Dear Parents and Friends of St Kevin’s,

Celebrating Mary MacKillop – A Legacy of Faith and Service

On August 8th, we celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first canonised saint and the co-founder of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart. For Catholic schools across Australia, and especially for Josephite schools like St Kevin’s, this day is a powerful reminder of our shared mission to educate with faith, compassion, and courage.

Mary MacKillop believed that “never see a need without doing something about it.” Her life was a testament to the Josephite charisms that continue to shape our school culture:

• Service – responding generously to the needs of others, especially the poor and marginalised.
• Gratitude – recognising the blessings in our lives and giving thanks in all circumstances.
• Inclusion – welcoming every child and family, regardless of background or ability.
• Faith – trusting in God’s providence and living the Gospel with conviction.
• Simplicity – living humbly and focusing on what truly matters.
• Courage – standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity.
• Resilience – remaining hopeful and strong through challenges, just as Mary did.

At St Kevin’s, we honour Mary MacKillop not only as a historical figure but as a living inspiration. Her legacy is alive in every classroom, every act of kindness, and every moment we share the Catholic faith with our students. On this Feast Day, we also celebrate the dedication of all Catholic educators who, like Mary, commit their lives to nurturing mind, heart and spirit, following the light of Christ.

Let us continue to walk in her footsteps, guided by her spirit and strengthened by her example.

Celebrating Strong NAPLAN Results and Our Commitment to Every Learner

We are proud to share that our students have achieved excellent results in the recent NAPLAN assessments. These outcomes reflect the dedication of our teaching staff and the effectiveness of our explicit teaching practices. By clearly identifying learning goals and providing structured, targeted instruction, we ensure that every student is supported to reach their full potential.

Our team continues to prioritise planning and preparation, using deep knowledge of the syllabus documents to design learning experiences that are both engaging and aligned with curriculum expectations. We remain committed to meeting the individual needs of each student through data-informed teaching and ongoing professional collaboration.

As the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child.” These results are not just a celebration of academic achievement, but a testament to the strong partnership between home and school. We sincerely thank our families for their ongoing support—especially in ensuring regular student attendance and fostering a shared value for education.

Together, we are building confident, capable learners who are ready to thrive.

Mary-Anne Jennings

Principal

Dear Families,

It’s been a busy and exciting Term 3 so far, with many opportunities for our students to engage in learning, sport, and community activities. Be sure to check out the wonderful articles written by our students, showcasing their involvement in a wide range of events and experiences this term. We’re also excited to announce the launch of our very own St Kevin’s Crochet Club (official name coming soon!)—a creative new initiative that’s already generating lots of interest across the school.

We’ve had a strong focus on sport this term, with students participating in a range of events. Unfortunately, the Stage 3 Touch Football Gala Day has been delayed, and we are still awaiting confirmation of a new date. We’ll share details as soon as NSW Touch provides an update.

Similarly, Play HQ has not yet advised a new date for the Stage 2 Netball Gala Day. To ensure our students don’t miss out, we’ve made the decision to include both Stage 2 and Stage 3 students in the Lakes Netball Gala Day on Wednesday, 11th September. An updated event notice will be published today with all the relevant details.

A reminder to families: please check that your Stage 2 or Stage 3 child is signed up for tennis this term. It’s a fantastic opportunity for skill development and fun!

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. We look forward to sharing more highlights as the term progresses.

Building Project Update

We’re pleased to share that the construction of our new Year 3, 4, and 5 classrooms is progressing well and is scheduled for completion in just over a month. These new learning spaces will provide modern, flexible environments to support student engagement and achievement.

There have been a few hiccups with the embankment playground, but these are being actively addressed to ensure safety and usability for our students.

We’re also excited to announce that construction of our new basketball, netball, and volleyball courts is set to begin within the next month. These facilities will greatly enhance our sporting programs and provide more opportunities for active play.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. We look forward to sharing more highlights as the term progresses.

God Bless

Kim Hogan

Co-Principal / Assistant Principal

St Kevin’s and Our Josephite Heritage

At St Kevin’s, we are inspired by Saint Mary MacKillop, who believed that everyone should be treated with kindness and respect, no matter their background. Mary and the Sisters of St Joseph showed this through their actions—helping those in need, offering support without judgment, and always seeing the good in others. She believed in the value of every person and never gave up on anyone. Today, we try to live this same spirit at St Kevin’s by encouraging our students to be caring, inclusive, and compassionate. We want every child and family to feel safe, valued, and supported in our school community. Over the next two newsletter articles, we’ll be sharing more about our school’s Josephite heritage and how Mary MacKillop’s example continues to guide the way we learn, grow, and care for one another.

Living our Josephite Heritage at St Kevin’s

Being part of a Josephite Tradition means to be a welcoming, inclusive, compassionate community.

At St Kevin’s, we are proud to follow in the footsteps of Saint Mary MacKillop and the Josephite tradition she began. Mary believed in the dignity of every person and worked tirelessly to make sure all felt welcomed, respected, and loved—no matter their background or circumstances. Her heart was open to everyone, and she showed God’s love through practical care and kindness, especially to those in need. Today, we carry that same spirit in our school community by striving to be a place where every child and family feels seen, valued, and included. Whether through learning, relationships, or outreach, we encourage compassion and remind our students that small acts of care can make a big difference. Mary’s legacy continues to inspire us to live our faith through love and action.

