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14 May 2021

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Dear Parents

Kindergarten led a beautiful liturgy for their mothers and grandmothers this morning that pulled at the heartstrings. The prayers and song spoke of the loving bond between mother and child. It was a delight to have many of our parents gathering once again as a community. I hope all our mothers had a special day last Sunday with their family. 

Benefits of Staying Until Year 6 

The information evening held in The Hub last night was well attended with a couple of guest speakers that included Mr Michael Reid, Principal of St Paul’s Manly and Mrs Katrina Rowan, parent, teacher and Chair of the St Kieran’s School Advisory Council. Feedback from those who attended was very positive and already I have had requests from parents who were unable to attend for more information. I am more than happy to meet with you to discuss the many benefits of staying at St Kieran’s. Many thanks to the parents and teachers who gave up their evening to be there. 

National Families Week 

Tomorrow marks the beginning of National Families Week and coincides with the first Family Mass to be held since the start of COVID. The theme for the week is Stronger Families, Stronger Communities which resonates with our own school community. Research shows that connection to community builds wellbeing and good mental health for adults and children alike.  Whether it be through sporting clubs, activity groups, schools or churches, it is important that we feel we “belong” with others. This Sunday, it is the Year 1 Family Mass with many families attending. I ask all families to consider joining Year 1 at the 9.30am Mass as we gather again as the Catholic community of St Kieran’s.  

I ask you to keep in your thoughts and prayers the families in our community who have relatives overseas battling the devastating effects of COVID-19, especially in India, Brazil and North America.  

St Kieran’s Cocktail Evening 

Tickets continue to sell for the Cocktail Evening to be held on Friday 28 May. I am excited to announce that we have a fantastic lucky door prize worth $500 which will be drawn on the night. The prize is Taronga Zoo’s Roar and Snore: Sydney’s Ultimate Sleepover which includes accommodation in a comfortable tent, dinner and breakfast. Other lucky door prizes are to be won. If you haven't bought your tickets yet, get in quick before they close. It would be wonderful to get as many of our St Kieran’s community together for what promises to be a great night. For more details about the Cocktail party visit your FB class pages. 

NAPLAN 

Both Year 3 and 5 participated in NAPLAN this week with assessments concluding today. Congratulations to all our students who took part in this national event. 

Happy Birthday Kevin 

“Our Kevin” celebrates his birthday tomorrow. We are blessed to have someone who gives so much time and energy to support our school and parish communities. We wish you health and happiness in the year ahead. Don’t forget to wish Kevin a “happy birthday” when you see him around the school. 

Coming Up 

The Mother’s Day raffle will be drawn at Monday morning’s assembly which will be followed by Open Classrooms. The Parents and Friends Association meeting is on Monday 24 May at 6.30pm in The Hub. More details in next week’s newsletter. 

God bless,

   Michael Gallagher
   Principal

2021 School Dates and Terms

May
Sun 16: 9.30am Year 1 Family Mass
Mon 17:  9 - 9.30am Open Classrooms - Mathematics
               6.30pm P&F Leadership Meeting
Wed 19:  National Simultaneous Storytime
Thurs 20: Stage 3 Excursion to Manly Dam
Fri 21:  Yoga K-2
Mon 24:  Athletics Carnival at Narrabeen
               200 Years of Catholic Education Mass
               6.30pm P&F meeting - all welcome
Tues 25:  Broken Bay Cross Country
Fri 28:   8.45am - 10.30am St Kieran's Playgroup
              Yoga K-2
              Cocktail Evening at Manly Pavilion 
Mon 31:  Vinnies Winter Appeal collection commences this week
June
Fri 4:  Yoga K-2
           5.30pm Stage 3 Vinnies Winter Sleepout
Mon 7:  10am Open Day
Sun 13:  6pm Parish Youth Mass
Tues 15:  Stage 2 Gala Day
Wed 16:  GIFT Cooking Yr 3 parents
Thurs 17: Stage 3 Gala Day
Fri 18:  Assembly Yr 4
Sun 20: 9.30am Yr 3 Family Mass
Thurs 24:  End Term 2 for students
Fri 25: Staff Development Day - Pupil Free
July
Mon 12:  Term 3 Commences
Fri 23:  Grandparents Day tbc
August
Thurs 12:  Northern Beaches Athletics Carnival
Fir 13: 7.30pm Confirmation
Sat 14: Confirmation 10am, 12pm & 3pm
September
Fri 10:  Kinder 2022 Transition 1
Thurs 16:  End Term 3 for students
Fri 17:  Staff Development Day - Pupil Free tbc
October
Tues 5:  Term 4 Commences
Thurs 7:  Kinder 2022 Transition 2
Tues 19:  Kinder 2022 Transition 3
November
Fri 5:  Kinder 2022 Transition 4
December
Wed 15:  Last day for students
 
Please note that dates may be subject to change.  Remember to check your Compass App for any updates.

