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? Congratulations to Mrs Kim Hogan – Principal of St Kevin’s, 2026! ?
It is with great joy and pride that we announce Mrs Kim Hogan as the new Principal of St Kevin’s beginning in 2026.
Kim first joined our school community in 2015 as a dedicated classroom teacher. Over the years, she has brought her passion for STEM, robotics, and touch football into the classroom and beyond, inspiring students with her innovative teaching and boundless energy. Her vibrant and active faith is evident in all she does, and as a practising Catholic, she plays a vital role in our Parish Team and currently serves on the Parish Finance Team.
Mrs Hogan has been instrumental in launching several key initiatives at St Kevin’s, including our Digital Technologies afternoons, and the establishment of school-based sports houses, with the introduction of athletics and swimming trophies that celebrate both achievement and school spirit. Mrs Hogan has also been the driver of our intensive swimming program, plus gymnastics, basketball, hockey, through the Sport in Schools Programme , and our PB4L well-being framework.
Kim is not only an exceptional educator, but also a respected mentor and role model. Her students admire her deeply, and her colleagues are thrilled to support her as she steps into this new leadership role.
With Mrs Hogan at the helm, St Kevin’s is poised to continue growing and flourishing—soaring to new heights in learning, faith, and community. We are confident that under her guidance, we will keep discovering new ways to live out our vision of being a Catholic community nurturing heart, mind, and spirit, following the light of Christ.
Mrs Hogan, you are truly awesome, and we are all excited to see where you will lead St Kevin’s in the years ahead!
Mrs Jennings
Principal St Kevin’s Cardiff
From the Co-Principal / Assistant Principal Desk
A Heartfelt Thank You
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone for the kind words, congratulations, and support following the announcement of my appointment as Principal from the beginning of the 2026 school year. The outpouring of love and encouragement from students, staff and our wider community has been truly overwhelming.
Over the past week, I have witnessed so many “God moments” — reminders of His presence in the joy, kindness, and unity that surrounds our school. I feel incredibly affirmed and deeply loved, and I am humbled to step into this role with such a strong foundation of faith and community.
Thank you for walking this journey with me. God is love, and His love is so clearly alive in our school.
GodBless
Kim Hogan
Co-Principal / Assistant Principal
Kaayi (Hello – Awabakal)
Yaama Ngindaay (Hello everyone - Gamilaraay)
Nungamanladi (Hello - Bardi)
Worimi (Hello – Dharug. Pronounced ‘Wurramee’)
Mt Sugarloaf - Warrawelong
If you drive or walk down Main Rd past the school, you can see Mt Sugarloaf. The Awabakal people call it Warrawelong.
One of the earliest visual images of Warrawelong is a painting - The Sugar Loaf Mountain near New Castle, New South Wales by convict artist Joseph Lycett in the1824. Note the spelling – New Castle
Joseph Lycett – The Sugar Loaf Mountain near New Castle, New South Wales, 1824
Warrawelong was sighted by Captain James Cook on 10 May 1770, when his ship The Endeavour sailed north along the east coast of Australia.
The mountain is part of the Sugarloaf Range and is 412 metres high.
Warrawelong provides a good vantage point for the areas that belong to the Awabakal people, which makes it an important teaching place and sacred ceremonies are known to have taken place there.
Warrawelong is shaped like a wedge-tailed eagle, a totem of the Awabakal people. It is the setting for a Dreaming story about the fate of some children at the hands of the monster Patikaan - a cautionary tale about children wandering off alone.
Did you know?.......SNOW
At a height of around 413 m high the mountain has experienced snow several times over the years. Although snowfalls in the Hunter region are usually confined to Barrington Tops and parts of the Upper Hunter , in July 18, 1965, snow not only fell on Mount Sugarloaf but also in some Newcastle and Lake Macquarie suburbs. By sunrise the slopes of Sugarloaf were covered with about 10cm of snow and more than 16cm lay on the hills around Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Denman, Scone, Aberdeen and Barrington Tops. Near Cessnock the snow also fell at Mount View, Millfield and Quorrobolong. Snow was also reported at New Lambton, Waratah and Windale. By mid-morning the police had to close the road to the summit of Sugarloaf due to severe traffic congestion. Snow again fell on Mount Sugarloaf on Thursday, June 12, 1975.
Information Sources: Lake Macquarie History – Lake Mac Libraries
https://history.lakemac.com.au/page-local-history.aspx?pid=1085&vid=20&tmpt=narrative&narid=4986
Awabakal Language Program https://awabakallanguage.org.au/
It’s good for all of us to know about these local landmarks to gain a comprehensive understanding of their importance for us now as well as their historical and cultural significance for the Awabakal people. In doing this we and our kids develop a greater appreciation of our local environment.
Nginowa (I’ll see you later - Awabakal. Pronounced ‘Nin-oh-wa’
Phil Taylor
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Teacher
Year 5 RE Curriculum Pilot
This term, our Year 5 students have been participating in a pilot of the new Pedagogy of Encounter unit, set to launch across schools in 2026. The module, titled “We Believe”, invites students to explore key Catholic beliefs as expressed in the Nicene Creed, beginning with the mystery of the Trinity—one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Students delve into the identity and mission of the Catholic Church, focusing on its four marks: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. They reflect on how these shape the Church’s roles in the world today and deepen their understanding of Catholic teachings on death, eternal life, and the hope of heaven.
