Principal's News

                                                                        15/08/23

Dear Parents and Carers,

100 days of Prep

Congratulations to our amazing PREP 2023 Students, Staff and Families! Friday was such a special day for everyone and the Prep Teachers Fiona, Sienna and Angela, were so creative with their ideas on how to celebrate using as many 100 day connections! From being dressed up as 100 year olds to making necklaces with 100 fruit loops to flip the coin to get to 100.  The preps even made birthday crowns with ‘Happy 100 days!’

Students now that you have been with us for 100 days, I need all the Prep 2023 students to walk into school independently! The teachers and I believe you can do it!  Parents please have a chat with your child about this goal.

Mrs Tomazos and I have nearly completed all the Prep 2024 Family interviews and soon the Prep 2024 students will begin transitioning into St Kevin’s.

PBL (Positive Behaviour for Learning) Update  

The school received some feedback about one of the goals created by staff and MACS at the PBL Day earlier this year.  We were so very grateful that a family from the middle school questioned and wanted to know more about the goal.  I felt the discussion was timely and fruitful.  

We welcome respectful feedback and believe that is how we continue to grow school improvement.

So it was decided that the goal needed to be modified.

This was the goal -  I accept the decisions that adults in this school make.

It has been modified through discussion with parents, staff and MACS PBL Coach to:

‘I accept the decisions that staff members (people who work at St Kevin’s) in this school make, to help me learn and be safe.’

Prior to this being published the staff had spoken at length with our coach about this goal. We had edited and changed it several times.  

Anyway this goal, in fact all the goals, are not set in concrete. We need to make them our own by getting feedback and facilitating discussions. 

Today I have shared the whole behaviour matrix for you to read.  We have not shared all the goals with the students as there are too many of them and it would be overwhelming.  This process has been facilitated by Jo-Ann Patrick, our PBL coach from MACS.

This matrix may be modified year to year as our needs change as a school. The Behaviour Matrix has been developed by identifying the needs in our school.  

The Behaviour Matrix

Each Friday the staff randomly select two names from their reward boxes and these will be published in the newsletter from this week.

PBL Parent/Carers Information Session

On Tuesday 5th September at 5pm-6pm in the Library we will be running a Parent/Carer session on PBL. This session will be facilitated by Jo-Ann Patrick from MACS.

Congratulations to the following Students for demonstrating the following behaviours : 

Handing over to Mrs George for further information about PBL  -

Discussing different behaviours.

Over the last few weeks students and staff have been exploring further our school Value of Respect. During weeks 3 and 4 of the term we have been looking at the concept of ‘Accepting the decisions that people who work at our school make’. Through a social story we have discussed:

• the importance of following instructions and directions
• having a chance to voice our opinions in a calm and respectful manner
• that adults in our school will ask us to do something because they care about our safety
• that adults in our school will ask us to do something because our learning is important.

Last week we started to explore the skills and concepts involved in speaking appropriately to everyone. At St Kevin’s we value this respectful behaviour and we strive to:

• speak to others in a calm, friendly and kind voice.
• think carefully before we speak and consider how our words will make someone else feel.
• speak kindly about others even when they are not around. 
• say sorry when we make a mistake. 
• speak using an acceptable volume.
• remember to say please and thank you.
• use appropriate words when we talk to others, we do not use swear words.
• use words that are encouraging, positive and considerate.
• understand that our words have the power to impact another person. 

In weeks 7 and 8 of this term, we will be discussing what is involved in ‘letting teachers teach and learners learn’.

Acknowledging Positive and Respectful Behaviours

Last week we introduced a ticket/token system for acknowledging and rewarding students for their positive and respectful behaviour. When a staff member sees a student displaying positive behaviour, they are verbally unleaded for this and given a PBL ticket. For example: ‘Steven, I like the way you asked Tom to come and join your game’. Students placed their PBL tickets in a classroom box and at the end of the week some student tickets are drawn from the box. These students receive a negotiated reward from their classroom teacher. This may be, choosing your learning partner for the day, time spent on a device, or some extra play time. Over the next few weeks the SRC will talk to their classes about rewards that would interest their class.

Mascot Competition

The next step in our PBL journey is to have our students design mascots or symbols to represent each of our school values: Respectful, Responsible and Resilient. Very soon we will be launching a competition where all students in the school will be invited to design original mascots or symbols for the values and then enter their ideas.  The mascots or symbols chosen, will then be used when displaying information about PBL. Students will receive more information about this competition in class this week.

Thank you for the continued support from our whole school community for the Positive Behaviour for Learning Program, 

Take care,

Fiona George

Wellbeing Leader

Communication to Admin - Office and Bursar

This is the new administration email address: stksecretary@sktemplestowelr.catholic.edu.au  if you need to communicate with the office please email this address and Selena, Fiona and/or Tina will respond to you.  

This email is not checked on the weekend or after office hours therefore please email me if you require immediate assistance.  gleone@sktemplestowelr.catholic.edu.au

TECH CORNER

Seesaw 

Statistics for Seesaw from last two weeks

Congratulations 3F on being TOP CLASS FOR TERM 3  WEEK 4 & 5 on Seesaw!    AWESOME WORK!

Preps 2024 Interviews in August 

Prep interviews for 2024 have continued on Monday 14th of August. Many of the families I have spoken to so far have shared what an amazing reputation we have in the community and how excited they are to join us in this educational venture.  It was with sheer delight that I listened to the parents explain why they chose St Kevin’s and their hopes for each child's future.   This is such an exciting time for the new and existing families.  The ‘Preparing for Prep Night’ for all  2024 Prep Parents is on the 25th of October at 7:30pm.

St Kevin’s Running Club 

Running Club will recommence on Tuesday 8:15 am and will run every week till the end of the term supervised by Peter Scarfo.  All students are welcome to participate (Prep to Year 6).

Assembly  for Term 3 change of venue TRIAL IN THE CHURCH

Term 3 Week 8 - Wednesday 30th of August 2:30pm in the Church.  Our assembly venue has changed to the Church to ensure everyone has enough room. Everyone is welcome!

Italian for the Term 3 Week 5 & 6

In Week 5 Students extended their vocabulary with some actions (such as speaking, singing, reading, etc.). They are now able to say - parlare italiano, cantare in italiano, leggere un libro (F-6), scrivere una storia, disegnare un’immagine (Y3-6). 

In Week 6  Students will work on using these new vocabulary together with their own opinion in order to build sentences. For example, Ti piace parlare italiano? Si’, mi piace parlare italiano. OR No, non mi piace parlare italiano. 

School Performance 

We are in the midst of Performance and Sun Pezzimenti is doing an incredible job (supported by all) with student involvement and voice.  Thank you to all the parents that have volunteered to assist us with this original production.

PRODUCTION 2023 - The Three Doors 

a  St. Kevin's Original Production 

OCTOBER 19th THURSDAY    11:30AM  and 7PM 

 at  ST KEVIN’S STADIUM

Go Matildas!

Such an exciting time for soccer in our country! 

The students have been playing soccer during breaks and I have been admiring their amazing skill level! 

Every blessing, 

Gabee Leone