Principal's News

      11/09/23

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope everyone had a great Father’s Day last week and that you were able to have some relaxing family time with the children.

As we journey through the month of September I offer the following prayer for all the fathers and father figures in our life:

Loving God, Jesus called you his Father,

We pray this day especially for fathers.

Our dads, granddads, stepdads, uncles, godfathers, teachers, neighbours, friends... 

For fathers far away and fathers gone before us.

May they be ever in our hearts.

May you, God, most gentle, forgiving Father be our sources and guide for love 

which was and always will be.

Amen​ 

As another busy term comes to an end  I do hope that everyone has a relaxing break and takes time to recharge ready for Term 4.  I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter.  There are many items to get through, best of all is my gratitude list!  

FOOTY DAY TOMORROW

Tomorrow is (Wednesday 13th of September) footy day!  All the St Kevin’s students and staff are invited to dress in their favourite footy gear.   Students can wear a scarf, beanie or t’shirt, shorts etc along with their sports uniform and runners.  Look forward to seeing many AFL teams being colourfully represented.

Over the last two weeks, teachers have had PL in the use of the platform ‘elastik’. Elastik is a revolutionary new platform that empowers teachers to pinpoint and address unidentified gaps in their students' learning in Maths, English and Science. It saves time by reducing the administrative burden, freeing teachers to do what they do best: stretch children to help them thrive’.

Matt from Elastik visited on Wednesday 6th September and assisted teachers with the use of the platform. Various data sets were uploaded onto the platform and teachers had time to preview literacy and numeracy data which is current and identify misconceptions which the students might be having to close the gaps.      

This platform automatically analyses multiple assessments for each class, cohort of students and / or the whole school, allowing leaders and teachers to collaborate and view student’s progress and set future direction for the teams and the school.  Teachers can create small focus groups and cater for ‘students of wonder’. Teachers can see datasets in either ‘bubbles’ or columns and it is linked to Victorian Curriculum. Once the gaps are identified, teachers are able to set students personalised work tasks to meet them at their point of need. True implementation of personalised targeted teaching and learning. Teachers are also able to access a variety of lesson guides and share these lessons with the students in either a pdf format or as a powerpoint.

Another aspect of Elastik is that it will support ongoing goal setting and reflection on individual growth either over a specified time period such as a term or periodically as required.

Teachers will start using this platform with students as early as next term so stay tuned and ask your child about ‘elastik’!

Thank you Eva and Selena for communicating with Matt and ensuring the transition into Elastik was initiated with such ease.   

St Kevin’s SUNSMART POLICY 

Remember that students and staff need to wear hats whenever outside and sunscreen is to be applied 10 minutes before going out to play.

St Kevin’s Catholic Primary school will be a polling place for the upcoming Referendum on Saturday October 14.

St Kevin’s will be hosting a combined Cake Stall and Sausage Sizzle on the day. 

More information to follow!

St Kevin’s Uniform 

Our school uniform helps to create a sense of identity and belonging to our school community. While promoting a positive image of our school, it also supports student safety by making it easy to identify our students and ensures students are dressed appropriately for all school activities. Students are expected to wear our school uniform with pride and respect, and represent our school positively whenever wearing the uniform.  Linked is a copy of our St Kevin’s Uniform Policy which students, staff and the School Advisory Council have worked on in Term 2 and 3. 

There have been several discussions at the SAC (School Advisory Council) about updating our school uniform using a gradual roll over process so that existing parents are only buying items as they require them.

We appreciate our school families’ support in ensuring students adhere to the uniform policy.  If you have any questions or require support with school uniform, please contact me.

Uniform Shop 

Thank you to Mary N from PFA for all your work leading and organising the tidy up of the Uniform shop. Mary has linked up with organisations such Zara and H&M who recycle clothes to try and minimise landfill.  Thank you to Jane M, Suzanne and the ladies who assisted at the working bee to sort out items and  cleaned out that space.  All your work is much appreciated!

School Athletics Day 2023

Thank you Peter Scarfo for preparing the students for the Athletics on Wednesday and organising the event.  The day was enjoyed by all teachers and students. Thank you to Annie and Leeanne for engaging and supporting the students. Also thank you to the staff who remained at school and taught all the students.

Last Wednesday, some students from years 3, 4, 5, and 6 attended the District Athletics Day at Ted Kelly Reserve in Doncaster. These students were really well-behaved, and they supported each other throughout the day. Some of them did really well and will be moving on to the next stage of the competition. Cleo from year 3, Arianna, and Stefano from year 6 stood out for their excellent performance. We're proud of them and excited to see how they do in the next round of the competition. Annie F.

