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Photo above: Interschool Swimming Carnival.
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents and Families,
Kennedy endeavours to develop and foster strong relationships with our community members. This will be reinforced by opportunities for parents to discuss student development and progress with our staff. In addition, several major events will take place early in Term 2 to support this process. This includes:
- Our Parent-Teacher Interviews will be an excellent opportunity for parents to meet with teaching staff and discuss their child's progress and concerns. These will take place on Wednesday 3
May and Thursday 4 May.
- Our Year 10 Parent Evening will be on Tuesday 9 May. This event is to prepare current Year 10 families for the selection of courses and units for 2024. Throughout Term 2, a comprehensive program including individual counselling has been planned to help families make the best-informed decisions. This is particularly important as the structure for Year 11 and the WACE differs greatly from the Lower School curriculum. I encourage all Year 10 families to attend our information night and be proactive during this vital phase of schooling for students.
Swimming Success
Congratulations to our Interschool Swimming team who performed wonderfully as a team to provide worthy competition in the ACC Division C Swimming Carnival earlier this week. Seeing Kennedy students support each other and produce outstanding results was fantastic. Congratulations to the following, Junior Girls (3rd place), Senior Girls (4th place), Junior Boys (1st place), and Senior Boys (1st place). We are proud to say that Kennedy walked away first overall. Names of individual achievements are listed further on in the newsletter.
Traffic flow changes
I would also like to thank you. We appreciate your patience and response to the changes in College traffic as part of ongoing construction work in the Auditorium. Please note that this arrangement will continue into the foreseeable future.
Chaplain Chats
Why do Christian’s live by so many rules? I get asked this question countless times as a chaplain. A review of the Bible (via Google) tells me there is a generally held belief that the old part of the Bible contains 613 separate rules! Wow, that’s a lot of rules! This includes the famous 10 commandments.
As the Bible story progresses, the old part of the Bible leads to the new part of the Bible, which is when Jesus arrives. Jesus was a game changer when it came to the rules, he said quite a bit about the rules. One thing he said was that He didn’t come to do away with the rules, but to FULFIL them!!
As we follow Jesus’ story we find he begins to condense all the rules. Firstly, all 613 rules are condensed into just 2! If you just relax and enjoy these two rules Jesus says you will basically tick off all the others. Here’s the two rules: Rule 1. Love God… Rule 2. Love all others! Sounds easy! (note author’s hint of sarcasm). Love involves the valuing and full dedication to the one you love. Valuing and fully dedicating to God and others is hard. Jesus knew this would do away with all the other rules, he also knew it was hard. So, Jesus made it even easier. On the day before He died, while He was talking to those in his 3-year friendship group, He condenses the rule book even further. Jesus made all of Christianity about just ONE rule. Rule 1. Love others as I have loved you.
My point here is to hopefully let you all know that to live the way we were designed to live, we need Jesus in us so He can love through us. I encourage you to take a few minutes this upcoming Easter to muse about the Jesus story. Give Him the room in your life to FULFIL in you all the rules of life and let's choose to love like He loved us.
Deputy Principal Curriculum Report
The academic program for all students is now in full swing. All students are enrolled in their courses/subjects for the year and will be busy learning the content presented. The only group of students who can adjust their courses mid-year is Year 11. Students and parents are encouraged to touch base with Mr Jiow or myself in Term 2 if they want to discuss their progress.
Teachers are working towards providing feedback on SEQTA for all students in all courses. Subjects that are timetable for just one period each week may have some difficulty in providing detailed information but some general comments should be accessible to parents at the end of the term.
Parent-Teacher Interviews - Term 2 Week 2
On Wednesday 3 May, all students are dismissed at the start of lunch with Parent-Teacher Interviews taking place between 2.00pm and 7.00pm. The interviews continue on Thursday 4 May 9.00am – 6:30pm. (Students do not attend school on this day).
Interviews are five-minutes long and provide parents with a quick update on their child’s progress. If there is a significant issue or concern, an additional interview of a longer length can be organised at an alternate date with the teacher. Information about how to book interviews will be sent to all families early in Term 2.
We recognise that Term 1 has been a super busy time for the Curriculum team. Apart from course and elective changes for Year 8 – 12 students we have also completed OLNA testing for Year 11& 12 and NAPLAN for Year 7 & 9. Term 2 will also be exceptionally busy with examinations for Years 9 to 12, Externally Set Tasks for Year 12 General courses of study, and OLNA for Year 10 students who missed their first attempt. There will also be information sessions for Year 10 students/parents to provide information about Year 11&12 and all students in Year 7 to 11 will be looking to select courses for 2024.
I wish all our families a safe and blessed Easter holiday and peaceful term break.
Deputy Principal Pastoral Care Report
Protective Behaviours is now a mandatory part of the curriculum for schools in WA. At Kennedy we teach it through a range of areas including Health Classes, our Extended Form Pastoral Care Program, Guest Speaker incursions, as well as our foundational Thrive Program which operates in Year 7 and Year 8 for all students.
One of the external organisations we work with in this important area is the WA Child Protection Society. Their goal is to teach young people a range of skills and strategies to stay safe and provide a framework that can be easily adapted to home and community environments.
Two weeks ago all Year 8 students attended a Protective Behaviours incursion run by Andrea Musulin who is the Director of the WA Child Protection Society. Her catch phrase is creating child case organisations. This session was titled “Teaching Teens Personal Safety” and was very well received by our students. It follows on from our recent Kennedy Insight evening on the same topic which was well attended by many interested parents.
These important issues are ongoing and topical, and we look forward to continuing the positive results and benefits our students demonstrate through their involvement and engagement in the College Protective Behaviours Program.
