No 17. Term 4 Week 1, 10th October 2025

Principal's News

Here We Go – The Final Chapter of 2025

And just like that, we find ourselves in the final chapter of the year: Term 4. There’s always something a little different about this time. The air seems lighter, the days stretch a little longer and there’s a sense of momentum that carries us through as we look toward both celebration and closure.

For our Grade 6 students, this term marks the last stretch of their primary school journey. It’s a time of mixed emotions: excitement, nostalgia and pride all rolled into one, as they begin to realise that their years at St Kevin’s are coming to an end. In classrooms and on the playground, you can feel it: the readiness to step forward, but also the gratitude for where they’ve come from. This term will be filled with moments to honour that journey, to celebrate who they’ve become and to send them into the next chapter with confidence and joy.

Meanwhile, our Grade 2 students are preparing for a very special milestone of their own, the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Their parents gathered earlier this week for a Formation Evening, beginning a time of reflection, learning and preparation that will be followed by next Friday evening’s Commitment Mass. It’s a beautiful reminder that growth in our community is not just academic, but spiritual; that formation happens in hearts as much as in minds.

Today we also came together for one of the happiest, most joy-filled days on the St Kevin’s calendar, our annual Colour Fun Run! What a day it was. Bursts of colour, laughter echoing across the oval and the wonderful buzz of community spirit as parents, staff and students joined forces to create something truly memorable. Beyond the rainbows of powder and the squeals of delight, this event reflects what we do best: come together as a community, support one another and make magic happen. As our biggest fundraising event of the year, we’re deeply grateful for the generosity of families who have already donated and remind everyone that contributions are still open and very welcome.

And as if that weren’t enough excitement, next week brings our Creativity Showcase: Here to Infinity! An evening that celebrates imagination, possibility and the unique gifts of every student. The Showcase reminds us that learning is alive. It’s expressive, dynamic and full of potential. When we witness our students creating, performing, and sharing their work, we see the future taking shape before our eyes.

There’s something profoundly fitting about starting the final term with all these moments of transition: reflection, celebration and creation. Each one is a reminder that life at St Kevin’s moves in beautiful rhythm: growing, giving and becoming. Whether you’re a parent watching your child prepare for a sacrament, a teacher guiding your class toward the finish line or a student stepping into new experiences, this term invites us all to finish well, with gratitude for what has been and hope for all that’s yet to come.

Here’s to a term filled with colour, creativity, and connection.

Jason Micallef,
Principal

Leadership & Management

Before School Safety Reminder

You may have noticed a new sign at our main gate this week asking families to ensure students do not enter the school grounds before 8:45am (unless attending Before School Care).

This change comes in response to a growing number of children being dropped off well before the start of the school day. While we love seeing students eager to arrive and play, the concern lies in safety. Before 8:45am, there are no staff members on supervision duty, and unfortunately, we’ve seen a rise in unsafe games and behaviours that have almost led to several younger students being injured.

It’s important to remember that staff supervision begins at 8:45am, which is when children can safely enter the yard. For families needing to drop off earlier, Before School Care is available; this is exactly what the service is designed for, providing a safe and supervised environment for children before the school day begins.

Families are most welcome to wait in their cars until 8:45am and then walk children into school, or to wait outside the gates while supervising them personally. However, we respectfully ask that students are not left unattended on school grounds before this time.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in keeping all our students safe.

A reminder about mobile phones and smart watches

Students are not permitted to use mobile phones or smart watches at any time while on school grounds. If parents require their child to bring a device, it must be handed to the class teacher upon arrival and will be returned at dismissal. This helps maintain a safe, focused and connected environment for everyone.

Looking Smart, Feeling Proud

A big thank you to all our students and families for the care and attention you’ve shown in wearing the St Kevin’s school uniform correctly. It’s been wonderful to see everyone looking so neat and proud each day, it really does reflect the sense of belonging and pride we share as a school community.

A quick reminder that school shoes are to be worn every day except on designated sports days, when runners are appropriate. At this time of year, students may choose to wear either the full summer or full winter uniform, depending on the weather. We just ask that items from the two are not mixed, for example, tights should not be worn with the summer dress.

If you need additional items, our Second-Hand Uniform Shop is open Tuesday afternoons after school and Friday mornings before school. New uniform items can also be purchased from Beleza in Cranbourne or from the Beleza store in Dandenong.

Thank you for helping us keep St Kevin’s students looking their best: smart, confident and ready to learn!

School Fees – Thank You and a Gentle Reminder

As we enter the final term of the year, I want to thank the many families who have finalised their school fees or contacted us to make suitable arrangements. Your commitment and communication make a real difference and are greatly appreciated.

We also understand that some families may be experiencing genuine financial challenges. Please know that we are always here to help. Reaching out early gives us the chance to discuss options and provide support, we’re more than willing to work with you.

