a child's life. The first eight years of development are crucial, and it’s when children build the foundations of their view of the world and themselves
Children are born investigators, and this day aims to nurture their natural curiosity and playfulness. We can do that by providing various experiences and learning opportunities, which will ignite a love of learning that will last a lifetime.
Under 8s Day
Positive Behaviour for Learning
Kingston State School is a Positive Behaviour for Learning school.
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) is a whole-school framework that promotes positive behaviour across a school and helps schools develop safe and supportive learning environments.
Schools which implement the PBL framework make sure all students are explicitly taught the expected behaviours and establish clear and consistent boundaries. Staff take a proactive, preventative approach to ensure all students receive the appropriate level of support to help them to be successful at school. Student outcomes are monitored so identified students can receive additional support when needed, and a minority of students can access intensive support to enable them to engage successfully at school.
Over the comming weeks at Kingston State School the students will be continuing to learn about RESPECT and respectful responses.
