Dear Parents and Carers of St Kevin’s, 

Last week the Executive Staff attended a conference on Leading Learning. It is a continuation of the work we started back in 2020 on discovering as leaders what matters most in learning, teaching and leading. It is the work that has led us to the questions we now ask our students about what they are learning and why, how their learning is going and where do they need to improve and where do they go for help in their learning. The conference gave us the opportunity to learn from the experts who have conducted research in this area, and from our colleagues who like us are refining the learning journey for staff and students. We can already see success in our St Kevin’s journey through the great NAPLAN 2023 results, and our challenge is to now continue this journey and embed what matters in learning and how we must always keep front and centre, the learning of our students in everything we do. 

Thank you to the parents who responded to the Tell Them From Me survey. This survey has now closed. The data will provide us with a road map of areas where we can do better and celebrate the areas where we are achieving great things. Your input is very much appreciated and valued. 

Semester 2 reports are currently being compiled by staff. Final assessments are being conducted and data is being analysed. Reports for Semester 2 are again different. They have 2 areas of strength identified and 1 area for improvement listed for Religion, English and Mathematics. This is a Diocesan wide report. I will send home a letter closer to their publication about how to read the report and what various aspects and language mean.  

Take care and enjoy the weekend. 

Mary-Anne Jennings 

Principal

Christmas Appeal 

Please send in items of food for our SVDP Christmas Hamper appeal. A small donation of a Christmas Pudding, Cake or other Christmas fare can make a HUGE difference to those less fortunate than us. These items need to be brought to school by the end of November. 

Kinder 2023 Transition Days 

Please note the change in dates. Thursday November 17, 24 and Thursday December 1. All mornings are from 9-10am. 

Grandparents Day 

Monday December 12. BYO Picnic lunch. Join your grandchildren for Christmas craft then join us for the Infants Nativity story. Times to follow shortly.  

COVID Test Kits 

This week all students brought home a box of Covid Test Kits. Covid is still around and we still need to do a RAHT from time to time if they present with cold or flu symptoms, to check if our children are fit and healthy to attend school.  

Last week the executive staff from all schools in the Diocese were invited to a conference about “Leading Learning Collaborative” a framework the entire diocese has adopted over the last 3-4 years. The work is focused on the work of Dr Lyn Sharratt who designed 14 Parameters for a successful learning environment The 14 Parameters are a well-researched, evidence-proven framework for system and school improvement. 

Each school has been working towards achieving these parameters and it would mean that moving between schools in the diocese as a teacher or a student would be more seamless than ever before. It has created unity as a diocese and allowed walls and barriers to be broken down as we all work together with the common goal in mind of improving student outcomes. 

The focus of this week has been the gathering of teams from all 58 schools to continue our work with the learning framework, the 14 Parameters. 

The research reminds us that when educational systems work collaboratively as a diocesan, the achievement of students increases more than in schools that have worked individually. 

The gathering of all schools was a profound celebration of our learning journey, and highlighted: 

• The value and importance of the system having in place a learning framework for all schools 
• The power of the collaborative culture the LLC journey has unlocked. This is not only within a school team, but between schools and between system and schools 
• The importance of us committed to the core belief (#1) that every young person can be a successful learner 

• We have in place a world-class learning framework. The important next step is to KEEP IT IN PLACE, putting in place the right drivers. 

Things you might see around each classroom that highlight our commitment to this journey include: 

• Student learning goals 
• Learning Intentions and Success Criteria 

• Walls of co-constructed student and teacher work – not just “Pinterest perfect” walls 

God Bless 

Kim Hogan

Assistant Principal

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for mass to launch our new Vision and Mission. It was a lovely mass led by students and the morning tea after was delicious. We are thankful that we can come together as a community again to celebrate and to continue to work together.

Here is the first reading from Habakuk (2:2-4) from our Vision and Mission Mass:

Then the Lord answered me and said:

Write down the vision,
    inscribe it clearly on tablets
    so that it can be read easily.
 For the vision is for the appointed time;
    it will speak of the end,
    and it will not lie.
If it delays in coming, wait for it,
    for it will surely come before too long.
 The proud man’s heart is not upright,
    but the righteous man will live
    because of his faith.

Acknowledgements

© The scriptural quotations are taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Co Inc, and used by permission of the publishers. 

