No 5. Term 1 Week 9, 28th March 2025
Principal's News
Wrapping up a big Term 1!
As we approach the end of Term 1, I want to thank every member of our St. Kevin’s community for a wonderful start to the school year. It’s been full of life, learning and faith—an energetic and hope-filled beginning to 2025.
There’s a lot to celebrate, so let’s take a moment to look back… and forward.
Our Catholic identity is at the heart of all we do and this term it’s been lived out in rich and meaningful ways. We’ve entered the season of Lent, and our students have been reflecting on how we can walk more closely with Jesus through prayer, kindness, sacrifice and service.
Our Sacramental Program has also begun, with formation evenings for families preparing for Eucharist and Confirmation. These moments are more than just meetings—they’re opportunities to grow in faith as a community. Last night’s Commitment Mass was a beautiful celebration of just that. Thank you for your presence and support.
Next week, we invite you to experience Walking with Jesus—a special Prayer Space experience set up in the Hall. This reflective journey through Holy Week and the Stations of the Cross is something we’ve prepared with great care. Each class has engaged in deep learning, using spiritual resources and reflective practices to prepare their hearts. This is not an event to tick off—it’s one to feel. It invites us to slow down and reflect on Christ’s final days, and what they mean for us today. Families are warmly invited to visit the space after school between 3:45 and 4:15pm, Monday to Thursday. Please enter with a sense of reverence and quiet—children and staff will be resetting the space and preparing the environment. After School Care will operate as usual.
We’ve had a strong start to our learning programs this term. Students in Year 3 and Year 5 sat the NAPLAN assessments, showing impressive focus and resilience. These assessments give us one data point in understanding student growth and progress—but of course, we value the whole child in all their dimensions.
To the many families impacted by the recent influenza outbreak—thank you for your patience and understanding. It was a tricky patch, but we’re through the worst of it now. I want to publicly thank our amazing staff who truly went above and beyond, stepping in to support one another and our students. It was a real testament to the St. Kevin’s spirit.
As the holidays unfold and we approach the joy of the Easter weekend, may you find time to rest, reconnect and rejoice. May your hearts be filled with the light of the risen Christ, and may chocolate eggs only be found in places that don’t require too much effort to reach.
Thank you once again for all your support, encouragement, and commitment to making St. Kevin’s such a vibrant place to learn, grow, and belong.
Blessings for a safe and Holy Easter,
Jason Micallef,
Principal
Term 1 finishes Thursday at 3:20pm.
Friday is a school closure day for staff professional development. Long Day Care is available via Camp Australia and bookings can be made online.
Term 2 resumes Tuesday 22 April.
ANZAC Day (Friday 25 April) is a public holiday.
Leadership & Management
Learning Time is Precious – Let’s Not Interrupt the Magic!
We know the end-of-day pick-up can be an exciting moment—especially when little faces light up at the sight of a familiar one waiting at the door. But lately, we’ve noticed a few eager eyes and enthusiastic waves pressing up against classroom windows and hovering a little too close to the door during those final minutes of the school day.
While we absolutely understand the anticipation (who wouldn’t want to see their child after a long day?), we kindly ask that families refrain from peering into classrooms or calling out to children before the bell rings. It can be distracting for students and teachers who are still in the middle of wrapping up important learning tasks—or even sharing that final story or reflection of the day.
Learning time is precious, and those last few minutes matter just as much as the first.
So next time you arrive early, feel free to enjoy the fresh air, chat with another parent, or take a quiet moment to yourself. Your child will be with you before you know it—and we promise, they’re not going anywhere!
Thanks for your understanding and support in keeping our learning environment calm, focused, and respectful right to the very last bell.
School Fees and Our Thanks
We’d like to thank all families for their patience and understanding over the past couple of weeks, as we’ve been unable to process school fee payments over the counter due to both Trish and Chelle being unwell. We’re grateful for your flexibility and support during this time.
As a reminder, school fees are now payable, and we ask families to please attend to any outstanding payments at their earliest convenience.
We also want to reassure our community that if you are experiencing difficulty or have any concerns regarding your school fees, we are here to help. These conversations are always approached with compassion, discretion, and confidentiality. Please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re committed to working with families to find a solution that supports everyone.
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting our students and our school.
Toilet Access and Child Safety
A gentle reminder to all families and visitors that the student toilets adjacent to the playground, including those located in the hall, are for student use only during school hours.
If you are on-site as a visitor, or waiting to pick up your child in the afternoon, we kindly ask that you use the adult toilets located in the administration building.
This is not about inconvenience—it's about child safety. Clear boundaries around student and adult spaces are a key part of our commitment to creating a safe and secure environment for all children at St. Kevin’s.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we continue to uphold the highest standards of care and safety for our students.
