St Kieran Newsletter Term 3, Week 10 - 25th September 2025

Principal's Message

St Kieran School Prayer 
Heavenly Father, 
Bless our school. 
Jesus watch over our community. 
Mother Mary please keep us safe. 
St Kieran guide our learning as we pray and play together. 
We ask this through Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 

September 24th 1827 was the day Catherine McAuley opened ‘The House of Mercy’ in Baggot St Dublin. 

Catherine was born in 1778 into a family which was considered ‘comfortable off’. Her father was catholic and her mother was a protestant. Her father had a great love for the poor, and instilled this love and compassion into Catherine as he went visiting the poor and sick. He also taught her to have a great love of Jesus. Today we would say Catherine’s father taught her to ‘make Jesus real’ in the world in which she lived. 

Catherine’s father died when she was 7, and her mother was left to raise 3 children. Catherine’s mother was not good at managing money, so the family soon found themselves dependant on the support of family and friends. No such things as pensions, and unemployment benefits in 19th century Ireland. Again, in today’s language we would say that Catherine’s family were homeless, moving from place to place, ‘couch surfing’. 

Throughout all her childhood and early adulthood experiences Catherine remained constant in her faith and her desire to serve. Catherine went to care for an elderly couple; the Callaghan’s when she was in her 20’s. This couple were Quakers, and it was from them that Catherine developed a love of the bible, especially the stories of Jesus. Catholics were not allowed to have copies of the bible in the 1800’s. Catherine learned again the importance of making Jesus real in the lives of people ‘left behind’. 

When the Callaghan’s died they left their inheritance to Catherine. Aged 50 Catherine set about her life’s work of providing education, accommodation, and work skills to women and children in her House of Mercy. Other women joined her. It was then that the leaders of the Church stepped in and said that women shouldn’t be doing this work. Catherine was told that her property would be taken from her and given to another organisation unless she became a religious sister.   

Wanting her work to continue, Catherine and 2 other women went and did their religious training with the Presentation Sisters. Their work at the House of Mercy was carried on by a group of women who were determined to keep Catherine’s dream alive. On December 12th 1831 Catherine McAuley, Maryanne Doyle and Elizabeth Harley were professed as the first Sisters of Mercy. 

The Sisters became known as ‘The Walking Nuns’ as they moved through the Dublin Streets helping the poor. All the other women religious congregations at the time were ‘enclosed’ in their convents. Catherine and the Mercy Sisters were ‘out and about’.   

Catherine believed that the rich should see the poor every day – that’s why she built her House of Mercy in one of the most fashionable streets in Dublin.  The rich people coming out of their houses couldn’t miss the poor people who were coming to the House of Mercy for food, education and accommodation. 

Today, Mercyworks, is an attempt to keep Catherine’s dream of empowering women and children alive. We, the Sisters of Mercy, working in partnership with men, women and children try to ‘Make Jesus real’ in a world where ‘the poor’ are often forgotten or ignored. 

On behalf of the Sisters of Mercy in Australia and Papua Guinea I thank you, the mums and dad, children and teachers of St Kieran for your generous support of Mercy Day and for keeping the Mercy Spirit alive in our community. - Sr Elizabeth Nicholls 

We are very blessed to have a close relationship with Sr Elizbeth who continues to support the school and seen as one of the school staff. Sr Elizbeth is a gem and no better example of the Sisters of mercy and the values they stand for. Thank you Sr Elizbeth and we are so happy you are apart of the school community! On a side note Sr Elizbeth makes the best scones and often can be see dropping these in the school office! Thank you Sr Elizabeth. 

This Friday we celebrate the Sisters of Mercy and their legacy on Catholic Education with a particular focus on St Kieran Catholic Primary School. We look forward to sharing our Mercy Day Mass and Fete with the school community.  

One of the quotes that really resonates with me is the below quote - 'We must strive to do ordinary things - extraordinarily well' which is even more significant that it is from the Sisters of Mercy founder Catherine McAuley. To me this quote can be taken so many ways but it is doing those day to day things to the best of our ability and always strive for excellence in all we do!  

What can I say…another term is very close to be finished - it seems like the year has gone by so quickly and before we know we will be talking about the conclusion of the year and preparing ourselves for the season of Advent. Term 4 will also go so quickly so please keep an eye on the school calendar. 

Please make sure you have a safe holidays and we look forward to seeing you all back hopefully safe and well on Monday 13th October 

Take care and stay safe. 

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

School Calendar

We conclude Term 3 for students on Friday 26th September and return to Term 4 on Monday 13th October. 

Staff News

I will be taking Senior Leaders Renewal Leave from the start of Term 4 and returning to St Kieran on Monday 10th November. During this time Mr Anthony Davis - anthony.davis@cewa.edu.au will be the Principal. I will be travelling to Europe with a group of Principals under taking a spiritual tour which will include the Vatican and other significant religious sites across Italy. I wish Mr Davis all the very best as he undertakes this role during this time. 

