WELCOME TO JUNIOR SCHOOL
A warm welcome to all families joining Kingswood College in 2024.
We hope that this handbook provides you with the required information to support your child in having a smooth transition to Kingswood College.
A Kingswood College education is a gift that lasts a lifetime, and we look forward to sharing your child’s learning journey with you.
We warmly encourage you to become involved and take part in the many events and activities that are offered during the year. Your child’s time at Kingswood College will be greatly enhanced through the positive partnerships created between you and the School.
In Junior School we honour the individual journey of every student. Our staff create a special place for your child that fosters their natural curiosity and love of learning.
We look forward to welcoming your family into our community.
Amy Lovell Head of Junior School
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT JUNIOR SCHOOL
2024 KEY STAFF
The following College staff are available to assist and support students.
• Amy Lovell - Head of Junior School
• Katie Pelosi - Deputy Head of Junior School
• Cathy McLean - Head of Individual Differences (Junior School)
• Wendy Corser - ELC Director
• Nicole Cherney - Junior School Administrator
• Grant Exon – College Chaplain
CONTACT DETAILS
Junior School Reception: 9896 1728 junior@kingswoodcollege.vic.edu.au
College Reception: 9896 1700
2024 TERM DATES
• Term 1: Monday 29 January –Thursday 28 March
• Term 2: Monday 15 April – Friday 28 June
• Term 3: Monday 22 July – Friday 20 September
• Term 4: Monday 7 October –Tuesday 10 December
DAY STRUCTURE
- 8.30am
Period 1 8.30am - 9.25am
Period 2 9.25am - 10.20am
Recess 10.20am - 10.40am
Period 3 10.40am - 11.35am
Period 4 11.35am - 12.30pm
Lunch 12.30pm - 1.10pm
Period 5 1.10pm - 2.05pm
Period 6 2.05pm - 3.00pm
SUPERVISION BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL
The school grounds are supervised from 8.00am each day and we ask that children are not dropped off prior to this time.
It is important that messages regarding a change to your child’s usual pick-up arrangements are phoned through to Junior School Reception.
Classroom teachers do not read their emails when they are teaching. It is important that email communication regarding pick up arrangements are sent to both the classroom teacher and Junior School Reception.
The Junior School grounds are not supervised by staff after school so it
is important families actively supervise children in the playground from 3.00pm.
The bus stop and car park area is supervised by a staff member each afternoon from 3.00-3.30pm.
Junior School students who have not been collected from the bus stop area by 3.15pm will be asked to go to Junior School Reception and parents will be contacted.
ABSENCES
If a student is not attending school on a day, please lodge your child’s absence via Compass or email Junior@kingswoodcollege.vic.edu.au
If a student is planning an extended absence from school (e.g. family holiday, medical procedure, etc), this should be discussed with the classroom teacher and/or the Head of Junior School in advance.
Student absences are closely monitored by classroom teachers, the Deputy Head of Junior School and the Head of Junior School to ensure continuity of learning and wellbeing for all students.
If a student is repeatedly absent from School parents may be asked to meet with the classroom teacher and Head of Junior School to discuss any relevant concerns and work together to minimise absences in future.
ILLNESS
If your child has an illness or specific medical condition (e.g asthma, vision or hearing impairment, allergy, anaphylaxis) or is on medication, and you have not already notified the School, you must do so immediately. We also require a copy of current medical action plans for these conditions.
To avoid the spread of infection, please keep children who are sick at home. Make sure you inform Junior School Reception and your child’s teacher before 9.00am on the day they are absent. If your child has an infectious disease such as chicken pox, parvo virus (slap cheek) or school sores please also inform the Head of Junior School in writing.
All medication needs to be clearly labelled and include a doctor’s instructions regarding the dosage to be given and frequency. Medication can be collected at the end of the school day for short term illnesses and at the end of each term for ongoing conditions.
In the event of an accident requiring First Aid, an assessment of the injury will be made by the School Nurse. If the student requires medical attention, every attempt to contact parents or guardians will be made. If necessary, the School will arrange medical aid. All staff have regular First Aid training.
SUNSMART
Kingswood College Junior School is committed to being SunSmart. We have a ‘no hat, play under shade’ policy. A Kingswood College sunhat is compulsory for students whenever the UV index is predicted to reach Level 3 or above.
