No images? Click here
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents/Guardians and Families,
Happy new year to all our families and welcome to Kennedy Baptist College for 2026. In particular, welcome to our new families who are joining us for the first time this year. We trust that everyone has had a safe, relaxing and enjoyable holiday and are now looking forward to commencing the new academic year.
Work has continued during January preparing and planning great opportunities for all students and we look forward to sharing these throughout the year.
Our goal at Kennedy is to equip students to seize these opportunities and strive for greatness in all that they do.
After reviewing the events that took place throughout a very busy 2025 we are extremely confident of continuing to provide opportunities for excellence this year, embracing all that is on offer in another exciting year.
Year 12 Results
Our Year 12 students produced some outstanding WACE results at the end of last year. Our highest ATAR score was 97.4 and 28% of our students achieved an ATAR of 90.0 or higher. It was particularly impressive that 21 students achieved a Certificate of Distinction or Merit.
Kennedy was also identified as a school with the highest-performing students in the courses of Health Studies and Psychology
The class of 2025 produced some pleasing results due to their hard work and the support provided by college staff to ensure students achieve their goals. However, these results also reinforce the fact that we need our students and parents to be realistic when selecting student academic pathways.
Our 2025 results support the College Administration's view that some students are still attempting an ATAR pathway when they may have achieved better results in a more suitable alternative course, completing the General course pathway.
Mr Mark Ashby
Principal
My warmest welcome to the start of another year at Kennedy Baptist College.
New Beginnings are such an amazing space to be in. Things feel fresh, there’s a shine on everything, and there's a stressful yet enjoyable expectation for the most ordinary things. 2026 at Kennedy has all the feelings of ‘new’, making the start of the year feel fun and hopeful. But 2026 is also the start of just another year, and very soon the newness will be gone, and we will be looking forward to when things can feel that way again.
This rhythm of life fascinates me. Our human nature is on full display through the cycle of new becoming common and dull. There’s a line in the poem, Ode: Intimations of Immortality by William Wordsworth that captures the fading of humanity’s wonder and glory as we age. At one point Wordsworth writes, “But trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home;” but as we grow the poem suggests, “At length the Man perceives it die away, and fade into the light of common day.” This suggests we can lose sight of the wonder of life, where the sparkle of newness can become drudgery.
Our heart at Kennedy this year is to maintain a community of several thousand people that all lift each other up, so that we don’t lose sight of the “clouds of glory” we were made with. Our aim this year is to strive to lift vision and to help us do this we will start our year reading and feeding on the most powerful message ever spoken and written, The Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew, chapters 5, 6 and 7. This sermon has lifted human hearts for several thousand years and a regular dose of glory will do us all some good.
Please feel free to join with us and enjoy this 20-minute read in the bible as often as you can, it may even bring the change many are hoping for as we start this new year.
New Student Pre-Start Day
Pre-start Day is designed to help new students familiarise themselves with the College, get to know other new students, and meet the staff. Students will discover where their classes will be held, how the College day operates, and meet their Homeroom teacher and peer support students.
Pre-start Day for Year 7 Students
The pre-start day is on Friday 30 January 2026 at 10.00am - 2.00pm. We ask that families drop students at the Auditorium drop-off and pick-up area. Year 7 students will then register in the Lower Foyer, as on Orientation Day last year. The Year 11 Mentors will be available during the day to assist our new students as they settle in.
A sausage sizzle will be provided for lunch and we ask students to bring their own snacks as well as a water bottle. The dress code is casual modest dress (not your school uniform). Please wear sports shoes and socks to participate in Sports Centre games and bring a hat, sunscreen, bathers, and a towel for outside/water activities.
Pre-start Day for Year 8 to 12 Students
New Year 8 to 12 students also have their pre-start day on Friday 30 January 2026 and are to meet at 1.00pm in the Staff Lounge. Dress code is free dress (not your school uniform). Please bring your laptop/device if you have not already attended one of the Device Induction sessions. Parents/Guardians of new Year 8 to 12 students commencing at Kennedy are welcome to join them and the staff in the Staff Lounge for afternoon tea at 3.30pm.
Back to School Information
We look forward to a great start for the commencement of 2026 at Kennedy Baptist College. Term 1 will commence on Monday 2 February 2026 at 8.25am for an 8.30am start. Students are to wear their full summer uniform. The Administration Office is now open for any inquiries or information.
