All of the fantastic performers and teachers involved in this year's Music Night!

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians and Families,

Welcome to Term 3. We trust that everyone had a wonderful holiday and is eager to embrace the ongoing opportunities at Kennedy. This Term promises to be an exciting time filled with significant events. I would like to reinforce Kennedy's mission and values, which maximise learning experiences at the College. Kennedy Baptist College endeavours to provide educational excellence within a Christian context, equipping our students for lifelong learning. All staff members are dedicated to this mission through our strong Christian ethos and the values of Faith, Integrity, Boldness, Growth, and Service.

Building update

Throughout the semester break, we have made considerable progress on our building program, enhancing our facilities to better support our mission. This has included ongoing landscaping work and the completion of our northern staff car park.

College Tours and Mission Trips

It was inspiring to see students and staff volunteer for the Cambodia Mission Trip during the break. Hearing about our students' contributions to improving the lives of children living in poverty was truly uplifting. I am confident that this experience has been life-changing for many. Kennedy is committed to this meaningful outreach project and our partnership with Transform Cambodia. Thank you to Mr Bolton, Ms Carey, Mrs Warwick and Mr Britza for dedicating their time to this special tour.

School tours play a crucial role in advancing our College's mission, and we are pleased to see strong family support for our extra-curricular tours and mission trips. These trips are designed to provide enriching experiences for our students, and I encourage all families to keep an eye out for these opportunities and consider participating. More information and an expression of interest will follow in Week 3.

Awards Assembly

In Week 2 on Wednesday 29 July, we look forward to celebrating Year 10 to 12 achievements at our Awards Assembly. The presentation of Certificates of Excellence and Achievement promotes and highlights the exceptional standards that our students have attained in the first semester. Congratulations to the recipients of these significant awards. We also look forward to honouring Year 7-9 students at their Awards Assemblies on Wednesday 5 August.

Staff Farewells and Welcomes

At the end of Term 2, we said farewell to valued staff members:

• Mrs Eldyth Anderson (Home Economics Assistant)
• Mrs Golda Newland (Counsellor)
• Ms Mandy Beaurain (Public Relations Assistant)
• Mrs Nikki Cunningham (Performing Arts Assistant)
• Miss Lisa Luce (School Psychologist)

We wish them all success in their future endeavours.

We wish Mrs Kristen Edward all the best for her maternity leave, and Ms Carolyn Macdonald a well-deserved long service leave break for the remainder of 2026. We would like to offer a special thanks to Ms Macdonald for her outstanding leadership as the Head of Arts Learning Area who will return as a teacher in 2027.

As we start Term 3, we welcome new staff members:

• Mrs Elwyn Morgan (Head of Arts Learning Area)
• Mrs Karen Trezona (Performing Arts Assistant)
• Mr Samuel Ridyard (School Psychologist)
• Ms Emily Jenner (Counsellor)
• Mrs Georgia Ridge (Part-time Teacher Librarian)

We are thrilled to have these talented professionals join our team and meet our students when they return for Term 3 on Tuesday 21 July.

Mr Mark Ashby
Principal

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: 

• Ava Lewis received the runner-up award for a Creative Writing Competition at the Scribblers Festival, for the Golden Pen Story Competition.
• Nathaniel Lindstrom has recently been selected as a Lightning WABL Athlete to the SSWA U16 Team and further selected to represent Western Australia in the 2026 Basketball 16s Boys Championship at the School Sport Australia National Championships in Melbourne.
• Elyssa Ford and Samantha Hort have qualified for the U14 basketball National Club Championships, representing Lakeside Lightning.
• Ruby Goodwin travelled to Singapore to represent Australia at the Prime International Gymnastics competition. Ruby placed 3rd overall in her division, whilst also being awarded a silver medal in Bars. Her club also ended up winning the competition as a whole!
• Jasper Chan won the first prize in the Fremantle Eisteddfod 2026 List A/B and the second prize for list C/D for Grade 8 piano solo. 
• Heejoo Cho has been selected to represent WA in the 2026 SSWA Golf 8s Championship in Victoria in August.