A significant part of the module centres on Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross, helping students understand how this reveals God’s saving love and is honoured by Christians, especially during Easter. Through Scripture, feast days, and prayer, students encounter how this hope is lived out in the Church.
Section 3: Death and Eternal Life
In this section, students will explore:
- Catholic beliefs about death as a new beginning with God.
- Scripture passages offering hope, such as the story of Lazarus and Jesus’ teachings on heaven.
- Church practices of remembrance, including All Souls Day and prayers for the dead.
- How different cultures and religions honour the deceased, fostering empathy and respect.
- Personal reflection activities through prayer, art, and writing.
We acknowledge that this topic may be sensitive for some families, especially those who have experienced loss. Our approach is grounded in compassion and care. If your child has experienced bereavement, please contact Mr Vaughan or myself so we can support them appropriately during this learning.
Students will be encouraged to ask questions, reflect on their experiences, and engage with Scripture in age-appropriate ways, within a safe and supportive classroom environment.
Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s faith journey. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns
Donna Morgan
Religious Education Coordinator
2025 school fees are due by the end of this month on the 30th November 2025. It would appreciated if you could please commence finalising your fees to ensure payment is received by the due date. For those families who have made alternative arrangements, please continue with your payments. Should any family be experiencing difficulty in meeting their financial obligations, we strongly encourage you to contact the school on 4954 0036 as soon as possible to make an appointment with the Principal.
For our leaving year 6 students, and any other students departing the school at the end of the year, fees need to be finalised so that fee clearance can be given to your high school. School Departure Forms will be issued to year 6 students in the coming weeks.
Thank you to all families who have already finalised their fees and to those who have honoured your commitment to making regular payments.
PB4L - Positive Behaviour for Learning
St. Kevin’s is a PB4L school which means we have a focus on the promotion of positive behaviours.
Our PB4L focused are based around our four main rules:
- We are Respectful
- We are Responsible
- We are Safe
- We are a Learner
Under each of these rules we have behaviour focuses. These are specific areas to help children understand what is expected when following that rule. Our rules and behaviour expectations are displayed in posters around the school.
For the beginning of the term we have been working on: Following a whole school attention grabber.
Starting next week, we will be working on: actively participating in liturgies and masses.
Please see the photo to see how we are going in attempting to reach our goal.
Our reward for this is a session down at the netball courts, out of uniform and an ice block!
Over the coming weeks St Kevin’s will be raising awareness and funds for Socktober to support Catholic Mission in their efforts to reduce injustice and help those less fortunate around the world. This year the focus on Zambia. Zambia is a country full of rich culture and vibrant communities that lies in the heart of southern Africa. Despite its natural wealth and strong spirit, many families face daily challenges, especially in rural areas. Today, one of the most urgent issues is the severe hunger crisis that threatens the wellbeing of millions.
At St Kevin’s we are working with Catholic Mission to support families with children to have access to safe homes, food and water. Like our students, the kids in Zambia love playing soccer, but many can’t afford proper soccer balls. Instead, they use old socks, rubbish and string to make their own! So, as part of this special opportunity, we are asking each child to gather some old socks, T-shirts, any recyclable rubbish and string. On Friday 21/11/25, (Term 4 Week 6), we will be using these materials to create our own sockballs and use these for a game of soccer! This will help us place ourselves in the shoes...and socks... of the children in Zambia. Students can wear out of uniform on the day and are encouraged to dress in sporting attire to celebrate. We are raising money by donating to our Socktober fundraising page online to support these families in need. You can use the QR code below to donate.
Thank you to the student mission team that has driven this amazing initiative and thank YOU for your support!
Miss Brownlow & the Student Mission Team
QR Code for Fundraising Page:
Hello everyone.
I would like to tell you about my mountain bike race at Awaba.
On Saturday I woke up at 6am and went to change into my riding gear. We hopped into the car and it took us 45 minutes to arrive at Awaba Mountain Bike Park where the race was going to happen. Once we got there, I went to get my race plate after doing a few warmup laps of the jump track there. There was a total of 61 boys and 33 girls in my age category (U11). I felt a bit scared and nervous when I reached the starting point, but was very excited once the race actually began. Everyone was zooming by, but I tried my best and rode as fast as I could. We all got very muddy and sweaty because we were pushing ourselves to the limit! When I finished the race I felt very, very accomplished and HUNGRY! I placed 50th and although I may not have come first, I beat my timing from last year!
The only thing missing was having school mates represent St Kevin’s with me. Maybe you could join me and my sister in training Wednesdays at Glenrock, where my mum coaches also!! That would be so cool!
Yours in racing
Reece (Yr 4)
Please find attached the parish bulletin for this Sunday.
There is also a flyer attached for Red November.
Wishing you all a lovely weekend.
God bless!
Parish Administration
ALL SAINTS PARISH BLACKBUTT SOUTH
