No 3. Term 1 Week 5, 24th February 2021
Principal's News
Leadership as a concept, is often thought of and spoken about in terms used to describe a person in authority. Some might even believe that leadership is a role to be conferred upon a person as a kind of reward for being good or good at something. I prefer to think of leadership as something else.
True leadership I believe comes from within. No one can give it to you. It is not intrinsically tied to your role, age, gender, experience or capabilities. Leadership is a behaviour. True leaders harness the power of intrinsic qualities like courage, idealism and empathy to try and make a positive difference. Sometimes leaders don’t even know they are leaders. They are my favourite kind…. because you know they are genuine.
Leadership as a behaviour is something that all students at St. Kevin’s are encouraged and supported to develop. Of course, not everyone may want to be a leader and that’s ok. But all children know, that anyone can have the potential to lead if they look within. This is always easier to see when they have role models to look up to. Recognised reliable leaders who show them what leadership looks like… and that’s where our year 6's come in.
Over the last two weeks, our Year 6 students have all had the opportunity to reflect on leadership and what it means to be a recognised leader in our amazing school. In doing so, the students were invited to submit an application and explain to a panel of staff, why they believe they are leaders, and express their aspiration for being a student leader.
Leadership takes courage. 67 of senior students put themselves out there, knowing that they had to endure a nerve wracking, formal interview. But they had a go anyway.
Leadership takes strength. They applied knowing the very real possibility that they may be unsuccessful. But they forged ahead anyway.
Leadership takes resilience and persistence. Today 31 of those applicants were unsuccessful in their aspiration, but they left school at the end of the day walking tall, proudly and with dignity.
I emphasise the unsuccessful in this case because nobody who applied for the role of student leader failed in their goal. They may not have a badge, but they proved they were already leaders and still are. Leading from within and providing us all with much cause to be proud.
This Friday, we will be presenting those students to be formally recognised as leaders to the rest of the school. They will receive their badges before reciting a pledge of commitment to the role they have been given. I can't think of a more fitting occasion to bring our whole school together for only the second time in nearly a year.
Let us congratulate the following students. Our student leaders for 2021.
School Closure Day Cancelled
Parents and Carers are asked to take note that the school closure day previously scheduled for Friday March 5 has been CANCELLED. Students should attend school as normal on this day.
Covid-Safe Reminders
With news of vaccine rollouts commencing in Victoria we can look toward to a gradual return to more relaxed conditions. In the meantime however, we remind families that the current circumstances require all visitors to the school over the age of 12 to wear a mask at all times while on the school grounds.
Also, please understand that while we would love for parents to be included in Assemblies, Mass and other liturgical celebrations, we are unable to permit attendance at this time as doing so impacts the conditions that allow us to gather in high numbers. As soon as this restriction changes, we will let you know. Where possible, we provide access to recorded video or live streams of important events.
House Colours Day this Friday
All students are invited to come to school dressed in their House colours this Friday! That's right, celebrate your Houses with pride and show your support in as creative ways as possible.
Save the date!!!
Books in Languages other than English
Exciting news everyone! We have purchased some very special picture books and dictionaries that students can use. What is special about them you ask? Well, they are written in a range of different languages!
The languages included are Vietnamese, Punjabi, Hindi, Malayalam, Arabic, Tagalog, French, Tamil, and Samoan. The dictionaries in Arabic, Hindi, French, Vietnamese and Tagalog. If children wish to borrow the picture books, they should look for the books with an orange dot on their spine.
At the moment we only have a few books in each language, so students will only be able to borrow one book at a time for now. If we find them very popular though, we can order some more. These books will help enable students to learn to read in their first language and strengthen their literacy skills.
If families who speak another language are interested in bilingual stories, please let Mrs Williams know. Her email address is cwilliams@skhamptonpark.catholic.edu.au.
Our School is Becoming ResourceSmart
This year our school is taking action to become more environmentally sustainable through a Victorian Government initiative called ResourceSmart Schools.
ResourceSmart Schools is a program that helps our school embed sustainability in everything we do. We are aiming to reduce our resource use (like electricity, waste and water) and support indigenous plants and animals. This will not only help us to save money, but more importantly, help build a better future for us all.
The ResourceSmart Schools program will involve students, families and other members of our school and local community. We are working with Leah Martini from CERES Community Environment Park on the actions of the Core and Waste Modules.
This year, we are aiming to create a strong foundation for our sustainability program. Through the ResourceSmart Schools program we will continue to build on our sustainability achievements, improve our gardens and get our community involved.
