Image above: Lego challenge in the Research and Study Centre. 

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Families,

As we approach the end of Term 2, I would like to congratulate all students on their hard work and thank them for contributing to the many aspects of College life. Whilst many of our opportunities for students have been cancelled or postponed, it has been wonderful to see everyone focus on academic life and continue to strive for the best possible achievement. As restrictions continue to be eased by the State Government we can now look forward to the rest of the year where most of our operations can return to normal. A new Term 3 calendar will be released in the term break with revised dates for major events. I encourage all families to review it carefully. 

Please note the following important dates in the short term:

• Thursday 2 July
  Year 11 and 12 Parent Interviews (classes finish at 1.05pm for all students)
• Friday 3 July
  Staff Professional Learning Day (students do not attend)
• Monday 20 July
  Staff Professional Learning Day (students do not attend)

Parent Lounge - New web-based portal

Parent Lounge, a new web-based portal will be released next week. This is where families will be able to view and authorise excursions and sports fixtures, view up-to-date family statements, report absentees, change parent details, and update student medical information. Parent Lounge will include features previously handled through Concent2Go plus additional functionality. An email with more details will be sent in the coming days. 

Staff Changes

At the end of this term the following staff changes will take place:

• Mrs Justine O’Brien from Dance will be leaving us for the impending birth of her third child.
• Mrs Juliska Gaunson who is also expecting another child will be taking maternity leave.
• Mr Steven Dennis is leaving us after providing ongoing relief support for our Science classes, we thank him for his service.

On behalf of the Kennedy staff, I wish everyone in our community a safe and relaxing semester break. 

Mr Mark Ashby
Principal

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Chaplain Devotion

With the last newsletter of Term 2, I wanted to give a quick summary of my last three months since I arrived as the new chaplain on 9 March, Week 6 Term 1. (I think my head has almost stopped spinning!)

Within two weeks of starting in this role, chaplain to almost 1200 students as well as over 2000 parents and carers and 150 staff, the College went through a radical change. Through April and May 1200 students on campus became 50, as the world became a very different place with community restrictions. Your homes became school rooms, staff became ‘students’, learning new ways to teach. Personally, I forgot about getting settled in a new school and found myself looking for ways to connect to and serve the Kennedy community going through a dramatic and stressful event. I quickly began to realise I had arrived at the College at exactly the right moment. One of those moments where many of your past experiences had prepared you to be right here, right now!

I feel it is important as the ‘newbie’, with fresh eyes at this moment, to deliver a positive message. I have watched a whole college community move together to meet the challenge. Kennedy Baptist College is a village, a healthy village. A village where the needs of others are thought about and sacrificial service is a cultural normal. It is said “it takes a village to raise a child”. I have loved becoming a member of this “child-raising” village.

As we head into the term break and we still have a challenging road ahead, I want to let all members of the Kennedy village know that, as your Chaplain, I am here to serve in whatever way I can. Please feel free to direqt message or call me anytime. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Deputy Principal: Curriculum

Our College world has begun to settle into routines that closely resemble previous years. Predictability and more certainty have provided security for all. COVID-19 provided the opportunity for all of us to learn about our personal resilience and mechanisms for dealing with rapid change. Change is a constant in life and learning to cope with change, developing the capacity to review and implement change are key skills required of every person. The great part about resilience – it can only be built or exercised through challenges. Well done to all families, students and staff in dealing with the challenges of Semester One 2020.

The end of a semester provides the opportunity for all students to review their progress towards goals. New goals can be defined and support structures introduced in order to meet them. Educationally, students have access to after school tutoring which is a significant support for all students. I would encourage students to utilise this service.
 

Year 11 and 12 Parent-Teacher Interviews

Next week, Year 11 and 12 parents have an opportunity to meet with teachers to discuss their child's academic progress. The parent-teacher evening occurs on Thursday 2 July from 2.00pm. The feedback provided by teachers will provide information that parents can use to determine areas of support that their child will need to improve their academic progress.

Year 10 and 11 Subject Selections

The middle of the year is a significant moment for 2021 decision making. Year 10 and 11 students are required to submit their course selections by the end of this term. The system has moved to an electronic format. Students were emailed a link to the electronic course selection platform. Once a student signs off on their selections, they must email the choices to their parent who also signs off. Only when a parent has signed off and submitted, are the course selections complete. Please be vigilant in ensuring that the selection process is complete.

