Principal's News

Parent Newsletter       Term 3, Week 10  Wenesday 18th September    

SHOUT OUTS from Parents

A massive shoutout to the amazing LSO’s of St Kevin’s! In particular Lamees and JR! In recent weeks I have witnessed them both go above and beyond! I am in awe of the care, support and patience they constantly and continuously provide. We are so lucky to have them here!  Suzanne

 I would like to do a massive shout out to Mrs George. Watching her positive feedback and encouragement of all of children at the Athletics Day was amazing to watch. Mrs George is the epitome of joy, empathy, patience and fun. Exactly what most kids need. Her care for our children was so obvious and she turned many frowns upside down in the short period of time I was there to watch. Thank-you Mrs George!

Kind regards, Sandra 

Visual Art Show 2024

 Thank you to everyone who supported the Art Show. We are so fortunate to have such dedicated individuals who are so generous with donations (cakes and all) and giving of their time.  Thank you!

We raised just over $2,000! 

PFA what a DREAM team! 

You are fabulous hardworking groups of individuals!

Thank you to Suzanne C., (For leading the Team)  Laura M (For being our artist in residence), Fiona, Anthony C, Marey N, Joanne H, Sandra T, Miyuki, Rosa, Renee C, Loretta C & Ronny V. 

Thank you to students who assisted during their own time

 Liesel V, Mya L & Jacob L. 

We will be purchasing Literacy (Initial Lit) and sports equipment (goal posts) with the donations.

 Now that all the hard work is done - we need to reflect!  What will a future Artshow look and sound like?

Please complete the survey below.      This will assist future planning.

Parents Survey Art Show 2024

MHFA’s Annual 37th National Consumers Art Competition 

Launch of National Multicultural Mental Health Month

Our budding and passionate artist Azalia in Year 2 took on an opportunity to create and share her work within a supportive community while raising awareness for mental health.  The theme this year is "Celebrating Diversity, Healing Together".  This was a perfect theme as our concept this term was Diversity.

Azalia’s work has been selected as one of the final 30 pieces and will be part of the competition to win a prize.

Tuck Shop Volunteers

Thank you to the generous parents and carers who assisted in the Tuck Shop in Term 3.  The students loved being able to purchase snacks and treats. It was good to be able to open the Tuck Shop 3 days a week. Thank you to our dedicated volunteers.

This is the new survey to gauge support for the Tuck Shop in Term 4 - Tuck Shop Survey for Term 4, 2024.

Please complete this survey by 25th of September so that the next roster can be created and shared for the beginning of Term 4. Thank you to PFA for your ongoing work especially Suzanne and Fiona.

Vision of Learning

MACS has recently published an information sheet for parents to describe the learning transformation that is happening in Catholic schools. Please access the link to read and learn about the Vision for Instruction.

At St. Kevin’s this term, all teachers have been engaged in professional learning during Professional Learning Teams (PLTs) after school. The focus has been on defining ‘What is learning?’ and looking at best practices how students learn focusing on ‘The Cognitive Load Theory’. Dylan William has described cognitive load theory as ‘the single most important thing for teachers to know’. Cognitive load theory uses knowledge of the human brain to design teaching strategies that will maximise learning. 

As a whole staff, we have also been exploring and unpacking teaching practices such as,  ‘Explicit Instruction’ and ‘Daily Reviews’. This work started at the start of 2024, when all staff members attended a professional development day led by Brooke Wardana. Since that time, teachers have been implementing these strategies in their lessons, predominately in literacy and mathematics lessons. 

Teachers have been starting their lessons with a short review of previous learning which strengthens the connections amongst the material students have learnt, leading to fluent recall. 

It is our intention that in 2025, we hold a parent information evening, explaining these changes and giving examples of what a reading and mathematics lesson looks and sounds like. 

If in the meantime you have any questions, please feel free to email or call and speak to Gabee or Eva. We would be more than happy to chat.

STOMP

Next term, students P - 6 will be participating in a 6 week Dance program provided by external dance company STOMP. The program will commence in Week One Tuesday 8th October. Students will have one lesson a week. The course is designed to develop students' fundamental movement and coordination skills as well as instilling them with respect, social skills, teamwork and self expression. At the end of the program, students will participate in a presentation showcasing what they have learnt. All parents will be welcome to attend. Time and date to be confirmed. Stay tuned…

SWIMMING

We are in the final stages of organising an intensive 6 day swimming program for students in Prep to Year Four. The program is anticipated to begin Week 7, Monday 18th November at the GenSwim for 3 days and then another 3 days in Week 8. This should be confirmed by the start of Term Four.  

