No 7. Term 2 Week 3, 12th May 2023

Principal's News

Hello to the most amazing school community in the world! What a great few weeks we have had as we head deeper into the term. 

Our annual school photos were a great success, with students looking their best and ready for the camera. We can't wait to see the finished products and cherish these memories for years to come.

We are incredibly proud of our Year 3 students, who recently received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. It was a beautiful ceremony, and we commend our students for their commitment to their faith.

We also welcomed a special incursion for our Year 1/2 students, focusing on responsible pet ownership. It was an interactive and educational experience for our young students, who learned valuable lessons on how to care for their furry friends.

In sports news, I am thrilled to announce that our St. Kevin's team has won the Cross Country Championship for the third year in a row! We are incredibly proud of their dedication and hard work. Additionally, we are delighted to share that St. Kevins also won the Paul Wade Soccer Gala Day. Our students continue to demonstrate outstanding sportsmanship and teamwork.

And there is more to come!...

Our Year 1/2 students are in for a treat with a special incursion from the Royal Flying Doctor Service, next week. This will be an interactive and informative experience for our young students to learn about the vital work of this essential service.

Our school is also gearing up for the AFL Gala Day. Our students have been practising their skills and strategy, and we look forward to seeing them put their best foot forward on the day.

In other news, we want to remind our families that our School Review is coming up. This review is an essential part of our commitment to providing the best education for our students. We welcome feedback from our community, and this review is an opportunity for us to reflect on our progress and plan for the future. Below is an invitation for any parents or carers to express their interest in being involved. See below for details.

Finally, on behalf of the staff and students at St. Kevin's, I would like to extend our warmest wishes to all of the mothers and special ladies in our community. We recognise the significant role that mothers and mother figures play in our children's lives, and we thank you for your love, support, and tireless efforts. Happy Mother's Day to all of our wonderful mums and special ladies!

As always, I thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. We are proud of our student's achievements and look forward to sharing more exciting news with you soon.

Jason Micallef,

Principal

School Review

We are excited to announce that our school will be undergoing an external review on June 14 and 15. This review is an important opportunity for us to reflect on our school's strengths and areas for growth, and to ensure that we are providing the best possible education for our students. We welcome and encourage parents to participate in a 35-minute conversation alongside other parents and with the external reviewer on one of the two days. Your input is valuable in helping the reviewer to identify areas for improvement and ensuring that we are meeting the needs of our students and families. Please contact the school office if you are interested in being a part of this valuable process.

Happy Mother's Day

What a joy it has been to see all the wonderful things happening within our school to acknowledge and celebrate all the special ladies in our lives who embodied the role of mother. 

The Mother's Day Stall was a hit with students who were eager to find the perfect gift for their mums. It was a great opportunity for students to show their appreciation for their mothers by picking out a thoughtful gift.

In addition to the stall, Prep and Junior classrooms held Class Prayer liturgies to honour mothers and all they do for their families. These liturgies allowed students to reflect on the love and support their mothers provide, and to offer prayers for them on this special day.

We also drew our Mother's Day raffle at assembly today, with some lucky mothers winning fabulous prizes. Thanks to some very generous families who donated some of the prizes. It was a fun way to wrap up the week's celebrations and to recognize the importance of mothers in our lives.

We hope that all the mothers in our community feel loved and appreciated on this special day. We also extend our gratitude to the staff and parents who organised these activities, as they helped to make this Mother's Day a memorable one for all.

Welcome Fr. Fabian

Fr. Fabian commenced at our parish last week. He briefly visited us at the school last Friday and met some of the staff. He expressed his excitement about beginning this new chapter and is looking forward to meeting the rest of our staff, students and school community very soon. He is very keen to get to know us and make regular visits to our school. We wish Fr Fabian the very best as he commences his new role. We pray that God blesses him and his work in our parish. 

Welcome to our new Chaplain!

