Benefits of Homework at Killarney Heights Public School 

During our recent Kindergarten information evening, many prospective parents expressed interest in the homework practices at Killarney Heights Public School (KHPS). This inspired me to share the benefits of homework in this week's newsletter. While it isn't always popular with primary students, homework provides many advantages. Here are the key benefits:

1. Reinforces Learning: Homework helps students practice and retain what they learn in class.
2. Builds Study Habits: It teaches essential skills like time management and self-discipline.
3. Encourages Independence: Students take charge of their learning, boosting their confidence.
4. Engages Parents: Homework connects school and home, allowing parents to participate in their child’s education.
5. Prepares for the Future: It teaches students to meet deadlines and manage projects.
6. Fosters a Growth Mindset: Students learn to view challenges as opportunities for growth.
7. Enhances Learning Outcomes: Research shows that homework can improve grades and understanding, particularly in upper primary and secondary school.

As we explained, there is an expectation at KHPS that all students participate in homework activities. At KHPS, teachers create stage-appropriate homework, with some tasks being mandatory and recommended while others are optional, allowing families to choose what works for them. If a child struggles with homework, parents are encouraged to contact their classroom teacher for support.

In conclusion, homework is a valuable opportunity for primary school students to learn and grow, making it an important part of their educational journey at KHPS.

Yours in Education

Gillian Tegg

Principal 

Acknowledging the success of KHPS students is one of the most enjoyable moments in my week! I was very pleased to award book prizes to Eleanora, Eleanore, Rose, Elyna, Zita, William, Jacques, Natalie, Maxwell, Bilal, Sacha, Rasmus, Ingrid and James. Congratulations to all of you for maintaining positive behaviour for learning at KHPS. 

I was equally proud of the eighteen students who attended last Friday's Principal's Morning Tea to recognise and celebrate their positive behaviour at school. It was a lovely morning. 

Parents of any students who have weekly or bi-weekly appointments, consequently missing part of the school day, need to apply to the Principal for a part-day exemption approval. 

This includes students who are picked up early or arrive late to attend ongoing medical and paraprofessional appointments and therapy on a scheduled basis. 

Exemptions may be granted when it has been clearly demonstrated by the applicant that a part-day exemption is necessary to achieve the best educational interests of the child, and that efforts to schedule appointments outside school hours continue to be made. 

Please note that exemption will not be granted for the purpose of coaching or tutoring off-site during school hours. 

KHPS Attendance Team

As you are aware, it is a Departmental requirement for all parents to explain all of their child’s/ children’s absences from school immediately following the absence. In this day and age, that process is easier than ever before with the Sentral emails and notifications which are sent each day informing you that your child has been recorded as absent and prompting an explanation for that absence. 

We greatly appreciate the vast majority of parents who send these explanations in a timely fashion. The research clearly shows how important regular school attendance is and the correlation with positive life outcomes. As a community, that message is clearly understood, and regular attendance is valued, and our overall school attendance data remains very positive.

However, we still have quite a few unjustified absences (meaning the absence is not supported by Departmental Policy) as well as a disappointing number of absences which are never explained. As an example, Term 1 data this year shows, of 663 students across the school: 

598 students have an attendance rate of 90% or above 

27 students have an attendance rate of 85%-90% 

38 students have an attendance rate of below 85% 

120 days of unexplained absences in Term 1 

282 days of unjustified absences in Term 1 

744 sick days in Term 1 

201 days approved leave in Term 1 

Can we call on parents to please assist us by: 

• Continuing to send your children on all days when they are well, unless for specific valid leave reasons (see flyer below), 

• Contacting the school prior to any planned leave so that approval can be given (where applicable), 

• Providing an explanation for all absences as soon a possible after the absence, and within 7 days at the most, 

• Contacting the school for support should you be experiencing any barriers to regular school attendance for all of your school-aged children.

Poetry Recitation Competition

Good luck to everyone as the finalists are being selected across all stages this week!
Congratulations to all students for their hard work — they have been reciting their poems with great enthusiasm.

