Photo above: The Year 12 Colour Dash was a great ending to our House Day!

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians and Families,

As we delve deeper into the academic year, we find ourselves at a pivotal juncture where preparation and strategic planning are crucial for our Year 9-12 students to succeed in their semester examinations. These exams not only serve as a measure of academic progress but also as a stepping stone towards future success. Encouraging disciplined study habits, effective time management, and seeking assistance when needed can greatly enhance our students' confidence and performance during this critical period.

Community Open Day

We are thrilled to announce that Kennedy Baptist College will be hosting our Open Day on Saturday 17 August from 11.00am to 3.00pm. Following our 30 Year Celebration in the morning of that day, our Community Open Day will provide an invaluable opportunity for current community members and prospective families to explore our vibrant campus, engage with our dedicated faculty, and gain insights into the rich educational experience we offer. We encourage all current parents to spread the word and invite friends and family to join us on this special day.

Behind the scenes, our Parents and Friends Open Day Committee are hard at work planning and organising this important event for our school community and we extend our gratitude to all members involved in this preparation. I encourage you to be involved in our Open Day and to reach out to the Committee if you would like to offer support in any way.

Wonderful Mother's Day Breakfast

In celebration of Mother's Day, Kennedy Baptist College hosted a heartwarming breakfast event that honoured the incredible mums and mother-figures within our community. It was great sharing together with our guest speaker Sidhara Udalagama as we showed appreciation for all that our mothers are. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated and helped make this event a resounding success, including the staff of our Beedawong Cafeteria.

Let us continue to support and encourage our students as they navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Together, we can empower them to reach their full potential and achieve great things.

Mr Mark Ashby
Principal

Chaplain Chats

The world of our students is moving at such a pace that keeping up with cultural trends can be difficult for both parents and students. I try, as a Chaplain, to keep connected to the movements and influences that are happening all around us. But sometimes culture moves and many of us only become aware until after it has changed: blink and you miss it!

Yet some things stay the same and one question being asked is very similar to another asked several thousand years ago. We know about this two-thousand-year-old question because it is recorded in the most read book in history. In the Bible, we follow a conversation on the last day of Jesus’ life, when he is talking to a very powerful man, Pontius Pilate, who was the Roman governor of Judea. Their back-and-forth is a fascinating read, with Jesus responding to Pilate’s inquiries by telling him that truth seekers would listen to Jesus. This drew a question from Pilate that is still being asked today, especially by our students. Pilate retorts, “What is truth?”

In this modern world, the rise of artificial intelligence, the growth of private online interactions and the increase in media spin is causing our young people to return to this same question. We can now hear recordings or watch videos of people saying or doing things that are entirely generated by artificial intelligence, while ‘fake news’ channels can show a ‘real’ image that can support two contrasting views. This blurring of reality is leaving young people and all of us in this culture distrustful of any truth!

In caring for our students, I can only point to and display the one thing that has continued to remain true for me, and so many others for so long: Jesus is the truth.

Curriculum Report

Parent-Teacher Interviews

Thank you to all parents who attended meetings with teachers. There were 682 parents booked in to speak with 89 teachers, for a total of 3517 interviews. Parents indicated that the time spent with teachers was worthwhile and a positive experience. I would encourage all parents to keep up to date with their child’s progress through SEQTA.

Examinations

Examinations for students in Years 9-12 make Term 2 a busy academic term. The examination period indirectly tests students’ study techniques and time management skills, and student self-evaluation of these skills is crucial.

I would encourage parents to ask reflective questions of their child in the coming week and avoid adding your own observations. Some questions you could ask are: Do you study each week for…?; How much extra time did you study for…?; How did you study, re-write notes, practice problems?; What did you find effective?; What would you do differently next time?; What can I do to help you?

Many students work consistently to consolidate their learning, review material and prepare for assessments. If this is your child, I would strongly encourage guardians to praise their child’s effort regardless of the outcome.

Year 11 Course Changes

Some Year 11 students may be considering a change of course. Typically, students who are achieving at less than a C grade change their courses at this time of the year. Mr Jiow and I are currently prioritizing students who need to change two or more ATAR courses. Students have been informed of the opportunity to change via a SEQTA notice. Course changes must be completed prior to Monday 17 June.

Course selections for 2024

Students in Years 7-11 will begin to select courses for 2024. The decisions about the number of classes per course, staffing and other resource needs are driven by student choice. It is essential that all students and families participate in the selection process.

Information about courses will be distributed to families and will also be available on the College website. Selections are made electronically with students and a parent signing off on each student’s selections. A video showing the electronic process will be available for students and families to watch.

Please ensure that you are aware of all deadlines for course selections. All year groups will be required to complete the process by the end of term.