We ask you to put sunscreen on your child before school and encourage your child to reapply sunscreen at recess and at lunchtime. All classrooms are supplied with UV 30+ sunscreen. If students do not have a hat on days where the UV index is predicted to be Level 3 or above they will be asked to play in a shaded area.
Sunhats can be purchased at the Kingswear Wardrobe store.
Head lice are common with young children, especially in the summer months. When a case of head lice is reported to the School, an announcement will be posted on the NewsFeed on Compass. Please inform the school if your child has a case of head lice. Your child can return to school once treated.
KINGSWEAR WARDROBE
Kingswood College has a compulsory wardrobe for all students in the Junior and Middle Schools called Kingswear.
You must purchase Kingswear items from our onsite wardrobe store
located on-campus behind the administration building. Every day students must wear Kingswood College branded wardrobe items.
Compulsory Items
There are only three compulsory garments in the wardrobe (to comply with BDPSSA and EISM regulations for interschool sport and House events.)
• Comfort tee
• Casual short
• House polo
Otherwise, students can choose any garments from the range that they would like to wear every day. A list of items and prices can be found on Compass.
Students new to the College can book an appointment to purchase items from the Kingswear wardrobe prior to commencement.
RESOURCES (BOOKLISTS)
Student resources will be ordered through the School in bulk for Prep –Year 6 students in 2024. The cost of these resources is included in the consolidated fees. The resources are communal so do not need to be covered or labelled.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
It is important that the College has up to date information for each child. Information, including learning and medical needs, emergency contacts and consents should be reviewed and updated for each child at the College. This information can be viewed and updated through the Community Portal under School Favourites in Compass.
If your child suffers a medical condition including asthma, allergies or anaphylaxis, detailed information about the condition must be provided to the College.
SPORT
All students are required to participate in the College sporting program. The sporting program runs on weekdays and there is no compulsory Saturday sport, giving students the opportunity to participate in community sports clubs, or follow personal or family pursuits. Junior School students have timetabled PMP (ELC – Year 2) and PE classes each week. Students in Years 3 – 6 also compete in Blackburn District Primary School Sports Association (BDPSSA) sporting competitions in a range of team and individual pursuits. When participating in BDPSSA events students are required to wear the
‘comfort tee’ and ‘casual shorts’ from the College’s wardrobe.
THE HOUSE SYSTEM
The House System is a key avenue for collaboration across all aspects of our community. House Swimming, Athletics, Cross Country and Performing Arts events are important occasions in the life of the College and are celebrations of the spirit of the College; they are a vibrant collection of events which reflect the values of the College and are marked by student leadership, respect, courage, perseverance and excellence.
All Prep – Year 12 students enrolled at Kingswood College are allocated to one of four Houses: Brunning (red), Gwynton (blue), New (yellow) and Walker (green) House. Healthy rivalry exists between each House and all the activities add a wonderful dimension to life at Kingswood College. Heads of House, House Captains and House Leaders oversee the running of each House. All students are expected to participate in three House Carnivals:
• Athletics | Term 3
• Cross Country | Term 2
• Swimming | Term 4
If students are injured and unable to participate in a House Carnival they are expected, where possible, to
attend the carnival and support their House.
SCHOOL PHOTOS
Class and individual student photos will be taken on 15 February 2024. Orders for photos must be placed prior to the start of term and information about the process will be emailed individually to families early in 2024.
ASSEMBLY
Junior School Assembly is held every Friday Week B in Brimacombe Hall at 2.15pm.
The Junior School Captains plan and conduct the weekly Assembly with the support of the Year 6 teaching team and Head of Junior. Assemblies are an opportunity for the Junior School community to come together and celebrate the rich learning that is happening inside and outside of the classroom. Parents are welcome to attend Assembly.
THE WOODS CAFE
The Woods is a café-style food service that provides an exciting menu and range of tasty and healthy options for lunch and snacks. The Woods operates daily, and lunch orders can be placed online. More information, including menu and online ordering details is available on Compass.
Junior Students are not permitted to visit The Woods to purchase food at recess or lunchtime. If your child does not have lunch the classroom teacher will inform Junior School Reception and you will be contacted by phone to make alternative arrangements.
EATING
There are a number of children in the Junior School at Kingswood College who are at risk of anaphylaxis due to allergies to various nuts.
To minimise the risk of an anaphylactic reaction occurring at school, we ask parents not to send food items to school that contain any type of nut.