Finalists

If your child is selected to be a finalist, parents will receive a School Bytes form on Friday, June 6. This form will include an authorisation to record your child’s performance during the finals in Week 7.

Finals will be held on Tuesday, 10th June 2025 at KHPS.

On this special day, each finalist's poem will be recorded. These videos will then be shared with a jury of teachers from Camberwell Primary School, who will vote to select the KHPS winners in Week 8. Similarly, KHPS teachers will review and vote on the videos from Camberwell Primary School.

Reminder - Poetry Illustration

Students are encouraged to illustrate their poem and submit their artwork to their Teacher of French by the end of Week 7. A winning illustration will be chosen for each year, and all illustrations will be displayed on the hall walls for the end of Term 2! 

Kindy 2026 FANS French Bilingual Program Enrolments Now Open

Kindy enrolments for the 2026 school year in the FANS French Bilingual Program are now open. Whether you're seeking a place in the Francophone or Anglophone stream, you're warmly invited to apply during the enrolment period, which is open until 31 August 2025. 

The application process remains the same as in previous years:

• Log in to your FANS Parents Portal
• Create an Application of Enrolment
• Add a new child
• Select either the 2026 Francophone Stream or 2026 Anglophone Stream of the Bilingual Program
• Submit your application

• You also need to enrol your child with KHPS

We will contact you shortly after to confirm your child’s enrolment in the FANS bilingual program.

Enrol Now

« Lève ta voix » Final

Congratulations to the finalists of the “Lève ta voix” French reading aloud competition, Hugo, Alice and Juliette, who presented their selected texts last Thursday via Zoom with other AAFEBS (Australian Association of French-English Bilingual Schools) finalists.

The competition was a great way to encourage students to practise reading aloud, to bring together the AAFEBS network, and to listen to other presenting students across the country. 

General Manager Anne Bentley was a member of the jury and is most impressed by the reading level of the children and the work they put into their presentations. Bravo!

Au revoir, Solène

Thank you and merci beaucoup to FANS intern, Solène, who has been helping teachers across all years for the past 8 weeks as part of her university studies in France.

Merci Solène for your contributions to the FANS classroom teachers!

Best regards,

Anne Bentley
GM FANS

KHPS students took part in the Zone Cross Country event on Friday. It was a fantastic day, with students performing exceptionally well and enjoying themselves thoroughly. Thank you to our parent helpers and Mrs Jarvis for assisting on the day, and Miss Tong for organising the carnival!

Anna Jarvis and Jen Tong
Sports Coordinators

World's Greatest Shave event - Thank you

A huge thank you to all the students, parents, and carers who were involved in yesterday’s World’s Greatest Shave event. It was truly heartwarming to see the incredible support and community spirit as parents and carers joined in to shave and cut students' hair in support of such a worthy cause. A special thank you to Eleanor and Lucie for sharing their inspiring personal journeys with us – your stories touched everyone and gave even more meaning to the event.We’d also like to extend a big thank you to our School Leaders for their exceptional organisation and leadership in running the event. And a special mention to our amazing Tech team, who were incredibly adaptable and professional, ensuring everything ran smoothly.

Together, we raised a remarkable $12,630 + $637.40 (from gold coins for Crazy Hair day). That means a total of $13,267.40 for the Leukemia Foundation, and this achievement wouldn’t have been possible without each and every one of you. Your dedication and hard work were vital to the success of the day. Your generosity, teamwork, and kindness make a real difference in the lives of others.

Thank you for being a part of something truly special!

Ms. Rathmell
WGS Coordinator

World's Greatest Shave - Student voice

With 20 kids who shaved, 5 who cut, and our schools crazy hair gold coin donation, we raised $12,630 for the Leukaemia Foundation.

2 students with Leukaemia gave a short speech on their past experiences.

Here are their feelings after:
"It feels important to share my experience" - Eleanore M
"it was emotional but worth it"  - Lucie M

4 student shared their experience - 2 were shaved and 2 cut their hair:
"I feel positive people benefit from it" - Julian S
"Bald feels like being an egg' - Ethan L
"I don't feel  different but I'm still proud" - Imogen A
"Felt nervous but slayed it" - Aurelia C

"Congratulations to everyone who participated and went crazy!" Elise S

I am thrilled to share an exciting opportunity for our school community as we seek to establish the Killarney Heights Public School Alumni Network!

