Photo above: Our Principal and Head of Year 7 welcomed our new Year 7 students to the College on Monday.

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians and Families,

The College has had a wonderful start to the year. A significant factor to this success has been the work over the past weeks as we have prepared to welcome back our students and families. It has been very pleasing to see our students already embracing the Kennedy culture and we are excited to share more opportunities for excellence as the year progresses.

We look forward as well to a productive year of partnering with our community and families. The Term began on Monday with a sure sign of this partnership as we welcomed our new Year 7 students and their families to the College. Kennedy has been built on the relationship between our students, families and staff, and there is no doubt that maximising this partnership is a benefit to all of our community members.

Educational research indicates that increased parent engagement with schools leads to improved outcomes by and for the students. Both for this benefit and for the broader benefits of community, I encourage all families to connect with as many College members as possible throughout the year. A number of events will be held shortly to provide this opportunity. This includes:

• The Year 7 Family Afternoon Tea on Tuesday 13 February from 5.00pm to 6.00pm, commencing in the College Auditorium.
• Our Parents and Friends Association Annual General Meeting on 27 February from 5.00pm, followed by the first meeting of the year. The P&F is a great space to start building connections and also to get some valuable information and guidance.

Along with building a strong community, our aim at Kennedy is to equip students to seize opportunities for educational excellence. To contribute to our goals as a College, we are partnering with Research Schools International and Harvard University in a study on how students flourish in schools. In the next few weeks we will ask all students to complete a survey as part of this study. I ask that you complete it carefully and honestly.

Welcome New Staff

As we continue to improve the College we have the privilege of welcoming new staff. We know that you will enjoy the work environment that Kennedy has to offer and that you will bring excellence to your roles as teachers and support staff.

• Mr Hayden McWilliams (Humanities)
• Mr Tiaan Boshoff (Health and Physical Education)
• Mr Nathan Kime (Sports Coordinator)
• Mrs Charis Lee (Mathematics)
• Miss Jean Liew (Science)
• Mr Aaron Norman (Design and Technologies)
• Mr Alistair Smith (English and Languages)
• Mr Yohanes Sunjoyo (Head of Finance)
• Mrs Angela Vinci (Design and Technologies)
• Ms Colleen Ng (Science)
• Mrs Angelee Morrow (Learning Support Project)

Mr Mark Ashby
Principal

Chaplain Chats

It is my privilege and pleasure to welcome every member of Kennedy to our 2024 school year, whether you are one of our over 1200 students, a staff member or tutor (of which there are around 250), or a guardian of one of our students (an almost 2000 strong demographic). That’s more than 3300 people that make up our immediate community! If we included siblings and grandparents of students, or spouses of staff, then that number would climb even higher. Kennedy is a big community!

It is also a community with a very strong culture and we have set the foundation of this culture by acting out what we value. If you are new here, we want you to feel welcomed and able to embrace this culture. We also want you to add to your verve, vigour, and vitality in such a way that you improve our culture even more.

At Kennedy, our culture is shaped by the choice to see each one of our 3300 plus individuals as people made in the image of God, designed by God to be a blessing on earth. One very practical way that we act out this value is to pray for the people in our community and ask God to help them. We think that prayer is so vital that we give over the whole day of Wednesday to praying, with prayer times for students, staff and the greater community. We call this Kennedy Prays On Wednesdays (KPOW).

You are invited to join us each Wednesday, no matter what section of the Kennedy community that you make up. We have staff prayer time at recess, student prayer time at lunch and we open the Lower Foyer at 2.30pm so that parents/guardians can come a little early to school and gather to pray. Please join us, even if you have never prayed. Prayer is the greatest way to improve culture and change the world.

Year 7 Report

Year 8 Report

Welcome back to Kennedy Baptist College. In the upcoming term for Year 8 students, the focus remains on fostering a culture of respect and kindness. Our College emphasises the importance of strong interpersonal relationships, and we encourage and equip students with the ability to treat each other with empathy and consideration. We will continue to create a positive and inclusive environment where every student feels valued and supported.

One highlight and great opportunity of the term is the eagerly anticipated Year 8 camp, taking place in Week 8 of the term. Students can look forward to exciting outdoor experiences, team-building activities, and challenges that will help develop essential life skills. The camp serves not only as a memorable adventure but also as a platform for personal growth and building camaraderie among classmates.

It has been a smooth start to Year 8 for students and we are looking forward to the challenges of 2024. As the school year progresses, Year 8 students at Kennedy Baptist College can anticipate a term filled with opportunities to learn, connect, and create lasting memories in a supportive environment.

Year 9 Report

Welcome back to another exciting school year! We hope that you have had an amazing break and that the Year 9s are ready for the journey that awaits them. This year, we will focus on the key theme of personal identity. Secondary school is a time for self-discovery where students begin to shape their own unique identity. Students will be supported as they embrace their individuality, explore new interests and step outside their comfort zones to achieve growth and success.

This year, students are encouraged to:

• Engage in extracurricular activities that align with their interests (e.g. music, dance, sport, volunteer work and academic events).
• Attend workshops or events that promote self-awareness.
• Set personal goals that challenge students to excel.
• Create a culture of inclusivity, listen and support peers in their pursuits and celebrate their achievements.