Uniform Shop Opening Hours
During Term 1, the Uniform Shop will be open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8.00am to 4.15pm and closed for lunch from 12.30pm to 1pm. The Uniform Shop will also be open on Wednesdays in Week 1 and 2 to accommodate seasonal uniform changeover. QuickCliq orders are welcome and will be processed within these opening hours.
Term 1 Day 1 Arrangements
As the first day of Term 1 2026 approaches, we want to ensure a smooth start to the school year at Kennedy Baptist College.
Please take note of the following important details for Monday 2 February 2026 by clicking on the link below for full details and see the drop off and pick up point map.
Commencement Ceremony and upcoming Term 1 Assembly Parking
If you are planning to attend these events, the only additional parking available for families will be in Murdoch University Carpark 15, where the synthetic soccer pitches are located. Entrance to this parking is via Discovery Way only.
Murdoch University advises that no visitors, staff or students use the Sports Pavilion car park or the surrounding roads/verges.
Kennedy Buses - New Timing and Route
Please check our website for the updated times. Families will be notified of their confirmed spots via email. For any inquiries regarding your status, please consult our Receptionist.
We are excited to announce a new service route serving Coogee. Other service routes include Booragoon, Canning Highway and Victoria Park. If you would like to use this service, please complete an Expression of Interest form on our website.
Mobile Phone Use
We kindly remind our students that mobile phones are not to be used from 8.00am. They must be switched off and stored in the student’s locker until the end of the day. Please refer to our mobile device policy for more information.
Uniform Requirements
We wish to remind all students of the uniform requirements as per the Uniform Policy on the website.
- Students are to wear full summer uniform including College hats or caps. Hats/caps are to be worn at recess and lunch (when in the sun). They must also be worn during outside sport lessons.
- The College jumper, and not the sports jacket, is to be worn if the weather is cool.
- Uniform pass requests are managed through Parent Lounge (via the Kennedy app).
College Notices
Instrumental Music Enrolments
We are delighted to welcome 3 new tutors to our Music staff - Peter Forgus (Drum tutor), Vevina Yang (Violin and Viola tutor) and a new Music Assistant Nikki Cunningham.
There is a high demand for Instrumental Music lessons at Kennedy, and Term 1 enrolments and timetables are now finalised due to a week 2 start to Term 1 lessons. Students interested in learning instrumental music skills should enrol through the link below for the Term 2 waitlist.
Families who enrolled their child by the deadline for Term 1 lessons (Friday 23 January), will receive their relevant Instrumental Music timetable during week 1, directly from their Music tutor. Any queries about the Instrumental Music program can be directed to Mrs Janelle Anthony on SEQTA.
Specialist Sports - Basketball and Cricket
Communications regarding this year's program will be sent tomorrow, Friday 30 January. The annual fee is required by Term 1, Week 2. This will be invoiced separately from your tuition fees.
Specialist Basketball - Early Morning Sessions
Early morning sessions will commence Week 1 of Term 1 for Year 7, 9,10, 11 and 12 and week 2 for the Year 8 at Kennedy Sports Centre at 6:45am with the Coaching Hoops team.
For these sessions, please notify the Sport Coordinator for Basketball, Ms Andriuolo via SEQTA should your child be unable to attend. We will be recording attendance at morning training sessions.
- Monday and Wednesdays: Year 9-12
- Tuesdays and Fridays: Week 1- Year 7, Week 2 – Year 7 and 8
Specialist Cricket - Early Morning Sessions
Early morning sessions will commence Week 2 of Term 1 at Elite Cricket Training at 6:30am, unless otherwise specified by the Sport Coordinator – Cricket.
Elite Cricket Training:
- Mondays: Kim Hughes and Graeme Wood Shield squad members
- Tuesdays: Year 9s
- Thursdays: Year 7s and specialist girls in the program (all years)
- Fridays: Year 8s
For these sessions, please notify the Sport Coordinator for Cricket, Mr Nathan Kime via SEQTA should your child be unable to attend.
Transport
Regarding transport, students are expected to be at Elite Cricket Training for a 6:30am start and then will be transported back to the College via a College Bus in preparation for the beginning of Homeroom.
Cricket gear
Students are required to bring their cricket gear for technical skills morning training sessions. A secure storeroom on campus is available for storing equipment, which is locked during the day. To access it, students can ask a staff member in the Sports Centre.
At the conclusion of the day, the storeroom will be opened for students to collect their bags, though, if desired, students can leave their bags at school overnight. However, students are reminded to collect their bags and equipment at the end of each week to avoid forgetting them over the weekend.