This initiative aims to connect our former students, providing a platform for them to share their life achievements, experiences, and insights while supporting future generations of KHPS students.

Gillian Tegg 
Principal

Sunday 22 June | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

It’s time to get musical! Join us for the 4th annual World Music Day at KHPS, proudly hosted by the school with the support of the P&C and FANS.

Enjoy an incredible day of live performances featuring:

• Talented school bands
• Beautiful choirs
• Superb string ensembles

This year, we’re turning up the volume by welcoming guest ensembles from across the Northern Beaches and North Shore—making it our biggest musical celebration yet!

Stay for the food!
You’ll find a feast of fresh, delicious options including:

• Sausage sizzle & bake sale
• Gourmet sandwiches & raclette toasties
• Homemade soups & barista-made coffee
• Fairy floss and fun children's games

A Fundraising Celebration
Proceeds from this event support the P&C-run music programs and the FANS Bilingual Program. To make it all happen, we need your help!

Volunteer with us!
Help is needed on the day to run food and drink stalls, children’s games, and music stages, as well as with setup and pack down on Saturday & Sunday. Every helping hand makes a big difference.

Sign up to volunteer
Let’s make this year’s World Music Day the most vibrant one yet!

We are very proud of our many courageous head shavers who raised impressive fund for The World's Greatest Shave again this year. Those students who went from luscious locks to a 'buzz cut' at the start of winter were certainly very brave. We also understand therefore why many have been wearing beanies in this cold weather. However, with a week of growth and a period of acclimatisation, we request that all students again wear their regular school hat (reversible blue/green bucket hat) in the playground before school and at recess and lunch.

As an expert in limited hair cover, I can assure you that the warmth of the school hat should be adequate for the current weather. Similarly, we request all students continue to remember that heating is on in classrooms when it is cold, so hats (and beanies) should be kept in school bags during class time.

With thanks for your support,

John Williams,

Deputy Principal

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Wednesday 11 June 2025 – 6:30 PM

Dear Members,

You are warmly invited to attend the FANS Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday 11 June 2025 at 6:30 PM.

The AGM is a key moment in the life of our Association. Join us for:

• A presentation of past and upcoming FANS projects
• A review of our finances
• The election of the new Committee
• A Q&A session with members

Refreshments will be served at the end of the meeting, offering a great opportunity to connect with other parents and meet the Committee.

• Location: KHPS Auditorium (O Block) – Access via the yellow gate on Melwood Avenue
• Online option available: A video link will be provided for those unable to attend in person
• Please note: This is an adults-only event
• Voting eligibility: Open to all current members who are up to date with 2025 membership fees
• Language: The meeting will be held in English

We look forward to seeing many of you there.

French After Year 6 Survey

Just a quick favour before the FANS AGM on June 11 — could you please take a quick moment to complete the French After Year 6 Survey ? 

We are keen to hear what parents would like to see offered after Year 6. Thank you!

School Assembly Performances

Senior Band and Jazz Band are performing at the School Assembly on Friday 13 June.

Well done to the Bach Strings Ensemble for your lovely Stage 2 Assembly performance last Friday 30 May. They were conducted by Pip B and accompanied by Rosy J on piano.

World Music Day

Sunday 22 June, 10:00am – 4:00pm at KHPS

All KHPS Band & Strings groups will be performing at the upcoming World Music Day, a wonderful collaborative event with FANS to celebrate and share music!

 This is the main fundraising event for the KHPS Music Program and for this to work we need a great team of volunteers!

Sign up below to lend a hand on the day and show your support for the KHPS Music Program!

Volunteer at World Music Day:

https://signup.zone/XDt2R6SHP2qD7FMYz

Join the Volunteer WhatsApp group:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/FVelPhZ3vMPFxoyAQxGbrX

Northern Beaches Instrumental Festival

Band

The Northern Beaches Instrument Festival was held on Saturday 31st May, with all KHPS Band Ensembles performing at Pittwater High this year. This event presented an opportunity for the students to perform in front of a large audience and to appreciate a range of performances by other school bands.