Being part of a Josephite Tradition means that as a community everyone is treated with dignity.

At St Kevin’s, we are inspired by Saint Mary MacKillop’s belief that every person deserves to be treated with respect and kindness, no matter their background or circumstances. Mary and the Sisters of St Joseph lived this out by offering practical support to those in need, always seeing the good in others and never giving up on anyone. She looked beyond mistakes to recognise the unique value and sacredness in each person. This deep respect for human dignity continues to guide our school today. Whether in the classroom, on the playground, or in the wider community, we encourage our students to be patient, understanding, and compassionate. By following Mary’s example, we aim to create a school environment where every child feels safe, valued, and inspired to grow into their best selves.

Being part of a Josephite Tradition means that as a community we most support the people who are poor and marginalised.
At St Kevin’s, we are proud to follow in Mary MacKillop’s footsteps by creating a school community where every child and family feels safe, supported, and valued. Mary believed that those most in need should come first, and she lived this belief through simple, practical acts of kindness. Alongside the Sisters of St Joseph, she helped establish bush schools, orphanages, and safe places for people often forgotten by society—places that restored dignity and gave hope. Mary didn’t seek praise; she responded with love and faith, showing that small, consistent actions can make a big difference. Her legacy reminds us that compassion and care are powerful tools for change.

In the next newsletter, I’ll share more about how St Kevin’s expresses our Josephite heritage and how Mary MacKillop’s values continue to shape the way we learn, grow, and care for one another.

Donna Morgan

Religious Education Teacher

Kaayi (Hello – Awabakal)

Yaama Ngindaay (Hello everyone - Gamilaraay)

Nungamanladi (Hello - Bardi)

Worimi (Hello – Dharug. Pronounced ‘Wurramee’)              

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

9 August 2025

It was so good to see Indigenous representatives from other Nations at Garma this year, sharing stories and life experiences, cultural beliefs, dance, art, traditional dress and language.

Click on the link to read some article excerpts from Kirstie Wellauer, with images by Che Chorley from ABC News on the 2025 Garma Festival.

Delegates from Navajo, Comanche, Kiowa Sioux, Pueblo and Lakota nations in North America attended this year’s Garma Festival, travelling to Arnhem Land with the goal of exchanging traditions and knowledge.

Amid the joy of this clash of cultures, their shared struggles of dispossession and colonisation are not far from their minds.

“We’ve shared our personal stories which are very similar,” Melonie Mathews from the Tewa nation in New Mexico says.

“Performing here on this ground, this place, is powerful, I can feel it,” said Kiowa Comanche man Kenny Cozad Sr.

“Though our languages may be different, they still feel exactly how they feel at home; the warmth, the compassion, the generational participation — that is exactly how our lives are when we are at home.”

                                                             ________________________________________________

As we mark International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples this coming Saturday, let’s think about the rich cultures, traditions, and contributions of Indigenous peoples worldwide, appreciating their unique way of life and acknowledging their important role in our shared worldwide history and society. We celebrate diversity and learn more about the customs and traditions of these vibrant communities.

Yaluu

Phil Taylor

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Teacher

FISAF Future Champions Cup

Congratulations to our outstanding Aerobics teams who competed in their final competition for the year, FISAF's Future Champion's Cup at NEX on Saturday. Both teams gave an outstanding performance, displaying all their hard work throughout the year. Our Year 1 & 2 team came very close to a medal, receiving 4^th place and our primary team Blue Flames secured 2^nd place, very excited to have their very own 'aerobics medal'. 

Some highlights from the students:

"My favourite part was when my baby sister was helping us warm up by telling us to do a straddle stretch. It was pouring rain outside on the day." - Aurelie

'My favourite part was probably doing the dance on stage. I felt nervous before I went on stage and then afterwards I felt happy."

Aerobics for fun

From next Wednesday, a recreational aerobics group will be operating in the hall during recess on Wednesdays (infants children) and Thursdays (primary children). This is a low commitment, free to join activity for students wanting to give the sport a try. We will learn skills and a short routine and play some aerobics games. 

We will be putting an announcement on the loud speaker to remind students that would like to come along so please let your child know to listen out for this if they are interested. 

Erin Greenwood

Teacher

Diocesan Athletics Carnival

Congratulations to Elijah, Isaac, Chase and Essie who represented St Kevin's at the Diocesan Athletics Carnival. Essie was also selected to be a flag bearer as part of the welcome ceremony.

Elijah ran the 9 years 100m boys and finished 9th; Chase ran the senior boys 800m and finished 10th; Essie placed 5th in the 10 years girls shot put; and Isaac ran the 12 years 100m boys and finished 4th, he also placed 2nd in the senior boys long jump. He will now go on to compete at Polding Athletics! St Kevin's are very proud of all of you! 

