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Dear Parent and Friends of St Kevin’s,
Welcome to our final newsletter for 2021! We made it!
2021 has seen us face many challenges that we were not expecting, but as a faith filled community, we were able to pull through and achieve great things despite the many obstacles in our path. Our school captains Emme and Cristiano demonstrated to their peers and younger students what it means to be persistent and how to serve their community. We thank them for their leadership and service to the St Kevin’s community.
Our teachers overcame the challenges of on-line learning, to ensure no student fell behind in their learning. Our teachers went above and beyond in ensuring there were numerous ZOOMS and TEAMS meetings each and every day with all students, to engage in purposeful and productive learning opportunities.
Our parents supported home learning by ensuring that computers were charged every night, books and stationery items were available to use, and that children completed set tasks in a timely and efficient manner.
And finally, to our students who adapted to online learning so that they didn’t fall behind academically, completing set work and attending all ZOOMS and TEAMS meetings daily. Our students have made good gains in the skills of being persistent and resilient, which will set them up for life.
So as 2021 draws to an end the staff here at St Kevin’s would like to wish all our amazing families and students a very happy and holy Christmas. May this special family time bring you all much peace and happiness, and a time to relax and recharge after a very busy and unusual year.
Merry Christmas
Mary-Anne Jennings
Principal
School Captains 2022
Speeches and voting will happen next week with results being made public on Friday December 10 after our end of year Liturgy and awards. This will be filmed and put on our Facebook page.
End of Year Awards
These will take place after our Liturgy and will be filmed and put up on Facebook for parents and grandparents to see. Thank you, Mrs Stephenson, for organising this.
Semester 2 Reports
Reports will be sent out via Compass on Friday 3 December 2021 at 3pm. If you do not have access to the internet, please contact the school so alternative arrangements can be made. Please remember, reports should be accessed on Compass via a PC or iPad. Mobile phones do not effectively support the downloading of the reports.
Calendar of Events
It has come to our attention that many parents are unaware of what is happening in our school. If you click on the tab “News and Events” at the top of our newsletter, a drop-down box appears with “Events Calendar”. Click on this and you can go up and down the calendar months to see what is coming up. This is a live document and is updated regularly.
Maternity Leave
Mrs Stephenson is commencing her maternity leave on December 17 and will be taking all of 2022 as maternity leave. We wish Bianca and Michael all the best and keep you in our prayers as you await the birth of your beautiful baby. Boy or girl … we don’t know yet!! It is very exciting as we wait for this precious little person to come into the world. Take care Bianca and enjoy every minute of being a new mum.
News from the Assistant Principal
As I come to the close of my first year in the role of an Assistant Principal I must acknowledge the generosity, support and well wishers I have received from the staff, students and parent community of St Kevin’s. My learning journey this year has been steep and rewarding and I look forward to continued growth and challenges in 2022. Thank you everyone I am truly blessed to work at such a great school.
End of Year Events
Due to COVID restrictions, regular end of year events have had to be modified.
- Year 6 Liturgy and Graduation – is happening on Tuesday 14th December. Two fully vaccinated adults ONLY permitted per each Year 6 student. RSVP to invitations previously sent is critical.
- Captains’ Speeches and voting will be held on Thursday 9th December. This will occur as a special socially distanced assembly for Years 2 – 6 ONLY.
- End of Year Awards and Liturgy will be held on Friday 10th December. This is occurring in classrooms via Teams Link. Sorry no parents can be accommodated under our COVID restrictions . Captains for 2022 will be announced on this day
- Year 6 Clap Out – Wednesday 15 December. Year 6 students will be dismissed by the church gate at 2:40 pm.
- Wednesday 15 December – final day for all students K-6
Start Dates for 2022
- Friday 28th and Monday 31st January Staff Development Days – Pupil Free
- Tuesday 1st February – students in Years 1-6 return to school
- Thursday 3rd February – first day for Kindergarten
- St Nicholas OOSH commences on Tuesday 1st February. Parents needing to access OOSH on the pupil free days can speak to Natalie Turner in regards to this, St Nicholas Cardiff is not operating but other centres are open and can take St Kevin’s students if required. Please contact the OOSH if you require casual care for your child/ren on these days.
Stationery Items 2022
Please find attached the 2022 Stationery List. It is important that students come to school on their first day, Tuesday 1st February with all items on the list (labelled). Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.
