Transforming lives through Learning

Dear Parents and Carers,

I want to take a moment to share some important information about the NSW Plan for Public Education and what it means for our school community.

The NSW Plan for Public Education is a roadmap designed to improve education across our state, ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality education. It focuses on three main goals: improving student outcomes, enhancing the quality of teaching, and creating a supportive school environment.

1. Improving Student Outcomes: The plan aims to ensure that all students achieve their best, regardless of their background. This means providing tailored support for students who may need extra help, as well as challenging those who are excelling.
2. Enhancing the Quality of Teaching: Great teachers make a huge difference in students' lives. The plan includes professional development opportunities for our teachers, helping them stay up to date with the latest teaching practices and strategies to engage students effectively.
3. Creating a Supportive School Environment: A positive and inclusive school environment is essential for student learning and wellbeing. The plan focuses on promoting a culture of respect and kindness, where every student feels safe and valued. This includes initiatives to address bullying and support mental health.

As a school, we are committed to aligning our efforts with the NSW Plan for Public Education. We believe that by working together—teachers, parents, and the wider community—we can provide the best possible education for our children. For more detailed information, you can view the full NSW Plan for Public Education and other related strategies on the NSW Department of Education's website here.

I encourage you to stay engaged and involved in your child’s learning journey. Your support and partnership are invaluable as we strive to create a nurturing and enriching environment for all students.

This partnership is off to a great start in 2025 with high parent/carer participation at last month’s ‘Meet the Teacher’ evenings and last week's P&C meeting.

I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to our Parents and Citizens' Association (P&C) team for their active support of our school and KHPS families. Last Wednesdays P&C meeting was filled with positive enthusiasm for the year ahead. 

The P&C plays a vital role in consulting with parents, ensuring that everyone's voice is heard in important decisions affecting our school community. Joining the P&C is a wonderful way to collaborate with other parents and teachers while contributing to the betterment of our school.

Your participation in events and fundraising directly supports our programs and benefits all our students and families. By getting involved, you can make a meaningful difference in your child's education and wellbeing. Thank you to the KHPS P&C for your dedication, and we look forward to welcoming more parents to this important partnership!

With appreciation,

Gillian Tegg

I am very proud to announce the book award winners for this week are Ethan, Mia, Freddie Gabriel and Lex. Congratulations on learning and practising respectful, responsible and successful behaviour. 

The Principal's Morning Tea was attended by those who have achieved three Principal's awards. Congratulations girls! I enjoyed celebrating with you last Friday.

Here is Luca spending time in the PAS with Youghal who were singing some songs in language from the Torres Strait Islands. They sounded wonderful. 

As has been mentioned over the last few weeks in the Newsletter and was highlighted at Meet The Teacher Nights, NAPLAN assessments for Year 3 and 5 begin NEXT week on Wednesday 12th March. All students in Year 3 and 5 will be completing the writing paper that morning - Year 3 on paper and Year 5 online (laptops).

Students involved with the Zone Swimming Carnival will have an opportunity to sit the writing assessment on Thursday 13th March (the next day).

The specific testing schedule as currently planned is:

Preparation:

All Year 3 and Year 5 students will be completing at least two practice sessions at school with their class teacher over the next week or so. This session will take place on the same devices in the same testing environment that they will be visiting on the test day. It is aimed to mirror the experience and the preparation 'practice' tests are aimed to familiarise students with the environment and platform, rather than to teach any specific content.

Teachers will also discuss 'good test taking habits' such as not spending too long on a single question, but instead having a sensible 'guess' and then marking that question to come back to if time permits. Similarly, teacher will likely discuss multiple choice style questions and some strategies to assist when students are not sure. These are learnt skills which you can reinforce and discuss at home.

If you would like to view the platform and style of questions yourself, or spend time in that environment with your child at home (to help build familiarity and confidence, there is a public demonstration site available at: National Assessment Program (NAP) Website

Disability Adjustments

We appreciate that the formal letter sent home last week, using the term disability, is very likely a concerning one for parents to have received, and we apologise for the shock it may have caused. Unfortunately, this letter template is a standardised one we have to use to access supportive adjustments for NAPLAN.

