KINGSTON PRIMARY

SCHOOL

Handbook 2019

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WELCOME TO KINGSTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

“Striving Together for Excellence”

At Kingston Primary School positive learning environments and 21st century learning dispositions

drive our work to ensure every student has the skills to positively contribute to an ever changing

world.

Having students as true partners in learning to further build creative and critical thinking skills,

collaborative and moral dispositions, great communicators and highly effective numerate and literate

individuals underpins every learning opportunity.

We aim to create an environment powered by curiosity, building on each students’ capacity for

wonder as a resource to explore, understand and question our world creating lifelong learners that

compassionately and confidently embrace the world around them.

At Kingston Primary School we offer diverse learning opportunities; general Australian Curriculum

and Early Years Learning Framework implementation, Extension Maths and STEM, Health and

Physical Education, Music, Arts, Japanese, Choir and Band. Our endeavour is to enable scientists,

historians, artists, mathematicians etc opportunities to grow and develop.

We strive to work in strong partnership with families. This partnership creates a powerful platform

to create optimum opportunities to work together in the child’s best interests. Building positive

relationships with families is an important pre-condition to support and encourage students to take

risks, have a voice, question and strive to do their best.

We trust that your connection with the school will be a happy and rewarding one.

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SCHOOL TERM DATES 2019

Term 1

Commences *Wednesday 6 February

Finishes Friday 12 April

*Teachers commence on Monday 4 February and students commence on Wednesday 6 February

2019

Monday 4 February and Tuesday 5 February – Teacher Preparation Days

Easter Break – 19 April – 23 April

Term 2

Commences Monday 29 April

Finishes Friday 5 July

Term 3

Commences 22 July

Finishes Friday 27 September

Term 4

Commences Monday 14 October

Finishes Thursday 19 December

Student Free Days

Friday 12 April 2019 (Moderation Day)

Monday 22 July 2019

Friday 25 October 2019

School Hours

Kindergarten 9:00am – 2:45pm (3 days per week)

Prep – Grade 6 8:55am – 2:55pm

Duty of Care

Students are supervised at Kingston Primary School between 8.25am and 2.55pm on school days.

No responsibility can be accepted by the school for care of students outside these hours.

Lesson Times for Prep to Grade 6

Session 1 8:55am – 11:15am

Recess 11:15am – 11:45am

Session 2 11:45am – 1:05pm

Lunch 1:05pm – 1:35pm

Session 3 1:35pm – 2:55pm

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Communication

The school will communicate with families via multiple avenues.

Konnective is an app that will provide families with important information that will require parent

action. For example, the school may be closed due to an extreme weather event. Konnective will

message families with up to date advice on required action by parents.

FACEBOOK is a great way to stay informed about general events that are occurring across the

school. General reminders about celebrations and insights into the learning programs throughout

the school will be posted.

A Newsletter is published each Friday and can either be distributed through the ‘eldest in the

family’ or by email. Our Newsletter is also posted on FACEBOOK. It contains an account of

happenings at the school and coming events. It can be accessed on our website.

Our website: www.kingstonprimary.tased.edu.au contains additional information for families.

Policies, uniform lists, canteen menu, class and teacher information and contact details can be

collected on this site.

Every classroom has an open door policy. You are welcome to discuss any aspects of your child’s

education, learning program or wellbeing before or after school. For discussions at other times

please make an appointment through the main office. If you have any additional queries please

contact any member of the leadership team

Ms Kelly Dyer kelly.dyer@education.tas.gov.au Principal

Mrs Dorothy Raymond dorothy.raymond@education.tas.gov.au Assistant Principal

Ms Sarah Hughes sarah.hughes@education.tas.gov.au AST

Mr Chris Anagnostis chris.anagnostis@education.tas.gov.au AST

Mrs Rachelle Abey rachelle.abey@education.tas.gov.au AST

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MEDICAL INFORMATION

Absences from school

A brief note, email (kingston.primary@education.tas.gov.au) or phone call to our main office is

expected when a child is absent from school. This is an important process as the Department of

Education requires that we record this information.

If a child is an unexplained absence, Department of Education letters will be generated for 5, 10, 15

and 20 unexplained days. The aim is for all students to have optimum attendance.

Administering medication

Written and signed authorisation both by the parent and GP prescribing the medication must be

given to the school prior to medication being administered. Forms are available at the general

office. Pharmacist’s instructions must be visible. All medication which is to be administered must

be provided in the original secured labelled container, which will be kept in a secured space and

administered and signed off by a Senior Staff member.

Asthma inhalers can be kept in the classroom. A required and valid Action Plan must be completed

and provided to the school.

