No 9. Term 2 Week 7, 6th June 2025
Principal News
A Spirit-Filled Week of Celebration and Meaning
This week at St Kevin’s has been one of those rare and beautiful moments where the sacred weaves itself so naturally into the everyday rhythm of school life. The calendar has offered us two significant opportunities to pause, reflect and celebrate: our school’s Feast Day and the upcoming Feast of Pentecost. And I found myself deeply moved by the way these events seem to resonate with one another.
Pentecost, which we will celebrate this Sunday, is often called the birthday of the Church. It reminds us of the moment when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, filling them with courage, clarity and purpose. It is a feast of transformation, a moment when fear gives way to boldness, when the familiar is set ablaze with new meaning. As I watched our students wear their splash of red today and speak about the Holy Spirit in their classrooms, I couldn’t help but think: this is what we want for our children, not just knowledge, but Spirit-filled lives. Lives that are courageous, compassionate and open to the mystery of God working in and through them.
On Tuesday, that same Spirit was very much alive in our celebration of the Feast of St Kevin. We gathered as a school community to honour our namesake with a joyful Mass, followed by a truly unforgettable concert with the GB Team band. I watched the students sing, dance and laugh with such delight, St Kevin would have approved, I think. But what struck me most was how seriously our students engaged in learning about the life of St Kevin. His story, marked by stillness, connection to nature and deep faith, offers a quiet but powerful reminder in our busy world: holiness is not found in noise, but in presence. That message feels especially fitting as we approach Pentecost.
In the midst of all this, our Year 3 students are preparing their hearts to receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist for the first time in just two weeks. What a sacred threshold this is. To receive the Body of Christ is not just a rite of passage; it is a lifelong invitation to intimacy with Jesus, to a table where all are welcome. I ask you to keep these children and their families in your prayers as they journey toward this beautiful sacrament. May they encounter the Spirit in a way that stays with them forever.
This week has reminded me that our faith is not something we fit around the edges of school life; it is school life. It’s found in our rituals, our songs, our shared meals, our kindness, our learning and even in our laughter. May we continue to be a school where the Spirit is welcome and where hearts are open.
Enjoy the long weekend and we will see you on Tuesday for another amazing week.
Peace and blessings,
Jason Micallef,
Principal
Don't Forget!
School Photos - Monday June 16
All students to wear full winter uniform on this day please.
Leadership & Management
Have Your Say – Auslan at St Kevin’s?
At our upcoming School Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday, 25 June, we’ll be exploring community feedback on the exciting idea of introducing Auslan (Australian Sign Language) into our learning and teaching program at St Kevin’s.
Auslan is a rich and expressive language that not only supports inclusivity but also broadens students’ communication skills and cultural awareness. We’re eager to hear what our families think!
Please take a moment to share your views by completing this short survey:
👉 Auslan Feedback Survey
Your voice matters and your input will help guide us in making a decision and possible next steps.
Upcoming Excursion Reminders
Grade 1 and 2 students have an excursion to the Royal Botanical Gardens
Grade 1s are attending on Thurs, June 12
Grade 2s are attending on Wed, June 11
Grade 4 and 5 students have secondary school 'taster' days scheduled
Grade 5 students are attending Hampton Park Secondary College on Thurs, June 12
Grade 4 and Grade 5 are attending St John's Regional College on Tues, June 17
Please refer to the correspondence from classroom teachers for further details
Enrolments for 2026 – Urgent Reminder
If you have a younger child due to start Prep in 2026, please ensure their enrolment forms are submitted as soon as possible. We are already planning ahead, and places are filling fast—don’t miss out!
We also encourage our families to help spread the word about the St. Kevin’s difference. If someone enrols at our school based on your referral and their child begins in 2025 or 2026, you’ll receive a 5% discount on your school fees as a thank you.
Let’s keep growing our community with families who share our values and love our school!
Mid-Year Reports and Progress Interviews
As we approach the second half of Term Two, we’d like to remind families about the upcoming release of Mid-Year Achievement Reports and our scheduled Progress Interviews.
Achievement Reports will be made available to parents on Friday 27th June via the Parent Access Module (PAM), providing an overview of your child’s academic progress and growth throughout the first half of the year.
Following this, Progress Interviews will take place over two consecutive days—Monday 30th June and Tuesday 1st July. These meetings will once again be held online via video conference, offering a valuable opportunity for teachers, students, and parents to connect, celebrate achievements, and set meaningful goals for the semester ahead.
We encourage all families to prioritise these conversations as an important part of your child’s learning journey. Further information about booking your Progress Interview times will be shared in the coming weeks.
Education in Faith
Understanding Pentecost – The Spirit That Lives Within Us
This Sunday we celebrate one of the most important feasts in the Church year—Pentecost. It marks the moment when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, filling them with courage and clarity, and sending them out to share the Good News with the world.
We hear this powerful story in the First Reading, taken from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1–11). The imagery is unforgettable—rushing wind, tongues of fire, and people from every nation understanding the disciples in their own languages. It’s the birthday of the Church—a reminder that our faith is not meant to be kept quiet, but shared boldly and joyfully.
Interestingly, this story isn’t the Gospel reading for Pentecost Sunday. That’s because the Gospel always comes from the life of Jesus, as told in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. The Pentecost story happens after Jesus has ascended, so it’s told in the Acts of the Apostles, a continuation of Luke’s Gospel.