 Aspire

I am Arabella. I’m an Aspire representative for St Kevin’s along with Olivia. I am also a part of the vocal ensemble in Aspire’s yearly production. The theme for 2025 is “The Rise of Bozz.”  The production was inspired by Banksy, the artist. Just like Banksy, Bozz is unknown and is leaving his marks in different places to inspire others to rise up and to fight for what’s right.

Experience

At the start of rehearsals, we split our ensembles and practise separately. As the weeks went on, we started to come together and see how all the ensembles worked as a whole. We even got to learn choreography, which was so much fun! It is such an amazing experience in Aspire and I have made so many new friends. My favourite part about it is that everyone is so supportive and the instructors help you whenever you are struggling.

Applications

Applications for 2026 Aspire production are now open from years 4 and up. You can audition for drama, dance, instrumental and vocal. I would completely recommend trying Aspire! If you love singing, dancing or acting, then the program is for you.

CS_ASPIRE_2026_Info_Sheet_A4.pdf

CS_ASPIRE_2026_Info_Sheet_A4 _pdf 3.39 MB

CS_ASPIRE_2026_Audition_Sheet_A4.pdf

CS_ASPIRE_2026_Audition_Sheet_A4 _pdf 2.74 MB

 School fees and Government Funding 

Recently there has been much public discussion around the Australian Government's model of funding schools. Catholic Schools NSW have put together some data to explain how government funding for non-government schools—such as Catholic and Independent schools— supports your right to choose the best educational environment for your child while also reducing costs for Australian taxpayers. 

Using the most recent data, the report outlines how funding these schools through a mixed education model reduces pressure on public education resources, with savings of up to $6.88 billion annually. The report highlights how school choice benefits families and the broader community alike. 

To read more, find the report here: Money invested, Money Saved - July 2025 - Adobe cloud storage. 

Thank you again to all of the families who are making regular weekly, fortnightly or monthly fee payments. Catholic Schools have an expectation that regular school fee payments commence by 30 March 2025 and are finalised by 30 November 2025. Some families may receive an "Arrears Notificaiton" for their accounts. This means that the system has calculated that the amount paid off their fees, is not as much as what would be expected at that time, according to their payment frequency. If you receive an arrears notification, it would be beneficial to check if your regular payments are enough to cover your fees by the due date, and make the appropriate adjustments. You can find this information on the bottom of your fee statement. Should you wish to discuss your fees, or are experiencing genuine financial hardship, we encourage you to contact the school on 4954 0036 to make a confidential meeting with the Principal.

To read more, find the report here: Money invested, Money Saved - July 2025 - Adobe cloud storage. 

St Kevins is starting a crochet club where students learn to latch hook and crochet things at lunch and recess . Mrs Brown and Mrs Jennings will be helping us learn to make little animals and bookmarks. We will be bringing some things home and giving others to the John Hunter hospital. The students in the club would like to ask you if you have any supplies for crochet and latch hook making – wool or hooks maybe. Also, if you have any skills in these areas, please contact Mrs. Hogan if you are available to come to school and join us at lunchtime or recess and help us learn how to latch hook or crochet, thank you.

Aria

On behalf of the Crochet Club

In this edition of SchoolTV - Online Gaming

Games are an integral part of human behaviour. It is normal and healthy for young people to engage in play as a part of their daily lives, including playing games online. And like most activities, online gaming can have both positive and negative outcomes. It can be intimidating and confusing for carers trying to understand a young person’s online experiences with many considering that staring at a screen is an unhealthy habit. However, the World Health Organisation does believe that as well as the risks, there are also many positive benefits associated with online gaming and these could be key in nurturing bonds with others.

During the pandemic, there was an explosive growth of gaming as people sought much needed connection during isolation. In the media, gaming often gets bad publicity because most coverage tends to concentrate on the minority of gamers who play to such an extent that it compromises all other areas of their life. However, online gaming can teach young people many skills including teamwork, concentration, communication and problem-solving. It requires a level of interaction and skill from the player; unlike watching television, which is more passive.

Online communities provide opportunities for young people to feel socially connected and have a sense of belonging. At healthy levels, gaming can increase their self-esteem and social acceptance. However, any behaviour, when taken to extreme, can also have a negative impact on a young person’s everyday life. Understanding what your young person experiences online and knowing the warning signs if they are at risk, will help nurture a more positive relationship with online gaming and help your family find the right balance.

If you are concerned about your young person’s online gaming habits, it’s important to consider a number of factors. This edition will provide strategies in how to deal with any issues you may be experiencing.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the Online Gaming edition of SchoolTV
https://cardiff.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/online-gaming

Upcoming information sessions and webinars for parents and carers 

Parents and carers are the most important educators in their child’s life. To assist you in this important role, a list of upcoming webinars provided by reputable providers, free of charge, has been compiled and is available on the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s Catholic Schools webpage. 

A snapshot of Term 3 webinars is included below. More information about these webinars, including links to register, can be found on the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s Catholic Schools webpage www.mn.catholic.edu.au/our-community/supporting-parents-and-carers/upcoming-parent-and-carer-information-sessions/ Please note, the webpage will be updated regularly with news of additional webinars and you can visit the site at any time.