The 2026 Year 12 Ball at Fraser's in Kings Park.

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians and Families,

Kennedy continues to make a wonderful start to the academic year with some very successful events. Our Year 7 Families Afternoon Tea event and the information evening for prospective families were all great opportunities for families to connect with the College as we work together to maximise opportunities for students. Throughout the year, we will have many more opportunities for families to actively engage with our community. This includes: 

• Our Easter services
• Kennedy Insights and Parenting information evenings
• Teacher feedback interviews
• Parent and Friends Association meetings
• Year 11 study skills seminar
• Volunteering in a range of school-based activities.

I encourage everyone to be involved with these opportunities, contributing to our community.

Supporting Your Child for a Successful School Year 

As we settle into a new school year, a little support at home can make a big difference. Encouraging your child’s strength and helping them approach challenges with confidence sets a positive tone for the months ahead. Simple daily habits like consistent sleep, good communication with teachers, healthy meals, a calm study space, and a bit of shared reading help them feel prepared and supported. 

Your involvement truly matters. When parents stay connected and engaged, students thrive academically, emotionally and socially. 

College Ball

It was a pleasure to join our Year 12 students, partners and staff at Frasers Restaurant, Kings Park, on Friday night. The Ball was a wonderful event, and it was clear that our students had a fantastic night and enjoyed each other’s company in an amazing setting. Our students’ approach was outstanding, and this greatly contributed to the night’s success. Congratulations to all Year 12 students, who are to be commended for their exceptional attitude to the night. Congratulations to Mr Britza and the Year 12 student leaders for their great efforts in organising a wonderful evening. 

Easter Services Reminder

Our Easter services hold a significant importance within our College’s culture and ethos. They serve as a valuable opportunity to engage with local churches and reinforce our Christian ethos. This year, we are pleased to partner with Faith Community Church and Ed Surrey from Cru West, who will be our guest speaker. The schedule for this event is: 

• Monday 30 March: Harrier and Falcon Houses
• Tuesday 31 March: Kestrel and Osprey Houses

Students should arrive by 5.30pm in their Homeroom, for a 6.00pm start. Students can be picked up from 7.30pm onwards. We warmly invite families to join us at these services.  

Mr Mark Ashby
Principal

In our Monday morning devotions, we have been journeying through the Sermon on the Mount, and last week I spoke about a powerful truth from Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Matthew: "You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world.” 

During this passage, we focused on what Jesus doesn't say. He doesn’t say, “try to be salt”, he doesn’t say, “Work hard to become light.” He simply says, "You are". This isn’t a role you can achieve; it’s an identity that you receive. This identity is given, not earned. It is not a reward for good behaviour or a title achieved through spiritual effort. It is a declaration of who we already are in Him. 

In conversations throughout the week, I was reminded how easy it is for students to feel discouraged. Whether it’s disappointment in sport, frustration over test results, friendship conflicts or the quiet pressure of comparison, there can be a lingering sense of “not being good enough.” In a community filled with talent, leadership, and achievement, it’s easy to measure ourselves against the success that we see. When performance becomes the standard, our confidence can rise and fall with outcomes. But Jesus is offering something far more secure. There is nothing in our past, present, or future that excludes us from His forgiveness when we come to Him. It is grace - freely given, never earned. 

As we journey through this term, let’s remember that achievements are worth celebrating, but they don't define us. Seasons change, results can shift, applause fades. Our identity, however, remains steady. 

Curriculum Report

I would like to welcome all families to Kennedy Baptist College and to the 2026 academic year. This year, the College introduced a 6-period day timetable. The change in timetable has been well received by students and staff. Common feedback is that lessons feel less rushed and there is more time to consolidate work. Whilst many staff and students acknowledge that last year's lunch break was a little too long, the 5-minute reduction requires everyone to change a few ‘old’ habits. Student feedback indicates lower cognitive load during the day, allowing greater focus throughout each lesson.

