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Dear Parents and Friends of St Kevin’s,
We return for the start of Semester 2, with lots of learning ahead for everyone. Our focus continues to be on writing in K-6 where students are explicitly taught a variety of skills, then provided with opportunities to apply this knowledge in their writing. When assessing a student’s writing we look at spelling, punctuation, grammar and the structure of the text and its purpose – is it to entertain, to inform or to persuade? We learn so much from a child’s writing and it is a skill they will utilise throughout their lives.
Mathematics is our other focus whereby we are linking various concepts so that students can see the connections and again apply to everyday living. We are also working very hard to enable students to develop strong mental mathematical strategies so as not to rely on pen and paper to add up or take away – they can do them in their head no matter how big the number gets!
So, here’s to a great 10 weeks of learning and fun!
Take care and may God’s Spirit be with you.
Mary-Anne Jennings
Principal
COVID Update
We are currently experiencing another COVID wave, and this is impacting our school. We have high rates of absenteeism for staff and students. Relief teachers are also very scarce. We are trying our very best to ensure all classes have a teacher each day, and classes may have many teachers over a week. Unfortunately, during these times, we may even need to split the classes, but that is a last resort. Your understanding and patience are much appreciated at this time.
To reduce the spread of COVID, influenza and RSV please keep your children home if they are displaying any cold and flu symptoms.
New Staff Appointments
Mrs Kirrily Corbett has been appointed as our full-time secretary/Finance Officer. Kirrily will be here Monday-Friday starting August 1.
Mrs Fiona Stretton has been appointed Acting REC for the remainder of the 2022 school year. Mrs Erica Keating will job-share with Mrs Stretton, teaching 5/6 every Wednesday and Thursday.
We are yet to appoint a teacher for Year 1 and a teacher-librarian for the remainder of the 2022 school year. Interviews for these positions are being held this week.
Father’s Day Stall
Wednesday August 31. The P&F are running this stall. More information in the coming weeks.
Father’s Day Celebration
Thursday September 1 – morning session. More information to follow.
Uniforms
Uniforms are ordered and paid for through the QKR app. This app can be downloaded onto your Smartphone and then used to pay for uniforms, lunch orders and fundraising events such as the Father’s Day stall. This is to reduce the amount of cash held here at school and is a safety issue that needs to be addressed.
Uniforms are dispatched by our P&F volunteers every Monday.
Uniforms can be purchased face to face at the shop front on a Monday. Again, QKR is the preferred method of payment, but cash can also be used in this instance.
The school administration can no longer process credit card payments for school uniforms as they are now part of the P&F who have separate banking accounts and facilities.
The P&F are also following up on items not currently in stock. As you can appreciate, our supplier cannot guarantee when supplies will arrive due to world events and supply chain issues. Again, we thank you for your patience. Summer uniforms will be ordered ASAP to alleviate shortages for when the summer uniform is required.
My newsletter item this fortnight is all about the Colour Run we are holding on Friday 23rd September at Wilkinson Park. This event has been in planning for 2 years and it is so exciting that it is finally going to be realised.
We plan on having a phenomenal, fun filled day with plenty of fanfare to finish out this fantastic term and raise fabulous amounts of money so that we are flush with cash to purchase equipment for playground use and sport. Our target is $5000. Can you help us smash this target!
On the Day
- We plan on being down at Wilkinson Park by 9:30am.
- Colour Run by grade
- Coffee van
- Snow Cone
- Face Painting
- BBQ
- Lolly stall
- Cake Stall
- Music
- Fire Brigade
- Students to come wearing white t-shirt and white shorts
- Students will be provided with colour sunglasses and a colour headband
In the Lead up
This is a major fund raiser for St Kevin’s. To promote participation we have a plan in place :-
- Students have received a fundraising booklet to record their donations
- Week 3 – Thursday 4th
- All students who have registered by this date will receive an iceblock and be released from class at 1:15pm for extra supervised play
- Week 5 – Thursday 18th
- Every student who has raised $100 by this date will receive a prize and extra play
- Week 7 – Thursday 1st September
- Every student who has raised $200 by this date will receive a bag of lollies, extra play and get to participate in sliming the Executive (Mrs Jennings, Mrs Hogan & Mrs Stretton)
- Week 9 – Thursday 15th September
- The class who has raised the most money by this date will get to enjoy a movie and popcorn
Winners
- St Kevin’s – if we make this a fabulous, fun filled fundraiser!
- Student raising the highest total - $50 gift card
- Class raising the highest total – Pizza Party (Term 4) and extra 30 minutes play.
Kim Hogan
Assistant Principal
Yaama Ngindaay
Welcome to Term 3.
Last term the school was successful in securing a NAIDOC Week Grant from Lake Macquarie Council to support student learning about local Awabakal people, history and culture. Our thanks to Lake Macquarie Council for the provision of this grant money.
We have been able to arrange two excursions, one for students in Kindergarten to Year 2 and one for students in Years 3-6. Both excursions are scheduled for Friday 26 August. They will enhance the educational outcomes for all our students across a variety of learning areas, including History, Geography, Visual Arts and Religious Education, and will address the Australian Curriculum priority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures.
K-2 Yamuloong Centre Excursion, Garden Suburb. Travel by bus to the Centre for a welcome and enjoy some bush tucker provided. The children will learn about Aboriginal culture and have the chance to view artefacts and learn about customs and traditional way of life from First Nations people.
Yamuloong
Depart school at 11.30am by bus returning to school by 3.00pm for afternoon dismissal.
Children need to bring lunch, recess snack and a water bottle contained in a light bag that they can easily.
