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- Principal's Message
- Home Learning
- School Fee Assistance due to COVID-19
- Messages from the Assistant Principal
- Scavenger Hunts
- Aboriginal Education News
- RE News
- Library News
- Holy Week at Home
- Dave The Dog Coronavirus story
- Year 7 Enrolment at St Paul's Catholic College, Booragul
- Sun Protection
- Autumn Fruit and Vegetables
Dear Parents and Friends of St Kevin’s,
Our world as we know is constantly changing at the moment, and we are being asked to assist and step up in any way we can.
Here at St Kevin’s we have all stepped up within our own sphere of influence and skill set. To my amazing staff who in a matter of 72 hours were able to provide home learning packs together with online learning opportunities for their students to cover the last 2 weeks of term 1 and the first 4 weeks of term 2, I say thank you. The team work from teachers , admin staff and teachers aides has been phenomenal. We don’t know how long the need for such strict isolation will last - no one does, so we have been proactive and will continue to do so for as long as it takes.
To our wonderful parent community who have listened to the call and advice of both Government and Educational leaders and kept their children at home, because you have been able to modify your work arrangements, I say thank you. It has allowed us to provide supervision with just a skeleton staff onsite, for the children whose parents are involved in providing essential services, and who have no option of working from home. To get through stressful times as these we must all work together, and remind ourselves that when the going gets tough, St Kevin’s gets going!
It is also a time for many of us to perhaps reconnect with our faith. Although churches are closed for the foreseeable future, does not mean we can’t take family time around the dinner table to pray for strength and guidance, and a cure at this time. Easter is the perfect time to think about new life and pray that we may have new life free of COVID 19.
Many are asking ”Will we be back in Term 2?” I honestly don’t know. Please continue to monitor COMPASS regularly and the CSO website for updates. We are all in uncharted waters with the future not clear in direction or outcomes.
So go gently as you work and care for your children. Enjoy time together, and look after each other.
Mary-Anne Jennings
Many of us as parents, grandparents and teachers are grappling with what constitutes home learning. Our Diocese has taken an approach where we follow our philosophy and theology on Catholic education. We seek to honour the dignity of each child, family and staff member.
As schools we acknowledge that there are those within our community who do not have access to technology within their homes that will enable high end online home learning. We acknowledge that both parents and children are now working from home simultaneously and that places pressure on resources, both technological and human. Parents have to get their work done and so do their children. Therefore we have provided hard copies of work that will be beneficial when sharing devices within one household. We have also provided Weekly Scheduled guidelines with a variety of online tasks and non - technology activities to ensure students can continue their learning independently.
Our senior students have their work in One Drive which they are very familiar with. Mrs Larke is currently compiling lessons in Minilit and Maclit for the students currently identified as requiring this extra assistance. Some students are engaged in a programme called “Cars and Stars” which they access online and is designed to meet their individual needs. Study ladder is also being utilised with individual programmes being set up by the teachers for the students in their classes.
We have not gone down the path on creating daily schedules as this is too restrictive on individual households. We provide a schedule that each household can work within their own timetable. We are all in uncharted waters with learning across a variety of mediums in a variety of situations. Don’t ever underestimate the quality learning that occurs through just being part of a fantastic family! Learning happens all the time- not just between 9-3 on a school site. So when we all get back together again, the learning we have all engaged in through a variety of ways, will only make us a better school with great learners.
Yesterday April 2, our Director sent out a letter identifying that April 6-9 would be Staff Development Days, not regular schools days, whereby staff would spend this time preparing for a very different learning environment in Term 2.
St Kevin's staff will be fine tuning and developing our home learning expectations using Microsoft Teams. This platform is where all students work will be assigned and assessed during Term 2. It will cater for the individual needs of all students. It will have the support and backup of our CSO Technical department.
Therefore, next week there will be no Zoom conferences with students.
As parent preparation, please ensure that your child can access the MN Connect page and log in to their student emails. You will require Office 365 on your device, (this includes Ipads and tablets). Students have the capacity to download this for free. Details have been sent via COMPASS alerts in recent days.
