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Dear Parents and Friends of St Kevin’s,
I write this as a reflection of being a parent and grandparent. Being involved in the lives and education of my children and grandchildren is one of life’s precious gifts, providing many beautiful memories. At soccer on the weekend, I could support both my son as coach/grounds volunteer and my grandsons as participants. I was so proud of their involvement and engagement at all levels. Being engaged in the education and lives of your children is hard work and time-consuming, but so worth it. Your children learn from watching what you say and do. Every time you volunteer or engage at school or at weekend sports activities, you are demonstrating to your children that what they do and how they achieve success is important to you. Your children simply shine when you’re actively involved in their lives.
Here at St Kevin’s, we have a great P&F, canteen volunteers, uniform shop volunteers, parents helping with netball, parents helping with athletics and swimming carnivals and those who always offer to pick up the shelters to transport to various gala days. We could not do the things we do without your help. That’s why our students’ shine!
So, on behalf of the students here at St Kevin’s we say thank you to all the mums and dads and grandparents, who are involved with everything their children do either here at school or at weekend sports. Thank you for ensuring your children shine.
BUT wait... there’s more! We are in desperate need of volunteers for our school canteen. If you can possibly assist in any way, no matter how small, please let us know. Our NAIDOC Week celebrations are coming up, and there is a load of information in this newsletter further on. We need volunteers to cook and engage in games on the day. Are you ready to be a shining light?
Here’s to another weekend of sport, dance, and community engagement. Enjoy every moment!
Mary-Anne Jennings
Principal
Upcoming dates for your calendar this term
June 21 – Liturgy led by Years 4 and 5 at 2:15pm in the Church
July 2 -Children's University On Campus Discovery Day
July 2 - Winter PJ Mission Day
July 3 – Lakes Regional Athletics Carnival
July 3 – Parent /teacher interviews
July 4- NAIDOC celebrations
July 5 – Last day of Term 2
July 22- PUPIL FREE DAY
July 23- First Day of Term 3
Parent/Teacher Interviews
Wednesday July 3
Time: 3:30-6pm
School library
Please contact your child’s teacher directly if you wish to have a 10-minute interview on this day. Many parents have been in contact throughout the semester already and may not feel the need to engage in this process – the choice is up to you. Contact details are as follows:
Kinder – ellie.brownlow@mn.catholic.edu.au
Year 1- amy.pantalone@mn.catholic.edu.au
Year 2 – Mrs Tonks is on leave that week. Please make alternate arrangements if you require an interview.
Year 3 – martin.vaughan@mn.catholic.edu.au
Year 4- layne.wiseman@mn.catholic.edu.au
Year 5 – brittany.mclean@mn.catholic.edu.au
Year 6 – jeremy.smith1@mn.catholic.edu.au
Students leaving early / arriving late.
We appreciate that occasionally things happen where a student may be either late to school or must leave early. However, we currently have many students arriving late for school each day or leaving early.
The Education Act 1990 requires that parents ensure their children of compulsory school age are enrolled at, and regularly attend school, or are registered with the NSW Education and Standards Authority for home schooling. Once enrolled, children are required to attend school each day it is open for students.
Please read the attached flyer from the NSW Government about the importance of regular school attendance and the impacts of poor attendance – this includes arriving late or leaving early, which can have on your child’s education.
Congratulations Corner
Poppy Year 4... Sporting success
On the weekend of the 1st & 2nd of June Poppy and her Falcons representative basketball team attended round 3 of their competition. Over the two days in Port Macquarie they played 4 games, winning 3 out of the 4. Following that she backed that up with a trip to Sydney for the cross-country Polding stage. Poppy ran a beautiful race but unfortunately won't progress to the next level.
Then on the long weekend she attended the John Martin Country Basketball tournament where the team battled it out in a tough competition where they came 4th overall and Pops was awarded MVP for her efforts.
Spelling and Maths Bee Champs
Congratulations to our 5 competitors who represented St Kevin’s at the Lakes Region Maths and Spelling Bee Competition on June 14.
