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Dear Parents and Friends of St Kevin’s
Welcome back to Term 2 2020. It is definitely a very different start to a term. It has challenged us all.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone on the way they have adapted to school life this term. It has definitely taken a village approach (all be it an isolated village) to ensure our children are continuing in their learning. So, thank you to the teachers, parents and grandparents who together have managed to conquer online learning, thereby continuing to ensure children are engaged in active, learning experiences.
What I would like to ask is that we share stories about home learning, as I know there have been many amusing lessons and activities and discoveries being made! Personally, my 5-year-old grandson has learnt to draw alongside his Pa, with both of them watching how to draw YouTube videos. This has resulted in my loungeroom floor being re-carpeted in drawings of dinosaurs, castles, sharks etc. My contribution has been to teach the same 5-year-old grandson how to write letters and cards. I am now on a weekly schedule of either creating or finding a suitable card, writing in it and then posting. The pressure is on!!! Our children won’t necessarily remember the bad side of COVID-19, but they will remember what was different and the funny things they had to do instead of going to school every day. So please send us a story and maybe a photo to share in our newsletters and on our Facebook page. In doing so we are creating a primary history source to be used in years to come!
I must also take this opportunity to thank the classroom teachers here at St Kevin’s for their professionalism and dedication to ensuring that no child is left behind in their learning. The staff have frequently put in 12 hour days, planning and marking submitted work, following up on emails, chatting with students in Teams, ZOOMING, videoing lessons, trouble shooting IT issues, and the list goes on. Words cannot express my admiration and appreciation for this dedication to their profession and their students.
So, where to from here?? From next week, Monday May 11, things will change again!
As per my letter last week and advice from our Director Mr Mowbray, students will return to class in a controlled format so as to ensure the ongoing safety of the community in regards to COVID-19.
Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 will attend school on a Monday and Tuesday only.
Years 3-6 will attend school on a Wednesday and Thursday only.
Limited numbers of students at any one time will ensure the safety of all, reducing the risk of viruses coming back home or coming to school. We are following the guidelines of the Federal Government and their medical advice at this time. We continue to ask that you abide by these guidelines, and keep your children home apart from their nominated days to attend.
On the day's students are expected to attend, teachers will focus on face to face activities only. There will be no home learning activities provided for these days.
Home learning days following this face-to-face school learning will provide students with opportunities to practise and further explore and apply what they learnt in the classroom. Teachers will be available on these days to contact students on these home learning days.
Friday has been designated as a non-contact home learning day, encouraging students to work independently. Teachers will not be engaging in ZOOM meetings or responding to emails on a Friday.
If as parents, you choose not to send your child/ren on their nominated face-to-face learning days you will need to notify the school.
This schedule is anticipated to be in place until May 29.
Have a great Mother’s Day. I am excited to see my children – in pairs, at allotted times!!! Enjoy breakfast in bed! Be thankful we have flattened the COVID -19 curve and we are all here to celebrate Mother’s Day. I hope you do get some quiet time to enjoy a cuppa or beverage, together with some time in the sun to read or relax.
Keep up the great work everyone. Your village is doing great!
Mary-Anne Jennings
Principal
St Kevin’s Cardiff
Work completed whilst at home.
Work that was set for completion in the first 2 weeks of this term is expected to be completed in the variety of formats in which it was produced. This work is to be submitted to the class teacher upon return to the school in Week 3. The senior classes Years 3 -6, have been submitting their work electronically on a daily basis, but children in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 will have to remember to bring back their home learning booklets as evidence of being engaged in learning during this time. We are mandated to keep records of students who have engaged in home learning during this time.
Personal stationery and headphones.
Students are reminded to bring their own stationery items to school in a pencil case. This is for all students K-6. It includes items such as pencils, glue sticks, scissors, pens, rulers, erasers etc. This is to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Children are notorious for popping pencils in their mouths! You can now see why germs can spread quickly through a school. Therefore only using their own items should assist in this matter. Personal headphones will be required for all students from Year 3-6 as they will continue with digital learning even when at school.
Entry and exiting the school
Unfortunately our site is still off limits to parents and visitors. All children are to enter the school in the morning via the Andrew St gate (OOSH and Macquarie Hills bus excepted) using the “Kiss and Drop” zone and rules. In the afternoon all children will again exit the school via Andrew St gate, with parents using our “Car lines” procedure. Parents are requested not to congregate outside the school fence area, but to remain in their cars for a drive-thru pick-up! Just like McDonald’s drive thru only we don’t ask “Would you like fries with that?” Thank you for your understanding and support of these procedures.
Computers – Bring your own device
Please see Mrs Norley’s specifications for computers that children can use to assist with their learning. It is something parents have enquired about and what is the best option for use at school and home.
Welcome to our family
Congratulations Jamie and Jarred, parents of Jonathan in Year 5, on the birth of a beautiful daughter Joni. May Joni fill your lives with much laughter and happiness as she grows and flourishes under your love and care.
Winter uniforms
Winter uniforms must be worn from June 1. Until this time students may wear either summer or winter uniform depending on the weather. New winter uniforms can be purchased from school, with Mrs Ragen organising this on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. EFTPOS is available for payment. Just contact Mrs Ragen for what you require.
Messages from the Assistant Principal
WELCOME BACK TO TERM 2
Teachers are very much looking forward to the gradual return of students next week.
On these days, teachers will deliver face-to-face lessons with a focus on preparing our students for the week ahead. During these two on-site days teachers will support the development of our student’s organisational skills. It is our hope, our students ability to work independently will improve as a result.
