No 10. Term 2 Week 9, 14th June 2024

Principal's News

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I wanted to take a moment to discuss something that has been on my mind recently, and I believe it’s an important topic for all of us as a school community.

Over the past 10 - 15 years, we've all seen how smartphones have become a part of our daily lives. They offer incredible benefits, from keeping us connected to providing a wealth of information at our fingertips. However, statistics reveal an alarming global trend of declining mental health among young people that coincides with when smartphones became readily available to them.

There are a number of studies from various reputable sources that suggest increased screen time can contribute to issues like anxiety, depression, and sleep problems among our children. This is something we need to be mindful of because it affects their overall well-being, academic performance, and social interactions.

At St. Kevin’s, we’re committed to nurturing every aspect of our students’ lives, ensuring they grow academically, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s not about pointing fingers or blaming anyone for giving their child a smartphone. We all know how useful they can be for safety, learning, and staying in touch. Instead, it’s about awareness and finding a balanced approach that works for our families.

Here are a few friendly tips that might help in managing smartphone use at home:

1. Set Boundaries: Think about setting some guidelines for when and where smartphones can be used. This might include having no-phone zones like bedrooms or times especially around bedtime to ensure a good night's sleep.

2. Promote Offline Activities: Encourage activities that don't involve screens. Things like sports, reading, or just playing outside can make a big difference in mood and overall health.

3. Model Healthy Habits: Our kids watch what we do. By showing them healthy smartphone habits, we can set a great example.

4. Keep the Conversation Open: Talk to your children about their smartphone use. Ask them how they’re feeling and what they’re experiencing online. Keeping the lines of communication open is key.

We are a Christ-centred community here at St. Kevin’s, and we strive to ensure everyone feels valued and supported. By working together, we can help our children navigate this digital age in a healthy and balanced way.

Thank you for being such a wonderful and supportive community. If you have any thoughts or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

God bless.

Jason Micallef, 
Principal

Leadership & Management

New LED lights throughout the school

We are excited to announce that this week, we upgraded all of our school's lighting to energy-efficient LED lights! This initiative not only enhances the quality of lighting throughout our school but also reflects our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

LED lighting offers numerous benefits, including significantly reduced energy consumption and lower carbon emissions. According to Energy Makeovers who undertook the work, LED lights use up to 85% less electricity than traditional incandescent and halogen lights, leading to considerable energy savings and a smaller environmental footprint. Additionally, LED lights have a longer lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements and maintenance.

This upgrade aligns with our goal of creating a more sustainable and eco-friendly learning environment. We are proud to take this step towards a greener future for our students and community. 

Scarf and Beanie Sale

Winter is here, and we've got the perfect way to keep cosy while showing your school spirit! Our School Beanie and Scarf Winter Sale is in full swing.

Introducing PAM

We are excited to introduce a new online management system called PAM (Parent Access Module), which will significantly enhance our communication with families and streamline many of our operations into one convenient service.

Over the coming months, PAM will be gradually rolled out, offering a comprehensive suite of features that will simplify your interactions with the school.

use the information below to learn how to access this new system including a new mobile phone app called SIMON Everywhere.

Mid-Year Achievement Reports Available Online Soon!

Attention families! Mid-year achievement reports will be available online on Friday, June 21. To access your child's report, you will need to sign up to the Parent Access Module (PAM). See above for information on how to sign up.

Don't miss this opportunity to stay informed about your child's progress. Sign up today and be ready for June 21!

Progress Interviews

Families are invited to meet with your child’s teacher for a Mid Year Progress Interview. These meetings, involve parents, students and teachers, will be conducted online as a video conferences on:

Monday 24th June 2pm to 7:30pm
Wednesday 26th June 4:15pm to 6:15pm

School will close at 1:00pm on Monday 24th June to allow interviews to commence at 2:00pm. Due to the high number of students all interviews will be kept to a time of 15 minutes. All interviews need to be booked online by parents by visiting www.schoolinterviews.com.au Then click on MAKE A BOOKING and in the Parents “Event Code” box enter the code xpvwu. For more detailed instructions see the attached flyer.

You can also use this QR Code for easier access.

Education in Faith

Weekly Gospel Reflection

Last Sunday’s Gospel (Mark 3:20-35) focuses on another challenge that Jesus faced out of many challenges during His ministry. His own family did not understand Him. Religious leaders opposed Him. Despite this, Jesus stayed focused on His mission.

Jesus says that those who do the will of God are His true family. This highlights the importance of spiritual kinship. Obedience to God makes us part of Jesus' family.

As families, you might like to take a moment to contemplate the key understanding of the Gospel passage using following reflection questions: 

• How do you notice the impact of not following God’s guidance in your life?
• In what ways can you show your love for God through your actions each day?
• How do you stay dedicated to God’s will even when faced with challenges?
• What gives you hope and strength during tough times?
• How can you lend support to others in your spiritual family who are facing difficulties?
• In what ways can you demonstrate that you are part of God’s family?
• How can you find comfort in God’s promise of redemption?

