Dear Parents and Friends of St Kevin's,

Yesterday we had a visit to our school by various heads of departments from the Diocese. These included Lisa Tierney Chief Operating Officer for the Diocese, Steve Lemos Head of Catholic Schools, Father Joseph Figurado All saints Blackbutt South Parish Priest, Ryan Gato Acting Assistant Head RE & Spirituality Services, Liz McQuade-Jones Assistant Head Learning & Wellbeing, Aunty Louise Campbell Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education and Wellbeing, Jacqueline Wilkinson Assistant Head Primary Schools, plus heads of shared services in finance, governance, tech services, communications, P&F and property! It was a big team to visit our small school, but it was an amazing opportunity to showcase just how amazing we are!! Feedback from our distinguished visitors centered on our students and their manners, work ethic and positive approach to learning. Students when asked could articulate what they were learning and why and how their learning was going. You as parents will have this opportunity to have these in depth conversations with your own children on April 3 at our Student Led Conferences. Mrs Hogan has more information on this in her section of the newsletter.

One email I received this morning stated ...” that there is an obvious commitment to building a learning and wellbeing culture and living witnesses to faith.”

Our building projects re; the convent, are in the final stages of selecting tenders and then fine-tuning work to be done to meet all safety requirements. More information will be shared with you as soon as it is finalised.

One very important area of success was our high attendance rate. Children cannot learn and succeed if they are not attending school. Thank you to all our parents who ensure their students are here every day and on time!

Another outstanding area of success was our academic results in NAPLAN, especially in writing and reading. These results link directly to the high attendance of our students, the commitment to learning by our students, the excellent teaching staff and never-ending support of our parents on this educational journey.

It was a very affirming and positive day overall. Great results cannot be attributed to one person or idea. It takes a village to raise a child, and once again the St Kevin’s village is achieving great results and ensuring that we truly are a “Catholic Community, nurturing mind, heart and spirit, following the light of Christ”.

Mary-Anne Jennings

Principal

Upcoming events:

MARCH

NAPLAN testing Years 3 and 5 – March 13 to 20 for St Kevin’s

Out of uniform day – March 15. Please note the change of date. Apologies. Easter Egg donation for our Annual Easter Egg Raffle.

Harmony Day – March 21. Wear National dress of country of origin or something orange.

Holy Week - March 25 Palm Sunday Liturgy led by K-2 students at 2pm.

                           March 28 Holy Thursday  & Good Friday Liturgy led by Years 3 and 6, at 1.30pm in school hall.

Easter Hat Parade and Raffle – March 27 at 2pm in school hall.

APRIL

PUPIL FREE DAY – APRIL 2. There is no school for students on that day.

Easter Resurrection Liturgy – April 3 led by Years 4 and 5 at 9am.

Student led conferences – April 3. Timetable sent home tomorrow re: scheduled timeslots from 3:30-6pm approximately.

School X-Country – April 10 at 9am

Sports awards assembly – April 12 Term 1 sports awards for swimming, cricket, soccer, X-country at 2:15pm in school hall.

Last day term 2 – April 12   

TERM 2 commences April 29.

Parent Communication & Reporting

We are always trying to improve.  In 2024, one of our areas of focus is communication with parents. We have a shared interest in ensuring that your child is safe, included, happy and achieving at school.  The classroom teacher should always be the first point of contact.  If you have a concern or want a progress update, please contact your child’s classroom teacher to request an interview by phone or in person.  Teachers have been reaching out to parents over the last couple of weeks to provide feedback on how their child is settling into classroom routines, general behaviour observations and work habits. Teachers are always collecting data on a child’s progress and making formative judgements on where children are at and how to improve their outcomes.  At this stage it is too early in the year to make summative judgements  but by all means ask for feedback.

On Wednesday 3^rd April we will be conducting our Student Led Parent Teacher conferences. Last year we sought feedback on this additional model of reporting to parents.  We listened to your feedback and this year will be conducting student led conferences in Terms 1 and Term 3. This reporting model gives students greater agency, giving them increased responsibility, ownership and accountability for their learning.  Giving students the responsibility to communicate their struggles and successes with their parents fosters independent learners who can share their thoughts, feelings, needs, and accomplishments.