School Faction Carnival

Well done to all the students that participated in the carnival on Friday last week. Your 'sportspersonship' was amazing and to see the effort through the day was a real credit to you all. A huge thank you to all the staff in particular Mr Taylor who ran an outstanding carnival. To all the parents and Kieran Connect for all your help during the day and a special mention to all the families that stayed around and help the staff pack up - this was greatly appreciated! 

2025 Athletics Carnival - Message from Mr Taylor

On Friday, 19th September, we held our annual Faction Athletics Carnival—and what an incredible day it turned out to be! The sun was shining, the students were full of energy and excitement, and a fantastic crowd of parents turned up to cheer on the competitors.

The day kicked off with the challenging 400m events, where our Year 3–6 students gave it their all, achieving some impressive times. This was followed by the Pre-primary to Year 2 students lighting up the track in their 50m sprints, before everyone moved into the much-loved team games.

A new addition this year was the introduction of sportsmanship bonus points during the team games. It was heartening to see so many students encouraging their peers, demonstrating positive attitudes and team spirit throughout.

For the first time, our Kindy students joined the carnival, and their excitement was infectious! They participated in a fun hurdles relay and a 50m race before joining the Pre-primary classes to walk back to school.

Just before lunch, we introduced the maiden wheelchair races, a well-received and inclusive addition to the program. These novelty races encouraged participation, teamwork, and collaboration, with students from various year levels teaming up to support one another.

We closed out the carnival with the highly anticipated Year 3–6 100m relays—a crowd favourite that had both students and parents on their feet, cheering passionately for their Factions.

A huge thank you to all the parents who came down to support and helped create such a vibrant and enthusiastic atmosphere. To the staff who assisted with early morning set-up—your efforts are truly appreciated and never go unnoticed. We also extend our thanks to all staff members who helped throughout the day, whether it was running team games, marshalling students for their events, or providing general support to ensure the day ran smoothly.

Congratulations to our award winners and to Frayne, who took home the Mercy Shield for the highest point total on the day:

• Frayne: 703

• MacKillop: 644

• Francis: 547

• Mercy: 520

We now look ahead to the Interschool Athletics Carnival, which will be held on Thursday, 30th October at the WA Athletics Stadium. Students selected to represent our school will be notified via email in Week 10 of Term 3.

Thank you once again for a fantastic day!

Matt Taylor

Physical Education Teacher

matthew.taylor@cewa.edu.au

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. 

Consultation Tyler Street Road Closure

We ask that parents and families refer to the email that has been sent our to our community and that you take the time to complete the survey. If you have any questions please feel free to contact a member of the Leadership Team. 

You can complete the survey at this link. The consultation is open until Tuesday 7 October and will take a short time to complete. More information is also available on the City of Stirling’s website. 

Annual Community Meeting

Our Annual Community Meeting will be held on Wednesday 20th November at 5pm in the Upper Learning Area. This will be a combination of the School Advisory and Kieran Connect Meeting's.   

The School Advisory Committee operates under the Terms of Reference, and these are listed on our school website. As a School Advisory Council, we continue to look to support our school values and those of CEWA. If you ever have any questions regarding the School Advisory Council please contact Mr Burnett. 

School Playground and Play Equipment

For the safety of all children, we kindly remind families that students are not to use the school playground equipment before or after school. During these times, staff are not on duty and unable to supervise, which increases the risk of accidents or injury. We appreciate your support in helping us keep everyone safe. 

 Fathers Camping Trip Weekend 2025! 

We have booked all campsites at Yanchep National Park from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th October and we have space available for more Dads and kids. All ages are welcome! Kindy through to Year 6.  

Join us for one or two nights for some fun, adventure, games and activities. Proudly supported by St Kieran Catholic Primary School and Kieran Connect. Arrive Friday Arvo - Evening Arvo or evening with Saturday team games and high ropes course followed by a group dinner. Sunday caves/hike/beach. Pub Lunch for the Dads and kids! 

If you would like to join us, please email me at dtraynor78@hotmail.com or message me on 0437 800 948. 

There are a few spaces left. Get in quick! 

Traffic Crossing - Crosswalk Attendant

If any of our families or community members would like to explore the possibility of becoming a Cross walk Attendant please make contact with the office and we can direct you down the correct path for training and further information.  

Students Leaving St Kieran

Can you please let the school know as soon as possible if your child/children are moving on from St Kieran in 2026. 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. This only applies to students who are leaving St Kieran. 

Sacrament of Confirmation

The Sacrament of  Confirmation is a vital step in a young person's faith journey, deepening their relationship with God and affirming their commitment to the teachings of the Church. Through Confirmation, students receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, empowering them to live out their faith with courage, wisdom, and love. It is a joyful celebration of growth, responsibility, and belonging within the Catholic community. 

Sacrament of Confirmation Enrolment Form: 

Please fill in this form to enrol your child into the Sacrament. ConfirmationEnrolmentForm 

Payments are made to St Kieran Parish electronically. It may be helpful to have a second web browser window open at the same time as the Confirmation Enrolment Form.  

