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- Messages from the Principal
- School Fees
- Messages from the Assistant Principal
- Religious Education News
- Aboriginal Education News
- Library News
- St Paul's Year 7 Transition Events
- School Captains, Sports Captains and Year 6 Photos
- Parish Bulletin
- Tupperware Online Fundraiser
- School Travel - Term 4 2020
- St Nicholas OOSH
- Guitar Lessons
- Beef & Broccoli Pasta Recipe
- Keep the Lunchbox Cool
- Savvy Snack Swaps
- Sun smart snippet
- Vegie Struggle Snippet
Dear Parents and Friends of St Kevin’s,
This week sees us raising funds to support those less fortunate than ourselves at Christmas. Money raised through out of uniform days and our Christmas Raffles will contribute to the Saint Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal, spreading good cheer and Making Jesus Real in the lives of others. As a community we can also engage in Making Jesus Real and spreading good cheer this festive season through positive interactions with everyone around us. I know at this time of year, and especially in 2020, we are all feeling a little anxious and tired, coping with all the changes to our routines. So please when talking to others, take a breath, and think of how you are greeting, treating, and speaking to others as we approach the end of a very unusual year.
Go gently and stay safe.
Mary-Anne Jennings
Principal
COVID-19 Update
We pray that we do not experience what Victoria has, and now South Australia is, experiencing. We will continue to be vigilant in hygiene practices and COVID safe protocols.
Parents can now pick up their child either in car lines or in the parent pick up area – grass area in front of the old convent. Please inform your children as they leave for school, where you are picking them up from.
Car line children will wait on the steps outside the Year 2 classroom.
Parent pickup children will wait at the gate next to the Church, and a teacher will unlock this gate and ensure they go to an awaiting parent or carer. Parents waiting outside this gate on the grass are asked to be vigilant and socially distance from other adults.
No external providers on site… OT’s, Speech Therapists for work with individual children.
No canteen for this year.
No parents at end of Year celebrations except for Year 6 Graduation Liturgy (2 parents per child)
Uniform orders phoned through or emailed to Mrs Ragen on a Monday or Wednesday for processing.
Sick children displaying cold and flu symptoms are to stay home and only return to school once a negative COVID test result can be provided. Staff are also requested to follow these protocols.
Children MUST bring their own drink bottle every day as bubblers are not in use.
No birthday cakes or sharing of common food items or platters.
Handwashing everyday before and after eating or playing.
Car Safety in Andrew Street
There have been many near misses with cars pulling out in front of other cars and doing U-turns at the bottom of the hill. Please be vigilant as you pull out from the curb during morning drop-off or afternoon pick-up, that no one is driving up behind you. Also please be patient if cars are lined up in front of you getting little ones in or out of the car. A few minutes is nothing if we are keeping everyone around us safe. School rule “Be Safe”!
School Reports
2020 Semester 2 reports are currently being written. They will be available to parents via COMPASS on December 9. We recommend reading these using a computer and not the COMPASS App on your phone.
Mosquitoes and Sunscreen
It is that time of year again! Please send your child to school with their own personal roll on insect repellent and sunscreen which they can self-administer at lunch and recess. The bottom playground and the recent rain are mosquito heaven.
Ticks
Ticks have come out to play as well. Please check your child daily for ticks in their head, behind their ears or on their arms and legs for these pesky little critters. Spraying with personal insect repellent any ticks found on your child’s body is the easiest way to remove them. They simply just crawl out backwards and then you can catch and remove them from your child with a tissue!
Parents, a reminder that school fees are now due and payable. Reminder fee statements have been emailed out in Week 2 this term. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact the Principal on 4954 0036 to discuss. Year 6 parents are advised that successful enrolment into St Paul’s requires a fee clearance from St Kevin’s.
Messages from the Assistant Principal
Dear Parents,
Celebrating Our Learning Achievements
The teachers have been busily working on reports over recent weeks. Often, during this time teachers pause to reflect on the remarkable gains their students have made through the year. As mentioned in previous newsletters, we have implemented Learning Intentions, Success Criteria and ‘Bump It Along’ walls this year. I have included a video of students discussing and identifying the improvements they have made in their writing. I encourage you to view the video and have a similar conversation with your children about their successes at school this year, especially in the area of Writing.
End of Year Awards will be presented to students in week 9 at a whole school assembly. Photos of award recipients will be uploaded to Facebook. Included in these awards will be the official presentation of ICAS awards. Students from St Kevin’s achieved outstanding results in this year’s ICAS Assessments. This year 15 students from our school participated, with outstanding performers receiving certificates of Merit, Credit, Distinction and High Distinction.
Developed for students in primary and secondary school years, ICAS assesses the higher order thinking and problem-solving skills needed for success in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling and Digital Technologies. I congratulate all students who chose to participate. I have been very impressed with the willingness, grit and determination the students at St Kevin’s have shown in “having a go.”
Sports In Schools
We have been very fortunate over the last two years to gain funding for specialist coaches to deliver sporting programs at school. This term we have coaches return from Newcastle Basketball. Our students thoroughly enjoy sharpening up their skills.
With summer sports returning and year-round sport and physical activity still taking place now is a good time to remind the parents/carers of your students the Active Kids program provides two x $100 vouchers during the year with the second voucher available from July 1 and both vouchers available for use until December 31 2020.
