Filter Content
- Messages from the Principal
- Messages from the Assistant Principal
- Finance News
- Religious Education News
- Aboriginal Education News
- Library News
- Kindergarten 2022 Transition Program
- P & F Meeting
- P & F Fundraiser
- Family Ministry Corner from Helene O'Neill
- Semester 2 Parent Report Letter
- Lake Macquarie Drawing Competition
- Springtacular Fruit and Veg Nutrition Snippet
Dear Parents and Friends of St Kevin’s,
Halfway through Term 4 and so far, we are travelling well. The students are enjoying the social aspects of being back at school, but some are finding the ability to focus and stay on the task at hand, at little more challenging. At school we have been engaging in explicit teaching of “Getting Along” and “Resilience” both of which are fundamental to engaging in successful learning both here at school and in the wider community.
Through these lessons we aim to see the students become more adept at pushing through when the work gets hard and not just giving up. We want the children to have a set of skills that will assist when friendships fracture, so that these friendships can heal and once again flourish. We want the children to learn and understand that sometimes things don’t always go smoothly, things can go wrong, that we all make mistakes, and that is OK!! We learn from our mistakes and our hard work. So together we will chat about how to get along and what being resilient means and looks like, to ensure the final 6 weeks of Term 4 are the best they can be socially and academically.
COVID continues to impact on all of us. Many schools have been closed due to positive cases, but so far St Kevin’s has been very fortunate. If we continue to implement good hand hygiene, stay home if sick and get tested, socially distance and wear masks when indoors, then we are reducing the risk of infection. If your child is sick, please keep them at home and get tested. Sick children will be sent home, whereby a negative COVID test is required to come back to school. If your child is positive to COVID please advise us ASAP so that steps can be implemented to minimise the spread throughout the community.
We are now at Level 3 restrictions, so kinder transitions and graduation ceremonies will be held in a modified manner. Parents will be notified of any changes that this new level will create and we will adapt our programme of events accordingly.
Stay safe and resilient.
Mary-Anne Jennings
Principal
Afternoon dismissal
Thank you to everyone for your patience as we accommodate COVID restrictions in trying to get children home and keep them socially distanced from other grades. This had required different pick up times for single student families and those with 2 or more children at school. All we ask is that if you are collecting your children (2 or more), please don’t line up in car lines prior to 3pm, causing a back log and road block for the parents of 1 child families picking up their child at 2:45 or 2:55. Your cooperation is most appreciated.
If you are utilising the parent pick up grass area, please ensure your child is aware of that each day so a teacher can be at the gate for security and safety of the children.
Messages from the Assistant Principal
PAT
In the next couple of weeks ALL students at St Kevin’s will be participating in 2 standardised assessments. What is a standardised assessment? It’s pretty much an assessment (usually by an external authority) that requires all participants to answer questions in a uniform way. Additionally, standardised assessments require uniform delivery of the assessment.
At St Kevin’s, across the school, we use ACER PAT as one of our tools to evaluate student learning in Mathematics and in Reading. Teachers then analyse the results to see if students are meeting benchmarks, showing growth across their schooling years and to reflect on their own pedagogy (teaching practice).
TTFM
A HUGE thanks to all those who have completed the Tell Them From Me survey so far. We are currently at only 18% of our parent population completion. Come on everyone that is low even by Queensland standards… As we roll onto nearly 90% double vaxxed in NSW surely at St Kevin’s we can aim for a 70-80% completion of our survey. Hopefully it isn’t that painful! And don’t forget once you have completed the survey if you can please send me an email kim.hogan@mn.catholic.edu.au and we will enter you into our draw for $150 Family Entertainment voucher. If you have completed the survey and forgotten to email me, please do so. Remember there are 2 opportunities for each family (Mum and Dad).
This feedback is very important to our ongoing school improvement.
Basketball
This term we were again successful in securing a Sporting Schools grant. We have engaged Newcastle Basketball to coach our students twice per week for 5 weeks. Their coaches deliver an excellent program and students have enjoyed getting out and playing sport with each other this week. The skills and small games that the children participate in build both core skills, teamwork, resilience and getting along. Ask your child what skills they learnt this week (HINT: they did a lot of work on dribbling this week and their basketball stance!).
God Bless
No Financial Transactions Next Week
We are transitioning to a new financial software package, and as such there will be no availability to purchase uniforms or pay outstanding school fees from November 8-12. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
2022 School Fee Information Forms
2022 School Fee Information Forms have been sent home. Please return these to the school office as soon as possible.
Fee Statements
Fee Statements will be issued tomorrow. Commencing 2021 School Fees have been invoiced for the full year. Payments can be made via BPay, direct debit or credit card. For fee payers wishing to establish a new direct debit, or adjust their existing direct debit, please complete the form on the Catholic Development Fund website www.CDFmn.com.au. The collection of all school fees is to ensure the best possible learning environment for your child. Those families experiencing financial hardship please contact the school office to arrange an appointment with the Principal.
Socktober
Thank you for your generosity for our Socktober fundraiser last Friday, we will be donating $156. The children looked fabulous in their crazy socks.
All Saints Day
On Monday, we celebrated the feast of All Saints Day with a beautiful classroom liturgy. All Saints Day is a centuries-old tradition within our Catholic Church, honouring men and women who have lived their lives the way Jesus asks us to. Many made great sacrifices in order to do God’s will. All Saints Day reminds us that we too can be saints. We are God’s eyes, His voice, His hands and His feet here on earth. When we treat each other with kindness and love, we are doing just as God desires, we are being just like the saints who have gone before us.
