St Kieran Newsletter Term 2, Week 3 - 2nd May 2024

Principal's Message

Free, unrestricted play is the prerogative of childhood. Children today live highly organised, structured lives so that the notion of free play is foreign to many of them. The importance of play for children is often underestimated. It impacts on all aspects of child development. Outside games develop balance, coordination and fitness. Singing and rhyming games promote language development. Board games and puzzles help intellectual development. 

Free play at home is therapeutic for children. Play is an important way that children can express and work through their feelings. When children are young dress-up boxes, art boxes and other objects and spaces encourage children to use their imaginations and initiative when they play. Older children still enjoy these things but usually they like board games and outside games and sports that challenge them and maintain their interest. 

Left to their own devices children generally attend to about the right ratio of work, rest and play - that is, play comes before work and just after rest in most children’s scheme of things (just like dictionary order). However, parents may need to be proactive and ensure that televisions, computers and electronic games are limited to a degree and direct children to more active, creative or interactive pursuits.  

Children generally enjoy playing with their parents as long as they don’t always turn play into lessons or competitions. The key is for parents to be lead by children and to allow enough time to play on their terms. The last decade has seen almost universal acceptance by parents and caregivers of the place of self-esteem in a child’s development. But we need to be careful not to over-organise and over-complicate children’s lives at the expense of free, unstructured play for the sake of promoting healthy self-esteem. To make sure children enjoy some free play: 

1. Place a limit on the number of extracurricular activities that children are involved in. Alternatively, place a reasonable limit on the days that they have extra-curricular activities. When a child wishes to exceed that limit then it maybe reasonable to ask what he wishes to omit from his current schedule.

1. Resist giving children too many complicated gadgets and electronic toys. Children need simple objects, toys, books, rhymes and puzzles so they can interact with and manipulate them.

1. Have a Technology-free day once a week. This is the day that the only technology used in the house is for cooking, transport or communication. Games and entertainment must be found in simpler pursuits.

1. Play with children yourself for enjoyment. Be patient if your child wants to repeat the same game or activity over and over.

(Taken from Michael Grose) 

I hope you all have had a great week. 

Best wishes and take care. 

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

Fostering Inclusive Interactions: A Guide for Parents

In our vibrant school community, diversity is celebrated and inclusion is our cornerstone. As we strive to create a nurturing environment where every child feels valued and respected, it's crucial for us as parents to equip our children with the tools they need to interact inclusively, especially with students who have special needs. 

Interacting inclusively not only benefits children with special needs but enriches the lives of all involved, fostering empathy, understanding, and a sense of belonging. Here are some valuable tips to guide you in educating your children about interacting inclusively: 

1. Lead by Example: Children learn by observing. Model inclusive behaviour by treating everyone with kindness, respect, and empathy. Embrace diversity and celebrate differences openly within your family and community. 

1. Teach Empathy: Help your child understand what it means to walk in someone else's shoes. Encourage them to consider how others might feel and how their actions can impact those around them. Engage in discussions about empathy and perspective-taking regularly. 

1. Normalise Differences: Normalise the idea that everyone is unique and has different strengths and challenges. Teach your child that differences in abilities, appearance, or behaviour are natural and not something to fear or ridicule. 

1. Use Person-First Language: Teach your child to use person-first language when referring to individuals with special needs. Emphasize the person, not the disability, to promote respect and dignity. 

1. Encourage Communication: Encourage open dialogue about differences and disabilities. Answer your child's questions honestly and age-appropriately. Foster an environment where they feel comfortable asking questions and seeking understanding. 

1. Promote Inclusive Play: Encourage your child to include everyone in play activities. Help them understand that everyone deserves to feel included and valued. Foster friendships with children of all abilities. 

1. Practice Patience and Understanding: Teach your child the importance of patience and understanding when interacting with peers who may communicate or behave differently. Emphasize the value of kindness and acceptance. 

1. Educate Yourself: Take the time to educate yourself about different disabilities and how they may impact individuals. Understanding fosters empathy and enables you to better support inclusive interactions. 

1. Collaborate with Educators: Work closely with teachers and school staff to support inclusive practices both at school and at home. Collaborate on strategies to promote understanding and acceptance among students. 
2. Celebrate Inclusion: Celebrate inclusive events and initiatives within the school community. By nurturing a culture of inclusion at home, we empower our children to become compassionate, inclusive individuals who embrace diversity and advocate for the rights of others. Together, let's work towards creating a more inclusive world, one interaction at a time. 

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 Friday 31st May, Monday 3rd June and Friday 28th June. 

Kindergarten Enrolments 2025

We are accepting Kindy Enrolment's for Kindy 2025 and this term will be conducting interviews. Please don’t leave this until the last minute as we had many families we could not accommodate in 2024. Please submit your application and make sure you have your children enrolled at St Kieran Catholic Primary School. 
We do have a small number of spaces across other year levels and if friends or families are wishing to look at enrolling their children at our school. 

Parking on Tyler Street

We currently have 5 x Acrod Bays with over 10 students with mobility issues excluding any parents or family members that are also able to access these parking bays, plus more than another 30 SWD students needing access. We ask that parents or caregivers dropping children to school use the Drive Through Line on Morgans Street or park at the Church car park and walk across to the school and be considerate by not using the parking bays outside the Admin Office on Tyler Street.

