St Kieran Newsletter Term 2, Week 4 - 22nd May 2025

Principal's Message

“Prayer is first of all listening to God. It’s openness. God is always speaking; he’s always doing something. A spiritual life without prayer is like the Gospel without Christ. The real ‘work’ of prayer is to become silent and listen to the voice that says good things about me. Prayer is not what is done by us, but rather what is done by the Holy Spirit in us. To pray is to walk in the full light of God and to simply say, without holding back, ‘I am human and you are  God’. - Henri Nouwen. 

God, I know I’m going to be very busy today. 
Help me not to be so busy I miss the most important things. 
Help me not to be too busy listening to other voices,  
that I fail to hear your voice speaking to me. 
Help me not to be too busy to sit still for a moment and be thankful. 
Amen. 

I turn to You in prayer, O God, as best I am able. 
May I be strong. 
May I not be discouraged. 
May all who open their hearts hear your voice and know your love. 
Lead me, teach me, help me to pray. Psalm 25 (modified). 

Grant me faith and courage to put purpose in my days. - Author Unknown. 

This week we send our prayers to Deacon Jonathan who will be ordained on Friday night at St Mary's Cathedral at 7pm. The Catholic priesthood is the second of the three ordained ministries of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The others are diaconate (for deacons) and episcopate (for bishops). 

The Order of Priesthood gives the ordained person the office of offering the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist and of forgiving sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In and through the exercise of these ministries the ordained priest is further charged with celebrating the sacraments of Baptism, Matrimony and Anointing of the Sick. 

Priesthood also embraces the exercise of spiritual leadership, the teaching of faith and morals, formation of lay leaders and whatever other duties are deemed necessary by his bishop or religious superior. Priesthood requires holiness of life and moral integrity. A priest shares in the ministry of the bishop. The main roles of the priest are preaching, celebrating the sacraments and leadership for building up the community of the church. The priest is called to serve his people in word and in sacrament and by leadership after the model of our Lord. 

O Jesus, our great High Priest, hear our humble prayers on behalf of your priests, Father Gionata Pagani. Give them a deep faith, a bright and firm hope, and a burning love which will ever increase in the course of their priestly lives. 

In their loneliness, comfort them; in their sorrows, strengthen them; in their frustrations, point out to them that it is through suffering that the soul is purified. Show them that they are needed by the Church, they are needed by souls, they are needed for the work of redemption. 

O loving Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, take to your heart your sons who are close to you because of their priestly ordinations, and because of the power which they have received to carry on the work of Christ in a world which needs them so much. Be their comfort, be their joy, be their strength, and especially help them to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy. 

Amen. 

I hope your week has been a great one and that you all are keeping safe and well. 

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 conclude Term 2 for students on Thursday 3rd July. We also have professional development days and a public holiday on the 30th May and 2nd June. 

Kindy 2026 Enrolments

We are accepting Kindy Enrolments for 2026,  interviews have already started for students to start at St Kieran next year. All parents need to submit an application to make sure your child is enrolled at St Kieran Catholic Primary School for 2026. 

 If you have any questions or would like clarification, please ring or contact the School Administration

Unwell Students

As we are moving into 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. 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. 

Servite College - After School Pick Up

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 teaching day.

Parking

We again need to remind parents about parking at St Kieran, 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 these 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. 
8. DO NOT park on verges that are sign posted. 

Please do not park in the Kieran Connect/VIP parking space (see photos below), thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Morgans Street Kiss and Drive

We know the morning and afternoon drive through can be a very busy place, which relies on all families doing the right thing to ensure it runs smoothly. In order to keep it flowing, we ask that parents stay in their car at these times. If you need to get out of the car to assist your child with their seatbelt, then please park your car in an appropriate place and walk into school. Students are encouraged to independently get themselves in and out of the car, put their bags in and do up their own seatbelt.  
There are signs asking parents to continue to Drive Forward so we can get as many children out of the cars as quickly as possible in the morning. When a parent stops at the Morgans Street gate it stops all the other cars behind them, which then creates issues on Morgans Street for our local residents. 

Code of Conduct

The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to describe minimum standards of conduct in all behaviour and decision making to ensure the safety and well-being of students. The Code of Conduct applies to staff, students, volunteers, parents and guardians in our community.  The document is available on our school website and everyone in our community is expected to abide by this. https://www.stkieran.wa.edu.au/st-kieran-code-of-conduct-and-guidelines 

A breach of the Code may constitute a failure to follow a lawful direction from the Principal and therefore the Principal will have the discretion as to what action to take, which may include counselling, professional development or sanctions under any agreement between you and the Principal. If you are a parent, volunteer or visitor, the Principal may take such action as is appropriate in your circumstances to maintain the safety and well-being of students. If at anytime members of our community feel that a person has breached the code the forms for breaching or notification are located here on our school website https://www.stkieran.wa.edu.au/reporting These forms report directly to the principal. 

Uniform

Just another friendly reminder to make sure that you have written your children's names on items, such as jumpers to ensure that they can be returned to the rightful owner. Labels or tags can be cut off as they maybe annoying for the children so please look at other options for putting the children's name on these items. 

