The teachers and I have appreciated the opportunity to meet with you this week to discuss your child’s progress so far and set goals for optimal learning growth.  These rich conversations involving you and your child are so beneficial and have a high impact in setting the directions for teaching and learning.  Your time this week at the Parent & Teacher Interview with us was greatly rewarding and builds good relationships with families. We have enjoyed the face to face contact with you and the personal touch after this challenging time.
 
We have been preparing the children to learn and experience the significance of Holy Week which is the time we prepare for the passion of Christ and Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Tomorrow afternoon, our young Kinder students will lead the whole school in commemorating Palm Sunday. You are all welcome to attend this prayerful service in the Hall at 2.20pm. On Friday 8th April at 9.15am, we will gather as a whole school to commemorate the life and passion of Jesus in the Church. I invite you to a morning tea outside the Canteen area prior to this prayer service so we can connect and get to know each other better.
 
I have prioritised dedicated time this week to visit students in their classrooms to see the wonderful learning in action. I am enjoying this special opportunity to talk with students about their learning and what they are most proud about. I love to watch their eyes light up and smile as they tell me about their learning journey. I am most impressed with them, their high standards of learning and listening to their most memorable achievements. This learning walk in the classrooms is the best part about my day and work. 
 
As communicated to you earlier, next week on Thursday 7 April is Mrs Bev Butler’s last day with us. After an amazing 29 years with us as Admin Secretary at St Kieran’s, she retires for this exciting new time in her life. We will acknowledge Bev and her years of dedicated service at a special Assembly on Thursday morning at 8.45am. Parents and students will say a few words and make a presentation. This is a good time for you to say your goodbyes and give thanks to a woman of strong faith, loyalty and integrity.  We wish Bev all the best and an abundance of health and joy in this new phase of her life with family.  Bev’s replacement is Mrs Anna Jones who starts next term.
 
A big shout out and thank you St Kieran’s for raising $352 for the gold coin donation and Mufti Day to support the Flood Relief efforts in the Diocese of Lismore. At Monday’s Assembly next week we will draw the Easter basket raffle prepared by the P&F to also support the Flood Relief. Last chance to buy tickets is tomorrow. Keep in your prayers this community which once again has been hit with floods recently.
 
Tomorrow the position for the Canteen Co-ordinator closes. If you are interested in applying follow this link.
 
Save the Date: Tuesday 10 May, 6pm. Advantages of boys in Stage 3 at St Kieran’s for parents of boys in Years 2, 3 & 4.
 
A week to go before the holidays. Stay well and I know you look forward to this family time and well deserved rest after an unpredictable term with Covid cases, isolation, floods and heavy rain. Plans and events have had to be rescheduled and pivoted in different ways as we do our best under these circumstances to thrive. We are truly resilient, flexible and people of hope and gratitude. I acknowledge this character strength of our school community.
 

Kind regards
Anna
    Anna Marsella
    Principal

Project Compassion: Donations
Very seldom do we have two fundraisers happening in the school at the same time. THANK YOU to our students and their families who have contributed so generously to the people affected by the Lismore floods and war in the Ukraine.

We would appreciate it if all PROJECT COMPASSION boxes could be returned to school as soon as possible. Please label your donations either Lismore Or Ukraine depending on where you want your donation to go.

Donations to Lismore will go directly to the Diocese of Lismore to directly assist people affected by the floods.  Donations to the Ukraine will be transferred to the CARITAS Ukraine Appeal. 


Holy Week Liturgies
As a proud Catholic school we remember and celebrate the event prior to Easter Sunday and rejoice in the Resurrection. Our Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter Liturgies are well underway. We commence tomorrow Friday 1 in the hall at 2.20pm with a short Palm Sunday Liturgy lead by Kindergarten. Next Friday, 8 we continue our Holy Week journey in the church from 9.15.  Years 1, 4, 2 and 5 will present different aspects of Holy Week which reflect their module of learning. Following Easter Years 3 and 6 will lead a Resurrection Liturgy in the church on Friday 29 April commencing at 9.15am. Parents, friends and parishioners are invited to join the children for prayer and reflection at any or all of these Liturgies.
 
K -  2 New Religious Education Syllabus 
Last year our kindy teachers engaged in professional learning about the new K -2 Religious Education Syllabus. To accommodate the positive, reflective and engaging ways the stories of Jesus are told a special space has been set up in the school. 

The core scripture of the program is the story of Emmaus. Here two friends walking to Emmaus encounter the risen lord. “Their eyes were opened” and they meet the Lord.  Walking with the students on their journey of faith, opening their eyes and setting their hearts on fire with a love for God, their fellow man and creation is the aim of teachers of Religious Education. Thus, the new space in our school, which is open to all classes for prayer and reflection, has been named THE EMMAUS ROOM. Located next to Year 2, opposite the lift the EMMAUS ROOM will be open from 8.20am all next week for parents to visit. Make sure you visit during Holy Week.

School Reflective Prayer –Children, Parents and Teachers
During next week students and their teachers will be participating in reflective prayer in the Emmaus Room near the lift. Classes will enter this prayer room and reflect on the Scripture associated with the Holy Week.

Our Emmaus Room will also be available for parents to visit from 8.20 all next week. Parents may wish to read the Scripture supplied on the table or sit for a moment with images of the Holy Week.

Yours in Religious Education
     Mrs Kerrie Wetzlar

The Premier’s Reading Challenge closes on Friday 19 August. 



The student site is easily accessible and can be used to enter the books that have been read:
 
Please see the list below showing how many books your child needs to read to complete the PRC.


     Liz McGuire

Hannah Davidson will be stepping aside from her position as Canteen Coordinator at the end of term to work more closely with students as a Learning Support Assistant. We would like to sincerely thank Hannah for her smooth running of the canteen during the last 2 years.

The Canteen Coordinator position is now being advertised and if you or anyone you know should wish to apply for the position please click on this link for a full role description. Applications close on Friday 1 April.

UPDATE family photoshoot is POSTPONED due to the rainy weather forecast for this weekend 2nd and 3rd April.
To reschedule your session the available dates are Sat 7 May, Sat 14 May, Sunday 15 May, Sat 28 May and Sunday 29 May for time slots between 3pm-5pm due to best lighting at this time of day.
Please email Natasha Obad Tashyo@live.com to change your photo session times.

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.  
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A big thank you to the following volunteers for their help over the past week. 

• Jessica Gilbert
• Vanessa Morello
• Catherine Cavill
• Nell Laime
• Kylie Langford
• Renata Barbosa
• Nicole Crane
• Domeniki Tsagaris

Thank you,
     Hannah