No 15. Term 3 Week 7, 30th August 2024
Principal's News
This past Sunday, we observed Social Justice Sunday, a day that calls us to reflect on the pressing social, political, economic, and environmental issues in our world. Falling on the last Sunday in August each year, this day is an opportunity for us as a faith community to ponder our role in addressing these challenges. The Australian Catholic Bishops have released their Social Justice Statement for 2024-2025, titled Truth and Peace: A Gospel Word in a Violent World. This year’s theme is a poignant reminder of the urgent need for peace in a world marked by suffering.
The Statement encourages us to scrutinise the signs of our times in the light of the Gospel, asking why violence persists and what is needed for peace to flourish. It challenges us with the question: Is peace possible? Even in a world where peace often seems like a distant dream, the Statement reassures us that with faith and action, peace is indeed within reach.
For young people, social justice often resonates deeply because it touches on issues that directly affect their lives and futures, such as education, healthcare, climate change, respect, and equality. Young students see no limits to possibilities, and in primary schools like ours, this is played out in their love of action. At St. Kevin’s, we see this passion and potential in our students every day. Through our school social justice programs, we have an opportunity to put faith in action and keep the purpose of the Church alive.
Our ongoing initiatives, such as the fundraisers each year level undertake for our friendship school, Campaggna Elementary in the Philippines, are prime examples of how we live out our faith through action. Earlier this term, our Seniors led the way by selling popcorn, while the Preps delighted us with their milkshakes. Looking ahead, our Middle students will be selling chocolate-dipped marshmallows, and the Juniors will offer fairy bread. These simple acts of fundraising not only support a worthy cause but also teach our students the importance of giving and solidarity.
Our staff, too, are committed to this mission. Every Wednesday, staff members prepare homemade soups, with each delicious dish contributing a $5 donation towards our collective effort. This initiative is a wonderful example of how we, as a community, embody the spirit of St. Mary MacKillop, who reminds us, “We must teach more by example than by word.”
As we reflect on Social Justice Sunday and our ongoing efforts at St. Kevin’s, I encourage each of us to consider how we can continue to model the fraternity of humankind in our everyday lives. How can we, within our school community, contribute to a better world? Inspired by the Gospel, the enthusiasm of our students, and the dedication of our staff, we work together towards a future where peace, justice, and hope prevail.
Jason Micallef,
Principal
Important dates to remember!
- Confirmation - Sat, Sept 7th (2pm)
- End of term 3- Fri, Sept 20th, (2:30pm)
- Student free Day - Mon, Oct 7th
- Term 4 Commences - Tues, Oct 8th
- First Reconciliation Formation Night (gr2 parents) - Tues, Oct 8th (7 - 8pm)
- First Reconciliation Commitment Mass - Tues, Oct 15th, (7 - 8:30pm)
- Colour Fun Run - Fri, Oct 25th
- School Performance (Group A) - Tues, Oct 29th
- School Performance (Group B) - Tues, Oct 31st
Wishing all our wonderful dads, grandfathers, uncles, and father figures a very Happy Father's Day this weekend! Your love, guidance, and support mean the world to your children, and we celebrate you for the special role you play in their lives. Whether you’re near or far, know that you are cherished and appreciated more than words can express. May your day be filled with joy, laughter, and the warmest of memories. Thank you for all that you do—your impact is immeasurable.
Leadership & Management
New Uniform Policy
Our School Uniform Policy outlines the standards for student dress at St. Kevin’s and is designed to foster a sense of pride and belonging within our school community while ensuring that all students are appropriately dressed for various learning activities.
Key points of the policy include:
- Consistency in Dress: Students must wear the complete summer or winter uniform without mixing items from both.
- Flexibility: Families can choose whether their children wear the winter or summer uniform based on weather conditions.
- Special Uniform Days: The sports uniform is to be worn only on designated sports or Physical Education days.
- SunSmart Guidelines: School sun hats are mandatory during Terms 1 and 4 to protect students from harmful UV rays.
