Photo above: Interhouse Cross Country at Kennedy Baptist College

Our Parents and Friends Association has now formed an Open Day Parent Committee to commence planning for this year’s Open Day community event. The structure of Open Day will be similar to last year and aims to provide a snapshot of the many facets of Kennedy College life. Often families perceive that Open Day is just an occasion to promote the College for prospective families, however our focus will be to make this another chance for current families to experience and view the great achievements of our students. This year will be particularly special as it will offer a great opportunity for families to experience our new Visual Art, Drama and Dance studios. Our new Science Laboratories will also have some interesting displays for everyone to enjoy.

We hope that everyone will be able to join us on this day.

2016 Kennedy Community Open Day
Saturday 27 August
10.00am - 2.00pm

Car Park Traffic

As everyone would be aware, the busiest time of day at the College is at 3.15pm when most students are going home. Our goal is to make this process as efficient as possible for everyone. Last year, I requested an audit by the Main Roads Department and surprisingly they indicated that no changes to the intersection of Farrington and Discovery Way were required. We have also requested the widening of Discovery Way at this intersection to Murdoch University. As an observer of this process every day I have noticed that there seems to be high traffic and delay due to individual students being picked up one at a time. It would therefore be advantageous for families to consider other transport options to the College. This could include :

1. Exploring the possible option of car pooling with families that live in the same suburbs.
2. Looking to maximize the use of public transport facilities that are readily available for all families.
3. Pick up your child later in the afternoon to utilise tutoring services provided by the College.

Mr Mark Ashby
Principal

One of the topics studied within the Humanities Curriculum is that of slavery. It would be incredibly gratifying if this scourge on society was no longer with us, but of course it is. There are people today who are still being trafficked as though they were livestock, a truth that is underlined to our students. As I sat in on one of the classes when this subject was discussed, I was reminded of Galatians 5:1 which tells us that, 'Christ has set us free to live a free life.'

What an amazing statement of a fact already realized. We are free not because of anything that we have done - we did not have to wage a war or participate in a long march. The Good News is that Christ did it all and Paul earlier refers to those who try to say anything other than this as being “foolish” (Galatians.3:1), which is actually a gentle rendering of the term used.

In Galatians 5:1 we are also warned not to take this freedom for granted. When I visited the Ukraine nearly 10 years ago, I saw a team of yoked oxen. They were being led through the paddock by a farmer and they followed the path that the farmer set and this is the imagery Paul recalls. For the Galatians it was the Mosaic Law, but whatever that slavery looks like to you, we are commanded to stand strong in the freedom that Christ has bought for us through the Cross.

If we saw a person enslaved today, we would raise our voice against it. As we stand firm in this freedom bought by Christ, let us also be diligent to raise our voice to others so that they can also enjoy this amazing grace, this wonderful liberty that we have in Christ.

"I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it"
- By William Shakespeare from the play 'As You Like It'.

The 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death was marked by a variety of events and activities at Kennedy Baptist College.

The Research & Study Centre's ‘Shakespeare: 400 years dead and still read!’ display will complement the Year 10 English study of Romeo and Juliet and also Macbeth.

Some of the other interesting activities included:

• Constructing a model of the Globe Theatre
• Viewing a Shakespearean inspired episode of Doctor Who with the College Chaplain, Mrs Pauline Burgess
• Shakespeare insult generator
• Shakespeare poster competition
• Shakespearean play/rap performance competition

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts" - By William Shakespeare from the play 'As You Like It'.

As the exams are approaching, students should have their study schedules in operation. If students need assistance with any aspect of their exam preparations, the Research and Study Centre is here to assist. We have “Plan of Attack” sessions available during Monday lunchtimes and Wednesday after school. Here the student can get advice regarding study habits and help in getting ready for their exams. Students can also make a booking to have a one on one study skill session. Please see a Teacher or Librarian for any queries.

Photo: Top 3 girls and boys winners in each year group.

The Kennedy Interhouse Cross Country was held in Term 2 and was a great afternoon for all involved. The Cross Country Carnival 2016 was held in a new format with the focus on mass participation from the whole school community. Four races were scheduled in the new format of Junior Boys, Junior Girls, Senior Boys and Senior Girls. The students came together in their Houses to encourage one another to complete the 3km course for girls and 4km course for the boys. The course took a new route this year because of the construction of the new Sport Centre. Students really enjoyed the challenge. This year was Kennedy’s highest level of participation since the College started. There were some inspiring individual performances on the day and was great fun for all involved. The day wrapped up with presentations and the crowning of the King and Queen of Cross Country. Well done to the staff and students involved in an excellent afternoon.