2021 Term Dates

Term 2:  Monday 19 April to Friday 25 June
Term 3:  Monday 12 July to Friday 17 September
Term 4:  Tuesday 5 October to Friday 17 December
 
Did you know that the Compass Calendar updates automatically to our website?  It's easy to view on your mobile phone. Click on the button below to access.
School Dates

NAPLAN

This week we have seen our Year 3 and Year 5 students sit for the NAPLAN Test.  This is the first time in two years our students have completed the test since in 2020, we couldn’t complete it due to COVID.

We hear, in the media constant and regular debate over the validity of NAPLAN and it seems that no matter what theories, policies or tests we have in Education – everyone has an opinion!

Dr Bronwyn Hinz, Policy Fellow at the Mitchell Institute, Victoria University, was questioned about NAPLAN and she stated that some schools and parents have overemphasised or even misunderstood the importance of the NAPLAN tests, which she believes is not a high-stakes test.  She goes on to say that “NAPLAN is a point-in-time test of a just a few, albeit important – subjects which can be compared to the same data collected at other times and around Australia, to help work out, among other things and alongside other data, the effects of different education programs and policies, and the places where additional resources could make the greatest impact.”  She believes that “NAPLAN does not replace the much deeper, more sophisticated and more frequent formative or summative assessments of student learning done by teachers, nor does it provide judgement on how “good” a student, teacher or school might be.”

As educators who typically work with a cohort of students for a school year, NAPLAN is but one aspect of data that is used to determine progress in student learning.  NAPLAN is particularly useful when comparing student growth over a number of years and it supports teachers in identifying needs associated with a specific cohort.  There are many more assessments however, collected and collated throughout a typical year of schooling and it is all these assessments, including NAPLAN that provide a detailed picture of students’ achievement and learning.

A reminder: Open Classrooms
We have OPEN CLASSROOMS on Monday morning straight after assembly.  You are invited into the classrooms to see how students develop their mathematical skills in a Numeracy Block.  Classrooms will be open from 9.00-9.30 am.  I look forward to seeing you there.
 
Have a lovely weekend.
     Marisa Bombardieri, Assistant Principal

Religious Education - Vinnies Winter Sleepout

The Mission Team is busy preparing for our annual mini  ‘ Vinnies Winter Sleep Out’ on Friday 4 June (Week 7).   

We would like to offer our Stage 3 students an opportunity to ‘walk in the shoes’ of a homeless person - to experience what being homeless may feel like at night and at the same time, to raise funds and donations of blankets to St Vincent de Paul for the homeless.

As part of the experience of giving and connecting to the lives of those less fortunate, students are asked to earn a donation as part of their ‘Winter Sleep Out’ experience, by doing extra jobs around their home or community. Jobs may include extra cleaning, weeding, washing the car or putting out the bins. In keeping with safe COVID practices we request that all donations be made via the QKR app under the title ‘Vinnies Winter Sleep Out’. Donations of blankets and sleeping bags can be brought on the evening of the sleep-out. 

During Week 7 we encourage all members of our school community to bring in blankets, good second-hand warm clothing, new warm socks or do some jobs at home to earn a donation to the Vinnies Winter appeal.

Whilst some members of our school are commencing their learning about the power of the Holy Spirit given in Confirmation, older members of our school are putting the gifts of the Holy Spirit into action by highlighting social justice and helping others in need.

Year 1 Family Mass this Sunday Morning 9.30am.  

Coming together as families is one of the building blocks of our Catholic faith and all families are warmly invited to attend the Year 1 Family Mass this Sunday morning at 9.30am. Given the importance of ‘Family” a blessing for families will be offered at Mass this weekend.

