Things to Know

We will formally farewell our Year 6 class of 2018 at tonight’s Graduation. To the class of 2018, on behalf of our staff at Kaleen Primary School, we wish you the very best in your future. You have been such positive leaders and amazing role models to the younger children. Congratulations to all students across the school on the progress you have made towards your learning goals. It has been an absolute pleasure reading your successes highlighted in the Semester 2 student reports. All School based reports, A-E and PIPS assessments will be sent home tomorrow (Friday 14/12/18).

As proof of the wonderful atmosphere the students have created within Kaleen Primary, they have now received 8000 W@K tokens as a school, for their positive behaviour. Snowy was the first House Group to reach 2000, congratulations! On Wednesday Week 10, each cohort will celebrate this achievement in their own special way and all staff and students (in Snowy) have the option to wear their yellow sporting house colours.

To the Parents and Carers, I would like to thank you for your ongoing support. I am honoured to be Principal of such an amazing school, and look forward to working with you for many years to come. I would also like to acknowledge the wonderful work of the P&C and School Board who continue to work in partnership with the school to support our students’ learning. Thank you to all members of the community who have volunteered their time in order to enhance our school programs. Your contributions with fundraising, creating school resources, reading with children, volunteering and participating in school events is very much appreciated by staff and students. I look forward to thanking our volunteers at our Volunteers’ Morning Tea tomorrow at 11:00am in the library courtyard - weather permitting, or library - if the weather forecast is accurate.

Staffing News & 2019 Classes

In bittersweet news, our much loved Deputy Principal Robert Maccioni has formally announced his retirement at the beginning of 2019. Robert has spent this year recovering from a knee operation and now feels it is time to finish his teaching and leadership career. I only had the pleasure of working with Robert for a short few months as I transitioned to Kaleen Primary School. I soon realised that Robert was a true professional and I learnt a lot from working so closely with him over this period. On behalf of the school community, I would like to thank Robert for all his wonderful contributions to our school and the positive impact he has had on our students. Congratulations Robert on a magnificent career! You have earned yourself a well deserved rest and I wish you a happy and healthy retirement. We will be celebrating Robert’s career and achievements on Tuesday 5 February. He will be doing his final bus duty (3:00 - 3:30pm) for the school community to say thank you and Ciao.

The current executive team structure will remain the same until the end of Term 1 in 2019. Robert’s position will be advertised early next year and a new Deputy Principal position will be announced once the process is finalised.

A small number of staff will be leaving Kaleen at the end of 2018. This is always expected, but it is difficult to say goodbye to people who have made such a positive impact on our school and students.

The following staff have been successful in winning positions for 2018:

• Craig White (Palmerston Primary)
• Fiona Smith (Ngunnawal Primary)
• Sarah Patterson (Hughes Primary)
• Jodie Freebody (Giralang Primary)

In addition to this, Lexie O’Gorman will be moving to Brisbane for 2019 and is scheduled to be back with us in 2020. Jamal Sabet will also be leaving to do some overseas traveling, but also plans to be back with us in 2020. The above staff have contributed significantly to the school and we wish them all the best in the future.

I am excited to announce that we will be joined by Zak Stewart, Cecilia Brunker, Anita Carr and Melissa Rawlings in 2019.

To finish up the school year, we have listed our 2019 teaching staff. Please note, this is always subject to change, even at the last minute….but for now, this is what we expect to be our starting lineup for 2019.

