Supporting Student Learning

Kaleen Primary School has a number of strategies to ensure every child is learning to their full potential. Our school uses a ‘WIN’ (What I Need) process to help meet the needs of all students. Teachers assess the needs of their students and those who require additional support are placed into targeted groups. These students receive weekly intervention in small group sessions delivered by our executive teachers, support teachers and Learning Support Assistants (LSAs). These WIN groups are regularly reviewed in consultation with the Response To Need (RTN) and teaching teams and students flow in and out based on their individual needs. 

On top of the WIN process, our school offers students an additional layer of support through our Boost program. Boost peer tutors (Year 5/6 students) and Boost parent volunteers run targeted activities with our junior school students. After receiving training, our senior students and parents deliver a structured program using reading strategies and number games designed by our teachers. Peer and parent tutoring programs are highly effective and efficient strategies that benefit all stakeholders. We are currently looking for more parent volunteers who are willing to be trained in our ‘Boost Tutor’ program. If you are interested in becoming a Boost Tutor or to find out more, please contact Michelle Northey via email Michelle.Northey@ed.act.edu.au.

If you haven’t already, please watch this short video to learn ways to support the school reading program from home. 

New External Program

Next term, Code Camp After-School will be offering an after school program for our (Year 2-6) students in the Kaleen Primary School library 3pm-4:30pm each Thursday. The program commences at the beginning of Term Two and costs $260 for eight weeks ($32.50 per session). Participants get creative using design, code and logic to build their own game! Book now HERE. Parents will receive a $15 Early Bird discount if they enrol prior to 30th June using the discount code AS3-EB-15. Or give us a call on 1300 263 322. Our popular coding program incorporates weekly challenges, functions, algorithms, branching, variables, game logic, user experience and maths. Coding after-school offers students a new project each week, and the fun doesn’t have to stop after class! Your child will be provided with their very own Code Camp World account which they can use to continue creating at home and to share their projects with family and friends.

Stranger Awareness Safety

This is a reminder to ensure your children understand the importance of stranger awareness safety and information has been included on how to report an incident.

Please support us to keep our children safe by having conversations about moving safely around the community. You may wish to visit the Australian Federal Police website section on Child Safety for tips. In addition, the Safety4Kids is a non-government website that has useful information and links. The Constable Kenny website also has a number of tips for parents for younger children.

If you become aware of an incident or notice anyone acting suspiciously around a school or student, contact police immediately on 131 444 or in the case of an emergency call 000. If you witness an incident or if you have any information that could assist police, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information can be provided anonymously. We would also ask that you notify the school so we can also support the wider school community to be aware of incidents.

I look forward to seeing you in and around the school.

Bye for now,

Chris Shaddock

Principal

School Happenings and Information 

Staff at Kaleen continue to practise mindfulness strategies. We can spend a lot of time thinking ahead. However, a regular mindfulness practice can increase our awareness of what is also happening in the present moment. It can ‘wake us up’, help us become more aware of our feelings, thoughts, needs and behaviours.

This term we have been getting to know our brain a little better. Mary-Caitlin, one of our Year 2 teachers, introduced us to a program called Grow your Mind. You can find out more about it here :  https://growyourmind.life/ It describes the functions of the brain in user-friendly ways, such as the Amygdala being a little like a Guard Dog. Our Amygdala is useful in that it helps us sense danger and can be protective, much like a guard dog. However, our Amygdala can also become over-protective at times, influencing our behaviour so we sometimes might become overly anxious or frightened. If we can become more aware of this idea, it can help us then choose positive mindful strategies when we are feeling scared or anxious.

Other strategies we have been experimenting with are getting in touch with our right brain with art and craft to balance our more analytical left-side of our brain. Providing our children with small moments of quiet (non-talking) time to draw, colour or sketch in nature can also be a restorative and clarifying strategy.

Why not give one or more of these strategies a go at home.

Fiona Manton

Preschool has been busy planting tulip bulbs and annuals from a Floriade grant they received. Watch this exciting space at Preschool. 

Cross Country Carnival 2023

Congratulations to all the Kaleen students that participated in our school cross country carnival on Tuesday 2nd May. What a fantastic sight, seeing so many of our students participating and completing their various courses. Congratulations to the Year 6 house & vice captains that assisted, encouraged, and supported the younger students – you did an outstanding job. Thanks to the families who came along to support the students. Congratulations to the winning house Hawkesbury. The results from the carnival are detailed below. 

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

Community

Raising Respect
Free parent/carer information sessions

Children need to be safe, connected, and free to grow as their unique selves. To make this happen, we need to learn how to challenge disrespect and gender stereotypes. Raising Respect is an ACT Government funded project to help equip parents and carers to talk to their children and others about respect, gender equality and inclusion.

Raising Respect runs one-hour information sessions for parents and carers to learn together. If your school is interested in hosting a Raising Respect session for parents and carers, register your interest and Raising Respect will get in touch with options Raising Respect registration form.

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.