Epipens are stored in the Bee Hive for Prep – Grade 2 students and the main office for Grades

3 – 6 students. A valid Medical Action Plan must be completed and provided to the school.

Allergies

We have a number of students that have specific allergies throughout the school from Kindergarten

to Grade 6. As a school we are aiming to be as egg and nut free as we can. Therefore, we ask that

parents please avoid egg and nut products. These products can have life threatening consequences.

Please avoid hard boiled eggs, raw egg, quiche, meringue and all nuts in lunch boxes and for snacks.

If you wish to bring cupcakes or cooked products containing egg please advise the class teacher.

When cooking on school site all classes and learning opportunities use egg substitute only.

www.kidswithfoodallergies.org https://www.egglesscooking.com https://www.nowtolove.com.au

School Nurse

We have a School Nurse available one day a week. The role of the school nurse includes

Kindergarten Health Assessments, vision and hearing screens, health advice and support, health

education and promotion in all classes, “Growing Up” Program and assisting schools with health

management for children with known medical conditions.

Accidents or illness

Please ensure we have up to date contact details. In the event that your child has an accident at

school requiring attention beyond First Aid, the school will phone emergency contact details

provided on the validation form.

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POLICIES

All policies have been co-constructed to align with the Education Act 2016. All policies can be found

on our school website: www.kingstonprimary.tased.edu.au

Policies include:

School Levies and Charges

A levy is charged for every student. We try to keep levies as low as possible. This levy is payable

during the first week of school or by negotiating an Agreement to Pay Levies by Instalments with

the School Business Manager.

The Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) provides assistance for low income families towards the

cost of levies. Eligibility is subject to an income test.

Attendance Policy and Process

Enrolment Process

Volunteer and Visitor Behaviour Policy and Process

Student Behaviour Policy

Respectful Schools

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TEACHING AND LEARNING

Curriculum Implementation

School implements the Early Years Learning Framework (Launching into Learning and Kindergarten)

and the Australian Curriculum (Prep to Grade 6).

The Early Years Learning Framework focuses on five essential outcomes:

1. Children have a strong sense of identity

2. Children are connected with and contribute to their world

3. Children have a strong sense of well being

4. Children are confident and involved learners

5. Children are effective communicators

The Australian Curriculum is comprised of learning areas, general capabilities and cross

curriculum priorities. It is aimed at equipping today’s learners to live and work productively in the

21st Century. It aims to give students the confidence and fundamental skills to take new learning

throughout their lives.

Australian Curriculum learning areas for 2019 are English, Maths, Science, HASS (Humanities and

Social Sciences), Technologies, The Arts and Health and Physical Education.

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ADDITIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Music

All Prep – Grade 6 classes have music lessons weekly, involving singing, instrumental, movement and

creative activities.

Choir is open to all Grades 3 – 6 and there is an opportunity for students to be selected

for smaller choir groups such as the Derwent Entertainment Centre Primary Schools Choir.

Guitar, Marimba and / or Recorder lessons are available depending on Grade level.

(School instruments are available for hire or students can use their own.) These groups

meet weekly and students are encouraged to practise at home.

Brass is available to students in Grade 5. This is an opportunity to be selected for the

Combined Schools Brass Band Program which involves a two year commitment and

provides instrument tuition culminating in a Concert at the Derwent Entertainment Centre

at the end of the year.

Health and Physical Education

All Prep – Grade 6 students participate in weekly Physical Education (PE) lessons conducted by our

Specialist Physical Education Teacher.

Our school has four House teams:

Whitewater (white)

Boronia (yellow)

Lucas (red)

Freeman (green)

Students are allocated to a House on enrolment.

Prep – Grade 6 students participate in Daily PE. Daily PE is organised and led by our Grade 6

students.

Major school sports events include Swimming, Cross Country and Athletic Carnivals.

The School participates in the Huon and Channel Schools’ Cross Country. We participate in

Swimming and Athletic Carnivals, the State Cross Country Championships and the Schools’

Triathlon Challenge. Opportunities are there for students to represent our school in the Huon and

Channel Volleyball Carnival. There is also the opportunity to participate in the Southern Dance

event which occurs every two years.

Aquatic and Water Safety Program

Grades 3 – 6 students participate in the Department of Education’s Swim and Water Safety

Program annually. This involves ten 45 minute sessions. Kindergarten - Grade 2 students

participate in an Aquatic Awareness and Safety Program each November. Prep – Grade 2

participate in five 30 minute sessions and Kindergarten two 30 minute sessions.

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Languages

Currently students in Grade 5 and 6 learn Japanese with a Specialist Teacher assisted by the class

teacher who then follows up the program. The study of Japanese contributes to the education of

students in the areas of literacy, communication, intercultural understanding and thinking about how

languages work. It introduces students to the culture of Japan and Japanese speaking communities

and promotes understanding of different attitudes and values.