That said, it’s important that families don’t avoid the conversation. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be contacting those who haven’t yet been in touch. It’s always best to reach out before we do, it helps us help you, and ensures everything can be resolved in the right spirit.

Thank you once again for your cooperation and care as we work together to finish the year well.

A Visit from Kadasig – Building Friendship Through Action

On Monday afternoon, we welcomed some very special guests from Kadasig Aid and Development, including our former principal Mrs Anni Miers, who spoke with us about the incredible difference our support has made to our friendship school, Campangga Elementary, in the Philippines.

Mrs Miers shared stories and photos showing how the funds raised by St Kevin’s last term have helped to repair and maintain school facilities — simple but life-changing improvements like adding flywire screens to windows to keep classrooms cooler, cleaner and more comfortable for learning. It was a powerful reminder of how small acts of generosity can have a big impact on the lives of others.

Throughout Term 3, our fundraising efforts have been all about strengthening this friendship — not just through money raised, but through the spirit of compassion and connection that sits at the heart of who we are as a school community.

We are still collecting items to send to Campangga Elementary, so if you’re able to contribute, please bring them to the office. Every small gesture helps to build hope and opportunity for our friends in the Philippines.

A huge thank you to Kadasig, Mrs Miers and our students for continuing this beautiful partnership of faith, friendship and service.

A Burst of Colour and Joy!

What an unforgettable day we had at our Colour Fun Run! The school was absolutely alive with colour, laughter and energy as our students ran, danced and cheered their way around the course. It was one of those special days that truly captures what St Kevin’s is all about: joy, teamwork and community spirit.

A huge thank you to Mr Butler for his boundless enthusiasm and energy in coordinating and hosting the day. His ability to bring the fun (and keep it moving!) is second to none. We’re also deeply grateful to the parents who came along to help set up, spray the colour and keep the excitement flowing and to our incredible staff whose teamwork and good humour ensured everything ran smoothly.

To our generous sponsors and families who donated, thank you, every dollar raised will go directly towards improving our playgrounds and classroom resources, making our school an even better place for our children to learn and play.

And of course, the biggest thanks of all goes to our students, whose laughter was nothing short of infectious. You were the stars of the day! Even I wasn’t safe, yes I got slimed… and let’s just say I’m still finding bits of goo in my hair and ears!

So far, we’ve raised an incredible $15,174.78 and donations are still open for those who’d like to contribute.

A few photo highlights are included below and believe me, they’re worth a look! What a wonderful celebration of community, joy and colour at St Kevin’s.

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Student Placement for 2026

One of the important tasks we will undertake very shortly is the creation of 2026 class lists. This is a very complex yet important task. Our ultimate goal is to create well-balanced communities of learning.

Some of the factors considered when allocating students to classes include:
(a) Balanced number of boys and girls
(b) Even distribution of academic needs
(c) Social compatibility (avoiding potential conflicts between individuals or groups of students)
(f) Students with particular learning needs or behavioural concerns
(g) Varying degrees of independence and maturity
(h) The separation of twins and other siblings. 

We take this task very seriously and take the time to discuss every single student's needs before they are placed. We ask that parents please trust the school’s judgment and professionalism in making a decision that is in each child’s best interest.

Parents can help us in this endeavour by communicating any relevant information that might help us achieve our intention to create balanced learning groups. If parents have information that will help us to achieve this, please contact Mr Micallef by email, no later than Friday October 24th to share what you know. Please note that this is not an opportunity to make requests for which teacher your child should be placed with. Rather, we would appreciate information that might help us to make the decision.

Education in Faith

Gratitude from the Heart – Luke 17:11–19

In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear the story of Jesus healing ten lepers. As Jesus travels along the border between Samaria and Galilee, ten men with leprosy call out to Him, asking for mercy. Jesus tells them to go and show themselves to the priests — and as they go, they are healed.

But only one man — a Samaritan — turns back. He falls at Jesus’ feet, thanking and praising God for what has been done. Jesus notices this and asks, “Were not ten made clean? Where are the other nine?” The story ends with Jesus saying to the man, “Your faith has saved you.”

This passage reminds us of the power of gratitude. All ten men were healed, but only one truly recognised the gift he had received. Gratitude opens our hearts to God and helps us see His presence in everyday life. It’s not just about saying “thank you” — it’s about noticing blessings, big and small, and responding with joy and humility.

For our children, this story can be a gentle invitation to see the goodness around them — in friends, family, teachers, and the world God has made — and to remember that a thankful heart is a joyful one.

Discussion Prompts for Home:

• What are some things we can thank God for today?

• How do you feel when someone says “thank you” to you?

• Why do you think only one man went back to thank Jesus?

• How can we show gratitude in our words and actions this week?