Children need a fresh fruit snack, recess and lunch at school each day. Many children find it difficult to eat all their lunch on hot days or until they have settled into the routine of school. Do not worry if there is some food left but if you are concerned your child is not eating their lunch
please speak to the teacher. Make sure the food is quick and easy to eat. If you send too much, it may be discarded. Sweets and fizzy drinks are discouraged. Students are seated and supervised while eating lunch.
BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays are special occasions and if you wish you may send a small pre-packaged treat/s for your child to share with their classmates at the conclusion of the school day (eg. a small chocolate frog). There are a number of children in Junior School with food allergies and anaphylaxis and for this reason we ask children to check with parents before consuming the treat after school.
The handing out of birthday invitations at school needs to be managed sensitively. We understand that it is not always feasible or preferable for children to invite the whole class but we ask that if smaller groups of children are being invited to a party, parents post or email party invitations instead. Your support here is greatly appreciated.
COMMUNICATION
Maintaining communication between home and school is vital for your child’s wellbeing and progress. We encourage you to:
• talk to your child’s classroom and specialist teachers. To achieve the best outcome for your child, we must work as a team. Please contact us to discuss any facet of your child’s education
• try to attend the Parents and Friends Association meetings and other social functions so that you become active members of our school community
• read the College Newsletter. This contains important information about school events that are relevant to your child
• attend parent information sessions to find out more about your child’s learning and wellbeing
• refer to the Compass for detailed information on timetables, policies and procedures.
EVENTS & EXCURSIONS
During the school year, a number of special activities, events and excursions will be organised to give the children firsthand experience on topics they are learning about at school. You will be notified via Compass about upcoming events and excursions and asked for to provide permission for your child to participate.
BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays are special occasions and if you wish you may send a small pre-packaged treat/s for your child to share with their classmates at the conclusion of the school day (eg. a small chocolate frog). There are a number of children in Junior School with food allergies and anaphylaxis and for this reason we ask children to check with parents before consuming the treat after school.
The handing out of birthday invitations at school needs to be managed sensitively. We understand that it is not always feasible or preferable for children to invite the whole class but we ask that if smaller groups of children are being invited to a party, parents post or email party invitations instead. Your support here is greatly appreciated.
COMMUNICATION
Maintaining communication between home and school is vital for your child’s wellbeing and progress.
We encourage you to:
• talk to your child’s classroom and specialist teachers. To achieve the best outcome for your child, we must work as a team. Please contact us to discuss any facet of your child’s education
• try to attend the Parents and Friends Association meetings
and other social functions so that you become active members of our school community
• read the College Newsletter. This contains important information about school events that are relevant to your child
• attend parent information sessions to find out more about your child’s learning and wellbeing
• refer to the Compass for detailed information on timetables, policies and procedures.
PARENT INVOLVEMENT
At Kingswood College we value parent/ extended family involvement in the classroom and co-curricular activities. Opportunities for family members to volunteer may include:
• being a classroom helper in class literacy lessons
• being a classroom helper in cooking lessons, part of the KWC Kitchen Garden Program (Year 3-5)
• assisting at Junior School Sport Events, Carnivals, including the BDPSSA Sport Competition (Year 5-6)
• being a guest speaker
Parents are asked to contact the
classroom teacher or relevant specialist teacher if they wish to volunteer. All parent volunteers must complete and submit Volunteer Forms and have a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) and be aware of the College’s Child Safety and Code of Conduct information. This information can be obtained on Compass or from Junior School Reception.
COMPASS AND THE COMMUNITY PORTAL
The College’s Learning Management System, Compass, is the main source of information for policies, forms and what’s happening at the College. Within Compass you can also access the Community Portal which allows you to:
• view and print Academic Reports
• view and print your College Fee Statements or view your previous fee transactions
• pay your fees or pay for events
• maintain student and parent details including photo permissions
• book parent teacher interviews/ student lead conferences
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The following optional activities/ lessons are available to students and incur additional fees:
• Individual Music lessons
• Small Group Speech and Drama lessons
• Digimaker lessons
• Kelly Sports lessons
Please contact Junior School Reception for more information about enrolling in any of these activities.
