No 14. Term 3 Week 7, 25th August 2023

Principal's News

Dear St. Kevin's Community,

In a spirit of unity and dedication, we come together to celebrate a remarkable achievement as I share with you the results of our School's Review illuminating our path forward as a school community. I am very excited and proud to say that through our collective effort, we have affirmed our standing as a highly effective institution and for this, we express our heartfelt gratitude to every student, family and staff member.

The Review journey was guided by a rigorous process that reflects our commitment to growth and progress. Over the course of several months, our devoted staff engaged in introspection, rigorously reflecting on our practices and aspirations. This self-reflection laid the foundation for the expertise of Independent Reviewer, Dr Judith Gurvich to bring an objective lens to our journey. Over two full days, Judith met with staff, students, and families in focus groups. Through these interactions, our community's voice resonated, providing valuable insights into our strengths and opportunities.

The Review highlighted our strengths, including:

• Wellbeing as Priority: Our unrelenting focus on student wellbeing remains paramount, embedded in our programs and relationships, driving decision-making.
• Empowered Teamwork: The collaborative spirit among our skilled staff cultivates professional growth, fostering a true professional learning community.
• Curriculum Mastery: Our instructional leadership, supported by robust curriculum knowledge, fuels continuous improvement, ensuring quality education.
• Digital Communication: Smart digital platforms facilitate clear, timely communication, unifying our community and enhancing connections.
• Inclusive Trust: Our culture of inclusivity and trust underscores a welcoming environment where families value their partnership with us.

As we bask in the glow of our accomplishments, we recognise that our journey is far from over. The Review's recommendations light our way forward, shaping our strategic plan for the coming years. These recommendations are rooted in the essence of our school – our commitment to fostering excellence and creating a nurturing environment for all.

• Enhanced Teaching and Learning: Embrace the structured literacy approach to enrich teaching and learning experiences across the school.
• Student Empowerment: Foster deeper student engagement through amplified student voice and agency, actively involving them in decision-making.
• Capacity Building: Elevate staff capacity through systematic coaching, peer observation, and constructive feedback, nurturing professional growth.

With heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support, we look toward the horizon with optimism. The future of St. Kevin's is a canvas we paint together, and with every brushstroke, we colour the world with the brilliance of our community.

With gratitude and anticipation,

Jason Micallef,
Principal

School Improvement Surveys

As part of our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible education and experience for our students, we are excited to invite you to participate in this year's School Improvement Survey, known as MACSSIS.

MACSSIS - Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, School Improvement Survey.

Your insights, opinions, and suggestions are invaluable in helping us understand what we're doing well and where we can make enhancements. This survey provides a platform for you to share your thoughts on various aspects of our school, from teaching methods and curriculum to extracurricular activities and community engagement.

Why Your Participation Matters:

1. Quality Enhancement: Your feedback directly contributes to our efforts to enhance the quality of education we offer.

2. Community Collaboration: This is a chance to have your voice heard and actively participate in shaping the future of our school community.

3. Continuous Growth: By identifying areas for improvement, we ensure that we are constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of our students and families.

All participation is invited, welcomed and 100 per cent voluntary. Check your emails on Monday August 28 for details of how to access the survey.

Congratulations Mrs Talia!

We are thrilled to share some wonderful news with all of you. Our beloved Prep teacher, Mrs. Talia, is expecting a new addition to her family! It is with great excitement and joy that we announce her pregnancy.

As Mrs. Talia embarks on this beautiful journey of motherhood, we want to surround her with our heartfelt support and best wishes. We look forward to celebrating this special time in her life and eagerly anticipate the arrival of her bundle of joy.

Congratulations, Mrs. Talia!

Bringing toys from home

At St. Kevin's, we prioritise a conducive learning environment that promotes social skills. While we don't impose bans on personal items, we do advise against allowing students to bring their cherished toys and other belongings to school.

The reality is that these cherished items are susceptible to loss, damage, or misplacement. As you can imagine, we have limited ability to investigate incidents involving student's personal belongings. Therefore, we emphasise that bringing such items to school is at your discretion and risk.

By doing so, we collectively work toward maintaining a focused and responsible space for our students' growth and development.

