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Dear Parents and Carers of St Kevin’s,
Our NAPLAN results have come back and from parent feedback I have received, the results are being well received. Parents have acknowledged our fantastic achievements in the 2022 NAPLAN results, and that as a learning community we should be very proud of these results taking into consideration COVID interruptions. By Learning Community, I mean and include teachers, students and parents as a team. Together we have worked hard and not made excuses for our learning to stop, and the results are in! So, congratulations everyone on being active participants in a vibrant and enthusiastic community where learning is truly valued and visible.
This week you will have also received a letter and a link to a survey called “Tell Them From Me”. The data from this survey assists us as we plan for the following year. Your thoughtful and insightful comments are truly valued and listened to. I encourage you to please take the time to complete this survey as it is another way to engage with your child’s education and again be part of this amazing learning community.
The link to the survey for St Kevin’s is http://tellthemfromme.com/j8xjk
Take care and go gently in the weeks ahead.
Mary-Anne Jennings
Principal
Kindergarten Enrolments
We still have a few positions available for 2023. If you have not yet enrolled your child or know of someone that may not yet be engaged in this process, please contact the office to make an appointment to meet with Mrs Jennings ASAP.
School Photos
Monday September 19. Students wear full winter uniform where possible – the delay in the delivery of long sleeve shirts may be an issue for some. Please contact the office if your child does not have a long-sleeved winter shirt. All students will need to wear their school tie. Family photos available this year.
St Paul’s Year 12 Graduation
St Kevin’s leaders will accompany Mrs Jennings to the Year 12 St Paul’s Booragul Graduation and Award ceremony on September 22. This is a great opportunity for our Year 6 Leaders to see what the end of Year 12 is like and how hard work and persistence pay off.
Summer uniform
Students return to school in Term 4 on Monday October 10. They will be wearing summer uniforms from this date.
GIRLS SUMMER
- St Kevin’s Summer dress
- Short sleeve Peter-Pan blouse with logo
- Navy shorts
- White socks
- Black leather or black synthetic school shoes
Optional – Summer Alice headband, thin or thick, small or large school scrunchies, navy blue ribbon - no other coloured ribbons or headbands are acceptable.
BOYS SUMMER
- Short sleeve formal shirt, blue with logo on front pocket
- Elastic back formal shorts
- Grey socks
- Black leather or black synthetic school shoes
Year 5/6 - 2022 Newcastle Science and Engineering Challenge Discovery Days
Please note there has been a change of date (as advised on Compass). St Kevin’s are now attending on Thursday 15th September 2022 the day commences at 9am and concludes at 2.30pm. See the event on Compass for further details.
Regional Public Speaking
Congratulations to our students for proudly representing St Kevin’s at the Regional Public Speaking competition which was held at St Joseph’s Primary School at Kilaben Bay on Wednesday. Well done Joseph, Porter, Blake, Cierra and Mackenzie.
News from the Assistant Principal
Colour Run
Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou once again for your support of the Colour Run. We are getting very excited as the day draws near with final preparations in place. Jodie Harrison MP will officially open our Colour Run.
Please click here to complete a short form to indicate if you are able to help out in any way on the day. This will allow me to make a roster of volunteers for the day and ensure the smooth and safe running of this fabulous event. We encourage as many parents and family to join us on the day.
Can you help?
- Do you have a ute?
- Are you able to help us out at 7 am on the day (Friday 23rd September) to move equipment down to Wilkinson Park?
- Are you able to help in setting up? (7:30 am onwards)
- Do you have a large tarp and tent pegs that we could borrow to use at our various stations along the colour run, passive play, seating throughout the day?
- Are you willing to volunteer to assist on one of the Colour Run stations (sorry no pre-school age children accompanying)?
- Are you able to assist on the BBQ stall?
- Are you able to assist on the drinks stall?
- Are you able to bake for the cake stall?
- Do you have a pop-up shelter that can be utilized?
- Are you able to attend on the day? Are grandparents coming?
Timeline
9:00 – 9:30 am transport by bus from school to Wilkinson Park
9:45 am Official Start – Welcome and Prayer
10:00 am Aerobics Warm Up
10:15 am Blue House v Gold House – War Cries
10:30 am Infants ( Playground and Activities)
11: 15 am Primary ( Playground and Activities)
12 noon Lunch Break
12:15 pm Colour Run (Year 5/6)
12:35 pm Colour Run (Years 3 / 4)
1:00 pm Colour Run (Years 1 / 2)
1:20 pm Colour Run ( Kinder)
1:50 pm Clean Up
2:05 pm Return to school by bus / equipment returned to school (helpers please!)
