Welcome to Kurrajong North Public School. We believe in providing a supportive, inclusive and stimulating environment which is relevant, challenging and comprehensive. Our vision is to provide equitable opportunities for all students to maximise their potential and become self-driven learners through promoting a culture of quality education, high expectations and effective feedback.
We see our parents and broader community as valued partners in developing the ethos of our school. We believe that developing collaborative partnerships within and beyond our school will enable our students to become global citizens who follow our core school values - respect, responsibility and resilience. As a small community small we strive for collaborative practice, open communication and a commitment to the pursuit of excellence.
We have accomplished so much this school term. Our students have engaged in deep learning across the curriculum, we have enjoyed welcoming our families back into school for pick up, student workshops and school events, and we have come together as a strong school community in light of the flood devastation that spread across the Hawkesbury. Our resilience at such a pressing time of year has been paramount. Our staff would like to thank the school community for your understanding in supporting student learning from home last week and having to reschedule so many calendar items when the need arose. Please ensure you check the Sentral calendar and School website for details of postponed events.
Thank you to our Kurrajong North PS staff
I would like to thank the staff at Kurrajong North PS for their amazing flexibility. With so many school engagements and interruptions of late, they have continued to support student learning, dedicating much time to building on their communication with families via Class Dojo and they continued to come to school each day with a positive mindset. Their positivity, flexibility and determination to make the most out of every situation has been evident and appreciated.
Strategic Improvement Plan 2021 - 2024
Throughout Term 1 our Kurrajong North PS Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP) has involved planning for the future with a deep reflection of the processes and systems in place to improve student learning and community engagement. In consultation with our students, staff and parent community we are confident that our SIP will meet the identified needs of our school and drive school improvement in all areas over the next 4 years.
A Strategic Improvement Plan is a working document put together by schools to address specific school priorities. The SIP states a school's shared School Vision and outlines key steps to attain growth for all students and improve learning, teaching and leading. All NSW public schools are required to submit their SIP by the end of this term.
At Kurrajong North PS, we have 2 Strategic Directions outlined in our SIP with plans already in place to begin achieving our school goals. Our first is 'Student Growth and Attainment' in reading and numeracy outcomes with a focus on effective classroom practice and effective use of data. Our second Strategic Direction is 'Collaborative Practice and Inclusivity' which aims to strengthen a personalised learning culture for all students and establish strong partnerships through collaboration and community engagement within and beyond the school.
Our Strategic Improvement Plan will be available for public viewing over the school holidays. I would like to thank our students, staff and parent community for their contributions and involvement in preparing such an important and comprehensive school document.
School events - Halogen Young Leaders Expo & School Camps
We will be working closely with our local primary schools to ensure that our Year 6 students, as well as our Stage 3 students have a camp scheduled for this year. Unfortunately there was an issue with our Jindabyne camp resulting in our school being unable to attend. Please be reassured that our students will enjoy a school camp. We will provide further information early next term.
Additionally, we are partnering with our neighbouring schools who were also affected by the floods, and Ezra from Dance Curriculum who is a regular guest speaker at the Halogen Young Leaders Expo, to provide a 'mini' expo day for our Year 6 students. When we have confirmed details, we will let you know as soon as possible.
2021 Term 2 Class Restructure
We are always disheartened to say goodbye to students and families who leave our school. Unfortunately of late, we have had a few families depart our school this term for various reasons. This has led to conversations regarding our continued class formations for 2021.
Following consultation between staff and parents, we have taken the opportunity to realign our classes. The changes will begin at the start of Term 2 and will be reflected in our 2021 school photos. We aim to make the transition for students as smooth as possible.
The classes will be as follows:
K/1 - Mrs Anita Burgess
1/2 - Mrs Tracy Peck (Mon-Thu) & Mrs Julie Vidgen (Fri)
3/4/5 - Mrs Deborah Robinson
5/6 - Mrs Sarah Sewell
Thank you Kurrajong North PS
I would like to personally thank the Kurrajong North PS school community for embracing me this term. A change of leadership is never an easy process for a school and can often be faced with many challenges. However, with such strong partnerships established between staff and families, and good systems in place at our school, the transition has been very smooth. It gives insight into the strength of such a unique community and demonstrates that if schools work together they can strive for excellence.