Nurturing positive relationships

At St. Kevin's, our core belief is in ensuring safety for all, which extends to their emotional well-being.

Supporting children through conflicts is a fundamental part of their growth. It's natural to experience misunderstandings in relationships, especially during their primary years. This phase provides numerous opportunities for us, as parents and teachers, to equip them with effective PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS.

As you know, this term we've delved into the complexities of challenging friendships and distinguishing them from bullying. We're delighted to see these discussions thriving within our community.

As adults, it's our role to guide children in resolving relationship issues. Our guidance lays the foundation for them to navigate relationships with authenticity, respect, and kindness. RESTORATIVE practices are key to this process, fostering the healing of relationships.

Bullying is a term often misused and it is important to understand and distinguish this from individual cases of conflict. Remember, bullying differs from isolated conflicts. There are 3 characteristics of a relationship that define when it is bullying:

• Power imbalance
• Deliberate intent to cause harm
• Ongoing and repeated behaviour.

Our Anti-Bullying policy safeguards our environment and is accessible on our school website.

We encourage you to keep these conversations alive at home, sharing the strategies you use to navigate relationships. Together, we can empower our children to build a lifetime of enriching connections.

Celebrate Father's Day with Us!

We cordially invite dads and father figures to a heartwarming assembly next Friday at 2:40pm in the Hall, in honour of Father's Day. Join us as we celebrate the wonderful role you play in our children's lives. The assembly promises special moments, including the final of our inaugural Dad Joke competition. Let's come together to show our appreciation and share joy.

Sending our warmest wishes to all the dads and father figures in our community. Your presence truly makes a difference.

Father's Day Gift Stall

The PFA is running a special Gift Stall for students to purchase gifts for the special men in their lives. Students in Prep, 1/2 and 5/6 will be rostered with their class to visit the stall on Monday and the 3/4s on Tuesday.

It's a fantastic opportunity for our children to select heartfelt presents.

Parents & Friends Association

We wish to extend our gratitude to all the parents who attended our recent PFA meeting on Zoom. Your participation and insights are invaluable as we work together to create the best environment for our students. If you weren't able to make it, no worries! We've got you covered. The minutes of the meeting are attached below, so you can catch up on all the important discussions and decisions.

Upcoming Father's Day Stall:
Father's Day is just around the corner, and we're thrilled to announce that our annual Father's Day Stall will be held next Monday for students in Prep-2 and Tuesday for students in 3/4. Follow up sales will held Wednesday through to Friday before school in the Welcome Centre. It's a wonderful opportunity for students to show their appreciation for their dads, grandfathers, uncles, or any special father figures in their lives. The stall will offer a variety of thoughtful gifts that your children can choose from, all at the affordable price of $5. Let's celebrate these important role models together! A huge thank you to Karen, Marcia, Reeja, Joseph and Suzie for setting the stall up this afternoon.

Pancake Parlour School Rewards Program:
Have you heard about the Pancake Parlour School Rewards program? It's a fantastic way to support our school while treating your family to some delicious pancakes. All you need to do to earn points for our school is to sign up! Anyone with a mobile number can join so encourage all family members, neighbours and work colleagues to nominate St Kevin’s to help us earn even more points. Don’t forget to mention our school when eating at The Pancake Parlour as that earns more points tool. We’re currently 3rd in the Fountain Gate league. It's a win-win situation that helps us enhance our educational programs. Visit https://www.pancakeparlour.com.au/school-rewards-join-an-existing-school to join up.
We are also inviting parents to a PFA gathering at The Pancake Parlour at Fountain Gate on Thursday, October 12 7pm. Keep an eye out for RSVP details in the next newsletter.

Colour Fun Run
We’re excited to announce that we will again be holding the Colour Fun Run this year! Our Fun Run date will be Monday, October 23. We’ll be launching the fundraising next Friday, so make sure to keep your eyes out for the sponsorship forms and a parent letter that will explain everything.
We hope you’ll support our school and students in fundraising for a stage for the school hall.

St Kevin’s has done it again!

We are thrilled to announce that we've secured the title of District Athletics Champions for the second time in a row!

