Principal's News

                                                                                                                                            18/07/23

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to Term 3 and a new Semester.  I sincerely hope that the students are well rested and ready for a huge term ahead.  On behalf of the staff, thanks for the overwhelmingly positive feedback about the way we have reported to you, your child’s academic and social progress over Semester One.  I have had many positive comments about Seesaw and how much you enjoy seeing the students work and hearing their verbal contributions.

Student Visitors from China

This term, some student visitors from China are visiting St Kevin’s.  There will be a few students in Year 1/2, Year 3, Year 4 and Year 5/6.  The  students will be at St Kevin’s between 4 to 8 weeks and the goal for this experience is to participate and experience life in an Australian school.  Danni Ibbott will be working part-time in the 5/6 classroom along with Rebecca Corcoglioniti while the students are with us. The teachers will be team teaching and at times the students will be split into different groups to ensure that best learning experiences occur.

This is a new experience for me, but many staff have explained that this has worked very well in the past at St Kevin’s.  The students and staff get to learn from others and our visitors are excited to build an awareness of life at school.

  PBL (Positive Behaviour for Learning) Update

This term we have officially launched our Positive Behaviour for Learning Program (PBL). As most families are aware we have identified our three key values as Respect, Responsible and Resilient.

This term we will be focusing on five key behaviours that staff have identified as goals for ensuring that St Kevin’s is a happy, positive and safe environment for learning. For the first two weeks of this term we are focusing on the behaviour of:

‘I am inclusive of all’.

Last week students took part in a lesson focused on being inclusive, which included a social story to explain how students can and do demonstrate being inclusive to everyone within our school. 

These are some of the statements from the social story:

Each day staff and students have been reflecting on being inclusive, during the morning ‘Welcome Circle’, and before going out to recess and lunch. Making references to our school values and the positive behaviours associated with the values, will become well known dialogue and part of the everyday language used by students and staff at St Kevin’s. Thank you to all students and staff who have embraced our values and have worked hard last week to demonstrate inclusiveness in the classroom, at specialist lessons, outside while at play and in their everyday interactions with each other.

Very soon we will be launching a competition for students to design mascots or symbols to represent the three values of Respect, Responsible and Resilient.

In week 3 and 4 of this term, the school focus will be on:

‘I accept the decisions that adults in this school make.’

Fiona George

Wellbeing Leader                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Students comments on how they have been inclusive

When we go out to breaks, we ask students who are on their own if they would like to play

By Mackenzie 

Asking students to join us if they are eating on their own. By Cleo

We make sure that everyone has a turn when we do an activity. By Milana

If someone gets stuck (with a word) help them.  By Lacey

Let others join in even when they are different (eg from a different year level or a different background). 

By Adele

Parental Support

Many interesting items appear in my inbox!  This one offering parental support caught me eye, ear and heart!  'Thriving Kids and Parents Schools Project' offers positive strategies that sound beneficial in our current climate and I have decided to participate in these 3 sessions.  

The Seminars include

• The Power of Positive Parenting (Triple P Seminar): This seminar helps you to understand why kids behave the way they do and introduces practical strategies to support your child’s social and emotional development.
• The Helping Your Child to Manage Anxiety (Fear-Less Triple P Seminar). This seminar is designed to equip you with the skills and strategies you need to support your child to manage their emotions and overcome challenges.
• The Keeping your Child Safe from Bullying (Resilience Triple P Seminar). This seminar helps you maintain good communication with your child, develop positive peer relationships, and address conflict and bullying. 

Here is the Link The Thriving Kids and Parents Schools Project – An exciting opportunity for parents. Please Register individually,  it is free and I hope it is supports along the  positive parenting journey!

EBA Update for Parents

The new E.B.A, that very much reflects that of staff in Government schools was voted on by all staff in Catholic schools and was voted in favour by 78%.  This now proceeds to Fair Work Australia who will need to approve our new award or CEMEA for the next three years. One of the significant changes is outlined in the following statement from MACS.

A new enterprise agreement covering teachers across most of the Catholic schools in Victoria has been approved and is in effect. The new agreement delivers several positive changes for both the dedicated staff and the overall functioning of our schools, including improved pay and employment conditions. 

One key aspect of this agreement is the inclusion of new time-in-lieu provisions, which will enable our teachers and support staff to accumulate additional time off when they are required to work more than their regular 38 hours per week which might include overnight camps and supervision at evening and weekend activities.  

This change is a recognition of the considerable extra work our teachers are asked to do and will enhance their work-life balance and well-being.  However, implementing these changes will mean that students will finish up a couple of days earlier than usual, on Thursday 14 December 2023.  This will limit any disruption to students throughout the year and enable our staff to avail themselves of their earned time off during the holiday season, rejuvenating themselves for the upcoming year.

We sincerely appreciate your understanding and support in this matter. By prioritising the well-being and work-life balance of our dedicated staff, we are fostering an environment that promotes excellence in teaching and learning.  If you have any questions or concerns about the new enterprise agreement please do not hesitate to reach out to us.  Thank you for your continued partnership as we strive to provide an outstanding education for our students. 

Time Allotment for Teachers

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 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 week

Congratulations 5/6CM on being TOP CLASSES FOR TERM 3  WEEK 1 on Seesaw!    

Compass Canteen

Suzanne Connelly and I participated in a demonstration session with a Compass Team Leader who shared how Compass Canteen (the online portal that we can use for events like Crazy Day lunches, Mother's/Father's/Carer's Day Stalls etc) is set up and how it works. Suzanne (PFA Chair) and Jo Harman will have access to Compass Canteen. The portal online order fee per family is $0.20 (charged at point of sale) and the PFA incur a 2.5% bank fee on the total sales placed through the platform.  This platform comes with many benefits such as it will save the team time as funds are processed automatically and money does not need to be collected and banked.  Parents will be able to use their credit cards to pay for items such as special lunches.

St Kevin’s Running Club

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

Assembly for Term 3

Term 3   Week 2 -  19/07/23 2:30pm

Italian for Term 3 Week 1 & 2

In Week 1 Students reviewed all the vocabulary learnt so far in Term 1 and Term 2, and they worked on having conversations.

In Week 2 Students will learn how to say days and months of the year. Each day they will practise how to ask, ‘What day is it today?’ and answer, ‘Today is Tuesday the 18th of July’.

CSEF - CAMPS AND SPORTS EDUCATION FUND

Please find attached to this newsletter information about the government "Camps and Sport Education fund" for eligible families. If you believe you are eligible for this funding please contact Tina in the office for an application form. 

Welcome to St Kevin’s new Staff Members 

Eliza Corcoran and Gabriella Castauro both Learning Support Officers.

Elle Tomazos who will be replacing Selena (as a temp) in the School Office from Tuesday - Friday for 2 weeks while she is away.

Jane Lynch in 1/2G Thursday and Friday and Leeanne O’Meara in 5/6C  on Wednesdays.  We look forward to learning with you all!

Congratulations Rebecca (Corcoglioniti) and Michael on getting engaged on the holidays!

We wish you a world of happiness!

Congratulations to Vincent, Sandra and Rocco on the arrival of baby Mavi. 

God bless you all! 

Every blessing, 

Gabee Leone