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- Messages from the Principal
- Messages from the Assistant Principal
- Motiv8sports Day
- Aboriginal Education News
- Religious Education News
- Stationery Requirements for 2021
- St Nicholas OOSH News
- Newcastle Transport Service Changes
- Rickys Music Tuition
- Parish Bulletin
- Silly Season Snacks Snippet
- Summer Fruit & Veg Snippet
- Traditional Indigenous Games
Dear Parents and Friends of St Kevin’s,
Change of start for 2021 School Year:
The Catholic Schools Office has informed all schools of a change of date for students commencing in 2021.
Students return on different days as follows: -
Friday 29th January Years 2-6 only.
Monday 1st February Year 1
Tuesday 2nd February Kindergarten
We apologise for any inconvenience this change of date or late notice this may have caused.
This is our final newsletter for this year. By now you will have your child’s Semester 2 report and celebrated their learning and success in a variety of areas. Next Monday your child will discover who is teaching them in 2021 – and with this early information we hope that will alleviate any anxiety and stress over the Christmas vacation. All the teachers have been busy planning for their 2021 classes and ensuring they meet the individual needs of all students in their new classes. We are so lucky here at St Kevin’s that our teaching team is exceptionally talented in the art of teaching, so all students are guaranteed an excellent teacher each and every year.
This time of year is also a time to say thank you. So, thank you to everyone who makes St Kevin’s just an awesome place to work and learn. To the students for your beautiful manners and work ethic, to the parents for your support and trust and to the staff for your care and dedication to the learning of the students in your care. 2020 tested all of us, and we passed with flying colours in everything we set out to do!
Enjoy the Christmas vacation with your families. May the joy celebrating the birthday of Jesus fill your homes with love and peace, and may 2021 bring us back rested and ready to learn and master new challenges.
Mary-Anne Jennings
Principal
St Kevin’s Cardiff
Awards
Congratulations to the following students on their awards at today’s assembly. These students are to be congratulated on their persistence and work ethic in English or Maths. We also recognised those students who even during lockdown did not abandon their learning, displaying resilience and tenacity to be the best learners they can. We also congratulate the students who through their words and actions Make Jesus Real every day. Finally, we congratulate our special award winners for their community spirit, displaying a willingness and desire to participate in activities that promote and support a community. These students are proud of their school and their words and actions are testimony to that.
Grade |
Academic English |
Academic Maths |
Making Jesus Real |
Resilience and sustained learning |
Kinder |
Ariana |
Jacob |
Conor |
Oliver |
Year 1 |
Josephine |
Louis |
Belinda |
Blake |
Year 2 |
Zara |
Elliana |
Matilda |
Tennyson |
Year 3 |
Angus |
Jamie |
Ava |
Reid |
Year 4 |
Eva |
Patrick |
Teddy |
Harper |
Year 5 |
Mia B |
Hamish |
Owen |
Rose |
Year 6 |
Madeline |
Joshua |
||
Mary MacKillop |
$100 gift voucher and certificate Lily in Year 6 |
|||
Sister Josepha Award sponsored by John Miner |
$100 gift voucher and certificate Kiara in Year 6 |
Connor Watson Resilience Awards
Congratulations to Cameron Year 3, Blake Year 1, Jack Year 2 and Saxon Year 4 for your outstanding resilience in a year that was extraordinary just like you guys!!
Australasia Children’s University
Congratulations to Pippa Year 6, Mia B Year 4, Hayley, Charlie and Eva all from Year 4, who successfully attended the Children’s University for 100 hours, displaying great determination and commitment to their learning beyond the classroom.
2021 Captains
Congratulations to Emme and Cristiano our 2 School Captains for 2021 and to Mia B and Thomas our 2 Sports Captains. The St Kevin’s school community look forward to working with you in 2021.
2021 School fees
To assist with budgeting for the 2021 school year, we strongly recommend either setting up a direct debit with Mrs Ragen or through your own financial institution as a regular BPay. The fees for 2021 average out at $85 per week for the eldest student, $75 for the sibling and for a third child in the family $65 per week, over 3 terms of the school year. If you have a Health Care card this must be provided to the school administration for processing a reduction in the CSO tuition fees only. If you are in genuine financial stress, please contact Mrs Jennings to discuss privately and confidentially your financial situation. These are reviewed annually.