It's all thanks to our talented students' hard work, dedication, and boundless enthusiasm. They've shown remarkable sportsmanship, determination, and team spirit and we couldn't be prouder of their achievements. But that's not all – let's take a moment to recognise the exceptional commitment of our teachers. Throughout the term, Ms Donald, Mrs Langdon and Mrs McMaster have been training with our students not once, but twice a week, to ensure they were in top form for the competition.

It's this kind of dedication that truly sets our school apart. The time and energy invested by our teachers, combined with the hard work of our students, have led us to this remarkable victory. We've witnessed our students' growth, not only in terms of athletic abilities but also in terms of teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship. 

Exploring the Wonders of Science in 1/2

Our grade 1/2 students have had some recent adventures in the world of science experiments! Our young scientists have been exploring various scientific concepts and engaging in hands-on activities to enhance their understanding.

One of the most memorable experiments was learning about the science behind popping popcorn. Students were introduced to the idea that heat energy can transform the kernels into fluffy, delicious popcorn.

The excitement in the classroom was palpable as the students eagerly awaited the popping sound and the aroma of freshly popped popcorn. The joy on their faces when they tasted their creations was truly priceless. This hands-on experience not only made science come alive but also instilled a love for learning and exploration in our young learners.

Through this experiment, our grade 1/2 students not only learned about the scientific process but also developed important skills such as making a hypothesis and observing changes. They eagerly worked together, documenting their findings, and reflecting on the outcomes.

Brand New Prep Sandpit Opening Soon!

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming opening of our brand-new Prep sandpit! The finishing touches are being added early next week, and we can hardly wait to see our eager young learners playing and exploring in this fantastic new space.

This vibrant addition promises hours of fun and creative play for our Prep students. With its carefully designed features, including a protective cover to keep the sand in tip-top condition overnight and through the holidays, the sandpit will foster imagination, social interaction, and sensory experiences.

Thrilling Adventure at Phillip Island Camp

Last week was an incredible adventure for our 5/6 students as they embarked on a three-day journey to Phillip Island for an unforgettable Adventure Camp! The camp was filled with excitement, learning, and countless moments of joy.

Amidst the stunning backdrop of Phillip Island, our students engaged in thrilling activities that pushed their boundaries and sparked new passions. The camp was not only about fun but also a remarkable opportunity for experiential learning.

We are incredibly proud of our students for their enthusiasm, resilience, and camaraderie throughout the camp. Their teamwork and positive spirit truly exemplified the values we hold dear.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our parents for trusting us and allowing their children to be a part of this enriching experience. Your support is instrumental in creating such memorable opportunities for our students.

As we reflect on the memories created during the Adventure Camp, we look forward to more such journeys that shape the holistic development of our students.

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Pedalling into Learning

Our ongoing Bike-Ed program is currently in full swing for our Prep and 1/2 students! This engaging initiative brings valuable lessons on bike safety and riding skills to our young learners.

Under the guidance of our skilled teachers who, by the way, are Bike-Ed Accredited instructors, our students are gaining confidence as they navigate their bikes and learn essential skills that will serve them well in the future. The Bike-Ed program not only promotes physical activity but also teaches vital road safety principles, setting our students on the path to responsible bike ridership.

We're excited about the growth and fun this program brings to our children. Stay tuned for updates on their progress, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about this initiative.

e-Scooters - Did you know?

Riders of e-scooters must:

• wear a helmet 
• be aged 16 or over
• ride at a maximum speed of 20 km/h hour 
• ride on shared-use paths, bicycle paths, or roads with a speed limit of up to 60 km/h
• have flashing or steady front and rear lights if riding at night or in low-light 

Riders must not:

• ride on the footpath
• use a mobile phone while riding
• ride while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• carry passengers or animals or ride in tandem
• ride a high-speed e-scooter – capable of more than 25km/h (this is considered an unregistered vehicle and penalties apply)
• ride on roads with a speed limit over 60 km/h

  
  

  E-scooter Safety and Trial FAQs : VicRoads

  Rules and penalties : VicRoads

School Holiday Program here at St. Kevins

St John's Regional College Open Day

Beleza ONLINE Sale 15% OFF

Beleza Cranbourne Change of Hours