Principal's News

Dear Families,

I hope this message finds you well as we head into the final term of what has been another wonderful school year. There’s lots happening over the coming weeks, so please take note of the important updates below.

Important dates for Term 4

Respectful Relationship Parent Information Session Prep to Year 6 Thursday 30th of October 7pm in the St Kevin’s Library.

Melbourne Cup Eve – Day in Lieu

Please be reminded that Monday 3rd November (Melbourne Cup Eve) is a day in Lieu for staff. This means no students are required at school on this day.

The following day is a public holiday for the Melbourne Cup (Tuesday 4th November.)

Prep Orientation & Information Night

We are excited to welcome our 2026 Prep families and students!

● A Prep Readiness Night for Parents will be held on 29th October in the School Library commencing at 7:30pm. This is a great opportunity to meet School Leaders, ask questions, and learn more about how to support your child’s transition to school.

● Prep Orientation Sessions will begin shortly. These sessions are a fantastic opportunity for our incoming Preps to get to know their new learning environment.

Prep Transition 2026 (1) Well Being for Parents 06/11/25

Prep Transition 2026 (2) Literacy and Numeracy for parents 20/11/25

More details have been shared with our 2026 Prep families directly.

Term Dates & Start of School – 2026

Looking ahead to 2026, Staff will commence Wednesday 28th January. Testing days are 29th and 30th of January. The whole school including Preps will commence on Monday 2nd of February. Please mark this in your calendars.

We will confirm more 2026 term dates and pupil-free days, days in lieu in our end-of-year communication.

October is a special month in our learning community, as we recognise both ADHD Awareness Month and Dyslexia Awareness Month. It offers a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the many different ways our students learn, think, and thrive.

At St Kevin’s, we deeply value and embrace neurodiversity, the understanding that every brain works differently, and that these differences are a natural and important part of who we are. Whether it’s ADHD, dyslexia, autism, or simply a unique learning style, each child brings their own strengths, creativity, and perspective to our classrooms.

As a community, we are committed to nurturing an environment where all students feel seen, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. In celebrating neurodiversity, we not only honour individual journeys but also enrich our collective learning experience.

Term 4 – Hats On!

St Kevin’s is a SunSmart School and our policy reflects the recommendations of the SunSmart organisation. The Bureau of Meteorology provides information about the times of day UV levels are forecast to reach 3 or higher, meaning that sun protection is recommended for all skin types. In Victoria UV levels regularly reach 3 or higher from mid – August to the end of April.

As part of general SunSmart strategies, our school:

Requires all students and staff to wear hats that protect the face, neck and ears (legionnaire, broad-brimmed or bucket style) and suitable clothing whenever they are outside (e.g. recess, lunch, sport, excursions)
Requires children outdoors without hats to sit in a designated shaded area during play times from the beginning of September to the end of April or whenever UV levels reach three or more. NO HAT- NO PLAY.

All staff and parents are encouraged to access the daily local sun protection times via the free SunSmart app, or at sunsmart.com.au

MACSSIS 2025

Thank you to all the families and staff who completed the 2025 MACSSIS Survey.

Your feedback is invaluable and will greatly assist with the upcoming school review in 2026.

We are pleased to announce that the winner of the $100 gift voucher is

Rania Makoul

Congratulations!

The class that had the most respondents was 1/2PM. Well done and a huge thank you. They will receive a movie afternoon with free popcorn. More details to follow.

Reminder School fees

Fee statements for Term 4 have been distributed via email today. Please ensure you have nominated which preferred payment method you have selected for the year. School Fees for 2025 are due by 31st October 2025.

Contact Cathy Pondeljak or Gabee Leone if you have any questions or require another copy of the statement.

St Kevin’s Whole School Performance Link

Thank you to all the families who have purchased the link to the school performance!

If you would like a copy, please contact the school office.

Term 4 Assembly Dates

Wednesday 22nd October 2.30pm - 3.15pm in the Church

Wednesday 12th November 2.30pm - 3.15pm in the Church

Wednesday 3rd December 2.30pm - 3.15pm in the Church

Firstly, thank you to all families who consistently ensure their child / children arrive at school on time each day.

Unfortunately, we are seeing an increasing number of students arriving late. While we understand that occasional delays can happen due to exceptional circumstances, regular lateness is becoming a concern.

Arriving late not only disrupts your child’s learning but can also impact their social confidence and routines. It also places additional pressure on staff who should be focused on teaching and supporting students at the start of the school day.

Please remember that school gates close at 8:55am

We ask that all children are inside the gates by this time to ensure a calm and settled start to their day. This is a serious concern voiced continually by teachers who are eager to settle and commence learning for the day.

Punctuality helps children develop strong habits that support lifelong success. To help address ongoing lateness, I will be contacting families whose children are regularly late so we can work together to find a solution.

Thank you for your continued support in making sure every child gets the best start to their school day.

Traffic Safety around St Kevin’s

Safety Reminder: Morning Drop-Off

To keep our students, families, and staff safe during busy drop-off and pick-up times, please follow these important safety guidelines:

Reminder to ensure the vehicle remains on the right side of the Yellow line.
For the safety of all, Parents and Carers are to congregate on the side of the tuckshop NOT in front of the learning spaces. This area is very congested and close to vehicles.
Students who are being picked up in the school grounds need to wait at the decking till parents arrive at the decking before entering the vehicle.
Do not double park at any time. Double parking blocks traffic flow and creates dangerous situations.
Avoid illegal U-turns near the school. These can cause accidents and put children at risk.
Observe all speed limits around the school zone. Slowing down helps protect our students and community.
Use designated drop-off and pick-up areas only, and avoid stopping in no-parking zones.
Please do not allow children to cross the road unattended or between parked cars.
Be patient and courteous to other drivers and families.

School Car Park in the afternoon

Parents in the cars are NOT to exit cars in the traffic lane.
If you would like to exit, please park your car along the rock wall.
Students will remain seated until parents approach staff on duty and no students to go on or beyond the yellow line.
Any parents, carers, grandparents etc waiting for students will be moved to the left of the deck (near the drinking taps)
The ramp will no longer be used as a waiting spot for parents due to crowding and its proximity to cars.
Cars are not allowed to reverse in the pick-up area. If you are parked behind another vehicle, please be patient and wait until the car in front leaves before exiting.

By following these rules, we can all help create a safe and orderly environment for everyone.

Thank you for your cooperation

2025 School Photos

School photos have arrived and will be distributed this week.

Colour Run

Save the Date: PFA Major Fundraiser – Friday November 21 – 2-3:30pm on our school oval

This event is a favourite for all students and for me too! We had so much fun walking around and participating in all the stations two years ago. I’m really looking forward to doing it all again!

Let’s pray for a warm day, as there’s a little water involved… and a whole lot of colour! All that’s left to do is prepare the clothes and count down to what promises to be a joyful afternoon full of laughter, fun, fitness and brightness.

WARNING - IT GETS very MESSY but that is all part of the fun.

VALUES

I am sunsmart

Responsible

Fortnightly Awards — After discussions with teachers, we are pleased to announce that this term students will receive a fortnightly award linked to our school values — Respect, Responsibility, and Resilience.

The names of award recipients will be published in the next newsletter.

SEESAW