Dear parents and carers of St Kevin’s,

Term 1 2025 has come to a close. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very happy Easter, when we celebrate the most important time of our Church year.  The historical events of Holy Week are central to our lives as Catholics and are part of prayers we recite publicly at Mass stating our beliefs and faith. These prayers are the Nicene Creed and the Apostles Creed. 

The Nicene Creed and the Apostles' Creed are both Christian statements of faith, but the Nicene Creed, developed at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, is considered the more authoritative and is accepted by major Christian denominations, while the Apostles' Creed, a shorter and older creed.

On Easter Sunday reciting the Creed will be replaced by us renewing our Baptismal Promises as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Having toured the Holy Land on a Pilgrimage, the Easter story is definitely more poignant for myself having visited these historical sites. We have all heard of the current conflict in Israel, and I ask that at this most Holy time of the year, we pray for peace, not only for Israel and Palestine, but also for all areas of the world experiencing violence and conflict of war.

Go gently if you are travelling over the Easter holidays. Enjoy eating all those delicious hot cross buns and chocolate Easter eggs too.

Thank you to all the amazing staff and parents and students that make St Kevin’s such a great school. See you next term.

Mary-Anne Jennings

Principal

Winter Uniforms

Students wear winter uniforms from June 1. They are however welcome to wear them sooner if colder weather arrives before June 1. All students must be wearing full winter uniforms by June 1.

Easter raffle

Thank you for all those wonderful donations of Easter eggs that have created our Easter Egg Raffle prizes. They were all wrapped into baskets and boxes with some amazing selections being created by Kira Rook. The choice was awesome. Thank you, Kira, for your time in wrapping all those eggs.

ANZAC Day Combined Schools Memorial Service

Years 5 and 6 went to watch the presentation of Women in War and observe the traditional ANZAC service at the Civic Theatre last week. 

Dear Parents and Carers

As we approach the joyous celebration of Easter, I want to extend my warmest wishes to all our families.  This season of renewal and hope is a wonderful time to reflect on the blessings we have and the community we share.  In this year of pilgrimmage, we remember that we are Easter people – people of Hope. Let’s carry that into every aspect of our daily lives.

We finish out our Term on a high.  We enjoyed one of our favourite days of the school year, with children on the hunt for teachers to receive Easter eggs.  This afternoon we remember the reason for the season and pause to reflect deeply on Holy Week and Jesus’ journey and sacrifice.  Tomorrow, we have our school Athletics’ carnival.  This day is jam packed! Thanks to all those who have volunteered.  On the day, if you are available, please approach Mr Smith or me with offers of help, we are right for the track events but could benefit from more helpers for field events so that our volunteers can have a break and watch their children in their events as well.  On Friday, our staff engage with teachers from St Francis Xavier, Belmont sharing our journey improving student writing and collaborating with them on the updated syllabus.

Our building project continues at pace.  Like all building projects, we have had some minor inconveniences and adjustments to make- one of which was hitting bedrock in the lift shaft (that was a shuddering, noisy week!).  We hope to be in the new building by July / August. Then the builders will be moving onto the next stages – changes to the existing administration, library and year 5 classrooms and the bottom playground/embankment.  Our projected finish date is mid-October, with our launch of the new building and upgrades on the 28^th November.

The last day for students is tomorrow, Thursday April 10^th at Neegulbah Park from 8:30am to 3pm.  Our first day of term, for ALL students, is Monday 28^th April.  Please enjoy whatever time you are able to carve out of your busy work lives to spend with your children.  We are looking forward to seeing the children back rested, full of stories and adventures in Term 2.

God Bless

Kim Hogan

Co-Principal /Assistant Principal

Thank you to those families who have commenced their regular fee payments. Catholic Schools stipulate that fee payments commence by 30 March 2025 and are finallised by 30 November 2025. If you have not made any fee payments this year, your fees are now considered in arrears. It would be apprecaited if you could please commence payments as soon as possible. For those families who have elected to make a lump sum annual payment, the fees are due in full by 30 June 2025. 

