Photo above: There was great energy and participation in our Interhouse Athletics Carnival last week!

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians and Families,

Kennedy Baptist College has numerous whole school events for students during the year. These are great opportunities to come together as a community and support each other. It was a pleasure to attend the Dance Showcase on Friday 2 August in the Auditorium’s theatre. This was both a great demonstration of our skill and talent, and a display of Kennedy values with thousands of dollars raised for Transform Cambodia. Congratulations to our Dance teachers, Ms Simes, Mrs Del Basso and Mrs Mayne for their hard work in producing a wonderful evening.

Last week’s Interhouse Athletics Carnival was a great success and a wonderful opportunity for students, families, and staff to work together and reinforce the collaborative spirit at Kennedy. I would like to congratulate our students on a fantastic day for the way they approached this event and enthusiastically represented their Houses throughout the competition. Thank you also to Ms Podmore, Head of Sport, and our House Coordinators for a great day. Final results and awards will be presented at our next assembly, Wednesday 18 September.

Open Day: Saturday 17 August

A final reminder that Open Day is this Saturday. We hope that you can join us during the day to experience the exceptional opportunities that our students continue to embrace. Thank you to all our families who have made generous donations to our Parents and Friends Association for the day, your contributions are greatly appreciated.

Curriculum Achievement Feedback

It is our intention that ongoing regular curriculum feedback is provided to parents through SEQTA. This strategy is designed to provide parents with the latest update regarding student achievement. It is hoped that parents and guardians regularly use this facility to share in their student’s academic journey, encouraging their successes and addressing any issues as promptly as possible. Should any parents have difficulty with gaining access to this data please consult with our Curriculum team to ensure easy and smooth information access.

Mr Mark Ashby
Principal

Chaplain Chats

I was asked this week, as I was pulling down the Be BRIO signs and packing up BRIO HQ, “Is Be BRIO week over?” A simple question, but it made me think about the answer way more than the student intended. An obvious answer might have been, “yes”, while a more thoughtful one tapped into the whole concept of the Be BRIO idea and caused me to reflect on my place in our community.

Being a chaplain puts me in a unique spot. The whole inter-personal environment is my worksite and I can observe how people fit together and get along. The combination of every person in a community builds the culture, and cultures make profound impacts on how each life is lived. From this perspective, I was looking for the answer to the very simple question, “Is Be BRIO week over?”

“Yes,” I answered this student, “but being brio is never over!”

We always have the opportunity to bring our personal energy and add zest and light to those around us. This is what being brio is and I get joy when I see a student or teacher choose to add brio to even the smallest situation. This might be a student stopping to help carry something up some stairs or a teacher using their break to continue an important student conversation after class. Every individual adds to the culture at our College. Using your abilities to lift another up, even when there is no benefit to you, is what gives a culture zest and vitality. My vision for Kennedy is of a community full of brio.

Year 7 Report

As we reach the halfway mark of the term, it's inspiring to see our students growing in confidence and participating with enthusiasm. This newfound confidence is a vital part of their development, but it must be paired with a desire to grow in integrity and responsibility. We encourage parents and guardians to engage in meaningful conversations with their children, reminding them of the importance of developing their best selves. A strong partnership between the College and home remains central to the success of our students.

The value of service is being vividly demonstrated by our Year 7 students, who have enthusiastically participated in Community Service events. The first two events were resounding successes, with positive feedback from our guests, the Lakeside Seniors. Students and Seniors bonded over ice-breaker games, shared photos and crafts, and engaged in many interesting conversations. The delightful morning tea, generously provided by students and their families, added to the warmth of these special occasions.

As we look ahead, I encourage every student to invest in the life of our College by volunteering and getting involved. The recent Athletics Carnival and upcoming Pedal Prix races create lasting memories. This week’s Form Cup games were particularly exciting, showcasing the spirit of our year group. Continuous academic effort remains crucial for each student to achieve their best. Make the most of every day and strive to reach your full potential.