Teachers

Preschool - Fiona Manton & Kat Jeffress

Kindergarten - Cecilia Brunker, Jess Bulluss & Kate Doak

Year 1 - Matt Stretton, Jordan Austin, Karina Adams & Melissa Rawlings

Year 2 - Fiona Chapman, Samuel Bryant & Danielle O’Connor

Year 3 - Alison Peebles, Zak Stewart & Lucy Chambers

Year 4 - Nikki Van Huizen, Tom Camilleri, Holly Trindall & Sarah Crawford

Year 5 - Ryan Lindsay, Anita Carr & Lynn Leon

Year 6 - Kelly Turner, Bec Hadfield & James Shapowloff

Specialists - Mari Kitasaka, Caren Lowther, Mel Chiles, Kelly Reeves, Aimee Griggs & Alison Marks

Executive Structure Term 1

Michelle Northey - Deputy Principal and Preschool Team Leader

Sarah Milligan - Kindergarten to Year 2 Team Leader

Jo Keens - Years 3/4 Team Leader

Kelly Turner - Years 5/6 Team Leader

Fiona Chapman - Specialist Team & Affiliated Schools Leader

Tomorrow (Friday) afternoon from 2:30-4pm class lists for 2018 will also be placed outside on the windows adjacent to the basketball court, on the Deputy Principal office window and in the preschool. We will also be having a whole school transition session on Tuesday 18 December at 11:30pm-1:00pm. This is a fabulous opportunity for all students to meet their new teacher and classmates.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Bye for now,

Chris Shaddock

Principal

A Letter from Mr Maccioni

It is with a touch of sadness that I write to say farewell. After much reflection and discussions with my immediate family, I have decided to retire from teaching. It is not a decision taken lightly and after 42 years in education, both in NSW and the ACT and 22 years as a deputy principal in a number of ACT schools, it is time to draw my teaching career to a close.

Although my time at Kaleen has been short, it has been a pleasure getting to know the wonderful community enjoying my interactions with children, their families and teachers. I’ve seen changes over the last four years (albeit from a distance this year) having now worked with two principals as a deputy……Mr Campbell and Mr Shaddock. I have appreciated their support and their wonderful words of encouragement, so I thank them both. Thank you to the parents of Kaleen. You have provided me with many opportunities…..as your child’s teacher, as someone to talk to and the times when we’ve just had a good laugh. Thank you for sharing your treasured moments with me, but more importantly, your delightful children……even if only a few hours a day.

Throughout my time I have had the pleasure to work with many wonderful teaching and admin staff, all of whom have our students at heart. I want to also acknowledge Mrs Northey, Mrs Keens and Ms Milligan who have been exceptional executive teachers and, without saying, our teachers…….what a marvellous bunch they are.

During my time at Kaleen, I have seen students come and go and I would say that many have impressed me….sometimes in big ways, sometimes in small ways but regardless of this, I have appreciated how they’ve made my time at Kaleen such an enjoyable place to work.

Ciao and happy travels

Robert Maccioni

Administration

School Board Vacancies 2019

Membership of the Kaleen Primary School Board is a wonderful opportunity to a participant in the management process of the school and to contribute to the determination of the school’s future directions. In 2019, our School Board will have two Parent and Citizens Members vacancies and one General Staff Vacancy for the period of 1 April 2019 until 31 March 2021.

Nominations will open 11.00am on Monday 4 February 2019. Any parents wishing to nominate can contact the school for more information.

Diana Wallace

Assistant Returning Officer – School Board

Class Planning - Preschool to Year 5 Families

In preparation for our class planning and enrolment projections for 2019 we would like to know your intentions regarding your child/ren’s schooling for next year. If your child/ren are currently enrolled in our school, including Preschool, you are automatically enrolled in our school for 2019.

Please click here to complete a form if you are not intending on returning to Kaleen Primary School in 2019.

Thank you for your continued support.

2019 Stationery Packs

Everything seems to be going up……not our 2019 stationery packs!

Each year, the school organises the supply of book packs to provide the necessary stationery to support student learning and engagement throughout the year. We are very much aware of the cost that the stationery packs place on families. We are pleased to let you know we have been able to keep the cost for 2019 at the same amount as 2018. We have been able to achieve this by implementing sustainable practices of reusing items and ordering bulk resources that are delivered directly to the school.