A reminder to all parents that for the academic uniform the below shoes are to be worn - black lace up school shoes for both boys and girls. I would ask all parents to refer to the Uniform Policy on our school website from the beginning of 2024 for any further clarification. https://stkierancps.schoolzineplus.com/_file/media/2824/2024_school_uniform_guidelines.pdf 

Communication

Our staff are committed to the best interests of your child and value the relationships they have with both students and parents. For any matters, communication should be made directly with the child’s teacher. This may be referred to the Assistant Principal or Principal on a needs basis.  

Staff will respond to parent concerns in a manner that takes into consideration their workload and teaching hours when receiving the communication. Please be aware that there is no expectation for staff to check or respond to electronic communication outside of school hours, over the weekend or during school holidays. 

The staff at St Kieran are very approachable and are very easy to contact - each staff member has their own professional email address that parents can use - firstname.surname@cewa.edu.au for example daine.burnett@cewa.edu.au that you can use or you are also welcome to call the office and leave a message for them to return your call. 

Mobile Phones and Smart Watches

Smart watches can be worn to school; however, we ask parents to turn off any features that allow the watch to be used for anything other than telling the time while at school. If a student is using it for any other reason, then it is exactly like a mobile phone and it  MUST  be handed in to the front office. If your child is required to bring a mobile phone to school, for instance they walk home or catch the bus, then a mobile phone permission form must be completed and the phone needs to be handed in to the office each morning and collected at the end of the school day. At no time is a phone permitted to be left in a students bag. 

May - 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  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. Let's honour their commitment and recognize the profound impact they have on shaping the hearts and minds of the next generation. 

Packed with Goodness

Thank you to the parents who came along to our very informative Packed With Goodness Session last week.

Below is a link to great recipes for fussy eaters, provided by the Crunch and Sip Primary School Nutrition Program,

coordinated by Cancer Council WA.

They look delicious!

https://www.crunchandsip.com.au/resources/download?collectionId=5

Sign of the Week

Learning one Auslan sign a week is a simple but powerful way to increase our awareness and inclusion at St. Kieran. By committing to learning just one sign each week, we break down barriers and build empathy. It reminds us to be more mindful of accessibility and gives us the tools to connect with more people. Over time, these small efforts add up, leading to greater fluency and a more inclusive environment for everyone.

SPORTS CARNIVAL ACCESSORIES ARE BACK FOR 2025!

(And they may even get a glow up )
In order to ensure we are prepared and able to accommodate everyone, please take some time to complete this short survey.
All suggestions are welcome and will be considered!
2025 School Sports Carnival Accessories
https://freeonlinesurveys.com/s/nAGBCxKe?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR7xooKJmWmnBYxXK_Fwzca91aiAneSdkjl3Bdq_lal5awhGBzXlQ0w0z73tLg_aem_cWgxd4fM_pQtucMvQAgmFQ

Protective Behaviours (Online) - North Metro Families

Free CSPWA Event: Justin Coulson Parent Seminars

Community Safety Expo – A Fun & Free Event for Families!

The City of Stirling is inviting families to a free, family-friendly Community Safety Expo—a fantastic opportunity to learn about safety while having fun together.

📅 Date & Time: Saturday, 31 May 2025 2:00pm – 4:00pm

📍 Location: Stirling Leisure – Dianella 1 Light Street, Dianella

💰 Cost: Free

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Who should attend? Families and residents in the City of Stirling and surrounding areas

✨ What to expect:

• Meet the Constable Care mascot
• Enjoy safety-themed face painting
• Get creative at the Kids’ Safety Craft Station
• Spin the Crime Stoppers prize wheel for a chance to win giveaways
• Treat the family to a free sausage sizzle provided by the Salvation Army
• Bring your bike along for a free bike safety check from The Bike Mechanic

This engaging and interactive event will connect families with vital community safety resources, hands-on activities, and service providers.
We encourage schools to share this exciting event with parents to help spread the word and support community safety awareness.

We look forward to seeing families there! 🚲🎨🍽️

Click Here for more information

Kind regards,

Youth Engagement
Community Parnerships
Community Development

Australian Girls Choir – Perth Open Day - June

Look no further than the Australian Girls Choir (AGC) because we encourage, challenge and inspire girls as they learn to sing, dance and perform. School aged girls are invited to come along to our June Open Day to try our fun and inclusive classes and learn more about being part of the AGC! Please visit our website to register to attend our free Open Day: ausgirlschoir.com.au/joinagc

Mercedes College present Legally Blonde: The Musical - Schools Show

Legally Blonde: The Musical is a lively tale of resilience and self-discovery, centered around Elle Woods, a cheerful California fashionista who astonishes everyone by enrolling in Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend. Despite being initially underestimated due to her vibrant personality and style, Elle encounters skepticism from both peers and professors. However, her determination, intelligence, and unique perspective enable her to excel academically and discover her true potential. Throughout her journey, Elle forms genuine friendships and redefines success on her own terms, demonstrating that authenticity and ambition can coexist.  Elle's story serves as an inspiring reminder to never judge a book by its cover.

Date: Friday 1 August 2025
Time: 11.00am 
Duration of the Show:

• Show commences: 11:00am sharp
• First Half: 1 hour, 15 minutes
• Interval: 20 minutes 
• Second Half: 1 hour 
• Concludes: 1:35pm  

Venue: The Regal Theatre, Subiaco
Group Size: Up to 32 students per school * if more tickets are required – please email 
Bonus: All students attending will receive a fun gift bag!