No 16. Term 4 Week 1, 6th October 2023

Welcoming You to a Thrilling Term Ahead at St. Kevin's

Dear St. Kevin's Families,

What an exhilarating time to be alive, especially if you're a Collingwood fan like me! Their stunning win in the AFL Grand Final has definitely added an extra bounce to all Magpie supporters in our school as we kick off this final term. Welcome back to our vibrant community, it's hard to believe we've reached this point so quickly, isn't it? But here we are, and what a term we've got lined up! 🎉

Looks what's coming in just the next few weeks! 🗓️

Grade 4 Sleepover 13/10: Our Grade 4s are counting down the days to their much-anticipated sleepover. What an excellent chance for them to bond and gain a taste of independence.

Interschool Chess Tournament 16/10: Students are sharpening their skills, as our budding chess masters get ready for intraschool competition.

Colour Fun Run 23/10: Get ready to be splashed with hues of joy and excitement! Our Colour Fun Run promises fun for the whole family and a rainbow of memories.

The Inaugural St. Kevin's Creativity Exhibition 25/10: Prepare to be dazzled by the artistic flair and technical skills of our talented students. This is creativity at its finest, folks!

Milestones and Transitions 🎓

Let's not forget to rally around our Grade 6s, who are preparing to graduate at the end of this term. Their journey here has shaped them, and we're eager to see where they'll head next.

For those entering their schooling journey, our upcoming information nights and orientation days throughout November are the perfect start. We're excited to welcome new prep families into our close-knit community.

Final Thoughts 🤗

From footy wins to educational triumphs, St. Kevin's is a hub of shared passions and values. We're so much more than classrooms and textbooks; we're a living, breathing community where every individual matters.

Let's take the spirit that saw the Magpies soar and channel it into making this term unforgettable for our children. Gear up for a term filled with not just learning, but also memories that will last a lifetime. Go Pies, and God bless!

Jason Micallef,
Principal

Farewell to Fr Anil

A Journey from St. Kevin's to St. Peter's

It's a bittersweet moment as we bid farewell to Fr Anil, who has been an integral part of our Christ-centred community for almost three years. His devotion and commitment have touched the lives of many, and it is with a mix of sadness and joy that we acknowledge his new assignment to St. Peter's in East Keilor.

Fr Anil has been a beacon of spirituality and a pillar of support, actively participating in our school events and religious celebrations. He has become a familiar face to all of us, always ready to offer spiritual guidance or a kind word. His sermons and his deep knowledge of scripture have not only enriched our school Masses but have also aided our pursuit to integrate faith and life more closely.

He has always been keenly invested in nurturing the young minds of our school, embodying the Gospel values that we hold so dear at St. Kevin’s. His love for justice and peace has inspired our students to look beyond themselves and to consider their role in a broader faith community.

Though we will miss his presence dearly, it's important to also celebrate this new chapter in Fr Anil's life. He will undoubtedly bring the same dedication and compassion to St. Peter's that he has shown us. Our loss is their gain, and we can take comfort in knowing that he will continue to impact the lives of others in his new role.

May God bless Fr Anil on his new journey. You'll always be a part of our St. Kevin’s family, and you are always welcome back to our community.

Sun-Smart and Stylish

A Reminder on School Uniforms and Hats 

As we enjoy the sunnier days, it's crucial to remember the importance of being sun-smart. At St Kevin's, we prioritize the well-being of our students, and that includes protection from the sun's harmful rays.

Hats On, Everyone!

We'd like to remind all families that students are required to wear hats when outside. This is not just a school policy but a proactive measure to ensure the health and safety of our children.

Uniform Flexibility

Understanding that weather can be unpredictable, we offer the flexibility of wearing either the summer or winter uniform, depending on the day's weather. However, it's important to note that mixing uniforms is not allowed.

Sports Uniforms Stay Sporty

Please remember, that sports uniforms are to be worn only on days when students have sports activities. This helps maintain the integrity and purpose of each uniform type.

Student Placement 2024

One of the important tasks we will undertake very shortly is the creation of 2024 class lists. This is a very complex yet important task. Our ultimate goal is to create well-balanced communities of learning.

Some of the factors considered when allocating students to classes include:
(a) Balanced number of boys and girls
(b) Even distribution of academic needs
(c) Social compatibility (avoiding potential conflicts between individuals or groups of students)
(f) Students with particular learning needs or behavioural concerns
(g) Varying degrees of independence and maturity
(h) The separation of twins and other siblings. 

In essence, we take this task very seriously and take the time to discuss every single student's needs before they are placed. So we ask that parents please trust the school’s judgement and professionalism in making a decision that is in each child’s best interest.

Parents can help us in this endeavour by communicating any relevant information that might help us to achieve our intention to create balanced learning groups. If parents have information that will help us to achieve this, please contact Mr Micallef by email, no later than Friday October 20th to share what you know. Please note that this is not an opportunity to make requests for where a child is to be placed. Rather, we would appreciate information that might help us to make the decision.

Drop off and pickup reminders

Morning Drop Off

Time: 8:45am onwards for all students.

