No 3. Term 1 Week 5, 3rd March 2023
Principal News
We have now reached the halfway mark of the first term. Can you believe it? A highlight so far has definitely been watching how wonderfully our Prep students have settled into school life. They are already making new friends and learning so much.
As we approach the third week of Lent, it is a time for us to reflect on our faith and renew our commitment to God. Lent is a time of sacrifice and self-discipline, as we prepare for the celebration of Easter. I encourage you to take some time to talk to your children about the significance of this time of year, and to explore ways in which you can deepen your faith together as a family.
I am also delighted to share with you that we announced our student leaders at last week's assembly. We are very proud of these young people, who have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, and who will now have the opportunity to represent our school and be a positive influence on their peers.
At St. Kevin's, we believe that giving students opportunities for leadership is vital. When children are given the chance to take on responsibilities and lead their peers, they develop confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose. They learn how to communicate effectively, make decisions, and solve problems. They also develop empathy and understanding, as they learn to work collaboratively with others and to take into account different perspectives.
Leadership opportunities also provide students with a chance to give back to their school and their community. They can use their skills and talents to make a positive difference, whether that's through fundraising, organising events, or simply being a friendly face and a listening ear for their peers.
We believe that all our students have the potential to be leaders, and we encourage them to develop their skills and interests in a supportive and nurturing environment. We are excited to see our student leaders take on their new roles, and we know they will do us proud.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our school and our mission. Together, we can continue to provide our students with the skills, knowledge, and values they need to succeed in life and make a positive impact on the world.
Jason Micallef,
Principal
All the best Mrs McGookin!
As Mrs McGookin embarks on an exciting new chapter of her life, we wish her all the best as she takes time to rest and prepare for the arrival of bubs.
We will miss you during your absence, but we are excited for you to embark on this new journey and experience the joy and wonder of being a parent. Take care of yourself and your little one, and know you always have our support and best wishes. We look forward to your safe return and can't wait to hear all about your new bundle of joy!
Child Safety Standards
Ensuring the safety of our children is of utmost importance to us at St. Kevin's, which is why we work very hard to live up to the expectations outlined in the Child Safety Standards.
These standards aim to create a safe and supportive environment for children, where they feel respected and valued. They cover a range of areas, including policies and procedures, code of conduct, recruitment and screening of staff and volunteers, training, and communication.
We regularly review and update our child safety policies and procedures to ensure they are effective and meet the required standards. Our staff and volunteers undergo thorough screening and training to ensure they are suitable for working with children.
We take the safety and wellbeing of our students very seriously, and we will continue to work hard to maintain the highest possible standards of child safety.
NAPLAN 2023
NAPLAN is a national literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake.
NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national standards and over time.
NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It doesn’t replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance.
If you have any concerns about your child's participation in Naplan this year, please speak to your child's classroom teacher.
Introducing our student leaders!
Congratulations to our Student Leaders for 2023!!! We introduce Ava and Logan as our School Captains who will work alongside all of our House Leaders, Social Justice Leaders, Sport Leaders, Sustainability Leaders and Arts Leaders. We look forward to seeing what all these students will achieve this year.
Parents & Friends Association
A big thank you to the parents that attended our first PFA meeting on Wednesday afternoon. It was lovely to see Natalie Eyssens offer to take on the role of President as well as set some of our fundraisers for 2023. It's not too late to get involved, look out for on Operoo form that will provide further details about the various fundraisers as well as some dates and times that help will be needed. One of our first fundraisers we are looking for assistance with is the Easter raffle. If you are available next Wednesday morning at 9am, please join us in the Welcome Centre to prepare the tickets for sale.
Our next meeting will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, March 21 at 7:30pm. The link will be sent out via SZ App closer to the time as a reminder.
Grade 5 / 6 Parliament House and Shrine Memorial Excursion
Over the last fortnight, the Grade 5/6s went on a tour to Parliament House and the Shrine War Memorial in the city. They took a long bus ride into the city where they saw lots of beautiful scenery as they went by. Before entering Parliament House all students had to go through a security screening which made us feel like we were at an airport. Once inside, we engaged in all sorts of activities such as role-playing, exploring the library, looking at the Green house and Red house, (both were named after the red House of Lords and a green House of Commons from the British Parliament), examining the amazing Queen’s Hall, and investigating the Federal Oak.
DID YOU KNOW?
- The State of Victoria was named after Queen Victoria, who was Queen from 1837 to 1901!
After the Parliament House tour, the Grade 5/6s went on a short bus ride to the Shrine War Memorial. At the Shrine the 5/6s were split into groups and had a guide to guide them around the Shrine and teach us many amazing things about World War 2. The Shrine was exceptionally beautiful, but also very sad as grade 5/6s learned about the many Australian soldiers that had sacrificed themselves for their country. At the Shrine we were able to try on real outfits and objects that the Australian Soldiers had worn and used in the war, which was really cool! Many of the 5/6s have learned a lot of outstanding facts about WWI (World War I) and WWII (World War II).
DID YOU KNOW?
- In WWII, one of the World War main heroes was a donkey!
- The youngest soldier in World War II was a 15 year old boy
The grade 5/6s had an amazing time on their excursion and are excited to go on much more this year!
Art News
It is an exciting time in the Art Room as we begin the new school year focusing on ourselves as creative individuals. This year our theme is “Making an Impression” and we will be looking at landscapes with an artistic eye. We have immersed ourselves into the Pantone Colour of the Year for 2023, Viva Magenta which encourages us to draw inspiration from nature during the age of technology. Look out for our “Magentaverse” landscapes where we created the different shades and tones of Viva Magenta which is a colour that excites passion and connection with nature and country.
P.S. Pantone is a universal, standardised colour matching system used worldwide to provide consistency with colour based decisions through the creative process.
Parish News
Community News
Mazenod College Open Day
Mazenod are holding an open day on Wednesday 8th March 2.00 – 6.00pm.
Bookings are required via Mazenod College website. https://www.mazenod.vic.edu.au/a-faith-centred-education/enrolment/open-days-and-tours/
Enrolments for Year 7 2025 (Grade 5 in 2023) close on Friday 18th August 2023.