We’re well into peak enrolment season for next year and places are filling fast! If you have a sibling starting Prep in 2026, please ensure you submit your enrolment forms as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly.
Know someone looking for a school community where their child will be known, loved and challenged to thrive? Spread the word! Referrals that lead to a successful enrolment will attract a 5% discount on your school fees in 2027 (conditions apply).
Help us grow the St. Kevin’s family—one great family at a time!
No Dogs on School Grounds, Please (Even the Really Cute Ones!)
We love our furry friends as much as anyone—some of us are borderline obsessed—but we kindly remind all families that dogs are not permitted on school grounds, even if they’re small, fluffy, or dressed in a stylish jumper.
This is a child safety issue, as even the gentlest dogs can act unpredictably in busy environments. Some children also have allergies or a genuine fear of dogs, which we want to respect.
So as much as we’d love a four-legged mascot at pick-up time, we ask that you leave dogs at home or keep them well outside the school gates if you're walking them along the way. (Though we fully support giving them a treat afterwards for being so patient.)
Thanks for helping us keep everyone safe—and for not making us enforce a “no bones on school grounds” policy!
Smart Watches, Phones & Staying Present at School
We know we’re living in a world where even your toaster can probably send a text message, but we’re asking for your support to help students disconnect while at school—at least from their devices!
A gentle reminder that students should not be wearing smart watches at school, and we also ask that children are not expected to use phones to communicate with home during the day. If something urgent comes up, they can always come to the office—we promise we still remember how to use a landline!
While we understand that some students may carry a mobile phone for safety when travelling to and from school, our policy is that phones must be switched off on arrival and handed to the teacher for safekeeping until home time.
These measures help students stay focused, reduce distractions, and—most importantly—protect their wellbeing and privacy.
Thanks for supporting us in keeping school a space where kids can be kids (and not mini social media managers).
🎬 Look Who’s Hitting the Big Screen!
This holiday season, keep your eyes peeled for something special before every movie screening at Fountain Gate Cinema. That’s right—our very own St. Kevin’s advertisement (see below!) will be lighting up the big screen, showcasing the vibrant spirit and diverse talents of our school.
It’s a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on the incredible achievements of our students and the supportive community that surrounds them. So, whether you're settling in for a family film or catching up with friends, be sure to look out for St. Kevin’s before the main feature begins!
Education in Faith
This week's Gospel reflection
The Fourth Sunday of Lent is traditionally called Laetare Sunday. Laetare is a Latin word that means “rejoice.” Today's Gospel describes the reason for our joy: God's great love and mercy for us has been revealed in Jesus. Through his Passion, Death, and Resurrection, Christ has reconciled us with God and one another.
Today we hear one of the most powerful parables of Jesus; The Parable of the Prodigal Son that beautifully illustrates God's boundless forgiveness and the transformative power of redemption for those who feel lost. The father in the parable is an image for us of how much God wants to forgive us. In our lives, we are sometimes like the younger son; we wander away from God. At other times, we might be like the older son, jealous of the love and forgiveness that God shows to others. This story speaks to us of the meaning of reconciliation, of God's forgiveness and the mercy God wants us to show to one another. During Lent, we remember this story and we seek to be reconciled with God and others, especially through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
As a family, read and contemplate on this weeks’ Gospel and pray the Act of Contrition.
- How can I apply these teachings to my daily interactions with others?
- How can I become a better disciple of Jesus, by applying these teachings to my life?
Act of Contrition
Oh my God, I am very sorry that I have sinned against you, because you are so good and with your help I will not sin again. Amen
A Visible Faith: Walking With Our Children Towards the Sacraments
This week marked a significant moment in the life of our parish school community, as families gathered for our Commitment Mass—a public and prayerful sign of support for children preparing to receive the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation this year.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve also shared in two Formation Evenings led by Fr Fabian, providing time to reflect on what it means to raise children in the faith and how we, as adults, continue to grow in our own understanding of the Sacraments.
These moments are more than just events on the calendar. They are powerful reminders that faith is not taught through words alone—but through presence, practice, and participation.
When families come together in faith—sitting side by side in a pew, praying together, asking questions, sharing stories—it speaks volumes. Children see it. They feel it. And they remember it.
By stepping forward and making this commitment visible, our families are not only supporting their child’s journey, but also deepening the spiritual heartbeat of our school and parish community. Thank you for showing up, for saying “yes,” and for walking this sacred journey with your children.
Please continue to keep these young people in your prayers as they prepare to encounter Christ in new and profound ways in the months ahead.