PARENTS & FRIENDS ASSOCIATION
The Kingswood College Parents and Friends Association (PFA) is primarily focussed on fostering friendship and supporting the School community. The PFA co-ordinates and supports classroom representatives in their role and organises a number of Junior School and Whole School events and activities throughout the year. Being part of the PFA or volunteering to be a class representative is a great way to get to know more about what is happening at the School, meet other parents, and contribute to the school community.
NEWS & EVENTS
You will receive our weekly newsletter on a Thursday by email. This electronic newsletter is a vital source of information. It contains updates from the College Principal, Chrissy Gamble, all important Junior School news, whole School news and information and we encourage you to read it to keep informed.
Details about events specific to your child’s class can be found on Compass. Each term a curriculum outline is provided on your child’s Compass page. To learn more about the Junior School Curriculum and Priorities, please contact your child’s classroom teacher, the Deputy Head of Junior School or Head of Junior School.
PARENT / TEACHER INTERVIEW
At the beginning of the year we hold a Parent Information Evening where classroom and specialist teachers are introduced and provide an overview other their program and curriculum for the year.
The Parent Information Evening is also designed to give parents an opportunity to get to know their child’s teachers, personally and professionally.
We also have parent/ teacher interviews towards the end of Term 1
and again in Term 3. Parent/ teacher interviews provide an opportunity for parents and teachers to speak openly and honestly about a child’s progress, share feedback and set goals for the future.
At Kingswood College we value student voice and the importance of learners developing courage and perseverance in the pursuit of excellence. Junior School students have an opportunity to share their insights and personal learning goals at the Student Led Conference in Term 2.
PARKING
Parking in the streets around Kingswood College can be difficult at times, particularly at peak hours and during special School events. Please be considerate when parking, keeping in mind the safety of paediatricians and the rights of our neighbours regarding ease of access to their properties.
If you are dropping your child at school we ask that you use the drop off zone accessed via Gate 2 off Piedmont Street.
REPORTS
The assessment and reporting package at Kingswood College aims to inform and support the continuous learning cycle for all students. Information related to student learning and achievement is shared between students, parents and teachers in a variety of formats, including:
• Continuous feedback via Learning Tasks on Compass
• Semester Reports
• Parent/ Teacher interviews
The Student Achievement Summary provided biannually in the Semester Report formally indicates level of achievement for key learning areas at the end of each semester.
HOME TASKS
Home tasks or homework should complement the engaging learning that occurs in the classroom. Learning is a lifelong process that does not stop at the school gate; students make important learning gains when the learning they do at school is reinforced at home. The School will be undertaking a review of its Homework policy early in 2024. We look forward to sharing more information with you about this in Term 1.
OUT OF SCHOOL HOURS CARE
Before and after school care for Prep-Year 6 students is currently offered offsite by TeamKids at Roberts McCubbin Primary School.
How Does This Work?
Parents drop their child(ren) at Roberts McCubbin Primary School in the morning, and students are collected from TeamKids by a Kingswood College staff member who escorts them to the Junior School in time for the start of the school day at 8.30am. In the afternoons, a Kingswood College staff member collects the students from Junior School reception and escorts them down to TeamKids at Roberts McCubbin Primary School, where parents collect them at the end of the day.
If parents make last minute bookings for before/ aftercare through TeamKids on the day care is required the TeamKids Director of Service at Roberts McCubbin Primary School contacts the Head of Junior School and the Junior School administrator to ensure a Kingswood College staff member escorts the child to/ from Roberts McCubbin Primary School.
About TeamKids
• They provide industry-leading educator-to-student ratios of 1:10.
• Create child–led programs that enrich and extend the children in meaningful ways.
• Establish long-lasting relationships with the school community.
What Makes TeamKids Different?
TeamKids employs a qualified full-time co-ordinator, known as a Director of Service, to run each service. The Director of Service at Roberts McCubbin Primary School has two overarching responsibilities:
1. To ensure consistency of staff, provide an exemplary level of communication with the children and parents and build a strong, genuine relationship with our school and the broader community.
2. To implement age-appropriate experiences that are engaging and fun, and to create learning environments that are warm, unique and stimulating.
Next Steps
1. All families requiring before and after school care will need to register for free with TeamKids.
2. Once you have registered your child(ren) you can select the program (Roberts McCubbin Primary School) and follow the enrolment instructions to add your bookings.
3. TeamKids’ Customer Service team is available to help. Contact their Customer Service team via
email or phone 1300 035 000, press #1 if you have any questions.
