Principal's News

Dear Families,

What a fantastic achievement! Our recent Bunnings BBQ was an outstanding success, raising over $1,600 in profit for our school!

A huge thank you to Suzanne for her exceptional organisation, dedication and coordination of this event, and to our wonderful PFA and SAC teams for their tremendous support and commitment.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to every parent who generously volunteered their time, whether for one shift or two! Your willingness to help, work cooperatively and support one another truly reflects the wonderful community spirit we have at St Kevin’s. Thank you to the runners who popped in and out, to pick up and replenish stock throughout the day.

Thank you to all families who donated resources and generously brought food and drinks for the fundraiser.

Thank you to Cathy and Chiara for assisting on the day.

What made the day even more special was the extraordinary feedback we received from Bunnings! For the first time ever, Bunnings staff shared that several customers had gone out of their way to compliment our St Kevin’s BBQ team on how welcoming, friendly and approachable they were. What a wonderful reflection of our school community!

This is something we can all be incredibly proud of. Not only did we raise valuable funds for our students, but we also demonstrated the hospitality, kindness, generosity and community spirit that make St Kevin’s such a special place.

Congratulations and thank you to everyone involved! Your generosity, teamwork and enthusiasm made this event such a tremendous success.

You have certainly made St Kevin’s proud! What a fantastic team effort!

Keeping Our School Toilets Clean, Safe and Respectful

At St Kevin’s, we all share the responsibility of keeping our school toilets clean, safe and welcoming for everyone.

Unfortunately, last month our school incurred $1,200 in plumbing repairs and blockages due to inappropriate behaviour and vandalism in our student toilets. This is not counting the cost of cleaning each month. Items such as taps, toys, rocks, sticks and toilet rolls have been placed in toilets and flushed, causing significant damage and costly blockages.

$1,200 is an extraordinary amount of money to spend on repairs in just one month! These are valuable funds that I would much rather see spent on educational resources and opportunities that directly benefit our students.

I sincerely ask all parents and carers to take a few moments to speak with their children about the importance of respecting school property, using toilets appropriately and taking responsibility for their actions.

We have already addressed these concerns with students at assembly, and our teachers have been particularly vigilant in supervising toilet visits and reinforcing our expectations. Students will continue to be explicitly reminded of appropriate Toilet Etiquette, including flushing correctly, placing rubbish in bins, washing hands, respecting privacy and reporting any damage or concerns to their teachers.

At St Kevin’s, we pride ourselves on our values of respect, responsibility and care for one another. Our school facilities belong to everyone, and we all have a part to play in looking after them.

Thank you for your support in reinforcing these important messages at home. By working together, we can ensure our toilets remain clean, safe and pleasant for every child while directing our valuable school funds towards what matters most — our students and their learning.

Toilet Etiquette

Always flush: Flush the toilet after every use. Make sure everything is flushed away.
Keep it clean: If you make a mess on the toilet seat or floor, clean it up safely or tell a teacher if you need help.
Sit properly: Never stand or squat on toilet seats. Use the toilets and urinals correctly to prevent accidents or damage.
Use toilet paper wisely: Only flush toilet paper and human waste. Place paper towels, wipes and rubbish in the bin.
Wash your hands: Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Respect everyone's privacy: Give others their personal space. Do not look under or over toilet doors, disturb others or play in the toilets.
Leave the toilets tidy: Turn off taps, keep water off the floor and leave the sinks and mirrors clean.
Report any damage or concerns: Tell a staff member immediately if you notice broken equipment, blocked toilets, mess or unsafe behaviour.
Use the toilets responsibly: Toilets are not places to play, hide or socialise. Use the facilities and return promptly to your learning or play area.
All students visiting the bathrooms record their names on a class list with time and date.

Remember Our St Kevin's Expectations

Be Safe. Be Respectful. Be Responsible.

100% Care, 100% of the Time!

Together, we can make sure our school toilets are clean, safe and comfortable for everyone.

School Attendance

Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education. Students learn new things at school every day. Attending and participating in school will help your child develop academically, socially, and emotionally.

Research consistently shows students who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve academic success, develop important social skills and build a strong foundation for their future. By attending school every day, students have the opportunity to engage with their peers, participate in classroom discussions, and benefit from the guidance and support of our dedicated teachers. Regular attendance plays a significant role in establishing positive habits and routines that are essential for academic growth and personal development. When students miss school, they not only miss out on valuable learning opportunities but also risk falling behind in their studies and building social connections with peers. Any day/period missed, is associated with falling behind in subject topics and assessment tasks. Continuous absence may impact on achievement as students progress through years of schooling.

As partners in your child's education, we urge you to prioritise regular school attendance and ensure your child is present in school every day. There are no safe numbers of days for missing school! You can help your child have success in the following ways:

Family holidays: where possible, plan family holidays during the term breaks rather than during the term. If you are planning to go on holiday during term time, make sure you talk to the school in advance.

