Dear Parents and Carers,

Last week we saw our region inundated with flooding rains. Many of our schools and their families experienced life-changing events during this time. As a school community we will engage our Mission and Justice Team in a fundraising event in the near future, after having consulted with those communities, to provide funds for what they actually need. At this point in time our best support comes through the power of prayer.

Mobile Phones and Smart Watches at School

I’d like to take a moment to remind you of our guidelines regarding student use of mobile phones and wearable technologies, in line with the Diocesan guidelines.

As part of our commitment to creating a focused, respectful, and safe learning environment, students are required to keep mobile phones and smartwatches “off and away” during school hours, including recess, lunch, and excursions.

What this means:

• Phones must be switched off and stored on the classroom teacher’s desk from the start of the school day until the final bell.
• Smartwatches with messaging or internet capabilities must also be disabled and stored on the classroom teacher’s desk from the start of the school day until the final bell.
• Students may only use devices during school hours if they have an approved exemption for medical or learning support reasons.

Why this matters: This policy helps reduce distractions, supports student wellbeing, and encourages positive social interactions. It also aligns with our broader efforts to promote digital responsibility and cyber safety.

We appreciate your support in reinforcing these guidelines at home. If you have any questions or require an exemption for your child, please contact me or Mrs Hogan .

If you need to contact us or your child during the school day:

1. Call the School Office
   Use the main school phone number (49540036) and speak with Mrs Corbett. All messages are passed on to the class teacher who then informs the child of any changes to routines or after school plans.
2. Email the School
   admin@cardiff.catholic.edu.au

Warm regards,

Mary-Anne Jennings

Principal

1. "Revamping Our Assembly Routine: Weekly Gatherings Ahead!"

I hope this message finds you well and drier following the rain event over the last fortnight. We have decided to make some changes to our assembly schedule to better accommodate our activities and ensure we have enough time for everything.

Starting next term, assemblies will be held weekly instead of fortnightly. This change comes as we were running out of time during our previous assemblies.

New Assembly Schedule:

• Odd Weeks: Focus on prayer and reflection.
• Even Weeks: Assembly with PB4L (Positive Behaviour for Learning) and awards.

We believe this new schedule will allow us to better manage our time and provide a more structured and meaningful experience for our students. This will commence from Term 3.

2. "Your Voice Matters: Help Us Shape Our Newsletter!"

Additionally, we are exploring the frequency of our newsletters. Some parents have mentioned that they do not always read the newsletter, and a lot of energy and time goes into its construction. We understand that everyone's time is valuable, and we want to ensure that our communications are effective and beneficial for all.

To better understand your preferences and how we can improve, we kindly ask you to complete a brief survey. Your feedback is crucial in helping us decide whether to continue with our current newsletter schedule or make adjustments that better suit the needs of our community.

Find the survey link here

God Bless

Kim Hogan

Co-Principal / Assistant Principal

Parish Mass

You're warmly invited to join us for Mass at St Kevin’s Parish on Sunday, 1st June at 9:30 am, followed by a lovely morning tea in the MacKillop Centre—we’d love to see you there!

Celebrating Catholic Education: A Journey of Hope

This special week is a wonderful opportunity to pause and reflect on the gift of Catholic education. It’s more than just a time of celebration—it’s a reminder of why it truly matters. Catholic education is about more than just books and exams; it’s about faith, community, and the values that shape our children’s futures. 

This year, as we embrace the Jubilee Year, the theme Pilgrims of Hope resonates deeply within our schools. The word pilgrims doesn’t mean we are setting off on long journeys with hiking poles, but rather that we are all on a journey—students, teachers, and families alike. And hope? That’s what keeps us moving forward, even when things feel uncertain. 

Hope isn’t just about wishing for a better future—it’s something we build together through our actions. We see it every day—in the teacher who stays behind to help a student, in the classmates who support a friend, and in the parents who generously give their time in the canteen. Hope is in the small moments—the ones that may not make headlines but shape our community in the most meaningful way. 

As we celebrate, let’s take a moment to appreciate the incredible role Catholic education plays in guiding our children, strengthening our faith, and fostering the hope that keeps us all moving forward—together. 

Celebrating the Feast of St Kevin – June 3rd

On June 3rd, we celebrate the feast day of our school’s patron saint, St Kevin. St Kevin is a very special figure in Irish history and in our school community.

St Kevin, also known by his Irish name Coemgen, was born in Leinster, Ireland, and came from a royal family. From a young age, he was guided by other holy people, including St Cronan and St Petroc, who helped him grow in faith and learning.

As a young man, St Kevin chose to live a quiet and peaceful life in a beautiful valley called Glendalough, just outside of Dublin. He lived there as a hermit, spending time in prayer and reflection, surrounded by nature.

After several years, people began to hear about St Kevin’s wisdom and kindness, and many came to learn from him. He eventually started a monastery where others could join him to pray, learn, and live in a peaceful community.

