No 3. Term 1 Week 5, 28th February 2025

Principal's News

Next week, we enter the sacred season of Lent, a time of reflection, renewal, and preparation as we journey towards Easter. As a Catholic school that embraces students from all faiths and backgrounds, this season offers a meaningful opportunity to pause, reflect, and consider how we can grow in kindness, generosity, and faith.

Our Lenten journey begins on Shrove Tuesday, a day traditionally marked by feasting before the season of fasting begins. At St. Kevin’s, many classes celebrate with pancakes, reminding us of the historical practice of using up rich ingredients before the simplicity of Lent. On the same day, we will gather to burn the palms from last year’s Palm Sunday, a symbolic act that prepares the ashes for Ash Wednesday, the day that marks the beginning of Lent.

On Ash Wednesday, our Grade 3–6 students will attend Mass, while our Junior students will participate in a special liturgy. The ashes placed on our foreheads remind us to turn our hearts toward love and service, reflecting on how we can become better people through small daily acts of kindness, forgiveness, and compassion.

Lent is a deeply significant season in the Christian calendar. It calls us to prayer, fasting and giving to others. It is a time to strengthen our values, challenge ourselves to grow and support those in need. Lent offers an opportunity for all members of our community to reflect on how we can make a difference—whether through simple acts of kindness, giving up something small as a reminder of gratitude, or spending more time in reflection and prayer.

As we begin this Lenten season together, we can all make an extra special effort to pause, reflect, and open our hearts to renewal.

Jason Micallef,
Principal

Save the Date!

WORKING BEE

Saturday March 15

Leadership & Management

Reminder: Apply for the Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund (CSEF) by July 4

The Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides financial assistance to eligible families to help cover the costs of school camps, sporting activities, and excursions. This Victorian Government initiative ensures that all children have the opportunity to participate fully in these enriching experiences.

Families holding a valid Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card, or temporary foster care may be eligible to receive $154 per year for each primary school student. These funds are paid directly to the school and used to support student participation in a range of activities.

Final Call – Applications Close July 4!

If you haven’t already submitted your application, now is the time! The deadline for CSEF applications is Thursday, July 4.

To apply, please:
✅ Check your eligibility
✅ Complete a CSEF application form (available from the school office or website)
✅ Submit your form and a copy of your concession card to the school before the deadline

If you have any questions or need assistance with the application, please contact the school office. We encourage all eligible families to take advantage of this support to ensure their child can fully participate in school activities.

Swimming Programme 2025 – Essential for All Students

Swimming is an essential part of the Victorian Curriculum, just like English and Mathematics. Learning to swim and developing water safety skills are vital for all children, equipping them with life-saving abilities and boosting their confidence in and around water.

This year’s swimming dates are as follows:

• Grade 1/2: March 17 – March 27
• Grade 5/6: June 23 – June 27
• Prep: October 13 – October 23
• Grade 3/4: December 1 – December 11

Attendance & Exemptions

Please know that participating in swimming lessons is not optional. As a curriculum requirement, all students are expected to attend. The only exemptions allowed are for medical reasons supported in writing by a Medical Doctor.

Swimming Levy & Refunds

The swimming levy is non-refundable, even if a child is unable to attend some or all of the sessions. This is because bookings are made in advance and the school is charged for each student’s place regardless of attendance.

We appreciate your support in ensuring all students develop essential swimming and water safety skills. If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher.

Education in Faith

Living with Integrity: A Gospel Reflection for Families

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us of the importance of continued learning, prayer, and humility in our discipleship. He calls us to be “lit from within” by God’s grace, always examining our own hearts and seeking transformation through Him. Before we guide or influence others, we must first ensure that we are following His teachings with integrity and a sincere heart.

Jesus teaches that our actions reflect what is in our hearts. When we are rooted in His love, we bear good fruit—our words and deeds become a source of encouragement, kindness, and justice. But if we fail to reflect on our own shortcomings, we risk becoming the “blind leading the blind.” True discipleship begins with self-awareness, growth, and a willingness to walk in Jesus’ footsteps.

Family Reflection & Prayer

Set aside a quiet moment as a family to read Luke 6:39–45 together and reflect on its message. Use the following questions to guide your discussion:

1. What does it mean to be “lit from within” by God’s grace? How can I ensure that my actions and words reflect a good heart?
2. Have I ever judged others unfairly without recognising my own faults? How can I practice humility and understanding instead?
3. What small, everyday choices can I make this week to show kindness, integrity and faith in my family, school, or community?