Library

Students are encouraged to borrow books for their enjoyment at home. Parents are also welcome

to borrow from our collection. This may occur during the weekly Library sessions or before school

and at lunch time. Please help us to look after our extensive collection by reminding students to use

a Library bag.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Banking

We support school banking through the Commonwealth Bank. Students bring bank books to

school on Tuesday. These are collected by the class teacher in wallets and are sent to the School

Office on the morning of banking day (Tuesdays) by 9.15 am and returned to students at the end of

the week (Friday).

Book Club

At various times throughout the year students have an opportunity to order books from Ashton

Scholastic Book Club. All orders should be sealed in an envelope, clearly named and the correct

amount of money enclosed. There is an approximate waiting period of four weeks until the books

arrive.

Canteen

Our Gold Accredited Canteen operates every Friday. Students are asked to place orders in a

designated tub in their classrooms before school. Orders will be delivered to the classroom.

Collection of students

All students being collected during the school day must be signed out at the School Office.

No student is to leave the school grounds with a parent or carer without passing through the office area.

Excursions

Class excursions are conducted by teachers throughout the year as an important part of the

teaching and learning program. Individual notification will be given for out of area or major

excursions.

Parents who attend excursions as volunteer helpers must sign the register at the office (to adhere

to our Visitor and Volunteer Policy) and hold a Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) card.

Information how to obtain a WWVP Card is available from the School Office or by going to the

website: http://www.justice.tas.gov.au/working-with-children.

Financial Assistance

Financial Assistance is available to families who have difficulty meeting education costs. This is

through the Department of Education’s Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) and is subject to an

income test. Application forms are available from the School Office.

Messages for students

If you have a message for your child please contact the School Office on 6229 5728. Parents/carers

should advise the school office as soon as possible as to ensure the message has adequate time to

be delivered.

Lost Property

We encourage students to take responsibility for the care of personal property. Please name all

articles of clothing, so property can be returned promptly.

All lost property will be placed in the ‘Lost Property’ area. This can be found near the School

Office. Please ask the Office staff to assist you.

Any items of clothing which are unclaimed are kept in ‘Lost Property’ until the end of term. Then, if

not claimed, they are recycled.

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Out of Hours School Care

This is operated by Adventure Patch between 7.30am and 9.00 am and 3.00pm and 6.00pm.

Students in Kindergarten and Prep will be delivered to and picked up from their classrooms by

OHSC personnel. Students in other grades will make their own way to and from school from

OHSC premises.

Adventure Patch also runs a Holiday Program. They can be contacted by phoning 62294196.

School Uniform

In order to engender a sense of pride and belonging in the school all students are required to wear

our school uniform. The wearing of school uniform (dress code) is stated in the Kingston Primary

School ‘Student Behaviour Management’ Policy.

We are a Sun Smart school therefore it is a requirement that for Terms 1 and 4 all students are to

wear a hat (school recognised).

Transport

Wisby’s Bus Service provides transport to and from school daily. The service provides many

alternative routes throughout the district. Parents/carers of students travelling on Wisby’s buses

are required to sign a Bus Code of Behaviour Agreement. Unacceptable behaviour on the bus will

be dealt with by the bus company.

For detailed route and time information, please call 6267 1789.

Uniform Shop

The School Association operates a shop selling new uniforms. At the beginning of the school year it

is open to coincide with levy payment times and throughout the year on:

Tuesday mornings 8.35 – 9.00am

Wednesday afternoons 2.45 – 3.10pm

Friday mornings 8.35 – 9.00am

Only cash or cheques are accepted. No EFTPOS facilities are available.

Volunteering

Multiple avenues exist for family and community members to volunteer in our school.

All volunteers are required to have a Working with Vulnerable People Card. (WWVP). Please see

our office staff to gain the correct documentation or go to the website:

http://www.justice.tas.gov.au/working-with-children.

Canteen The school Canteen operates on Fridays. Volunteers are always welcome.

Classroom assistance We are constantly looking for assistance in a busy classroom.

Please see your child’s teacher directly if you can assist.

School Association The Association performs many functions to support the direction of the

school. Committee meeting dates are advertised in the Newsletter.

All school community members are welcome to attend.

Uniform Shop Our Uniform Shop opens three times a week to provide families with

multiple opportunities to purchase uniforms. Please see office staff and they

will direct you to the key personnel.

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CONTACT US:

Kingston Primary School

Church Street

KINGSTON TAS 7050

Phone: (03) 6229 5728

Email: kingston.primary@education.tas.gov.au

Website: https://www.kingstonprimary.education.tas.edu.au