Caine Year 6.... 1st in Maths.
Elliana Year 6.... 4th in Spelling
Arabella Year 4.... 2nd in Spelling and 7th in Maths
Max Year 2.... 3rd in Spelling
Xavier Year 1....2nd in Maths
Parent Pick-Up Afternoon Dismissal
On Thursday we tried a new procedure for parents wishing to collect their children from school in the afternoon. It has been noted by parents and teachers that the Andrew St footpath was becoming dangerously congested in the afternoon with foot traffic and cars lining up adjacent to the gates. It was an accident waiting to happen.
So, to reduce and minimise risk we ask if you are collecting your child from school at 3pm, having parked your car somewhere up the road, you now please enter the school grounds via the Andrew St gate near Year 6, and proceed to the scooter track near our hall and wait there. Your children will be brought to you by a teacher who can then ensure that the children being dismissed are going with the correct carer and are safe. This is our duty of care, to ensure that at the end of the day we know where, how and with whom the children left our site. Please do not call your child to come to you – we are instructing them to wait until a staff member is there to dismiss them. Your cooperation and understanding are most appreciated.
Car Lines Afternoon Dismissal
Thank you to all the parents waiting patiently in Andrew St to collect their child from car lines. Thank you for not parking in the “Kiss and Drop” zone for longer than the allocated 2 minutes. Thank you for not blocking residents' driveways.
Hands On
There appears to be an outbreak of using our hands to solve friendship squabbles and disagreements when playing. The students know that our rule is “Hands Off” as breaking this rule is neither safe nor respectful. Children using their hands to hurt others or damage equipment belonging to others, will have the consequence of losing play time. Positive relationships is our school goal for this year, but sometimes we all need to take ownership of our behaviour and have time to reflect on better choices than hitting or punching or fighting with our hands. We are explicitly teaching the children to walk away if someone is making them feel angry or mad, and to go get a teacher to help them solve issues that arise during play or when disagreements occur. Teaching our children that violence does not solve problems, instead it usually exacerbates them, is something we all need to do.
Words as Insults
Some students are also using words to insult their peers. Words are just as harmful as physical violence and are again in breach of our rules of being Safe and Being Respectful. Students who use words as insults will lose playground time and reflect on their choices and how to make better choices. Again, we are explicitly teaching our students that what we say does matter. Words are not to be used to insult or comment negatively on gender, race, religion or family status.
Students know that they may well hear inappropriate language out there at sporting events, shopping centres and the like, but here at St Kevin’s when you walk through those gates, that language is not to be used here. We again provide the students with opportunities to reflect on and repair the damage that insults cause, building positive relationships during work and play.
Can you believe that we are already in mid June? Thanks so much to everyone who was able to complete our TTFM survey. I am looking forward to acting on the feedback we receive when they release results to us on Friday 28/6/24.
Term 3 is shaping up to be an extremely busy term with a very full term planner already! Please keep abreast of Compass alerts and consent to activities as early as possible so that we are able to finalise numbers. It is not possible for us to include in the levy costs for Gala Days as we are not able to accurately predict what associations will offer Gala Days 12 months in advance.
Events currently booked Term 3
- Tuesday 23rd July – Year 3 & Year 4 Touch Football (bus cost $15)
- Tuesday 30th July – Year 5 & Year 6 Touch Football (bus cost $15)
- Monday 12th August – Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 Netball (bus cost $15)
- Tuesday 20th August – Year 4 Todd Woodbridge Cup (Parent to arrange transport as bus cost would be prohibitive)
- Thursday 22nd August - K-2 Tocal Paddock to Plate Excursion (No cost included in levy)
- Thursday 29th August – Years 3-6 Student Faith Formation Mary Mackillop Place, North Sydney (no cost included in levy)
- Thursday 5th September – Indigenous Awareness excursions. K-2 Awabakal centre. Yrs 3-6 - Wetlands (No cost – grant application successful)
- Friday 13th September – Year 5 & 6 Science Engineering Discovery Day (bus cost $15)
Kim Hogan
Co-Principal / Assistant Principal
Faith Life, Catholic Identity and the Liturgical Season
In the Gospel of the week, Jesus preaches the importance of the Mustard Seed being akin to the Kingdom. The notion that with the right composition, quality nourishment and a fruitful environment, the Mustard Seed flourishes into a fully grown, harvestable plant. Rightly so, we can compare the fruitful environment of St Kevin as a beautiful environment for our students to grow from the mustard seed in the same fashion.
