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Dear Parents and Carer’s of St Kevin's,
Term 2 is drawing to a close and we have much to be thankful for. As a Catholic Community we celebrate how our children have grown and been nurtured in mind, heart and spirit, following the light of Christ during Semester 1. I sit here in the library whilst parents come and chat with the teachers, discussing the strengths and areas or development for their children. There is much animated discussion and a definite positive vibe in the air. I also love catching up with parents that I may not always be able to meet on a daily basis to share what I have observed about their children.
Watching and observing our students grow in mind, heart and spirit, following the light of Christ is one of the greatest privileges of being a teacher in a Catholic school.
This following the light of Christ will be seen in action this week as we celebrate NAIDOC Week and support the Saint Vincent De Paul winter appeal. Because we are a Catholic school, NAIDOC celebrations include a liturgy to conclude the day. This liturgy supports and brings into practice the words of Pope Francis who reminds us that the culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is precious, with much to offer the Catholic Church around the world. In 2016 Pope Francis wrote in his Papal Letter addressed to Mr Lochowiak as Chairperson of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council:
Your culture, which shows the lasting genius and dignity of your race, must not be allowed to disappear. Do not think that your gifts are worth so little that you should no longer bother to maintain them. Share them with each other and teach them to your children. Your songs, your stories, your paintings, your dances, your languages, must never be lost."
Because we are Catholic, our annual pyjama day is held to support those less fortunate than us. We know that there are people here in our community who struggle to clothe, feed and provide shelter for their families. Our school charisms of service and gratitude are drawn from the life and example of Mary MacKillop, are evidenced through our donations on pyjama day and from the donations of various items that are being sent in by our generous families. This is our practical way of supporting the Saint Vincent De Paul Society and the great work they do in our community.
So as a Catholic school we continue to follow the light of Christ in all that we say and do. We thank you for your support and keep you in our prayers as together, we nurture your child’s mind, heart and spirt, following the light of Christ.
Mary-Anne Jennings
Principal
Upcoming dates:
July 22 - Pupil Free Day
July 23 – Day one Term 3
July 23 – Years 3 and 4 Touch Footy Wallsend
July 25 – 110 Days of Kindergarten
July 26 - School Assembly 2.30pm in the hall
July 30 – Year 5 and 5 Touch Footy Wallsend
August 1 - Newcaslte Permanent Maths Competition - Years 5 & 6
August 2 – St Kevin’s Public Speaking K-Year 6 at 9am in school hall.
August 7 – DIO Athletics
Tell Them From Me
We thank you for your feedback and over the next semester we will look carefully at your suggestions and commendations, and they will help us all create a plan for 2025. We look forward to sharing these plans and ideas with you and again seek feedback and discussion.
One beautiful aspect of this survey was reading the student responses from our Year 4, 5 and 6 students. The comments reflect the very reasons that you as parents chose St Kevin’s for your child’s education. They reflect the ethos, culture and traditions that are core to St Kevin’s as a Catholic School. Here are just a few anonymous comments that truly reflect the student voice here at St Kevin’s.
- I like how inclusive it is and how if you need help you will always have someone to help you.
- I really like how we have nice teachers a nice principal and a lot of people to hang with.
- I really like how the school has opportunities to play sport and hang out with friends.
- I love my friends and teachers. I also love the playgrounds at school and I would love to have a swimming pool at school.
- I love how the teachers encourage others to do well at their school work. And how The teachers do step by step instructions
- I love the fact that we have a very welcoming school environment to work in. We have a variety of options on where to spend our lunch and recess time, and we have responsible teachers that care for our education. We learn in a friendly space where everyone is friends. We have lots of opportunities in sport, such as: swimming carnivals, athletic carnivals and cross country. Also, we have the choice to participate in the academical activities, such as: Spelling bees, math bees, Math Olympiad and Virtual Academy.
- My friends are great people
Congratulations Corner
Good luck to Caine in Year 6 representing St Kevin's tomorrow at the Diocesan Maths Bee.
Throughout Week 9 we had several staff engaging with Michael McDowell Professional Development. His theories on surface, deep, and transfer learning emphasize the importance of balancing different levels of complexity in education. Throughout the week Michael emphasised the importance of having students in action rather than motion.
- Surface Learning: This level involves acquiring basic facts and procedures. Students learn foundational knowledge, such as vocabulary or formulas. It’s like building a solid base.
- Deep Learning: At this level, students connect concepts, they compare and contrast in context. They gain a deeper understanding by exploring relationships and implications. It’s about going beyond memorization.