It is necessary to highlight that schools and individual classroom teachers are very used to making adjustments to ensure that the curriculum and pedagogy is differentiated to support all learning in the classroom. Sometimes this requires extensive interventions and modifications to content and/or practices. In most cases, however, it requires small changes personalised to individual students’ learning styles. The latter is the case in the majority of the adjustments we are planning to implement this year, just as it has been in previous years.

Many students in our school have a ‘Record of Adjustments’ document which lists the supports they can benefit from to maximise their learning and engagement. This is a form of Individualised Learning Plan which lists standard classroom adjustments which teachers routinely draw upon to present the standard stage-appropriate curriculum. These documents are extensively used throughout the school and updated by individual class teachers throughout each year. They make up part of the school-based teacher handover process which we spend considerable time on every year to ensure that every student is known and supported, and so that they and their new teachers can ‘hit the ground running’ at the start of every year.

We have distributed quite a few NAPLAN ‘disability adjustments’ to Year 3 and 5 students this year (as we did in previous years) in keeping with the wording and intent of the assessments’ policy and practices. The vast majority of these adjustments are seeking parent acknowledgement of our intent to provide rest breaks and/or a small provision of additional time (mostly 1 minute for every 6 minutes of allocated test time which equates to 5-7 minutes total). These provisions mirror the conditions that teachers would typically provide in the classroom, particularly for class-based and year or stage-wide assessments when students require small amounts of additional time to demonstrate their thinking. The reasons for this provision vary, but it is typically for students who we see meet their potential better when any anxiety around time-constraints is minimised, or for those who take a little longer to read and interpret a question or to gather their thoughts and make an actual start on the task.

As we are so early in the new year, it should also be acknowledged that ‘new’ classroom teachers, who were asked two weeks ago to start nominating students who may benefit from additional supports in NAPLAN, whilst still getting to know their current students. Of course, 2024 teachers were part of this process, but the movement of NAPLAN to the beginning of the year certainly complicates this process. Similarly, a provision in previous years (Year 3) will not guarantee we continue to suggest that adjustment is required (in Year 5) – it is based on current progress and ‘in-class practices’ as explained above.

It should also be noted that, whilst it is necessary to allocate the specific adjustment in the online platform, I do not believe that information ‘stays with the student’ in any significant way. As such I cannot see which Year 5 students had adjustments allocated in Year 3 (other than our record of these notes from parents) and similarly have been contacted by the High School requesting advice on which Year 7s may benefit as per our knowledge and Year 5 provisions recorded in this way. Evidently there is no method either we or the High School are aware of to see disability adjustments accessed in prior NAPLAN sittings.

Finally, I’d like to mention that, in our experience, students often do not access this provision. Indeed they rarely request a rest break and finish well within the allocated time! We feel it is better to have the adjustment available and unused than to create a stressful or difficult situation which hampers students from showing their true ability. Indeed, it is possibly the knowledge that they CAN have a few extra minutes if necessary that allows some students to relax enough to perform at their best (and do so within regular time constraints!)

If you received a disability adjustment note, it is likely you know that such provisions are employed by your child's teachers. If you do wish to discuss your child's specific situation further, please reach out and let me know. I would also suggest that the Parent-Teacher interviews are a great opportunity to discuss any specific concerns and to have teachers comment specifically on what supports they requires and how they are tracking – by that stage (Week 10 this term), teachers will have a much better understanding and share any record of adjustments with you if you wish.

I do hope that alleviates any concerns you may have regarding this note.

John Williams

NAPLAN COORDINATOR

In week 10 of this term (31/3-4/4), teachers will be available to have 10-minute meetings with all parents regarding student achievement and how students have settled in to 2025. This year parents have the option of attending the interviews in person or via Zoom. 

More information regarding how to book times, where the face-to-face interviews will be located and how to access the Zoom meeting option will be communicated in the weeks to come via School Zine and/or the Bulletin.  

