2024, T4Wk4, Kilcoy State School Newsletter

27.10.2024

Acknowledgment of Country

This newsletter comes to you from Jinibara Land. In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples today. We are thankful to be able to work, learn and play on Jinibara land.

KSS Vision & Values

"We believe that all members of the Kilcoy State School community have the right to work, learn and play in a safe and inclusive environment."

Our STAR values are:

SAFETY - Taking Responsibility - Active Learning - Respect

Principal's welcome

Dear Parents and Carers

You may or may not yet be aware that this term is an 11-week term. Students will complete the first 10 weeks of learning as per usual with their regular teacher, and then in the final week, students will be provided with alternate supervision as they complete a set of learning activities related to their personal and collective wellbeing. For some of this last week, teaching staff will be offline planning for the required 2025 Term 1 implementation of Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum. As usual, the P-2 Celebration event, Yr6 Graduation event & 'Clap Out', Annual Awards Ceremony and all end of year class-based celebration events will occur during Week 10, finalised by Friday 6/12/24. 

Staff Appreciation Day 

Each year, our staff are celebrated as a team. They work side-by-side to achieve Equity and Excellence for every student at our school. Each role is crucial cog in the wheel of a successful school life. From each teacher in front of a class, to the facilities officers making the school look and feel like a great place to learn; to the teacher aides who provide additional support our for students; and the office, admin and technical staff who keep our school running behind the scenes. We all have a job which contributes to making Kilcoy State School a wonderful place to work and learn.  We'll be taking extra time on Tuesday to recognise the important role we each play.

Families: Please take time this week to thank each staff member doing their very best to provide your child with access to a great schooling experience. Perhaps a quick email, or just a thank you as you pass them in the school. These opportunities to pass on your appreciation are valuable for the wellbeing of our staff.  Educators put so much love and affection into what they do and it is genuinely lovely to see that recognised by others. 

We give thanks to the P&C, in particular our P&C secretary, Jess Kranenburg, for planning a lovely staff recognition event on Tuesday. The P&C have donated funds and Jess has worked like crazy in her own time to make sure every staff member feels appreciated. Thank you Jess!

Community News!

We'd like to acknowledge the generous support of Kilcoy Global Foods (KGF), championed in our school by Mr Matt Robinson, the KGF Mobilisation and Community Engagement officer. 

Historically, KGF have employed many international workers who move into our area, bringing their families to join our school community. To directly support our school to cater for students with English and an Additional Language, KPC have paid for two days of bilingual teacher-aide support each week, all year. This important support has been in place for many years. 

Mrs Sheila Maratas and Mrs Glezel Ladroma are our bilingual teacher -aides, working side by side supporting our students in class each day they work. We are so appreciative of their commitment to our students and the community. 

Kilcoy Global Foods also sponsor our P&C Association, donating the juicy meat patties for our Cheeseburger Day, Sports Carnivals and the like. These days are more successful with the help of Mr Matt Robinson, driving force on the BBQ whenever possible. 

Year 3-6 Swimming Lessons:

Students in Year 3-6 continue their swimming lessons next week. These lessons culminate in our annual Swimming Carnival, which is hotly contested each year. This will take place in Week 7 on Thu 14/11 for our Junior carnival and Fri 15/11 for our Senior Carnival.  

Upcoming events

*Parade in Week 6 (7/11/24) and Week 8 (21/11/24)

Spotlight on Attendance

Mrs Capper - Acting Deputy Principal

Thank you to Kilcoy State School for being so welcoming while I filled in for Mrs Webster while she has been Acting Principal at Peachester State School.

Our current PBL focus is to 'show respect for the right of other students to learn'. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to enter classrooms over the past two weeks and see all of the wonderful learning that has been happening. Classroom teachers have been sharing students' learning at fortnightly Monitoring Learning Sessions ('MLS'), and collaborating to encourage our students to reach their full potential. Learning Walks and Talks provided an opportunity for students to share what they are learning this semester and to gain a deeper understanding of the value of feedback. Each of the classrooms had evidence that students were using their learning walls to help them.

I was particularly impressed this week with the leadership skills a number of our senior students displayed by assisting with the School Parade - from helping organise replacement presenters to stepping up to fill in the various roles on short notice - our students should be proud of themselves for showing what it takes to be a 'leader'. I will be back in my usual role as Japanese teacher from Week 5, and I look forward to seeing everyone again next week.

-Mrs Capper

P&C News

Hello Families,

Our next P&C Meeting is on Wed 6/11 at 3.30pm in the Resource Centre (Library). We hope to see you there. We'll be learning about the 2025 strategic plans, staffing plans and budgetary intentions for the school, and be able to give our feedback and suggestions directly to our Principal, Mrs Nash. We will also be discussing the recent parent requests to start an OSHC at Kilcoy State School, should there be sufficient interest.  

The end of year will be here before we know it! What an amazing year we have had with the P&C. At the beginning of every year each Executive position opens up for nomination.  You will find below a description of each role. We are welcoming nominations now! Please don't hesitate to ask questions. Come along to the meeting as well as this is a huge learning opportunity and have a say in what the P&C can do for our kids. There are also membership forms available, these are renewed yearly. Keep an eye on our socials!

We would love to send out a HUGE THANK YOU!! to Matt Robinson and the IT team from KGF who have kindly donated laptops to the P&C. This will help each Executive Position have access to a laptop allowing our jobs to be conducted on the go and give new Executives coming into the position access to all the necessary resources to help with the transition!"

- KSS P&C Committee 

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)

Inclusion Support

At Kilcoy State School, we are committed to ensuring that all our students have equitable access to learning opportunities. One way we are achieving this is through the effective integration of assistive technology.
Assistive technology includes a variety of devices, software, and equipment designed to support students with disabilities in accessing the curriculum and engaging fully in learning activities. This can include tools such as screen readers, speech-to-text software, communication devices and adaptive keyboards. 

In Semester 2, we have been working with students to utilise and normalise these devices, helping them to engage in learning activities that may have previously posed challenges. Some of the teachers have also been integrating assistive technology into their teaching practices, allowing the students to showcase their skills learnt in the 1:1 intensive intervention with me, within the classroom environment. 

I am really excited about this program and look forward to seeing the positive impact that assistive technology can have on our students' learning experiences now and in the future. 

Community News

Thank you for taking the time to engage in your child's school life further by reading this newsletter. We appreciate you staying informed. If you have any newsletter suggestions, please email them to admin@kilcoyss.eq.edu.au.