Image above taken at the recent ANZAC Assembly.

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians and Families,

Welcome to Term 2. We trust that it will be an enjoyable and productive term.

As partners in your child's education journey, we are grateful for your unwavering support and dedication to their growth and development. Our recent Assembly held a special significance as we came together to honour the sacrifices of Australian servicemen and women on ANZAC Day, while also celebrating the importance of student leadership and engagement within our community. The Assembly served as a poignant reminder of the courage, resilience and sacrifice demonstrated by our ANZAC heroes. Through thoughtful reflections, readings, and a minute’s silence, we paid tribute to those who have served and continue to serve our country with unwavering dedication. The respectful participation of students in this solemn occasion underscored the values of service, boldness and integrity that are central to our school community. Thank you to all families who attended.

I also want to extend our appreciation to all parents who attended our recent Parent Teacher Interviews. Your active involvement in your child's education is invaluable and deeply appreciated. By engaging in open and constructive dialogue with our teachers, you play a crucial role in supporting your child's academic progress, social development and overall well-being. At Kennedy Baptist College, we recognise that strong partnerships between home and school are essential to our students' success. Your commitment to staying informed, involved, and supportive enriches your child's educational experience and strengthens our school community as a whole.

As we continue our journey together, let us reaffirm our shared commitment to fostering a culture of collaboration, communication and mutual respect. By working hand in hand, we can empower every student to reach their full potential and achieve success in all areas of their lives.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership as we look forward to another highly successful term.

Mr Mark Ashby
Principal

Welcome back to Term 2. If you have read some of my newsletter articles over the 6 years I have been writing them, you will know I love a good theme. I like to spend time unpacking several layers of an idea, and you will quickly see that this term is no exception.  

Last term’s theme was The Sermon on the Mount. When Jesus sat on that mountain to teach as a Hebrew, his audience had a very different cultural mindset from ours today. We tend to miss some of the vital points that Jesus’s audience would have gotten. Today, our minds learn by building lessons; our reasoning likes a nice, linear flow that builds thought upon thought until we reach the final point. The Hebrew, eastern learning puts the major point in the very middle of the lesson. The whole lesson revolves around the major point. In the Sermon on the Mount, the centrepiece is the Lord’s prayer.  

If the entire sermon focuses on what it means to lead a flourishing human life, it’s no surprise that prayer is at its centre. When Jesus teaches about living, He defines life as communication with God. To expand on this idea, we can look at the overarching narrative of the Bible, where the central theme remains the same. By various measures, the middle chapter, verse, and word of the entire Bible are all found within the book of Psalms—the book of prayer! 

The Psalms consist of creative and expressive prayers and songs. Across the 150 Psalms in the Bible, every human emotion is represented. God has given us the largest book in the Bible to help us communicate with Him. Whether you are experiencing emotions such as grief or joy, frustration or fulfilment, loneliness or anger, there is a Psalm to express that!

Kennedy News

Celebrating Student Achievements

We are proud of all the efforts of our students and would like to congratulate the following members of our community on their perseverance, sportsmanship, and outstanding achievements: 

• Rachael Parson played in the WA Junior State Touch Championships
• Rishik Nair represented Western Australia (WA) in the U13, U15, and, currently, the U17 state teams, consistently competing in national badminton championships.
• Max Jones for being selected to play for the National Boys Multicultural AFL Team. 
• Hannah Lee has been selected to perform with the Korean Cultural Arts Team at the Australia–Korea Business Council (AKBC) Seollal Celebration in Perth. 
• Jenna Smith won the state championship for circus performing in Silks
• Flynn Lewis 2026 ACC All-Star Representative Cricket Team
• Dylan Armstrong, Tate Jahn, Harlan Jahn and Lucy Myhill have been selected to represent WA at the upcoming School Sport Australia National Triathlon Championships. This will be held in Queensland, March 16-20th. 
• Vihaan Choudary's Incredible Achievements in the Kennedy Specialist Cricket Program
• Zack Bishop for athletics.
• Caitlin Palmer and Isabel Gerhard for being selected to play State school football trials u/14 
• The Kennedy 1st XI Specialist Cricket students progressed to the Grand Final of the Kim Hughes Shield competition at the WACA.
• The Kennedy teams in netball, basketball, and cricket reached the SCAS grand final, with three teams being crowned overall champions.
• Kaiyo Tan for setting a new Under 17 50m Breaststroke record
  with an outstanding time of 30.95s in the 2026 Interschool Swimming Carnival.
• Liam Steele, Christian Watson and Kaiyo Tan for making it into the ACC All-Star Swim team for 2026.
• Morgan Kingwell has been offered a selection for the state team to attend the National Sport Climbing Competition from May 12 to May 17. He will be representing Western Australia as a member of the WA State Youth Boulder and Lead Teams at the 2026 National Youth Lead, Para Lead, and Boulder Championships in Ballina.
• Lucas Tassell, Logan Read, Alex Chan, Edylon Neo and Charles Boardman qualified for the U14 National Club Championships, which will be held in September 2026 at Willetton Stadium.
• Conan and Jorge Martin-Teramoto competed in the Australian Open Karate Championships during the school holidays and won gold medals in their Kumite weight divisions.

If your child has reached a significant milestone you would love the school to acknowledge, please email their Head of Year with more information about their achievements. 

