Dear Parents and Friends of St Kevin’s, 

Welcome to Catholic Schools Week! This week we celebrate everything that makes Catholic Schools so unique and stupendous! You have chosen Catholic schooling for your children for a very particular reason. I ask that this week you share with your children why you chose Catholic schooling for them and in particular why St Kevin’s. I ask this of our new Kindergarten parents when we meet to enroll their children at this time every year. The comments always centre around great community, small school benefits, the teaching of Religion as a subject and its impact on everything else that is done at school, the sense of belonging, and that our Catholic faith is something to be celebrated and shared. Parents articulate they are directed here by word of mouth and recommendations from neighbours and friends. The wider community sees us as a school that promotes academic excellence as validated by our NAPLAN results, one where our students are well mannered and polite, and one that takes pride in everything they do with Jesus at the centre of all our decisions and actions. I know I do not want to work anywhere else. St Kevin’s is a terrific school, and this is the week to celebrate and share those sentiments with everyone who will listen. 

Enjoy the remainder of Catholic Schools Week and take the opportunity to really engage with your children in the educational and faith life journey. 

Mary-Anne Jennings 

Principal 

New building work

Many comments are coming in from parents asking what is going on with the space created by the old convent being demolished. We are building a new front administration building that will provide a fantastic street face for our school with easy access for parents, grandparents and those young enough that visit in a pram. We will have new offices for staff, sick bay and meeting rooms to utilise. It will also include landscaping of our playgrounds – the various embankments around the school, which will provide creative play and outdoor learning areas for all students. We are very excited to have these new facilities being built here at St Kevin’s. 

Winter Uniforms 

Winter uniforms are to be worn by all students from Monday June 3 Week 7 of this term. We are in a transition phase with some students wearing our new uniform of navy trousers/ tunics and blue shirts, whilst others are continuing to wear grey pants / blue shirts for boys and white shirts / navy tunic or pants for girls. All students must wear ties during winter and shirts tucked in and top buttons fastened. Jumpers are to be worn on non-sports days. Sports day is Friday this term and sports uniforms are to only be worn on Fridays. 

CONGRATULATIONS CORNER 

Congratulations to Miss Wiseman on her graduation upon completing her Masters of Education (Educational Wellbeing).We never stop learning and this is a prime example of studies continuing as an adult. Miss Wiseman has already identified her next course of study!

Susan’s soccer try-outs 

On the 8th May, I went to Speers Point soccer ground to try out for the Lake Macquarie Girls soccer team. The team will represent Lake Macquarie in the state competition (northern NSW division). 

When I got there, there were about 25 other girls there. Some of them had already been in the team before. One of them, Mia, was a girl I knew from my own local soccer team. 

First, we did some drills, such as piggy in the middle, then we played a game. One team was colours, and the other team was green. We were separated into the positions that we would like to play. 

During the first half, our team’s midfielders did most of the work defending and attacking, always together. One time, a striker had managed to get past our line of defence, so I sped after her, tapping it away just before she booted it in the goal. 

We played for a while with us winning the first half 5 nil. We had a half time where the coach gave us some tip such as jockeying the player with the ball. Then we started the game’s second half. 

However, this time the other team scored a few goals. But even though they scored, we scored a few to keep ahead. That made the final score 8-3. 

After the game, we were told to wait as two coaches decided who was in the team and who missed out. 

In the end, our coach said the names one by one of the 19 players who had made it to the next try-out in an unnecessarily slow way that made me anxious. But I needn’t have worried for I was one of the names. 

On the 15th May, the 19 players went to Speers Point again for the second try-out. 

First, we played piggy in the middle again as a warm-up before we played another game. 

We played with only two defenders, then it was just me defending because the other defender felt sick. Though we were one defender down, our defending mid-fielder was good, always getting the ball if it got past me. 

I finished the try-out to be told I made the team. 

I was very excited. 

I did not expect to be named in the team so early or at all. 

Mum bought me chips and a sausage roll at the canteen to celebrate. 

My family all congratulated me and said I did a good job getting into the team. 

I felt nervous during the entire try-outs because I really wanted to get in. 

It was a great relief to get in the team because I was very keen to represent Lake Macquarie. 

I can’t wait to start. 

  

As I sit here writing this to you all I am tremendously excited.  On Tuesday, I happened upon Peter and Jen Charnock in the reception area and told them of my frustration in being unable to secure a suitably sizeable Cup Trophy – CHEAPLY!  These magnificent grandparents were the answers to our prayers, once again stepping into the breach, creating an awesome Spirit Cup that I have utilised to fire up the children and get them into the spirit for our Inaugural SPIRIT day tomorrow.  Thankyou! Thankyou! Thankyou! 

SPIRT DAY tomorrow! 

Catholic School Week celebrates the purpose and impact of Catholic Education and we at St Kevin’s are ready for an afternoon of celebration tomorrow.  We hope you can come!  Our day kicks off at 12noon with a Sausage Sizzle, followed by a liturgy in the Church at 1pm.  At approximately 1:30pm we have our Inaugural Spirit Cup that comprises 18 separate activities for Tennyson (Blue House) and Mackillop (Gold House) to contest.  Children can choose an adult to compete with them in an activity.  So come prepared with your running shoes on and ready to put your brain into gear.  Of course, you can feel free to decline if you wish. 

Uniform : Colour House Shirt and sports clothes 

Lunch : Sausage Sizzle 

Reminder: Sunscreen and roll on insect repellent please. 