This Term at KHPS

Learning

Francophonie Week / Semaine de la Francophonie

This year’s annual celebration of Francophone language and cultures will be held from Monday 24 to Friday 28 March. Teachers of French are preparing many fun activities for the entire school to enjoy, along with special learning units in each stage during class:

Kindy: Learning a French song to present to Camberwell Primary School (CPS) and then learning the CPS song in exchange

Years 1 & 2: Presentation of Francophone countries (see below to learn more) with Camberwell Primary School

Years 3 to 6: Illustration Competition “Les faux amis” with Camberwell Primary School

Presentation of Francophone countries Years 1 & 2

Since the beginning of the term, Francophone stream students from Years 1 & 2 have been studying Belgium (Year 1) and Senegal (Year 2).

Weeks 6 & 7: Francophone stream students will be creating posters about their designated countries and then creating a video of the poster presentations, to be sent to Camberwell Primary School

Week 8: Students will discuss Francophonie Week during LOTE (Language Other Than English) classes.

Week 9: Students will watch the videos of CPS presenting Madagascar and Morocco and will compare the information about the various studied countries during the term and complete a Kahoot quiz.

In LOTE, Anglophone stream and English First students will create a bilingual poster during Weeks 6 and 7.

Art exhibition: « Le Monde Sans Fin »
As a partner of the Alliance Française de Sydney, FANS & KHPS will be hosting a major exhibition inspired by the graphic novel Le Monde sans fin, a bestselling work by authors Jean-Marc Jancovici and Christophe Blain.

Through striking illustrations and explanatory texts, the exhibition explores the evolution of human relationships with energy, from the industrial era to the present day. It also presents concrete solutions for building a more sustainable future, highlighting renewable energy, food, transportation, urban planning, and changes in consumption habits. The goal of this exhibition is to enrich our understanding and encourage everyone to take action.

Where: FANS Office (Blue Gate, Tralee Ave entrance)

When: During Francophonie Week for all students to enjoy during school hours

Who: All students will enjoy the exhibit during school hours

Parents are invited to view the exhibition on its last day, on Friday 28 March from 2:30pm to 3:30pm (during the second-hand French book sale)

Classroom Spotlight | Limerick Year 2 with Mlle Carouge

The francophones of Limerick have been learning about narrative structure through the book La Ballade de Petite Boule by Anna Walker. For their final task, they each created their own book using the circular narrative structure.

Programs

L’Etude homework club for Anglophone stream students

L’Etude is a weekly session after school from 3pm - 4pm, supervised by a Teacher of French, where students complete their French homework, followed by some French reading and games.

FANS is taking Expressions of Interest to create a Monday 3pm - 4pm Etude group for Anglophone stream students from Years 3 to 6. This group is available as a separate enrolment at a cost of $25 per session and are invoiced by term.

Interested? Please write us with your child’s details to admin@fanssydney.org

Bilingual Program Invoices
All annual and Term 1 invoices for the bilingual program have been emailed. Please check your various inboxes and thank you for your prompt payment.

If you would like to discuss payment options, please contact Aurelie at the FANS office for a confidential conversation: 02 9975 5038

Bayard magazines & MAX French book series

Your student has brought home a Bayard catalogue to order French language magazine subscriptions, along with a flyer for the MAX book series from L’Ecole des Loisirs.

Every 10 Bayard subscriptions will benefit the school with a free subscription, so please select Killarney Heights Public School when you place your order.

FANS members can benefit from a special discount with online French book seller, Le Forum. Order a MAX 8-book series with a grouped delivery to receive a discount on all 8 books in one shipment, delivered directly to the school.

To order French reading material catered to your child’s interests and reading level, please visit:

To Bayard magazines: Online Bayard Catalogue

To order MAX books: Le Forum MAX book subscription
Details on how to order a grouped discount

Social

Let's go to the cinema en français!