Students prepare for the conference, lead the discussion with their parents, and set goals. Staff will be available to assist and answer questions. Three conferences will occur simultaneously in the classroom under this student-led model. Teachers will move around the room, in and out of conferences as needed to maintain collaborative communication.  As such, teachers have had to group and timetable their students to best meet the needs of their class under this model. Considerable organisation has gone into the planning and timetabling of these conferences to accommodate families with more than one sibling.  Unfortunately, this means that families are unable to select a time that best fits families busy schedules.  We ask for your understanding and support in these two afternoons this year, and hope you are able to adjust your calendars to share in your child’s learning.   The timetable for these conferences will be sent home tomorrow.

God Bless

Kim Hogan

Co-Principal /Assistant Principal

Faith Life, Catholic Identity and the Liturgical Season

In John’s Gospel for the Third Sunday in Lent, Jesus spends time in Jerusalem prior to the festival of Passover. He encounters market traders outside the Temple, where—for the lack of a better phrase—he causes a scene by turning their tables and scattering their earnings in response to the exchange of money amongst the privilege outside the Temple. Arguably, this was one of the many moments in which Jesus’s presence in Jerusalem led to his trial and ultimate death. His outrage towards the market traders existed around the injustice and barriers that this trading and selling created.

The segue here for Catholics is courage. Courage to speak against the injustices of the world that impact those less fortunate than us.

Sacred spaces around the school continue to be dressed in purple. There are two variations of the liturgical purple in Australia. During Lent, it is a Violet Purple, while Advent is a Lilac/Jacaranda Purple. I like to remember this by November, leading up to Advent being filled with the Jacaranda Season and beautiful purple blossom.

Religious Education

In RE News, Year 1 were sharing with me some spectacular learning about Belonging to God’s Family through their understanding of Psalms. They shared with Mr Gato, who visited Year 1 yesterday as part of the ASV, that Psalms are like poems and songs. When asked of two psalms they knew, they were able to recall their knowledge of “The Lord is my Shepherd …” and “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” as two examples.

I will also share with you an image of the Year 2’s Sacred Space and RE Learning Walls to observe. Just like all quality learning, visible and co-constructed learning walls are very much part of the RE Classroom.

Upcoming Faith Life Celebrations

A few dates for the calendar.

St Joseph’s Feast Day prayer service: Friday 15^th March, 2.15pm led by Year 2.

School Led Parish Mass: Sunday 17^th March, 9:30am at St Kevin’s Church – please respond on Compass Events accordingly and let Mrs Arthur know if you can participate in the Ministries.

Harmony Day Celebrations: Prayer Service led by Year 5, Thursday 21^st March.

Holy Week (Separate from our secular Easter Egg-stravaganza)

Palm Sunday: Led by K-2: Monday 25^th March from 2pm.

Holy Thursday and Stations of the Cross: Thursday 28^th March from 1:30pm

Bishop Michael’s Visit to School

On Tuesday, the students warmly welcomed Bishop Michael to the school grounds. The student leadership team spent time delivering a prayer service and touring the school grounds with Bishop Michael. Children in all grades were treated to some exciting stories from his childhood and his joy and passion for a life in education and one of service. Thanks, Bishop Michael for taking the time to visit St Kevin’s!

Amy Arthur

Acting Religious Education Coordinator

Kaayi (Hello – Awabakal)

Yaama Ngindaay (Hello everyone - Gamilaraay)

Nungamanladi (Hello - Bardi)

Te bandola nginak (Hello, how are you? – Yorta Yorta)

Monday 18 – Sunday 24 March 

Harmony Week is an opportunity for all Australians to embrace cultural diversity and to share what we have in common. It is celebrated during the week (Monday to Sunday) that includes 21 March, which is the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. 

St Kevin’s will celebrate Harmony Day on Thursday 21 March. 

