Our theme for this year is

STEP UP! BE MORE!

Things have been changing quite quickly in our Covid world and sometimes it is hard to keep up. The good news is that today we received confirmation from MACS that children between ages 12 and 15 are permitted to attend all school events, including graduation, camps, excursions, whether they are vaccinated or not. All adults present still have to be fully vaccinated and we are still required to wear masks in Years 3 - 6 and it is encouraged in P - 2. All visitors entering our school buildings must show their vaccination certificate as they check in with the QR code and wear a mask. Stay tuned for further updates.

Staff News:

We have some very exciting, yet sad news to share with you. Jarrod Mullavey has been appointed as Principal of St Mary's in Cohuna and we congratulate him on this wonderful achievement. At the same time we are very sad to see him go. Jarrod has brought a wonderful sense of fun and gentleness to our school and has been a breath of fresh air in our community. I cannot thank him enough for the wonderful support he has been to me and all the staff and students and for the caring and supportive way he has undertaken every aspect of his role. He is truly a "gentle" man with so much to offer and we will miss him very much. St Mary's Cohuna is very lucky indeed to have him as their leader.

I am pleased to be able to announce that Eva Tomazos will be taking on the role of Deputy Principal at St Kevin's and will support our new principal with her vast knowledge of the St Kevin's community and her expertise in teaching and learning. It will be great to have Eva in this role to ensure the continuity of learning for all and the achievement of our goals. I know you will support her and our new principal (we don't know who that is yet) as wonderfully as you have supported me.

Important message from the Parish:

As you may be aware the first stage of the plenary council has occurred and we are lucky enough to have two people who were involved in the council to come and speak to us on December 1st at 7.30 p.m. in the church.

The Plenary Council is a very special event and such things do not happen very often. It has been an opportunity for Australian Catholics to have their say in the future of our Catholic Church.

Kevin Lenehan and Nimmi Candappa are both amazing, forward thinking people, who are strongly advocating for our church leaders to listen to all the voices and make some needed changes in our church.

Please come along and support and listen to these people who are working so hard on our behalf to enact positive change in our church.

We need and want there to be a strong and engaging Catholic church in Australia into the future to meet the needs of and support our children and our children's children, long after we are gone.

If we don't speak now we may not have the chance to later!

Please register to attend this event through the TryBooking link on the flyer.

Thank-you

Swimming Prep - Year 4

Our Prep, One, Two, Three and Four children will commence a 2 week intensive swimming program from Monday 22nd November - Friday 3rd December. If you are intending to go along to swimming please ensure you have provided the school with a copy of your current Working With Children Check and ensure you use the QR code as you enter the venue. Only fully vaccinated people over 16 can enter the venue.

Calendar Changes:

Year 5/6 Camp to Harrietville on the 29th November - 1st December

Year 6 Graduation on 7th December - for fully vaccinated parents and all year 6 students

Year 3/4 Sleepover - Thursday 9th December

Billy Cart Event - students only - Monday 22nd December and other days during the week

Christmas Carols Evening 13th December 7.00 p.m. - TBC

Prep 2022 Orientation sessions:

We have our second Prep 2022 orientation session on Thursday 25th November and the third on Thursday 2nd December at 2.45 p.m. The children will work in the performing arts area with St Kevin's staff and fully vaccinated parents will attend an information session in the library.

Covid Reminders:

Get vaccinated
Please ensure you and your children stay home if unwell and get tested
Regularly check the Covid exposure sites list on the Vic Gov website and follow the instructions listed
Continue to practise good hand hygiene
Please do not enter any of the school buildings/learning spaces except the school office.
We encourage you to email or phone if you have inquiries/messages rather than come onsite.
Please remember you must wear a mask and register using our QR code if you need to enter the school office.

Kindest regards

Frances Matisi

Principal

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