School Fee Assistance due to COVID-19
The CSO is aware that some families may be experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, you may lodge an application for the following two options:
Part A -Deferral of school fees until Term 3
Part B - Concession of school fees
To lodge your request for assistance, please do so via the CSO website under Fee Support at the following link:
Messages from the Assistant Principal
St Kevin’s Community
In this time of continual change, I want to thank you for your support, engagement and understanding. The positive take up of our Home Learning packages, your commitment to student zoom meetings and engagement with our school Facebook page has brought a smile to our faces.
As teachers we are planners. In the current climate this is challenging. Our plans are changed daily and sometimes hourly! We are continually required to rapidly adapt and keep moving forward.
Please continue to positively engage with us. As a community we are mindful of the impact these changes have made to all our lives.
Let’s have some FUN!!!
Remember to get your free tickets to our virtual Easter Raffle on our school FaceBook page.
I have attached a copy of Indoor and Outdoor Scavenger Hunts.
These have been Norley Kid tested and approved!
With every best wish,
Nikki Norley (Assistant Principal)
Greetings,
I hope everyone is feeling ok in these very different and sometimes difficult times. Your children will have some interesting activities included as part of their online study packs from class teachers. These are for all children. It is really important for all of us to learn about Aboriginal Australia, our history, stories and culture. I’m sure you too will enjoy the short video clips I’ve provided. Remember, we are all in this together, as the song goes.
We are here to support each other, and our children are the future leaders and custodians of our great nation. Aboriginal people have cared for this land for over 60,000 years, so we can learn much from them. The recent bushfires highlighted this when there was a lot of talk in the media about traditional land care and burning practices. This is just one area where we can share knowledge and work together to address current problems. In this way we walk together in respect and mutual understanding.
Enjoy the coming Easter break with your family, be kind to yourself and look after your mob.
Phil Taylor
Aboriginal Education Teacher
I really don’t want to overwhelm you… as I have been working from home this last couple of days I am crying out to get back to school next week (for the whole normalcy of it all, when a thousand people are not calling me, trying to video conference or swamp me with emails). Breathe!
So, for this fortnight, leading into our most holy time of the year either pull out the prayer card we included in the Home Learning Pack and see if your children would like to utilise a prayer style from that, or I have copied some suggestions below. Do what suits your family, your context.
Ideas for Prayer and Reflection
- Set up a Sacred space in your home
- Start your day with the daily prayer or use one of the prayer resources.
- Pray your school or house prayer.
- Make a reflective prayer video using photos of nature in your own backyard and a favourite piece of Scripture.
- Read the Mass readings for the day and talk about them as a family.
- Complete a Living Word puzzle, crossword or word search from LiturgyHelp.
- Print, colour and 'walk' a finger labyrinth.Click Here
- Meditate.
- Complete a Gratitude journal
- Practise Catholic Mindfulness or Sacramental Pause
- Find a favourite Scripture passage or the readings of the day and pray a Lectio Divina
- Pray grace as a family before meals. Here and Here
- Write a prayer for all your classmates and those suffering in the world and send to your teacher.
Holy Week starts this Sunday to help assist you in getting the message across to your children I have included a couple of youtube links.
Palm Sunday :An animated kids movie about Palm Sunday and the Passion, adapted from the gospel of Mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ssgKEadTL8
Holy Week in 3 mins
Why do Catholics wave palms on Palm Sunday, wash each other’s feet on Holy Thursday, or kiss the cross on Good Friday?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdrPhxqRP9I
God Bless, stay healthy, safe and SANE!!
Kim Hogan
Online Library
We are so excited to share our new online library access with you. Jump on and start exploring.
Premiers Reading Challenge
Let’s keep reading and logging our books. Seeing lots of students getting stuck into this challenge. Remember K-2 can have these books read to them by someone at home or through an eBook (30 books) but 3-6 must read 25 books on their own by August 28th! If you need a reading record sheet or log in details, please contact Mrs Stephenson- bianca.gleeson@mn.catholic.edu.au
Click here to check out the book lists and see what you might have at home already or what you can find on Sora
Dave The Dog Coronavirus story
This story may be helpful to read to your children if they are feeling worried about coronavirus.
https://nursedottybooks.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/dave-the-dog-coronavirus-1-1.pdf