- Transfer Learning: The pinnacle is transfer—applying knowledge and skills to new situations. Students become problem solvers, using what they’ve learned in creative and practical ways and then applying their understandings across contexts.
Why Action Matters: McDowell emphasizes that students need to be in action, not just motion. Active learning—where students engage with content, apply it, and transfer it—leads to lasting understanding. So, let’s encourage students to take ownership of their learning process! ?
Teaching for Transfer: Teaching Students How to Innovate - Solution Tree Blog
TTFM
Thanks for the constructive feedback in our recent TTFM. As MAJ has stated over the next few weeks we will be discussing issues with our staff and reaching out to other schools on how they manage certain situations. We will then come back to you to continue the conversation so that we can ensure that we are not simply making changes, but have fully considered how to improve.
Two issues that were presented I think can be quickly addressed.
Parent Pickup : Parents stated that the changes we made were not well considered or safe. As a staff we made several adjustments throughout the term as we recognised that our system was not working. We think our current practice, coming in to collect the children from the scooter track is the best possible solution in the interim. We would appreciate feedback from parents using this system. Do you concur or do you have an alternative suggestion?
Car Lines : Parents stated that Staff were on their mobile phones rather than watching students in lines. Staff are using their personal mobile phones to coordinate pick up of children. For example, the teacher at the bottom of the hill is talking to the staff member at the gate to alert them to the parent vehicles arriving so that we can then organise for your child to come to the gate and move to the teacher indicated.
Senior Leaders’ Retreat
As part of Leadership, over several years, we participate in 3 retreats to focus on our Faith Leadership. I commenced this journey in 2023 and have found it to be incredibly faith fulfilling and reflective. My greatest takeaway from this year’s retreat was a reflection on Mark’s gospel - Parable of the Mustard Seed. Pope Francis beautifully emphasized that God places seeds of His word and grace within each of us. These seeds are good and abundant, but they take time to grow. Just as a farmer patiently tends to the soil, God accompanies us, waiting for these seeds to bear fruit in the form of good works. So, let’s nurture the seeds within ourselves and others with confidence and patience! ??12
I loved this!
God Bless
Have a safe and happy holiday (if you get any time off)
Thank you to those families who have continued to make regular payments on their school fees and to those who have finalised their accounts for the year. If you elected to pay your fees annually, that is the end of the financial year 30.6.24, you are reminded that your fees are now overdue. Should you be experiencing genuine financial hardship, please contact the school office on 4954 0036 to arrange a meeting to discuss an alternative arrangement with the Principal.
Faith Life, Catholic Identity and the Liturgical Season
Jesus’ preaching in his hometown of Nazareth is a very poignant moment in the history of Jesus’s ministry, because the authoritarian Nazarenes started to reveal quite a vocal hostility to his mission and preachings. It leads to the overarching message that trust and truth in Christ as he walks amongst people further paths the way for ongoing ministry as believers and disciples.
Also in the current Liturgical Season, we mark ATSI Sunday this weekend as the first weekend in July and the start of NAIDOC Week. This week, the school and parish’s ongoing recognition and mission to embed the importance of First Nations perspective and voice in our current culture is closely aligned to the Catholic Social Teachings, supported by the work of Caritas. This week, as we head towards NAIDOC Week, we are reminded of the Catholic call to support the Dignity of the Human Person, understanding that all people are made in the image and likeness of God.
The annual artwork for ATSI Sunday is included below:
The included blurb from the NATSICC webpage outlines the symbolism and the connection to the Holy Spirit that this year’s theme permeates.
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“Pentecost painting by Magda Lee, Gracie Mosquito and Imelda Gugamen (Balgo Community) The four circles in the corners of painting represent the four communities: Wirrimanu, Mulan, Kurrurungku and Ringer Soak. The leaders are represented through the horse shoes located around the circle. The different colours represent different people. The stars represent the different flowers in our area. The dots represent people all over the world and the people coming together for Church. People are also represented through the horse shoes on the right of the painting.Wirrimanu is located in the top left hand corner, Mulan in the top right hand corner, Ringer Soak in the bottom right hand corner and Kurrurungku in the bottom left hand corner. The Holy Spirit is located in the centre of the painting. It is the Spirit working in all of our communities. Creating this painting helped to make us strong in the Spirit.” |
Questions to ponder on ahead of NAIDOC Week:
- What three things help to keep your faith alive?
E.g. prayer, acts of service, forgiveness, music etc. Share with a partner or the whole class/ group.
- After hearing what helps others keep their faith alive, what are two things you can do to help others stay strong in their faith?
- How can you fuel the work for truth-telling, justice and reconciliation?
