Photo above: Year 7 girls on thier first day during lunchtime.

Message from the Principal

I would like to welcome all new families and staff to our vibrant community for 2022. We trust that your start with us has been smooth, despite COVID restrictions being in place. Thank you to all families for such a great start. It has also been very pleasing to see our students immediately embrace the challenges and opportunities at Kennedy as the academic year has commenced and some great outcomes have already been achieved. We look forward to an exciting and productive year of partnering with our students and their families.

Kennedy is a community that has been built on the partnership between our dedicated staff and families. There is no doubt that maximising this partnership is a benefit to all our community members. Educational research indicates that higher parent engagement with the school results in higher outcomes achieved by students. I encourage all families to connect with as many College community members as possible throughout the year. This process has become particularly challenging with restrictions impacting some of our planned events. The cancellation of our Year 7 Parent Afternoon is particularly disappointing and we will examine other opportunities to engage with our new families in the near future. We will also endeavour to keep parents updated regarding changes to events and our plans as required through our ongoing COVID updates.

Mr Mark Ashby
Principal

Chaplain Devotion

I would like to add my welcome to all new students and families. So far I have watched students and staff, that have been functioning on very different daily routines in the holidays, come to terms with the new rhythm of College life. Many have found the transition to be a challenge and the ‘club’ of students that have been metaphorically ‘laying on the floor’ after the first week is quite large. Seeing the throngs of frayed students and staff this week has prompted this short newsletter article.

Coping!!! How do we cope with all the twists and turns of our lives? How do we cope with the weight of things that we have to manage, remember, carry and care about?

Have you ever used a set of balance scales, where an item is measured against standard weights? As more weights are added the scales level out and become balanced. Coping is often finding the balance in life. I think we all know what being out of balance feels like. Stressful things have a weight to them. When we have stress, we need to find the counterweights to enable us to find balance. These counterweights are called coping mechanisms and they can be anything we have in our lives that help us feel lighter. Coping mechanisms can be anything from cooking to movie watching, walking the dog to reading, working out to computer gaming.

We all need to find, actively include, and hold onto things in our lives that help us find balance. One of the greatest coping mechanisms that I mentioned to the Year 7 cohort and their parents last week was the act of praying. Praying is when we reach out and hand over the weight of our lives into the hands of an active and caring God.

To help us all in this weighty daily life, Kennedy calls our Wednesdays 'KPOW'. It's short for Kennedy Prays On Wednesdays. Staff, students, and parents are invited to gather and collectively hand up the weighty things to God. Parents are welcome to email me to ask us to pray for anything that is weighing you or your family down, we would love to pray for you. When COVID restrictions ease there will be an opportunity for parents to join us on campus for a short prayer session. Have a great week!

Year 7 Report

Year 7 students were officially welcomed into the Kennedy Baptist College Community at the Commencement Ceremony on the first day of their secondary school journey. Students were gifted a Bible with the encouragement that they can draw from God’s word, grow and develop a relationship with Christ. As Year 7s navigate their way through the rollercoaster ride that is secondary school, I have faith that they will achieve their best.

As Head of Year 7, I have been blessed with the opportunity to support students as they progress from the beginning to the end of their secondary schooling experience. Students have already displayed enthusiasm and embraced life at Kennedy. New friendships are being formed and classes are conducive to a positive learning environment. With the help of our Year 11 Mentors guiding Year 7 students around the College, many have found their feet swiftly and are independently making their way around the school with confidence.

On Friday 11 February, Year 7 students will be engaging in swim trials at Melville Aquatic and Recreation Centre. Students will have the chance to interact with students in their House; Eyre, Forrest, King and Stirling. House Coordinators and House Captains will facilitate a variety of interactive land-based games as well as swimming races.

I look forward to students settling into life at Kennedy and embracing the opportunities placed before them. Enjoy the ride! Click on the link to see photos of Year 7 Pre-start Day and Year 7 First Day and Commencement. 

Year 8 Report

It has been a great start to the year as our Year 8 cohort settle into their second year at Kennedy. Although there is some uncertainty about the future, the familiar surroundings and knowing their way around the College has helped there be a smooth start.

