No 24. Term 4 Week 9, 2nd December 2020

Principal News

There are so many reasons to be proud of our school and I am not shy in saying so. This year has posed challenges that not have been foreseen or planned for, not the least of which was teaching remotely. Many said it could not be done. That our children would lose a year of learning. However, I am thrilled to share with you some exciting data that proves the naysayers wrong. 

Beneath this article, you will see two graphs that summarise our Grade 1-6 student's achievements in Reading and Mathematics. This data was compiled from Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) that assess children's developmental level that were completed when the students returned to school. We have excluded Prep results at this stage as they undertake a different approach to testing, but I can share with you that their results are the same.

What these graphs indicate is that 91.3% of all students in Year 1-6 are achieving at or above the expected level for their age in Mathematics and 85.3% are at or above expected levels for Reading.  This is an enormous achievement for a school community that literally reinvented itself as a 'distance learning school' practically overnight. Every member of our school community should be proud of these results and celebrate the result of our combined efforts.

Our task now is to maintain the trajectory of improvement for every child. We know who those children are that are below standard and we know the reasons why. With targeted and strategic support, we will ensure they too are able to meet their potential.

There is much to be proud of St. Kevin's. We have stood together in a strong partnership. Our teachers, parents and support staff and together, we have achieved the remarkable. You are all heroes in my eyes.

Well done team!

Jason Micallef,
Principal

5000 Acts of Kindness Challenge

Last Sunday marked the beginning of the Season of Advent. Advent is a significant time in our liturgical calendar and is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas.

You may recognise some of the more well-known symbols that come along with Advent. The wreath of four candles - One candle for each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. Or perhaps the Advent Calendar. You know the one… it is usually filled with chocolates or sweets hidden behind doors which you open on each day of the season. These symbols can be and often are taken with a little light-hearted joy as people consider them a fun way of counting down to Christmas Day. Families are encouraged to remember the true meaning behind the calendar though. Advent is a season of preparation for the coming of Jesus and so at school, we are preparing by inviting our children to participate in an initiative to achieve the goal of performing 5000 acts of kindness by Christmas. 

All children have to do, is perform an act of kindness and then write about it on a small post-it note sized piece of paper. Those pieces of paper with the act of kindness written on it can be placed in a special spot under the Christmas tree, which will arrive on Friday and be in the school foyer. Let's see if we make it to 1000!

So, I say go forth and spread the word. Kindness is the path toward a truly wonderful Christmas.

Help us prepare the way.

Adjusted Drop off & Pick up Procedures

If nothing else this year we have certainly become used to ongoing adjustments to school routines and procedures and we must congratulate and thank our community for cooperating and supporting our efforts as we navigate these very different times.

In light of the recent lifting of restrictions to visitor access and the need for staggered pick up and drop off times, we surveyed the school community to determine want families prefer as we consider possible changes.

Below are the results of this poll:

Based on this information, it is very clear that the current system of dropping off children and picking them up using the two zones is working well and would continue to be used by most parents on a daily basis. On the basis of guidelines from Catholic Education Melbourne and this information from families, the following will take effect from Thursday December 3 and continue until the last day of this year:

Morning drop off

• No need for staggered arrival time. Children are welcome to arrive at school anytime after 8:30am but no later than 9:00am
• Parents are welcome to walk their child into the school in the mornings, but will not be able to park on the school grounds. Parents will need to park in the surrounding streets and walk into the school. 
• The current system of dropping children outside the Prep building for children with no siblings, will continue.
• The current system for dropping children with siblings in the roundabout will continue.

After school pickup

• Starting Thursday this week, we will stick with the pick up system we have, except ALL STUDENTS WILL FINISH AT 3:30pm
• Parents may walk into the school if they wish to collect their child from the two zones (no parking on school grounds- park in surrounding streets
• The current system of driving in with name signs in car windows and children being picked up from the two designated pickup zones will continue as they have been.
• Those children who walk home may continue to do so. Parents who are walking with their children are welcome to come and collect their children as they are dismissed from classrooms at 3:30pm.

Road safety reminder

Over recent weeks, there have been a number of reports of drivers acting impatiently or not looking where they are going as they enter the carpark.

If you enter the school by turning right off Hallam Road, please note that you MUST give way to cars aproaching from the North and to those turning left into the school. Unfortunately, we have had drivers attempt to push their way in or try and beat the traffic by cutting across while cars are approaching. Please be patient and respect the Keep Clear area marked on the roadway.

Also, several drivers have been seen running over the garden border of rocks on the left hand side as you drive into the school. Some have even caused damage to the cars. Please always keep your eyes on where you are going and stay completely attentive of your surroundings. Never forget that children are children and can sometimes be where you least expect them to be. Keep those eyes peeled.

Uniform reminder

We are so appreciative of families who continue to support our school expectation of wearing the summer uniform correctly. Wearing our uniform correctly, shows the community and each other, the respect and pride we have in our great school.

For health reasons, whenever students are outside between the hours 10am and 4pm, they should be wearing their school hat. School hats are now available for purchase from the office.

On days students do not have Physical Education, they are expected to wear their school shoes. However, they can bring runners to wear during playtimes as long as they change back into their school shoes at the end of a playtime.

We remind parents and carers that we understand that circumstances can prevent students from being in correct uniform especially at this time of year. If this is the case, please simply provide a note of explanation to your child's teacher so that we know not to pester them.  

Last day of School 2020

Return to school reminders

The Summer holidays will soon be upon us but don't forget these important dates about the first few weeks of school:

Preps

• Thursday January 28 - Scheduled classroom visits to meet teachers and spend time in the classroom. 
• Friday January 29 - First day of school for Prep (finishing at 1:30pm)
• Monday Feb 1, Tuesday Feb 2, Thursday Feb 4, Friday Feb 6 - Preps finish at 1:30pm
• Wednesday Feb 3 - Rest day for Preps (no school)

Year 1-6

• Thursday January 28 and Friday January 29 - Scheduled testing days. 
• Monday February 1 - First full day for students
  

Whole school Mass

• Our first whole school Mass to open the school year will take place on Friday Feb 5 at 11:45am.

St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal

Birthday Celebrations

November

23rd   Paul 1/2 HE, Iddeye 5/6 AD

24th   Rishith 1/2 RO, akshatha 3/4 MG

25th   Ameli 5/6 MB, Sanjayram 1/2 FE, Ariana 5/6 MB

26th   Isabella 5/6 MB

27th   Remiyah 1/2 SC, Li-rina 5/6 BU

29th   Methula 3/4 DM

30th   Thomas 1/2 AL

December

1st   Efe PKK, James PCA

3rd   Mia 3/4 PE, Xu len 3/4PE

4th   Amanda 1/2 RO, Abie 1/2 AL

5th   Derron 1/2 MA, Jemi 1/2 FE

6th   Joshua PCA

8th   Isabella 3/4 FO, Anaya 3/4 FO

9th   Aren 1/2 AL, Emma PAT

11th   Alana 3/4 BR

12th   Samuel 3/4 PE, Joanne 3/4 FO

13th   Sheryl 3/4 TI, Mia PDE

Camp Australia Summer Holiday Club

Salesian College Event