St Kevin is remembered for his deep faith, his love of nature, and his gentle spirit, as well as the many stories of miracles connected to his life. As we celebrate his feast day, we reflect on the values he lived by—peace, learning, prayer, and care for others and the world around us—which continue to inspire and guide our school community every day.

Happy Feast Day of St Kevin!

Donna Morgan

Religious Education Coordinator

You are warmly invited to help us celebrate Catholic Schools Week and the Feast of St Kevin's. Parents and carers are welcome to come for some of the celebrations or all of the celebrations. Please refer to the information attached for the schedule of events. 

Bridging Now to Next … Keep Walking Together!

Reconciliation is a journey we are all on together. We can walk with our First Nations brothers and sisters in a spirit of friendship and understanding.

Our Church calls us to treat every person with dignity and respect as we are all created in the image and likeness of God. So in this regard, reconciliation is responsibility.

Simple acts including just being with people, sharing stories and listening well can help build our trust, confidence and respect.

“Our responsibility is to keep walking, to sit and rest and yarn along the way, and to be grateful for how we are held together by this Spirit-led task.… I believe we must turn statements from the heart into actions. We talk, we walk, we love, we act together. Yes, I’ll keep walking. See you along the path.”

(Rev Dr Steve Bevis, Minister at Burwood-Croydon Uniting Church in Sydney, the Chairperson of UnitingWorld, and a founding Director of the Alice Springs Meeting Place Foundation.)

And here is a reflection from Nathan Tyson, Anawan and Gomeroi man, Head of First Peoples Strategy and Engagement for the Uniting Church Synod of NSW & ACT. It’s a message for our Australian church.

“So a message to the Australian church would be that as Aboriginal people, we need you. We need the church. We need the church to be the church. We need the church to be Jesus followers and to understand that loving your neighbour includes loving our people. It includes loving people who are different to you, people who have different languages, different cultures.

We need our Australian church to understand the value of our humanity, to understand that we are all created by God, Aboriginal peoples are created by God, and therefore the church has to stand with us for justice.”

…………………………………………………………..

During classroom visits to speak about National Reconciliation Week I am really impressed with the children’s knowledge, understanding and interest. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures in the Australian and NSW curriculum is designed for all students to engage in reconciliation, respect and recognition of the world’s oldest continuous living cultures, and we are ensuring that this is embedded in our teaching programs and practice at St Kevin’s.

Let’s all keep walking together on the reconciliation journey.

Nginowa (Goodbye, see you later – in Awabakal)

Yaluu (Later – in Gamilaraay)

Phil Taylor

Thank you to those families who have settled their 2025 school fees or who have been making regular fee payments. It is great to see so many accounts up to date. Like many financial commitments, an easier way to manage them is by making consistent regular payments. There are several ways that families can make fee payments. These are:

* Bpay - use the biller code and unique reference number on your statement. Most financial institutions have the ability to set up regular recurring payments online.

* Direct Debit - payments can be made through the Catholic Community Fund, payments can be set up by making a Direct Debit Request.

* Centrepay - families who have a Heath Care Card and receive Centrelink benefits can choose to have payments taken out of their payments. Please contact the school office on 4954 0036 for more information.

* Credit Card over the counter or phone

* Cash over the school counter

*Compass Pay - Catholic Schools prefer parents do not use this method due to higher adminsitration costs.

Families who have elected to pay their accounts in full annually are reminded that they are due by 30th June 2025 (end of financial year), all other fees are due by the 30th November 2025 (unless on a negotiated payment arrangement).

Any family experiencing genuine financial hardship are encouraged to contact the school on 4954 0036 or admin@cardiff.catholic.edu.au to arrange a confidential meeting with the Principal or Co-Principal to discuss a mutually agreeable payment plan. 

School Parking and Speed Zones

We have had some concerns raised from residents in Andrew St and Hendrick St at school drop-off and pick-up times. Please be courteous to our neighbours by not speeding down Hendrick St, this is a 40km/h zone during school hours and a 50km/h zone at all other times.

Please refrain from parking over driveways whilst you are in the Kiss and Ride line. 

Attached is some information from Lake Macquarie City Council regarding road rules in school zones. 

SPECIAL REPORT: Flood Support & Recovery

Please see the Special Report on Flood Support and Recovery

Parent Line NSW is a free telephone counselling, support and referral service for parents and carers with children aged 0 to 18 who live in New South Wales. Parent Line is also an information service for professionals working with children and families. 

Whether you need some help or just want someone to talk to, the qualified and experienced counsellors are available seven days a week to support you.

What Can I Talk to Parent Line NSW About?

The service receives calls from parents, carers and professionals who have questions or concerns about babies, children, or teenagers. Parent Line counsellors can help to support you, offering advice and guidance on concerns such as…

• Child and adolescent mental health
• Friendship issues and bullying
• Social media and increased screentime
• Anxiety in children
• Child and behaviour development
• Managing stress and anxiety
• Support during family separation
• School transitions
• Family violence 

Call Parent Line NSW on 1300 1300 52 to access free and confidential counselling. Open Monday to Friday (9am to 9pm) and Saturday & Sunday (4pm to 9pm).