During the week we managed to reclaim a few events lost to COVID this year. Year 5 and 6 managed to have a day each at the Collaroy Centre to make up for their overnight camps to Canberra or Collaroy earlier in the year. Year 5 also managed to present the “Night of the Notables” to other classes yesterday. Today we held the swimming carnival at Manly “Boy Charlton” Pool with delightful weather thrown in. Many thanks to the volunteers who were able to help and apologies to those who offered but were not needed. Congratulations to Green colour house who were the winners of the carnival. The restrictions in place by CSBB and Manly Pool meant we could only use limited help and have no spectators. Many thanks to Mrs Middleton and Mr Labone for their excellent organisation yet again. 

Kinder Transition 

Next Tuesday will see our 2022 Kindergarten students visit the school for a second time. They will meet their buddies and take part in a variety of activities while their parents meet in the library to hear about the anticipated start to the school year. Ms Marsella will also be visiting our school for the day. 

Parent and Friends 

Over the last couple of weeks, our very enthusiastic Parents and Friends committee has been meeting to prepare for what promises to be an exciting calendar of events in 2022. There is a great sense of enthusiasm and a desire to rebuild the sense of community in St Kieran’s following the effects of the pandemic over the last twenty months or so. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the committee for their time and commitment to our school and I encourage you to support them in the many events during 2022. The first is a Welcome Evening for our whole school community on Friday 4 March. Keep the date free! A table of events and further information from the P&F can be found in the newsletter. 

Teacher Strike 

The Teacher Strike set for next Tuesday does not affect St Kieran’s. It applies only to government schools. St Kieran’s will be open as usual! 

School Reports 

Reports have been completed and are currently under review before being available through Compass next Friday afternoon. The reports this year have been modified by CSBB in light of Home-Based Learning so will only be reporting on Religion, Mathematics and English. There is a general comment at the end which encompasses areas such as behaviour, work study habits and wellbeing. 

Outstanding Fees 

The impact of COVID-19 on our families has been significant in many ways. Families struggling to pay fees have been offered support by CSBB. As we come to the end of the school year, there is a significant amount of outstanding fees yet to be paid. I ask that any fees outstanding be paid as soon as possible. If you are experiencing difficulty in paying, please contact the school office so that arrangements can be made. 

Condolences 

Please keep in your prayers the Laime family (Year 2). Nell’s father passed away suddenly last weekend. We have also been notified of the passing of a past teacher from St Kieran’s; Sr Mary Ann (Sr Joan Mills sgs) was a teacher from 1962-1966. It may have been some time ago but as we say in Catholic education, it is on the shoulders of these educational giants that we stand today. 

Congratulations 

Pip Q (Year 6) has been selected to represent St Kieran’s at the NSW All Schools Championships 2021, high school event. Athletics NSW allowed primary school students who turn 12 this year in Year 6 to apply as they missed out on the state primary school athletics championships this year. 

Pip will race in the U12 800m straight out final on Friday 10th December at 10am and Sunday 12th December in the 1500m straight out final. 

All the best Pip and we know you will represent St Kieran’s proudly. 

God bless, 

   Michael Gallagher
   Principal

A huge thank you to the community of St Kieran’s school for your overwhelming generosity in supporting our Christmas Hamper drive for St Vinnies.  Yesterday three wonderful mums spent the morning packing and labelling the hampers and gifts.  We offer our sincere thanks to Danelle, Nicole and Eleanor for a job well done. They are certainly in the swing of Christmas gift-giving now.  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 - 10.30 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.

The staff room is a buzz of creativity and colour as the children’s Christmas paintings and creations arrive for photography. Thank you 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

Premier's Reading Challenge
A total of 143 students from St Kieran’s completed the PRC this year. I would like to congratulate all these students, especially those who received a Gold Award (completing the challenge 4 times) and Platinum Award Completing the challenge 7 times).

The Gold Award recipients are Sarah C, Ella C, Poppy E, Christian G, Madeleine G, Jack H, Jasmine L, Michael L, Sofia M, Joel M, Bobby P, Tyler P, Chloe P, Maddison R, Douglas S, Oliver S and Finn W.

The Platinum Award recipient is Josh P.
All other students will receive a certificate of completion.
These will all be given out at assembly on Monday morning.
 
Library Returns
Many thanks to all those students who have already returned their books. This reminder is encouraging all other students to return their books. Unfortunately, lost or damaged books will need to be paid for.

I want to say a big Thank-you to the following Volunteers for helping in the Canteen over the past two weeks!
 

• Lynette Keenan
• Vanessa Morello
• Christina Cole
• Ally Browne
• Catherine Cavill
• Nicole Covich

 Next week is the final week of Canteen for the year.

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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