St Kieran Newsletter Term 4, Week 1 - 10th October 2024

Principal's Message

'The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.' Lin Yutang.  

We know that each breath,  
each thought, 
each step we take is blessed by Your love.  
Help us to live in imitation of the  
simplicity of Jesus’ life,  
so that the real people we are,  
are not hidden away within us,  
buried under a life made too complicated.  
Amen.  

Welcome back to Term 4! I hope you all had a wonderful break and kept safe and sound. Yes I know, I said 'Term 4' - how quickly has the year gone by and we now find ourselves in the final term of the year. This is not only an exciting time as we come into the season of Advent, but also a time where we see all the hard work that the students and staff have being doing throughout the year. 

'There is joy in simplicity so remember the small things. Remember the joy and happiness and all the hope it brings. Remember to love, remember to laugh, remember to be still. What ever you do, be yourself, be true.' Adam Smith.  

I looked at this quote as we have many simple things in life that are rewarding, we don’t need to go looking for those extra - ordinary things, just the ones that we take for granted, that when you think about them really do make you appreciate the little things. These little things come in many ways from a simple vote of thanks or appreciation, to watch children engage or with one another, to the peaceful times on the beach or out in nature. Take that deep breath this term be thankful for what we have and appreciate those little things. 

I look forward to seeing you all during the term, take care and stay safe. 

Best wishes and take care. 

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

Welcome

A big welcome to all those new families and staff that have joined us at St Kieran this week. It is great to be able to welcome you to our St Kieran family and the school community. We hope your time with us is an enjoyable and rewarding one! 

Staff News

We had some wonderful engagement news over the holidays for one of our staff members. There is nothing better than planning a wedding at school with so many staff ready to be helpers! Congratulations to Miss Kieralee Davis and her fiancé Mikey. This is fantastic news and we wish you both all the very best as you begin this new journey. 

Congratulations to Mrs Haylee Hodges and her husband Jack who have announced that they are expecting an addition to their family in April 2025 – huge news and just an amazing experience coming your way. We wish you all the very best. 

Also congratulations to Miss Paige Vincent who was also successful in being employed as a ongoing staff member at Our Lady of Grace School in North Beach. Miss Vincent has been completing a temporary one year contract with us covering staff on leave. Well done Miss Vincent! 

 After 22 years at St Kieran Catholic Primary School, Mrs Jen O’Halloran will be leaving us as she moves onto the next phase of her life. Mrs O'Halloran has been an amazing person and staff member at St Kieran and will be truly missed, but we wish Jen and her family all the very best on this next adventure. 

Miss Teaghan Black who has been helping us out in the office and with our social media, will also be leaving us at the end of the year after a short period of time as she finishes her degree and looks to start a new role in teaching. Thank you and good luck Miss Black. 

Mr Mitch Crowden is returning to Adelaide at the end of the year and therefore will conclude his time with us during Term 4. Thank you for all you have done for us Mr Crowden and we wish you all the very best. 

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 conclude the school year on Friday 6th December. 

Contact Details - Parents

It is imperative that parents and families update the school when your personal details change during the year. If you change you email address or mobile phone please ensure that the school administration is contacted so we can update these details for communication purposes. 

School Fees

A reminder to all families that school fees are due and that if for any reason you are falling behind you need to make an appointment with the school principal to address these and the payments required. 

Kieran Connect 2025

Kieran Connect have had a very successful year in 2024 with our planned events including; the Family Welcome event, the Mothers and Fathers Day Breakfasts and our upcoming end of year student events. These events are testimony to the amazing efforts of our Committee members and our Parent Class Reps. In order to help ensure continued success we are seeking parents interested in joining the Committee for 2025.  

We understand that everyone is busy and time is precious, so we can assure you that it won't be a big ask, however we can confirm it will be a rewarding experience. Please contact Mr Burnett for further information - daine.burnett@cewa.edu.au  

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, as it will be too late we would suggest getting the applications in before Year 4. 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 enrolment process. If you have any questions please feel free to us in the office. 

St Kieran Enrolments 2025

We have a very limited number of positions available in some year levels. Please contact the administration office for further details. 

Students Leaving St Kieran

Can you please let the school know as soon as possible if your children are moving on from St Kieran in 2024. We currently have families on our wait lists and would like to accommodate as many people as possible. Please note a terms notice should be given in order to not be charged any subsequent fees. 

E-Safety - Celebrating Children's Week

With Children’s Week around the corner (19-27 October 2024), we're encouraging parents, carers and other trusted adults to talk to your children about how to create, connect and explore the wonders of technology in a safe and appropriate way.  

Here’s some ideas to get you started!  

• 🕮 Read – Online safety picture book and song    
• 💻 Do – Story puzzles with Swoosh and Glide  
• 👀 Watch – Online safety Mighty Heroes video series. 

USTRONG Online Workshop - Wednesday 16th October 6:00 pm

URSTRONG’s whole-school friendship strategy has improved the social climate in schools around the world, connecting over a million kids, parents, and teachers with a common language of friendship. We are proud to be a URSTRONG School, empowering your children with friendship skills through their award-winning Friendology curriculum. 