After your discussion, conclude with the Lord’s Prayer, offering this time to God and asking for His guidance in living with love and integrity.

How Grade 1 Celebrates the 2025 Jubilee Year as “Pilgrims of Hope” 

Pope Francis has called this Jubilee Year “Pilgrims of Hope,” inviting us to renew our hope through the knowledge that God loves each one of us. 

We are asked to be beacons of hope, sharing God's light and love with the world. This journey begins with the choices we make, the words we speak, and the actions we take every day to spread kindness and beauty. We want to inspire joy and courage, helping all of us to embrace life to the full. 

In our Grade One classrooms, we were motivated by the Jubilee Year when creating our class prayer cloths used for daily prayer. We are proud to share them with you: 

The Grade Ones were excited to participate in a special celebration for the Jubilee Year! Our school welcomed our Sister School, St. Francis de Sales Primary, to join in celebrating this important year.

One of the highlights of our celebration was a special Mass where all students and staff came together to pray and reflect. This was a meaningful time as a Parish Community to strengthen our faith and journey as "Pilgrims of Hope". 

We enthusiastically welcomed Christian musician Andrew Chinn, who shared his uplifting music. His entertaining songs inspired us and filled our hearts with joy and hope.

Have a listen to us performing one of his songs- ‘The Jubilee Song’:

Lent: A Time for Giving, Love, and Service

Next week marks the beginning of Lent. Each Lent, the Caritas fundraiser reminds us of our call to support people living in poverty around the world. Each classroom will have a project compassion box on the prayer table. Families are invited to make donations by contributing to this box. Alternatively, there is a QR code on the poster below, which you can use to make an electronic donation.

Please take the time to talk to your child or children about the importance of supporting all members of our global community and the impact that our small donations and actions can have.

Actions such as making donations to credible charities like Caritas help us live out our St Kevin's values:

• Service—we give what we can to support others.
• Love —we show love for our communities through care and generosity .
• Respect—we acknowledge that everyone has the right to live without poverty and act in ways that support communities' self-sufficiency and prosperity. 

Learning & Teaching

NAPLAN: Year 3 and Year 5

NAPLAN is a national assessment that helps track students’ progress in literacy and numeracy. It is taken by students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 and provides an insight into student learning on that particular day.

• Online Testing: Students will complete NAPLAN online, except for Year 3 writing, which remains on paper. The adaptive nature of the test ensures a fair assessment for all abilities.
• Test Areas: The assessment covers writing, reading, language conventions (spelling, grammar, punctuation), and numeracy.
• No Special Preparation Needed: Teachers will help students become familiar with the test format. Parents can support their child by encouraging them to do their best.
• Results & Reporting: Student performance is measured using four levels—Exceeding, Strong, Developing, and Needs Additional Support. Individual reports will be sent home later in the year.
• Test Dates: The NAPLAN 2025 testing period runs from Wednesday 12 March to Monday 24 March.
• All tests are scheduled for 9:15 am so it is important that students are at school on time.
  

Top Tips for Parents

• Have a positive and encouraging conversation about it. Ask your child what they are worried about and why. This will help you understand their concerns better and give you an opportunity to provide support with positive guidance ahead of the NAPLAN tests.
• Eat well and rest well. Getting plenty of sleep and keeping to a healthy diet can have an impact on both physical and mental wellbeing. It’s important that your child is feeling calm and confident leading up to the NAPLAN tests, so they feel their best on the day, inside and out.
• Be active and limit screen time. Too much screen time can increase stress levels and make it harder for children to focus or get back to studying. A great way to keep stress levels down is to let your child do the things they enjoy each day, especially being outdoors and engaging in meaningful play. See our blog on How to Manage Screen Time for more information.
• Avoid last-minute cramming. Whatever you are preparing for, rushing into it is never the answer. Trying to cram everything in the last couple of days will only increase stress and anxiety, causing your child to feel overwhelmed on test day. Ideally, it would be best to set aside some time each day to prepare for the NAPLAN tests in advance, even if it’s just learning one new thing a day.
• Celebrate the effort, not the outcome. The most important thing is that they ‘gave it a go’ and did their best with what they knew on the day. It’s about praising their efforts rather than focusing on the results. Parents need to assure their child that the test is only about their abilities on one day, and not who they are as a person.
  