We are pleased to announce and welcome our new Chaplain, Mrs Fiona Newstead to the St. Kevin's team. Fiona starts with us next week and will be at school every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

As our Chaplain, Fiona will support the emotional wellbeing of students by providing pastoral care services and strategies that support the emotional wellbeing of students. At St. Kevin's the Chaplain is a key member of our Student Wellbeing Team and works alongside Louise Broadhurst (Student Wellbeing Leader), Katelyn O'Donohue (Psychologist) and teachers to support students and their educational outcomes, staff, families and the wider school community.

"Hi my name is Fiona Newstead and I am the new chaplain at St Kevins. I am looking forward to starting with you and getting to know the school community.I am married with 2 grown sons, one daughter in law and 1 soon to be. I also have a GWP pup who creates loads of havoc constantly. I love spending time with students, staff and community members, and hope that I can add to your community in a positive way." 

Reconciliation

On Tuesday evening, we were thrilled to celebrate a wonderful milestone in the spiritual journey of 40 of our Grade 3 students, who participated in the Sacrament of First Reconciliation.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation marks an important step in the spiritual growth of our students. Through the Sacrament, students were able to reflect on their actions, seek forgiveness for any wrongdoings, and receive the gift of God's mercy and grace.

We are immensely proud of our Grade 3 students for their commitment to their faith and for the effort they put into preparing for this important moment. They showed great courage and maturity as they took the time to examine their conscience, confess their sins, and receive absolution. 

We would like to thank all of the staff at St Kevin's for their continued guidance and support during our students' faith journey. Many thanks also to the parents who, of course, are their children’s first and most influential teachers. A big thank you to Fr Anil for leading the ceremony, and to Mrs Hettiarachchi who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make it special for everyone.

Parents and Friends

The PFA's annual Easter raffle was a huge success with 79 prizes! Thanks to everyone who donated prizes and bought tickets! An extra special thank you to all of the parent helpers who supported with the creating of raffle ticket packs, packaging of prizes, folding of tickets and the mammoth draw: Kathryn, Geraldine, Nancy, Karen, Veronique, Patricia, Caryn, Natalie, Wahazit, Lilian, Rozanne, Mandy and Rheannon.

Congratulations to all of the winners: Eloa C, Mia S, Imani G, Kayleigh R, Casey N, Noah T, Leni B, Eryn A, Nadine F, Henry L, Amara G, Cristiano D, Ajooni K, Kahlani N, Michelle C, Isabella C, Alana P, Merrin T, Merrin T, Sunaina C, Henry L, Kahlani G, Mina S, Donna P, Ryder M, Aldyn T, Kevin B, Aiden E, Jaydean H, Liam R, Michaela M, Noah T, Jeevan M, Ryon H, Sophia E, Kim C, Scarlett F, Sophia E, Pippa J, Sunaina C, Sylvester, Sherini W, Mina S, Dihean K, Donna P, Liyara W, Marcia R, Drake D, Michaela C, Seth F, Galvyn G, Ranith J, Dineth P, Mila H, Barbie H, Sebastian F, Kahlani G, Amarpreet S, Ryder B, Meadow S, Ellie N, Darren G, Peter L, Paul B, Danial M, Ryder B, Noah T, Pearl, Jacquie, Jeevan M, Maggie S, Aliyah F, Sherini W, Ashton M, Mandy H, Eliza A, Nicholas B, Mata S, Jemma K.

This week’s PFA's Mother's Day stall was a great success, with lots of lovely gifts for all the mums. Again, this event can only be successful through the support of parents who helped set up and sell throughout the week: Koreti, Patricia, Prasadika, Nancy, Elisabeth, Viviane, Rengie, Audrey, Kristine, Kathryn, Gloria, Veronique, Shanika, Caryn, Natalie, Elisabeth, Lijo, Loan, Anthea, Tharushi, Jacqueline and Lillian. We couldn’t have done it without you.

