Principal's News
Find Your Light! SHINE!
Kai (Year 2) won the ANZAC medal in his footy game on the weekend! Wonderful achievement!
All the students who participated in the ‘Cross Country’! AMAZING!
“I see the light in our staff when…”
- They still have a lot of patience at the end of a very energy giving day.
- They give that little bit more to that child who needs more.
- Help and support their teaching partner.
Dear Families,
Welcome back to Term Two. We hope you have all had a restful break and a beautiful Easter spent with loved ones.
Easter Congratulations 1R & 2GS
Last Tuesday the Year 1 and 2 students presented the “Alleluia” part of the Easter story. It was a respectful roleplay and showed reverence. It was wonderful to see the juniors working together and showcasing their artistic talents. Well done and thank you to the teachers for supporting the students.
The Significance of the Resurrection
The Resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our Catholic faith.
It reminds us of God's promise of new life, hope, and the triumph of love over death. For our school community, it is a time to celebrate renewal, deepen our faith, and live out the values of compassion, joy, and unity.
ANZAC Day
Last Friday 24th of April, we held a commemorative service for ANZAC Day. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces became known as ANZACs.
ANZAC Day is a commemoration of the anniversary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli, Turkey on the 25th April in 1915. This is a very special day in Australia’s history.
The service took place around our flagpoles, led by Mrs Cesarin alongside the teaching staff. We extend our thanks to all staff members who contributed to the smooth running of this important occasion.
ANZAC DAY SCHOOL SERVICE TUESDAY APRIL 29TH at TEMPLESTOWE War Memorial
The Manningham RSL held the annual Manningham ANZAC School Service at Templestowe Memorial Park, a tradition that takes place every year.We were honoured to be invited to attend this special occasion, with our Year 6 students representing our school during the service.
During the ceremony, the students had the privilege of laying a wreath on behalf of our school.
The service took place at 12:00 PM at Templestowe Memorial Park, High Street, Templestowe.
News from Fr Charles
On the weekend Fr Charles announced that he has officially been appointed Parish Priest of St Kevin’s, Templestowe Lower, St Gregory’s the Great, Doncaster, and St Clement’s of Rome, Bulleen.
We warmly congratulate Fr Charles on his new appointment and assure him of our full support as this transition unfolds. We look forward to welcoming this next chapter and to working collaboratively with Michael Watt, alongside Natalie Ballinger and myself, as part of the parish triad of schools.
Learning walks
The Acceleration Maths Program (MAP) is being implemented in Years 2 and 4, with a focus on learning walks centred on Daily Review. This involves revisiting key learning from the previous three weeks to strengthen retention and understanding. The program is predominantly focused on Mathematics, with a strong emphasis on developing students’ understanding of place value as a foundation for number sense and problem solving. Teachers have received feedback, and this cycle includes all classes within these year levels. The process will inform ongoing coaching and peer appraisal.
The rest of the school is also involved in the learning walks and will be visited on a cyclic roster, ensuring consistency and shared practice across all year levels.
These learning walks are being conducted with the support of MACS staff, Brian Grace and Kyla Grant, alongside Con Tomazos, Eva Tomazos, and myself.
As a result, students are developing greater confidence, accuracy, and fluency in Mathematics, particularly in their understanding and application of place value concepts.
Teaching and Learning Update: Excellence in Mathematics
At St Kevin’s Primary School, we are committed to providing every student with the skills they need to flourish. We are excited to share two key initiatives that are enhancing our classroom practice: the MACS Mathematics Acceleration Program and our ongoing Learning Walks.
Empowering Learners: MACS Mathematics Acceleration Program
As part of the MACS Vision for Instruction, we are implementing evidence-based practices to ensure high-quality mathematics education for all students. The Mathematics Acceleration Program is designed to provide targeted support to accelerate mathematics performance through a series of structured interventions over twelve months.
Learning Walks: A Window into the Classroom
To support our teachers in delivering this high-standard curriculum, we regularly conduct Learning Walks. These are brief, non-evaluative classroom visits by small groups of educators and leaders.
The purpose of these walks is to:
- Identify Best Practice: Celebrate and share effective teaching strategies across different year levels.
- Focus on the Learner: Observe how students are engaging with tasks and identify any patterns in student understanding.
- Continuous Improvement: Foster a culture of collaboration where teachers learn from one another to better support our students' journeys.
These initiatives ensure that our teaching remains at the cutting edge of educational research, providing your child with a rigorous and supportive environment to excel in Mathematics and beyond.
Con Tomazos
Italiano
Ciao a tutti,
I hope everyone is settling well into Term 2!
For the next few weeks in Italian, Grades Preps, 1, 2, 5, & 6 students will continue learning how to build sentences that express emotions and justifications.
Emozioni (emotions):
Sono a posto - I'm good
Sono felice - I'm happy
Sono emozionato/a - I'm excited
Sono triste - I'm sad
Sono stanco/a - I'm tired
Sono preoccupato/a - I'm worried
Sono arrabbiato/a - I'm angry
Sono affamato/a - I'm hungry
Sono assonato/a - I'm sleepy
Justifications:
Perché ho una festa di compleanno. - Because I have a birthday party.
Perché sono affamato/a. - Because I am hungry.
Perché mi piace imparare italiano. - Because I like to learn Italian.
Perché vado a casa del mio amico. - Because I am going to my friend's house. (masculine)
Perché vado a casa della mia amica. - Because I am going to my friend's house. (feminine)
Perché ho troppi compiti. - Because I have too much homework.
