No 12. Term 3 Week 1, 19th July 2024

Principal's News

Greetings, St. Kevin's community!

As we embrace the beginning of Term 3, we find ourselves in the heart of a chilly Melbourne winter. Despite the cold and rainy weather, our spirits remain high as we return from our mid-year holidays, rejuvenated and ready to embark on the exciting journey that lies ahead.

We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to our new students: Ilhan, Ayzek, Jacob, Viaan, and Korah. We are delighted to have you join our vibrant and diverse school community. Each of you brings unique strengths and perspectives, and we look forward to seeing the wonderful contributions you will make.

Additionally, we are pleased to welcome Vathsala Thananchayan, our new Learning Support Officer, who will be a fantastic asset in supporting our students. A special welcome also goes to Elisabetta Micallef, who, I am proud to say, is my wife. She joins Maria Bent as the new teacher for 2BR, taking over from Coralee Brobyn, who has transitioned to her new role as the junior PE teacher. We are confident that both Elisabetta and Coralee will excel in their respective roles, bringing enthusiasm and expertise to our school.

As we stand at the threshold of a new term, we are reminded of the fresh beginnings and opportunities that each day brings. The second half of the year is brimming with potential for growth, learning, and achievement. It is a time to set new goals, overcome challenges, and celebrate our successes, both big and small.

St. Kevin's is a school where every individual is valued, and our collective strength lies in our sense of community. We take immense pride in our students, whose curiosity, kindness, and resilience continually inspire us. Our dedicated staff works tirelessly to create an inclusive, supportive, and stimulating environment where everyone can thrive.

Let us embrace the remainder of this year with optimism and determination. Together, we can achieve greatness. Whether it's in the classroom, on the sports field, or within our wider community, there are countless opportunities for us to shine.

Welcome back, everyone! Let's make Term 3 a memorable and impactful one.

Warm regards,

Jason Micallef,
Principal

From SZ-App to SIMON Everywhere

After July 26 all communications will be exclusively through SIMON Everywhere.

Why SIMON Everywhere? SIMON Everywhere integrates seamlessly with our Parent Access Module (PAM), providing you with a comprehensive and user-friendly platform.

Getting Started:

1. Go to https://pam.skhamptonpark.catholic.edu.au
2. Enter the username that was provided to you and the password you created when you received your PAM welcome email last term.
3. If you have forgotten your password, then click 'forgot password' and enter your email address. Once you click 'send link' you will receive an email with instructions on how to reset your password. 
4. Download the App: SIMON Everywhere is free on the App Store and Google Play.
5. Set Up: Verify your mobile number to enable push notifications. Use your usual PAM email address and password to log in.

We are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible. If you need any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Leadership & Management

Birthday celebrations in classrooms

We love to celebrate many special occasions, such as birthdays. If you choose to bring in a treat, we ask that you only provide 1 small treat per child. Children will be asked to then bring these treats home for them to enjoy. Remember, a treat is NOT an expectation! 

Please do not provide BIRTHDAY CAKES that need to be cut OR lolly bags filled with treats!  

Party Invites: if you are hosting a birthday party and are inviting students from school, please give the teacher the invites to hand out

Pick up zones reminder

Each day, students are dismissed at 3:20 pm. Students will then either walk directly home, be picked up from their classroom by a parent or attend after-hours school care.

All other children will await collection at one of the following areas: 

• OUTSIDE THE HALL - Prep, One and Two children WITHOUT brothers and sisters at the school 
• UNDERCOVER OUTSIDE LIBRARY - Three, Four, Five and Six children WITHOUT brothers and sisters 
• OUTSIDE THE 3/4 AREA - Children with siblings (all grades). 

Students are not permitted to walk to or through the carpark without parental supervision

Students are not to be picked up from the roundabout.

Celebrating Fr. Fabian's 19th Anniversary of Ordination

We are delighted to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Fr. Fabian as he celebrates the 19th anniversary of his ordination on July 23rd. This significant milestone marks nearly two decades of devoted service, faith, and leadership.

Fr. Fabian, your unwavering commitment to our community and your embodiment of the Gospel values have profoundly impacted countless lives. Your compassion, wisdom, and spiritual guidance continue to inspire and uplift us all.

As we celebrate this joyous occasion, we express our deepest gratitude for your dedication and the countless blessings you have brought to St. Kevin's. May God continue to bless you with strength, wisdom, and joy in your ministry.

Congratulations, Fr. Fabian, on this remarkable achievement. Here's to many more years of faithful service!