Claim your $100 Active Kids vouchers for 2020 and redeem with one of our +11,000 providers.
I love the liturgical commentaries of Father Richard Leonard and I have again called upon his wisdom in my reflection for this fortnight’s newsletter.
This Sunday 22nd November marks the last Sunday of the liturgical year. The new Church year begins with the first Sunday of Advent.
This Sunday is the Feast of Christ the King. Fr Richard places this in its historical context as emanating from the decision by Roman Emperor Constantine to convert to Christianity in 313, thereby changing the landscape forever. No more religious persecution of Christians, Christianity was meant to unify the Empire, Bishops donned the purple robes of the Roman Senators and churches began to resemble Roman Basilicas. Previous to this, the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd was the most popular image however, after 313 the image of Jesus in religious art began to take on a more kingly flavour- robes, sceptre and a crown. Herein some problems arise! Jesus very emphatically stated that his kingdom was not here on earth and that his people would be judged by their generosity and care for the sick.
“That’s why Sunday’s feast is so important. On the last day of the Church’s year we are challenged by Christ our King to give our true allegiance to what really matters. Not ambition, greed, status and power, but the quiet revolutionary work of making the world a more just and peaceful place for everyone to live. “( Father Richard Leonard)
I cannot thank our community enough for their very generous support of our social justice efforts, in supporting Catholic Missions and helping the local St Vincent De Paul chapter with their Xmas appeal. Let’s all bring in the festive season with a focus on bringing true peace and harmony in our own circles of influence and hope that this resonates outward.
God Bless
Kim Hogan
Yaama Ngindaay! (Hello everyone)
Last week the students enjoyed a variety of NAIDOC Week activities at St Kevin’s. In each classroom we participated in a Prayer Service and learned about the origin and significance of NAIDOC Week. We also viewed some short videos about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s 65,000 years of culture and connection to Country.
On Thursday we celebrated with fun Indigenous games and activities. I think the yo-yo’s were a big hit!
In the weeks leading up to NAIDOC Week our younger children entered the Koori Kids colouring competition. Their entries were excellent and I hope we have some success. Some of our older students submitted entries in the short story competition, writing about an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander who inspires them and stating why. The entries were very impressive and showed great understanding and reflection. Here are some extracts from their writing…..
Thank you for your support during NAIDOC Week. Acknowledgement of our First Nations people is very strong among our kids and our families, helping to build great relationships and a better, fairer country for us all.
Take care, stay safe, and look after your mob.
Yaluu ngali ngamilay (We will see each other again)
Phil Taylor
Aboriginal Education Teacher
Reminders
Please remember to return any outstanding library books. We are no longer doing library borrowing due to building works arund the library and we need all books returned for the end of year stocktake.
St Paul's Year 7 Transition Events
As part of the Transition Program for Year 7, 2021 at St Paul’s, the College will be conducting the following events:
- November 9th - Parent Information Power Point Presentation emailed to Parents/Caregivers of Year 7 2021 replacing the Year 7 2021 Orientation Evening at the school (due to COVID Restrictions). This will include an opportunity to interact and ask any questions you may have.
- November 17th - Learning Support Orientation Day.
- December 1st - Student Orientation Day at St Paul’s (following COVID safety measures).
Information and invitations regarding these events will be directly emailed to all Parents/Caregivers.
Kind regards,
Belinda Dempsey
Year 7 Student Coordinator
St Paul’s Catholic College, Booragul
School Captains, Sports Captains and Year 6 Photos
A-One Fotomakers Hunter
At the annual school photo day A One Fotomakers Hunter took photos of the:
School Captains, Sports Captains and the Year 6.
These photos are now available for viewing and purchase for the students involved.
If you were photographed in these groups, please go to the following website
and use the job code to access the site
Click on the Miscellaneous button
Job Code: NE2025
For all photo enquiries please phone 49540499
The P & F, along with Lisa Rigby are hosting an online Tupperware fundraiser. All orders are online with online payment and all orders are delivered to your door. If you would like to purchase, please follow the below link.
Stay up to date with Opal and ticketing changes for school travel. 2021 school travel applications are now open. To assist with any enquiries about student travel applications, please refer to the information below.
Applications for student travel in 2021 opened on Monday 12 October 2020.
students who require a School Opal card or travel pass for 2021 can now apply https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/#/howToApply online. A new application should be submitted if a student is applying for a school travel pass for the first time or requesting an additional pass as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g. joint custody).
Students who have changed school/campus, changed address, repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should re-apply or update their details https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/#/updateDetails .
Where there is a change of distance eligibility based on a student’s grade, the system will automatically update a student’s entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/#/whoIsEligible , they will receive an expiry notification via email. Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition which is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply. Term Bus Pass https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/#/termBusPass holders will receive a notification to re-apply. Applications need to be submitted before 31 December 2020 to ensure that current student entitlements are updated and their current entitlement/card remains valid. If their application is submitted after 31 December 2020, the system will automatically cancel an entitlement/card and a new one will need to be issued.
Students in the Opal network applying for a SSTS or Term Bus Pass entitlement for the first time will receive their card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2021.