St Kieran Newsletter Term 2, Week 5 - 16th May 2024

Today we came together as a school community to celebrate a special group of individuals who hold a unique place in the lives of our students- grandparents. As we gathered for our school liturgy organised by Mr Davis, it was an opportune moment to reflect on the invaluable role that grandparents play in the lives of our children. 

Grandparents bring with them a wealth of wisdom, experience, and love that enriches the lives of our students in countless ways. They serve as pillars of support, offering guidance, encouragement, and unconditional love that helps shape the character and values of our young learners.  

In today's fast paced world, where time  often slips away too quickly, it is essential to take a moment to honour and celebrate the presence of grandparents in our lives. They provide a sense of continuity, bridging the gap between generations and instilling a deep sense of family connection and belonging.  

Thank you to Mr Davis and all those involved in organising today's liturgy. Let us take this opportunity to not only cherish the memories we share with our grandparents but also to create new ones that will be treasured in years to come. 

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 if friends or families are wishing to look at enrolling their children at our school. 

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 as we move into winter. This is a great time to ensure that you have your child's name written on the uniform. , We have brand new jumpers with no names on these at all, it is very difficult to find the owners of these items.

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. 

Sacrament of Reconciliation - Postponed

Unfortunately, due to Fr Wilson being unwell, the Sacrament of Reconciliation that was scheduled for Friday May 17 had to be postponed. We are pleased to inform you that the Sacrament of Reconciliation has been rescheduled to Friday, July 26 at 6:00 PM.
We deeply appreciate your patience, flexibility, and continued prayers for Fr. Wilson as he recuperates. Your support has been invaluable during this time. Thank you for being such a wonderful community. 
We look forward to seeing you on July 26. Please keep Fr Wilson in your prayers for a speedy recovery.  

Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist - Parent Workshops and Retreat

Just a reminder that for those families whose children are participating in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion) Parent/ Child workshops will be occurring on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, May 28 and 30.  

Tuesday May 28 - Either 4pm and 5:15pm 
Thursday May 30 - 4pm 

The Holy Eucharist Retreat will be during the day on Thursday May 30 for those children in Year 4 and the Eucharist Sacramental Program. Further information will be emailed to families. 

Pentecost (Sunday May 19)

Pentecost is a significant event in our Catholic tradition, commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, Mary, and the early followers of Jesus. This event, marked by a strong wind and tongues of fire, empowered them to speak in different languages and spread the Gospel. 

The biblical account of Pentecost is found in Acts 2:1-41, where Peter delivers a powerful sermon inspired by the Holy Spirit. He explains the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies and urges listeners to repent and be baptised, resulting in the baptism of around 3,000 people. 

Pentecost is celebrated as the "birthday" of the Church, as it marks the moment when the Apostles were equipped with the gifts necessary to carry out their mission of spreading the Gospel to all nations. 

Irene McCormack (Anniversary of her Martyrdom - Monday May 20)

Irene McCormack's life epitomized a deep devotion to God and educating youth. As a Sister of St. Joseph, she taught in rural Western Australia, advocating for fair education resources. Despite peril, she volunteered in Peru, where she and five others were tragically executed by the Shining Path rebels in 1991 for their compassionate service. The love, values, and justice upheld by Irene mirror the spirit of our MacKillop faction. 

Mary Help of Christians - Patroness of Australia (Feast Day - Friday May 24)

Mary's intercession as Help of Christians was deeply ingrained in the early Catholic community in Australia, who leaned on her assistance during challenging times, including priestless periods and threats to the fledgling Church. Devotion to Mary Help of Christians extended with churches and institutions across Australia honouring her. 

Today, amidst the complexities of modern life, the reminder of Mary's powerful intercession remains relevant. As society faces moral challenges, the call to pray for her intercession in times of perseverance and discernment is emphasized. Mary Help of Christians continues to be a guiding force for Catholics in Australia, reflecting a rich tradition of faith and devotion. 

This week's spotlight is on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed childhood mental health disorder, affecting about 1 in 20 children. It can impact their behaviour, learning and social skills. 

What is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? 