We are working with the City of Stirling to see what we can do and will communicate that with the wider community soon.

St Kieran and Servite Afternoon Pick Up

There are concerns about students from St Kieran finishing their day and entering the premises of Servite College while classes are still in session. To uphold the duty of care for both schools, the following procedure will now be implemented. 

 St. Kieran students who need to meet their older siblings from Servite College, must wait at St. Kieran Catholic Primary School's undercover area.  

 They can then be collected by their Servite College sibling, who can walk through either gates or the St Kieran school office if they are late.  

 With parental permission, a St. Kieran student can walk over to meet their older sibling at Servite College, but only after the St. Kieran duty has ended at 3:20 pm. St Kieran students are not to be on the Servite College site until lessons have concluded and the bell has gone at 3.15pm to end the Servite day. 

Servite College

Just a reminder to all of our St Kieran families you must get your children's applications into Servite College nice and early. Please don’t wait until Year 5 or 6 as it will be too late. While St Kieran and Servite have a great relationship and are very close, parents still need to submit a separate enrolment application to Servite College. Please make sure you are organised nice and early with this process. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Uniform

We are starting to see the cooler mornings come in and over the next few weeks it will get colder. This is a great time to ensure that you have your child's name written on the uniform. It is very difficult to find the owners of these items, we have brand new jumpers with no names on these at all. 

Unwell Students

As we are well and truly in the colder months can we please ask that unwell students are not sent to school. Our staff will call parents if a child is unwell or presents unwell - we are not trained medical staff and if a child says they are unwell or looks unwell we will call the families to collect them. Sending an unwell child to school in turn has an impact on the other students as well as the staff and of course the families at St Kieran. Your consideration around this matter is appreciated. 

AEDC - Australian Early Development Census (Pre-Primary)

The AEDC is a national census that is conducted every three years by the Australian Government, in partnership with state and territory governments. It measures how children have developed by the time they start their first year of full-time school.  

 The AEDC is voluntary and it does not measure how well children are doing at school, nor how their school compares to other schools. Instead, it shows how children are growing and progressing, what is being done well and what can be improved. AEDC data is used by schools, early childhood organisations, researchers and governments to help plan and improve services and supports for children and families. This is why it is important for all children in their first year of school to be included in the AEDC. You can learn more about the ways AEDC data is used at https://www.aedc.gov.au/. 

The Census will be conducted by Mrs Pusey, Miss Vincent and Ms Moore from Monday, May 6, to Friday, May 17. Pre-Primary parents, please read the email sent last week for further information.  

May - The Month of Mary

"The world being unworthy to receive the son of God directly from the hands of the Father, he gave his son to Mary for the world to receive him from her." 

- Saint Augustine 

As we enter the Month of May, a time traditionally dedicated to honouring Mary the mother of Jesus, we should also reflect on the significance of women in our lives. Mary, as the first disciple, exemplifies strength, compassion, and unwavering faith. Just as she played a pivotal role in the life of Jesus and the early Church, women continue to play vital roles in shaping our families, communities, and faith. 

Let's take this opportunity to recognize and celebrate the remarkable women who nurture, guide, and inspire us every day. Whether it's our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, or teachers, their love, wisdom, and sacrifices enrich our lives in countless ways. Let us s express our gratitude and appreciation for their immeasurable contributions to our families, community and our faith journey. 

Our school is blessed with dedicated educators, administrators, and staff, many of whom the majority are women, who embody the spirit of service and devotion exemplified by Mary. They tirelessly work to educate, mentor, and empower our students, instilling values of compassion, integrity, and justice. 

During this Month of Mary, take time to pay gratitude to these significant ladies in our community and reflect on the profound impact they have on shaping the hearts and minds of the next generation.

Reconciliation Parent/ Child Workshop

Next Thursday, May 9, will be our Parent/ Child workshops for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Please remember that the dates and times on the original Reconciliation Enrolment Form have changed. If you have not done so already, please complete this form.

Interschool Swimming Carnival

Tomorrow our students will be participating in the Interschool Swimming Carnival. We wish all our swimmers the very best and know that you will represent St Kieran to the best of your ability - swim well! 

Library News

Happy Week 3 Parents, Mr. Peletier here from the St Kieran Library giving you some updates for Book Clubs and the Book Fair. 

Book Club issue 3 has been floating around for the last week, students are a buzz with the awesome selection of books and trinkets available in this issue. The cut off date for issue 3 is the 6^th May so make sure you lock in your books before this date, so your children don't miss out. 

Book Fair has officially been organised. Week 4 of term 3 will be the Book Fair as well as the Book Parade. More information about the Book Fair will be provided in the next few weeks in regard to this fantastic event. We would love to see the same engagement and enthusiasm as last year.

Finally, the students are really enjoying our library space and the way in which they are interacting with the resources has been awesome.

Mr. Aaron Peletier
Library Technician

Kieran Connect Mother's Day

Changes at the Crosswalk

Mr Rost, our Traffic Warden on Cape Street, has notified us that there are changes to using the crosswalk and that, as per new Department of Transport mandates, he will be using a whistle to signal clearance to cross. Please follow the directions of the Taffic Warden for the safety  of all those using the crosswalk.

Keyed Up Music

CSPWA 70th Anniversay Celebration

Special Offer for Parents from Behaviour Tonics

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