The PFA's Mother's Day raffle was drawn at assembly today. 6 lucky families won a pack of 6 cupcakes baked and decorated by the very talented Rozanne, 2 families won a bunch of flowers, 2 families won some gift packs and one lucky mum won an $85 voucher for wash, cut and blow wave donated by Shani.

The winners of the Mother's Day raffle today were:

Rayan V.    Ajooni K.    Shanelle F.    Sophia E.    Roxana P.    Aldyn T.    

Carol S.    Michael R.    Eden L.    Letitia R.    Akasha R.    

To all the wonderful mums out there, Happy Mother's Day! We hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day filled with love, laughter, and relaxation. You deserve it!

Today is the last day to place orders for the Scholastic book club issue #3. The catalogue can be viewed at https://www.scholastic.com.au/book-club/book-club-parents/book-club/  with all orders placed online at https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx

Thanks for your support!

Before School Reminder

A reminder that the school gates open at 8:45am. It is important that parents do not drop students at school before this time as there are no teachers available to supervise students before 8:45am. Supervision commences at 8:45 am so that we abide by the new teaching award. Parents who need to drop children off before this time need to use Camp Australia Before School Care.

Once the gates open, students and parents are welcome to enter the school yard to wait for classrooms to open. This is a great opportunity for students to meet up with friends and for parents to connect with each other. We have communicated to students however, that no active games or use of play equipment is permitted before school. This is because we do not have enough teachers on yard duty to supervise children at play or tend to those tudents who may need to attend sick bay as a result of hurting themselves.

Carpark Etiquette and Safety

As the school year continues, it is important to remember the importance of carpark etiquette and following the rules to ensure everyone's safety and wellbeing.

First and foremost, patience is key. Arriving early to avoid traffic congestion and giving yourself extra time for drop-off and pick-up is a great way to avoid unnecessary frustration and rushing. We also ask that families are mindful of the following carpark rules to help us maintain a safe and efficient environment:

• Drive at walking pace at all times
  
• Unless children are walking home, they must be picked up by a known adult from a pick up area inside the school. Remember there is NO drive-through pick-up system at the end of the day.
• There is no stopping in the carpark lanes. If the carpark is full, drivers must proceed to exit the school and drive around to re-enter from Hallam Road. 

It is also important to be mindful of others and your surroundings. We have had several instances in the last few weeks of cars colliding. Please take your time when reversing or maneuvering in the carpark. Remember, small actions such as giving way or using indicators can go a long way in creating a positive and safe carpark environment for all.

By following these simple rules and guidelines, we can ensure a safer and more pleasant experience for everyone using the school carpark. Let us all strive to practice patience, respect, and consideration for each other on the road.

Camp Australia News

School Uniform News!

We are excited to announce that our school will be undertaking a trial where families have the option to choose between wearing Winter or Summer uniforms at any time. This decision was made in response to the unpredictable weather in Melbourne, which can be warm in winter and cold in summer. This trial was instigated by discussions held by the School Advisory Committee and aims to provide families with more flexibility and comfort in choosing what their child wears to school.

The parameters of this trial are that students must wear either full Winter or full Summer uniform. Sport uniforms should only be worn on designated sport days. We hope this trial will make it easier for families to ensure their child is comfortable in any weather while still adhering to our uniform policy.

We would also like to remind parents to ensure that their child wears the uniform correctly, with black school shoes (not runners) on the days they wear the school uniform. Runners are only permitted to be worn on designated sport days when students are wearing their sport uniform. Also, leggings and tights should not be worn with the summer dress.

Uniforms are a great way to celebrate and belong in our school, and we encourage all students to wear their uniform with pride. Thank you to all parents who ensure their children are dressed in the correct uniform, and we look forward to the success of this trial.

AVAILABLE FROM THE OFFICE!