Parking: Parents may park in the main carpark and walk their children into the school gates.

Kiss and go: Parents may drive into the round-about drive through and drop children off in front of the church.

After School Pick Up

Time: School ends for all students at 3:20pm

Parking: Parents may park in the main carpark and walk into the school to collect your child. The school gates will be opened for parents at 3:15pm. Please note that no children are permitted to walk to parked cars without an adult.

Drive by: At present, no drive by is available to pick children up.

Hot Tip! In an attempt to be safe and reduce congestion in the car park after school:

• Front Carpark: Parents are to park their car in the allocated parking spots and escort their child/ren to their cars, using the crossing in front of the office. 
• Parish house: It is not a drop off or collection area EXCEPT for Community buses and those who hold a special permit displayed in the cars.  Drop off and collection behind the parish house is otherwise not permitted. 
• Exiting on Edey’s Run: One of the biggest causes of traffic congestion in the carpark is when cars bank up on Edey’s Run as people wait for a chance to turn onto Hallam Road. To avoid this, we ask that all families turn right onto Edey’s Run when the supervising teacher directs you to. This will ensure traffic continues to flow and eliminate congestion.

To get back to Hallam Road after exiting the carpark – Turn right onto Edey’s Run. Continue to the round-about at the end of the road and turn left onto Coral Drive. Continue on Coral Drive until you reach the traffic light intersection at Hallam Road.

You can collect your children from the following locations:

• Outside the hall - Prep, One and Two children WITHOUT brothers and sisters at the school 
• Undercover outside the library - Three, Four, Five and Six children WITHOUT brothers and sisters
• Outside the 3/4 area - Children with siblings (all grades)

A Special Visit from Father Fabian at St Kevin's

Today, our Prep students had the joy of welcoming Father Fabian, our very own St Kevin's Good Shepherd, to their classrooms. Father Fabian shared valuable insights about the Church and prayer, enriching our young minds and hearts.

He taught the children that prayer as a conversation with God and emphasised the need for stillness to truly connect. "To hear God, be still," he advised.

He also delighted the students with the idea that God is everywhere, just like air. "You can pray anywhere," he said, making the concept relatable for our young learners.

We're grateful to Father Fabian for imparting his wisdom. His visit was a spiritual boost for our school community, reminding us of the power and accessibility of prayer.

Athletics Legends!

What is better than winning? Knowing you've done your absolute 100% best!! A huge congratulations to all the Division Athletes who completed a hard and fast competition late in term 3. Once again we needed our emergency athletes, proving just how important they are to the team. For those who progress, we look forward to the challenge of Regionals on the 18th October!

Parents & Friends

As we embark on this new term, we have some exciting news and events to share with you, so grab a cuppa, get comfortable, and let's catch up on what's happening at our school.

Pancake Parlour Competition:

First and foremost, we're thrilled to announce that we are now leading the Fountain Gate league of the Pancake Parlour competition! We’d love to stay at the top and win $1000 for the school so please sign up at https://www.pancakeparlour.com.au/school-rewards-join-an-existing-school and mention you are a member of the rewards program any time you visit the Pancake Parlour.

Coffee and Catch-Up Evening:

We know how important it is for parents to connect, share stories, and build relationships. With that in mind, we're hosting a Coffee and Catch-Up Evening. It's the perfect occasion to meet fellow parents, catch up on PFA happenings, and simply enjoy each other's company. Please mark your calendars for next Thursday 12th October 7pm at the Pancake Parlour Fountain Gate and RSVP by joining the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/stkevinspfa and responding to the event created there or emailing paf@skhamptonpark.catholic.edu.au. We can't wait to see you there!

Upcoming Colour Fun Run - Calling for Volunteers:

Our much-anticipated Colour Fun Run is just around the corner. To make this event a resounding success, we need your help! Keep an eye on your Operoo notifications early next week for details on how you can volunteer. It's a fantastic way to get involved and support our school community. Don’t forget to keep seeking donations by sharing your page with friends and family. We still have two competitions running: every child raising $100 or more will go in the draw to slime Mr Micallef on the day, and the highest fundraising class will get to run twice!

Book Club Catalogues:

You might have noticed that Book Club catalogues came home with your child earlier this week. It is easy to order. The Book Club LOOP platform for parents allows you to pay by credit card. Your child’s order is submitted directly to school and the books will be delivered to class. You can place your child’s order at http://www.scholastic.com.au/loop or by using the LOOP app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.Don't miss the chance to nurture their love for reading! Orders are due by Friday, 20th October. 

Christmas Raffle - Seeking Donations:

As we look ahead to the festive season, we're planning an exciting Christmas Raffle. But, we need your help! We're on the hunt for businesses that would be willing to donate prizes for our raffle. If you have any suggestions or contacts, please reach out to Rebecca Gage or our paf@skhamptonpark.catholic.edu.au email address. Your support is invaluable in making this event a success.

We hope you're as excited as we are about these upcoming events and opportunities to connect with our school community. If you have any questions or ideas to share, please don't hesitate to get in touch.