46 East Terrace, Kingston SE SA 5275 T (08) 8767 2677 F (08) 8767 2247 E dl.0737.info@schools.sa.edu.au www.kingstoncs.sa.edu.au

Kingston Community SchoolH o n e s t y . P e r s o n a l B e s t . R e s p e c t . F r i e n d l i n e s s . R e s p o n s i b i l i t yPrincipal: Ms Lucretia Tocaciu Newsletter 1: 3 February 2017

FROM THE PRINCIPALWelcome back to all families for the start of the 2017 school year.

I especially welcome our 16 new reception students in Mrs Kathryn Lawrie-Read’s class. I have visited their classroom on a number of occasions and they already know the routines and are orientated to the school. We have three new Year 8 students who join us from Robe Primary School. They seem to have adjusted to bus travel, earlier starts and new routines smoothly. We also have another three new students across the school from Year 9-12. We start the school year with approximately 309 enrolments.

The school also has a number of new staff and returning staff: Mr Philip Pojer is teaching Stage 1 and 2 Biology and Year 8-10 Science. Philip has a long association with education both in the mining industry and in schools and is looking forward to being in a small community. Miss Maddison Lawrie joins the staff from Bordertown High School, where she has been teaching HASS and History, and she will continue a similar role at Kingston. Many of you may know Maddi as she is the daughter of David and Roxanne Lawrie. Miss Syke Foster will be teaching English 8-12 for the first semester. Skye has been working at Ceduna Area School for the past 2 years and welcomed a move to Kingston as she is marrying a local lad later in the year. Miss Jane Daw joins our staff in the Year 4 classroom. Jane is the granddaughter of Mrs Marge McLaren and she is excited about her first teaching appointment. Jane shares this class with Mrs Samantha Murdock. Samantha will continue her

role of school counsellor part time, so she will be a busy person. Ms Stacey Daniel is also working at Kingston this year. Stacey has been on leave from Kangaroo Inn and will join us in the Year 1 classroom working in collaboration with Mrs Miriam Edwards. Mrs Madeline Hancock returns to work teaching Chemistry and Science. Ms Alice Trott will be working on Wednesday’s in the Year 2 class. The school community will get a chance to meet them at Acquaintance Night on Wednesday February 15th. Please support and welcome them into our community.

We are trialling a new format for Acquaintance Night, where classrooms will be open for an extended period of time. Teachers will still do a short presentation but if you can’t make that time you are welcome to drop in at any stage that the classroom is open. We will have a sausage sizzle on the night, where a sausage in bread can be purchased for $1, so you can make it a simple quick dinner. Cordial, water and tea and coffee will be available. All parents and caregivers are invited to learn about the expectations and curriculum of their child’s year level. There will be an opportunity to meet all specialist teachers in a relaxed and friendly environment.

FAREWELL AND THANKYOU

Students in 2016 achieved some excellent SACE results. This is a credit to our students and their teachers and we congratulate the 2016 Year 12 students for their pleasing academic results. Congratulations to Sam Altschwager and Jack Armfield who received Merit Awards in English and Mathematical Applications respectively. Special congratulations to Jack who also received one of only 23 Governor’s Commendations in the state for academic excellence and community involvement. Both boys will be recognised at a ceremony at Government House on Tuesday 7 February, 2017. Congratulations to Emily Edwards, Charlotte Northam and Emilee Sawyer for receiving an A+ grade in one of their subjects. Also, congratulations to Emily Edwards who was awarded the “Young Citizen of the Year” on Australia Day. The class of 2016 are now finalising their plans for 2017, with 15 of our students receiving University placements.

The Kingston Community School Site Improvement Plan focus of building learner capacity by having a strong partnership with families relies on collaboration between, students, educators and community. Teachers also continue to up skill themselves to build their capacity and planning for ongoing work has started and is aligned to the area and state strategic plan.

It has been a really productive start to the year by students and staff and I am optimistic that we can solve any challenges that we may meet along the way.

Best Wishes LucretiaTocaciu

I was unable to give a “Thank You and Farewell” response to the overwhelming goodbyes and good wishes at the R-7 Assembly, Friday 16th December 2016. I have read all the cards and watched the Powerpoint presentation (thanks to Mrs Lawrie-Read and her daughter Ellen) and have let the messages sink in.

I would now like to say how privileged I’ve been to teach for 32 years at Kingston Community School. I arrived in 1985, just when the first section of the new classrooms were made available to the R-5 classes. This was a real treat as I had heard many stories about the state of the “old” school – especially in winter.

I have always wanted to be a teacher and remember sitting under a pepper tree outside a classroom at Mundulla Primary School and thinking I want to be a teacher like Miss Peck. I was 4 ½ years old at that stage. Now I have finished and I leave knowing I have had many wonderful years working in partnership with students, parents and staff at the 5 schools I have taught at.

I have considered myself lucky to have been a part of the Kingston Community School family which includes all the parents and members of the wider community. I have made many friends and have had numerous highlights to look back on and cherish. My heartfelt thanks go to each and everyone who has been a part of this journey with me.Have a wonderful year in 2017.

Kindregards LynLeach