Yesterday I met with the Director of Schools, Mr Danny Casey, along with some of my colleagues. When asked as to how the return to school was going, I suggested that it was like the beginning of year and end of year rolled into one! It is an exciting time in that we are together once again but it also is challenging as we readjust to the increase in activities. It is important to pace ourselves and our children during the next few weeks so that we get to the end of term with a sense of success and achievement. 

The local member for Manly sent our school a “Notice of Motion” in which he made three mentions of the efforts of our parents, teachers and students during the lockdown. These can be read on the attached copy. 

Sacrament of Confirmation 

Many of our Year 3 students will be making the Sacrament of Confirmation over the next two weekends, beginning in the church this evening. I look forward to being able to congratulate all the students at the conclusion of the sacramental period.  

Parents and Friends Association 

Now that the P&F can meet in person, we hope to be able to hold a meeting in Week 8 on the school premises. In this meeting we will share plans and ideas for 2022, looking at events and opportunities for re-connecting the school community after the interruptions of COVID over the previous two years. More information will come from the P&F beforehand, along with the date and time. 

Tell Them from Me Survey (TTFM) 

This weekend is your last chance to complete the survey. We invite you to participate in the survey which can be accessed at this link.    

Remembrance Day 

Thank you to the Civics and Citizenship leaders and Ms Bombardieri who represented St Kieran’s at the Remembrance Day ceremony held at Manly Dam yesterday. More details can be found in this newsletter.  

God bless, 

   Michael Gallagher
   Principal

Confirmation
This evening the first of our Year 3 students receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Other Confirmation Liturgies will take place over the next two weeks. With this affirmation of their beliefs and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the students begin their journey into participation in the full life of the Church.
 
Students have been guided in their learning by members of our Church. Their parents, teachers, parents of their friends, priests of parish and older children in our school have all given real and touchable examples of life with the Spirit in the Church of Christ.

Students have an innate goodness and see modelling of their faith in those around them. With the powerful gifts of the Spirit, the awesome example given by their parents and friends around them and the prayers of their school and parish communities we wish Year 3 children a wonderful celebration of their Confirmation.



St Vincent De Paul
Christmas Hamper Call Out
St Vincent de Paul has given me a description of the 21 families that our hampers are being gifted to. If you would like to purchase a small gift for a specific person on our list, please send an email to the office and I will send you a description of the person you could buy for. Like a Secret Santa really. Each year I am amazed at the generosity of our community in providing unique gifts for our hamper recipients.

Thank you to the many families that have contributed to the Class Christmas Hampers. We request that all gifts to the class hampers be at school by Thursday 25 November. Parent helpers will check and close hampers, delivering them to the back of the hall on Thursday 2 December. Thank you, we have enough parent helpers for checking and sorting the hampers on 2 December.

We are still asking for families to assist with the Hamper Delivery run on Saturday 18 December from 8 -10.30am.  Families who have participated in the Hamper Delivery Run speak highly of the experience and positive effect on their family.

Never has the adage “many hands make less work” been more appropriate.  If you can assist with the Hamper delivery, please complete this “Expression of Interest”.  All help is gratefully accepted and guided by a St Vincent De Paul representative.  

Yours in Religious Education,
     Mrs Kerrie Wetzlar

Leaving students: To assist with planning class groups for 2022 please complete this google form if your child will be leaving St Kieran's at the end of this year to attend another school. It is a government requirement that we send a student transfer note to the school they will be attending in 2022. Therefore we require information regarding any leaving students including Year 6 students. Please complete by Wednesday 20 October. 

In addition to the google form please notify the school in writing if your child is not returning next year (K - 5 only).

Our Civics and Citizenship team attended the Remembrance Day Ceremony at Manly Dam yesterday.  I accompanied them and felt very proud of how they participated in the event.  Our students had a presence that was both respectful and gracious.  Sienna gave her presentation with style and confidence, sharing with the dignitaries and all the other people who had gathered there, what Remembrance Day means to her. 



Amelia and Dylan lay the wreath at the end of the ceremony with Ollie and Eve looking on.

A very big thank you to Angela Reade who transported the students there and back.
     Marisa Bombardieri

Instructions for ordering, paying and receiving any books you may wish to purchase from the Book Fair is linked here.  Your child will complete their Wish Lists at school then bring them home so they can be paid for. It is important to highlight the goods you have paid for so the correct order is given to your child. The brochure sent home is only a small snippet of the many books available from the Book Fair.

The closing date for the current issue of Book Club is tomorrow, Saturday 13 November.  Online orders only.

From 1 November 2021, the bus service provider in the Northern Beaches area will change from State Transit Authority (Sydney Buses) to Keolis Downer Northern Beaches.

Students, parents or carers applying for a School Opal card will need to nominate Keolis Downer Northern Beaches as their bus operator.

Students with an existing School Opal card will automatically have Keolis Downer Northern Beaches added to their travel entitlement.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out via this link.

The Canteen is open for online orders only.  Orders will be taken to the classroom for students.  There will be no over-the-counter orders or service. 

I want to say a big Thank-you to the following Volunteers for helping in the Canteen this week!

• Nell Laime
• Alyson Perry
• Shahn Schwarz
• Rebecca Mirabito
• Natalie Mirabito
• Kylie Langford

If you have not filled in the Volunteer Canteen form for next year but are able to help please send me a message on 0438 433 231 or email. 

We are looking for Volunteers across all days, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday. One day a term, either half or full day shift. The kids love seeing their parents or grandparents in the Canteen 😊  
 
Thank-you,
Hannah Davidson
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