The day ran smoothly and St. Kevin's tried their hearts out in every event. The sunshine was very welcome as St. Kevin's support crew cheered everyone on from morning to afternoon. The relay's were a highlight as the teams worked together and competed with guts and determination.  

Leeanne O.

Our Term Three Social Justice Focus - Loyo Elementary 

Thank you to the many families who have already made such generous donations.

Our Term 3 Social Justice focus is supporting our Loyo Elementary school community.

This year the school is looking at building a small library for the students to access some books.  

They are asking for our support with the following:

• exercise books
• writing pencils

So far we have collected 58 exercise books and 110 pencils.

We still require so many more of each, as there are 245 children at Loyo Elementary. These donations may be left in your child’s classroom.

If anyone would like to make a monetary donation, this will be sent across for them to purchase some Filipino books to commence filling their library. 

Extra help clearing the Stage in preparation for ‘3 Doors’  Performance  

The St. Kevin’s School Production of ‘The Three Doors’ is fast approaching with only six weeks to go and Mrs Pezzimenti is working with the students for a magical performance to be enjoyed by all. 

Before that can occur we have a small job to do and that is clearing the stage in the stadium.  This  Thursday 14th September  we would like to invite a few parents to come along and help clear and tidy up the stage so it is safe and ready for students to start rehearsing.  We require about 6 adults to complete the job.

Date: Thursday 14th September

Starting time: 9.00am

Items required: Gloves to grip items, strong muscles and a positive attitude!

If you are able to help, please send me an email so I know how many helpers we have on the day. Similarly, if you have any questions, please feel free to email me or Eva on gleone@sktemplestowelr.catholc.edu.au 

etomazos@sktemplestowelr.catholic.edu.au

Many hands make light work!

School Performance 

                   PRODUCTION 2023 - The 3 Doors 

a  St. Kevin's Original Production 

OCTOBER 19th THURSDAY    11:30AM  and 7PM 

 at  ST KEVIN’S GLENDALOUGH STADIUM

Tickets will go on SALE 18th of September - 9am information will be shared later this week.

MACSSIS School Improvement Survey 2023 

Each year MACS distributes School Improvement Surveys to each of its schools. All St Kevin’s staff will be given a survey.  All students in Year 4, 5, 6 have been surveyed and all families will be surveyed. 

These survey results allow us to compare our standing against other MACS schools, compare it to past St Kevin’s survey findings, and illuminate areas where we have improved as a school and areas that we need to focus on.  

Families are asked to complete the surveys honestly and with good intention.  The survey results come back to the school as aggregated data and as such are anonymous in nature.  The surveys close this Friday 15th September. 

The grade with the most completed surveys will receive a movie and popcorn afternoon catered for by the school.  

Please print or take a screenshot/photo of the completed MACSSIS Survey page and email it to Eva or Gabee so that your child is entered for the movie and popcorn event early next term!

• 5/6CO are winning MOST for post parents completing the MACSSIS Survey 2023! 4CC parents are on their tail!

WHICH Level will win the special treat?

PBL (Positive Behaviour for Learning) Update

PBL Parent/Carers Information Session

Thank you to the parents who attended the PBL afternoon via online and in person. 

Jo-Anne Patrick from MACS generously facilitated the session and we are grateful for her continued coaching and guidance.  Thank you also to Eva Tomazos and Fiona George for assisting with the session on Tuesday afternoon.

If you would like a copy of the recording can you please email fgeorge@sktemplestowelr.catholic.edu.au

A copy of the presentation is linked below Positive Behaviour for Learning 05/09/23

In response to parent feedback I have included an example of a social story we created about ‘Let teachers teach and learners learn’.  Social stories are created for each value. We share the story while discussing the value.

Over to Fiona Geroge our Wellbeing Leader

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) Update

Since our last newsletter, the whole school has been focusing on  ‘Raising our hand when we want to share something’ and ‘letting teachers teach and learners learn’. Staff and students have been unpacking what each of these statements mean through a social story and lessons which involve role play and identify positive examples of these actions.

We have continued to see many students acknowledged and rewarded for their positive and respectful behaviour. Congratulations to the PBL winners for Week 8 and 9 of this time. These students will be negotiating an agreed reward with their classroom teacher. 

