Kapunda Primary School Newsletter

No 10 - Week 09 - Term 4 2024

Principal Comments

From the Leadership Team

Here we are at the end of a busy and exciting year where we reflect back on the year gone by. There have been great academic successes and sporting achievements, fun activities and community involvement. This is also the time of the year where we farewell our Year 6 students as they move onto the next phase of their academic journey. It is always a time of mixed emotion with nerves and excitement taking poll positions. Our Year 6 Graduates are a wonderful group of young people who are more than ready for their high school experience.

 

The end of a school year can also bring farewells to other students and families as well as staff members. This year we say our goodbyes to three of our amazing SSOs – Charlie Collins, Taya Dabrowski and Caitlin Jacques. Charlie is moving closer to Adelaide where he will continue his University study, Taya is moving into alternate employment while Caitlin starts her teaching career with a contract. Charlie, Taya and Caitlin have been huge assets to our team and will be sadly missed by all staff and, in particular, the students whose lives they have touched. We wish them all the best and know they will be successful on their chosen paths. We also farewell Lauren Milde who joined us to take our mid-year receptions and wish her every success in the future. Linda Travers has done numerous contracts with us over many years. Her commitment to Kapunda Primary School has been greatly appreciated and we hope to see Linda back taking on some TRT work for us.

 

Karen Wells is our final farewell as she takes up an offer at Tanunda Primary School. Karen has been at Kapunda for 20 years and is an outstanding educator and colleague. The move supports Karen’s work-life balance and as much as we will miss her, we know that she will continue to make a significant difference in the lives of the young people who are fortunate to have her as their teacher. At this stage Karen’s move is for one year, however once she gets there, we can’t see them letting her go.

 

Not a farewell as such, as I am sure we will see him back, however we would like to do a shout out to Mostyn Daniel who back-filled for Brett Cummins while he was on leave. Mostyn also remained on to support with all of the movement that has occurred in the last week. We really appreciate Mostyn’s willingness to step in and support the school.

 

A new school year brings with it new faces who will join our team and 2025 is no different. We welcome Chloe Allchurch, Abbey Leslie, Sarah Cameron, Rhiannon Hall and Kayla Becker to our teaching team. They are all very much looking forward to joining our school and we know that their skills, passion and expertise will be a great fit. Taylah Wood will re-join the upper primary team after her maternity leave. We all look forward to having her back.

 

Planning for 2025 is already underway with staff engaging in professional learning in what educators refer to as Week 0. Our SSOs will be involved in Strategies to Manage Abuse Related Trauma (SMART) training. The teaching team will be completing further training on Differentiating the Curriculum through Planning. Our staff are committed to ongoing professional learning to ensure Kapunda students are receiving current, evidence-based curriculum and practice.

 

Following the successful change in play breaks to two 30-minute time slots, staff discussed the related eating times. From the start of the year, we have made the decision to trial eating at the end of play breaks instead of the current prior to play. This change is to support students to take the time to eat the food they bring to school and also the opportunity to reset back into learning mode after play. We will monitor and then review this at the end of Term 1.

 

You will notice a change to our room numbers which, for those of you who are long time parents or ex-scholars, may take a bit of getting used to. At this stage the key room numbers have been put up with all old numbers removed. The remaining rooms will be completed early next year.

 

We have also been approved to have the roofs, ceilings, verandas, gutters and downpipes replaced on eight of our transportable buildings. This work will begin in January and be completed by the middle of 2025.

 

Throughout the year we have been investigating the potential use of the school house located next to the Nature Play area. There has been a great deal of red-tape to work through with plenty more to follow. We are pleased to be able to share that in 2025 we will begin the process of getting the house up to requirements for our KOSHC to be relocated. This will be an exciting project and will provide improved spaces for our KOSHC students and staff. The area currently located between KOSHC and the Administration building is also getting a revamp to start in the new year. Keep a look out for requests for help with Working Bee’s as we move forward with the plans for these areas.

 

We would like to thank families for supporting us throughout the year. The old saying ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ is true and the more schools and families work together for our children the greater the educational and wellbeing needs of students will be met. Finally, a big thank you to our staff for their hard work and tireless efforts in teaching and supporting our students.

 

We wish you a wonderful Christmas and New Year and hope that holiday season is kind to you all.

Relax and enjoy the time with your families doing what you love!

