I am pleased to introduce the temporary school leadership team for the beginning of this school year. This team will remain in place until the recruitment process for a permanent Deputy Principal is completed.

• Ms. Sarah Milligan – Acting Deputy Principal and Preschool Leader

• Ms. Kate North – School Leader, K-2 and English as an Additional Language/Dialect

• Ms. Danielle O’Connor – Acting School Leader, 3-4 and Small Group Program

• Ms. Kelly Turner – School Leader, 5-6 and Specialist Team

We look forward to the contributions of this dedicated team as they support our students and staff in the year ahead.

In 2024, parents were invited to provide any additional information to their child’s teacher to support the transition to a new year and the development of a productive home and school relationship. You are invited to complete this electronic form, for your child’s teacher to read. This is optional and if you would like to provide information in person, please contact the school or email  to your child’s teacher please complete this form.

Professional Learning for staff - Week 0

In the week leading up to the start of the school year, the staff at Kaleen Primary School were busy preparing classrooms and engaging in professional development. As a team, we focused on our core themes of wellbeing and readiness to learn, ensuring we are fully aligned for the year ahead. We revisited the principles of Positive Behaviours for Learning, reflecting on how cultivating a positive classroom culture is essential in setting high expectations for every student, tailored to their individual needs.

Additionally, we had the privilege of participating in a workshop led by Dr. Kathy Cologon from  Toward Inclusion. Dr. Cologon guided us in deepening our understanding of Universal Design for Learning, reinforcing the importance of creating inclusive learning environments from the very beginning. This approach ensures that all students are engaged, supported, and able to participate fully, laying the foundation for a successful and inclusive year of learning. 

Community event: Meet and Mingle BBQ (FREE) - 18 February
The school and P&C are teaming up to host a community event for all Kaleen families on Tuesday, 18 February (Week 3), from 3:30pm to 6:00pm. This is a chance to meet your child’s teacher(s) and learn about classroom routines and the key learning of the year. A free BBQ under the Cowshed will be available from 3:30pm to 5:45pm, with seating near the basketball court. If you have children in consecutive years, the sessions are staggered, allowing you to attend all relevant sessions. Please be on time to ensure you don’t miss the year level presentations. Please see the map below outlining where the 2025 grade level presentations will be hosted. Preschool families have already attended information sessions in 2024, but all families are invited to attend the BBQ and meet other community members. We look forward to seeing you there!

Assemblies

Assemblies will continue on Friday afternoons at 2:15pm starting in Week 2, alternating between senior and junior each week. The focus of these assemblies is on special messages, awards and a performance item from the host cohort. Please see the Term 1 timetable below for more details. 

Week 2 - Year 6 

Week 3 - Year 2 

Week 4 - Year 5

Week 5 - Year 1 

Week 6 - Year 4 

Week 7 - Kindergarten 

Week 8 - Year 3

Week 9 - Sports Carnival Assembly

External After School Activities

In 2025 we will continue with our External After School Activities. We have a number of organisations that run after school programs on our school grounds. These programs are offered through external providers and are not supervised by school staff. Please contact the businesses directly to find out more about their terms and conditions and/or to book a spot for your child. 

Mondays
Get Set Tennis coaches are offering group lessons for Kindergarten to Year 6 students on the Kaleen Primary School tennis courts 3:00pm-4:30pm each Monday (starting Week 2). In cases of wet weather, the program will move to an alternate location within the school grounds. A new program will commence at the beginning of Term 1 and will cost $225 for nine weeks ($25 per session). However, there is currently a waitlist. Please email nelson@getsettennis.com.au  or phone 0422 809 160 to find out more and/or register for the waiting list. 

Thursdays
This term, Code Camp will be offering an after-school program for our (Years 2-6) students in the Kaleen Primary School library 3:00pm-4:30pm each Thursday. The program runs for 8 weeks and commences in Week 2 of Term 1. The cost for Code Camp is $284 for eight weeks. Book now HERE or call on 1300 263 322. Please see the flyer about Code Camp in the Community Section of the newsletter.

There have been enquiries about the popular after school chess program. The program will start again in Term 2 and is likely to run for the remainder of the year. During Term 1, there will be a Chess Club on Tuesdays at lunch time as a PE@K Programs. We will send out information for Term 2 Chess Coaching closer to the time.

Communication at Kaleen Primary

KPS communicates with families in a range of ways, outlined below are our main communication tools.

