Principal's News

 05/12/22

Advent Prayer

Lord Jesus,

master of both the light and the darkness,

send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.

We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day,

We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.

We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.

We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.

We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.

To you we say, "Come Lord Jesus!'

Amen.

(Henri J.M. Nouwen)

Dear Parents and Carers,

This is the last full newsletter for 2022! Next week there will be a short Christmas Edition!

Class structures for 2023

The class structure for 2023 is as follows -

2 classes of Prep

2 classes of Year 1/2

1 class of Year 3

1 class of Year 4 

1 class of Year 5/6

The whole school transition will take place on the 7th of December between 12:45 pm and 1:40 pm.  That is when the students will find out their teacher and learning space for 2023. Then next  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the students and teachers will all be in their classes for 2023.  New students will also participate in this transition.

With all these changes and additional classes we have needed to relocate classrooms to ensure the best learning environment for our staff and students. So the staff and students will work to rename the buildings in Term 1 because they will no longer be the Junior and Senior Buildings.  In what is known as the Junior Building in 2022 will be the Preps and Year 3 students and what we call the Senior Building will be the Year 1/2, Year 4 and Year 5/6 Learning spaces.

Staff News

This week Eva and I are interviewing for the Language assistant role and the Year 5/6 classroom teacher which also incorporates the Learning and Teaching role.

SAC & PFA Thank you

Last week we had a delightful dinner with members of the School Advisory Council and PFA to celebrate all the work, collaboration and achievements of 2022. Each member of these two special groups brings knowledge, joy and passion to each meeting and I have enjoyed getting to know everyone and working together to bring improvement to our school and for our students.

A massive thank you to Julia Keenan and Laura Mangiavillano (Secretary as well as Chair) for chairing the SAC this year.  Also Suzanne Connelly and Marey Nitas for working tirelessly as president and secretary.  To Gina Zammit and Suzanne Connelly for organising Tuck Shop helpers and ordering all the goodies. 

Suzanne has been the driver for all the fund raising events including all the ‘Crazy Day’ lunches, Bunnings BBQ,  Major Fundraiser, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Stall just to name a few. Thank you from all of us for your hard work and countless hours given to our school community. 

It would be lovely to see new faces supporting these two major groups next year. Every little bit helps and we can do it better together!  Please consider how you can support St Kevin’s and most importantly your child by getting involved in 2023!

Working Bee Thank you

Thank you to all parents who responded to the Working Bee Survey Monkey. Here is the link - Working Bee Survey Monkey  There are about 7 parents who are going to help with shifting furniture in preparation for 2023.

Carols and Year in Review Night 

We are all looking forward to the performance of ‘Stable Manners’, listening to each year level singing carols and watching the Year in Review!  You are all invited tonight (05/12)  to the event which will commence at 7pm in the school Church.

SPECIAL visitors from Kadasig Aid 

On the 24th of November Ma'am Emely, Sir Marwen, Sir Eusebio (from the Philippines) together with Anni M & Joan from Kadasig visited St Kevin’s. We celebrated with an assembly which was engaging and the guests were very impressed and grateful for all our work.  The assembly included the Junior Students' singing - ‘Never Smile at a Crocodile’, the Middle/Senior Students singing - ‘It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas’ and the whole school sang the ‘St Kevin’s Forever’ song.  We all decorated a bunting and Laura Mangiavillano sewed each one together.  The St Kevin’s bunting looked spectacular and the visitors were so impressed with our art work.   The Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students created A3 Christmas posters, the  Year 3 and Year 4 students wrote Christmas cards and the Year 5 and 6 students wrote friendship letters to the LOYO Elementary Primary students.  At the assembly we presented the visitors with a massive cheque for  $1,192.45. The students and staff worked to raise this money during 2022 through our social justice work and the St Kevin’s parish also donated a further $900.  Top job everyone!

FIRE Carrier Day - 'Igniting Story' (Open the Door Fundraiser Led by FIRE Carriers)  Thursday 8th of December, 2022 

On Thursday  8th of December the FIRE Carriers Student Leaders supported by Mrs Leone have organized a fun day that will include doing Aboriginal Arts, Aboriginal Sport Games and Aboriginal story time. This is also a special Feast Day for Mary.  The Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Mary said Yes to being the mother of Jesus as we say ‘Yes’ to thinking and helping others on this day!

We invite our students to bring a gold coin donated which will go towards the ‘Open Door Foundation’. A charity that looks after Aboriginal students who require support with educational resources such as uniforms and books.  We invite you to wear red, black, brown, yellow, orange and white colours on this day as these are symbolic colours for our first nations people.  Every student will also be given a FREE super duper to celebrate learning together. 

There will be a whole school gathering in the pit led by the FIRE Carrier Student Leaders at 3:00pm to 3:30pm on Thursday 8th of December.

2023 Testing will take place late in January. 

 A login code and instructions will be sent home later in the week with all the information you need to make your booking.

COMPASS 

Mr Con and I have been busy onboarding data for the Compass Platform. Parents will be set up with a login code and we will go live in 2023. Stay tuned for more information.

GRADUATION Support  13/12/22  7pm - 9pm

Thank you supportive Year 5 parents! Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to support this very important event.  I will need to have a brief check in with you all to ensure all parents have Working with Children documentation and to discuss jobs for the evening.  I am so grateful to you all! It is going to be a wonderful event.

Who is reading the newsletter?

Thank you to all parents who do complete the survey. 

AGAIN Super work to Year 3/4  parents!

3/4 and 5/6 parents you have consistently read the St Kevin’s Newsletter and completed the survey! Well done!

DATA COLLECTION  -  LINK I have read the newsletter 05/12/22 

All God’s blessings,

Gabee Leone