Student Leadership
We are in the process of selecting Year 7 Student Councillors and House Captains. Student Leadership is an important part of our Pastoral Care Program and it is an exciting process selecting our Year 7 leaders.
As we finish off Term 1, our Year 8 and Year 11 students head off to camp, we encourage our students to embrace all of the opportunities available to them at Kennedy and hope they have a great time.
Kennedy News
Starting the Year Right
The Research and Study Centre has been busy supporting students as they begin the school year. All Year 7s are in the middle of our SMARTS program. This specially designed course aims to prepare students to be successful in high school.
We also delivered study skill seminars to all Year 11 students. If you missed out on the parent session, you can download the presentation via SEQTA Learn. Read the full blog post and see photos via the button below. Don’t forget, every Wednesday after school, the RASC offers tutoring to students! Keep up with all the events and activities in the RASC, by following us at @kennedyrasc or watch out for daily notices on SEQTA.
Swimming Success
On Tuesday 21 March, the HBF Stadium was buzzing with excitement as schools competed in the ACC Swimming Carnival for 2023. Our swimmers have performed admirably and we would like to thank them for representing Kennedy Baptist College so well.
Congratulations to the following, Junior Girls (3rd place), Senior Girls (4th place), Junior Boys (1st place), and Senior Boys (1st place).
We would also like to acknowledge the following individual achievement:
U13 Female 4th - Tia Fairchild
U15 Female 4th - Lara Lane
U17 Female 2nd- Kaitlyn James
U19 Female 5th - Emma Kempson
U13 Male 2nd - Lewis Nitschke
U14 Male 2nd - Kaiyo Tan
U15 Male 3rd - Noah Read
U16 Male 4th - Anyi Duan
U16 Male 5th - Harry Rosman
U17 Male 1st - Daniel Eve
U19 Male 5th - Jarad King
Thank you to all the Kennedy staff for their hard work, and parents who came to support their child/ren on the day.
We look forward to building on this result in 2024 with lots of students taking advantage of the great training opportunities.
College Notices
Easter Services
Our Easter Services provide an opportunity for our community to come together and contemplate the Gospel message of Easter. These are compulsory events for all students but more importantly, it is an opportunity for families to engage as a community. This year our services will be in collaboration with Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. Supper will be provided after each service and this should be a great time for families and staff to interact in a social setting.
- Monday 3 April - Harrier and Falcon Houses
- Tuesday 4 April - Kestrel and Osprey Houses
Please note that your child/ren will need to be dropped off at 6pm for a 6.30pm start. Event finishes approximately 7.40pm - 8.00pm.
Both services will be at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, 497 Marmion St, Booragoon. Click here to view the parking venue map.
Winter Uniform Collection
Please note that pre-ordered winter uniforms are now ready to be collected. Pre-paid and ordered blazers are also available for pickup. Full payment is required on collection by cash or EFTPOS only. For more information about the Uniform Shop, please click here.
Student Achievements
Kennedy celebrates students and their talents and achievements. We would love to know if your child has achieved a significant milestone in any area. Please complete this form below or email your Head of Year with more information about your child.
Kennedy Traffic Flow Change
Kennedy is upgrading the Auditorium and foyer facilities. Please refer to the map here which details the new construction zone area and the impact it will have on traffic flow within and around the College. Suggestions to help with traffic management:
- If you are collecting your child from the College PLEASE CONSIDER COMING AFTER 3.30PM (after Transperth bus run)
- All traffic exiting the College must turn left - heading north to the roundabout
- Review and revise your route out of the College
- Do not park on Access Road to collect your child – this causes a huge disruption to traffic and buses
Online lunch orders will not be available
As our cafeteria team will be catering for our Easter Services in the evening, breakfast and online lunch orders will not be available on Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 April. The cafeteria will open at 11.00 am for recess on these two days. Therefore, only over-the-counter lunches will be available.
Easter in the MakerSpace
Starting at recess on Monday, your child can sculpt little Easter bunny ornaments out of air-dried clay in the MakerSpace area in the Research and Study Centre. Space is limited, sign-up by sending Mr Burton a Direqt Message.
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 2023. 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 visit our Reception or click here to download the form. Applications close on Thursday 6 April 2023.
Absentees
Parents and guardians are asked to notify the College before 9.00am on the morning of absence via the absentee form on the Kennedy App under Parent Lounge or by phoning the College absentee line (08 6188 0698). For any other student matters or information, please feel free to email Student Services or stop by to talk to one of our staff.
Uniform Shop – Term Opening Hours
The Uniform Shop will be open this term on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8.00am to 3.45pm.
* Please note that the Uniform Shop is closed for lunch 12.30 to 1.00pm.
For more information,
email our Uniform Shop Manager.
Beedawong Cafeteria Menu
There are delicious items available in the Cafeteria such as fruit salad, sushi and freshly baked muffins and chocolate croissants each day! There are also some great online lunch options such as Butter Chicken & rice, baguettes & wraps to order via our online ordering system at www.quickcliq.com.au.
See the link for menu.
Volunteering Opportunities
We value the support of our volunteers who contribute to the College community!
Volunteer opportunities for 2023 will be made available in Term 1. These opportunities include, assisting at the Swimming Carnival, P&F Association and book covering.
Student Withdrawal
It is a condition of enrolment that at least 10 school weeks’ notice (not including scheduled school holidays) of a student’s withdrawal is given in writing to the Registrar at registrar@kennedy.wa.edu.au. In the event that such notice is not given, a 10 week withdrawal fee will apply per student.
We are always looking to improve our College and take care of our community. Will you please tell us how we are doing and review us on Google? Submit your review here.
The next newsletter will be published on:
Thursday 6 April 2023.
