Dear Parents

Last night the School Advisory Council (SAC) met via Zoom. I was very grateful for the feedback from the SAC members which was a mixture of praise for our teachers and the processes we have in place as well as suggestions for sustaining the long-term possibility of HBL. I also thank the parents who have been in touch asking for advice and support with the challenges that HBL presents. For what has now been four weeks of lockdown this term, we need to be prepared for the likelihood of having to sustain this for some time more. We realise that we will need to adjust and fine-tune HBL so that we can continue to meet the needs of our students and families. I will keep you posted on this during the next week. 

Cyber Safety 

The increased use of online learning, Zoom calls, YouTube and chat groups, to name a few, bring with them a variety of challenges and dangers for our children. This Wednesday evening the school is hosting an online webinar presented by the Cyber Safety Lady, Leonie Smith. Back in 2017, Leonie presented to the school community a similar presentation however, the changes that have taken place since then are significant. I strongly encourage you to register here for the Digital Parenting Webinar and find out more about setting digital boundaries, the hidden traps of popular apps, protecting children from adult content, playing online games safely, cyber bullying and where to get help, among other topics. 

Trivia Night 

The P&F and school are looking into the possibility of an online trivia night over the next few weeks to allow families to connect and take part in a fun event. We will share more detail about this next week. 

Family Support 

If you are in need of fee relief or support from our school counsellor, please contact the school office where arrangements can be made. Please remember that privacy and confidentiality will be maintained. 

COVID and Sickness 

As numbers of close and casual contacts have increased over the past few weeks in the local area. I ask you to be vigilant in monitoring the health of your family members. If any member of your family has been deemed a close contact, then the children of that family will need to remain at home for the required fourteen days. If your child is sick or displaying flu like symptoms, please keep them at home. 

This Sunday is the Feast of Mary of the Cross (Mary MacKillop), Australia’s first locally born saint. We ask for her support and the support of each other to sustain us in these challenging weeks ahead. 

God bless, 

   Michael Gallagher
   Principal

 

Strength for this Challenging Time

We pray for your love and compassion to abound
as we walk through this challenging season.

We ask for wisdom for those who bear the load
of making decisions with widespread consequences.

We pray for those who are suffering with sickness
and all who are caring for them.

We ask for protection for the elderly and vulnerable
to not succumb to the risks of the virus.

We pray for misinformation to be curbed
that fear may take no hold in hearts and minds. 

As we exercise the good sense that you in your mercy provide,
may we also approach each day in faith and peace,
trusting in the truth of your goodness towards us. 

- www.holyspiritewloe.com

Yours in Religious Education,
     Mrs Kerrie Wetzlar

Change of Date
Please note the following adjusted closing date and rules for the PRC:
To support all students, the following adjustments have been applied to the Challenge in 2021. A full list of changes for 2021 can be found on the PRC rules page. 

• The Challenge closing date has been extended to allow extra time to finalise student entries and coordinator validations. The new closing dates are:
  • Challenge closes for students: Friday 3 September 2021
• Students on all Challenge levels will be able to read 10 choice books. 
• Students on all Challenge levels will be able to include books on their reading records that they read collaboratively as a class, in person or online with their teacher or at home with their parents/carers.

I would like to congratulate the 77 students who have already completed the PRC. What a fantastic effort!

HOW TO KEEP UP YOUR READING AT HOME
It is important to keep reading at home. There are many ways you can do this. The State Library of NSW has hundreds of ebooks that you can access. These are books that you can download and read from any device at home.

• Below is the link to the State Library of NSW. You can become a member of the library and then download the ebooks in their catalogue. 
• Please also use your Northern Beaches Library card to borrow ebooks. There are many to choose from in the catalogue.
• If you are not a member, you can join via this link.

 You can also find some free ebooks to download via a number of websites.
Check out the following:

• Booktopia 
• Kids World Fun 
• Oxford Owl 
• Children's Classics 

Book Week is in Week 7 (August 21-27). The theme this year is, “Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds.” link

Each year since 1945 the CBCA (The Children’s Book Council of Australia) has brought children and books together across Australia through CBCA Book Week. During this time schools and public libraries spend one glorious week celebrating books and Australian children's authors and illustrators.

The students at St Kieran’s will be participating in a variety of activities to celebrate Book Week. The teachers have been given some activities to include in their HBL plans.

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.