Please note that this form must be completed before Monday, October 13. 

Here is some important information for your child's  Confirmation.  

Catch up - Sacrament of  Confirmation Commitment Masses Sat 9August 6:30pm. If you miss this Mass, please contact Fr Wilson to arrange another time.  

Retreat Day Friday Oct 24 at St Kieran Catholic Primary School/ St Catherine's House of Hospitality 

Parent and Child Workshops Tues Oct 14 4:00pm or 5:15pm/ Thursday Oct 16 4:00pm at St Kieran Catholic Primary School. Your child will need to bring their pencil case with them.  

Sacrament of Reconciliation before the Sacrament of Confirmation:  

Reconciliation will not occur during school time for Confirmation candidates. Reconciliation occurs on Saturdays 8:20am or 6:00pm. Also available by appointment, contact parish office   

Sacrament of  Confirmation  Masses Sat October 25 and Sun October 26  

MSP Photographers will be available in the Parish Hall on the days of the Sacrament, one hour before  each Mass begins. Enter via the door on Cape Street. The photographer will also take photos during the Sacrament, so we ask families not to take photos during Mass. 

Students will be asked to sit on the end of a pew, down the centre aisle and the aisle to the side. They will not be allocated a specific seat. Each Mass will have between 32-35 students receiving the Sacrament. This means the church will be very full and there will be limited space for additional family and friends. Please keep this in mind when inviting guests. You may wish to invite guests to attend your own family celebration after the Sacrament. 

Social Media Age Restriction Hub

We would like to share with you the eSafety Commissioner's Social Media Age Restrictions Hub. The hub is being put forward as the source of truth about Australia's world-first social media age restrictions, taking effect on 10 December 2025. This hub will support educators and parents to understand and prepare for the change. Link: Social Media Age Restrictions Hub 

AI Chatbots

There are new industry codes which aim to better protect children from a range of harmful and age-inappropriate content, including the danger posed by AI-driven companion chatbots. 

Many of these chatbots are capable of engaging in sexually explicit conversations with minors, and have been alleged to also encourage suicidal ideation, self-harm and disordered eating.  

The six codes apply to a broad range of online services and platforms — including app stores, gaming services, pornography websites, generative AI services and AI companion chatbots, equipment manufacturers and suppliers. 

Read more: New industry codes seek to take on AI chatbots that encourage suicide and engage in sexually explicit conversations with Aussie kids 

Swimming Lessons 2025

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Please read the following information carefully regarding swimming lessons at St Kieran in 2025.

Starting on Monday the 17th of November there will be running a 2-Week block of swimming lessons for students in PP - Year 5 at the Servite Pool. If your child has completed lessons outside of school, could you please send through their most recent swimming level certificate so they can be placed into the correct level. This will need to be emailed to matthew.taylor@cewa.edu.au by Thursday the 16th of October, as final classes need to be sent through to the swim school. 

If your child is new to St Kieran in 2025 or is in Pre-Primary could you please inform me of their current swim level as I do not have a record for these students.

More information about the swimming lessons will be sent out closer to the date.

Thanks

Matthew Taylor
Physical Education Teacher

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.

Dyslexia Awareness Week

Dyslexia Awareness Week 2025 – October 6th to 12th

October marks Dyslexia Awareness Month, and from October 6th to 12th, we join communities across Australia in recognizing Dyslexia Awareness Week. This important week shines a light on the experiences of individuals with dyslexia and promotes understanding, inclusion, and support in schools, workplaces, and beyond.

What Is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a common learning difference that primarily affects reading, writing, and spelling skills. It is not related to intelligence and can affect people of all ages. With the right support and awareness, individuals with dyslexia can thrive in school, work, and life.

Purpose of the Week

Dyslexia Awareness Week aims to:

• Educate the public and dispel common myths• Promote inclusive education and accessible practices• Support individuals and families affected by dyslexia

How You Can Get Involved

• Use dyslexia-friendly fonts and layouts in your materials• Share accurate, supportive information on social media or within your community• Advocate for inclusive practices in schools and workplaces

Resources to Explore

• Australian Dyslexia Association https://dyslexiaassociation.org.au/

• DSF WA – https://dsf.net.au/?srsltid=AfmBOoqTlzSDonXfOeGK8oMo9Ie68ouhuPhmR01i0ThhMfnvsVYWMkif

• WA Department of Education – Inclusive Education policies https://www.education.wa.edu.au/diversity-and-inclusion

Together, we can create a more inclusive world where individuals with dyslexia are supported, understood, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Let’s change perceptions. Let’s celebrate strengths. Let’s support every learner.

Carols in the Quad

SAVE THE DATE! Carols in the Quad will be held on Thursday 4th December at 6:30pm.

Murdoch After School Mathematics and Physical Science Program

We Are Yokine - Kid's Pop-Up Market

Be Active - Free Holiday Session

Tuart Hill/North Perth Cricket Club

Bike Month - City of Stirling