Welcome Cassandra Fernando MP

It was a pleasure to welcome Cassandra Fernando MP to our school earlier this week. It was a great opportunity to share ideas about how the Federal Government can support the St Kevin’s community. We spoke about current challenges facing our community like the rising cost of living for families and expenses that impact school operations. We were heartened to hear Cassandra's pledge to keep her doors open to our school and offer support wherever she could. 

New Canteen Menu

Bellbrook Catering has issued the school with a new Canteen Menu. A hard copy has gone home with your child this week. 

Please remember to have your orders done by 8:50am as the cut off is by 8:55am.

Join us for an exciting assembly next Friday at 2:30!

NED's Mindset Mission is a character education program that centres around three important messages that have lifelong relevance: Never give up, Encourage others and Do your best. During the assembly, students will learn about the importance of these three life skills while also enjoying storytelling, magic, humour and yo-yo tricks.

http://www.mindsetmission.com/assembly.html

Reminder: No precious toys and items at school

We kindly remind families not to allow children to bring their toys or precious items to school. While we understand how much these items mean to your child, we cannot guarantee they won't be lost or damaged, which can be very upsetting for them.

If children bring their precious items to school, please be aware that we cannot take responsibility for their safekeeping.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

Education in Faith

This week's Gospel Reflection

In Mark 6:30-34, the apostles return to Jesus and report all they have done. Recognising their need for rest, Jesus invites them to a quiet place. They leave by boat, but the crowds follow on foot. When Jesus sees the large crowd, He is moved with compassion because they are like sheep without a shepherd, and He begins to teach them.

This passage highlights Jesus' compassion and the need for rest and guidance. Jesus acknowledges the apostles' need for rejuvenation while also responding to the spiritual hunger of the crowd. His actions remind us of the balance between self-care and caring for others.

Engaging Children in Conversation:

• Read the passage together and imagine being in the crowd listening to Jesus.
• Share examples of compassion and ask your child about times they helped someone.
• Discuss why rest is important and how it helps us feel better.
• Explain the metaphor of being like sheep without a shepherd and ask your child who guides and helps them.

Using these simple ideas, parents can engage their children in meaningful conversations about the Gospel reading.

Learning & Teaching

Helping Children With Problem-Solving

We believe that problem-solving is a vital skill for our students. As parents, your support can make a big difference in helping your child develop this important ability. Here are some simple ways you can help:

1. Encourage Questions: Let your child know it's okay to ask questions. This helps them think deeply about problems and find solutions.

2. Be Patient: Give your child time to think and solve problems on their own. Resist the urge to give the answer right away.

3. Talk It Out: Discuss problems together. Ask your child to explain their thinking and reasoning. This helps them understand the problem better.

4. Offer Encouragement: Acknowledge your child’s efforts, not just the results. Celebrate their hard work and persistence.

5. Provide Examples: Share real-life examples of how you solve problems. This can be anything from fixing a broken toy to planning a family outing.

6. Create a Positive Environment: Make sure your child feels safe to make mistakes. Learning from errors is a key part of problem-solving.

7. Use Everyday Activities: Turn daily activities into problem-solving opportunities. Cooking, shopping, and playing games can all help develop these skills.

By working together, we can help your child become a confident and effective problem solver.

Book Week at St. Kevin's will be celebrated during Week 6 (Monday 19th August - Friday 23rd August). 

Some of the ways we are celebrating are:
Monday 19th Aug -  A visit from author Coral Vass. See below for details about ordering her books. 

Mon 19th Aug - Thursday 22nd Aug: Lunchtime activities for students who are interested.

Friday 23rd August: Book Week dress up.  All students are invited to come dressed as a book character.  A book week parade will be held in the hall at 2:30pm. All parents are welcome to attend. 

Student Wellbeing

The Importance of Coming to School

Regular school attendance is crucial for your child’s success. When students attend school consistently, they benefit from continuous learning, social interactions, and a structured routine.

We understand that there are legitimate reasons for being absent, such as illness or family emergencies. However, making school attendance a priority maximises their opportunities to learn something new and grow both academically and personally. Let’s work together to ensure our students make the most of their educational journey.

Respect Through Action!

This fortnight, we're all about respect and how it can blossom through acts of kindness! What a lovely way to start Term 3! Manners are a great foundation, but respect goes beyond "please" and "thank you." Kindness is the language of respect – it shows we value others and ourselves. How can we be kind and show respect?

Community