It has been an absolute pleasure to walk into such a beautiful school community, build relationships with so many students and families, and work with such amazing staff. Following a rigorous process to appoint a new Principal for Kurrjong North PS, I must sadly advise you that I was unsuccessful in my application through Merit Selection. At the start of next term I will return to my substantive position at Grose View PS. I will forever cherish the opportunity I have had to work at Kurrajong North PS and I look forward to finding opportunities to continue working with the staff, students and families here.
I would like to extend a warm welcome to Mr Adrian Davies who was appointed as Teaching Principal for Kurrajong North PS, pending the 10 day appeal period. Mr Davies comes with a wealth of leadership experience, and shares our school vision of quality education, high expectations and community engagement. He will take on the Learning Support teaching role during Term 2. Mr Davies will visit our school this week to meet with the students and is very much looking forward to meeting the school community. I have the utmost confidence in our staff to support Mr Davies in his new role, and I will do my best to ensure a comprehensive handover. I wish Mr Davies all the very best in his new appointment.
Final days of Term 1
After discussion with staff, we thought it would be very special to celebrate student achievement by hosting a PIZZA PARTY tomorrow - Wednesday 31 March. We will allow for 2 slices of pizza per student. Pizza will be available just in time for lunch!
Thursday is our Dance Celebration and Easter Hat Parade. We look forward to showcasing our amazing dances and we are keen to see the wonderful Easter hat creations you have made at home. Our end of term celebration commences at 12:30 pm. Make sure you bring a picnic basket full of goodies and a picnic rug to enjoy a special afternoon at Kurrajong North PS. The P&C will draw their Easter Raffle and have some light refreshments for families to purchase.
Have a very Happy Easter and enjoy a very safe school holiday.
Mrs Tamara Hopkins
Relieving Principal
Congratulations to our 2021 Student Representative Council for their selection as class/grade representatives this Semester. Our SRC includes Jorja, Hayden D, Beau, Alicia, Lexie, Scarlett, Lailah, Imogen, James S, Lawan and Macy.
Our SRC students will work with our Student Leaders on school initiatives. They have already begun by supporting a wonderful initiative called 'Ozzie Bread Tags' which is being led by a former student from our school - Nyssa.
Please support our SRC in supporting Nyssa by collecting bread tags over the holiday period so that people in South Africa can gain access to wheelchairs. 600 000 bread tags are needed for one wheelchair. Bread tags can be handed in to the front office.
During our Dance Curriculum sessions our students have been learning an entire showcase of performances including a Hip Hop routine, basic partner dances and they have been participating in improvisation activities. We would like to thank Ezra from Dance Curriculum for his engaging dance classes and commitment in providing an enjoyable end of term full of dance for our students.
This week we have been thrilled to have double dance sessions to ensure we can perform for our families on our final day of Term 1. Come along to our Dance Celebration & Easter Hat Parade on Thursday to enjoy the performance.
Additionally, as an extra special treat, our Year 6 students participated in a Zoom dance meeting with Ezra which connected students across Australia and New Zealand. Our Year 6 students were super excited!
CLASS DOJO
Class Dojo is a terrific online platform which enables teachers to share class updates, communicate with parents and develop student e-portfolios. If you haven't already connected to your child's class, make sure you do! Our staff are eager to achieve 100% parent engagement and interaction.
'Keep Connected with Kurrajong North' is our weekly update for the week ahead. Typically posted on a Friday, the regular post will ensure that you don't miss a thing. Make sure you Like our Facebook page to receive notifications.
SENTRAL
We are exploring the functionality of our Sentral Parent Portal. Families should have received a unique login code recently to connect. Through this platform we are already utilising the calendar, absence explanations, permission note and we will soon release 3 Way Interview bookings. The school calendar is also available to view on our KNPS website. If you need any assistance, please contact Mrs Cobcroft.
March
Wed 31 - School Photos
April
Thu 1 - Easter & Dance celebration 12:30 pm
Fri 2 - School Holidays begin
Tue 20 - Students begin Term 2
Fri 23 - NAPLAN Practice test Yr 3 & Yr 5
Fri 23 - Hawkesbury Show weekend
Sun 25 - ANZAC Day
Mon 26 - 3 Way Interviews begin
Fri 30 - Small Schools Cross Country
May
Mon 3 - 3 Way Interviews continue
Thu 6 - P&C Meeting 6:30 pm
Tue 11 - NAPLAN commences for Yr 3 & Yr 5
Fri 14 - Zone Cross Country