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Dear Parents and Friends of St Kevin’s
What a difference 2 weeks make!!!!
Life is always changing, and you never know what lies ahead. However, as many have said, we must work through the current situation together to achieve the best outcome. That is why being part of a village school such as St Kevin’s is so valuable. As a village we will support all our families in any way we can. We may have to work differently, think differently, socialise differently and adapt to unplanned changes in routine. How we function within these new parameters will impact greatly on the lives and education of our children. So, as a village let us work together to ensure that our children are kept safe and not over exposed to any anxiety, we as adults may experience. Continue to read to them, play games together, share mealtimes and pray as a family. Treasure all family time and the support of the village.
We have been receiving queries from parents regarding home learning for children being kept at home. At this stage, schools are open, and teachers are working here at school. In challenging situations children find school their haven, where their learning continues, and friendships opportunities continue to be provided. It is acknowledged that some parents may choose to keep their children at home in the current climate, however as a result of schools being open, we will not provide home learning content.
Thank you to the parents who have adjusted to our new protocols regarding morning drop off and afternoon pick up. The resilience and tenacity demonstrated by the children has been outstanding as they adapt to hanging up their own bags and unpacking them, meeting teachers in the correct area at home time, washing their hands and promoting good hygiene habits. They are displaying a positive mindset. They are discovering the joys of success when they conquer a hardship or something new. Too often as parents and carers and teachers, we do things for our children because it is quicker and less stressful for us as adults, and the children miss out on learning valuable life skills. However, from what I am observing, the children are coping beautifully and adapting to brilliantly to the changes in the school routines.
With that in mind, we wish to keep school as much fun as possible. Easter is fast approaching and we want to celebrate that.
So, with protocols and social distancing and COVID-19 restrictions we have planned the following.
Holy Week Liturgies
We will engage in the Easter story here on site. Unfortunately, we cannot invite parents and carers to participate this year. However, as teachers we have been thinking outside the box, to ensure that the students get to embrace the Easter story and its importance of being central to our Catholic faith. Each class will act out Palm Sunday in their own space – so send in a tea towel or beach towel and maybe a dressing gown or something similar, for your child to wear on Monday April 6. Props always make learning more fun.
On Holy Thursday (April 9) we will conduct our own Last Supper via video link for each class, to be followed by the Stations of the Cross. This way we control numbers of students in one place at one time, keeping to the guidelines set out by the Government. Years 3, 4, 5, 6 may like to bring a black t-shirt and black leggings or jeans for the Stations of the Cross.
Out of uniform day Friday March 27. All children to bring an Easter egg or 2 as their contribution for not wearing their school uniform. Just ensure children wear enclosed shoes and no shoe-string shoulder straps for the girls.
Easter egg raffle – Raffle tickets will be sent home over the upcoming week. Prizes will be the Easter eggs they bring into school on the out of uniform day. The raffle will be drawn via a zoom conference on Wednesday April 8.
Easter hat making and parade – Wednesday April 8. Unfortunately, this year we can’t have parents on site, but we will flood our Facebook page with photos! Please provide hat making materials for your child by Monday April 6.
So, stay clam and know that we are caring for your children, ensuring they continue to have access to high quality teaching and learning opportunities here at St Kevin’s.
A thought for fundraising! Anyone have a spare unopened pack of toilet paper????
Mary-Anne Jennings
Principal
Leadership Team Professional Development
As leaders we continue to ensure that we are learning and engaged in current best practice and research. The Catholic Schools Office has engaged Dr Lynn Sharratt to lead all Principals and members of the school executive, in strategies to continuously improve student achievement across the Diocese. As a teaching team at St Kevin’s it is all about shared responsibility and accountability for all our students from Kindergarten through to Year 6, irrespective of what class we teach. As educators, we are all responsible for all learners in our school, knowing their learning journey and goals. Such a united approach is a very powerful method to ensure that all students learn and are given the right support and encouragement to succeed.
Important Letter from Bishop Bill
Please read the attached letter from Bishop Bill regarding the cancellation of Masses, Sacramental Programmes and the restrictions for funerals and weddings.
Messages from the Assistant Principal
Last week myself, Mrs Jennings, Mrs Hogan and nearly 60 CSO and diocesan staff as well as Leadership Teams from 40 of our schools commenced an exciting learning journey with well-respected Canadian educator, researcher and author Lyn Sharratt. Lyn focused her presentations and workshops over the week on what research confirms matters most in learning, teaching and leading. Lyn and Michael Fullan’s findings are summarised by 14 Parameters for system and school improvement.
St Kevin’s leadership team have completed a gap analysis to ensure all 14 Parameters are addressed as we continue to drive school improvement. Research shows that leaders create the conditions for great practices to flourish within a school.
