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Photo above: With tickets now available, our Annie: The Musical casts previewed the 2025 show.
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents/Guardians and Families,
It is remarkable to realise how much we have achieved in our Kennedy community this year. It is wonderful to reflect on the many highlights we have had across our academic learning areas, as well as the fantastic co-curricular opportunities that have been provided in 2024.
These community and personal highlights are the result of the combined hard work of staff, parents and students, and it was a pleasure to celebrate some of these achievements on Tuesday with the presentation of a wide range of awards. Thank you to all our families who attended our Year 7-10 Awards Assembly.
There are several staff who will be finishing their time with us and leaving Kennedy to pursue further opportunities. Thank you for your commitment to making Kennedy even better for our students and community.
Staff departing Kennedy include:
- Mr Rory Najjar (Physical and Health Education)
Congratulations to Mr Najjar on his appointment as Head of Physical and Health Education at Austin Cove Baptist College. - Ms Elizabeth Simes (Dance and Drama)
- Mr James Siggins (English)
- Mrs Andrea Mostert (Mathematics)
- Mrs Ash Goinden (English)
- Mrs Colleen Ng (Science)
- Mr Tiaan Boshoff (Physical and Health Education)
- Ms Chyrmin Leong (Science)
- Ms Katie Lindley (Administration Office Manager)
We also will see Mrs Ashleigh Fletcher and Ms Briana Norton depart for maternity leave throughout 2025. We pray that this exciting time is all that you hope for.
Thank everyone in our College community for your ongoing support this year. As we look forward to an exciting 2025, I would like to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic safe and relaxing holiday.
Mr Mark Ashby
Principal
Chaplain Chats
“Love can only be found through the act of loving.” (Paulo Coelho)
To put a bow (Christmas reference) on 2024, I need to finish with this one last Chaplain Chat.
Our most powerful memories, the ones that last the longest, are created with emotion. When events happen, the feeling attached to it gives the memory weight. From my experience, the weightiest emotions for memories are fear and love, extreme and opposite emotions!
I mention this because we have come to the end of a year, and the only thing that remains from 2024 will be lasting memories. As we move forward, the bulk of this year’s memories are going to be swallowed up by the next year. All that will remain of the effort and energy of this year is how it lasts in memories. I have come to realise that one of the main purposes of life is to leave a legacy. Many of the things that we do, enjoy and pursue end with us, but to construct a legacy is to leave a mark on others.
The opening quote speaks into this idea of reminding others what love is by loving, creating a a legacy of love. This legacy is in turn a reminder of the love of our Creator. Remember that our design is to love and so, this Christmas, lean into extravagant acts of loving others in such a way that a memory is formed. Create those powerful and weighty memories that last a lifetime. Make a memory in others that leaves them with the undeniable feeling that they are loved by you. If this is the legacy you leave, you will have found the secret to life: you were made to love.
Kennedy News
Year 7-10 Awards Assembly
Our final Awards Assembly was a great way to finish a year of learning and growth. Together, we celebrated the achievements of our Year 7-10 students in 2024 and experienced a taste of what next year will bring, with a performance from our ‘Annie: The Musical’ casts.
Alongside Subject Awards and other recognition of achievements, we announced the Dux for each of our attending year groups. The recipients were:
Helligaard (Year 7)
Mitchell (Year 8)
Nikki (Year 9)
Aleisha (Year 10)
Congratulations to our other students who received great awards during the assembly, including Isobel (Year 10) and Janak (Year 10) who were recognised with awards from the Australian Defence Force.
We welcomed special guests for this occasion, including Board Chair Nina Tassell who addressed the students before our traditional House Point Draw. This live draw saw the following students receive a $50 gift voucher: Connor (7H2), Hannah (8F1), Eban (9F1) and Jayden (10K1).
Well done to our students on their success this year. We are excited to see what you can achieve in 2025.
Movember Success!
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our College's Movember fundraiser, whether through your donations, time, effort, or all of the above!
There were some great innovations this year, including a sausage sizzle, a bake sale and a basketball competition, all helping build up our community around a good cause.
While the Mo's may have come off, there's still time to donate and help us reach $5000!
Volunteer Afternoon Tea
Thank you to our volunteers for being an essential part of Kennedy Baptist College in 2024. We held an afternoon tea earlier this week as a small way to acknowledge, celebrate and honour their contribution.