 

Sharon, Kerry and Dan

2024 Penny Pratt Annual Student Service Award

Congratulations Fiona Ryan

This student has consistently demonstrated her leadership qualities over many years at our school.  She has always been selfless in the way that she has put the needs of others in front of her own and given up her own playtime to support other students who are in need. She has taken on her role as school captain responsibly and has always been a great leader that other students can look to. She has independently put many of her own and the students’ ideas into action, from her fundraising ideas to the Science Club, student competitions and events, and she has used her own time to plan and deliver these.  

Her actions have made our school and the community a more exciting and engaging place for our students to learn and play at. 

Rotary Achiever Awards - 2024

Winners Junior Primary

Oliver Maywald

This student dedicates himself to achieving his best in all subject areas. He follows class and school expectations and sets a good example for others. This student is responsible and offers his assistance to others. He reliably carries out duties and is an excellent helper. When we discuss ideas and thoughts in the classroom, he respectfully listens to others and contributes insightfully. Congratulations on an excellent year.

Congratulations Oliver Maywald!  


Evelyn Crook

This student is a quiet role model in our class, always encouraging others to try their best whilst challenging herself with learning tasks. Her sense of humour and warm approach makes her an excellent leader in group tasks as she is always considerate of others and their opinions. This student will confidently speak up in class, sharing her ideas and supporting others when they are upset. She will happily offer to help complete small jobs around the school, whether it be in the class or yard. She is always well-mannered and polite to her peers and staff. She is a well-deserving recipient. 

Congratulations Evelyn Crook!


Winners Middle Primary

Max Lindner

This student has been nominated by his peers for being a kind person, who is fair and shows honesty, effort, cooperation and respect. He goes out of his way to help others in and out of the classroom. Whenever he notices something needing to be done, he doesn't hesitate to offer his time. He has worked really hard to be organised for lessons, set out his work neatly and share his ideas during class discussions. He has worked consistently to improve his learning goals, achieve his times table challenge and become more fluent with his linked script.

Congratulations Max Lindner!


Elara Bishop

This student is a hardworking and dedicated student, who strives to meet her learning goals with great determination.  Her classmates have noted how she is kind and caring, always willing to help out a friend and takes care of them when they are struggling. She is respectful to staff, engaging politely and cooperating with all requests and instructions. She has worked hard to make excellent progress in all areas of learning and with her friendship group.  She is organised for her learning and ensures her work is completed on time and to the best of her ability. It has been pleasing to see her confidence grow throughout the year. She takes risks in her learning and is willing to challenge herself to achieve greater results. This student is a well deserving winner of the RAA award.

Congratulations Elara Bishop!

 

Winners Upper Primary

George MacKenzie

This student is a very deserving winner of the Term 4 RAA award. He reflects our school values daily in the classroom and in the yard and is one of many reasons why his peers have voted him to win this award. He has great patience when working with others and has a kind and caring nature. He demonstrates respect towards other staff and students, and he always knows how to have a laugh. This person is a dedicated hard worker and always challenges himself with his learning and strives to achieve smart goals. He has an enthusiastic approach towards school and always maintains a growth mindset.

Congratulations George Mackenzie!

 

Ruby MacKenzie

This student has consistently demonstrated our school values throughout the year.  She is highly organised and always strives to complete tasks to a very high standard.  She is willing to seek out and act on feedback to reach her goals, but also puts in the time and effort to supporting her classmates to reach their own goals. She is inclusive and kind and always treats others with respect.  She has taken on extra responsibilities within our school this year, happily completing tasks in her own time where necessary.  Quite simply, this student has made Kapunda Primary School a better place to be!

Congratulations Ruby Mackenzie!

2024 Rotary Achiever Awards

School Concert - by Kade Francis

Moving, dancing and preforming!

I couldn’t wait that morning.

Dancing up on the stage,

I can’t believe I was doing it at my age.

Having fun with my friend,

Right until the very end.

Sitting down I the crowd,

 Until the mic was turned ‘round.

The principal talked into the speaker,

After the dance I couldn’t feel weaker.

The concert was great in every way,

I wish I could do it everyday!

by Kade Francis

Kapunda Primary School

School Values:

Effort              Respect        Honesty        Cooperation

“To provide a safe and diverse learning environment in which to educate and empower children to be successful in the community and in the future.”