Any family experiencing genuine financial hardship are encouraged to contact the school to make a confidential appointment with the Principal or Co-Principal to discuss a mutually agreeable arrangement. 

Holy Week Events

On Wednesday, each class gathered in St Kevin’s Church for a deeply prayerful experience, journeying through the Stations of the Cross. Guided by reflective prayers, students engaged with the story of Jesus’ final journey, stopping at each station to recall significant moments of His suffering and sacrifice. Students, along with their teacher, participated in readings and prayers, fostering a shared sense of community and spiritual connection. As they moved from station to station, the reverent atmosphere allowed students to connect with the emotions of the Easter story—compassion, courage, and love. At the end, the students engaged in an active prayer station titled ‘At the Foot of the Cross’, where they could draw or write a prayer or write a person’s name whom they wanted to pray for, before leaving the church. This shared experience became a reminder of the values that Jesus' journey teaches us, leaving a lasting impression on both the hearts and minds of our students.

In the afternoon, our Year 6 students amazed us with their Holy Week observance, The Red Cloth. It was a heartfelt performance about the final days of Jesus' life, beautifully told through their acting and creativity.

The students brought the story to life, from Palm Sunday to Jesus’ Crucifixion. Every student played their part with care and confidence, whether they were portraying disciples, Pontius Pilate, or Jesus himself. The red cloth, featured throughout the observance, was a symbol of love, sacrifice, and hope—it added a special touch to the storytelling, reminding us about compassion, forgiveness, and love Jesus had for all people. I’m so proud of our Year 6 students for their hard work and the unforgettable experience they created.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a safe and enjoyable Easter break and I look forward to us coming together as a whole school community in worship after the break.

Kaayi (Hello – Awabakal)

Yaama Ngindaay (Hello everyone - Gamilaraay)

Nungamanladi (Hello - Bardi)

Acknowledging our Indigenous Service Men and Women on ANZAC Day

ANZAC Day is during the school holidays this year. At this time it is very important to understand and acknowledge the contribution made by our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who served in conflicts since the Boer War, along with our non-Indigenous service personnel.

As Australians, we take immense pride in honoring our servicemen and women who so bravely served and continue to serve our country.

Background Information about our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Servicemen and Women

• Up to 16 000 Australians served in the Boer War (1899-1902) including 50 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• 416 809 Australians enlisted in World War l (1914-1918) including 1000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Nearly one million Australians served in World War ll (1939-1945). Of these, at least 3850 were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• In both World Wars, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had the highest participation rates in the military as a proportion of their population in Australia
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have participated in all military conflicts since the World Wars, including in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan and in peacekeeping operations including in Somalia and East Timor
• In Australia, Indigenous people make up 7 percent (2021) of the Australian Defence Force, also aligning with the national population demographics. (Australian Institute of International Affairs)

• Script courtesy of Australian War memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/second-world-war, and ‘Deadly Story’ https://www.deadlystory.com/page/culture/articles/anzac-day-2018

Promises of Change Not Kept

After returning from war, having fought for their country and experienced equal treatment during their service, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people found the same, and in some cases, worse discrimination and injustice as when they’d left. Not only that, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service people were not respected as veterans and did not have their contributions recognised.

One example of this happened after the Boer War, when Aboriginal men who had participated are believed to have been denied entry back home due to the immigration restrictions of the White Australia Policy.

After the World Wars, Aboriginal veterans received little public recognition or support. They were denied access to schemes that provided returning soldiers with land and job opportunities. For example, the Soldier Settlement Scheme aimed to give land and work to returning soldiers. This involved splitting up large rural estates into smaller farming blocks and leasing them to returned service-people. However Aboriginal soldiers were denied access to this scheme. In some cases Aboriginal land was divided under this scheme and then was granted to non-Aboriginal soldiers. Communities are still fighting to have this redressed.