Pastoral Care Report

Term 2 is well underway, and we started the term with an Assembly and ANZAC Day service led by our College Student Executive Team. It was a special moment as we acknowledged our newly elected Year 7 student leaders and those who achieved the prestigious College Colours Award. One of the highest individual Honours at Kennedy Baptist College, this award recognises student achievement and contribution across many aspects of college life. It's something we hope all our students will aspire to. The criteria for the award includes consideration of:

• College Representation
• Leadership Roles
• Academic Standing
• Attitude and Behaviour

The Duke of Edinburgh Award offers a chance for further recognition of student achievements both in and out of school. Mrs Amanda Jean, our Award Leader, has recently sent out information to families, and I encourage you to discuss this opportunity with your child. The Award aligns with our College Values, focusing on voluntary service, physical recreation, organisational and leadership skills, and the formation of an ‘adventurous journey’. We look forward to many more students joining this valuable international program.

Last week, our Pastoral Care program hosted a significant event with our first House Day. The day was planned to build unity in our college, and students were put into vertical House groups together with students from Year 7 all the way through to Year 12. The House Coordinators carefully planned activities for these Vertical Forms, and these activities were based on our College Values of faith, integrity, boldness, growth, and service.

The day also involved activities during an extended Recess and a fantastic Art Showcase, and House representation in a Cross Country that included a Lapathon and Colour Run. I want to thank our House coordinators for the time and effort spent planning such a big day, and we look forward to running more activities in our Vertical Form group structure.

As we approach the exam period, I want to remind students that they are not alone. Our mentor program for Year 12 students is continuing strongly while our dedicated Pastoral Care team remain available to provide the support you need. Don't hesitate to reach out if you need extra assistance.

Kennedy News

House Day

Our first ever House Day was jam-packed with community building events as we embraced the fun, the strength, and the chaos of our community. The day was structured by the initiative of Vertical Forms, where students gathered together in House groups rather than year groups as a way to encourage a broader view of the College community, before we all came together for the Arts Showcase in the Auditorium.

This positive energy spilled out onto the Murdoch Sports Grounds in the afternoon as our students competed in the Interhouse Cross Country and a colour-filled Lapathon event. It's hard to think of a better way to have finished a day building and celebrating the Kennedy community than to have our students leave covered in the colours of our four houses!

To find out more about this extraordinary day, check out our latest blog post or click on the below links to see some of the images from the day. Please note that the link to the images will expire at the end of May.

Chinese Language Awards

When learning a life skill, it is important to recognise the efforts of our students alongside their academic results. One way that we achieve this is by offering opportunities for awards and competitions outside of the College. We celebrate two students, Sohee (Year 11) and Gregory (Year 12) for their recent achievements in the Chinese Language Area.

Sohee was awarded the Chinese Language Award from the Australia-China Friendship Society Western Australia. This annual award is designed to honour and encourage students who are without cultural links and yet have made a significant effort towards the study of Chinese language and culture throughout the year.

Gregory was recognised for his Mandarin Chinese during the “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition alongside students from WA, ACT and NT. This competition consists of a paper test, a themed speech, and a talent show. Gregory received an Excellence Award for his work and, reflecting on the competition, says that “because of this experience, I have unlocked a confidence in my Chinese learning journey that further encourages me to have a bold and motivated mindset.”

College Notices

30 Years of Educational Excellence

We are inviting our esteemed alumni and former staff to join us on Saturday 17 August when we celebrate 30 Years since the Kennedy Baptist College community began with the founding of Winthrop Baptist College. Opening its doors to 57 students in 1994, Winthrop was followed by Somerville Baptist College in 1999. These two exceptional Secondary Colleges merged to become Kennedy Baptist College in 2013, forming one of the leading co-educational schools in Perth's south.

As part of our preparations for this event, we have been going through the archives and rediscovering some great moments in our shared history. In our first Flashback Friday, we posted images of the earliest years; 1994 and the beginning of Winthrop with a set of classroom blocks still in use today. Make sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram as we explore more historic moments!

School Photographs - Week 9

Annual school photos are to be taken in Week 9 of this term, on Monday 10 June and Tuesday 11 June. All students are required to wear full Winter Uniform, including their blazer, for these photographs. More information will be sent out closer to the date.

Kennedy Insight - 23 May

Our next Kennedy Insight for parents and community members is set to take place next week. Please join us for this important parent forum where wellness professional Christina Self will outline the importance of having and developing positive body image, including how we can foster this more positive outlook in both ourselves and our young people.

This event is for adults only. Please RSVP using the link below.

The next newsletter will be published on:
Thursday 30 May 2024.