- Footwear: Sneakers are to be worn only with the sports uniform, and black leather shoes with the standard uniform.
- Hair and Accessories: Guidelines are provided for hairstyles, jewellery, and other accessories to maintain a neat and safe appearance.
All families are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the full policy, which is accessible below:
MACSSIS
In the video below, Mr Micallef explains why the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS) are so important. This year’s MACSSIS window is from Monday 2 September to Friday 20 September 2024. We encourage all our families to participate in this essential feedback tool. If you have not received your survey link by mid-next week, please let the office know.
School Absence Notification System
We kindly remind all families to notify the school if your child will be absent. You can easily do this through the Simon Everywhere App, where you will also need to provide a brief explanation for the absence. These notifications are crucial as they automatically update the class roll, allowing the teacher to see that your child will be absent that day. This ensures that we have accurate attendance records and can account for all students.
In just over a week, we will be introducing a text messaging service that will send parents a text message to alert them that their child is absent from school and we have not received a notification from you. This is an important safety measure to ensure that all our students are accounted for. Please make it a habit to submit these notifications promptly to help us keep everyone safe and informed. Thank you for your cooperation!
Father's Day Gift Stall Success
Earlier this week, our annual Father's Day Gift Stall was a great success, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our wonderful parent volunteers. The stall was filled with fantastic gifts, and our students had a great time selecting something special for their dads, grandfathers, and other significant male figures in their lives. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Nancy Oliveira, Marcia Rouxelin, Sarah Jane Love, Jennifer Price, Daphne Harvey, Shanelle Fairweather, and Rozanne Collum for their incredible efforts in organising and running the stall. Your support and generosity are truly appreciated by the entire St. Kevin’s community!
Education in Faith
This Week's Gospel Reflection
In this week's Gospel, Mark 7:1-8, we hear Jesus addressing the Pharisees and scribes who criticise His disciples for not following traditional rituals, such as washing their hands before eating. Jesus responds by highlighting that these leaders focus too much on outward practices and neglect the true spirit of God's commandments. He emphasises that it’s not merely external actions that matter, but what comes from within—the thoughts, intentions, and sincerity of our hearts.
This Gospel invites us to reflect on the authenticity of our faith. It reminds us that while rituals and traditions hold importance, they should not overshadow the essence of our relationship with God. True faith is lived out through love, compassion, and sincerity, not just through following rules or appearances. It encourages us to examine our own lives—are we more concerned with how things look on the outside, or are we nurturing a genuine, heartfelt connection with God and others?
Talking to Your Children About This Week's Gospel:
Discuss Inner and Outer Actions: Ask your child about the difference between what we do on the outside (like saying please and thank you) and what we feel on the inside (like being kind and loving). Explain how Jesus wants both our actions and hearts to be good.
Talk About Sincerity: Encourage your child to think about why it's important to be honest and sincere, rather than just doing things because others expect it. Relate this to their daily life, like being kind to friends even when no one is watching.
Use an Example from Home: If you have family rules, discuss why they exist—are they just to be followed, or do they help everyone live together in peace and love? Link this back to how God's commandments are meant to guide us to love one another.
Create a Heartfelt Prayer Together: Help your child express their feelings to God, focusing on what they truly feel inside, rather than just reciting words. This can help them understand the importance of sincerity in prayer.
Encourage Acts of Kindness: Invite your child to think of a way they can show love to someone this week, whether it's helping a friend or being extra patient with a sibling. This can help them see how faith is lived out through genuine actions.
This Gospel passage encourages us all—children and adults alike—to nurture our hearts and ensure that our outward actions reflect the love and sincerity within.
Preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation
Next weekend, our Grade 6 students will take a significant step in their faith journey as they receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Their preparation has been both spiritual and meaningful, including a special meeting with Bishop Tony Ireland, where they had the opportunity to discuss the importance of this sacrament and ask questions about their faith.