I look forward to working with you all again next year and wish you a very safe, happy and holy Christmas.
God Bless
Kim Hogan
Assistant Principal
Kaayi / Yaama
As we come to the end our school year I’d like to thank everyone in our school community for their continued support of Aboriginal Education at St Kevin’s.
It has been an unusual year with COVID restrictions in place for a number of weeks. The children have continued their learning about Aboriginal history and culture and celebrated many key events throughout the year despite the pandemic challenges.
It was great to see the children engaged in learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island cultures through their home learning activities including podcasts and short film clips. A number of children emailed me their responses which showed their high levels of understanding, awareness and appreciation.
Thank you to our student leaders, especially Emme and Cristiano, who have been great ambassadors for our school and exemplary role models. They featured in Diocesan publications, an NBN News item and supported initiatives to raise awareness of Aboriginal language and culture, such as encouraging people to include the name of the traditional land that their postal item is being delivered to.
Children's University
Congratulations to the children who participated in the Children’s University Program this year. They enjoyed learning so much as they completed lots of fun activities, did valuable research, attended learning lunchtimes at school and attended an on-campus event in Newcastle. Children’s University gives kids a little taste of the exciting things that Uni life and learning has to offer. Thank you to the team at Newcastle University for offering this program. We are very proud of our 2021 graduates, Charlie, Eva, Mia, Damien, Saxon, Harper, Mackenzie, Sienna and Teddy. Well done!
Please enjoy a well-earned relaxing break over the Christmas and New Year period. I wish you and your mob a happy, safe and Holy Christmas and New Year.
See you in 2022.
Nginowa / Yaluu
Phil Taylor
Aboriginal Education Teacher
Advent
We will celebrate the third Sunday of Advent by lighting the pink candle on our wreaths, the candle of JOY which is also known as the Shepherds candle. We are reminded of how joyful the shepherds must have felt when the angels announced the arrival of the baby Jesus. We will reflect on the joy we feel waiting and preparing for Christmas and how joyful we feel as we share these last weeks of school with our classmates.
The final candle is lit on the 4th Sunday of Advent and is called the candle of PEACE or The Angel’s Candle. It reminds us of the message of the Angels who announced ’Peace on earth and goodwill to all. ‘
As we head into the last two weeks of school for 2021, we look forward to Christmas, the holidays and the new year filled with JOY and HOPE and we share a deep FAITH for a Christmas season of PEACE and LOVE.
Virtual Book Fair
Thank you for your ongoing support of Book Club and our St Kevin’s library. Last week we received approximately $600 of new books for our School Library.
A big thank you to Mrs Stephenson for letting us borrow her book stand while she is on Maternity leave. We will display all new books on it.
It looks fantastic!
Reading Throne
Christmas Night Markets at Bunnings
Bunnings will be having another voting session for the thrones at their Christmas night markets on the 9th of December from 6pm-8pm. Please visit Bunnings Glendale and vote for St. Kevins. Second time lucky!
The children really love our new chair.
Sora App
Please encourage your children to read during the holidays.
Please remember to use Sora App. The children can reserve some popular titles before Christmas so they are ready to read during January.
Below shows you the school to select.
PRC Certificates
All children have received their PRC certificates. Great work St Kevin’s on some fantastic reading. Year 5/6 were the best Library Borrowers for 2021, they deserve their certificates and keep up the great reading. Well Done Year 5/6.
Wishing all families a safe and holy Christmas.
Dianne Binkin
Teacher Librarian
It really is the most magical time of the year and a time that may see our children ask questions about the magic of Christmas. While what you choose to tell your child is a very personal choice, we ask that children do not spoil the magic for those that still believe.
Calling all Rock n’ Rollers!! Learn guitar at St Kevin’s in 2022
St Kevin’s Primary School students will continue to have the opportunity to learn guitar in 2022. Open to years K to 6, students will learn everything from Bon Jovi to Billy Eilish to The Weeknd, to Post Malone, to Imagine Dragons, to Guy Sebastian, to Tones and I, to AC/DC, all whilst learning acoustic and electric guitar skills, learning to perform as part of a group and enjoying the excitement and experience of being a real musician with skills that will last a lifetime. All lessons are conducted in small groups, based on age and skill level. If you are interested in your child being involved, please email Ricky at ricky@rickysmusictuition.com.au