Bookings are open until 4pm 23 December for Christmas Masses at St Cecilia’s and St Kieran’s via this link: If necessary you can phone the office 9949 4455.

St Kieran's Christmas Masses

Dear Parents
 

School reports will be available for download from 3pm this afternoon via Compass. Teachers have spent many hours writing the reports which capture the student’s learning over the second semester of the year. It was reassuring to read how each student has shown growth in his or her learning during the second half of the year after the significant interruption of COVID-19 in the first semester. I hope you take some time to read your child’s report with them and to celebrate their successes and encourage them in the areas of challenge.
 
Yesterday the students returning to St Kieran’s in 2021 spent part of the afternoon meeting their teacher for next year. Year 5 today found out their leadership roles for next year and spent the morning with their Year 6 counterparts shadowing them in preparation for next year.
 
Our Year 6 students are in the final few days of their primary schooling which will culminate next week with a lunch, liturgy and dinner. With the lifting of some restrictions around church attendance, the student’s immediate family will be able to attend the Monday evening liturgy but will need to adhere to social distancing rules.
 
Next Wednesday’s End of Year Mass will be held in the church. Unfortunately, we cannot have parents or other family members present, even with the easing of restrictions. The church can only hold up to 280 people with the current 2 square metre rule. We will be farewelling Mrs Sutherland, our Year 6 students and other students leaving with a special blessing. As there will be no parents at the Mass, school will continue as normal until the end of the day. However, if you need to collect your child/ren earlier, you will need to go to the school office via Gordon Street to sign them out through the Compass Kiosk.
 
Thank you to those parents who have indicated their ability to volunteer for one or more of the various positions available. More information on volunteering will be shared next year. Regarding restrictions for 2021, I am expecting further information closer to the return to school. This will be communicated through an email before school commences.
 
The school received the sad news this week that Eddy Paterson, the husband of the late Terri Paterson, previous principal of St Kieran’s, passed away after a long illness. Terri and Eddy leave behind two children and a number of grandchildren. Please remember both Terri and Eddy in your prayers.
 
As this is the last newsletter for the year, I wish to thank the many people who have worked so hard to provide the quality education and care for your children. This includes all our teachers, leadership, support staff, office staff and of course, Kevin. Thank you to the priests of the parish, especially Father Dave and Father John, who give so freely of their time. Thank you to all the parent volunteers who have continued to help in whatever way possible, including the P&F team and the School Advisory Council. Most importantly, thank you to our amazing students who make St Kieran’s the wonderful place that it is.
 
Look out next week for a special treat in the form of a video that captures a year that we will never forget. Thank you to Susanne Foale who has spent many hours putting it together this week.
 
Merry Christmas to all our community. May the blessings of the birth of Christ bring peace and joy to you and your family over the coming holidays and well into the New Year.

God Bless

Principal
Michael Gallagher

No Entry Reminder
Due to COVID restrictions parents are reminded not to cross the school grounds.

Parents may only come to Reception via the Gordon St entrance.

Congratulations to the following students who received Merit awards this week:

KB: Clancy B and Sam W
1B:  All of 1B for a fantastic year of learning and friendships!
1W:  Vitoria L and Charlie M
2B:  Thomas T and Audrey F
2W: Freddy W and Finn W
3B:   Juan D, Dylan G and Ian G
3W:  Sam C, Annabel N, Lucy W, David P, Alexis P and Olivia M
4B:  Katelyn W, Zach T and Lauren O
4W:  Ava W and Hayley O
5B: Tahlia M and Oliver S
5/6: Maddison R and Max H
6B:  All of 6U for a successful final year of primary school
PE:  Max D and Charlie S

Vinnies Christmas Hampers: We offer our sincere thanks to all the families who contributed to the Vinnie’s Christmas hampers this year. Once again, your generosity has been overwhelming. 

Thank you also to those who have volunteered to deliver the hampers in our area. Hampers can be picked up at the Gordon St entrance to the hall from 8.30am on Saturday the 19 December. Should you wish to assist in the delivery of hampers please complete and return the volunteer form as soon as possible. 



PRAYER: As we could not visit the church building this year, the Church came to us in the form of our wonderful Priests of Parish.  Students planned and celebrated liturgies and Masses in their classrooms. Involving ourselves in formal class-based prayer has proved so successful that we intend to continue class celebrations of prayer this way next year.

Our sincere thanks go to Fr John Sullivan OSA and Fr Dave Austin OSA who have answered every call for prayer, Mass, liturgy, scripture talks, sacramental chats, classroom visits and advice. We are richer for having these wise and giving men in our community. 



LIVING IN HOPE: Christ, during His life, showed that He was not seeking people who are perfectly prepared and in control of things. He was interested in people who had difficulties in their lives but who wanted a way out of these difficulties; people who were honest with themselves and of good intention.

Christ today does not expect us to be perfect but to be people of hope, who trust that His coming will have meaningful consequences in our lives. The teenaged Mary and the carpenter Joseph are wonderful examples of how amazing things can occur, if we have hope and trust in God’s word.

THANK YOU:  I would like to thank the teachers and staff of St Kieran’s school for their devotion to the children’s learning and their Religious Education. Teachers have planned creatively and professionally to overcome the many challenges of 2020. Students have enjoyed age-appropriate, quality learning tasks as the teachers have worked hard to bring best practice to the classrooms. 

Thank you also to you, the parents and first educators of our children. Even though this year you have been absent from the physical school, your sayings and teachings have impacted the children and contributed to their growth and development. Teachers can often hear a parent speaking in the words of the child.  Thank you for the way in which you have supported our children and the school community this year.

May I wish everyone a peaceful and happy Christmas and may the love the Christ child brings to our world remain with you always.

Yours in Religious Education,
     Mrs Kerrie Wetzlar

Applications for student travel in 2021 are now open. Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass for 2021 can now apply online. A new application should be submitted if a student is applying for a school travel pass for the first time or requesting an additional pass as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g. joint custody). 

For full details click here.