Parents can find further information in the NAPLAN 2025 Information for parents and carers at:  https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/naplan/parentpamphlet/2025/NAPLAN2025Informationforparentsandcarersbrochure.pdf 

Swinging into Golf: Developing Skills for Sport and Life

During Physical Education lessons, our students have been honing their golf skills, learning the fundamentals of this lifelong sport. From mastering their grip to refining their swing, they have been building coordination, focus, and patience—all essential skills in both sport and life.

Golf is a fantastic sport for young learners as it develops:

🏌️‍♂️ Coordination & Motor Skills – Golf requires precision, balance, and control, helping students improve their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
🧘 Patience & Focus – Unlike many fast-paced sports, golf teaches concentration, resilience, and strategic thinking, valuable traits both on and off the course.
🤝 Respect & Sportsmanship – Golf is built on integrity and etiquette, fostering good sportsmanship and personal responsibility.

By introducing our students to golf, we are providing them with a new way to stay active, challenge themselves, and develop lifelong skills. Who knows? We may have some future golfing champions in our midst!

Homework

Year Prep-2 Homework Expectations - 2025

In 2025, homework for students in years Prep-2 will be tasks focusing on English. Students in year 2 making the Sacrament of Reconciliation may have additional tasks to prepare for this.

Phonics activities and decodable texts are a compulsory part of students' homework activities. Students are expected to complete these tasks a minimum of 4 nights per week and record this in their reading log. Your child’s reading log is an essential means of communication between home and school.  Students are to have their reading log at school every day and they are to be signed by parents weekly.

Please read through the following information with your child regarding homework expectations in Years Prep-2 this year.

Why do we have homework? 

What is expected?...

Year 3-6 Homework Expectations - 2025

In 2025, homework for students in years 3-6 will be a combination of tasks which will include both Maths and English. Students will also be required to complete any special projects that happen throughout the year (e.g, Sacramental preparation tasks etc). 

Reading is a compulsory part of students' homework activities. Students are expected to read for a minimum of 4 nights per week and record this in their diary. Your child’s diary is an essential means of communication between home and school.  Students are to have their diary at school every day and they are to be signed by parents weekly.

Please read through the following information with your child regarding homework expectations in Years 3-6 this year.

Why do we have homework? 

What is expected?...

Art Room Adventures: "Here to Infinity!"

Art has no limits—only infinite possibilities! This semester, our middle and senior students will embrace the concepts of self-expression, originality and boundless imagination with our theme, "Here to Infinity," inspired by artist Yayoi Kusama.

They will explore pattern, repetition and collaboration to create unique artwork. Our artists will also discover how small artistic choices can build into something much bigger, just like Yayoi Kusama’s famous installations including her Obliteration Rooms.

Check out the “Obliteration Corner” in progress in the art room! Every dot, shape, and colour tells a story and we can’t wait to see their masterpieces unfold.

Student Wellbeing

Navigating Smartphones & Social Media: When Is the Right Time?

When is the right time to give your child a phone or allow them access to social media? How can parents support and safeguard their children as they navigate devices and access unlimited online content?

Many parents ask these questions. Recently, ABC began airing a new show entitled 'The Role of a Lifetime,"  and episode #1 is dedicated to answering them. The episode is available FREE on iView at a time that suits you, and we highly recommend that parents set aside 45 minutes to watch it.

There were four key ideas discussed in this episode, including:

• Caution and delayed access are recommended because the use of devices can affect the neurological formation, health, and function of developing brains.
• Access to smartphones gives us unlimited access to the internet.
• Children need social and critical thinking skills that need to be in place and emerge at different times for children.
• It is important to know what to do when things go wrong and who you can turn to for support.

Here is a summary of the key ideas from this episode that you might find helpful in making decisions and supporting your children. 

Community

Bulk Billed Dental Care

Dental support for school families is now available outside the school, replacing the dental van. This support will operate in the same way, except eligible students can now access bulk-billed dental care at Emerald Dental Care in Hampton Park. 

Financial Support for Families

Saver Plus is a free 10-month financial education and matched savings program. It helps people develop savings and money management skills, while saving for their children’s or their own education.

Up to $500 is matched dollar for dollar which can be used to pay for educational items such as laptops/iPads, uniforms etc