St Patrick’s Mass and Celebration Day
Last Friday, some of our school leaders—Rayan, Saket, Henry, Merrin, Evelyn, Katlyn, Amanda, Christina, Willis, and Olivia—had the incredible opportunity to attend a special Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral, joining hundreds of other student leaders from Catholic schools across Melbourne. The experience was rich in faith, community, and fun—and made a lasting impact on each of them.
Rayan described it as “stunning and so amazing to see young leaders like us all praying as one community.” He and several others also represented St. Kevin’s in a lively soccer match, proudly sharing that “Henry scored 1 goal to seal the game.”
Evelyn was captivated by the grandeur of the space, sharing: “One of my favourite parts was seeing how big and spacious it was… and seeing the Archbishop and all the other priests that conducted Mass.”
Amanda was amazed by the unity and spirit of the day: “Seeing 197 Catholic schools in Victoria gathered into one big church… was an awesome experience!”
Merrin gave a shoutout to Evelyn’s courage, noting, “She was brave enough to ask high schoolers what school they were from!”
Henry enjoyed connecting with others, saying, “My favourite part was playing games with other schools, especially soccer, and going to Mass at St Patrick’s.”
Saket saw it as a time of connection and growth: “It was a great experience to bond with the other leaders… and a great privilege to have Mass hosted by the Archbishop.”
Katlyn shared the joy of both reflection and fun: “The concert was incredible—so many different people with so many amazing voices… we were so grateful to have been able to go.”
Christina highlighted her role in carrying the school flag and reflected on the significance: “The experience of the St Patrick’s Cathedral Mass is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity… I’m so glad we got to go.”
Olivia summed it up beautifully: “Everyone was enjoying the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity… We celebrated the coming of all the student leaders representing 291 Catholic schools.”
Willis was awestruck by the building and the music: “It was enchanting to see the massive cathedral… I can’t believe that some of the people from the choir were students!”
Special thanks to Mrs Hettiarachchi for organising the experience and capturing the memories. As Christina said, “We are lucky that we got the chance to experience such an amazing event.”
Walking With Jesus: A Sacred Journey for Our School Community
This week, our school community is being invited into a truly moving and sacred experience—Walking With Jesus, a prayerful journey through the events of Holy Week, creatively and reverently expressed through a series of immersive Prayer Spaces.
These spaces, set up in the school hall, were created not just as a visual display, but as a sacred encounter—one that allows students, staff and families to engage with Jesus’ final days in a deeply personal and reflective way. Guided by the rich symbolism of the Stations of the Cross, each station invites quiet reflection, spiritual curiosity, and honest prayer.
Over the past few weeks, classes have been preparing for this experience and now that it is ready, teachers will lea their students into an exploration that goes beyond storytelling and into meaningful spiritual connections. In this way, students will be able to enter into the story and form their own relationship with Christ’s suffering, love and hope.
We expect it will be powerful to watch the children enter these spaces with reverence and wonder, many of them pausing, reflecting, and responding in ways that show genuine connection. From washing each other’s hands to placing a stone in a tomb, every action has meaning. Each student is not simply learning about Holy Week—they are walking with Jesus through it.
We warmly invite families to visit the Prayer Spaces after school between 3:45pm and 4:15pm, Monday to Thursday. The Hall will remain a place of prayer and reflection during this time, and we ask all visitors to enter quietly and respectfully. After School Care will run as usual, and staff will be on hand to ensure the space is safe and welcoming.
This experience is more than just a seasonal tradition—it is an expression of who we are as a Catholic school. We believe that faith is not only taught, but lived, felt, and seen in the everyday moments of school life. Walking With Jesus offers our community just that: a shared moment of stillness, of unity, and of sacred encounter.
We hope you’ll come and be part of it.
Learning & Teaching
How Do Kids Learn Best? What We’re Exploring
Next Friday, while the students enjoy a well-earned break, our staff will be diving deep into how we can teach even more effectively—by understanding how the brain actually learns.
We’ll be working with Lane Clark, an internationally recognised educator, to explore something called Cognitive Load Theory. While it sounds technical, the idea is simple:
Our brains—especially young brains—can only handle a certain amount of new information at once.
If we overload students with too much at the same time, they can become confused, overwhelmed or forget what they’ve learned. But if we carefully plan how we teach, we can help students make sense of information, remember it, and actually use it in the future.
This means:
Breaking learning into manageable chunks
Giving students time to practise and apply skills
Avoiding distractions or unnecessary steps
Linking new ideas to things they already know
It’s all about working with the brain—not against it.
At St. Kevin’s, we’re committed to using the best research to shape the way we teach. Lane Clark’s work helps us design lessons that are not only engaging, but truly effective—so every child can learn deeply and confidently.