Mission and Justice
This week, we launch our Mission and Justice efforts for the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. During this next fortnight, we are inviting families (if you can do so) to take up one or more of the opportunities to give generously to these efforts. This year, SVdP is working to ensure those on the street, those with financial hardship receive donations and funds to maintain personal dignity. In conjunction with our Chapter member, we are once again seeking donations of personal dignity and care items, as well as unisex Winter Items to support those in hardship this winter. The stats included outline the importance of this year’s outreach purpose.
We invite students to participate in a Winter PJ Mission Day in Week 10 on Tuesday 2nd July 2024 with a gold coin donation to support the efforts of our school.
Upcoming Faith Life Celebrations
Week 8 - Friday 21st June – students in Grades 4 and 5 will lead the Prayer Service for the Launch of our Mini Vinnies/St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. Please keep an eye out on Compass for updates on how St Kevin’s is working in the Dimension of Mission and Justice to support St Vincent de Paul’s Winter Appeal.
Sacramental Programme News:
Students participating in the All Saints Blackbutt South 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
Kaayi (Hello – Awabakal)
Yaama Ngindaay (Hello everyone - Gamilaraay)
Nungamanladi (Hello - Bardi)
Te bandola nginak (Hello, how are you? – Yorta Yorta)
NAIDOC Week 2024
NAIDOC Week: 7 – 14 July 2024
NAIDOC Week is a very important event in the National Calendar
NAIDOC stands for National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee.
From 7-14 July 2024 across the country, NAIDOC Week will celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year’s theme chosen by the National NAIDOC Committee, is Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud.
The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“We honour the flame of the fire, kindling the sparks of pride and unity, igniting a renewed commitment to acknowledging, preserving, and sharing the cultural heritage that enriches our nation.
“This year’s theme is a clarion call to continued unity and solidarity for all Australians to come together and celebrate.”
(National NAIDOC Committee Co-Chair, Aunty Lynette (Dr) Riley)
’Blak, Loud, and Proud’ encapsulates the unapologetic celebration of Indigenous identity, empowering us to stand tall in our heritage and assert our place in the modern world.
(National NAIDOC Committee Co-Chair, Steven Satour)
At school the children are very busy learning about the history and significance of NAIDOC Week. They will be making lemon myrtle cordial, wattleseed and saltbush damper and lemon myrtle biscuits to share at our community barbecue on Thursday 4 July.
We hope you can join us for our NAIDOC celebration at St Kevin’s.
Yaluu
Phil Taylor
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Teacher
Thank you to all families who have been making regular weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments off their school fees. Those who have elected to pay their fees annually are reminded that they are due at the end of this month 30 June 2024 so please commence making these payments.
It is the commitment of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle that no student will be denies 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 to come to a suitable arrangement that is reasonable for all parties. The Diocese ensures that no student is refused enrolment because of inability, as distinct from unwillingness to meet financial obligations.
Should you be experiencing genuine financial difficulty in meeting your fee obligations, please contact the school to arrange a meeting with Mrs Jennings or Mrs Hogan. Contact can be made via emailing admin@cardiff.catholic.edu.au or phoning the office on 4954 0036.
Please find attached the parish bulletin for this Sunday.
We've also attached an information flyer for an upcoming Reflection Day.
Wishing you all a safe weekend.
God bless!
Parish Team
ALL SAINTS PARISH BLACKBUTT SOUTH