Parent Portal

We will be transitioning formal communication from KPS through Sentral and the Parent Portal. The Parent Portal provides access to:

• School newsletters

• Absentee notifications

• Important updates

For instructions on accessing the Parent Portal, visit the Kaleen Primary website and/or ask for information from the Front Office team. New families to KPS will be sent an email during Term 1 containing an access code.

Seesaw

The Seesaw platform will mirror information you are receiving through the Portal or direct emails. We have streamlined how Seesaw is used and all school related messages will come from ‘Kaleen Primary School’. Announcements and information from the P&C will come from ‘Kaleen Primary P&C’. ‘What's On Next Week at Kaleen Primary School’ was a successful strategy to help families prepare for the week ahead, this will continue to be posted on Seesaw on Fridays.

Social media

Follow our Facebook page to stay informed about school events, celebrations and achievements. Find us

@Kaleen Primary School 

School Newsletter & website

The newsletter will be emailed to families/sent as a link through Seesaw and Parent Portal on Friday of Weeks 1, 5 and 9. The newsletter will also be published on the school website. 

The Kaleen Primary School website contains school procedures, additional school information and educational resources and curriculum guides.

Swimming Carnival 2025

Our Competitive Swimming Carnival is set for February 25. With more non-swimmers and fewer students choosing to race, many are opting for aquatic games, leaving racers out of the fun. After meeting with the carnival committee, and talking with other schools, we’ve reassessed the format, considering the water competency testing and potential risk factors. In 2025, we’ll trial a competitors-only carnival, supported by the school board. This will focus on identifying swimmers for the next stage and provide a more dedicated swim meet experience. 

Before School Supervision

A member of the Executive Team is on playground duty in the Senior area (basketball court, netball court and grass area adjacent to the Gym) from 8:45am-9:00am each morning. Students are asked not to play on any fixed playground equipment before school. If junior students are with their parents/carer, they have the option to supervise them on the play equipment outside the Year 1 and Kindergarten classrooms. All other equipment is not available for play during these times and we ask students to stay out of these areas completely to avoid any confusion.

Safe pick up and drop off - KPS car park

The main school car park has been re-marked with new signage and lines to help identify parking spots, as well as a designated area for dropping off and picking up your child/children. This space is small, and was previously marked as a Bus Stop. There is now only one Bus Stop in the carpark, located after the pedestrian crossing as you drive in and through. We are requesting that all families drive into the Pick-up/Set-down area and proceed to the front. It's important to be considerate of other families also trying to access the car park, as maintaining the flow of traffic benefits everyone. Staff will direct families to move forward, and children should wait until the car has entered the Pick-up/Set-down area before getting into the vehicle. Please refrain from parking in this area and leaving your car.

The preschool car park has also been repainted with lines identifying parking bays.

 
It is crucial that we do not block the bus entry, particularly in the afternoons when buses are arriving. This is a busy time of day, and your cooperation will help ensure everyone’s safety and smooth traffic flow. If possible, we also encourage families to consider walking to school as a wonderful option. 

Scholastic Book Club

Issue 1 Book Club Catalogues were distributed to students this week. This edition is jam packed full of great reads for all ages and reading levels.

The Book Club is great way to purchase books and encourage reading as well as contribute to our school as 15% of every order goes back to our Library to purchase new resources.

If you find something you like, simply follow the steps below to place an order and your books will be delivered in a few short weeks to your child’s class.

Online ordering is easy, just follow the 5 step instructions outlined below (Please note, we are currently unable to accept cash orders).

Orders close COB Tuesday 18 February.

Find out more about Book Club by using the link provided https://issuu.com/scholastic_australia/docs/scholastic_book_club_parent_guide?fr=sODVlMDM0NDU5MDI

Wellbeing at Kaleen (W@K)

We practise mindfulness as one of the strategies that can help our students develop self-awareness, improve wellbeing and get ready to learn here at Kaleen Primary School. At staff meetings we are pausing to take a deep breath or to do a short body scan. This may simply involve taking 3 deep breaths and then moving our attention gradually from our toes, up through our body until we reach the top of our heads, easing tension where we find it. Staff are practising these mindfulness techniques in their classrooms as a strategy to help students find renewed energy, calm, clarity and to help us all stay ‘on track’ with learning. The practice of mindfulness, such as the body scan, can also increase our awareness of what we are doing with our bodies so we might make safe, smart and respectful choices with them. We encourage you to talk to your child about the new techniques they are learning. Here are some resources below that you could utilise to support our home/school connection.

Fiona Manton

If you would like to have your child's achievement acknowledged here, please email a short blurb to KaleenPSAdmin@ed.act.edu.au