For a one-off amount, the stationery pack provides all the resources your child will need for the entire 2019 school year. Resources will be delivered directly to school where your child’s teacher will ensure your child has what they need to commence school and throughout the year. Stationery pack lists were sent home with your child last week.

If you require any assistance, please come and see our front office staff, phone 6142 1750 or email admin@kaleenps.act.edu.au. Our front office staff will be able to set up payment plans to enable you to pay in instalments, take payment (cash, cheque or card) or assist with internet access if you do not have this at home.

A message from Access Canberra

Is your teen seeking to get their L’s or P’s around Christmas/New Year?

Access Canberra Service and Specialised Centres will be closed between Christmas and New Year, with most locations closed between 25 December 2018 and 1 January 2019 inclusive.

We apologise in advance if you have a teen with a birthday during that period and are eagerly awaiting their licence. We look forward to supporting them to get licensed in the New Year.

Also parents, if you need to pay a bill or renew your licence or rego over this time – don’t wait until we re-open! Save time and go online HERE.

Wishing you and your family a safe and enjoyable festive season from Access Canberra.

Canteen News

It was decided at the last meeting that the P&C would not continue their weekly operations in 2019. The Directorate’s Strategic Procurement Team is working with the school to find an alternative provider that offers a similar service. This process will take several weeks, which will most likely mean that the canteen will not be operating for the first few weeks of 2019. We will continue to keep you updated on the progress.

Active Streets Expands to Support More Schools

Suzanne Orr MLA, representing the Minister for Transport Meegan Fitzharris and Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development Yvette Berry, announced that Kaleen Primary is one of the schools selected to be a part of this fantastic research based program.

Active Streets is an infrastructure and education program that improves infrastructure around schools to support walking or riding to school. Improvements include new or upgraded footpaths, better crossing facilities and traffic calming measures.

To support the infrastructure, educational resources are provided to students, including a map highlighting safe routes to school.

Transport Canberra and City Services will work closely with the school community from the beginning of 2019 to deliver the program and identify potential infrastructure improvements you would like around the school.

More information is available on the Transport Canberra website.

MathsAlive Launch

Kaleen Primary Brought MathsAlive to Canberra

Kaleen Primary has a strong partnership with Questacon, and the Engineering in Elementary program. As a result of this partnership, KPS were chosen to launch the new STEM initiative MathsAlive, located next to Questacon.

The launch was held on Friday 30 November and involved 10 students from Year 4 and Year 5. These students were the first to use the exhibition and cut the red tape to open it to the public

The Exhibition

MathsAlive is a maths and science-based exhibition designed to inspire, to spark the imagination, to reveal not only maths at work, but the endless possibilities maths can offer. Designed for families and students the exhibition brings to life the real math behind what kids love most—video games, sports, fashion, music, robotics, and more—and creates interactive and immersive experiences that bring to life the math at work in each, whether in design, application or use. If you would like more information, please visit the website HERE.

The exhibition is open and located at:

NCA, East Gallery

Canberra, Australia

Dec. 1, 2018 - Mar. 17, 2019

Heroes' Corner

ACT 12&U Softball

If you would like to have your child’s achievements acknowledged here, please email a short blurb to mary-caitlin.cox@ed.act.edu.au

Support Our Community

Give A Young Carer A Brighter Future

Imagine how hard it is for a child to every day look after a parent living with a long-term illness or disability. Carers ACT is calling on your school community to donate to its young carer appeal to give young people a break from caring these holidays and help them through school next year. Instead of doing schoolwork and hanging out with friends, many young carers spend their time instead caring, cooking, cleaning, shopping, paying bills, looking after younger siblings. They often struggle at school, have little time to themselves and are more likely to have mental health issues. Please give them a brighter future. To donate visit carersact.org.au/donate or call 6296 9900. Or why not give someone a meaningful gift this Christmas with a donation gift card and help make a lasting difference to a young carer in need.