Our Grade 3/4 students will continue working on their Ho Fame Italian booklet for their Italian literacy program. In class, we’ve been reading together and completing activities that help build their understanding, vocabulary, and confidence in Italian.
(Here is the link to the booklet/audiobook if you wish to read/listen to it at home.)
We have also introduced a new Language Ambassador Role. Our Language Ambassadors have been doing a fantastic job supporting Italian learning across St Kevins. Each week, a student is selected as the new Language Ambassador from each class, giving students the opportunity to take part. They help lead activities, encourage others to use Italian, and have been showing great enthusiasm, bravissimi!
Have a great week!
Grazie, Chiara :)
Onsite Dental visit
Teeth on Wheels visited our school on Tuesday, and we were pleased to receive a Certificate of Acknowledgement for our participation. We hope to continue this partnership and have them visit bi-annually. If your child attended, we would greatly appreciate your feedback on the service. Please feel free to email me with your thoughts.
Cameras in the school
Over the holidays, two external cameras were installed on the school grounds, one near the office and the other on the external area of the deck. This was in response to recent incidents of vandalism. These measures have been implemented to support the safety and security of our school environment.
Whole School Cross Country
On Wednesday 29th April (today), St Kevin’s students participated in our whole school Cross Country morning on the school grounds. Students and staff took part in races that included designated checkpoint stations, ensuring a safe and well organised event. It was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to enjoy the outdoors, challenge themselves, and contribute to the vibrant atmosphere of the morning. Families were warmly invited to attend and support the students during their races, and we were grateful for the assistance of volunteers who were stationed at checkpoints to guide students safely around the course. We were incredibly proud of the determination, resilience, and house spirit shown by all students, with everyone giving their best and supporting one another throughout the event. Thank you to Gianni Montalto for leading this annual event, and to our volunteers and staff helpers for assisting in the smooth running of the event.
Review 2026
The 2026 School Review is well underway, with staff and the School Advisory Council reviewing all five spheres and collecting evidence. Documentation will be submitted to the reviewer, who will visit the school to meet with community members.
Thank you to Brian Grace for his support on the School Closure Day last term, and to our leaders for facilitating the sessions.
We have also been notified that a VRQA Compliance Audit will take place in September. We will continue to strengthen our practices with the support of Martin Tennant from SafeSmart.
Drone safety
There has been some interest in drone flying from our students. During breaks, JR and I will be running safety instruction sessions to ensure all students understand how to use drones safely and responsibly, with a strong focus on the safety of everyone in the area.
Reportable Conduct Professional Learning
On Wednesday afternoon, MACS staff (Operations Manager | Reportable Conduct Team) provided professional learning for teachers on updates in this area. It was a valuable opportunity to engage in important discussions and strengthen our understanding of Reportable Conduct and Child Safe Standards.
PBL
Term 2. Week 1 - 3 I value others’ ideas and opinions. RESPECT
Code of Conduct Reminder
A gentle reminder of the importance of following the St Kevin’s Code of Conduct. It is essential that we all work together to maintain an inclusive, respectful, and constructive environment for our community.
As St Kevin’s continues to grow, it is important that we uphold our shared expectations of professionalism and courtesy. This includes making appointments with staff when required and allowing appropriate time for responses to emails.
Thank you to all members of our community who consistently demonstrate kindness, respect, and support for one another.
Existing Families with Preps for 2027
If you have a kinder child (4 years old), who will be at school next year, can you please come and collect an enrolment form or complete the Enrolment form online We have 17 enrolments so far! Enrolments close on 30th of April.
2027 Year 7 Applications
The time has come for families of Year 6 students to enrol in Year 7 if you have not done so already. For any families who wish to attend a government high school, applications are now open. Please find the information pack below to assist with this process. Applications are to be made directly to your preferred government school.
Information Pack and Enrolment Pack for Government High Schools 2026
More information about this process can be found on the Education Department website.
For general enquiries, you can also contact enquiries@education.vic.gov.au or call 1800 338 663
Blocking Parish Driveway and Road safety
I have been asked by Parish to remind our community to please refrain from parking in or blocking the parish driveway and the entrance to the church.
We value our strong partnership with the parish and appreciate your support in ensuring access remains clear and respectful at all times. By working together, we continue to create the best possible environment for our students and families.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Welcome George (5/6MM) and Dimitri (1R) to St Kevin’s - We are so happy to welcome you both to our school community
In God we trust, Gabee Leone
Calendar dates will be in the Principal section from now on and in Google Calendar.
Tuesday 5th May - Story, Dance & Drama Sessions
Wednesday 6th May - Mother’s Day Stall
Thursday 7th May - Confirmation Retreat & Reflection Day
Thursday 7th May - Mother’s Day Dinner Tempy Hotel 7pm-9pm
Friday 8th May - Mother’s Day Breakfast 7am Foyer of the Church
Thursday 14th May - Child/Parent Workshop combined with commitment mass
- Baker's Delight Lunch
Saturday 18th May - School Open Day 2026
Friday 22nd May - District Cross Country
Sunday 24th May - Sacrament of Confirmation 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Wednesday 3rd June - St Kevin’s Feast Day Mass and Festivities
Monday 8th June - King’s Birthday Public Holiday
Tuesday 9th & Wednesday 10th June - Review Days
Monday 22nd June - Reports for Semester 1 published on Compass Portal 4pm
Tuesday 23rd June - Debating Competition for Year 6 Delegates
Wednesday 24th June - Goal Setting Parent /Teacher /Student Conversations early finish at 12pm
Thursday 25th June - Last day of Term 2 for students finish 3:30pm
Friday 26th June - End of Term 2 for Staff