Congratulations to the staff at St Kevin’s who meet each week and commit to ensuring we embed good practice in the classroom.
Our gap analysis identified areas of strength in all areas-
Well done team!
Websites for interested learners
Typing club- practise your typing skills
National Geographic Kids- a site full of free educational videos, games and activities that centre on wildlife and preservation.
https://www.natgeokids.com/au/
Nasa Kids Club- learn the ins and outs if NSA’s missions
https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html
Book creator- lets kids write and illustrate their own stories (90 day free trail- also available as an app)
Great Maths websites:
https://talkingmathwithkids.com/
https://www.youcubed.org/resource/parent-resources/
https://nrich.maths.org/parents
With every best wish,
Nikki Norley (Assistant Principal)
We are currently in the Lenten season approaching the most important time on the Catholic calendar – Easter. The restrictions for assembling (under 100) makes attending Sunday liturgies challenging. So, I thought I would share a message with you from this Sunday’s gospel.
The gospel this weekend is a story that many of you will be very familiar with, Jesus healing a blind man on the Sabbath. The Pharisees had a real problem with this as Jesus, a Jew, was not supposed to perform work on the Sabbath. The Pharisees questioned the Blind Man rigorously, stating that Jesus was a sinner. The Blind Man couldn’t understand their problem and challenged them
“The man replied, ‘Now here is an astonishing thing! He has opened my eyes, and you don’t know where he comes from! We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but God does listen to men who are devout and do his will. Ever since the world began it is unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man who was born blind; if this man were not from God, he couldn’t do a thing.’
In his homily on this weekend’s gospel Richard Lennon states
“They cannot recognise Jesus or his works of mercy because of their tunnel vision. Jesus doesn’t fit their worldview. Meanwhile the blind beggar, who has sight restored, goes on to gain insight about who Jesus is and the way that God works in the world; he begins to see how shallow and pathetic the Pharisees really are.”
What is our worldview? Are we looking through the eyes of Jesus? Are we blind to the needs of others. What is our Christian and Social Responsibility and are we remembering that in these difficult times or are we self serving and making decisions only for ourselves and our own families and forgetting the elderly and less fortunate?
It’s true that God permits us to live in an imperfect world where we are prone to illness and disability. But that same world gives us the freedom to be creative in the face of adversity, to be compassionate with those who are sick or disabled and free to believe that there is a purpose for each human life. God, the source of all love, does not actively send bad things to us, instead, he is our constant companion in dealing with them; giving us the courage and strength to cope with, and sometimes overcome, them.
If you would like to read Richard Lennon’s full homily please scan the QR code below. He has a way with words!
God Bless
Kim Hogan
Yaama
Recently the children read the book Koo Koo Kookaburra by Gregg Dreise. The story is about a young kookaburra who makes his friends laugh and they all have a great time. But then he decides to laugh at them by making fun of their differences and teasing them. Of course they then go away.
His elders keep reminding him that this is no way to treat his friends. They tell him “Kindness is like a boomerang. If you throw it out often, it returns to you often.” And, “You have two eyes, two ears and only one mouth. Watch and listen more than you speak.” Kookaburra eventually listens to his elders and says sorry to his friends. They come back and together they enjoy each other’s company. He now laughs with them again, but doesn’t laugh at them. A really important message as we celebrate our differences during Harmony Week.
Phil Taylor
Aboriginal Education Teacher
https://cardiff.catholic.edu.au/
A reminder that all communication from the school is sent via Compass. All dates that have been set for the year are in the school calendar in Compass, this includes grade events, school events and sporting events. Events your child is involved in personally e.g. representative sport, gala days, excursions etc. can also be seen when you view your child’s individual profile. A reminder that Compass functions best on a device rather than a mobile phone. Use your phone to add attendance notes for your child, but all other features such as notes etc. should be viewed on a PC, iPad etc.
Thanks to our P&F
Our amazing P&F have been extremely generous in purchasing an Australian Standing Orders subscription for our school. This provides our library with a regular delivery of the latest and greatest titles. Fostering a love of reading is invaluable and having new, rich texts that engage students helps to develop life-long readers. We can’t thank the P&F enough for this gift. We have had 2 deliveries so far and the books are being borrowed like crazy! Here’s our amazing collection so far.
Premiers Reading Challenge
Let’s keep reading and logging our books. I am seeing lots of students getting stuck into this challenge. Remember K-2 are reading their books in class but 3-6 must read 25 books on their own by August 28th! If you need a reading record sheet or log in details, please contact Mrs Stephenson- bianca.gleeson@mn.catholic.edu.au
Congratulations
Well done to Year 4 for being our first Library Borrowing award recipients!
Well done to Year 2 for winning the Library Borrowing Trophy this fortnight!
Congratulations to Patrick- Year 4 and Louis- Year 1 for receiving the Library Learner Award.