ANZAC Day

Earlier this week we invited Ian Sayers and Mac Wellar (from Belconnen RSL) to lead a special ANZAC Day Assembly with our school leaders. During this ceremony, we remembered and recognised those who have protected and served our country. On 25 April 1915 Australian soldiers landed at what is now called Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula. For the vast majority of the 16,000 Australians and New Zealanders who landed on that day, it was their first experience of combat. By that evening, 2,000 of them had been killed or wounded. According to the National Museum of Australia, the “Gallipoli campaign was a military failure but the characteristics that the Anzacs displayed throughout the campaign – bravery, ingenuity, endurance and mateship – have come to be celebrated as defining characteristics of the Australian personality”. We appreciate the sacrifices that others have made for our country and our future. Lest we forget.

Semester 1 Student Academic Reports

Towards the end of Term 2 (Friday Week 8) families will be emailed their child/ren’s Semester 1 academic reports. Student academic reports will provide an overall A-E grade (Years 1-6), and an assessment of achievement standard statements on a 5-point scale. The 2023 Semester 1 report format will remain the same as last year and will not include teacher comments. This will support our school to reduce staff workload and cope with our current (school and national) teacher shortage.

To ensure parents receive sufficient information about their child/ren’s progress and achievements we have extended mid semester interviews from 15 minutes to 20 minutes per student. We will hold these interviews over a two week period in Weeks 9 and 10 (before and after school). We encourage families to make an appointment with their child’s teacher once booking information is released. Thank you for your ongoing support and for partnering with the school to get the best outcomes for all students.

Assemblies

We are excited to reintroduce assemblies each Friday afternoon 2:15pm (alternating senior and junior each week). These will replace our virtual assemblies and focus on special messages, awards and a performance item from the host cohort. Please see the Term 2 timetable below for more details:

Week 2 - Year 6

Week 3 - Year 2

Week 4 - Year 5

Week 5 - Year 1

Week 6 - Year 4

Week 7 - Kindergarten

Week 8 - Year 3

Mr Shaddock’s Brain Buster Challenges

1. What makes this number unique: 8,549,176,320? 

Hint - It relates to the order of letters

2. A man was walking in the rain. He was in the middle of nowhere. He had nothing and nowhere to hide. He came home all wet, but not a single hair on his head was wet. Why is that?

3. A bat and ball cost $1.10

The bat costs $1 more than the ball

How much does the ball cost?

Click here for the answers.

Library Lego Challenge

This term, we have created a fun borrowing initiative. Every time students borrow a book, they will receive a piece of LEGO to contribute to our whole school masterpiece. This aims to be a  fun way of igniting imagination, creativity and prompting students to borrow and read more library books!

We look forward to seeing the creation evolve as the weeks go on. 

External After School Programs

In Term 2, a number of organisations will be running after school programs on our school grounds. These programs are offered through external providers and will not be supervised by school staff. Please contact the businesses directly to find out more about their terms and conditions and/or to book a spot for your child. 

Mondays

Get Set Tennis coaches are offering group lessons for Kindergarten to Year 6 students on the Kaleen Primary School tennis courts 3pm-4:30pm each Monday. In cases of wet weather, the program will move to the school hall. The program commences at the beginning of Term Two and will cost $225 for nine weeks ($25 per session). These sessions are currently full, but please email nelson@getsettennis.com.au or phone 0422 809 160 to find out more and/or book in a spot in the future. 

Tuesdays 

Join Perform Australia for drama classes in the school hall from 3pm-4:30pm - learn acting skills, play drama games, and explore characters! The program begins this coming Tuesday and costs $250 for the term. There are limited spots still available, but please enrol online directly at www.perform.edu.au/kaleen or call Perform Australia on 1300 908 905 to find out more. For Kindergarten to Year 6.  

Thursdays

Gecko Sports will be offering a multi-sports program which gives kids the opportunity to play a different sport each week. Unfortunately, due to staffing issues, this program is scheduled to commence at the beginning of Term 3.  Information on session times and how to enrol will be provided towards the end of Term 2.

PE@K After School Program

Separate from our external provider program,  Kaleen Primary school is offering chess coaching from 3-4:30pm in the Library on Wednesday afternoons. This program is for students in Years 3-6 who are looking to develop their chess playing skills and receive support to improve their strategy and critical thinking. This program commenced this term and costs $100 for the term. These sessions are currently full, however, please contact Callum Joce at callum.joce@ed.act.edu.au or the front office at 6142 1750 to register on a waiting list and book a spot in the future. 

Bye for now,

Chris Shaddock

Principal

School Happenings and Information 

If you would like to have your child's achievement acknowledged here, please email a short blurb to KaleenPSAdmin@ed.act.edu.au 

Community

Canteen Staff Wanted 

If you are looking for part time or full time work, school hours, Monday to Friday 9am to 2pm in a school canteen please contact us on 0408 200 481.

You must be able to work in a team environment, have basic cooking skills and knowledge of meal preparation. Must have a drivers license & Working with vulnerable people card.  (if you do not have a WWVP card it can be obtained once successful) Please contact us on 0408 200 481 for further information.