As a proud partner of the Alliance Française French Film Festival (AF FFF), FANS members can benefit from discounted $17 tickets for 6 exciting film sessions at nearby Roseville Cinemas. Films are screened in the original French language with English subtitles.

Get your discounted tickets now! Purchase tickets

Anne Bentley,
FANS General Manager

As per the school calendar, remaining Assmbly dates this term are as follows for parents to attend.

We kindly request that parents only take photos or videos of their child. Please do not share photos or videos of other children on social media.  

Week 7 - 14th March - Stage 3 (badging of Eco, Library, Dance, ICT and Choir leaders)

Week 8 - 21st March - Stage 2

Week 9 - 28th March - K-2 

Week 10 - 4th April - Stage 3

Week 11 - 11th April - ANZAC Day K-6

We are so proud of our students for enthusiastically participating in the Australian Schools Clean Up Day on Friday. From Kindergarten to Year 6, students cleaned up areas all around the school, led by the Eco Leaders and Eco Warriors. Our school filled over 10 garbage bags of rubbish and classes discussed the importance of keeping our school grounds clean to help the world. 

Great team work everyone, all your efforts really make a difference!

Dear Parents and Caregivers,  

We are excited to inform you that our school will be celebrating Harmony Day on Wednesday, 26th  March (Week 9). Harmony Day is an important occasion where we come together to celebrate Australia's cultural diversity and promote the values of inclusiveness, respect, and belonging for all. 

Harmony Day is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism, and the successful integration of migrants into our community. The message of Harmony Day is everyone belongs. It is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values. 

Key Details: 

• Date: Wednesday, 26th March (Week 9) 
  
  
• Theme: "Everyone Belongs" 
  
  
• What to wear: We would love for everyone to take part in the celebrations by wearing orange on this day – the official colour of Harmony Day – or by showcasing elements that highlight cultural diversity. Whether it’s through traditional clothing, cultural accessories, or simply wearing orange, every gesture counts in showing our support for this important day. No gold coin donation is needed. 
  
  
• Activities: A variety of classroom activities will take place during the day, as well as classroom discussions about the significance of diversity. 

Did you know?  

• Nearly half (49 per cent) of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was.  

• We identify with over 300 ancestries.  

• Since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia.  

• 85 per cent of Australians agree multiculturalism has been good for Australia.  

• Apart from English, the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Tagalog/Filipino, Hindi, Spanish and Punjabi.  

• More than 70 Indigenous languages are spoken in Australia.  
  
  

These facts are taken from ABS 2016 Census Data. 

Together, we can promote a culture of understanding and respect.  
#harmonyweek #everyonebelongs

P&C Term 1- 2025 Meeting Minutes

Last week, we had a highly informative P&C meeting, featuring updates from the principal and discussions on various initiatives led by the P&C and our partners, including FANS and KHoosh. It was fantastic to see so many of you join, as these meetings offer valuable insights into school activities and the important projects the P&C is driving. Staying engaged is a great way to share ideas, ask questions, and contribute to shaping our school community. If you’d like to catch up on the discussion or review any details, you can find the meeting minutes at this link.
 

Uniform Shop Cost Update

After careful consideration and review of the increasing costs being passed on from suppliers, shipping, and raw materials costs, we are reluctantly making a small price adjustment to the Killarney Heights Primary School uniform range. 

We do understand the effect price increases can have on our families, so this was a difficult decision to make, and we thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Please feel free to email us at uniformshop@khps-pc.com.au

P&C Executive Committee 

Add a splash of rainbow!

Wow your kids by making everyday lunchboxes fun, colourful and appealing. Lots of colour means lots of different vitamins and minerals. 

Swap out cupcakes or lollies and swap in:

Grapes or berries - sweet, shiny, and juicy!

Rainbow vegetable sticks - try carrot, green beans and capsicum

Our rainbow recipes - Lunchbox rainbow noodles, rainbow vegetable kebabs or fried rice salad for a colourful vegetable hit! 

https://www.swapit.net.au/resources/parent-resources/recipe-ideas