We can’t wait to share our achievements with you and work together to make a more sustainable future for all.
School Photos
School Photos will be on Tuesday 2nd March 2021.
Students are to wear their Summer Uniform with white socks and black school shoes.
PAYMENT IS ONLINE ONLY.
On Friday 19th February all students were given their individual order forms, each with their own Internet ID number. Once logged on to www.schoolpix.com.au, you then put your childs ID number in and select the photo package you wish to purchase. For families with more than one child, once the first child's pack is selected, you will then be prompted to add another child's ID number. There will also be an option for if you would like to order a sibling photo, you MUST have you online order in by 8am Tuesday 2nd March.
Parents as Partners
Parent Engagement Action Team
A huge thankyou to the seven parents who have nominated themselves for inclusion in this exciting team. The Parent Engagement Action Team will invlove parents and staff evaluating and planning for how we can enhance our home-school partnership. Watch this space as we keep our commnity up to date with how they go.
School Advisory Committee
Formerly known as the School Education Board, The School Advisory Committee (SAC) is an important group made up of representatives from key stakeholder groups within our school community. The SAC meets twice per term in the evening to discuss key aspects of school life and provide advice to the Principal. Being a SAC member is also a great way for parents to learn more about how our school operates and how decisions are made. We are currently looking for 4 or 5 parents / carers who might enjoy being a part of this more formal / structured way engaging in school life and can commit to attending these meetings. With the ability to include members via video link, you may even be able to take part from home! Please contact Mr. Micallef, principal@skhamptonpark.catholic.edu.au if you would like more information.
Parents & Friends Association
We are looking forward to our first PFA meeting for the year that is taking place next Monday afternoon (see flyer below). All are welcome as we kick start our efforts to fund-raise and friend-raise. This is a more casual and relaxed team who enjoy planning and coordinating exciting and interesting events that add joy and fun to our community. If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of in 2021 in some way or shape, please contact Mrs. Gage rgage@skhamptonpark.catholic.edu.au
Second Hand Uniform Shop - Help Needed!
Thanks to Covid restrictions we haven't been able to properly operate the second hand uniformshop, but we are now hoping to get it back up and running with regular opening times. Our aim is to have all newly arrived stock processed before next Friday, so that we can open the store between 8:45am and 10am on Friday March 12 and Friday March 26. We would greatly appreciate any help offered. Please contact the office if you can help.
School Fees
You are Invited to Become an Altar Server…
Have you ever thought about becoming an Altar Server? If not! Now it’s the time…
To take this opportunity to grow in your faith, to become more active in the Mass by serving as Altar Servers and to begin a life of service to your church, our parish community, and God Himself! Altar Servers are young people who assist the priest and deacon during Mass. Altar Servers in the liturgy, you are much more than simple "helpers of the priest." Above all, you are servers of Jesus Christ, you are called in particular to be young friends of Jesus.
We are here to support you and would like to invite all who have received your First Holy Communion and have a desire to serve the Lord and His people as an Altar Server to join our upcoming training sessions and to become an Altar Server of our Parish. Parents we need your support, please encourage your children in their faith journey…
Altar Servers training will be on …
Date: Saturday 27th February 2021 at 3pm
Sunday 28th February 2021 at 3pm
Place: St. Kevin’s Church Hampton Park
For any details, you may email to the parish office: hamptonpark.cam.org.au or talk to one of the Priests or the Altar Servers Coordinator Martin Thomas.
With a grateful heart
Fr. Anil
Camp Australia News
Happy Birthday !!
February
15th Josh 3/4 FO, Elizabeth 3/4 DM
16th Agnel 3/4 MG
17th Mason PKK, Matilda 3/4 TI
18th Jayleena 1/2 HE
19th Jacob 5/6 LN, Sarah 3/4 DM
20th Megan 3/4 FO
22nd Kovinanite 1/2 DC
23rd Jacob 1/2 HE
24th Brodie 3/4 FO
25th Josiah 3/4 FO, Abiar 1/2 RO, Brielle 3/4 TI, JC-Lewis 5/6 TI
26th Sunaina 3/4 DM, Ashton 5/6 MB
27th Attila 3/4 MG, Sebastian 3/4 MG
28th Evan 3/4 TI
March
1st Ronan 3/4 DM, Maryna 3/4 DM
4th Neha 5/6 SP
6th Lahra 1/2 FE, Hannah 1/2 DC
8th Logan 3/4 DM, Vivian 3/4 BB
9th Jennifer 3/4 FO
Community News