Build healthy habits: helping your child have a healthy sleep routine by setting bedtimes and limiting technology use and access at nighttime.

Model positive behaviour: help your child be organise through setting routines ensuring bags are packed, uniforms are prepared and devices are charged the night before to assist in being on time.

Appointments: where possible, making medical/health appointments outside of school hours.

It’s never too late to improve attendance. Even in the middle years (Year 5 - 8), when school can seem the most challenging for students and when attendance rates can be at their lowest, going to school more often can make a big difference. Every day counts.

We are here to help, if you’re having attendance issues with your child, we ask you to contact us so we can work in partnership to address issues or concerns your child may have which may impact on their ability to attend school.

IN VICTORIA, SCHOOL IS COMPULSORY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 6-17 YEARS

A reasonable excuse to be absent from school includes:

Illness /Injury
Bereavement
Religious event

You are legally required to ensure your child attends school every day or you must provide an explanation for their absence. Where possible, it is best to let the School know in advance of any upcoming absences. You must contact us in the morning if your child will be absent from school, use the Compass App or if they will be late or picked up early. You can do this through calling the school office on 9273 9999 or log your child’s absence using the Compass App.

In order for schools to implement the same day notification requirement, it’s essential you provide the school with your most up-to-date contact details.

A reminder the school day commences at 8:50am and concludes at 3:30pm. (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday) 3:15pm (Wednesday)

BEING ABSENT FROM SCHOOL FOR 1 DAY PER FORTNIGHT EQUALS MISSING 1.5 YEARS OVER 13 YEARS OF SCHOOL.

ABC music program

We have 4 families interested in the music program which is commencing in Term 4 week 3. I am so excited that we have finally got this program started at St Kevin’s. I look forward to hearing about the learning.

If you are interested in hear more about the program please refer to the website:

https://www.abcmusicgroup.com.au

To enrol:

https://www.abcmusicgroup.com.au/enroll-now/

INTENTIONS FOR 2027

If your child/ren will not be returning to St Kevin’s in 2027, please notify the school office or send me an email (gleone@sktemplestowelr.catholic.edu.au) as soon as possible.

Having accurate enrollment information is very important and will assist us greatly with our 2027 class sizes, staffing and school organisation.

Thank you for your assistance and for helping us plan effectively for the year ahead.

Bullying! No Way!

Our three School values are:

This week our expected behaviours are

Term 4. Wk 1 & 2

I am sunsmart

I treat all school resources with care.

RESPECT

Morning Routines

At St Kevin’s, establishing consistent morning routines is an important part of our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) initiative. A calm, organised and predictable start to the day helps our students feel safe, settled and ready to learn.

Our Morning Routine explicitly teaches students the importance of being responsible, independent and respectful as they transition into their classrooms each morning.

Students are reminded to wait calmly in designated areas before the music begins at 8:45am, walk quietly into their classrooms, unpack their belongings and follow their classroom routines. By 8:50am, students are expected to be ready for the Welcome Circle, ensuring a positive and connected start to their learning day.

These simple but important expectations help develop independence, reduce unnecessary disruptions and maximise valuable learning time.

We ask all families to support these routines by ensuring their children arrive at school on time and are ready to begin their day calmly and confidently.

Our teachers will continue to explicitly teach, model and reinforce these expectations as part of our whole-school PBL approach.

Remember, a great morning routine sets the tone for a great day of learning!

Below is the routine practised with the students.

Working Bee Thursday 5th November 2026 2:30pm - 4:30pm

Some jobs may include

Assistance with replenishing tan bark on Adventure Playground
Assist with line marking on asphalt area
Assist with moving Totem Poles.

Look forward to working with you all, Gabee & Eva

Italian

Ciao a tutti,

I hope everyone has settled into Term 4 nicely!

For the next few weeks the preps will be revising 'mi piace' (I like), and an introduction to animals. Grades 1-6 will be learning about how to describe their appearance in Italian.

Preps

la pizza ([the] pizza)
la pasta ([the] pasta)
il gelato ([the] ice-cream)
il mango ([the] mango)
Sì, mi piace... (Yes, I like)
No, non mi piace... (No, I don't like)
Come fa... ? (How does .... go?)
il cane (the dog)
il gatto (the cat)
la rana (the frog)
il pulcino (the chick)
fa (makes/goes)
bau bau (woof woof)
miao (meow)
cra cra (ribbit ribbit)
pio pio (peep peep)

Grade 1-6

Come sei? (What are you like?)
Ho i capelli neri. (I have black hair.)
Ho i capelli biondi. (I have blonde hair.)
Ho i capelli castani. (I have brown hair.)
Ho i capelli rossi. (I have red hair.
Ho gli occhi azzurri. (I have blue eyes.)
Ho gli occhi castani. (I have brown eyes.)
Ho gli occhi verdi. (I have green eyes.)
Ho gli occhi neri. (I have black eyes.)
Sono alto (I am tall [masc.])
Sono alta (I am tall [fem.])
Sono basso (I am short [masc.])
Sono bassa (I am short [fem.])