Key Dates

An email titled “2026 Important Dates and Information for Year __” was sent to each family at the commencement of the year. This message provides key dates in the College calendar. I encourage all families to keep this email in an easily accessible location and/or add the information to a family calendar.

To effectively deliver the curriculum, we rely on families being familiar with policies, procedures, and staff/student expectations. To help new families, we have constructed a list of frequently asked questions, along with some answers on how to best support your child or children on their College journey.

Lastly, keep an eye out for emails and letters from the Curriculum team as this is how we communicate all essential information. The team consists of myself, Mr Tim Jiow (Director of Studies) and Mr Justin Gunn (Curriculum Administration Assistant).

Pastoral Care Report

The College has had a positive beginning to the 2026 school year. Welcoming our new students is a tradition at Kennedy, and it has been a pleasure to see our Year 7 cohort and new students from across all year groups integrating confidently into the College community. 

Pastoral Care Changes

This year, we have made changes to Pastoral Care, With Form now being renamed to Homeroom, and Extended Form on Wednesday Period 1 has been changed to Pastoral Care Time. These changes support the introduction of our new Pastoral Care Program, with clearly defined wellbeing goals for each year group. The program provides an intentional, age-appropriate framework for the creation and maintenance of a safe, nurturing and engaging educational community where students can thrive academically, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually.  

In addition, the College has introduced Monday Devotions, allowing all staff and students to begin each week with a common message to develop their faith. 

Welcoming our New Students and Families

To ensure a smooth transition for our new students, we offer a wide range of orientation experiences and support programs. These include the Year 7 Orientation Day, Pre-start Day, Commencement Ceremony, Family Afternoon Tea, mentoring sessions within Care Groups, Pastoral Care Time activities, and the Years 8–12 New Student Lunch. 

Pre-start Day once again proved to be a valuable introduction for all our new students. While our Year 11 Mentors spent time building connections with the Year 7 cohort, our new students in Years 8–12 were also warmly welcomed by their Student Councillors and Heads of Year. 

The Year 7 Commencement Ceremony, held on the first day of term, was a significant milestone. Students walked across the stage with pride to receive their welcome Bible, symbolising the beginning of their Kennedy journey. 

We were also pleased to host many families at the Year 7 Family Afternoon Tea. This event provided an excellent opportunity for parents to meet the Executive Leadership Team, the Pastoral Care Team, core subject teachers, and Homeroom teachers in an inviting and supportive environment. 

As the year progresses, we encourage students to speak with any member of the Pastoral Care Team should they have concerns or require additional support. Our team remains dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing and engaging environment where every student can flourish. 

Kennedy News

Class of 2026 Leavers Jackets have arrived!

Yesterday, our Year 12 students had a surprise at the beginning of their day when all of their Leavers Jackets arrived! The Lower Foyer was buzzing with excitement as the students tried on their jackets, comparing their nicknames and riding the wave of emotions that comes with their last year of High School.

Student Spotlight: An Outstanding Achievement in Cricket!

Peter Curnow gifts to Kennedy

At the beginning of 2026, we had a surprise visitor, Mr Peter Curnow, a grandparent of a current Kennedy student, but also a builder who was involved in the initial build of Winthrop Baptist College back in 1994. Peter visited the college to hand over a beautiful piece of timber to Mr Ashby to be incorporated in one of Kennedy's future builds. 

Thank you, Peter, for this heartfelt gift! It is great to see the history of the Kennedy Community continue to grow into the present.

College Notices

Pedal Prix is back for 2026!

Open to all year levels, Year 7-12 students, both male and females.

This is a fun and exciting team building opportunity for both students and parents.  There is a great team spirt in the “Kennedy Racing Team”, and it is one of the few opportunities where parents can work side by side their children on a common activity.

For more information, please Direqt message the team manager, Mr Bradley Gunter ASAP. He will send you more information including how to sign up for the 2026 season.

The next newsletter will be published on:
Thursday 12 March 2026.