School Improvement 

This week you will have received a Compass notification regarding the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) survey.  This survey is only live for a very short period and we really value your input.  For example, in late 2022 when the survey was last conducted, parent response revealed a need for student faith formation.  We listened!  The budgets had already been set for 2023 but throughout 2023 we attempted to communicate children’s faith formation experiences at St Kevin’s.  In setting the budget for 2024 we allocated $10k to this project.  Primary school retreat / faith formation experiences are limited and so, we sought advice from our RE & S team.  They told us that we needed to inservice staff on delivery of student faith formation and helped us plan a retreat for our Year 3 –6 students in August.  The money budgeted covers professional development and the student retreat.   This will become a biannual retreat experience.  This year we are travelling to Mary Mackillop Place in North Sydney.   

We need a large cross section of our parent community to let us know where we are doing well and what we need to do to improve.  Please if you can find 20 minutes in the next couple of weeks to complete the survey we would be extremely grateful and use this data to inform our forward direction. 

God bless 

Kim Hogan

Co-Principal / Assistant Principal

Faith Life, Catholic Identity and the Liturgical Season 

FOLLOW ME! CELEBRATING CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK MONDAY 20TH TO SATURDAY 25TH MAY 2024 

This week, we celebrate the contribution that Catholic schools make to the lives of students and families around Australia. Catholic schools educate over 805,000 students (one in five Australian students) and employ over 109,000 staff. For over 200 years, Catholic schools in Australia have provided a choice to Australian families for the education of their children, that reflects their own beliefs and values. 

Our Diocesan theme for Catholic Schools Week this year is “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19). In this story from the Gospel of Mathew, Jesus invites Simon, Peter and Andrew to place their trust and confidence in Him and to follow Him on a journey as His disciples (followers or students). For disciples, to ‘follow-me’ meant that they became like an apprentice to Jesus, to learn His ways, to love like He does, and to serve the poor and outsider like He does. To ‘be’ Good news to all the earth! 

This invitation continues to this day as Catholic schools help fulfill the mission given by Jesus, to “Follow me!” Working alongside our parishes and other agencies to love and serve those in our communities. This attitude of service and caring for the whole person, flavours our Catholic schools’ approach to everything! From striving for excellence in learning, to dedicated pastoral care and wellbeing, to faith formation opportunities for every child, we work hard to help each child to flourish in life. 

Thank you for trusting St Kevin’s Primary School with the care and education of your child. 

Upcoming Faith Life Celebrations 

Catholic Schools Week Celebrations will occur from 12pm on Friday 24th May. We can’t wait to celebrate all that is exciting in our school community with you! 

Sacramental Programme News: 

Students participating in the All Saints Blackbutt South Sacramental Programme, who will receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy First Communion next term will begin attending weekend Masses from 18/19 May 2024, and conclude with our commitment Mass at St Philip’s Church Kotara on 27 July 2024.  

 CONFIRMATION PROGRAM  

• Saturday 27 July: Commitment Mass- St Philips Kotara 5.30 pm – All are Welcome. 
• 28 July- 4 August: Online program- all families to complete at home. 
• Face to face lessons – Please take this as a Spiritual endeavour for your children. 

Adamstown - Monday 5 August @ 3:30PM  

Cardiff -Wednesday 7 August @ 3:30PM  

Kotara - Monday 5 August @5:00PM & Tuesday 6 August @ 3:30PM 

Amy Arthur

Acting Religious Education Coordinator

On Wednesday, 22 May 2024 at 12pm, St Kevin’s joined over two million children, as well as librarians, teachers, and parents across Australia, New Zealand, and around the world to celebrate National Simultaneous Storytime. This fun annual event, now in its 24th year, promotes literacy and the joy of reading. Every year a special picture book is selected and read by all participants at the same time. Aura Parker, author and illustrator of this year’s book Bowerbird Blues, explored the story with her live audience, shared some fun facts and finished with a quick sketch of the fascinating bird.

During library lunch club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, St Kevin students have been excited to participate in special arts and crafts activities in the lead-up to the National Simultaneous Storytime and are now showcasing their creative and imaginative skills in a writing workshop. We have been working on character development and will be exploring various writing genres including graphic novels and picture books. The aim of library lunch club is to grow children’s confidence, take pride in their work, develop creativity, and improve literacy – it has been wonderful to see so much creative energy and growing minds on display.

Anita Monkley

Acting Teacher Librarian

If you have a child, or know someone who is looking for schooling options for Kindergarten 2025, the new online enrolment application can be accessed via our school website:

St Kevin's Enrolment Application

Any student in Year 6 wishing to enrol at St Paul's High School, Booragul, must have their applications to them by this Friday 24th May to be considered for the first round of offers. If you are having difficulty attending St Paul's to submit your application, you can submit them to St Kevin's office and they will be collected by St Paul's. 

2025 Enrolment Timeline:

• 1 March 2024: Enrolment period opens.
• 24 May 2024: Initial enrolment period closes 
• 24 May 2024: Applications submitted after this date are only considered if there are available places (after initial enrolment offers) and on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the school and Principal.
• 14 June 2024: Initial enrolment outcome notification - Letter of Enrolment Offer or Waitlist 
• 1 July 2024: Initial enrolment offer acceptances due.
  

Thank you to all of our wonderful parent volunteers who give up their time to help at St Kevin's, whether it is reading in the classrooms, helping at the uniform shop or canteen, running our P&F or helping transport equipment to and from sporting events. Your contributions mean so much to the children and staff at St Kevin's. As a "thank you", the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle are offering a free movie night for you to attend. Please see the flyer below and RSVP your attendance.