Instead, the Gospel this Sunday comes from John 14:15–16, 23–26, where Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit—the Advocate—to be with us always. Long before Pentecost happened, Jesus was already preparing his followers to receive the Spirit. He tells them that those who love him will keep His word, and that God will make a home within them. It’s a quieter but deeply comforting message: the Holy Spirit is not just fire and wind, but also the gentle presence of God in our hearts, guiding and reminding us of all Jesus taught.
Talking with Your Children
Here are a few ways families can reflect on Pentecost together this weekend:
Ask your child what they know about the Holy Spirit. You might be surprised by how they describe it! Some will say wind, flame, a dove, or a whisper. Let the conversation flow.
Talk about courage. The disciples were scared before Pentecost but became brave and bold after. Ask: When have you felt nervous but did something brave anyway?
Explore the idea of “God living within us.” What does it mean to have the Spirit in our hearts? How can we listen for it?
Create a family prayer asking the Holy Spirit to guide your family in your choices, words, and relationships.
Pentecost reminds us that faith isn’t just something we learn—it’s something we live. May this feast fill your home with peace, joy, and the gentle courage of the Spirit.
Learning & Teaching
What Is a Curriculum and What Does Victorian Curriculum 2.0 Mean for My Child?
At St Kevin’s, we often talk about “the curriculum,” but we know this can sound like education jargon. So what is a curriculum, really—and how does it shape what happens in your child’s classroom?
A curriculum is essentially a roadmap. It outlines what students need to learn at each stage of their schooling, from the early years through to Year 10. It covers the key learning areas (like English, Mathematics, Science, the Arts and more), and also includes general capabilities such as critical thinking, ethical understanding, and personal and social skills.
In Victoria, all schools use a shared framework known as the Victorian Curriculum, which ensures consistency and high expectations across the state. Teachers use this curriculum to plan lessons, assess student progress, and make decisions about how best to support each learner.
This year, a refreshed version—Victorian Curriculum 2.0—is being introduced. It includes:
Updated content that reflects the world our children are growing up in (including digital technologies and intercultural understanding)
Clearer descriptions of what students should know and be able to do at each level
A stronger emphasis on the skills young people need to thrive in a changing world
At St Kevin’s, we don’t simply follow the curriculum word for word—we interpret it thoughtfully and professionally to make it meaningful and relevant for our learners. We take into account the unique strengths, needs, and context of our school community, and design learning experiences that are both evidence-based and responsive to the children in front of us.
While the curriculum is publicly available—and we encourage parents to explore it out of interest—it’s important to remember that knowing what needs to be taught is only one part of the picture. Our skilled educators spend countless hours designing how it is taught, using deep professional knowledge and drawing on proven approaches that support engagement, understanding, and growth.
So while your child might not ever see the curriculum directly, it's quietly working in the background every day—guiding their growth, shaping their learning, and helping them become capable, compassionate young people.
Curious to explore the framework?
You can view the curriculum online here: Victorian Curriculum F–10 website
Prep Explores Indigenous Culture!
What a great week it was in Prep as we kept learning about Indigenous cultures through some really interesting stories!
Lately, we've been loving the book 'Tom Tom'. We learned lots of new words and talked about what they meant even before we started reading. The kids really enjoyed discussing the story and made awesome connections to 'Somebody's Land' by Adam Goodes, which we read for Sorry Day last Monday.
The children were fascinated to find out that the Aboriginal kids in 'Tom Tom' ate damper (a type of bread) and drank from a pannikin (a metal cup). To make this real for them, our Preps had a blast making their very own pannikins in class last Friday!
Damper and Firepit Fun!
On Monday, June 2nd, the children had an amazing time making and eating damper. They also loved pretending to drink from their new pannikins while sitting around our firepit. Take a look at some of the photos from our special day!
We hope you'll chat with your children about these stories and what they've been learning in class. It's a wonderful way to help them understand and appreciate Indigenous cultures even more.
Warmly,
The Prep Team
Student Wellbeing
Understanding the Zones of Regulation: A Tool for Emotional Awareness and Growth
At St Kevin’s, we are committed to supporting our students not only academically, but socially and emotionally too. One of the key frameworks we use to help children understand and manage their emotions is called the Zones of Regulation.
The Zones of Regulation is a simple, child-friendly way to help students recognise how they are feeling and develop the skills to regulate their emotions and behaviour. It groups our emotional states into four coloured zones:
🔵 Blue Zone – When we feel sad, tired, sick, or bored. Energy is low and we may need help to get going again.
🟢 Green Zone – This is the ideal state for learning. We feel calm, happy, focused, and ready to go.
🟡 Yellow Zone – A bit unsettled, worried, silly, or frustrated. We're starting to lose control but can still use strategies to regulate ourselves.
🔴 Red Zone – Very upset, angry, scared, or out of control. This is when we need help to pause and calm down.
Importantly, all zones are normal – we all move through them at different times. The key is learning to recognise which zone we're in and use strategies to help ourselves return to the Green Zone when needed.
At home, you can support your child by:
Using the zones language ("You look like you might be in the Yellow Zone. Want to take a break?")
Normalising all emotions without judgement
Helping your child build a toolkit of calming strategies (breathing, movement, a quiet space, talking it out)
Modelling emotional awareness and regulation yourself
By developing these skills early, children build self-awareness, empathy, and resilience—setting them up for success both in and out of the classroom.
Community