Script courtesy of ‘Deadly Story’ https://www.deadlystory.com/page/culture/articles/anzac-day-2018

A Family’s Personal Recognition 

Alfred Drew, one of my cousins 2x removed, served in World War I 

• Alfred Drew was a Gomeroi man who served in World War I. Alfred was born in 1896 in Goondiwindi. One of 9 children, his parents were Alfred Drew and Agnes Taylor 

• Just 19, Alfred volunteered to serve for his country in November 1916 at Guyra near Armidale 

• As he was under 21 years of age his mother Agnes gave permission for Alfred to apply for active service abroad 

• He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in 1919

Script and image: Phil Taylor 

The staff, students and families of St Kevin’s Primary School honour the service and sacrifice of our original ANZACs, and the generations of Australian service men and women who have defended our values and freedoms, in wars, conflicts and peace operations.

Nginowa (Goodbye, see you later – in Awabakal)

Yaluu (Later – in Gamilaraay)

Phil Taylor

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Teacher

Dear parents/carers, 

In Term 2 during Week 8, students in Years 2 and 4 will participate in the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). This test evaluates students' reasoning abilities in three key areas essential for success in school: 

1. Verbal Battery: Assesses students' ability to reason with words and concepts, crucial for reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing, and verbal learning tasks.
2. Quantitative Battery: Measures students' ability to reason with quantitative symbols and concepts, which are vital for problem-solving in mathematics and other disciplines.
3. Nonverbal Battery: Evaluates students' ability to reason with geometric shapes and figures, requiring them to implement strategies for solving novel problems.

These batteries provide a comprehensive view of each student's learned reasoning abilities, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement. CogAT aims to support differentiated practice in education by helping teachers adapt instruction to meet the unique needs and abilities of each student. 

It's important to note that CogAT scores are not integrated into report grades or other conventional measures of school achievement. The focus is on tailoring instruction and fostering a supportive, inclusive learning environment based on each child's ability. 

If you have any concerns or questions about your child's academic progress or specific educational needs, please schedule a meeting with your child's teacher. They will discuss your child's strengths and areas for growth based on various assessments. Additionally, you can contact our Gifted Education Mentor (GEM) Project Officer, Megan Bakewell (megan.bakewell@mn.catholic.edu.au) or Leader of High Potential and Gifted Education, Maree Karaka (maree.karaka@mn.catholic.edu.au), for further assistance. 

Thank you for your continued support in ensuring the best educational outcomes for our students. 

Megan Bakewell

Gifted Education Mentor (GEM)

The Mission Team's "Make a Splash" fundraising appeal for Project Compassion has been a tremendous success, bringing our community together for a meaningful cause. Students had a fantastic time participating in various fun activities, all while gaining valuable insights into the challenges faced by children their age, living in poverty in our neighboring countries. This hands-on learning experience not only fostered empathy and awareness but also inspired a sense of global responsibility among our young participants. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who generously donated and supported this initiative, making a real difference in the lives of those in need. Thank you for your unwavering commitment and compassion.

Congratulations to Callan in Year 5 for representing the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Schools as 1 of 8 students in a team in the da Vinci Decathlon.

The da Vinci Decathlon is an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of High Potential and Gifted Education students, in which students compete across ten disciplines. These include Mathematics, English, Science, Code Breaking, Engineering, Ideation, Creative Producers, Art & Poetry, Cartography and Legacy.

Callan’s team received 1^st place in Science, what a great achievement!

Hi, I’m Callan, I participated in the DaVinci Decathlon this year, and I am here to tell you about it. The DaVinci Decathlon covers 10 subjects, Maths, English, science, legacy (history), code breaking, art, poetry, ideation, cartography and engineering. It is run and organised at Bishop Tyrell Anglican college and has been there for the last 5 years.

Schools can make their own team or collaborate with other schools in their league. I was in the Catholic school’s collaboration team, and we got first in science, and roughly 5^th in most other subjects. Schools such as St Mary’s Catholic school, Tighes Hill Public School, and St Phillips Christian College Newcastle participated with their own teams and have for the last few years. Students can be selected or try out for the role to enter (I was selected).

The day is amazing, with special trivia and challenges along the way: tablecloth decoration, trivia, spaghetti towers, prizes like Nintendo switches/laptops and much more! We hope to see your schools at the DaVinci decathlon and hopefully win some epic prizes!