Pedal Prix Information Session
Maggie Dent Seminar
Kennedy Baptist College is excited to announce that we are hosting a seminar by author of 'Mothering our Boys' Maggie Dent, with first access tickets available to our Kennedy Community.
In this seminar Maggie explores the power of parenting boys in a warm, firm, fair and fun way from birth to adulthood. Despite the name, the seminar is for all parents - mums and dads, carers and educators.
Click below to find out more information about the session and book your ticket today.
Term 1 Kennedy Insights
The Term 1 Kennedy Insights Event will be held on Thursday 19 March at 5.30pm in the Staff Lounge.
Join us for an evening of learning and discussion in an informative and interactive session designed to assist parents in essential strategies to keep our students safe at school, outside of school and online.
We will be hearing from Andrea Muslin, a Protective Behaviours Specialist and ex-police Officer who has a deep understanding in the dynamics and impacts of child sexual abuse and domestic violence.
The Kennedy App
We encourage parents to download the Kennedy App and have Parent Lounge and SEQTA App set up. Login details are emailed to parents prior to the start of the year.
Current families, we encourage you to update your notification preferences according to your child's year and subscribe to the content that matters to you in the Settings section.
SmartRider
New students will receive their Smartrider around the third week of Term 1. They will still be able to use their Smartrider from their previous school, provided there is sufficient credit on the card.
Uniform online order
You are able to order your uniform online through your QuickCliQ account.
This will enable families to purchase uniforms online, ready to collect at the Uniform Shop (during opening hours).
Understanding Kennedy Communication Channels
Regular communication is an essential part of working positively and connecting with our teachers, students, and families to build our community. To maintain an ongoing and genuine dialogue with our College community, we have established a number of ways to share information, foster close relationships, and provide opportunities for families to partner with us in their child’s learning.
We encourage you to read through pages 14 and 15 in the Kennedy Handbook to make sure that you understand the Kennedy communication channels. These communication channels can easily be found and accessed through our Kennedy App.
Lunch Orders
Kennedy utilises Flexischools to offer a simple, convenient way to order your child's meals. When registering with Flexischools, please enter the correct student number from their Smartrider. Additionally, remember to update their homeroom information. This will enable families to add funds for cashless payments in our cafeteria.
Students may purchase food for breakfast, recess, and lunch. Parents/students can order online or by making payment over the counter.
Secondary Assistance Scheme
The Western Australian Government, through the Department of Education, provides an allowance to eligible parents/guardians through the Secondary Assistance Scheme (SAS) to assist families with secondary school costs.
Eligible parents/guardians with students enrolled in Years 7 to 12, studying a full-time secondary course at a Western Australian non-government school will be able to apply for the SAS in 2026.
The allowance consists of two components:
- $115 Clothing Allowance (paid directly to the parent/guardian); and
- $235 Education Program Allowance (paid directly to the College, for the student)
For all enquiries regarding the application process/forms, please visit the College website or speak with one of our Parent Reception staff.
Applications close on Thursday, 2 April 2026.
P&F 2026 AGM Meeting - Including Role Nominations
We are excited for another great year with our Parents and Friends Association and are looking forward to the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 3 March 2026 at 5.00pm. This will also include the Association's first regular meeting for 2026.
At the Annual General Meeting, there will also be an opportunity to nominate for this year's roles, including President and Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Newsletter Coordinator, and Sausage Sizzle Coordinator.
We invite all parents and friends who wish to have a greater impact at Kennedy in 2026 to attend the upcoming AGM, and encourage new families to consider contributing to our committee. For more information, please email the P&F or visit our website.
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 1 2026 Opening Hours
During Term 1 of 2026, the Uniform Shop will be open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8.00am to 4.15pm.
* Closed Wednesday and Friday
* Closed 12.30 to 1.00pm
For more information, please email our Uniform Shop Manager.
Beedawong Cafeteria Menu
We have a well-balanced menu for breakfast, recess and lunch. Everything is baked and cooked fresh daily with great options including baguettes, wraps, salads and hot food varieties such as beef or chicken burgers, beef nachos and hot chicken rolls. Lunch items are available to order online via Flexischools.
Volunteering Opportunities
We value the support of
our volunteers who contribute to the College community!
Volunteer opportunities for 2025 will be made available in Term 1. These opportunities will include assisting at the Swimming Carnival, P&F Assocation 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 12 February 2026