Children are to wear their school winter sports uniform (trackpants) and hat please.
Students will require their own insect repellant (cream not aerosol) and sunscreen.
The cost for this excursion is $5. This can be paid either in cash (please send money in an envelope with your child's name and class) OR phone school office to pay by credit card (0249540036).
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Years 3-6 Glenrock State Conservation Area Excursion. Conducted by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the children will experience Glenrock State Conservation Area through the eyes of Aboriginal Discovery Rangers. Through first-hand experiences children will learn about the culture of the Awabakal people, how they lived, what resources they used and the significance of the land and Dreaming stories. Children will go through some amazing ecosystems, onto Burwood Beach and end up at the Scout Camp for lunch.
Glenrock:
Depart school at 9.15am by bus, returning to school by 3.00pm for afternoon dismissal.
Children need to bring lunch, recess snack and a water bottle contained in a light bag that they can easily carry on their back. They need to carry all the water that they require for the day's excursion.
Children are to wear their school winter sports uniform (trackpants) and hat please.
The Glenrock excursion involves a fair bit of walking.
Students will require their own insect repellant (cream not aerosol) and sunscreen.
The cost for this excursion is $5. This can be paid either in cash (please send money in an envelope with your child's name and class) OR phone school office to pay by credit card (0249540036).
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We are really looking forward to our educational excursions to Yamuloong and Glenrock to learn more about our local Awabakal history and heritage, how to care for Country, and continue our celebration of NAIDOC Week in fine spirit and style.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day (Children’s Day) is our national day dedicated to celebrating our children. Children’s Day is celebrated across the country each year on 4 August.
At school next Thursday the children will listen to an Awabakal Dreaming story about how Belmont Lagoon was formed and enjoy some Indigenous games after recess.
Yaluu ngali ngamilay
Phil Taylor
Aboriginal Education Teacher
Welcome
Welcome back to Term 3! I hope you had a restful break and were able to enjoy time with your loved ones. I was welcomed into the St Kevin’s community as a classroom teacher in 2020. In 2021 and 2022 I have had the privilege of working with staff and students across every grade in St Kevin's as the Gifted Education Mentor. I now have the opportunity, for the remainder of 2022, to serve the students, staff, parents and Parish community through the role of Religious Education Mentor. I feel privileged to be a member of St Kevin’s and the All Saints Community Parish Blackbutt South community as well as my home parish of East Maitland. Families are the first educators of children and I look forward to supporting families and the Parish community in this endeavour through my roles as Classroom Teacher, Gifted Education Mentor and Religious Education Coordinator.
Sacrament Information
I look forward to joining the sacramental team to support these students and their families.
A message for our students registered in the 2022 sacramental program from Donna Morgan:
With the adjustment to our Confirmation date being the 6th September and the decision to only do 1 face to face lesson for each sacrament. I have had to adjust my dates too because of work commitments.
Confirmation: Thursday 25th August @ 4pm
Communion: Thursday 1st September @ 5pm
These meetings will be held in the meeting room at the Parish Office at Cardiff. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Kind regards,
Donna Morgan.
Parish News
We offer a warm welcome to Deacon Solomon who is new to our Parish community and comes to us from Singleton. On Wednesday afternoon the St Kevin’s staff met Deacon Solomon when he and Father Joseph joined us for a cuppa and some afternoon tea. Father Joseph is on leave from Friday. He is travelling to Sri Lanka to visit family and has asked that we keep him, his family and Sri Lanka in our prayers.
God Bless
Fiona Stretton
Acting Relgious Education Mentor
Premier’s Reading Challenge
47 students from St. Kevin’s have completed PRC
Congratulations to the following students for completing PRC in the last month.
Kinder – Maz, Georgia P
Year 1 – Charlotte
Year 2 – Jacob
Year 4 - Isaac
Year 5/6 – Miller B, Cameron
Keep up the fantastic reading.
Please encourage your child to borrow PRC books from the Library and SORA.
1 Month To Go
PRC finishes on Friday the 19th of August. It would be great if your children could read more books to complete the challenge.
Term 3 Book Week
Please put in your diary, Book Week and Book Fair, August 12th, 2022. This year is a very exciting theme, “Dreaming With Eyes Open”
Just before the holidays all children enjoyed “ Stellarphant” by James Foley. Primary children enjoyed making Book Trailers on imovie and infants completed a range of exciting activities on the book.
More Shortlisted books will be shared with the children in Term 3.
This will be my final newsletter item for this year. I will dearly miss your wonderful children as I take the next two terms as Long Service Leave. I look forward to spending more time with my family and assisting my husband with our business. I look to seeing you in 2023.
Dianne Binkin
Teacher Librarian
From 10/8/22 prices for canteen will increase, new price list will be sent out on Compass and adjusted on QKR. We will be having specials Thursday once a fortnight from 11/8/22. More information to follow. First one is Walking Tacos.
Volunteers are urgently needed for Fridays as some days only one person is rostered. Ideally 3 people are needed on Fridays. To become a volunteer please visit the link below
If you have elected to pay your school fees in one lump sum, then these should have been paid by 30 June 2022. If you have not paid as yet, please finalise your account as soon as possible.
If you have elected to pay weekly or monthly, these payments were due to have commenced by 31 March 2022. There are only 19 weeks left before all fees need to be finalised by the 30th June 2022. If you have not commenced payments, please do so as soon as possible.
Fee payments can be made via Bpay using your unique biller code on your account statements, direct debit via the CDF or by credit card over the phone.
Should you wish to discuss you fee payments, please contact the school office on 4954 0036.