Mission and Justice
Thank you to our families for their support towards the Mission efforts of St Kevin’s during the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. Tomorrow we will wrap up our efforts in the Winter Appeal as students come to school for a Winter PJ Day. Families are invited to send items from the Winter Appeal list as set below. Students are invited to bring a gold coin donation on Winter PJ day to donate to our local St Vincent de Paul chapter, supporting families and vulnerable community members experiencing hardship this Winter.
Sacramental Programme News:
It has been excellent to see our students participating in the All Saints Blackbutt South Sacramental Program attending weekend Masses at St Kevin’s and St Phillips alike. Please keep our candidates in your prayers as they celebrate this important Sacrament of Initiation.
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
Kaayi (Hello – Awabakal)
Yaama Ngindaay (Hello everyone - Gamilaraay)
Nungamanladi (Hello - Bardi)
Te bandola nginak (Hello, how are you? – Yorta Yorta)
NAIDOC Week 2024
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday 7 July
Keep the Fire Burning - Strong in Faith
Sunday 7 July is the start of NAIDOC Week. It is also Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday, celebrated across Australia in Catholic dioceses and parishes. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) has developed liturgy resources to enrich our worship experience on this significant day.
The NATSICC theme for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday incorporates the NAIDOC Week theme Keep the Fire Burning and adds Strong in Faith to highlight the Catholic Church’s faith perspective.
Everyone is very welcome to join us this Sunday 7 July at our 9.30am Parish Mass to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday.
A Welcome from the NATSICC Team
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday
Welcome to this special celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday. On this day, we gather as one community to honour and celebrate the rich cultural heritage and contributions of our First Nations Peoples to our Australian Catholic Church. This liturgy resource has been thoughtfully compiled to enrich your worship experience on this significant day.
As Pope Francis reminds us, we are called to be a Church that goes forth, embracing all cultures and peoples. Let us open our hearts to the wisdom and spirituality of our First Nations Peoples, recognizing the presence of Christ in our stories and traditions. May this celebration be a moment of grace, healing, and transformation for all of us.
Thank you for joining us in this celebration. May the Holy Spirit guide and bless each of us as we journey together in faith, hope, and love.
(From National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council)
Artwork for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday
Pentecost painting by Magda Lee, Gracie Mosquito and Imelda Gugamen (Balgo Community)
NAIDOC Day at St Kevin’s
We acknowledge Lake Macquarie Council as the funding body for our NAIDOC Week school activities. St Kevin’s Primary School was successful in securing a NAIDOC Week grant from Council which enabled us to do our planned activities today based around the NAIDOC theme: Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud.
We came together for a community sausage sizzle, a yarn, played Indigenous games and tasted some yummy native foods prepared and cooked by the children. K-2 made lemon myrtle cordial, Years 5 and 6 made lemon myrtle biscuits and Years 3 and 4 made damper with wattleseed and saltbush. As they created them with their teachers they learned about how these native foods were traditionally harvested, cooked and used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for their enjoyment, their nutritional and in some cases medicinal values.
Lemon Myrtle
Lemon myrtle has an intensely citrus fragrance and flavour and has long been used in Aboriginal cuisine and medicine.
Lemon myrtle’s fresh tangy leaves may be used in teas, syrups, glazes, cakes, biscuits, dressings, sauces, ice creams, dips and meat dishes. Essential oil distilled from the leaves has a refreshing lemony scent and has been found to have antifungal and antibacterial properties.
Wattleseed
Wattleseed has been a mainstay in the diet of First Nations peoples for tens of thousands of years. Women would collect the ripe pods then parch the seeds with fire before grinding them to a flour consistency to be mixed with water and made into cakes and damper.
Saltbush
Traditionally the seeds were used as a food source by First Nations peoples. The leaves are also edible, salty in flavour and rich in protein, antioxidants and minerals.
(Information courtesy of Ray and Linda at Oz Tukka, Redhead).
Thank you to all staff members for helping with our activities, making the celebration such a success. Thank you to our children for preparing our native food treats and celebrating in a spirit of community and friendship, and thanks to our parents for supporting our NAIDOC Day.
Our NAIDOC celebrations continue next term as we have also been successful in securing a NAIDOC grant from NSW Aboriginal Affairs. More information to come. Enjoy the holiday break.
Yaluu
Good morning everyone,
Please find attached the parish bulletin for this Sunday. There's also a flyer with information for the upcoming Magdalene Award presentation.
Wishing you all a fine weekend.
God bless!
Parish Team
ALL SAINTS PARISH BLACKBUTT SOUTH