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. 

Interhouse Cross Country Winners - Osprey

Congratulations to Osprey House on winning the Interhouse Cross Country! 

2026 Music Night

Thank you to all the dedicated staff and students who were involved in our annual Music Night last term! It was an incredible night and wonderful opportunity to showcase the incredible breadth of musical talent across our College. We had some wonderful feedback about the night from attendees and students involved! 

"Thank you so much for all the hard work that went into the Kennedy music night. I was blown away by the standard of performances and the incredible talent of the Kennedy students. The whole evening showcased the music program so well, including the transitions between performers and hearing the original compositions of students. The staff performance at the end was also very moving. I look forward to attending future music events at Kennedy and I am grateful for the dedication of the staff who made this event happen." - Year 8 Kennedy Parent

"I couldn't help but share the praise everywhere I went after Music Night, everyone seemed to have a different favourite and was blown away by the standard of music.
My grandparents, parents and their friends were happy with how many of the songs they recognised, and they were blown away by the staff piece.
It's definitely cool to see such a diverse range of pieces and instrument families into this night." - Year 12 Music Student

"Music night was amazing! Congratulations for how well everything went, so much hard work went into it, and it was a great night!" - Year 9 Student

See more photos of the night below. Please be aware that the link will only be available until the end of the year. 

Natasha Georgiou - WASLA Teacher Librarian of the Year Winner

We want to congratulate our Head of the RASC, Ms Natasha Georgiou, for receiving the prestigious award of Teacher Librarian of the Year 2026, presented by the Western Australian School Librarian Association (WASLA) last term.

Natasha was presented this award due to her dedication as an innovative educator, a transformational leader and a passionate advocate for the profession. She is generous with her expertise, thoughtful in her practice and deeply committed to helping students and colleagues become confident, capable and lifelong learners.

Congratulations Ms Georgiou! We feel honoured to have you as part of the Kennedy Community. 

VALE Mrs Joanna Strydom 1966 - 2026

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Mrs Joanna Strydom on 10 July, following a courageous battle with cancer. Joanna was a cherished member of our school community whose warmth, kindness and dedication touched the lives of many students, staff and families. Throughout her journey, she demonstrated remarkable strength, grace and resilience, inspiring those around her.

On behalf of our entire school community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Joanna’s family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time. She will be remembered with great affection and gratitude, and her contribution to our school will not be forgotten.

College Notices

Important Dates

It is important that families keep their contact details up to date within Parent Lounge as this information allows the College to send out important communications through SEQTA, from both administration and teaching staff.

Please make sure to check Parent Lounge regularly for notifications and important updates on College events. Here is a short list of significant, whole-school events happening in the first part of this Term.

• Sunday 26 July - Pedal Prix Race #1
• Tuesday 28 July - Open Day committee members meeting will commence at 5.00pm. This meeting will be held in the Boardroom, followed by the General P&F meeting at 6.00pm.
• Wednesday 29 July - Years 10 to 12 Awards Assembly
• Wednesday 5 August - Years 7 to 9 Awards Assembly
• Friday 7 August - Dance Showcase
• Saturday 8 August - P&F Jam Making Session
• Friday 14 August - Interhouse Athletics Carnival
• Thursday 20 August - Last day for Silent Auction Donations, with a P&F wrapping event in the evening
• Saturday 22 August - Community Open Day events.

Upcoming Events

2026 Dance Showcase - ELEVATE

Join us at Kennedy Baptist College’s Dance Showcase, Elevate. Our Dance students from Years 8-12 will take the stage in a celebration of creativity, passion and growth.

2026 Community Open Day

You are invited to our Community Open Day on Saturday 22 August 2026 from 11.00am to 3.00pm!

This is one of the biggest events on the Kennedy calendar with live performances, explosive Science demonstrations, and delicious gourmet treats on offer as families and community members explore our fantastic College. Make sure to spread the word about this opportunity to journey through the College campus and discover all our students' amazing work.

The next newsletter will be published on:
Thursday 30 July 2026