Mr Ben Pether
Health & Physical Education Teacher

For more photos and results please click here.

The Lightning Carnival was very successful for all the participating students. Kennedy Baptist College enjoyed huge success across an incredible 19 teams playing AFL, soccer, touch rugby, hockey and netball. There was some amazing talent on display across all sports with particular mention to the AFL boys, soccer girls and netball girls who were very successful. Perhaps more impressive than the talent on display was the sportsmanship and support shown by the Kennedy students throughout both carnivals. Overall Kennedy had strong performances across all sports with a few outstanding team performances.

Mr David Orr
Health and Physical Education Teacher

Click here for photos.

On Sunday 22 May a group of eager Kennedy students joined over 33,000 people to participate in the HBF Run for a Reason. The atmosphere in the streets of Perth City was electric and the students and parents from Kennedy were excited and prepared for a great run. The 12km race course included running through the Graham Farmer Freeway tunnel and along the foreshore near Burswood. The finish line beckoned from Gloucester Park. It was a fantastic day!

Congratulations to all the Kennedy students, staff and families who were involved.

Miss Katie Hair
Health and Physical Education Teacher

Parents/Guardians of current Year 9 and 10 students, unbelievably, there are still a few spots remaining on the USA International Study Tour taking place in April 2017. The trip costs $7,800 (payed in three installments throughout 2016) and will cover everything (travel costs, accommodation, all activities, insurance, etc) for approximately 17 amazing, life-changing days.

For more information please contact the tour coordinator, Rick Cricelli rcricelli@kennedy.wa.edu.au.

Mr Rick Cricelli
Head of School and Staff Development, US Tour Coordinator

Unknown Deposits

The following deposits have been made to the College's bank account. Details are as below:

• 20/05 CBA materials

If you have made this deposit please contact Mrs Michelle Willans in our Finance Department on  9314 7722 or email mwillans@kennedy.wa.edu.au

Fee News

Thank you to those families who have been paying their fees promptly.

URGENT ATTENTION: For those families who may be having difficulty meeting their financial obligations please contact Mrs Michelle Willans in our Finance Department on 9314 7722 to discuss payment options. 

Please note, it is a condition of enrolment that fees be paid promptly so as not to jeopardise your child’s enrolment.

Kennedy Community Open Day

On Saturday 27 August, the College will be open to the community and current families to come and have a look at some of the work in which students at Kennedy have been doing in classes.  The P&F run various stalls on this day which is also our major fundraising event for the year.  It is a wonderful day and an opportunity for families to come together to help promote and support the College. The P&F are looking for people to help in various ways on the day itself and with the planning in the early stages of this event.

We are keen to hear from you if you are able to help in these roles:

• Volunteer Coordinator - Someone who is able to collate emails from all the offered help, organise them into preferred shifts and inform volunteers and the stall holder of their allocated stall and time.
• Brownie Coordinator - We sell very popular premixed dry ingredients as ‘brownie in jars’ - and we need someone to co-ordinate this. After a request for the donation of ingredients has been publicised in the newsletter, the coordinator will need to contact each offer of donation and arrange pick up/collection of these donations. Then the coordinator will weigh, pack and lable the ingredients into jars and deliver to the College for the Open Day. You may want to help on the stall on the day – but this is optional.
• Activities Coordinator - We are planning some organised fun games and activities for the parents, students and teachers to join in - formatting ideas are still being discussed. You will coordinate the activities and resources required and you will have extra help for this.

Email the P&F on pandfkennedybaptistcollege@gmail.com to express interest  or offer help for these positions. Other positions and donations will be requested nearer to the time of the Open Day.

Hayley Vezich

Congratulations to Hayley Vezich. Hayley has been selected as a member of the Western Australian Women's Gymnastics State Team for 2016.

Hayley will be attending the 2016 Australian Women's Gymnastics Championships from 22 to 28 May at Hisense Arena, Melbourne VIC.

We wish Hayley a successful and memorable tour.