You are invited to attend an ONLINE Language of Friendship parent-child workshop for URSTRONG Schools on Wednesday 16 October at 6:00pm. Dana Kerford (Founder of URSTRONG) will teach you and your children skills + language to foster healthy, feel-good friendships. This workshop will take place online via Zoom. If this is a first for you, you might want to try a test by clicking here. 

When it’s time: CLICK HERE TO JOIN 

Meeting ID: 833 7236 8909 

Password: URSTRONG 

You are also invited to keep the conversation going at home with a FREE membership for URSTRONG Families. Take advantage of activities, videos, & articles to continue empowering your child with friendship skills.  

After the workshop, we encourage you to: Activate your FREE Parent Membership and explore all the resources available to your family. 

Encourage Green-Zone Friendships with this activity: Must-Haves, Deal-Breakers, & Ice-Cream! 

Try out this interactive tool: Friendship Fire or Mean-on-Purpose? 

Pop over to URSTRONG’s BLOG with news & advice. We believe that empowering our students with these skills will create a culture of kindness at our school and we hope you will be part of this whole-school initiative!  

Sacrament of Confirmation - Important Dates

The Sacrament of Confirmation is a significant milestone in the spiritual journey of our students. It is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation in the Catholic Church, alongside Baptism and Eucharist. Through Confirmation, our Year 6 students will receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which will strengthen their faith and commitment to living a Christian life. This sacrament marks their full initiation into the Church, empowering them to witness Christ in their daily lives. 

Important Dates to Remember:

Confirmation Retreat

Date: Friday, October 18 

Details: A day dedicated to reflection, prayer, and preparation for the sacrament. 

Parent and Child Workshops

Tuesday, November 12: Sessions at 4:00pm and 5:15pm 

Thursday, November 15: Session at 4:00pm 

Details: These workshops are designed to help parents and children understand the significance of Confirmation and prepare together for this important event.  

There has been some time since families nominated their preferred session and we understand that schedules have changed. Please complete this form to nominate your preferred session. Parent/Child Workshop form. 

Sacrament of Confirmation Masses

Saturday, November 23 at 5:00pm: For class 6B 

Sunday, November 24 at 10:30am: For class 6W 

Details: These special Masses will be a joyous celebration of our students receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. 

October is Cyber Awareness Month

October is Cyber Awareness Month, and we are excited to share some important tips to help you and your family stay safe online. In today’s digital age, cyber security is more crucial than ever. Here are a few steps you can take to enhance your family’s online safety: 

1. Educate Your Children: Talk to your kids about the importance of not sharing personal information online and recognising suspicious activities. 
2. Use Strong Passwords: Ensure that all family members use strong, unique passwords for their online accounts. Consider using a password manager to keep track of them. 
3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Add an extra layer of security to your accounts by enabling two-factor authentication wherever possible. 
4. Update Software Regularly: Keep your devices and software up to date to protect against the latest security threats. 
5. Monitor Online Activity: Keep an eye on your children’s online activities and set appropriate boundaries to ensure they are safe. 

By taking these steps, you can help protect your family’s personal information and enjoy a safer online experience. Thank you for your attention and support in making our community cyber-aware! 

Here is a link to the Australian Signals Directorate on cyber security: https://www.cyber.gov.au/learn-basics/view-resources/cyber-security-awareness-month 

October - Month of the Rosary

October is celebrated as the Month of the Rosary, a special time dedicated to honouring the Blessed Virgin Mary and reflecting on the significant events in the lives of Jesus and Mary through the prayer of the Rosary. 

History of the Month of the Rosary 
The tradition of dedicating October to the Rosary dates back to Pope Leo XIII, who officially established it in 1883. This dedication was inspired by the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, celebrated on October 7th, which commemorates the victory of the Christian fleet over the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.  

How Parents Can Participate 
Parents can engage in the Month of the Rosary in several meaningful ways: 

1. Pray Together as a Family: Set aside time each day to pray the Rosary together. Start with a decade if your children are young or new to the practice. 
2. Create a Prayer Space: Designate a special area in your home with a statue or image of Mary, candles, and rosaries to create a peaceful environment for prayer. 
3. Teach the Mysteries: Explain the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries to your children, helping them understand the events they are meditating on. 
4. Use Visual Aids: Utilize videos or books that explain the Rosary and its significance. 
5. Incorporate Intentions: Encourage each family member to offer intentions before starting the Rosary. This personalizes the prayer and helps children understand its power. 
6. Lead by Example: Let your children see you praying the Rosary regularly. . 

By participating in these activities, parents can foster a deeper spiritual connection within their family and instil a lifelong devotion to the Rosary. 

At the St Kieran Prayer Shrine (at St Kieran Church), Praying the Rosary has commenced since Tuesday 1st October, this will continue until the end of October Thursday 31st. 

Praying the Rosary is at 3pm every day. 

Students and families from St Kieran Primary School are invited to join the prayer session, everyone is welcome to take part in Praying the Rosary. 

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