No 9. Term 2 Week 7, 9th June 2023

Principal's News

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we reach the halfway point of the academic year, it is crucial to pause and reflect on our journey of learning and growth. At St. Kevin's, we believe that reflection plays a pivotal role in the development of our students. It allows them to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their achievements, and their aspirations for the future.

I am pleased to announce that our upcoming Progress Interviews provide an excellent opportunity for students to engage in this reflective process. During these interviews, students will have a chance to focus on their accomplishments, celebrate their successes, and set meaningful goals for the future. By taking the time to reflect on their progress, our students become active participants in their educational journey.

As we lead up to Progress Interviews, I would like to remind you that your children's Achievement Reports will be made available. Look out for an email with instructions on how to access them by the end of next week. While these reports provide a snapshot of your child's overall performance, it is crucial to remember that true success is not solely determined by grades or marks. It is the growth, effort, and personal development that truly shape a child's educational experience.

Each student's journey is unique, and it is through reflection that they can recognize their progress. Growth, both academically and personally, is the measure of success we cherish at St. Kevin's. It is the process of overcoming challenges, building resilience, and discovering new strengths that truly matters.

As parents and guardians, I encourage you to engage in meaningful conversations with your children about their achievements, challenges, and aspirations. Ask them about their goals and how they plan to work towards them. By fostering an environment of reflection and open dialogue, we can support our students in their pursuit of continuous improvement and personal growth.

May God's blessings be upon you and your families.

Yours in faith and education,

Jason Micallef,
Principal

Book your Progress Interview time here!

School Review

This week, we began the formal stages of our School review and got to meet our independent reviewer, Dr Judith Gurvich. Judith is a former principal with over 40 years’ of experience across Primary, Secondary, TAFE, Community Education and Tertiary sectors. Her experience covers all aspects of school operations and educational leadership. As a regional network leader with the Department of Education, Judith was responsible for a district 27 schools and until recently, was a lecturer at the Australian Catholic University working with the next generation of teachers. Judith now works as a school reviewer with Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, is a passionate educator who loves working with schools and writes children’s picture books in her spare time.

Today, Judith undertook our Compliance Review, which I am pleased to say we passed with flying colours and on June 14 and 15 (next week) she will meet students, staff and a small group of parents to discuss our school. I look forward to sharing the results of the review in early term 3. 

We need your help!

Maria Rosa our Library Technician needs your help! We have a large number of decodable books in need of covering. Maria Rosa has kits ready to go and is happy to show parents how to do them on Wednesday at 9am and Thursday at 3pm. Your help will go a long way toward getting these valuable resources into classrooms faster so they can be used. For more information, please contact the school office or email Maria Rosa at mvallina@skhamptonpark.catholic.edu.au.

Spread the word - It's enrolment time

School Absences

We want to keep you informed about your child's progress and overall well-being at school. As part of our commitment to ensuring their educational success, at the same time that Achievement Reports will be published, we will be sending home a letter regarding your child's attendance at school.

This attendance report utilizes a traffic light system to provide a clear indication of your child's attendance record. The purpose of this system is to help you understand the impact of their attendance on their learning progress. Here's what each colour represents:

Green: All OK - Your child's attendance is within an acceptable range, and their learning progress remains unaffected. Congratulations on their consistent presence in the classroom.

Yellow: Attention Required - Your child's attendance is showing some concerns. It is essential to pay attention to the amount of time off they have taken. Regular school attendance is crucial for their academic growth and social engagement.

Red: Immediate Attention Required - Your child's high level of absence is negatively impacting their learning progress. It is crucial to address this issue promptly. Please reach out to us so that we can work together to support your child's educational journey.

We understand that there may be legitimate reasons for absences, such as illness or family emergencies. However, consistent and punctual attendance is essential for your child to fully benefit from their educational experience.

We encourage you to review the attendance report carefully and, if necessary, contact us to discuss any concerns or seek assistance in improving your child's attendance. Together, we can ensure their academic success and well-being.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education. We value your involvement and look forward to working with you to create a positive and enriching school experience.

Sickness

Just a reminder to keep your children home if they are sick.

Children who have symptoms of gastroenteritis (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, headache and/or muscle aches) should remain home until 48 hours have passed since their last symptom.

Children who have symptoms of a cold, influenza or Covid19 (runny nose, sore throat, coughing, fever, headache and / or muscle aches) should stay home until the symptoms subside.

Schools are unfortunately petri-dishes for these viruses therefore it is important that all parents adhere to this advice.

You're Invited!

Join our year 3 - 6 students at the Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass, Friday June 16 at 9:15am

St. Kevin's Feast Day: A Day of Learning, Prayer and Fun!

We celebrated St. Kevin's Feast Day earlier this week with great enthusiasm! Students discovered his inspiring life, joined in Mass, and had a blast with Kaboom Sports. It was a joyful occasion filled with laughter and friendship. Thank you for your support in creating such a memorable experience for our students.

Surprise Visitors

Today Mrs Shannon popped in for a surprise visit and brought her cute rabbits, big Lolly and tiny Pip! The 3/4s (DC, FO & NA) learnt about how to care for them, where they sleep and what foods they like to eat (carrots are like chocolate and are only given as a special treat). We all wanted a pat and a cuddle.

Cross Country

We started on Friday 24th February and we are not done yet! 48 students participated in the District Championships earlier this year where St. Kevin's triumphed over 9 other schools. Then 16 of those students qualified to represent us at the Divisionals, where we had our first-ever Division level podium finish. We are now down to 7 amazing runners heading to Regionals on Wednesday 14th June. These students have trained at lunch, in the rain, in the heat, in their own time, through niggling injuries and with stitches. Their commitment is beyond brilliant!! Well done to everyone involved and all the teachers who have supported cross country along the way. 

Critical & Creative 3/4 level

Throughout term 2, our Grade 3/4 students have viewed and explored a variety of Indigenous artworks in their Critical and Creative Thinking classes. This has led students to learning and asking questions about how the First Nations People lived off the land and seeing some of this reflected in their art. Students have made connections to symbols represented in Indigenous artworks after exploring what some common Aboriginal symbols mean, understanding that each painting, etc, is rich in story telling. Using this information, classes also explored comic strips and were then given the task to create a comic strip to tell a short story using the same style that Aboriginal people would use in their artwork, such as the use of curved and swirly lines, arrows, circles, dots, etc.

Have a look at some of the pictures.