Messages from the Assistant Principal
Dear Parents,
Yesterday you had the opportunity to read your child’s report for Semester Two. These reports are a reflection on your child’s progress. Reporting is an important phase of the schooling year and teaching and learning. Reporting is also a significant part of the partnership between parent, teacher and student.
The report needs to be read with the student’s progress kept in mind and the focus should be on what they have been able to achieve so far and the areas in which they need development for their own personal growth.
I hope all parents congratulate their child on their efforts and also discuss areas where the student can hone their attention on and work to improve their results next year.
We have had some wonderful fun events in recent weeks and still more to come! It is always fantastic for our students to come together for these special occasions (and we look forward to celebrating these with you again in 2021).
Thank you to all students and families who make St Kevin’s the great place it is.
Finally, a big thank you to my wonderful colleagues who inspire me each day. We have a wonderful staff at St Kevin’s who all work hard to deliver a quality education in a caring and vibrant environment. I believe we accomplish great things in our St Kevin’s Community, but we couldn’t accomplish what we do without your assistance and support.
Wishing all students and families a safe and happy holiday break. Merry Christmas!
Motiv8sports are coming to St Kevin's on Tuesday 15th December. If you haven't yet returned your note and money, please do so as soon as possible.
Yaama Ngindaay! (Hello everyone)
As we conclude our school year I’d like to thank everyone in our school community for their continued support of Aboriginal Education at St Kevin’s.
The children in all grades have been learning a lot about Aboriginal history and culture, our staff members have engaged in professional learning and are embedding Aboriginal perspectives in all Key Learning Areas, and our parents and carers are strongly supportive of all of our efforts. We have celebrated key events throughout the year despite the challenges during the pandemic.
Aboriginal Education is a mandatory priority in the Australian Curriculum and all state and territory curricula. This is for all students so that they will grow in knowledge and understanding of our history, our present and with a view to creating a future which is inclusive, free of racism and embraces a journey together.
I’m sure you’ve noticed the Indigenous designs on the clothing of our national sporting teams recently, and not only for Indigenous rounds. This is important as it raises awareness and promotes recognition of our First Nations people. I think it’s a sign that we, as a nation, are taking some very positive steps.
Most Indigenous artwork tells a story. The artwork on the Australian Men’s Cricket Team’s clothing for the recent One Day Internationals is explained below.
Our St Kevin’s Aboriginal crest, created by Jade Porter, depicts the learning environment at St Kevin’s, with staff at the centre connecting with classrooms and children around the outside.
Wishing you and your mob a happy, safe and Holy Christmas and New Year. See you in 2021.
Yaluu ngali ngamilay (We will see each other again)
Phil Taylor
Aboriginal Education Teacher
Well what a year it has been! Firstly, I need to thank our extremely generous school community for the extraordinary giving over the last month. We raised over $2500 for our Socktober Catholic Mission month and our St Vincent De Paul Christmas Raffle raised a fabulous $952.50. I cannot thank you enough. This money has been used to purchase 31 gift cards to be distributed by the local conference of St Vincent De Paul for Cardiff families.
This preparatory time is my favourite time of the year. As we move through Advent we are called to focus in on the spirit living within us. Advent is a spiritual journey that Christians take. It is a signpost that prompts us to think of Christmas, not just as an event to come, but something we must be doing. Advent is a journey that jogs our memory that moves our faith into action. What are you doing to promote peace, hope and love in your circle of influence?
For people surrounded by department store decorations, commercials, Christmas carols, special foods, and the like, believing the Christmas celebration actually evolved from the humble story of a young woman giving birth in the straw is a stretch. It might help to focus on the characters involved.
What do you think went through Joseph’s mind as he witnessed Mary giving birth to a baby? What do you think went through Mary’s mind as she struggled with the birth experience?
The Christmas story is full of symbols. Jesus, who becomes our bread and wine – our nourishment – is laid in a manger, the feeding trough for the animals. Jesus, who is the champion of poor people, is born into a homeless family. Poor shepherds were the first to welcome the Messiah that the Jewish people had been awaiting for generations. The symbol of angels singing, praising God, and flying madly all over the sky was a good clue that something out of the ordinary was happening.
Modern Christmas stories use different symbols to make the same points: Rudolph, the ‘poorest’ reindeer, becomes the champion; and Frosty, a snowman, transforms children’s lives.
What story from your own personal Christmas experiences has special meaning or symbolism? by Lisa-Marie Calderone-Stewart
God Bless and a Very Merry and Holy Christmas
Kim Hogan