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Dear Parents and Friends of St Kevin’s
We made it!!!! We’re back to full time teaching and learning!! The children are settling back into the routine that is school, attending to their lessons and tasks in a timely manner. It was awesome to walk into the classrooms and watch students in Years 3 -6 all utilising what they have learnt during the COVID-19 lockdown in regards to working in TEAMS and Onenote, completing set tasks and forging ahead in their learning. The one skill they all do need to master is typing, but that will come with practise.
To you the amazing parent community, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for all the support and positive feedback you have given us as teachers during these unprecedented times. Knowing that our parents were there supporting us through home learning time, acknowledging that everyone of us – parents and teachers, were equally anxious over the well being of our families and the education of our kids, was very comforting and reassuring. Thank you for the emails voicing your gratitude to the work of the teachers. Thank you for being so accommodating when we had restricted face to face class time. Thank you for keeping your children home when requested. Thank you for the chocolates that kept us going when we needed a sweet treat. Thank you for all the work you did with your children whilst at home. Thank you for just being there when you were needed. Thank you for keeping us and your children safe. It is not over yet, and we still have hurdles to jump over, but together we are doing it and life for our children continues in a positive vein.
I am currently reading books on “Learning for Tomorrow” by Michael McQueen and “The Future of Learning” by Mark Treadwell. I am starting to think that the future of learning may have arrived a little earlier than we were anticipating over the past 2 months, but in my view, St Kevin’s is in a good place to continue on this trajectory, ensuring our students are equipped to be lifelong learners adapting to whatever the future brings.
So, here’s to the future – a future that will be different, but different is good!
Have a great week.
Mary-Anne Jennings
Principal
Kindergarten 2021 Enrolments
We are starting to return to normal, with things such as Kindergarten 2021 enrolments being scheduled, all be it by ZOOM or Facetime, to begin on Thursday June 11. Letters were sent out to all current expressions of interest to nominate an interview time, so if you are yet to respond please RSVP soon to book in a suitable time. If you know of any families who may not yet begun to look at school for 2021, please spread the word as positions are filling up quickly.
Winter Uniform
All students are now expected to be in full winter uniform. Students are expected to wear a tie with the top button of their shirt done up, and shirts tucked in if they are wearing long pants or trousers. Girls who choose to wear the blue tunic may wear white socks or navy tights. Scarves and beanies are only permitted on very cold days and we ask that if at all possible, they be navy blue. Track suit jackets may be worn as an extra layer over the school jumper on cold, windy days also.
Sports uniforms are to be worn on Fridays.
Assemblies and Liturgies
Until further notice there will be no formal assemblies or liturgies.
Semester 1 Reports
These are currently being collated by teachers. Teachers are collecting data in the areas of literacy and numeracy and Religious Education so that they can inform parents as to where their child is and where they need to improve and grow in their learning. These reports will be issued early Term 3. Interviews are currently not permitted due to COVID-19 restrictions, but as soon as things change we will inform you of how you can meet with your child’s teacher.
Morning and Afternoon dismissal
Current procedures for morning and afternoon pickup will remain in place until we are advised by the NSW State Government and CSO that restrictions can be lifted. Your ongoing support of this procedure is greatly appreciated.
As we are all back to school full time, we will continue to have staggered dismissal times but will open up parent pick up. Parent pickup is where you as parent wait on the grass area outside the old convent and we will meet you at the gate with your child. Children will be dismissed as their parents/carers are identified. As parents and carers you are asked to observe social distancing guidelines and remain 1.5m from any other adult waiting for their child.
Thank you to the parents who are following our guidelines, staying in the car lines and waiting till the car in front has moved on. If you are on a 3pm schedule it is very important that you don’t arrive prior to this time and wait in line as it prevents our little infants children having safe access to their parents cars.
8:30 -9am Kiss and drop via Andrew St gate. No parent or visitor access.
2:45pm K-2 students.
3pm families and students 3-6.
Seasons for Growth
We will be offering the Seasons for Growth programme in Terms 3 and 4 this year. It is a programme designed to assist children with the grief and change in family life due to death, separation, or divorce. There is a letter from Mr Taylor (who will be running the programme) and an expression of interest form, together with some further information attached to this newsletter.