It is essential that Year 10 students choose their Year 11 courses wisely. The choices made now impact the number of classes we can timetable for 2021. The College cannot guarantee that a change to General courses will be available to students should a student choose to transfer between courses at a later date. Additional classes cannot be added once the timetable is constructed.
 

Upcoming Important Dates for Curriculum 

• Thursday 2 July 2.00pm-7.00pm
  Year 11/12 Parent-Teacher Interviews.
• Friday 3 July
  Year 11/12 Subject Selections due on or before.
• Friday 24 July
  Semester One reports will be issued.

 I wish everyone a relaxing mid-year holiday.

Deputy Principal: Pastoral Care 

At Kennedy, child safety is paramount. As a College, one of our main goals is to establish and consistently maintain a safe environment for all our students and their families.

Recently the Federal Government released recommendations for Child Safe Organisations. These stated that members of the public, children and young people, parents, carers, families and communities should feel confident that organisations working with children provide safe environments in which children’s rights, needs and interests are met. These recommendations involve ten National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. They are:

• Child safety and wellbeing are embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
• Children and young people are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
• Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
• Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
• People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
• Processes for complaints and concerns are child-focused.
• Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
• Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
• Implementation of the national child safe principles is regularly reviewed and improved.

These principles demonstrate that a child-safe organisation creates a culture, adopts
strategies and takes all action to support child wellbeing and harm prevention. Child safe organisations consciously and systematically create environments where child safety and wellbeing is central to considerations, and genuinely engages with and value children. Safe organisations create conditions that reduce the possibility of harm, develop conditions that increase the likelihood of identifying any harm and is responsive to any concerns, disclosures, allegations or suspicions.

Kennedy has developed a strategic plan to fully embrace and implement all of these principles at all levels and in all areas across the College. Our initial step involves reviewing our programs, processes and policies to ensure critical alignment occurs. We are examining closely any areas that require further work and development for continuous improvement and ensure best practice.

Our goal at Kennedy is always to provide a safe and supportive educational environment for our students and we will continue to work to achieve excellent outcomes in the area of student safety and wellbeing. 

Kennedy News

Back to School Information

Term 2 concludes for students on Thursday 2 July 2020. The College will finish classes for all students at 1.05pm (lunchtime). Students may use the Research and Study Centre for quiet study and reading until 4.15pm.

Term 3 will commence on Tuesday 21 July 2020 at 8.15am. Students are to wear their full Winter Uniform. 

The Administration office will re-open on Monday 13 July. We hope that you have a restful and safe semester break.

College Notices

Music Enrolments for Term 3

The instrumental lessons that are available in Term 3 include the following: Voice, Guitar (Acoustic, Electric, Bass), Violin, Cello, Ukulele, Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute, Trumpet, Trombone, Piano/Keyboard and Drums/Percussion.

Interested? Complete an online enrolment application form here to register your interest in learning one of these instruments. Our tutors are highly qualified instrumental music staff. New enrolments must be received by next Tuesday 30 June for a Term 3 start, otherwise your application will be placed on the waiting list. 

Music Ensembles in Term 3

We are excited to announce that the following ensembles will be offered in Term 3:

• Stage Band
  Monday after school (3.20pm-4.20pm) Room 6.10
• ATAR Bands
  Monday after school (3.20pm-4.20pm) Rooms 6.9 and 6.17
• Fusion Band
  Tuesday after school (3.20pm-4.20pm) Room 6.10
• Specialist Guitar Ensemble
  Wednesday before school (7.30am-8.05am) Room 6.17
• String Ensemble
  Wednesday before school (7.30am-8.05am) Room 6.10
• Percussion Ensemble
  Wednesday lunchtimes (1.10pm-1.35pm) Room 6.17
• Vocal Ensemble
  Wednesday after school (3.20pm-4.20pm) Auditorium
• Intermediate Guitar Ensemble
  Thursday before school (7.40am-8.05am) Room 6.17

Any enquiries concerning these ensembles can be sent to Mrs Janelle Anthony or Mr Tristan Wills via the direqt messaging system.

The next newsletter will be published on:
Thursday 23 July 2020.