Dear Parents

On Tuesday we hosted two Open Day sessions at 9.15am and 6.30pm.  The attendance was well supported by prospective families who were very impressed with St Kieran’s offerings, programs and classroom spaces when visited on the school tours guided by the Civics & Citizen Year 6 team - Emelia, Sienna, Jake and Darcy. These students sold the school through their confidence, reflective speeches and knowledge of the school as they guided the visitors on tour and answered their questions.  We are so proud of them!  The visitors were also impressed by the school Band playing an ensemble musical piece and the Choir singing prepared by Mrs Donna Hoy, Music teacher. A huge thank you to parents Mrs Katrina Beaman and Mr Wayne Reade (with his daughter Amelia an ex student who presented) on the School Advisory Council that presented a speeches on behalf of St Kieran’s parents.  I am grateful to St Paul’s College, Manly principal Michael Reid who invited his Assistant Principal, Karen Shawcross to attend on his behalf with two former students of the school.  Thank you to Bec Tomas from the P&F who organised parents to volunteer with hospitality.  Julie Postle worked so hard behind the scenes to ensure a smooth running of this event.  In all, it was very obvious that St Kieran’s school community is well connected, supportive and proud of our great school and what makes us special.
 
This week we have had a spike in positive Covid cases in the school.  I encourage parents, staff and students to wear masks on the school site as an added precaution.  The staff and students have been given RAT testing kits to take home this week.  You are strongly encouraged to do the testing twice a week and inform the school if there is a positive case. Monitor for flu-type symptoms and stay home if you are unwell. The isolation period is still 7 days if you are a close contact or test positive (but return on a negative result).
 
On Friday of last week, we had the first Friday Fun Day at lunch time.  This is an initiative the SRC leaders put forward as an idea to engage students in fun passive and active play during the lunch break.  It was well received by all students due to the SRC leaders carefully planning and organising the activities for all to enjoy. View post on Facebook.  When the weather permits and grass at the Oval is mowed by Council, we will return the Year 3-6 students to play at lunch times on Monday to Thursday.  We will be trialling a new initiative to eat lunch at the park rather than the rush to eat at school.  We encourage the students from Year 3-6 to bring a water bottle and lunch if possible in a wrapper rather than a lunch box.  This way they are not carrying too many things to the park and reducing the risk of leaving their lunch box behind if they forget to bring it back to school.  I am very proud of the SRC for organising such fun activities that have brought so much enjoyment to every student.  
 
I have communicated to you the media release launched by Bishop Anthony Randazzo about CSBB initiating a working party and strategic plan for community consultation to grow the opportunities offered at St Paul’s College Manly.  We look forward to this consultation rolling out this year.  For your information here is the Media Release.
 
It was decided at the P&F meeting on Monday 7 March that we would support the Flood Appeal for the devastated areas impacted in the Catholic Diocese of Lismore.  The P&F are holding an Easter Raffle and the Mission & Liturgy Year 6 team will organise a Mufti Day on Friday 25 March.  The students can wear mufti and donate a gold coin toward the appeal.

On Tuesday 22 March Yr 1 will be holding a cake stall (cakes, slices and fruit skewers) with donated funds going to CARITAS.
 

 
This Friday, 18 March 2022, is the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA).
 
Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative celebrates 12 years of action, connecting schools and communities to find solutions to prevent bullying.
 
The theme for 2022 is Kindness Culture.
 
By building a Kindness Culture together, we can promote inclusion, respect and a community of belonging for all students in schools across Australia.
 
Here at St Kieran’s, we do not tolerate bullying! We say “Bullying, NO WAY!”
 
This week is our chance to really BE KIND to everyone!
 
Each class will be involved in activities this week that raise awareness of kindness and respect towards everyone. We will all be reminded - where there is respect, there is no bullying.
 
Orange is the official colour of harmony and kindness. On Friday 18 March we would like you to come to school dressed in school or sport uniform wearing a touch of orange.
 
The best protection against bullying is to report it to the right person who can listen and act upon the information.  The best person at school is the class teacher or principal.  We follow up every report with strategies to prevent and education around learning better choices that support our safety and respect culture.  Parents are always consulted in the process so that mutual understanding forms the basis of our common strategy together.  
 
Let’s remember to BE KIND TO EVERYONE!

Kind regards
Anna
    Anna Marsella
    Principal

Holy Week Liturgies  
It has been lovely to welcome our parents back into the playground. To see children and parents greet each other in the afternoon is delightful and something we appreciate.

Teachers and students have commenced learning in their Lent and Holy Week modules. Children are presented with age-appropriate Scripture. Younger students are asked to retell and reflect upon the story of Palm Sunday and Holy Week. Older students are asked to reflect on the messages of the Scripture and how it applies to their lives.  