TENNIS

Students P- 6 will be participating in a 7 week tennis program beginning Week 1, Term 4. Some timetabling changes have been made to accommodate the STOMP dance program which will be occurring at the same time. 

St Kevin’s Playgroup

The Parish supported by St Kevin’s School and St Charles School are launching the St Kevin’s Play Group at the commencement of Term 4, 2024.  All our families who have young preschool children are most welcome to attend. The brochure is linked. The schools will provide a Learning support Officer to assist Ana with preparation and running activities. 

MACSSIS SURVEY 2024 

Thank you to all the Parents and Carers who have completed the MACSSIS Survey.  We have had 15 families who have completed the survey so far and only a few days left! We really need at least another 30 families to complete the survey to be able to have sufficient data.

Incentives… 

1/ We are going to have a class prize for the students

2/ We are going to have a family  $100 GOLD class voucher for parents who have completed the survey. This will be drawn on Friday and the family will be notified!

Please take 10 minutes to complete the survey and send in your proof to Eva or Gabee.  Any access issues please let us know.

This is all about assisting us with setting goals for School improvement.

Capital Levy

The school completed a massive renovation in 2019.  Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Education heavily subsidises the loan for 4 years and then from 2023 this subsidy has reduced and the school has been responsible for a larger gap in payment.

Due to the gap increase every year I need to introduce a Capital Levy to all the St Kevin’s Families in 2025 and beyond. In 2025 the Capital Levy will be $350 per family.

At the moment we have a family fee structure for school fees and after discussion with the SAC and Finance Business Partner it has been decided to continue this fee structure with an annual increase according to the CPI. (3.5%)

Sun Smart

St Kevin’s Primary School SunSmart Policy has been developed to ensure that all students and staff attending our school are protected from skin damage caused by the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.  The policy is to be implemented 1st September to the end of April when UV radiation is most intense. Too much of the sun’s UV can cause sunburn, skin and eye damage and skin cancer.

UV damage accumulated during childhood and adolescence is strongly associated with an increased risk of skin cancer in later life.   All children are required to wear the approved school uniform hats that protect their face, neck and ears (wide brim sun hat/bucket hat with the school logo are included on the school uniform list), whenever they are outside.  ‘No School Hat, No Play’

Italian TCL Program

Ciao a tutti,

In Week 9 and 10 the students have done an excellent job in preparing and practising  for their end of term assessments including listening, reading and writing tasks. They have achieved amazing results in retrieving and utilising all content learnt throughout the term. 

Some vocabulary that has been focused on throughout the year levels have included:

- Mi piace... (I like)

- Non mi piace... (I don't like)

- Parlare italiano (speaking Italian)

- Cantare italiano (singing in Italian)

- Giocare fuori/dentro (playing outside/inside)

- Perché e’... (because it is)

- Divertente (fun)

- Difficile (difficult)

- Noioso (boring)

- Interessante (interesting)

Students have also been strengthening their vocabulary by adding who they enjoy completing these activities with such as:

- Con il mio amico (with my friend - masculine, singular)

- Con la mia amica (with my friend - feminine, singular )

- Con i miei amici (with my friends - masculine/combined, plural)

- Con le mie amiche (with my friends - feminine, plural)

I hope everyone enjoys their break!

A presto,

Grazie Signorina Chiara

Year 5 /6 PE Nominations for Week 8 and 9

The nominations are for students being respectful, listening and showing sportsmanship.

Seesaw

PBL  

RESPECT

Term 3  Week 9 & 10

Expected Behaviour:

PBL Focus: I treat all school resources with care. 

Parish News

Did you know that Fr Charles celebrated 3 years as Parish Priest on Sunday 9th September. We all celebrated this milestone with a cake and sang the Congratulations song to him- it was a lot of fun!

 All the Parish staff attended the 2024 Art Show - it was amazing to see how many talented students there are at St Kevin's- well done 

Coming Up

First Eucharist Preparation & Celebration

Alpha - Come and share life's biggest questions over a meal - begins 9 October! 

Youth Group – This Saturday 14th September 

Playgroup – commencing Monday October 7th!

Altar Servers Training.

Bookish Morning Tea- the Parish has a free library that everyone is welcome to use!

We hope to see you at the Parish soon!

Congratulations Chiara and Mario.  I hope you have an amazing ‘Wedding Day’! 

Enjoy the time with your loved ones.  

May God bless you both and look after you as you begin this very special adventure!

Arrival of Baby Amelie!

Such special news for the Yeoh Family. 

Congratulations from all of us!

Thank you to all the Staff at St Kevin's for all their care and hard work in Term 3! 

I hope everyone has a wonderful break! 

I will walk the steps of St James with St Kevin's Staff, Students and Parents in my heart.

                                                      Warmest Regards, Gabee