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Year 8 Report

It has been a fantastic start to Term 3 with the Year 8 students. With a noticeable growth in the maturity and motivation within the peer group, I have seen students take their opportunities within academic and extra-curricular activities throughout this Term. We provide many opportunities for students to enjoy, and I encourage them each to embrace the challenges that may present themselves when taking advantage of these.

I would like to congratulate all students on the effort and performances at the recent Interhouse Athletics Carnival. It was a proud moment for me to witness so many Year 8s actively engaging in the races and events throughout the day. We had some notable performances that will be recognised for outstanding results in the coming weeks. Apart from individual successes, I particularly loved seeing the students support each other and embrace great positivity throughout.

As we move to the midway point of the term, I encourage students to seek God for guidance and support in increasingly busy and challenging times. We offer some great avenues for rest and friendship, including Christian Connect every Thursday lunchtime, where students can ask questions, gain understanding or pursue connection in a safe space.

Year 9 Report

I am excited to announce a fantastic opportunity for our Year 9 students to gain valuable knowledge of the world beyond the classroom through our Kennedy Community Outreach and Volunteering Program. This initiative is designed to help students develop essential life skills, build confidence, and make a positive impact on our community.

On Friday 30 August, students will be matched with local businesses, organisations, and professionals for a one-day placement. This hands-on experience allows them to observe, participate, and contribute to a real work environment in a volunteering capacity. Service locations include the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Fremantle Marine Rescue, St Bart’s Women’s Services, Cockburn Cougars Basketball Association, Murdoch University and WA Wildlife. Information regarding each location will be sent to families via Parent Lounge for event acceptance.

This will be a unique volunteering experience for our Year 9 students that will help their development both this year and in their preparation for work experience next year. Participating in volunteer work not only helps students build important skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving but also fosters a sense of responsibility and empathy. It’s an excellent way for them to start thinking about their future careers and the impact they can have on the world around them.

Year 10 Report

It’s an exciting time of the year and it was great to see the efforts by the Year 10s at the Interhouse Athletics carnival last week. I love the College community events that get everyone involved and it was a bonus to have a day filled with sport and socialising. Put simply, it was my dream day!

Our Year 10 Social has been booked for Thursday 24 October, during Week 3 of Term 4. We will be having a formal at East Fremantle Yacht club with cocktail food for dinner and a dance floor and DJ. This is one of my favourite events on the Kennedy calendar as it is a chance to get together as a whole year group to strengthen friendships, eat together, dance & relax before a big finish to the year. More info will be coming out shortly through Parent Lounge.

Later this term, we have an incursion to hear about a couple of issues that are impacting our students. We will be splitting into groups to discuss relationships and their challenges, focusing on creating positive relationships rather than pull each other down. We will be discussing what a healthy relationship looks like and what this looks like for each gender. I’m excited for this opportunity to speak into this generation about how to be an influence for good within their world.

As I was organising this incursion, I was reminded of Colossians 3:13-14 "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." My goal for this year group is for us to be the most positive, supportive and inclusive students possible. If we can show love to each other in all situations, we’re already going to be on the right path.

Year 11 Report

During August and September, over thirty Year 11 students will be participating in Community Service through the Ronald McDonald House ‘Lovin from the Oven’ project. Students will be donating food items and preparing these for families doing it tough, particularly those with sick or injured children. The students will be creating mini pizzas, sandwiches, fruit platters and scones, and catering for up to 60 people. Community Service is a great opportunity for our students to show compassion towards others and realise the great joy of helping others. Proverbs 11:25 tells us that, "whoever brings blessings will be enriched, and one who waters will [also] be watered."

The highlight of the Year 11 social calendar, the Year 11 River Cruise, is on Thursday 5 September. Tickets are $70 each and will be available to purchase through the Kennedy app. It would be great to see the whole cohort there. Students are encouraged to dress for the occasion, similar to last year’s ‘Dinner Dance’. It promises to be a great night.

I was pleased to see 24 students apply for positions as Student Executive leaders for 2025. We have several students who exhibit excellent leadership skills and it’s encouraging to see those students wanting to take on these important roles within our school community. Interviews will take place this month and the students involved will all benefit from the experience.