ANZAC Assembly

At the start of the term, we warmly welcomed students back to the College and marked the occasion with our ANZAC Assembly. This assembly provided our community with an opportunity to reflect on the courage, service, and sacrifice of those who have served Australia and New Zealand.

We also celebrated the outstanding sporting successes of our students, recognising their achievements in swimming, basketball and cricket. We acknowledged the commitment, teamwork, and dedication shown by our students as they represented the College with pride.

We had a Scottish bagpipe performance by one of our music tutors, Mr Blake Bayley, who played "Flowers of the Forest" and "Amazing Grace."

Congratulations to Isobel Mariller, who achieved the Bronze Level for the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award.

Additionally, we honoured students who have demonstrated excellence across academic, leadership, representation and behavioural domains. These students were awarded College Colours in recognition of their sustained commitment and contributions to the College community.

2026 College Colour Award Recipients

We congratulate the following students on this significant achievement:

• Layla Britza
• Kade Constantine
• Katherine Flint
• Zara Ford
• Mahesh Gorijala
• Amelia Greenhill
• Serena Healy
• Ella Keinick
• Claira Lim
• Lauren Minorgan
• Yunhu Shin
• Olivia Smith
• Nikki Susanto
• Kaiyo Tan
• Ruby Trezise
• Alison Wong

We commend these students for their dedication, positive attitude and leadership, and we thank them for representing the College with pride.

Perspectives in Performance

 On Monday 20 April, fifteen Year 11 and 12 Dance, Drama, and Music students attended the Performing Arts Perspectives evening at His Majesty's Theatre, an inspiring showcase of outstanding talent and creativity.

The event featured a dynamic program of performances, including original dance solos, powerful drama monologues, and impressive music performances. Each piece was presented by the highest-achieving WACE students, selected to showcase work from the previous year’s examinations.

The evening was both entertaining and enriching, offering our students valuable insight into the dedication, skill, and artistry required to excel in the performing arts. It was a truly motivating experience that left a lasting impression on all who attended.

Ms Livia Mckeon
Dance Teacher

Chinese Tour

Our recent 11 day China study tour was an unforgettable experience, allowing students to bring their classroom learning to life while having plenty of fun along the way. Travelling through Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing, students immersed themselves in both the language and culture. Our recent 11-day study tour to China was an unforgettable experience, providing students with the chance to bring their classroom learning to life while having plenty of fun along the way. As we travelled through Shanghai, Xi’an, and Beijing, students immersed themselves in the language and rich cultural heritage of China.

Throughout the tour, students explored a diverse range of iconic sites from the modern skyline at Shanghai Tower to the ancient Terracotta Army and the world-famous Great Wall of China. One of the highlights of the trip was spending a full day at a local high school, where students engaged directly with their Chinese peers through language lessons, calligraphy, martial arts, and various shared activities. They also had a great time practising Mandarin at street stalls while bargaining for souvenirs.

Throughout the journey, students not only strengthened their language skills but also built friendships, demonstrated independence, and embraced new experiences with enthusiasm. From cultural workshops to shared meals and exciting excursions, there were countless moments of joy, laughter, and learning. This trip will undoubtedly remain a lasting highlight of their school experience.

Mr New
Chinese Teacher/ China Tour Coordinator

The Way – An Easter Message

Easter invites us to reflect on a simple yet powerful reminder of hope, direction and renewed purpose. This year’s services opened with a vibrant student performance that brought our theme, “The Way”, to life. Through music and drama, our students told the story of a traveller searching for direction, a reflection of the moments we all feel a little lost before discovering the path Jesus sets before us.

We were also blessed to be joined by the Faith Community Church worship team and guest speaker Ed Surrey, whose journey of ministry across continents continues to inspire young people to know Jesus more deeply.

As the service continued, we were invited to pause and remember the heart of Easter: that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. His life, death and resurrection point us toward hope, restoration and a future shaped by faith.

Dive into our full Easter reflection below.

The Easter Bunny visits our Year 7s! 

The Year 7 cohort had a fun surprise on their last day of Term 1!

College Notices

Auditions commence next week

All Audition information, pack and tracks can be found on the Seqta notices for those who are interested. Most auditions and rehearsals take place after school.  

Year 12 Drama Performance - COSI

Cosi is an Australian play set in a mental institution in the 70's. A group of patients are putting on a Mozart opera.

The Year 12 Drama students are performing this comedy about love and friendship on Tuesday, 28 April at 6 pm at Studio 411 at Murdoch University.

Seating will be unreserved and free but ticketed. 
The play contains some adult themes, so it is recommended for people 15 and above.

Day Swaps

To balance the number of days throughout the first semester, there are some day swaps for this term.

Week 2 - Wednesday is a MONDAY timetable
Week 3 - Wednesday is a FRIDAY timetable; Friday is a HOUSE DAY with the Cross Country - no classes will occur on this day.

Except for the House day, SEQTA reflects the days swapped. Please remind your child to check their timetables for each week.

Uniform Requirements

We wish to remind all students of the uniform requirements as per the Uniform Policy on the website. Some guidelines are listed below, and further information can be found in the Uniform Policy.

Term 2 and 3 Uniform Shop Opening Hours

The regular Uniform Shop hours for Terms 2 and 3 are: 

• Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM, closed from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM. 

Additional opening day:

Please note that there will be an additional opening day on Wednesday, April 29, for your uniform purchases. You can also shop online through Quickcliq.

The next newsletter will be published on:
Thursday 7 May 2026