2020, The unprecedented year! The year our centenary was to be celebrated, but our plans were put on hold due to matters out of our control. Planning for this celebration in a new Covid safe space are well and truly underway, and we hope to make this work for our school community in Term One 2021.

As this is our last newsletter, we need to ensure that we thank many people in our community.

Thank you to our Admin staff who have done a fantastic job in a very disrupted year. You have been able to handle the many changes that have needed to be implemented in every changing year.  A very big thank you to Mrs Brown, Mrs Hart and Mrs Doepel who have helped run the school during the challenges and who supported each other and me during the extremely difficult period at the end of Term One and Commencement of Term Two. These ladies go about their roles with a minimum of fuss and do an amazing job of keeping this complex school running smoothly.

To our teaching assistants who ensure both the educational, medical needs of so many of our students are implemented each day. Without your care and attention, our students would be unable to access the learning opportunities to you help make available.

Our teaching staff who have implemented a curriculum during 2020 that required an adaptable approach and which took them to places that they were very much out of their comfort zone. They worked tirelessly to deliver both onsite and online curriculum to their students whilst also ensuring the pastoral care needs were also being met.

To our other support staff Mr Deegala, Mr Papalia, Mrs Young and Mr Velasquez who continued to work quietly behind the scenes to ensure that the school is operating at maximum efficiency.

I wish to thank all staff for their efforts across the school each day to keep this very complex and diverse school community working effectively, efficiently and with real heart. We are very fortunate to have a wonderful staff who genuinely care for the children in their care.

Thank you to all board members, members of the Kieran Connect parent group, Centenary Committee, Year 6 Graduation committee and all those who have volunteered in some role during the year.

To all of those families, especially those who leave us at the end of this year, we wish you well in your new locations.

I take this opportunity to wish everyone a very safe, holy and joy-filled Christmas. May you get to share this special time with those you care for and love.

Finally, a personal thank you as I leave the St Kieran community. I joined St Kieran at the commencement of Term 2, 2014 and the almost seven years at the school, I have had the absolute pleasure of sharing the journey of 1355 students during this time. I am incredibly proud to have to lead this wonderful community, which is comprised of an amazing staff and extraordinary parent group. 

I wish you all the very best for what the future may hold for each of you. I have been privileged to lead the unique school community and wish Mr Burnett all the very best as he continues the work of many before him, as the school commences its second 100-year journey. Thank you to every one of you who has taken the time over the past few weeks to show me your appreciation. Your kind words will continue to be a reminder to me of the wonderful community we have at St Kieran.

Goodbye, thank you and may God bless each one of you.

Peter Cutrona | Principal