The students have also been frequently guided by Fr. Fabian, who has deeply enriched their understanding of how Baptism and Confirmation are linked. Fr. Fabian has highlighted the lives of various saints, such as St. Thérèse of Lisieux and Dominic Savio, who became saints not through world-changing acts, but through simple, everyday actions that reflected the love of God to everyone they met. This teaching has inspired our students to see that holiness is within their reach through their own daily lives.
This Tuesday, the students will participate in a Retreat Day—a time set aside for prayer, reflection, and bonding as they prepare their hearts and minds for Confirmation. During this retreat, they will deepen their understanding of the Holy Spirit's role in their lives and reflect on how they can live out their faith more fully.
In addition to these activities, each student has chosen a saint whose name they will take as they are confirmed. They have created beautiful symbolic banners in honour of their chosen saints and have spent time learning about the lives and virtues of these holy men and women. These banners represent their personal connection to the saints and serve as a reminder of the qualities they aspire to embody in their own lives.
As our Grade 6s approach this important milestone, we ask our school community to keep them in your prayers. May the Holy Spirit guide them and fill them with the grace and courage to live out their faith with conviction and love.
Invitation to Confirmation Candidate Families
As part of their preparation, we encourage families to take their children to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Confirmation. Fr. Fabian has generously offered to be available for 30 minutes before every Mass at the Church this weekend.
Invitation to Attend Mass with Your Child’s Class
Invitation to Attend Mass with Your Child’s Class
We warmly invite all parents and families to join us for Mass during week 8–10 of this term. It’s a wonderful opportunity to come together in faith and support your child as their class attends Mass.
Here’s the schedule for the upcoming weeks:
- Week 8 (Tuesday, 3rd September): Year 5 classes (5HI, 5RU, 5TI)
- Week 9 (Tuesday, 10th September): Year 1 and Year 2 classes (1LO, 1HE, 1PE, 2BR, 2DM, 2KE)
We encourage you to come along and share in these special moments with your child. Attending Mass together not only strengthens our faith community but also supports the spiritual growth of our students.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Learning & Teaching
Book Week
Last week, St. Kevin's was transformed into a world of wonder as we celebrated Book Week with the theme "Reading is Magic." The highlight of the week was undoubtedly the spectacular costume parade, where students, teachers, and even staff members came dressed as their favourite book characters. From classic heroes to enchanting creatures, the creativity on display was truly inspiring. The parade was a joyous occasion, filled with smiles, laughter, and a shared love for reading. The theme "Reading is Magic" was brought to life as our school community celebrated the power of stories to transport us to magical places, spark our imaginations, and teach us valuable lessons. Thank you to everyone who participated and made this year's Book Week such a memorable event!
St. Kevin's Shines at the District Athletics Carnival!
Congratulations to our incredible athletics team for their outstanding performance at the recent District Athletics Carnival! Competing against nine other schools, our talented athletes showed great skill, determination, and team spirit, earning an impressive second place overall. We are immensely proud of their hard work and dedication, which truly shone through on the day. Well done, team!
Preps Delight in Flying Bookworm Storytelling Adventure!
Yesterday, our Prep students were delighted to participate in the Flying Bookworm incursion, an exciting interactive theatre experience that brought stories to life. The talented performers from Flying Bookworm engaged our young learners with lively dramatisations of classic tales, allowing the children to actively participate and explore the magic of storytelling. The incursion was not only a fun and entertaining experience but also an enriching one, as it encouraged creativity, imagination, and a love for reading. Our Preps thoroughly enjoyed every moment, and we’re sure they’ll carry the joy of these stories with them for a long time to come!
Student Wellbeing
A focus on our core values continues
At St. Kevin's, our current Value focus is Service, with a special emphasis on helping others and taking initiative. We encourage our students to live out this value in everyday actions—whether it’s by asking how they can help, sharing a smile, including others in play, or doing their chores without being asked. This focus on service extends to sharing skills and talents, and even donating to those in need. By taking these small yet significant steps, we cultivate a community where kindness and support for one another are at the heart of everything we do.
Community
Camp Australia Holiday Program
School Transport