Congratulations to the following students  

PBL Mascot Competition

Last week we launched a competition for mascots / symbols or logos to be designed to represent each of our school values, Respectful, Responsible and Resilient. All students in the school are welcome to enter the competition by completing a hand drawing or a digital design. The designs / drawing must be original and the winning designs will be put together by a graphic designer in consultation with the winning student. Over the school holidays it would be a great time for families to have a think about how we could represent these three values and we encourage you to encourage your child/ren to have a go at this task. The winning designs will be used in all of our branding around the school for PBL. This includes posters, signs, and documentation. Other PBL schools have used animals, superheroes and symbols to represent their PBL values. 

Entries for the competition close at the end of Week 1 next term.   

PBL in Term 4 

Next term we will have a greater focus on the school values of being Responsible and demonstrating resilience. The behaviours we will focus on are:

• I look after outdoor equipment and use it safely
• I ask the yard duty teacher for assistance
• I learn from my mistakes 
• I get permission before entering or leaving a learning space
• I am in the right place at the right time

Thank you to our whole school community for your continued support as we implement PBL into our school.

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 of Term 3, 2023

Congratulations 3F and 1/2 P on being TOP CLASSES FOR TERM 3  WEEK  8 & 9 on Seesaw!    

Preps 2024 News

The ‘Preparing for Prep Night’ for all 2024 Prep Parents will be held on Wednesday 25th of October at 7:30pm in the Library.

Assembly for Term 4 venue will be the St Kevin’s Church 

The assembly in the St Kevin’s Church in Week 8 was very successful and we have had positive feedback from parents, staff and students that everyone was settled and could be heard and seen.

Thank you to parents that took the time to write me an email to give me this feedback.

Assemblies for Term 4

11th October, 2023  Assembly Whole School - in the Church 2:30pm – 3:15pm

25th October, 2023  Assembly  Whole School -  in the Church 2:30pm – 3:15pm

          15th November, 2023 Assembly  Whole School -  in the Church 2:30pm – 3:15pm

          6th December, 2023 Assembly  Whole School -  in the Church 2:30pm – 3:15pm

15th December, 2023   Last Day Assembly Farewell to Year 6 Students - in the Stadium 1pm - 1:30pm

Italian for the Term 3 Week 10 

In Week 10 Students are revising the vocabulary from the previous weeks.  They are also extending their sentences with descriptive words.

• Mi piace disegnare un’immagine perche’ e’ divertente e non mi piace leggere un libro perche’ e’ noioso. 

     ~ I like to draw a picture because it is fun and I don’t like to read a book because it is boring.

As part of their ongoing assessment for the term the students are recording themselves speaking in Italian on Seesaw.

We are also practising to use SpeakUp, a platform where we can record ourselves speaking in Italian.  This tool also assists with assessment of fluency and pronunciation.  Students are welcomed to practise this at home during their spare time!

SHOUTS FOR TERM 3 - So much to be grateful for…  

• All the support and care that Eva Tomazos gives to me throughout the term! I am truly blessed!
• The smiles, learning conversations and interesting stories shared with students at our school
• Our A TEAM Admin staff who are the face of our school and do an amazing job! Thank you Tina, Selena and Fiona! You are the best!  We are beginning to set procedures and processes that will help us reach consistency and clarity!  
• All staff who work at helping our students to reach their potential.
• Fiona, Sienna and Jo Anne Patrick for leading PBL in Term 3 
• PFA and SAC parents for their wonderful work support and collaboration 
• Suzanne Connelly for organising Father’s Day gifts, Crazy Lunches and all the other bits and pieces! Thank you!
• Gladys for teaching our year 1/2 P class in Term 3.  Great work Gladys!
• Danni I for teaching in Year 5/6 CO and planning collaboratively with teachers.

Our Lady’s Birthday 

On Friday the 8th September, it was Mary’s Birthday.  I wonder how Jesus celebrated Mary’s birthday?  What an interesting question to discuss with your children.   

Welcome to St. Kevin’s 

On Monday Lucas commenced school at St Kevin’s. He has been welcomed into 5/6CO by the staff and students.  Lucas and his family have been living in Singapore and have returned to this area. We welcome the family to St Kevin’s!

Condolences to the Minichilli Family on the passing of Tina’s dad Mario Minichilli.

Condolences to Tina and her beautiful family especially her mother Maria. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Mario was a family man, with such a vivacious character, a hard worker and such a people’s person. Treasure the memories and rest in peace Mario Minichilli.

Every blessing, 

Gabee Leone