Yours in Religious Education,
     Mrs Kerrie Wetzlar

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS

Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrate a birthday this week:

9 May:  Angelique C and Joshua M
10 May:  Oliver C
14 May:  Vitoria L and Jacinta W
15 May:  Ryan W, Mia L and Thomas D

SCHOOL  NEWS

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

KB: Amelie A and Anneliese H
KW: Jake L and Mary H
1B:  Emily X, Clancy B, Miles C, Ivy A and Alicia D
2B:  Charlie C and Cooper T
2W: Ryan W and Annabel M
3B:  Luke W, Eli A and Poppy E
3W: Maddox W and Sarah C
4B: Annabel N and Eva H
4W: Olivia J, Mila C and David P
5B:  Emilia G and Sophie O
5/6:  Aoife S and Darcy B
6B:  Keira L and Nicholas H
PE:  Jj P and Sebastian O
Italian:  Toby S, Freddy W, Leon A, Madison B, Asher K, Phoebe K, Zac F, Aidan C, Erica K, Sophia S, Brooke B, Aaron C, Aoife S, Malgorzata K and April U

National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) 

Next Wednesday, the whole of St Kieran’s School, as well as many other students around Australia and New Zealand, will participate in NSS. Students in K-2 have been preparing in Library lessons and the 3-6 students with their class teachers. The story this year is “Give Me Some Space” by Philip Bunting.



This year we were able to participate in a science experiment from the International Space Station! On Wednesday, the Library team collected temperature data in the school playground and shared this data. This, along with satellite data, will be used to map the temperature of Australia. The experiment is designed to shed some light on the important issue of climate change. We will also receive feedback on the results of the experiment.


Important

All visitors to the school must sign in via the Compass kiosk located at school reception.

Dismissal Times: 2.50pm for Carpark
2.55pm for bus and playground pick up


Any student who shows COVID symptoms must not attend school and requires a negative test result before returning.

Sibling Enrolments

If you have a child starting in 2022 please forward their application to the school as soon as possible.  Applications are available from the school website. 

CANTEEN NEWS

Volunteers - Please remember to sign in at the Compass Kiosk at reception when you arrive at school.

Upcoming Volunteers
  • Wednesday 19 May:  Jenny Schofield and Jasmine Orlando
  • Thursday 20 May:  Domeniki Tsagaris and Tammy Brichta
  • Friday 21 May: Lisa Gashovski and Daniella Tivey
 Thank you
     Hannah, Canteen Coordinator, 0438 433 231 

Extra Curricula Opportunities

Chess Term 2
Term 2 Chess has commenced in Room 4 at 1pm after students have had their lunch. Click here to access the Sydney Academy of Chess. 

Evergreen Music
Enrolments are now open for Mixed Ensembles on a Tuesday morning prior to school.  All instruments including voice are catered for. Please click here for information. 

Young Investigators Science - Term 2 Enrolment
We have two classes available in Term 2 on both Wednesday & Thursday mornings. To enrol or for further information please click here.  
    Alana Wylie PhD - Eye Heart Science
 

Term 2 Drama
To enrol click here.
     Stephanie Waites, Drama Teacher -  0407 235 914


Michael Grose
 is a former teacher and one of Australia's leading parenting and educational writers and speakers. He is the author of nine books for parents, plus 'Parenting Ideas' which offers a wide variety of parenting and educational resources from renowned experts including himself.  Please click on the link for this week: 
Why family rituals really matter
 

Entertainment Book Memberships

There’s a new promotion for Entertainment memberships with a free upgrade to a multi-city membership if you buy a single city one. The promotion ends Monday 31 May.
Click here to support us now. Any questions please do not hesitate to contact Susan Nicols at slnicols@hotmail.com.
Before and After School Care Contact Details
Compass Guide for Parents

PARISH NEWS

Masses

For all Parish Bulletins from the Catholic Community of North Harbour please click here.

Parish Gospel and Homily Live Streaming Facebook or via YouTube

For information regarding the Sacraments please contact Janette Davidson on 0408 866 521 or via email.
 

Sacramental Program News for Parents of Children in Year 3 and Older

CONFIRMATION INFORMATION SESSION FOR ALL PARENTS WITH CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM (approx. 1 hour):
Tues 8 June, 9.30am OR Wed 9 June, 7.00pm both in St Kieran’s Church.

Online Enrolment information will be available in the coming weeks.

BAPTISM OF YOUNG CHILDREN PROGRAM
The parish offers a preparation program for families (where one or both parents are Catholic) with:
  • children aged from 7yrs to 11yrs who are not baptised and would like to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.
  • children who have been baptised into another Christian denomination who wish to be received into the Catholic Church and participate in the Sacramental  Program.
Our program will be offered this term on Sunday 16, 23 and 30 May.
Please email Janette or phone 0408 866 521 if you would like a copy of the program.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Come, Rest and Reflect Retreat

Catholic Schools Broken Bay is holding a retreat for parents at Kincumber on 30 July.  Please click here for details.
Copyright © 2021 St Kieran’s Manly Vale, All rights reserved.


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