The English translation of the Psalm Responses, the Alleluia and Gospel Verses, and the Lenten Gospel Acclamations, and the Titles, Summaries, and Conclusion of the Readings, from the Lectionary for Mass © 1997, 1981, 1968, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.

The prayers are from the English Translation of the Roman Missal © 2010 International Committee on English in the Liturgy Inc. (ICEL). All rights reserved.

Mini Vinnies Christmas Appeal

From now until 30^th November the Mini Vinnies will be running our Christmas Appeal to assist St Vincent De Paul in making Christmas hampers which they will distribute to those in need. The generosity of the St Kevin’s school community is amazing. Thank you to the families and staff who have already started bringing in donations. If you are able to add any of items on the list below to your shopping it would be very appreciated. There are baskets in each classroom for children to pop their items into.

• Bottles of soft drink
• Christmas/fancy sweet biscuits
• Savoury crackers/biscuits
• Chips
• Christmas lollies
• Christmas cake
• Christmas pudding
• Long life custard

Parish Sacrament News

The sacramental program for the next group interested will begin in November. If your child is in year 3 or above and would like to make their First Reconciliation there will be a lesson held on 15^th November in the MacKillop Room, St Kevin’s Cottage, Cardiff. First Reconciliation in our Parish will be on 23^rd November at 6pm at St Philip’s, Kotara. Please see the information from Father Joseph below.

RE_2.png

RE_2 _png 265.22 KB

RE_2.png

RE_2 _png 612.87 KB

God Bless

Fiona Stretton

Acting Religious Education Coordinator

Kaayi (hello in Awabakal; rhymes with ‘hi’)

Weaving with Mrs Merrick

This week our Aboriginal girls enjoyed weaving with Mrs Merrick, Aboriginal Education Teacher at St John Vianney Primary School Morriset. Mrs Merrick also taught at St Kevin's a few years ago. The girls are making bracelets and will continue learning weaving skills in coming weeks. As they become more proficient they will be able to teach other girls in their classes so that they can all enjoy weaving bracelets and baskets using traditional techniques.

Next year we will have some traditional Aboriginal creative activities for our boys to learn, share and enjoy together. Our thanks to Mrs Merrick for sharing her skills with us.

NAIDOC Week Competition Winner

Congratulations to Patrick in Year 6 who has been awarded a NAIDOC Medal of Excellence for his entry in this year’s NAIDOC Week School Initiatives Poetry Writing Competition. The poem was entitled ‘Respecting Culture’. Patrick is one of only 25 recipients of this award across NSW. A fantastic achievement Patrick.

Nginowa 

 

Phil Taylor

Aboriginal Education Teacher

You would have received a fee statment today. School fees are now due with final payment to be made by 30 November 2022.

Each family should have also received the 2023 School Fee Information Form (see below). This needs to be completed for each family at the school and emailed to admin@cardiff.catholic.edu.au or brought into the school office. Where there are split fees between separated families, each fee payer will need to complete the form.

Please be mindlful when completing the form of your payment frequency. If you elect to pay in a lump sum, you will be expected to make a payment prior to 31 March 2023 with your fees to be paid in full by 30 June 2023. If you elect to pay your fees weekly, monthly or fortnightly, there is an expectation that fee payments will have commenced by 31 March 2023 and be made regularly according to your preference and finalised by 30 November 2023. 

Should you be experiencing financial difficulty please contact the school office on 4954 0036 to arrange a meeting with Mary-Anne Jennings to discuss your fee payments.

Kirrily Corbett

Senior School Officer

St Kevin's Canteen will have its final day of operation for the year on Friday 25th November, this is due to all students attending swimming lessons for two weeks commencing on Monday 28th November.

Our specials for the comming weeks are:

1. Wednesday 9th November. Walking Tacos (larger size) and Drink for $8.00. All orders to be placed via QKR by 5pm Monday 7th November. We have changed the date to Wednesday as our infants will be on their excursion on Thursday 10th November and would hate to see them miss out!

2. Thursday 24th November. Hot Dog and Drink for $8.00. All orders to be placed via QKR by 5pm Tuesday 22nd November.

I would like to take this opportunity to say farewell to canteen as this is my final year at St Kevin's. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the fabulous volunteers who have given their time and sanity to help in the canteen. I could not have done it without you all.

Mary-Anne Vercoe

Volunteer Canteen Manager