This time leading up to Christmas is often referred to as the “Silly Season,” a period of mayhem as school finishes for the year and we get ready for family Christmas celebrations and holidays! It coincides with another season that begins this weekend; the Season of Advent. Advent is the four weeks leading up to Christmas and is the time we get ready for the coming of Jesus. Following the challenges that we have all experienced this year, I encourage you to consciously slow down over the next few weeks rather than get caught up in the end of year hype. Our desire to return to normality can catch us being swept up in the “busyness” of life yet again. Let us try to hold on to some of the “stillness” that we experienced during lockdown when we had no choice but to go slow. 

Classes for 2022 

Staffing for next year is now finalised and teachers have been assigned classes. This year’s Kindergarten classes will become one Year 1 next year. All other classes will remain the same however, Stage 3 will consist of two Year 5 classes and one Year 6 class. The allocation of teaching and non-teaching staff to St Kieran’s is a decision by CSBB. Classes and teachers for 2022 are: 

Kindergarten Blue – Mrs Jane Hocking 

Kindergarten White – Miss Monique Wright 

Year 1 Blue – Mrs Kerrie Wetzlar 

Year 2 Blue – Mr Timothy Huskins 

Year 3 Blue – Mrs Michelle Leydon 

Year 3 White – Mrs Karen Sullivan 

Year 4 Blue – Mr Nicholas Labone 

Year 4 White – Mrs Geraldine Watson 

Year 5 Blue – Miss Jedda Kassis 

Year 5 White – Miss Gabrielle Williams 

Year 6 Blue – Mrs Christina Ucchino 

Miss Sarah Morgan has taken up the offer of a teaching position at Sacred Heart Mosman for 2022. We thank her for her wonderful contribution to Kindergarten and St Kieran’s this year. Best of luck for the future! Mr Jordan Waller is moving on to teach at St Paul’s Manly next year; congratulations on this new opportunity. Mrs Donna Hoy will take over as music (Creative Arts) teacher in 2022. 

Classes with two streams are being determined by teachers at present. This process is complicated and considers the social preferences of students, the needs of individuals and group dynamics. 

Kinder Transition and Playgroup 

It was an absolute pleasure to be able to host our 2022 Kindergarten students yesterday on site for the first time. The weather was kind enough to allow the parents to gather and meet each other outside over a cuppa as well. We look forward to the next gathering on 7 December. Thank you to Eleanor Hill and Kate Foley for hosting the first Playgroup since lockdown this morning in the hall. It is wonderful to be able to gradually come together in these opportunities before the end of the year. 

Parent and Friends 

The final P&F meeting for the year took place on Monday evening. Even though the turnout was modest, there was a fantastic sense of purpose for the committee moving into next year. With the understanding that we desire a return to a community post COVID, the focus was on planning what events will happen next year, all being well. Below is the report presented by the committee. 

The P&F Team met via Zoom on Tuesday to discuss the year’s events so far and the plan for next year. 

Obviously due to COVID, school events have been very limited and many plans have ended up being put on hold. The St Kieran’s Movie Night had to be cancelled and our School Disco became a virtual event, although that didn’t stop the children who attended from having a great time! 

The focus of the P&F for 2022 will be welcoming our new school Principal and reconnecting with our school community. The P&F will meet again this month to create a plan of events for next year. We would like to roll out our calendar of events as soon as possible so that families can plan for the year ahead. 

Next year will begin with our cocktail event for parents in March. After the success of last year’s event, we are hoping to welcome as many parents as possible. 

We also look forward to future times when parents can gather again in the school playground. Until such time if any parents have any questions or would like to chat to someone, Class Parents and the P&F are here to help to support our families so please reach out to them or the school. 

The P&F Team 

Homework 

Classes will be winding back on homework next week as the students prepare for the end of year and resources are collected. Please return any library books, readers, or any other item of school property as soon as possible. 

Camp 

Year 6 and 5 will be attending the Collaroy Centre next Monday and Tuesday, respectively. They are looking forward to making up the opportunities lost earlier in the year. We wish them a great couple of days and hope the weather stays on their side! 

God bless, 

   Michael Gallagher
   Principal

St Vincent De Paul Christmas Hamper Call Out.
THANK YOU to the wonderfully generous families of St Kieran’s Catholic School. Together we have filled to overflowing 25 Christmas Hampers. In addition to this, parents have organised 21 more personalised gifts for 21 families in need.

We now have a group of twelve families who have volunteered to take the Christmas Hampers and gifts to homes in our local area. Additional helpers on Saturday 18 December between 8 - 10.30am will lighten the load for all. Please send an e-mail to the office if you would like to participate in the gift of giving on 18 December.

Once again St Kieran’s, thank you for your generosity; you are indeed the hands of Christ here on earth.  

St Kieran’s Religious Education Creative Arts Display.
In lieu of Christmas carols this year the children of St Kieran’s are busily painting, cutting, pasting, drawing, constructing and preparing some very special pieces of art. It gives me great pleasure to announce the inaugural St Kieran’s Religious Education Creative Arts Display. The artwork and singing of the children will be grouped into four virtual Art Galleries which school families can access. This is our way of sharing the spirit of Christmas and the talent of our children with everyone. We offer our sincere thanks to Suzanne Foale who will be assembling the Art Galleries. Parents will be invited to view and share the artwork later in the term. 

Yours in Religious Education,
     Mrs Kerrie Wetzlar

Borrowing for the year has now finished. If you still have library books at home please send them in as soon as possible.

Thanks St Kieran’s! 
We absolutely loved the roar and snore night at Taronga zoo we won in the school night out. We took both girls and stayed in tents next to the tigers. It was a night we will never forget.

We went behind the scenes and both girls were the only two from the group that were lucky enough to feed a giraffe before it retreated from shyness. 
We put treats out for honey bears inside the enclosure and also saw the new lion cubs.
 
Thank you for the amazing prize. 
     The Costi family

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