Dear Parents

As we conclude the Parent Teacher Interviews this week, I sense some relief amongst teachers and parents now that we have been able to reconnect following a period of absence. I thank all our families for their willingness to meet with the class teachers and to discuss how the children are progressing through challenging times. Following the interviews, I feel it is timely to hear from our families on how we can move forward and continue to build a stronger community that supports our children and each other. With the help of the School Advisory Council (SAC), we have compiled a short survey asking for your feedback. The SAC will use this information to consider ways we might meet the needs of our community. The survey is being sent today through Compass. If you do not receive it, please contact the school office for support. Your feedback is welcomed.

In a meeting I had with the Catholic Schools Office (CSO) this morning, I received updated advice on COVID related issues. Needless to say, advice changes daily but for Catholic schools, the advice comes from Catholic Schools NSW. I have been informed that for the remainder of the year, excursions and overnight camps are on hold. This advice may change at any time. The Year 5 Leadership Camp will remain on hold for now but with the hope we may get the go ahead at a later date. If we are unable to sleep over, we will look at modifying the camp to a day attendance only. For Year 6, we have booked a day in Term 4 that will replace the Canberra trip. Please be prepared for changes at any time to these arrangements.

Stage 3 took part in an online link up this week with some of the Manly Sea Eagles and their sport psychologist John Novak. The Boomerang Effect program has been running this year for our Stage 3 students and aims to develop skills in positive thinking and building resilience. Initially, our students were to meet with the players at school earlier this year but for obvious reasons this had to be postponed and moved online.

On Wednesday, we hosted our first LEAP into Learning session for pre-schoolers who start school next year. It was a great opportunity for the children and their parents to get a taste of school and explore ways that children learn through play-based activities. Videos of both these events can be found on our Facebook page or through these links.

Tomorrow is the Feast of the Assumption, one of two holy days in the Church’s calendar, the other being Christmas Day. The feast celebrates the dignity of Mary and her commitment to a life of struggle, joy and hope. St Kieran’s Church will be celebrating with a Vigil Mass this evening at 7.30pm and tomorrow at 8.30am.

Yesterday we welcomed Bellinda D. to Year 3 Blue and the St Kieran’s community. We look forward to Bellinda and her family settling into our school over the next few weeks.

God Bless
Michael Gallagher
Principal

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

KB: Meabh K and Sam W
1B:   Sam T and Cooper T
1W:   Archer M and Angelique C
2B:   Thomas T and Jack H
2W:  Tyler P and Grace P
3B:   Zac B and Harry D
3W:  Sophie M and Maylea C
4B:  Darcy B, Kurtis S, Katelyn W and Lauren O - Bear Pit 2020
4W:  Willow B and Charlotte H
5B:  Sophie N and Lachlan W
5/6:  Amelia R and Joel J
6B:  Tim B and Pia F
PE:  Emma H and Archer M

Excitement in Year 3 is mounting as the children complete their preparation for their First Holy Communion. Parents are reminded to book a Mass time for their child via the Sacramental Program booking site.

Thank you to Fr John Sullivan O.S.A.  who visited our students on Thursday afternoon. The children viewed the sacred vessels close up and asked an array of questions about The Eucharist.   

This Saturday is the Feast of the Assumption. We celebrate Mary who was taken to heaven. Mary was Jesus’ first disciple and a model of faithfulness whom we should try to imitate.  Students remembered this day on Friday through learning-related activities. The Assumption will be the focus of our prayers on Monday morning.  

Yours in Religious Education
    Mrs Kerrie Wetzlar

Our Stage 3 students have been taking part this year in the Boomerang Effect Schools program which teaches Resilience, Wellbeing and Positive Mental Health. They were joined by Tom Trbojevic, Dylan Walker and Brad Parker from the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles on a video link to hear how they have coped with the challenges of 2020 and to ask a few questions.

This is a friendly reminder to enter books read as we are nearing the end of the 2020 Premier’s Reading Challenge which closes on 28 August..92 students have completed the PRC including all of 4W!

There are several students who are nearly finished so there is still time to complete the challenge.

Cool Kids - Taking Control is an online self-help program that is designed to help children (7-12 years) who have been targets of bullying and who also have high levels of anxiety. It is based on the well-known Cool Kids anxiety program developed at Macquarie University in Sydney. The efficacy of Cool Kids - Taking Control in reducing peer victimisation is currently being investigated by a team at Macquarie University.   The program is designed to teach children skills to manage bullying and anxiety with the intent to help them better manage these experiences in social situations. These lessons will be conducted outside of school hours and are designed so that parents work through them with their child over 10 weeks. The family’s progress through the program will be supported by a member of the research team at the Centre for Emotional Health.  For further information click here.

Thank-you again to Vanessa Morello for helping out on Wednesday and Daniella Tivey and Riany Tanner on Friday.
 
Please follow our Canteen Facebook Page! Volunteer opportunities are posted here 😊


Next Week's Volunteers

Wednesday 19 August
Nicole Crane
Morning: Helen Pinks
Afternoon: Kate Page
 
Thursday 20 August
Domeniki Tsagaris
Tammy Brichta
 
Friday 21 August
Lisa Scheenan
Katrina Beaman

Hannah

Great News!  The following activities have resumed this term.

• Drama Scene
• Yoga
• Robotics
• Eye Heart Science
• Speech Pathology
• Band
• Parent/Teacher Interviews
• Musical Rehearsals
• ICAS

Sacramental Program News First Communion 2020

SNHN (Sydney North Health Network) has created a range of useful resources to inform Northern Sydney community members about COVID-19, including:

• ‘COVID-19 testing options explained’ factsheet (linked and attached) – we have outlined the main differences and key details (including links to booking and location information) in a one-page factsheet, so community members can decide which testing option is most appropriate for them and their family
• Community information website, including where to get tested in the Northern Sydney region, advice on maintaining physical and mental health during the pandemic, and more.