PSSA

What is PSSA Sport?

PSSA stands for Primary Schools Sports Association.

Schools across Sydney and NSW are organised into zone groups and have the opportunity to be included in a wide range of sports.

Each school can apply to be included in the inter-school competitions within their zone area, with Fridays being the nominated day for schools to play each other.

Kenthurst Public School is part of the Ridges Zone PSSA competitions group.

Opportunities for students In Years 3-6 to participate in sport and physical activity are offered at local schools with a progressive representative pathway provided through to national level. The NSW School Sport Unit promotes participation, sport skill development and excellence for all students.

Why play a PSSA Sport?

There are many advantages to your child being part of a PSSA team.

It gives them an opportunity to play a team sport where they learn valuable teamwork skills. Through this process they make new friendships with children that may not be in their class or their grades.

Children also have the chance to learn how to play a game that they may not participate in on the weekend. They have the feeling of pride in representing our school and the opportunity to travel to a venue on a weekly basis to play against other schools in our area. The sports use a wide range of skills students have learnt in school sport such as throwing, catching, hitting, kicking. These skills can then be put into practise in the game situation.

What PSSA sports do Kenthurst Public School participate in?

PSSA Winter - Friday morning

·      Netball

·      Soccer

PSSA Summer - Friday Morning

·      T-Ball/ Softball

·      NRL Tag

* Teams are formed each year depending on numbers to form a team.

What are the costs to be part of a PSSA Team?

Teams that travel by bus have to pay the bus cost for the season.

For information about the Zone PSSA competition, including draws, please refer to this page: Ridges PSSA

Before and After School Care

There is a before and after school care facility on our school grounds, run by Aspire OSHC.

It runs for the duration of each school term and also each holiday there is a vacation care program.

Contact the centre on  kenthurst@aspire-oshc.com.au

Please click on the following link if you would like to enrol your child/children for 2025.

https://www.owna.com.au/enrol.aspx?c=aspireoshckenthurst

Band

Kenthurst Public School has a very successful band program. The program consists of a junior band for beginners and a senior band. We have over 40 students involved in the program.

Participating in the Band Program at Kenthurst Public School is a fun and valuable learning experience for children. The students have an opportunity to develop their musical skills through playing a musical instrument as well as developing those skills within a group. The band regularly performs at school and in the local community. The comradery of the band encourages students from different years at school to make friends across year groups.

Our band rehearsals are held on Thursdays  before school in the school hall. Tutoring is provided to students during school hours, on a rotating timetable, in a spare classroom.

Research has shown that learning an instrument can have substantial benefits to a student's academic, creative, discipline, motor, listening and social skills.

Who can join the band?

The band program is open to all students in years 3-6. The program is as follows:

• Junior Band: Any child in year 3 or above may join. Junior band members often start in year 3, although some start later in years 4, 5 and 6. No previous musical experience is required as this band is for beginners. Please note, children under year 3 are not eligible to join the band.
• Senior band: Students in Senior band may join after playing an instrument for 1 year in Junior Band.

Joining the Band

All students have the opportunity to join the band. Tryout days are held late in the year. If your child is interested there will be a form given out with information about the band program, which you need to return to indicate your interest.

Your Child’s Commitment

If your child joins the band there are certain responsibilities involved:

• Attend weekly band rehearsals
• Receive weekly instrument tuition
• Practise regularly
• Participate in band performances in and outside of school

The band program requires regular and on time attendance at all rehearsals. If your child is unwell or absent from band, please email the band director.  All students are expected to assist in setting up and packing up band equipment (music stands, chairs, drum kit, percussion instruments) each week.

For all enquiries please contact Teaching Services Australia: band@teachingservices.com.au

A well-resourced library

At Kenthurst Public School we endeavour to develop in students a love of reading and encourage them to read as widely as possible so as to deepen their reading experiences.

This is encouraged as part of their time in the library through the Premier's Reading Challenge and other events celebrating Literacy. All students have an opportunity to borrow books during their weekly one hour library lessons with further opportunity to exchange their loans during  lunch break. We encourage your child to borrow and we understand that every child requires different forms of stimulas to learn whether they be Fiction or Non-Fiction books.

Within our historic original classroom building (from 1883), we have provided an exceptional 21st Century learning environment with its bright, colourful and mobile furniture which allows for flexible learning spaces to be created.

During this time the librarian and classroom teacher develop and reinforce 21st century learning by ensuring students work to their full potential whilst providing a learning curriculum that is vivid, real, enjoyable and challenging. Together they encourage students to be active, creative, independent and self-critical learners using information and communication technology (ICT), books and other media to support and enhance teaching programs. Learning opportunities are integrated with lessons from the classroom by embedding ICT activities in the Library.

Annual book fairs

During Grandparents Day at Easter and International Childrens' week in October, the library holds a book fair for families to purchase from a great selection of resources. A percentage of sales are used by the school to purchase additional resources for the school.

Parent support

Some very valuable resources come from some of our wonderful parents. If your child has finished with their books we accept these if they are in great condition, for our Library collection or classroom libraries.

Burrell library

Within our Library we have on display some memorabilia from our schools history. With the generous help from Kenthurst Men's Shed we have been able to display some wonderful items from our schools past. Please feel free at any time to come and visit this display and if you are a long term resident of Kenthurst you may have something to donate.

Important Events

National Simultaneous Storytime

National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. It is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.

NSS is held in Term 2 every year.

Book Week

Each year, across Australia, the Children's Book Council of Australia brings children and books together celebrating Children's Book Week. Throughout the year, the CBCA works in partnership with authors, illustrators, publishers, booksellers and other organisations in the children’s book world to bring words, images and stories into the hearts and minds of children and adults.

KPS purchases the Shortlisted and Notable books each year and, in library lessons, students are read these books and undertake a unit of study.

Students can also participate in a dress-up day where they can wear an outfit of their favourite book character.

Book Week is traditionally held in Term 3, Week 5 every year.

Technology for Learning

At Kenthurst Public School, we strive to make sure digital technology is accessed by all students and integrated into their learning across the curriculum.

Our P&C have played an intrumental part in making sure students can readily access a variety of devices and robotics through their ongoing fundraising efforts.

Our Learning Centre can be accessed by all classes and contains a class set of laptops, iPads, filming equipment and robotics (including Lego WeDo, Blue Bots and Sphero).

Every classroom contains an interactive panel and various devices as follows:

- Stage 2 and 3 students are allocated a Chromebook or laptop each;

- In the K-2 classrooms, students use an iPad each;

Classes are also using SeeSaw to inform and communicate to parents about what they have been learning at Kenthurst Public School.

All students are exploring and developing their skills in digital technologies across the Key Learning Areas through the use of these devices and using applications such as coding and robotics.

Canteen and Uniform Shop

Canteen

Our school canteen is open on Mondays and Fridays. We provide food according to the NSW Department of Education Healthy School Canteen requirements.

Orders can be made through  Flexischools.

Please click here for the menu:  MENU

Uniform Shop

Our Uniform Shop is open during School Term, every Thursday morning from 9:30am - 10:30am. Our shop is located between the office and the school canteen.

Please come by for all of your uniform requirements or you can make an order through  Flexischools.