During our classroom liturgy, the children of St. Kevin’s reflected on the wonderful lives of many saints including;
St. Mary mother who had one of the most important and precious jobs; being the mother of Jesus.
St. Patrick who taught the people of Ireland about the Holy Trinity using a shamrock.
May these amazing men and women, who have gone before us, inspire us to be modern day saints.
May God’s Spirit be with you all each day,
Mrs Jasmina Boudan
Religious Education Coordinator
Yaama,
St Kevin’s is developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in collaboration with Reconciliation Australia via its Narragunnawali platform.
What is a RAP?
A Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is a formal statement of commitment to reconciliation. A school or early learning service can develop a RAP using the Narragunnawali platform to register and extend on existing initiatives or to begin a new journey. Narragunnawali supports all schools and early learning services in Australia to foster a higher level of knowledge and pride in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions.
This year’s Reconciliation Week theme was Reconciliation Takes Action.
One of the ways that our school can take action is to formally develop a Reconciliation Action Plan. St Kevin’s school is already taking action in so many ways towards reconciliation. A RAP acknowledges what we are currently doing well and provides a framework to identify future goals and related actions to achieve those goals in a specified timeframe. Like all plans, it will be reviewed and updated each year, with achieved goals celebrated and new goals set.
Our RAP Working Group is working closely with Reconciliation Australia to develop our RAP and prepare it for publication. I look forward to sharing more about our school’s RAP in the near future.
Thank you to our teachers, children, parents and carers who all strive to embrace Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, history and cultures. We learn from each other and do great things together.
God of all nations, lead our nation into more just ways of living together, so that all may enjoy their proper share in the good things you give us in this land.
Stay safe.
Nginowa….See you later (Awabakal)
Phil Taylor
Aboriginal Education Teacher
Virtual Book Fair
The children were given a copy of Issue 7 last week. Thank you to the families who have already sent their order form back to school or ordered online through LOOP. If you require another copy, please email me.
Issue 7 is a bumper Catalogue with many exciting boxed sets and new release titles in it. There will also be gift options available for families, which is exciting for Christmas gift ideas. Happy shopping!
Reading Throne
The children have been busy decorating the Reading Throne. Photos are due back to Bunnings Glendale by Friday 12th of November. Photos of St Kevin’s reading throne will be displayed in store and will be voted on by customers.
A big thank you to Cardiff Mens Shed for building the thrones.
Please spread the word and vote for St. Kevin’s.
Library borrowing is Thursday this term. Please encourage your children to borrow.
Many thanks
Dianne Binkin
Teacher Librarian
Kindergarten 2022 Transition Program
We have been advised that we can now conduct onsite transitions for the Kinder 2022 students on the following dates:
Thursday 11th, Thursday 18th & Thursday 25th November 2021 from 9.30am - 10.30am. Only students are permitted to attend.
Students with surnames A - O can arrive at 9.15am and will depart at 10.30am. Students with surnames P - W can arrive at 9.30am and will depart at 10.45am.
Children will be met at the Andrews St gate by Mrs Jennings and escorted to the kinder room. One fully-vaccinated parent may escort their child to the classroom if required, but must show their proof of vaccination at the gate. Personal invitations will be sent to parents of Kinder 2022 via email.
The next P & F Meeting will be held via Zoom on Wednesday 10th November from 6pm - 7pm. Please notify the school office on 4954 0036 of your expression of interest to attend.
Family Ministry Corner from Helene O'Neill
Everyone loves a superhero – Wonder Woman, Batman, James Bond and the list goes on. Superheroes may be great fictional characters, but they too have flaws. As we know, exposure to green kryptonite greatly weakens Superman, robbing him of his powers and prolonged exposure can be fatal.
I’m sure you as a parent or carer are a superhero in the eyes of your children. However, just as Superman had his “kryptonite,” we also have a flaw which is really, just human nature.
In our church we call our superheroes saints. November is the month when we remember the deeds of the saints who were chosen because his/her life was an example of the way Christians are encouraged to live out a good life. Australia’s only saint is Mary Mackillop of the Cross who was an ordinary woman who did not want to be separated from God’s people despite being a member of the Josephite community.
Mary is a real superhero and role model for parents and carers who affirmed that we must teach more by example than word and never see a need without doing something about it.
Throughout November why not have a family conversation about saints and superheroes? Talk around the dinner table about which saint you admire or ask your child/children what are the outstanding acts they carry out that are saintly? Conversations such as these continue to remind us that whatever we see on TV or Netflix or even YouTube are not removed from what we talk about in faith conversations. The ideas are the same it’s just the words that are different.
The final message goes to Mary Mackillop - ‘find happiness in making others happy.’
Lake Macquarie Drawing Competition
Help Create Lake Mac’s Future
Drawing competition to listen to young people
Lake Macquarie City Council is reviewing the Community Strategic Plan which is a 10-year future planning document for the City.
We want to listen to the voices of young people and ensure they are heard in the review through a creative drawing exercise.
Students can win a $250 Charlestown Square Gift Card per each age category. Simply encourage your students to complete one of our city, beach or lake drawing templates attached and have them tell us what they love about Lake Mac for their chance to win! There are five age categories available: Preschool, Kindergarten to Year 3, Year 3 to Year 6, Year 7 to Year 9, and Year 10 to Year 12.
Take a photograph of the completed template and email to us at communications@lakemac.nsw.gov.au
For terms and conditions or more information about the Plan review you can check out the engagement page on Shape Lake Mac here.
Competition closes on Friday 26 November. Feel encouraged to share the competition through your school newsletters and Facebook pages.