We’re excited to continue this learning as a staff, and we look forward to seeing the benefits of it in classrooms across the school.
Performing Arts: A Celebration of Creativity, Rhythm and Expression
We’re thrilled to share some of the wonderful learning taking place in our Performing Arts program this year! From music to movement to storytelling, students across the school have been engaging their minds, bodies and imaginations in rich, creative ways—and we couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve accomplished so far.
Across all year levels, students have been exploring instruments, experimenting with rhythm, melody and sound. They’ve been learning to play along with familiar songs, discovering how to keep the beat and work together as a group. These lessons aren’t just about making music—they build confidence, listening skills and a love of collaboration.
Our Senior students have taken a leap into creative dance, learning to choreograph and express themselves through movement. These sessions have not only improved their coordination and musicality but have also helped students grow in self-expression and courage. It’s been wonderful to watch their confidence flourish as they embrace the challenge of dancing in front of their peers.
Down in the Prep classrooms, the magic of fairy tales has taken centre stage. Students have been crafting and performing their own versions of classic stories, building their oral language, confidence and creativity. From dragons and princesses to clever pigs and big bad wolves, their imaginations have been running wild—and the results have been nothing short of delightful.
Performing Arts at St. Kevin’s is more than just fun—it’s a chance for every student to shine, to express who they are, and to find joy in learning through the arts. We look forward to seeing their talents continue to blossom throughout the year.
Student Wellbeing
Celebrating Harmony Day: Everyone Belongs
Last week, St. Kevin’s came alive with a sea of orange as we celebrated Harmony Day—a special day where we recognise and honour the rich diversity within our school and across Australia. The message of the day was simple but powerful: Everyone Belongs.
Our students proudly dressed in orange, a colour that symbolises social inclusion and respect. Throughout the day, each class explored what harmony looks like in their lives and communities. As part of the celebration, students created flags to represent their cultural backgrounds, the values they hold dear, or symbols of welcome and unity.
The results were beautiful and meaningful—just like our school community.
A special highlight was a short video created by some of our students, capturing their voices, ideas, and hopes for a more inclusive world. Click below to see how our young people are embracing diversity and building a community where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the day so memorable. Harmony is not just a one-day event—it’s something we live out each day at St. Kevin’s.
Screens, Kids and the School Holidays: Finding the Right Balance
As we head into the holidays, many families are looking forward to a slower pace, relaxed routines, and hopefully a bit of rest. For children, this often means more free time—and with that comes the inevitable pull of screens.
There’s no denying that screens are part of our everyday lives. They connect us, entertain us, and even help us learn. But for primary school-aged children, too much screen time—particularly for passive entertainment—can affect sleep, attention, behaviour, and physical health.
We’re not here to preach or guilt anyone. Parenting is hard enough without the pressure of perfection! But we do encourage families to pause and be intentional with how screens are used during the break. Holidays are a great opportunity to reset and create different rhythms.
Here are some ideas to help strike a balance:
Plan together: Involve your child in making a list of holiday activities that don’t involve screens—baking, building cubbies, riding bikes, crafting, or simply playing outdoors.
Create screen-free zones or times: Mealtimes, bedrooms, and the first hour after waking are great starting points.
Prioritise connection: Family games, shared meals, storytelling, and simple outings can all build connection in ways no app or show ever could.
Model it: Children learn more from what we do than what we say. If we’re constantly glued to a phone or laptop, it sends a message—whether we realise it or not. Even small changes in our own screen habits can make a big difference.
Children thrive when they feel seen, heard, and engaged—and that doesn’t need to cost money or require Pinterest-perfect planning. Sometimes, it just means putting the phone down, looking them in the eye, and saying, “What shall we do next?”
Wishing you a happy, connected and joy-filled break.
Community
Camp Australia Rocketeers - School Holiday Program
Secondary School Open Days
Trading hours for the school holidays
Our school uniform stockists, Beleza wish to communicate to families that all Beleza stores will be closed from Saturday 5th of April until Sunday 13th of April. Normal trading days and hours will resume for all stores from Monday 14th of April,.
As normal trading hours can differ from store to store please check online by searching for Beleza Cranbourne or Beleza Hallam to find out specific times.
P&F
The P&F have been very busy organising upcoming events!
Easter raffle tickets are still being sold. there was one book sent home with th eeldest child in the family this week
HELP PLEASE!!
WE STILL REQUIRE MANY CHOCOLATE DONATIONS FOR OUR EASTER RAFLLE HAMPERS.
Please send them to school as soon as possible before the draw on Thursday 3rd April.
We have a School Disco coming up early Term 2 and the Mothers' Day stall is not too far away. Please see th eflyers below.
Thanks for all your support of the P&F.