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love and mercy. Help us stay strong in our faith and follow Your will. May we always remember that we are part of Your family. Guide us and give us strength in our daily lives. 

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Congratulations to Our First Holy Communion Recipients!

We are thrilled to celebrate and congratulate our students who received the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist for the first time last week. This special milestone marks an important step in their faith journey, as they welcomed Jesus into their hearts in a profound and beautiful way.

Their dedication, preparation, and reverence have truly shone through, and we are incredibly proud of each and every one of them. May this sacrament continue to enrich your spiritual lives and deepen their relationship with Christ.

Well done to all our First Holy Communion recipients and a special thanks to families, staff and especially Mrs Hettiarachchi for all your support!

Learning & Teaching

Grade 1 Feast of the Sacred Heart 

On Friday, we celebrated the Feast of the Sacred Heart! 

This special day honors the Sacred Heart, a symbol of Jesus' deep love and compassion for all people, and His willingness to sacrifice Himself to save us.

We attended a beautiful Mass to celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. After Mass, we engaged in various activities that helped us deepen our understanding and reflect on this important symbol and its significance in our lives.

In the spirit of giving, we also collected non-perishable foods to donate to the St Vincent de Paul Centre for those in need. A heartfelt thank you to all the families for your generous donations. May you be richly blessed for your kindness and thoughtfulness towards others.

Have a look at the Sacred Heart artwork the Grade Ones created! 

Enjoy our performance of the song Sacred Heart!

(Lyric-Movement video by Timothy Hart)

Illuminating Discoveries! Students Dive into Sound, Light, and Magnetism in STEM

This term the grade Prep students have been learning all about sound and light. This week they explored light through prisms and mirrors and learned all about refraction through a water and light demonstration. They also had a chance to make shadow puppets using torches.

Our grade Three students have learned all about magnets. This week they conducted an experiment, learning how magnets move through liquids. Students also explored with magnetic discs, creating small challenges with the magnets either repelling or attracting each other.

Unleashing Creativity: Our seniors explore the principles of energy with Scratch and models.

This term, grade 6WA have been exploring different types of energy. The students were asked to use their coding skills to create a Scratch Jr Project or build a model to demonstrate their new understandings of potential and kinetic energy.  Check out their fantastic learning!

Student Wellbeing

Spreading Respect: The Power of Positive Greetings!

Over the last two weeks, we have been emphasising the importance of respect, especially in how we greet one another. It's been wonderful to see our students starting their day with warm greetings towards each other and their teachers. A simple “hello” or a friendly wave goes a long way in fostering a respectful and welcoming community. 

Congratulations to the following students who have been recognised as trying extra hard to practise their greetings with others.

Riyaansh (1PE), Caroline (1PE), Ruby (2BR), Alaina (2BR), Ava (3FR), Rehat (3FR), Elizabeth (3RO), Hayden (3RO), Eliza (3SC), Ellie (3SC), Kacy (4NA), Jacob M (4NA), Amelia (4FO), Tasha (4FO), Beatrice (4DA), Sherini (4DA), Merrin (5RU), Nate (5RU), Adrian (5TI), Keyana (5HI), Zoey (5HI), Tamerah (6BE), Zak (6BE), Jackson (6WA), Remi (6WA), Keith (6CR), Brielle (6CR)

For the next two weeks, we will practise showing RESPECT by using our MANNERS.

Community

Parent Helper Literacy Workshop

Our amazing literacy program here at St. Kevin’s encourages students to make new words by blending and segmenting sounds. We need your help to create Word Work Mats for our junior students. These mats are crucial for enhancing reading and spelling skills.

Our Goal: Create 80 complete folders.

To achieve this we need parents to help us with: 

Cutting fabric

Cutting, sorting, and laminating letters

Sticking on Velcro strips

Sticking on Velcro dots

When:

Wednesday, 26th June: 9:00-12:00, 12:30-3:00

Thursday, 27th June: 9:00-12:00, 12:30-3:00

Where:

The workshop will take place in the school Library.

You can volunteer for one or multiple sessions. The school will provide morning and afternoon tea and drinks. Younger children are welcome if you can supervise them.

Help us out for more than 2 hours and earn a $50 rebate on your school fees

Join us in making a difference in our students' literacy journey by registering your availability at the link below!

Parent Helper Registration Form

Please note that all stores will close at 2pm on Friday 28th of June and be closed until Monday 8th
of July. We’ll return to our usual trading days and hours across all stores from Monday 8th of July,
however as our trading days differ from store to store, please check your local store’s trading hours.
We’d like to apologise for any inconvenience that these changes may cause, and thank you for your
understanding. We hope you all have a safe and enjoyable holiday break!