To help with our celebration we would like each child to complete a Harmony Day ‘hand’ activity at home and bring it back to school. They write the names of countries where they have a family connection on the fingers of their hand. The paper ‘hand’ will be sent home soon. Please assist your child to prepare for the day by helping them to complete the ‘hand’ at home.

On Thursday 21 March:

• Children are encouraged to wear something ‘orange’. Orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Week. Traditionally, orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect.
• Children may wear something associated with one of the countries they have family connection to, such as a dress or headwear or shirt.
• 9:00-9.15am Harmony Day Prayer Service in the hall. ALL WELCOME.
• Children will learn more about Harmony Day in their classrooms during the day.

 

Thank you for your support of Harmony Week 2024.

Nginowa (See you later – in Awabakal) 

Yaluu (See you later – in Gamilaraay)

Phil Taylor

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Teacher

Raising young readers at St Kevin’s

Current educational research has highlighted the importance of reading for pleasure, not just because it improves children’s literacy outcomes and boosts vocabulary, but also more widely for fostering empathy, creativity, and imaginative thought and supporting health and wellbeing. At St Kevin’s Primary School, we are proud to offer a library collection that is diverse, contemporary, and responsive to student reading interests. Versatile displays, activities, and initiatives aim to foster a love of reading in our students across all year levels.

One such initiative, the Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC), is a NSW-wide annual program that aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure. Rather than being a competition, the PRC challenges our children to read, to read more, and to read more widely. Students at St Kevin’s are invited to participate in the PRC – to do so, they must read a certain number of books by the closing date (Friday, 23 August 2024) and record these on their personal reading logs. Challenge levels (by year group) will determine the total number of books to be read. Books may be selected from the PRC Booklists (available online, and our school library books are also marked with PRC stickers for easy access), and can also include up to ten personal choice books. Please see library staff for help with accessing students’ personal reading logs or selecting a new unputdownable read.

School Fee statements were emailed to parents last Saturday 2 March. If you have not received your statement, please check your "junk" mail. We ask that you please review your fee statement and organise for weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments to commence as soon as possible. Regular payments must be started by 30 March 2024 and must be finalised by 30 November 2024. If you have elected to pay your fees annually, they are expected to be paid in full by the 30 June 2024 (end of the financial year). If you need assistance in working out your repayment amounts, please email admin@cardiff.catholic.edu.au or phone the school on 4954 0036. 

If you have outstanding fees from 2023 on your account, these are overdue and you will be contacted by the finance officer, Kirrily Corbett, to make arrangements for these fees to be paid as soon as possible. 

It is the commitment of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle that no student will be denied a Catholic education due to financial hardship and that in consultation with the principal and with supporting documentary evidence, fee adjustments can be applied. Conditions of enrolment for all student’s state that any barriers to meeting the financial obligations of school fees be discussed with the principal and come to a suitable arrangement that is reasonable for all parties. The Diocese ensures that no student is refused enrolment because of an inability, as distinct from unwillingness to meet financial obligations.

After receiving the fee account for 2024, we encourage families to contact the school if there is any reason, they can’t meet full fee obligations. Arrangements can then be made to meet with the principal to establish a suitable fee agreement.

Do you have someone ready to start Kindergarten in 2025 or know someone who is looking to enrol at St Kevin's? 2025 enrolments are now open. Please complete the enrolment form below and return it with your supporting documents no later than 24 May 2025. Don't miss out! New enrolment policy is now in use with implications that will impact on high school choice and choice of primary school according to residential addresses.

SchoolTV is an award-winning, online resource which provides parents with credible information and an extensive range of wellbeing resources. 

School TV is embedded on our school website, and here you will discover a host of interesting topics featuring video interviews and articles with wellbeing experts and researchers from around the world.

Feel free to have a look via the link SchoolTV

Good afternoon everyone,

Please find attached the parish bulletin for this Sunday, as well as the latest pastoral letter from Fr Joseph. 

Please also find attached a of informational flyers regarding the upcoming Chrism Mass and missionary work with Palms Australia.

God bless! 

Parish Team

ALL SAINTS PARISH BLACKBUTT SOUTH