Year 12 Report

I cannot write this without acknowledging the grief some of our Year 12s are going through following the tragic loss of a friend. Such loss is hard to understand, but we hold them in our prayers and ask for comfort for them.

The term is moving swiftly, bringing a new set of challenges as the 12s face their final term, juggling academic commitments with the realisation that this chapter is closing. I continue to be impressed with the resilience shown and the determination of many to make the most of what the term has to offer. This was abundantly clear at the Athletics Carnival where they made great efforts to embrace the occasion with their costumes and their camaraderie, but also by so many taking part in the events on offer. We were so proud to take that final dash with them; what a memory to have made together.

In Week 3, students had talks from TISC and TAFE advisors on their application processes. This has helped many to focus on what they hope to do next year and where they need to focus their efforts to achieve this. Students are reminded that help is available for them in this area if they need it.

This week, Extended Form was a chance for the Year 11 Peer Mentors of 2023 to catch up with the Year 7 students they helped to welcome to the College last year. This was an opportunity to find out how College life is going and allowed them to pass on some of their own memories and advice, with a few fun group challenges thrown in. It was a reminder of how valuable this programme is in building connection across the College community. I hope now to see you each at our next opportunity for community engagement with the Kennedy Open Day this weekend.

Kennedy News

Dancing for a Reason

There are many reasons to dance, and our recent Dance Showcase added raising funds to the list, with proceeds from the event going to the ‘Kennedy Kids’ of Transform Cambodia. We are delighted to announce that $5000 was raised that will go on to improve the lives of these children in Cambodia.

Congratulations to our students for their efforts throughout the night and in the lead up to it. Particular credit goes to the Year 10, 11 and 12 Dance students who choreographed some of their performances. Thank you as well to Miss Simes, Mrs Mayne and Mrs Del Basso for creating these dances with our students and overseeing all the choreography, as well as creating a great event that will help transform lives in Cambodia. ‘Dance for a Reason’ indeed!

College Notices

Employment at Kennedy

As a leading co-educational Christian school, Kennedy Baptist College strives to provide a supportive and caring environment for our staff, with great importance on wellbeing and professional learning and development. These staff members are essential to our mission to provide opportunities of educational excellence as we address the needs of individuals for lifelong learning.

There are a number of roles available to apply for as we prepare for the future. This includes some fantastic teaching roles and non-teaching roles, such as a casual bus driver.

If you or someone you know is suited to one of these roles, please see our website for more details and how to apply.

To help students overcome these ongoing issues, we encourage families to ensure that all devices, including mobile phones, tablets, smartwatches and laptops cannot be easily accessed by students during the night. This includes avoiding the storing of internet-connected devices in a students' bedroom, where chat notifications can disrupt sleep patterns, with adolescents struggling to switch off and resist the urge to check notifications.

Guidelines for parents:

• Do not store devices in a child’s bedroom or an easily accessible common room.

• Set a 'Bedtime' mode for a device to switch to each night, which turns off non-emergency notifications and dims or changes the colours of a display. If this option is not available, manually turn 'do not disturb' or 'flight mode' on each night.

• Recognise changes in your child’s mood and check in with them regarding their phone use and if possible messages from friends have upset their sleep.

Please refer to the below resource for further advice on screen time and sleep needs for adolescents.

Student Names on Uniform Items

A large number of Sports Uniform jackets have been handed into Student Services for student collection. Many of these uniforms do not have name labels on them and this makes it incredibly difficult to find their owners.

Please double check that all items of your students' uniform have name labels, including student backpacks, sports jackets, and water bottles.

The Uniform Shop has blank iron-on name labels available to help keep better track of your student's clothing, with a sheet of 14 for just $4. These are available both from the Uniform Shop and QuickCliq.

2024 Community Open Day

You are invited to our Community Open Day this Saturday 17 August 2024 from 11.00am to 3.00pm! This is one of the biggest events on the Kennedy calendar with live performances, explosive Science experiments, and a range of games and activities on offer as families and community members explore our fantastic College. Make sure to make use of this opportunity to journey through the College campus and discover all of our students' amazing work!

The next newsletter will be published on:
Thursday 29 August 2024.