Learning for Tomorrow
Research is showing us that successful learning is dependent on a variety of capabilities and skills. One of these is organisation. Year 3 and 4 students were able to identify what things were helpful in ensuring home learning was successful. They are now working at ensuring the things they learnt around being organised are fine tuned and embedded into their daily routines to ensure success in learning for tomorrow.
During home learning I was so organised!............
- I followed Mrs Norley’s work. (Zavier)
- I got up at 7am and I did the same things like it was a school day. (Ella)
- I did a lot of work in maths. (Mason)
- I had my computer at full battery and my pencil sharp and my desk was ready. (Braith)
- I always asked for help before raging at my computer and if I if I did get angry, I went for a walk. (Patrick)
- I handed most of my assessments in on time and had a clean workspace. (Rebecca)
- I had all my work done before 2pm. (Jordy)
- I finished my work at 1pm because I organised my workplace. It was a quiet workplace and I had no distractions. (Harper)
- Everything was done in time with my paperwork. (Tyler)
- My laptop was always charged, and my workspace was neat, tidy and ready for me to work every day. (Ava)
- I learnt how to upload assignments to TEAMS and I got everything I needed every day. (Hayley)
- I sharpened my pencils, used my desk and fixed my working space. (Noah)
- I had all of my schoolwork in the front of the TV room in a neat pile. (Cameron)
- I followed my daily schedule and it helped me. (Logan)
- I got my spot ready 1 day before and made it clean. (Teddy)
- I always put the charger back on my computer when I was done. (Jamie)
- I followed the schedule. (Reid)
- I typed all my things that I had to do. I cleaned and organised my learning space. (Charlie)
- I organised my workspace by laying out all of the things I needed every day. (Eva)
- I had a clean working space every day. (Saxon)
- I had all my work done by 2pm because I worked in a quiet, tidy space. (Damien)
Messages from the Assistant Principal
Welcome Back to full time face to face. Students have enjoyed their time at school this week as we adjust to the “new normal”.
- Scroll through the gallery to view pictures of what we have been up to.
Kinder- Learning sounds- making “Pink Pigs” for the letter “p”
Year 1 – Reading “Elmer the Elephant”
Year 2- Speech delivery
Year 3 – Writing Descriptions
Year 4- Using Onenote in TEAMS
Year 5/6 – Narrative Writing
Year 2 have especially loved writing and delivering their speeches. Here is what they had to say:
“ l liked everyone’s speeches because now I want to go to the places they spoke about.” Tessa
“I loved listening to the speeches; I thought they were fantastic.” Charlotte
“I enjoyed reading my speech to the class and I want to do a speech again.” Jonathan
“I enjoyed reading my speech and listening to what everyone else wrote.” Henry
St Kevin’s Staff
The staff have enjoyed connecting with their colleagues and sharing their insights on how could we better engage our learners as teachers – especially in the digital technology context. In coming weeks we will be responding to this challenge. More information to come ...watch this space!
Have a wonderful and well-deserved long weekend,
Wednesday was the feast of the patron saint of our school, St Kevin. Reportedly born in the late 5th century and living for 120 years, St Kevin is an interesting character. A hermit, who was able to create and inspire a thriving community and yet, a stern man who was able to relate to nature with various reports of extraordinary interactions with animals. The story of the blackbird who lands in the outstretched hand of St Kevin, poised in prayer, is intriguing. The message that we can take from this is poignant. The story is not really about endurance; it is about nurture and the pain that love may involve. St Kevin is a good patron for our school. Any Christian community needs to stand with its arms wide open, accepting with reverence whatever God brings its way, holding firm to protect its vulnerable members. St Kevin’s holds the lives of students until they are ready to make their way in the world.
God Bless
Kim Hogan
Yaama,
Our Young Leaders
I am very proud of our senior students, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, who came together last week to share their thoughts on what Reconciliation means to them. They were unscripted and what they said came straight from the heart…
A Bridge to Reconciliation
2020 marks the 20th Anniversary of this monumental display of support for Reconciliation.
Over the course of 2020 close to a million people took part in Reconciliation walks in all capital cities, towns and regions across the country.