We hope that the opportunities for volunteering at the College have helped to connect you to other parents and families.
Thank you once again for your time and talents in enhancing the Kennedy Baptist College community. We look forward to welcoming each of you back next year.
Honouring our Retiring Staff
Along with the retirements of several teachers at the end of this year, Kennedy Baptist College also honours Mr David Scorer, who has been a Kennedy bus driver since the beginning of our bus program.
The work of our operational staff is essential to the College and it was important to celebrate Mr Scorer this week alongside our retiring teachers, namely:
- Mr Ian Wilmot
- Mr Andrew Arnold
- Mrs Catherine Van Der Kooij
College Notices
Annie: The Musical - Tickets Now Available!
Tickets are now available for Kennedy Baptist College’s production of ‘Annie: The Musical’!
We’re beyond excited to see our students shine when they take to the Kennedy Auditorium early next year, backed by our talented orchestra.
Click on the link below to reserve your seat before it's too late!
School Term Dates for 2025
We hope that families are already enjoying their time together after the conclusion of Term 4 earlier this week on Tuesday 3 December. Term 1, 2025 will commence on Monday 3 February at 8.15am. Students are to wear their full summer uniform.
More information about term dates at Kennedy in 2025 can be found here.
Term 1, 2025 - Transperth Buses
Please note that Kennedy Baptist College Term dates do not follow those of State Government schools. As a consequence of this, Transperth Bus routes 512 and 514 will not run to Kennedy during the first two days of Term 1. Buses to Discovery Way will still be operating during this time, with students able to walk across the Murdoch Sports Oval and enter the Campus by the Sports Centre.
Administration Office and Uniform Shop Holiday Hours
The Administration Office will be closed from 10.00am Friday 6 December 2024 and will reopen at 8.30am 8 January 2025. Please also note that the Administration Office will be closed Wednesday 29 January for staff professional learning.
The Uniform Shop will be closed for the school holidays and reopening Tuesday 28 to Thursday 30 January for all families (8.00am-3.45pm, closed for lunch 12.30-1.00pm). Incoming Students who have booked January fitting appointments between Saturday 18 and Friday 24 January will be sent a reminder of their appointment closer to the date. Pre-Start families are welcome to visit the Uniform Shop during the day on Friday 31 January.
Our team aims to begin answering any queries on Friday 17 January regarding uniform fitting inquiries and QuickCliq orders.
During Term 1 of 2025, the Uniform Shop will be open Monday to Thursday 8.00am to 3.45pm, and closed for lunch 12.30 to 1.00pm.
2025 Booklists
Booklists for 2025 are now available. To determine what texts and equipment needs to be ordered, you will need to use your child’s 2025 timetable.
Please refer to the letter regarding accessing timetables on SEQTA sent on Tuesday 3 December for more information. This email also includes further information about school reports and resolving SEQTA issues.
Instrumental Music Enrolments
Families are reminded that all students who wish to take part in weekly music lessons in Term 1 of 2025 must be enrolled or re-enrolled by Friday 24 January 2025.
For any queries about the Instrumental Music or Ensemble program, please email our coordinator here.
Wellbeing Support During Holiday Break
Kennedy has several support programs in place for our students during school Term from our Pastoral Care team. With our team unavailable during the holiday break, we encourage students to consider registering for 'Momentum', a free online resource for young people aged 7-17 years.
We look forward to continuing our professional support for students and community in 2025.
2024 Yearbook
We anticipate that the 2024 Yearbook will be available by the end of February 2025. Please note that the Yearbook will be sent home with your eldest child.
The Graduation Class of 2024 will be able to collect their copy at the Alumni Afternoon Tea on Friday 23 February 2025.
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 2025 Opening Hours
During Term 1 of 2025, the Uniform Shop will be open Monday to Thursday 8.00am to 3.45pm.
* Closed Fridays.
* Closed for lunch 12.30 to 1.00pm.
For more information, please 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 and wraps to order via our online ordering system at www.quickcliq.com.au. See the link for the menu.
Volunteering Opportunities
We value the support of
our volunteers who contribute to the College community!
Volunteer opportunities for 2025 will be made available closer to the start of Term 1, including assisting the P&F Association with their volunteering efforts and book covering in the RASC.
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 30 January 2024.