St. Kevin's Beanie $12

St. Kevin's Scarf

$18

District Cross Country

We did it again! The St. Kevin's Cross Country team won the District Cross Country Championship for the third year in a row! Congratulations to all our runners, teachers and supporters who made this victory possible. We're proud of your hard work and dedication. A big thank you to all the teachers, families and supporters who have helped our students achieve their best. Let's keep up the great work and continue our proud tradition of athletic excellence and teamwork!

We would now like to congratulate the students who have qualified to represent St. Kevin's at the Regional level: Akech (LN), Selena (FO), Aldyn (RU), Tiana (RU), Hazel (SP), Rhiannon (SP), Thomas (LN), Seth (SP), Alexus (RU), Navkiran (LN), Jewels (SL), Dekbai (SL), Logan (LN), Benjamin (CR), Jordan (RU) and our emergency is Adele (SL).

ST JOHN’S SOCCER GALA DAY

More great news! We're thrilled to announce that our soccer teams participated in the Paul Wade Cup Soccer Gala Day at St John's Regional College earlier this week, and our A team won the championship! Congratulations to our skilled and determined players who brought home this incredible victory. Our B team also played with great heart and sportsmanship, making it to the quarter-finals. Well done to all our players! A big thank you to St John's for hosting the event and our teachers, families, and supporters who were a driving force behind our team's success. Go team!

Health & Hygiene

As the winter season approaches and the threat of colds, flu, and COVID-19 continues, it is crucial to remind ourselves of the importance of good hygiene and health practices to prevent the spread of these illnesses.

Firstly, regular hand washing is essential. Encourage your child to wash their hands frequently, especially before eating and after using the toilet. Hand sanitiser can also be used as an alternative when hand washing facilities are not readily available and we encourage children to bring an appropriate sanitiser to school and keep in their bag for when they need it.

Covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing is also important. Encourage your child to use a tissue or their elbow to cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. This can prevent the spread of germs through the air or on their hands.

Lastly, if your child is feeling unwell, it is important to keep them home to prevent the spread of illness to others. If your child is experiencing symptoms, such as a fever, cough, or loss of taste or smell, they should stay home until they are symptom free. We do have a small supply of Covid-19 RAT kits for families who may need one. Please see us at the office.

By practising good hygiene and health practices, we can all play a role in preventing the spread of illnesses and keeping our school community healthy. Let's all do our part to protect ourselves and each other.

How to talk with children about their day

At St. Kevin's, we believe that maintaining a strong partnership between home and school is essential to ensure the success of our students. As followers of Jesus, we are called to work together to support one another and help each other grow.

One of the ways you can support your child's learning is by talking with them about their day at school. However, we understand that sometimes it can be challenging to get a detailed response from your child. Here are some practical suggestions to help you initiate a conversation with your child about their learning:

1. Ask specific questions - Rather than asking "How was your day?" try asking specific questions such as "What was your favourite thing you learned today?" or "What was the most challenging task you completed?"

2. Listen actively - Give your child your full attention and actively listen to their responses. This shows them that you value their thoughts and opinions.

3. Connect their learning to real-life - Help your child see the relevance of their learning by asking questions such as "How do you think you could use what you learned in real life?" or "Can you think of a time when you might need to use this skill?"

4. Consider the timing - Try to find a time when your child is relaxed and comfortable, such as at bedtime or during a family meal, to ask about their day. This can help them feel more open to sharing their thoughts and experiences with you.

By taking an interest in your child's learning, you are not only showing them that their education is important to you, but you are also following Jesus' teachings of love and support for others. We encourage you to make time for these conversations regularly and to celebrate your child's successes with them.

Lunchtime Clubs

Do you know about our school's lunchtime clubs? At St. Kevin's we believe that lunchtime is not just about refuelling the body but also about rejuvenating the mind. That's why we offer our students the opportunity to participate in a variety of lunchtime clubs. From chess to coding to gardening, our clubs cater to a wide range of interests and are a great way for students to connect with like-minded peers outside of the classroom. By joining a lunchtime club, students can develop new skills, explore their passions, and foster a sense of community within our school.