“I felt very humbled and very proud that Australians were saying let’s pull together, let’s do what’s right and what’s inclusive. There was such a good feeling. So much goodwill.”
(Shane Phillips, 2013 Australia's Local Hero | Indigenous leader, Australian of the Year Awards)
Following this event, Reconciliation Australia was established to continue a formal process of making Australia a more just, equitable and reconciled nation.
Just keep walking
National Reconciliation Week 2020 may have finished on 3 June, but the journey of Reconciliation is ongoing. As one of the Reconciliation statements reminds us:
We all have a role to play when it comes to Reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.
Our Kids … Our Hope for the Future
Our present and emerging young leaders at St Kevin’s are a credit to you and our school community. Their knowledge, understanding and commitment to building respectful relationships and communities will warm our hearts now and into the future.
Take care, and God bless.
Phil Taylor
Aboriginal Education Teacher
Library Books and Home Readers
Could all students please return their library books and home readers to school 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!
1 June 2020
Dear Parents
Change and loss are issues that affect all of us at some stage in our lives. At St Kevin’s Catholic Primary School we recognise that when changes occur in families through death, separation, divorce or related circumstances, young people may benefit from learning how to manage these changes effectively. We are therefore offering a very successful education program called Seasons for Growth.
This program is facilitated in small groups and is based on research that highlights the importance of social support and the need to practise new skills to cope effectively with change and loss. The program focuses on issues such as self-esteem, managing feelings, problem-solving, decision-making, effective communication and support networks. Seasons for Growth runs for eight weeks and each weekly session is 40-45 minutes.
The program concludes with a ‘Celebration’ session. Later in the year each group will have the opportunity to meet for a follow-up session to build on their earlier learning. Seasons for Growth will commence in Term 3 and will be co-ordinated by Phil Taylor who has received special training in the implementation of this program.
If you think your son or daughter would benefit from Seasons for Growth I encourage you to talk to him or her first about this. If you would like your child to participate please fill in the tear-off Expression of Interest section below and return to the school by 9 June 2020. The attachments to this letter will help you gain an insight into the structure and usefulness of the program. St Kevin’s is pleased to be able to offer this important program and we are confident that it will be a valuable learning experience for those involved.
Phil Taylor
Seasons for Growth School Co-ordinator
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Expression of Interest in Seasons for Growth. (Please return by 9 June 2020)
I am interested in my child _____________________________ participating in the Seasons for Growth Program. I have discussed with this with my child.
Parent’s Name ___________________________________________
Signature _______________________________________________
Wasn’t there a song “ History Never Repeats” by Split Enz in 1981? Well maybe it does!!!
1919 Commonwealth Bank Workers in Sydney
Recommendations by the Government of the Day:
One of the recommendations of the interstate health conference in November was that in the event of an outbreak in any State, it was considered advisable to close all places of public resort, such as theatres, music halls, picture shows, race meetings, churches, schools, to prohibit all public meetings, and to take action for the regulation of all out patients' departments of general hospitals.
In the open air it is believed that there is safety at a distance of six feet or over from the mouth of any person.
The following simple rules should be observed :—
Keep away from the cougher, spitter, or sneezer who does not use a mask or handkerchief.
Keep out of crowds.
Keep in the fresh air and sunlight as much as possible.
Keep out of doors, if possible, or in a well-ventilated room.
Be temperate in eating, and avoid alcohol.
Wash your hands and face immediately upon reaching your home.
Change your clothes before mingling with the rest of the family.
Exercise, short of fatigue, should be taken regularly.
Keep the mouth and teeth clean.
If the epidemic should break through quarantine —Go to bed in a room to yourself directly you feel symptoms like pain in the head or limbs, or a cold, and take light diet. Stay in bed until recovery is complete. The sick person should cough, sneeze, or expectorate into gauze or a piece of clean rag, which should be burnt at once after use. Persons handling the gauze or rag should wash their hands after each attention. Patient's room should be well ventilated, and care should be taken that draughts do not strike him. Visitors should be kept from the sick room as far as possible. Only one member of the family should attend on the patient, and the attendant should wear a mask.