The journey of self-discovery is ongoing and College is the perfect playground for exploration. I look forward to Year 9 students embracing the challenges that are posed this year and using these as opportunities to grow and bring about positive change.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

Year 10 Report

I love the fresh start of a new year and it was great to see our students return after a holiday break. I spoke to the cohort on Monday about our focus on answering the question, ‘Where am I going?’

In my address, we spoke about how all the activities and Pastoral Care programs have been designed to help answer this question. At the end of last year, our students provided feedback that they wanted guidance on what to do with their future, how to be responsible with finances, how to resolve conflict, and how to simply be themselves. Answering these questions will help shape our Pastoral Care program in 2024.

Another significant part of our program this year is our work experience which will run for all Year 10 students in Week 1 of Term 2 (15 to 19 April). Students should have started the process of finalising their placements but please contact Mr Ernesto Ramirez at the College if there are any issues.

I also discussed my two main focuses for this year: wisdom and patience. I spoke about the importance of wisdom when dealing with others (students, parents, and teachers) and that wise counsel is available to them, especially when considering the future and potential career paths. I asked them to be patient with one another as we all go through this journey together. The Bible verse that comes to mind is James 1:19: “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” I know that this is a challenge for all of us, let alone Secondary school students, but it is my prayer that this is how we will engage with one another this year.

Year 11 Report

Year 12 Report

And so the final year of school begins for our Year 12s. At our Year Assembly, we spoke about the idea that a new school year is a fresh start. Year 11 is done and we can’t go back and change it, so 2024 presents an opportunity to improve. Even better, there is much to take forward from 2023: studies to be built on, connections to continue developing, productive habits to grow. What has passed cannot be ignored and students need to use both the old and the new to work towards their best school ending.

I also relayed my hopes that every student gets through Year 12 successfully, and with good memories, that we can help them deal with the inevitable stresses and anxieties of this final year, and that they leave understanding post-school options while being equipped with key life skills. Finally, I hope that we continue to build a strong community, rooted in empathy and tolerance, actively living out Paul’s advice to, “encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). It is encouraging to already see this in action with the welcome the cohort has extended to our new students.

Next week marks a major milestone: the Year 12 Ball on 9 February. There is so much excitement around it and I’m sure it will be an excellent night for everyone attending. This is a chance to celebrate before the work of Year 12 really begins. What a blessing!

Kennedy News

Week 1 Awards Assembly

Our first whole-school assembly was an opportunity to welcome back our Kennedy family and congratulate our students for their success in 2023. As well as recognition of our current Year 8 to 12 students, we welcomed back several graduates for the presentation of Outstanding Academic  Achievement awards. These awards are given to Year 12 graduates who achieved a result that would place them as one of the highest achieving students in the state and includes both ATAR and General courses. An outstanding 18 graduating students achieved this in 2023, showing what is possible when natural talent is paired with hard work. We are excited to see even more students following in their footsteps in 2024.

Other highlights included a dance item by Jada Pescud and Breanna Williams, and the presentation of Leadership Blazers to our Year 12 Student Executive Leaders.

College Notices

P&F 2024 AGM Meeting - Including Role Nominations

We are excited for another great year with our Parents and Friends Association and are looking forward to the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 27 February 2024 at 5.00pm. This will be followed by the Association's first regular meeting for 2024. Both of these meetings will be held in the Staff Lounge.

At the Annual General Meeting, there will also be an opportunity to nominate for this year's roles, including President and Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Newsletter Coordinator, and Sausage Sizzle Coordinator.

We invite all parents and friends who wish to have a greater impact at Kennedy in 2024 to attend the upcoming AGM, and encourage new families to consider contributing to our committee. For more information, please email the P&F or visit our website.

Kennedy Racing Team 2024 - Expressions of Interest

Expressions of interest for the Kennedy Pedal Prix Racing Team are now open! This sport is an exciting challenge of sporting prowess and engineering talent as students race around a closed track with the aim to travel as far as possible within a set time.

Students use specially designed trikes to complete their laps, vehicles which are regularly serviced and repaired by the students themselves. Under the watchful eye of the Technologies Learning Area, students will complete work on the trikes after school and participate in around three races in 2024.

If you think that you would make a great driver, pit mechanic, support crew or coordinator, Mr Gunter will be holding an information session for Pedal Prix on Tuesday 13 February at 6.30pm after our Year 7 Parent Afternoon Tea. This will be held in our Staff Lounge and is open to all Kennedy families.

You can find out more about this sport and our goals in our latest blog post or by filling in an expression of interest form.

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 a full-time secondary course at a WA non-government school, will be able to apply for the SAS in 2024.

The SAS consists of two allowances:

• $235 Education Program Allowance (payment made to the College, for the student); and
• $115 Clothing Allowance (payment made to the parent/guardian).

For all enquiries regarding the application process/forms, please download the form or speak with one of our reception staff.

Applications close on Thursday 28 March 2024.

The next newsletter will be published on:
Thursday 15 February 2024.