On their first day, I spoke to the students about our cohort theme of ‘being curious’. I want the students to challenge themselves, try new things, be inquisitive and expand and strengthen their friendships. This notion of being curious involves them being OK with being themselves and realising differences are normal and can be celebrated. I also shared a Bible verse that was brought to my mind. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV). Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. I love this reminder - that if we trust in the Lord that even through uncertainty, He can guide us and make straight our paths. I hope this verse will carry, strengthen and be a reminder to us all throughout the year.

With the second year of secondary school comes many exciting events on our calendar. However, I am sad to say that we have postponed our Year 8 camp at Forest Edge Recreational Camp due to COVID restrictions. Other events will be held during our Extended Form time in smaller groups, and I look forward to spending this time doing some fun activities, building and strengthening the relationships within the year group. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or queries throughout the year.

Year 9 Report

I would like to welcome all Year 9 students back from their well-earned break and extend a special welcome to new students and families joining the College community in 2022. I am thoroughly enjoying getting to know this cohort better as Head of Year until Mr Murray Dunstan returns in Term 2.

The beginning of Year 9 has seen students’ choices of elective subjects expand and I hope this encourages students to embrace new opportunities and find new interests.

My goal for this group of students is to promote harmony within the cohort. I shared this goal with students on the first day of the year and I encourage students to further consider what this means, how they can contribute to this goal and the benefits to them and their peers.

Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Many of you would also be familiar with the so-called “Golden Rule,” which in Luke 6:31 is “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” From learning in classrooms to eating their lunch, I hope students take this to heart when spending time around their peers.

Year 10 Report

“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.” Colossians 3:12 (The Message)

When we gathered on Monday last week, this was the passage from the Bible I shared with the Year 10s. I love the implication that we can just “put on” the positive attributes listed. We can choose the way we act and the way we treat others, and I hope that this verse will encourage, carry, and strengthen our cohort this year.

It has been our pleasure to welcome six new students to our year group. I am proud of the way our Year 10s have welcomed them, treating them with kindness and patience as they adjust to life at Kennedy. We are looking forward to what the rest of this term will bring. In Week 6, interested students will be heading to Lazer Blaze after school to engage in some challenging team games, this will be our first social event for the year. Please keep an eye out for further information.

Year 10 is a training ground for the effort expected in Years 11 and 12. I encourage all students to use this year to foster self-discipline and work on establishing good study habits. This will place them in good stead for the increased expectations in the last two years of high school.

Year 11 Report

Our Year 11 students begin this new school year facing change and challenges on many fronts. They are transitioning to a new phase of their education; settling into new subject choices and getting to know new teachers.

Our new students are being welcomed into the Kennedy community and rising to the challenges of a new environment. While some Form Teachers have continued on, we have four new Form Teachers getting to know the College and their students. And instead of Miss Beale as their Head of Year, the students have begun 2022 with me.

Students have been amazing across it all and I want to say “Thank You” to them for welcoming me so openly and positively. Rising to these changes and challenges has taken a huge leap of faith by the students. Seeing their trust grow, their confidence increase and their fears diminish, recalls Hebrews 11:1 which tells us “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”. We are all still adjusting, the challenges will continue, but our faith will keep building and I am grateful to be part of this Year 11 team.

Year 12 Report

As a Form teacher a few years ago, it felt like only yesterday when I was watching this cohort walk into Kennedy for their first day of Year 7. I now find so much joy in seeing these students through their final year as their Head of Year. I am excited for what this year will bring and praying for every student to endure and give their absolute best.  

Year 12 is a short year and will no doubt present us with incredible memories and challenging times. I am aware that this can be overwhelming for some, but I also know these students are building the platform that will set them up for life. Whatever this year will bring, I encourage all students to take responsibility for their learning. Applying themselves to working hard and achieving the best they can in all that they do, will ensure they will be taking advantage of their educational opportunities. I would also encourage the Year 12s to embrace their final year here at Kennedy.

Looking ahead, our Year 12 Ball is sure to be a highlight. Although there has been some uncertainty, with the current climate, we are praying for this to be an incredible experience for our students. Frasers will host the evening with the dazzling night sky and city backdrop providing a special evening. Our big focus for this year is to make this one of the best years of our lives. We want our students to make their mark while they prepare for life after Kennedy. Take care of yourselves, each other, and have faith that this year will be great.  

Kennedy News
 

College Notices

Fees - 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 private school, will be able to apply for the SAS in 2022.

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 visit our Parent Reception. Applications close on Friday 8 April 2022.

The next newsletter will be published on:
Thursday 24 February 2022.