Training Band played Power Rock and Homework Blues conducted by Maddy S. The Intermediate Band are conducted by Derk B and they performed Air of Nobility, Titan and Heavy Metal. The Senior Concert Band performed Diamond Joe's Riviera Club, Incantation and Ritual and Dynamite, also conducted by Derek B. Well done students and thank you conductors!

Strings

KHPS Strings were very proud to enter four ensembles at the Northern Beaches Instrumental Festival held in the auditorium at St Luke’s Grammar, Dee Why. This year we have 70 students from years 1 to 6 enrolled in Strings at KHPS and the NBIF was a wonderful opportunity for them to perform for friends and family. The NBIF is a special festival for the students because it allows students to participate in a mini-workshop and to receive feedback from experienced appraisers directly after their performances.

Well done to the 25 Beginner Strings students that very proudly represented KHPS at their first performance. They all attended a special lunchtime rehearsal at school on Friday to be prepared for this concert. They played the Ant Song and My First Duet conducted by Suna F and accompanied by Cara E. The Amadeus Strings, conducted by Lu G, performed Frere Jacques as a round and Little Polka accompanied by Cara E.

The senior students performed in the afternoon session in combined performances with Forestville PS. The Bach Strings played two pieces from Harry Potter as well as Infernal Galop (from the CanCan) conducted by Pip B. Rowena M conducted the Corelli Ensemble in a very strong performance of General’s Order and Bushwhacker Stomp, the two pieces they are preparing for the Arts Unit Concert in September. Thank you to the students and conductors for bringing us such enjoyable performances on Saturday. Thanks to all the parents for your support on the day. Proceeds from ticket sales at the NBIF directly support community music on the Northern Beaches.

Student Voices

I loved performing on the day! Ollie, violist, Y1

I was scared before I went on the stage but I enjoyed it and I also loved playing on the stage. Sophia G, violinist, Y1

I loved playing my cello in my first concert. Naomi C, cellist, Y1

I loved playing my violin in Little Polka and watching the orchestras from the other schools. Charlotte C, violinist, Y3

On Saturday Amadeus Strings participated in the Northern Beaches Music Festival. There were lots of amazing string groups from all over the Northern Beaches. Amadeus Strings did very well. Laura H, violinist, Y3

It was a good concert. I surprised myself by playing better than I thought I would. I really liked listening to what other schools could do too. Audrey, violinist, Y4

I really enjoyed our performance at Northern Beaches Strings Festival on Saturday. We sounded great in the Auditorium. Ryan, violinist, Y4

I think it was a very good way to experience what is coming and how to get better, although I think we could have done better. Anne Q, violinist, Y5

We had a great time playing with Forestville. It was an amazing experience to listen to the other schools and play in front of them. Mila P, violinist, Y6

KHPS Band & Strings Committee 

P&C Meeting Update - Term 2, Week 5 (28 May 2025)

Thanks to all who came along to last week’s P&C meeting—whether in person or via Zoom. Here’s a quick summary of what we covered and what’s coming up:

Highlights:

• Barnyard Boogie was a hit—even with torrential rain, we sold over 500 tickets. A huge shoutout to Lise and all the volunteers who made it such a fun night.
• We welcomed Kylie Davidson as our new Deputy Principal and gave a big thank you to Anne McIntosh for her steady hand while acting in the role.
• NAPLAN results are in, with strong results across the board. Students from French-speaking backgrounds performed particularly well. Numeracy will be a focus area moving forward.
• Lots happening at KHOSHC, FANS, and within the music program—and all eyes now on World Music Day (Sunday 22 June).
• A motion passed to purchase six new KHPS/FANS-branded marquees—so we’re sorted for future events, rain or shine.

You can read the full minutes of the meeting Here.

Next meeting is Term 3, Week 5 – Wednesday 20 August. We look forward to seeing you!

P&C Executive Committee