This year we will celebrate the events of Holy Week in a School Liturgy on the last day of the term, Friday 8 April.  We aim to commence the Holy Week Liturgy early to enable parents and friends to attend. The start time is TBC at this point.

Kindy will lead the school in a Palm Sunday Liturgy on Friday 1 April at 2.00pm.  

Mission Activities
The Mission Team is organising an information and fundraiser event for the flood-affected people of Lismore. The team will present information and facts about the flood to raise awareness of the problems the families in flood-affected areas are experiencing.  Students are encouraged to wear mufti on Friday 25 March. The team is asking for a gold coin donation on this day.

Project Compassion is an initiative of CARITAS Australia. Donations to CARITAS assist people and communities all around the world. Usually, donated funds go to set up communities to produce food or earn an income in order to support that community. Unfortunately, this year donations to Project Compassion go directly to assist the people of Ukraine. https://www.caritas.org.au/donate/emergency-appeals/ukraine/ 



At St Kieran’s we encourage children to think and act for others through the use of a Service Learning Model. Using the Head, Heart and Hands Model we encourage our students to think about the facts of a problem, look at the problem through the eyes of love and finally act in service to others to earn a donation towards a project, in this case, Project Compassion. If parents give their child the donation they are teaching compassion and giving. If students have to earn the donation by doing an odd job to earn the money they are really giving more of themselves to help others. We add a Christian dimension when we discuss why we are giving. We add our Christian dimension when we look at the issue through the lens of our faith and Scripture - to love one another as we love ourselves. Over the next few weeks, some classes in the school will serving others in order to earn a donation towards Project Compassion.   

Next Tuesday 22 March, Year One will be running a Morning Tea Stall serving cakes, slices, watermelon slices and fruit skewers. The money the children raise will go towards Project Compassion. Goodies will be on offer for 50c - $1.00. Your support for the Yr 1 cake stall would be greatly appreciated.
 
Please keep in your prayers the students who are completing their learning in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Thank you to our Yr 3 parents who are so ably leading the Reconciliation groups in the parish. First Reconciliation Liturgies commence next week.

Yours in Religious Education
     Mrs Kerrie Wetzlar

Family photos mini session (15 minutes) for $90 is being offered to St Kieran’s families on the weekend of Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 April by our very own photographer by occupation Natasha Lorenzen Obad (Year 3 mum). This is a great opportunity for the P&F to fundraise so please support the school by purchasing this fantastic deal to make some precious family memories.

Location: Manly Dam (morning and afternoon sessions will be available) 
Once you have paid via QKR, a booking link will be sent to you to book your session time. 

P.S this could be a great Mother’s Day gift idea!

I need parent helpers for covering books. If you would like to continue or start helping in any way in the library, please email the school or fill in the linked form. We use either contact (soft cover books) or plastic (hard cover books).

If you have not contacted or covered books before or would like a refresher, I will hold a very quick session straight after school at a convenient time.
We will send home about a dozen books for covering once or twice a term at most.
     Liz McGuire

Congratulations to Kieran H and Marlon W who represented Northern Beaches at the Broken Bay Carnival on the Central Coast last Tuesday evening. They took part in several races and did extremely well. The school is very proud of them and their incredible efforts.

Now that we have returned to normal dismissal routines for our students it is a requirement that all children being collected by parents are collected from the playground.  Parents are not to wait outside the gate in Gordon Street as students will not be sent around to that gate unsupervised.  Please collect your child from the class teacher in the playground.  Thank you for your attention to this.

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

A big thank-you to our volunteers over the past week:

• Claudine Athas
• El Hill
• Lucy McConachie
• Mel Dunn

We are looking for additional volunteers in the Canteen over the next few weeks before the holidays. If you are able to assist on the following days please let Hannah know. Phone 0438 433 231 or email me. 

• Friday 25 March – 1 x volunteer needed 9 – 1:15pm.
• Wednesday 30 March – 1 x volunteer needed 12 – 1:15pm. 
• Wednesday 6 April – 2 x volunteers needed 9 – 1:15pm.

 Thank you,
     Hannah

Evergreen Music
Junior and Senior Band has commenced with Evergreen Music.  Please click here for information regarding enrolment. 

Young Investigators Science - Term 1 Enrolment
We have two classes available in Term 1 on both Wednesday & Thursday mornings.  The topic for Term 1 is 'Space - Exploring the wonders of the universe'. To enrol or for further information please click here.  
    Alana Wylie PhD - Eye Heart Science 

Term 1 Drama
To enrol click here.

     Stephanie Waites, Drama Teacher -  0407 235 914