St Kieran Newsletter Term 2, Week 1 - 18th April 2024

Principal's Message

God, our Father,  
bless us, so that Your Spirit within us will give us a common bond, 
as together we take responsibility for the well-being of Your gift of creation to us.  
We ask for strength and determination to create more space in our lives for You,  
so that by the example of our lives,  
our children will be inspired to follow Your ways.  
Amen. 

Being a parent is a hard job, a complicated job and sometimes a tough job. Probably, it’s the most important job parents will ever have, because as their child’s first teacher, they will make a difference one way or another. However, parents have the opportunity to form a viable partnership with their child’s teacher, because together they have a common goal: a successful school year for each child. Teachers need to know that we are all on their side and if we aren’t, we need to be able to express ourselves as to why not.  

It’s important to remember that parents and teachers are partners in helping each child achieve a successful transition to adulthood. This combined support is essential if the transition is to be a positive developmental experience for your child. A good relationship with your child’s teacher will make it easier for you to stay informed about your child’s progress across all areas of schooling and to work together if problems arise during the year.  

On occasion, you might find that your teacher has constructive criticism about your child; it’s important to keep an open mind to the teacher’s comments. Neither the child nor the teacher is perfect – nor parents for that matter – so, if a problem arises, it’s important to consider both sides of the story. The outcome should be the one that helps your child succeed at school. There needs to be a sensitivity that respects the teacher as a well-trained professional and respects the parents who have special knowledge of their child.  

Teachers are dedicated and caring and want to be good teachers. Jonathan Sarks, Rabbi and author of “The Politics of Hope”, said about them: “Teachers open our eyes to the world. They give us curiosity and confidence. They teach us to ask questions. They connect us to our past and future. They are the guardians of our social heritage. Life without a teacher is surely not a life.”  

Everyone likes to be appreciated and teachers are no exception. If we go for the “We” attitude and work with our child’s teacher, then our child will have a great school year and so will we, and, with a bit of luck, so will the teacher.  

Welcome back to another busy term - this one is a long one! I hope you all had a great break and look forward to seeing you all soon! 

Best wishes and take care. 

Mr Daine Burnett 
Principal
daine.burnett@cewa.edu.au 

School Calendar

A reminder to all families to continue to check the school calendar on our website for dates and events that are coming up during the term. We have a number of days that the school is closed this term Thursday 25th April, Friday 31st May, Monday 3 June.

Kindergarten Enrolments 2025

We are accepting Kindy Enrolment's for Kindy 2025 and later this term start organising interviews. Please don’t leave this until the last minute as we have many people we could not accommodate in 2024. Please submit your application and make sure you have your children enrolled at St Kieran Catholic Primary School. 

Uniform - Shoes

We understand that the new Uniform requirements take awhile to adjust too and with this in mind as you update your children's school academic shoes this year can you please make sure they are the below shoes as per the guidelines for both boys and girls lace up black shoes. Please note the Mary Jane type or style of shoes that are not lace up and should be replaced when possible or due for upgrading. 

School shoes are 'normal/standard' school shoes for the academic uniform for both boys and girls. Not black sneakers, Air Forces, Air Max, Skate Shoes, Mary Jane or other alternatives that can be found. Sport shoes should be appropriate sport shoes, not fashion shoes, that are suitable for sport. Please keep this mind when looking for items during 2024.

Perth Redbacks

The Redbacks club will be running a before school basketball program in Term 2. This program will cater to new beginners and experienced players wanting to learn new skills and develop their understanding of the basic fundamentals involved in the sport. The players can expect there to be plenty of fun activities, skills drills and competitive games. 

Start date/ Duration - The 8 week program will commence on the 2nd May with the final session being completed on the 20th June. This will be every Thursday morning from 7:20 - 8:10 am. 

What to wear/bring - Please ensure your child is wearing their school sports uniform, hats, and appropriate sporting shoes (running or basketball shoes). They will also need to bring their drink bottles to the sessions. Sports equipment will be supplied, but all the players are more than welcome to bring their own basketball. 

Fees/Registration - The registration fee will be $80.00 (GST excl) per participant for the full term program. Please complete the registration through the following link: https://www.playhq.com/basketball-wa/register/c4b0ab  

I look forward to seeing you all next term. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions. Denzel Jackson denzel@perthredbacks.asn.au 

Parking

Unfortunately this seems to be an ongoing concern and while many families do the right thing for everyone it continues to create frustrations for many. The school staff do not have the legal ability to enforce parent driving behaviours, however if you are putting a child at risk by not following our very simple instructions we will follow up with you and address this.  

1. DO NOT turn right into the Kiss and Drive - please wait your turn in the queue. 
2. Do NOT overtake the queue and push in front of the Kiss and Drive line. Be respectful of others. 
3. Keep the Corner of Tyler Street and Morgans Street free from all traffic. 
4. DO NOT pick up or drop your child off on the road outside of the administration - find a parking legal bay or use the Kiss and Drive. 
5. If you DO Not have an ACROD Permit please don’t use the disabled bays. 
6. Ciaran Centre Families are the only families welcome to use the front administration parking. 
7. DO NOT park at the Servite Friars house of residence and business - this is private property. 

I do ask that families don’t use the Acrod Bays unless they have permit - we now have a large number of families that need these bays and recently have not been able to access these. Ciaran Centre families are more than welcome to use the bays at the front of the school as well. 

Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist Parent and Child Workshops

This term is a busy one for our Years 3 and 4 students as they undertake their preparation for Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist respectively. These sacraments represent more than mere rituals; they signify pivotal moments in the spiritual journey of our children. Reconciliation, often referred to as Confession, offers the opportunity for our students to experience the boundless mercy and forgiveness of God. It is a chance for them to reflect on their actions, seek reconciliation with God and others, and experience the profound joy of being welcomed back into the loving embrace of the Father. 

Holy Communion, likewise, is a sacred Rite of Passage, where our children receive the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time. It is a moment of profound connection with Jesus, as they become one with Him in the Eucharist. This sacrament nourishes their souls, strengthens their faith, and deepens their connection to the Christian community. 

The history of Reconciliation and Holy Communion is rooted in the teachings and actions of Jesus Christ. In the Gospels, we see Jesus instituting the Eucharist at the Last Supper, commanding His disciples to "Do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19). He also granted the apostles the authority to forgive sins, stating, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (John 20:22-23). From these passages, the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion emerged as essential components of the Catholic faith. 

In today's world, where the pace of life can often be frenetic and distractions abound, the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion offer our students a source of solace, strength, and spiritual nourishment. They remind us of the enduring presence of God in our lives and the boundless love He has for each one of us. 

As our students prepare to receive these sacraments, let us surround them with love, prayer, and support. May they approach this special time with reverence, gratitude, and a deep sense of awe for the mysteries they are about to encounter. 

Let us also remember to keep them in our prayers as they continue on their journey of faith, guided by the light of Christ and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. 

Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist Parent and Child Workshops

This term is a busy one for our Years 3 and 4 students as they undertake their preparation for Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist respectively.  

As communicated in Term 1, we had to make changes to the Reconciliation Parent and Child Workshops. The Workshop will on Thursday May 9 at either 4:00pm or 5:30pm. Please use the form to nominate your Workshop time: 

Click: Reconciliation Workshop Form 

The Holy Eucharist Parent and Child Workshops will be running as normal. Parents have already nominated their workshop. If you have not submitted your child's Holy Eucharist enrolment form, please do so as soon as possible. 

Eucharist Workshops: 

May 28 at 4:00pm and 5:15pm 

May 30 at 4:00pm 

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