Grazie, Chiara

Community News

National Taekwondo Champions – Congratulations Audrey and Abigail!

What an extraordinary achievement! We are absolutely thrilled to share that Audrey and Abigail have both been crowned 2026 Australian National Taekwondo Champions!

The girls recently had the incredible honour of representing Victoria at the Australian National Taekwondo Championships in Canberra, competing against some of the most talented young athletes from across the country.

We are incredibly proud to announce that both Audrey and Abigail won GOLD medals in their respective divisions, earning the prestigious title of 2026 Australian National Champion!

This outstanding achievement is a testament to their dedication, perseverance and hard work throughout the year. Both girls have devoted countless hours to training, competing and developing their skills. Their journey began with earning selection into the Victorian State Team, followed by months of preparation for the National Championships.

To compete at this elite level requires enormous discipline, resilience, courage and determination. Audrey and Abigail have demonstrated all these qualities, along with wonderful sportsmanship, confidence and respect for others.

What makes this achievement even more special is the pride with which they represented their state, their taekwondo club, their family and our very own St Kevin’s Primary School!

We can only imagine the joy and pride their family experienced watching both girls stand on the podium as National Champions, knowing the commitment and sacrifices that helped them reach this remarkable milestone.

At St Kevin’s, we celebrate not only their incredible sporting success but also the wonderful values they demonstrate through their commitment, positive attitudes and determination to achieve their personal best.

Audrey and Abigail, you are an inspiration to our school community! We are enormously proud of you both and cannot wait to see what you achieve next.

Two sisters, two gold medals and two Australian National Champions! What an amazing achievement!

Congratulations, girls! You have certainly made St Kevin’s proud! 🌟

In Loving Memory of Michelle Verna 🕊️

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the sudden passing of Michelle Verna, Principal of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Springvale previously St Gregory’s Doncaster.

Michelle was a dedicated Catholic educator, an inspirational leader and a dear friend and mentor to me personally. Her kindness, compassion and generosity touched the lives of so many.

Our heartfelt condolences and prayers are with Michelle’s family, friends and the St Joseph’s and St Gregory’s community.

Rest peacefully, Michelle. You will be dearly missed and forever remembered. 🐞

May perpetual light shine upon her. Amen.

Calendar dates will be in the Principal section from now on and in the Google Calendar.

TERM 4 DATES

October

Friday 16th October - P & F Assoc. Meeting @ 2:30pm (library)
Wednesday 21st October - Prep Readiness Evening for Parents ONLY 7:30pm
Thursday 22nd October - Baker’s Delight lunch @1:30pm
Phillip Island Camp for Year 5 & 6 Students Wednesday 28th - Friday 30th October
Wednesday 28th October - School Open day @ 9:30am
Friday 30th October - World Teachers’ Day

November

Monday 2nd November Day in Lieu for Staff - No School
Tuesday 3rd November Melbourne Cup Day (Public Holiday)
Wednesday 4th November start P-4 Swimming Lessons (Genazzano FCJ College) and finish Friday 13th November (Wed to Fri)
Wednesday 4th November - All Saints Whole School Mass @ 12:30 – 1:30pm
Thursday 5th November - Prep Transition 2027 (1) Numeracy & Literacy @ 9:15 – 10:45am
Thursday 5th November - WORKING BEE @ 2:30 – 4:30pm
Wednesday 11th November - Remembrance Day
Wednesday 11th November - Whole School Assembly @ 2:30pm
Friday 13th November - Kindness Day
Tuesday 17th November - Prep Transition 2027 (2) Morning Wellbeing & ICT @ 9:15am - 10:45am
Thursday 19th November - Crazy Day lunch @ 1:30pm
Monday 30th November - Planning Day for 2027 staff (School Closure)

December

Tuesday 1st December - Whole School Assembly @ 2:45pm
Friday 4th December - Baker’s Delight lunch @ 1:30pm
Monday 7th December - Carols and Review of 2026 @ 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Wednesday 9th December - Head start Program starts to Friday 11th December
Wednesday 9th December - Head start Preps 2027 @ 9:00am - 1:30pm
Thursday 10th December - Head start Preps 2027 @ 9:00am - 3:30pm
Thursday 10th December - Year 6 Graduation @ 6:00pm
Friday 11th December - Head start Preps 2027 @ 8:45am - 11:00am
Friday 11th December - End of Year Mass @ 11:45am
Tuesday 15th December - Last Day of 2026 students
Tuesday 15th December - Whole School Assembly @ 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Wednesday 16th December - Staff PL Day (school closure)
Thursday 17th December - Staff TIL day (school closure)
Friday 18th December - Staff TIL day (school closure)