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition which usually first appears in childhood and is more common in boys. Children usually are at least five years old before they are diagnosed with ADHD. It can appear in different ways, usually as one of three basic types: predominantly hyperactive, inattentive, or combined. Inattentive girls present later, hence the sex difference is minimal in adulthood. 

A child with ADHD may have trouble in these areas: 

• Being inattentive, such as difficulty concentrating or finishing tasks 
• Impulsivity, such as butting into conversations or being accident prone 
• Overactivity, such as constant fidgeting and always being on the go 
• Problems with executive functioning, which results in difficulties with planning and organisation 
• Sleep difficulty and mood dysregulation. 

ADHD often exists in tandem with other problems, such as learning problems (50 per cent of those with ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (20-35 per cent), autism (10-20 per cent), depression (10 per cent), anxiety (20-30 per cent), and conduct disorder (10-20 per cent), and may lead to problems in social situations, cause behavioural and learning issues at school, and result in sleep difficulties. 

How is ADHD treated?   

Combining stimulant medication with other therapies, including counselling and behavioural strategies, is generally the most successful treatment. Speech pathology, support from a psychologist, occupational therapy, ADHD coach, healthy diet, regular exercise, neurofeedback and education support can also assist. 

Not all children with ADHD require medication – about a third of children will grow out of the condition without ever having needed it – however Professor Silva says that for those with moderate to severe symptoms, medication is a safe treatment which can lead to significant improvements in symptoms and better functioning. 

Risk factors 

ADHD is estimated to affect one in 14 children in Australia. The exact cause of ADHD is not known but Professor Silva says genes appear to be the largest factor in determining who develops it. Research suggests up to 70 per cent of ADHD is inherited, with 30-40 per cent related to environmental factors that affect wiring in the brain, including early infections and prematurity. 

Professor Silva says that, combined with other treatments and a healthy lifestyle which includes exercise and contact with nature, a healthy diet (one that includes omega-3 fatty acids and avoids food additives, refined sugars, processed foods and saturated fat) may help to reduce symptoms. 

Maternal smoking and drinking during pregnancy have also been identified as risk factors. A study found that mothers of children with ADHD were significantly more likely to be younger, smoked in pregnancy, and were more likely to have given birth slightly earlier. 

More studies are needed to better understand the genetic and environmental risk factors of ADHD. 

*If you're concerned about your child’s behaviour, your GP can refer your child to a paediatrician, psychologist or psychiatrist so they can be assessed for ADHD. 

All information from  

Library News

Week 5 is here Parents. Mr. Peletier here with a few quick updates. 

Book Club 3 has just landed, most of our students have received their orders and I know some students have been incredibly excited about this particular issue.  Also, with Book Club Issue 3 we have decided to grab heaps of new resources and books for the students which will be available as soon as possible, I've got a couple of personal favourites I know the students will love. 

Book Club issue 4 will be given out later this week, closing dates will be in next week's newsletter.

Finally, we are really looking forward to National Simultaneous Storytime day which will be an awesome event next Wednesday for the whole school. Bowerbird Blues is a fantastic book and the school can't wait to share it with the students. 

Thanks again, 

Mr. Aaron Peletier
Library Technician.

Starkick Football Program at Stirling Saints!

The Stirling Junior Football Club are excited to announce that we are kicking off a brand new Starkick All Abilities football program this season, with our season launch and Come and Try Day on Saturday 25th of May from 9am - 10:30am at Richard Guelfi Reserve, Balcatta.

Starkick is a multi award-winning non-contact All-Abilities football program that caters for boys and girls. This program promotes inclusion equality and opportunity and runs as an integral part of the clubs Auskick Centre.

Children who by circumstance, may be unable or unwilling to participate in a traditional, sporting team environment, are provided the support and resources they require to enable them to participate and most importantly - have fun!

We welcome all kids from PP to Year 12, who would like to play football in an inclusive environment to come along and give it a go. Starkick aims to cater for all disabilities and the motto for this program is “If you want to play, we’ll find a way”.

Bruno, who is featured on our flyer, is our first Starkick player who is signed up and ready to go, he is the son of our first Starkick Coordinator at the club, Michael Theodos.

If you would like any more information about the programme, please email Michael on starkick.stirlingjfc@gmail.com

Skyplay Basketball Acadmey