God Bless
Kim Hogan
Assistant Principal
Kaayi (hello in Awabakal; rhymes with ‘hi’)
On Wednesday we celebrated Indigenous Literacy Day at St Kevin’s.
Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 children learned Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes and some words in Awabakal language. We read an Awabakal kids’ story, Lenny and the Big Red Kinan. This rhyming story teaches Awabakal language names for things found on a walk through the bush. A kinan is a bag.
Children in Years 3-6 created some Indigenous artwork using charcoal, chalk, garden soil and ochre.
Aboriginal Culture Excursions on 30 August
Children had a great time and learned a lot about Aboriginal culture, history and traditions last week at Glenrock and Yamuloong. These educational experiences benefit all children as we learn about our local area and the Awabakal people who have lived here for thousands of years. The more we learn, the more we understand and develop our appreciation and respect.
Thank you to Lake Macquarie Council for financial assistance through the NAIDOC Grants program, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Yamuloong.for involvement in and support of our Aboriginal Education program at St Kevin’s.
Nginowa (goodbye in Awabakal; the ‘g’ is silent)
Phil Taylor
Aboriginal Education Teacher
Staff Formation
Last week we held our staff retreat faith formation at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney. After an early breakfast we attended Mass in the Chapel and took an opportunity afterwards to pause in the presence of Mary MacKillop’s tomb. We were also able to explore the Mary MacKillop Museum. While on retreat we reflected upon the words of Mary MacKillop in letters she had written and looked at the impact of Josephite spirituality and Charisms on our school community.
Religious Literacy Test
Our year 6 students will be sitting the Diocesan wide Religious Literacy Test on Tuesday 13th September.
Sacrament and Information
Congratulations to the students who were Confirmed this week. The Sacrament of Eucharist will be celebrated by Parish Priest, Rev Fr Joseph Figurado and will take place at St Kevin’s church on Sunday 18th or 25th September at 9:30am. Please email Fiona Stretton to indicate which date your child will be attending.
Please join us on Friday 16th September at 2.15pm in the church where year 2 will lead a liturgy followed by assembly.
Parish News
Please note the invitation below to a soccer fun day from the Parish, Father Joseph and Deacon Solomon.
Dear All
Our parish YOUTH FUN SOCCER DAY is coming up on the 17th of September 2022 at St. James PLAYGROUND, Kotara, commencing at 10 a.m.
Please help circulate this information amongst the young people and their parents.
This game will feature the following
SIZZLE SAUSAGE
Soccer games between
Parents vs. youth
Youth vs. Youth
This invitation is open to everyone, and the dress code for the day is sportswear.
For catering purposes, please RSVP by 15th September using the following link. https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/415081107767
Many thanks
Deacon Solomon
Socktober
On Wednesday 19th October we will be holding a “Socktober Cup and Concert” to raise funds to support children facing malnutrition and food insecurity in Ethiopia. The day will include a penalty shoot out competition with a socktober ball to be made at school. To do this we need some recycled items donated. If you have any of the following items please send them into school: clean used t-shirts, socks, bubble wrap, foam packaging or string.
God Bless
Fiona Stretton
Acting Religious Education Coordinator
Premiers Reading Challenge
The Premiers Reading Challenge is aimed to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. We had a great response from St Kevins students with a total of 100 completing the challenge over the 6 months. Those children that enrolled and finished will receive a certificate in Term 4.
Book Club
Issue 6 of Book Club closes on the 8th September, be sure to get your orders in.
Fathers Day Stall
Thank you to our P & F Committee for organising and facilitating our Father’s Day stall in the Library. So many wonderful gifts were purchased, and bags decorated beautifully.
Warmest,
Mrs. Hogan
Acting Teacher/Librarian
Fee Statements were issued earlier this week, please check your "junk mail" folder in your emails if you haven't received yours.
If you elected to pay your fees in full, payment was due on 30th June 2022 and these accounts are now in arrears. Letters will be sent home next week requesting these payments.
If you elected to pay your fees in installments, either weekly, fortnightly or monthly, payments were due to commence by 30th March 2002 and must be finalsied by 30th November 2022. There are now only 13 weeks remaining until the due date. If payments have not commenced, please do so as soon as possible.
If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact the office to make an appointment with Mary-Anne Jennings.
Thank you for your cooperation.
What better way to fill your bellies and stock up those freezer's all while supporting our fabulous school! Our pie drive is now open for online ordering until the 18th Sept, order as many times as you like.
Website: https://thompsonspies.com.au/order-online/ and use code: SKP0822