At St Kevin’s we are mindful of the pressures as parents you face from every direction. You’re probably juggling work life, parental life, marital life and a recognisably different social life! Then, of course most of us are parenting in tandem.
It is important to acknowledge these pressures. As a Catholic community we will continue to respond and support each other accordingly. Thank you for your feedback and sincerity of appreciation in recent times.
Here are some tips on expectations you could establish at home to support your child in being “organised” and ready to learn:
Infants |
Primary |
· Establish a suitable time for learning during the day that best suits your family situation · Ask your child to set up their learning area, encourage them to think about what resources they might need (eg.coloured pencils, scissors, ipad, laptop). · Look at the weekly schedule together and discuss what learning opportunities your child has. · Where possible encourage your child to check in with TEAMS and student emails · Encourage ownership and empower your child as a learner- allow them to tick off or record what they have completed. |
· Establish a suitable time for learning during the day that best suits your family situation · Ask your child to set up their learning area, encourage them to think about what resources they might need (eg.coloured pencils, scissors, ipad, laptop). · Encourage your child to refer to their weekly schedule and record completed activities in their Student Daily Journal · Encourage students to check their student mail and TEAMS daily (if possible). · Encourage ownership and empower your child as a learner- encourage students to share what they have completed with their class teacher (TEAMS- OneNote- email). |
Shout out to our Students for some amazing work produced this fortnight!
Online Learning- What device is best?
There are many benefits to using technology within the classroom as a tool to enrich teaching and learning including increased student engagement, confidence using technology, cooperative learning, responsibility and task management. These skills will benefit the students greatly as they continue to prepare for high school.
If families wish to shop for their own product please consider device specifications. Shortcutting these specifications can result in a slow functioning machine, frustrated learning and ultimately a negative return on your investment.
A preference to adhering to the following device specs in line with St Pauls Booragul (our feeder high school) is suggested. Please refer to the information below.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
At this difficult time we understand that people’s finances are impacted. If you require a financial concession or support with school fees, there is an online form to complete at the CSO website to apply for these – see attached letter for links. https://www.mn.catholic.edu.au/news-events/covid-19/
Welcome back to our new school term, with a very special shout out to our mothers, grandmothers and those who fulfill a mothering role. We are very grateful to these women in our lives who model God’s unconditional love for us. Every year I look forward to our Mother’s Day liturgy. This year the way we celebrate is, necessarily, constrained. On the weekend lookout for a Compass push - staff reaching out with prayers for our community of mothers.
At this time let us remember that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a mother just as many of you are. She had to take care of her son, worry about him, feed him, scold him, laugh with him, teach him and love him. Times haven’t changed. In loving your children you carry on these same activities.
I know that if I asked each and every St Kevin’s student they would, without question, be able to tell me at least one thing their mother does for them. I am also VERY aware that all the speeches would be VERY different. That is because mothers are specialists. They have the quality of being able to detect their children’s needs and answer those very needs. We are so thankful for our mothers and for all those women who love and care for us.
God Bless
Kim Hogan
Yaama,
Thank you for supporting your child’s learning at home. I appreciate that this can be quite demanding and I commend you on your efforts in this important work.
It has been wonderful to receive messages and responses from children who have viewed the Aboriginal Education resources that have been sent home in the class online learning packs. Please encourage your children to engage with these fun and insightful resources if they haven’t already done so. I’ve encouraged them to email me their responses to philip.taylor@mn.catholic.edu.au I’d love to receive some more.
After viewing the short film clips about the importance of culture or Aboriginal singing and dancing, or the adventures of Little J and Big Cuz, a number of children have emailed me what they have learnt and enjoyed. I’ve really enjoyed receiving their messages and giving each child a response. The children show a very good understanding of this educational content and together as parents, children and staff we are building respect, understanding and appreciation of all cultures. This is true Reconciliation. Our kids are our future.
Here is a sample of children’s responses. Wow! Very impressive!
Aunty Julie expresses her culture by showing us her students preparing a traditional meal. She loves to share stories about her culture to her students. They feel good because they learn about ancestors and how to cook traditional meals which keeps their culture alive.
Learning about Aboriginal culture allows us to develop respect and understanding of cultural difference.
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I just watched some videos you suggested and I really liked Lucky Undies. Little J didn't need his lucky undies to do well at basketball in the end. He just needed to believe in himself and try hard.
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Hello Mr. Taylor,
Today I watched Little J and Big Cuz ‘Wombat Rex’.
I learnt that you should be able to take a joke and don’t trick people back. It’s also important to not take things from where they belong.
I’m really looking forward to seeing the kids again back at school.
Keep smiling. We’ll make it through together.
Phil Taylor
Aboriginal Education Teacher
Storytime with Mrs Stephenson
We have been having such an amazing time during Storytime with Mrs Stephenson and loving all of the wonderful stories!
We had our experience published on the MN News site. Click the link to check it out http://mnnews.today/catholic-schools/2020/50999-storytime-with-mrs-stephenson/
Library Borrowing
Could all students please return their library books to school next week as we will need to complete a process of sanitisation. We will inform you of a new library borrowing process in the coming weeks.
Remember to keep up with your Premiers Reading Challenge!
Uniform Shop orders – Due to the uniform shop not being able to open it’s usual hours, orders can be emailed to kim.ragen@mn.catholic.edu.au .
Pricelist can be accessed on the St Kevin’s Primary School website under the enrolment tab – uniforms - then scroll to the end of the info and click on the link.
Email the items you need along with the sizes. Payments can be made over the phone via eftpos. When orders are fully processed they will be sent home with students.