Dear Parents

Happy new year to all of our families and welcome to Kennedy Baptist College for 2016. In particular, welcome to all of our new families who are joining us for the first time this year. We trust that everyone has had a safe, relaxing and enjoyable holiday and are now ready to commence the new academic year with excitement.
Throughout the holiday time, work has continued at the College to complete some major projects. This has included:

• The completion of our new Drama and Dance studios.
• The refurbishment of our Block 3 English classes.
• Our new Science Laboratories will be completed during Term 1.

Work has also continued over the past weeks in preparing and planning great opportunities for all students and we look forward to sharing these throughout the year. Our goal at Kennedy is to equip students to seize these opportunities and strive for greatness in all that they do. After reviewing all events that took place throughout a very busy 2015 we are extremely confident of continuing to provide opportunities for excellence this year and look forward to students embracing all that is on offer in another exciting year.

Year 12 Results
Our 12 students produced some pleasing WACE results at the end of last year. It was wonderful to see so many students achieve their goals set early in 2015. Congratulations to Sarah Ciccolari who achieved the exceptional ATAR score of 99.2. Kennedy Baptist College had 13 students achieve an ATAR score greater than 95.0, an excellent effort.

Carly Eakin achieved the outstanding result of being the top student in the state for Business Management and Enterprise. Carly also received a certificate of distinction, being in the top 0.5% of the state for this subject. Another excellent effort.

Two students received Certificates of Commendation:

• Sarah Ciccolari
• Bailey McKinlay-Graham

Top performing subjects for 2015 at Kennedy:

• 3A/B Health studies
• Physics
• Biology

Students offered University positions:

• 1st Preference: 86% of students who completed an ATAR course.
• Any Preference: 88% of all Kennedy applicants.

Certainly the class of 2015 produced some pleasing results as a result of their hard work and the support provided by College staff to ensue students achieve their goals. However, these results also reinforce the fact that we need our students and parents to be realistic when selecting student academic pathways. Our 2015 results support the College Administration view that some students are still attempting the ATAR pathway when they may have achieved better results in a more suitable alternative course.

Mark Ashby
Principal

The P&F would like to welcome all families to 2016 at Kennedy.

The summer holidays have seen our Facebook page well utilised for second hand books, uniforms and impromptu socials from parents. If you would like to join the Kennedy P&F Facebook page, the following link can be used:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/KennedyPandF/members/

A number of our 2015 committee members had children graduate from Kennedy last year and will be unavailable for our committee this year. We would like to thank Brent Bell, Tom Moyes, Sue Moyes, Alison Lilly and Hilary Poenton for their contributions to the P&F over the past three years.

Our Term 1 P&F meeting is also our AGM and will be held at 7.00pm on Tuesday, 9 February 2016, Staff Lounge. We invite all parents to attend this meeting which will also provide an excellent opportunity to get to know fellow Kennedy families.

As the first day of Term 1 approaches, it is important that everyone is well aware of the details for Monday 1 Feburary to make the commencement of the new school year as effective as possible.

Normal classes commence on Monday for Year 8-12 students, any texts, uniforms (including swimming gear) or equipment needed for these classes will be required.

We look forward to a great start for the commencement of 2016 at Kennedy Baptist College.

Please note the following details:

From Sunday 31 January 2016, there will be changes to the Joondalup, Mandurah, Fremantle and Armadale lines.There will be also be changes to a number of school services across the Transperth network. 

Students intending to travel to school via public transport should:

• Check transperth.wa.gov.au for information
• Plan your journey prior to the start of school

Whilst not every school will be undergoing changes, we recommend that everyone should plan their journey prior to the first day of school.

The Kennedy Handbook is designed to provide students and the parents of Kennedy Baptist College, with useful information.

Kennedy Handbook is now available online and on Conqet.

All students will be competing in the inter-house Swimming Carnival on Wednesday 10 February 2016. This is a compulsory event and students unable to participate must provide a medical certificate to the College.

Transport: Students will be transported from Kennedy Baptist College to HBF Stadium at 8:30am by College bus or hire bus. The carnival will be finishing at 2:15pm and students will arrive back at Kennedy Baptist College by 3:15pm. To alleviate congestion, students who usually catch public transport home will be transported directly to the Murdoch University Discovery Way Bus Station. Eyre and Forrest students will be returned to the College and King and Stirling students to Car park 7 at Murdoch University (Click here for more information & map).

Parent Help Required:

Parent helpers are required for the 2016 Kennedy Interhouse swim carnival. If you are able to help on Wednesday 10 February from 9.15am as a parent time keeper please email jkennedy@kennedy.wa.edu.au

Welcoming new staff into our College

The start to 2016 brings many exciting changes including the arrival of some new staff members. A total of 12 new administration and teaching staff have joined us with most of them starting the role at start of the term.

• Payment Option Form - Important - Please read:
  As any prior financial arrangements made in 2015 are now obsolete, it is important to inform us of your preferred payment method for 2016 which will be made formal by the completion and return of the payment option form.
  Please ensure your payment option form is returned by Friday 5 February.
   
• Secondary Assistance Scheme 
  The State Government, through the Department of Education, provides financial support to eligible parents through the Secondary Assistance Scheme (SAS). The aim of the scheme is to assist low income families with secondary school costs.

  Eligible parents/guardians with students enrolled in Years 7 to 12 studying full-time secondary course at a WA private school will be able to apply for the SAS in 2016. The SAS consists of two allowances:
  
  •$235 Education Program Allowance (payment made to the school); and
  •$115 Clothing Allowance (payment made to the parent/guardian).
  
  For all enquiries regarding the application process/forms please visit our reception.

Book covering in the Research and Study Centre will commence Tuesday morning Week 4 (23 February) anytime from 8am.  All welcome, training (if needed) and a cuppa provided.

Please click here to find out what is items currently for sale on the Sustainable School Shop website.

• Friday 29 January
  Uniform shop Opening hour:
  ​8.00am - 12.30pm
  1.00pm - 3.45pm
   
• Friday 29 January
  Pre-Start Day
  * Year 7: 10.00am - 2.00pm - Lower Loyer
  * New International Years 8-12 student: 1.30pm-4.30pm
  * New Local Years 8-12 student: 2.00pm-4.30pm
  Click here for more information
   
• Monday 1 February
  Term 1 Commence at: 
  8.15am (Year 8-12)
  8.45am (Year 7 - Day 1 arragement only)
   
• Monday 1 February
  Commencement Ceremony for Year 7s 
  9.00am - 10.00am, Auditorium
   
• Wednesday 3 February
  Whole School Assembly - Certificate of Achievement Awards Presentation.​
   
• Friday 7 February 
  To return fee payment option form
   
• Tuesday 9 February
  P&F Meeting, 7pm, Staff Lounge
   
• Wednesday 10 February
  Interhouse Swimming Carnival - Complusory event
  Click here for more information
   
• Tuesday 16 February
  P&F Meeting, 7pm Staff Lounge

Please visit our website for more dates and events.

Wardrobe Envy is Perth's NEWEST designer dress hire boutique located in Canningvale.
WE has the latest and hottest designs in cocktail and ball gowns to rent at a fraction of new price.

Currently we are offering 15% discount to students at Kennedy Baptist College for any dress rental booked in February.
Be quick so you don't miss out on the perfect gown for your special event!

Website: www.wardrobeenvyperth.com