May we all be like the one who turned back, grateful, joyful and aware of God’s goodness in our lives.

Growing in Faith – Reconciliation Formation Evening

On Tuesday night, parents of our Year 2 students gathered for a Formation Evening to begin the journey of preparing their children to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Fr Fabian led the session beautifully, sharing the Church’s teaching on the meaning and significance of this sacred sacrament. He reminded families that Reconciliation is not simply about admitting wrongdoing, it’s about healing, forgiveness and renewal. It is a reminder of God’s endless mercy and love and of our call to grow closer to Him through honesty and reflection.

A key message from the evening was the important role parents play in this journey. While both the school and parish are here to guide and support, the responsibility ultimately begins at home. Parents are the first teachers of faith, their understanding, example and encouragement help their children experience the true grace of this sacrament.

We thank all parents who attended for your commitment to your child’s spiritual development and to Fr Fabian for leading us with such insight and warmth. Families are reminded that next Friday evening is our Sacramental Commitment Mass. 

Learning & Teaching

Zooming into Success: Grade 1 Bike Education!

What a blast our Grade 1 students have had in their Bike Education program! The school grounds have been a hive of activity, buzzing with excitement and the gentle whir of wheels as our students mastered the art of bike riding.

It has been truly wonderful to witness the incredible progress our students have made. For many, the first lesson was a wobbly introduction, but the transformation has been simply outstanding! We’ve seen timid riders transform into confident cyclists, and their skills and confidence have improved greatly as they've become more independent and capable riders right here on our school grounds.

Throughout lessons, the students engaged in activities specifically designed to develop their fundamental movement skills, coordination, and body control. Key skills practised on the school grounds included:

• Balance and Control

• Steering and Handling

• Safe Stopping 

• Coordination and Movement Sequences

Bike Education is about more than just physical skill! The lessons also focused on essential social and learning skills, such as students working collaboratively during activities and sharing equipment. Students were provided opportunities to solve movement challenges and follow instructions while demonstrating turn-taking skills.

The Grade 1 students’ enthusiasm is infectious, and they've embraced every challenge with determination and proud smiles. A huge round of applause to all our Grade 1 bike riders for their fantastic effort and amazing improvement! A huge round of applause also goes to our amazing Junior Physical Education Teacher, Mrs Coralee Brobyn. We are all very proud of the confidence and resilience that students have shown in tackling this new skill set.

Here are a few comments by our fabulous cyclists:

Ezlynn (1BE) "I really like riding my own bike and I am good at turning around the trees."

Tristan (1BE) "I really enjoyed Bike Ed because I now can ride my bike without any help. I keep practising, and practising."

Alexander (1LO) "I had fun learning how to ride my bike without training wheels. I rode my bike very fast!"

Aika (1LO) "I learnt how to balance on my bike and practised controlling my bike to steer where I wanted to go! It was very exciting! I never gave up! "

Hannah (1HH) "I loved Bike Ed so much! Mrs Brobyn said I have shown amazing progress in Bike Ed!"

Shayan (1HH) "I like Bike Ed because it is so much fun! I rode around the cones!"

Congratulations to Our Division Athletics Team!

A huge congratulations to all the students who represented St Kevin’s at the Division Athletics Carnival this week! Our team showed incredible effort, sportsmanship and school pride, competing with determination and joy in every event.

We’re thrilled to share that several of our students will now progress to the next level of competition — an outstanding achievement that reflects both their talent and commitment.

We couldn’t be prouder of the way our athletes represented our school. Congratulations to each of you for giving your best and supporting one another throughout the day!

Student Wellbeing

The Power of Predictability – Helping Children Feel Safe and Supported

As we enter a busy and exciting time of year, it’s a good moment to pause and remember the importance of predictability and routine in a child’s life.

Children thrive when they know what to expect. Clear, consistent routines, such as set times for getting ready in the morning, completing homework, or winding down before bed, create a sense of security and calm. When life feels predictable, children can focus more of their energy on learning, relationships and growth rather than worrying about what’s coming next.

But predictability isn’t about being a captive to the system. Life doesn’t always go to plan and that’s okay. In fact, small changes or surprises can be healthy opportunities for children to learn flexibility, problem-solving and resilience. The key is in how we support them through those changes.

When routines are adjusted, perhaps for a special event, a late night or a busy school week, talk with your child about what’s different and what will stay the same. Reassure them that they’re safe and supported, even when things shift. Maintaining a calm tone, keeping connection and helping children anticipate transitions all make a big difference.

As we move through the final term of the year, maintaining steady routines where possible will help children manage the extra excitement and demands that come with it, from rehearsals and celebrations to assessments and end-of-year events. Predictability builds confidence; flexibility builds strength. With both, our children are better equipped to flourish.

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