Newsletter Term 1 Week 3 2025

From the Principal

We have had an amazing start to the new school year so far. Our goal every year is to make St Kieran’s a respectful, child-safe, inclusive learning community. We also encourage our parents to work in partnership with us to be a positive component in the learning journey of their children.

A big shout out to all of our new and existing students who have settled in so well over the first two weeks. I would like to formally welcome all our new staff members for the 2025 school year. I’m sure they will be well-supported in their role as ESOs and will be a great asset to our learning community.

Could I please ask the following of all our parents?

1. SUPPORT YOUR CHILD’S FAITH JOURNEY WHILST AT ST KIERAN’S
   Please embrace us as a Catholic School of action. Try to attend our assemblies and liturgies/masses and encourage prayer at home. 
2. SHOW YOUR CHILD THAT YOU VALUE EDUCATION
   It helps if you show interest in your child’s learning. For example, when you see your child after school, ask them for 3 positives about their day. What they have learned today? What did they do in class? What did they do during play? Don’t be shrugged off too easily; deep down, even if they roll their eyes, they will be grateful you care enough to ask, and recalling what they learned will help them remember it in the future. Do your best to attend school events relevant to your child, and most importantly please ensure that your child is at school on time for the beginning of each day at 8.45 am. At St Kieran’s every day of learning counts for our students.
3. KEEP IN TOUCH AND BUILD A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER
   Let us know how things are for you and your child, especially through your child’s class teacher or via communication with our Deputy Principal Ms. Mallows, or myself, Mr. Mac. We need to know if concerns or issues arise so that we can work with you to help your child. When parents, students, and teachers work together, the children benefit significantly and the learning partnership should create and foster a wonderful year of learning and growth.
4. ALWAYS DRIVE SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY WHEN ENTERING OUR SCHOOL
   Please adhere to an 8km speed limit within our school when dropping off and picking up. Parents wanting to walk their children into school or collect them from the classrooms can park in Langford street on the paddock and walk across the crossing. Walking in through the back gates at Hawker Street and the back carpark are also great options. Please be patient if parking in the back-car park, we have had two minor accidents in the first two weeks of school where staff cars have been damaged with parents backing out of car parks. The disabled car park located in the Admin car park is not to be used by parents when dropping off or visiting the school. Any parent parking their car in the disabled car park must have a disabled sticker on display. 

NAPLAN Year 3-5

In the week following the Labour Day Long Weekend, our Year 3 and 5 students will sit NAPLAN Online. All tests are completed using the school’s Chromebooks, with the exception of Year 3 Writing, which is handwritten. The Year 3 and 5 students will complete the following tests:

• Writing - Wednesday 12th March
• Reading - Thursday 13th March
• Conventions of Language - Friday 14th March
• Numeracy - Monday 17th March

Results will be received mid-year and an individual report will be provided to families displaying your child’s achievement. 

School Closure Day 07/03/2025

St Kieran’s will have a school Closure Day on Friday 7th March. This will be the Friday before the Labour Day Public Holiday. Staff will attend school on this day for professional development.

Parent Teacher Interviews

On Tuesday 25th February and Thursday 27th February from 3:20 - 5:40pm, we will host our parent/teacher interviews for all families. These are a fantastic opportunity for parents to share important wellbeing and learning information with your child/ren's teacher for 2025. 

PTI are booked through PAM, and are now open for all our families to book times.  Information on how to book through will be sent out in the separate email.

Foundation and Year 6 Buddy Program

Our Foundation and Year 6 buddy program started on the first day of school, with our Year 6s taking to their roles as mentors with ease. For many of our students, they consider this relationship as one of their most treasured over their primary school journey, and the Year 6s have been simply bursting with excitement at the prospect of 'finally' getting to be a big buddy. During the first few weeks of school, they have engaged in shared lunches outside and lots of buddy playtime, and this program can often be one of the key ingredients in settling our Foundation students into school life. 

Foundation students have settling in beautifully into learning and making friends!

School Board AGM

Monday  3rd March.  The School Board AGM will be held on Monday, 3rd March at 6.30pm in the school staffroom.

Student Mobile Phones / Smart Watches

We ask families to remind their children that all mobile phones and Smart Watches (i.e. any device with cellular capacity) are to be handed in to the classroom teacher at the beginning of each school day. This aligns with the Victorian State Government legislation. Thank you for your cooperation. Parents who need to contact their child can do so by contacting the school office.

Anaphylaxis, Asthma and Medication

We ask families to support our management of food allergies and anaphylaxis, by being mindful of sending foods that may trigger a severe allergic reaction such as eggs, nuts and shellfish. Students are always encouraged to clean their hands before eating and are always reminded to never share food. Please remind your child of these simple directions to minimise the risk of an allergic reaction at school.

Families of students with allergies or asthma must provide our school with an up-to-date Action Plan. If it has been some time since you provided this plan to the office, please have it reviewed by your child’s doctor and forward a copy to the office as soon as possible. If your child takes any type of medication during school hours, whether it be for a long-term or short-term medical issue (including Panadol), a Medication Authority Form must be completed. Please speak with Heather or Michelle in our office if you have any questions.

School Uniform

At St Kieran's we pride ourselves on maintaining high standards for our school uniform, yet ensuring the uniform is comfortable and practical for playing outside. These standards are also maintained by staff and leadership at the school. The students wear their school uniform 4 days per week and sports uniform 1 day per week.

When wearing school uniform, it is expected that students will be wearing black leather school shoes or runners that are entirely black. We remind families that if the runners have colours other than black that they are not part of the correct school uniform. Hair must be tied up and back if it is longer than shoulder length. Students are expected to wear the school hat (and no other hat) until the end of April. Jewellery should also be kept to a minimum. Earrings that are either studs or small sleepers, a bracelet and a plain ring are all acceptable pieces.

Procedures and Communications

• Drop Off between 8:15am and 8:40am. Children/parents must only access the classroom from 8:30am, as the classrooms may be unsupervised before then.
• Pick-up between 2:45pm (carline)-3:15pm. If you are running late please contact the office.
• Late arrivals to sign in using PASSTAB at the front office before heading to class.
• Emails/Communication are always welcome; however, we find a brief exchange at drop-off or pick-up can often address any matters promptly. The priority for staff members at St Kieran’s Primary School is the welfare and education of all students at our school. Staff are unable to respond to emails/Seesaw and telephone calls instantaneously. They will, however, ensure that they attend to all correspondence within a reasonable timeframe (24-hour turnaround). Parents are also reminded that a response to communication should not be expected outside business hours, or during school holidays, unless it is urgent. Thank you for your support and understanding with these expectations.
• WWCC - Working With Children Check - St Kieran’s Primary School is committed to providing a child safe environment and takes active steps to ensure any person authorised to conduct ‘child connected works’ or ‘child related works’ does not pose a risk to their safety or welfare. To achieve this, the school requires a Working With Children Check (WWCC), to assess and verify their suitability. It is the responsibility of non-teaching staff, volunteers and visitors to:
• Apply for and receive a WWCC prior to expressing an interest to participate in ‘child connected works.’
• Provide St Kieran’s Primary School with a valid WWCC card prior to commencement. This needs to be shown and registered at the front office upon receipt.
• Child Safety & Wellbeing Policy and other student wellbeing policy’s – all available on our website 

Absences & Holidays

In Victoria, it is compulsory for children and young people aged 6–17 years to attend school.

Parents are legally required to ensure their child attends school every day and to provide an explanation for their child's absence from school unless an exemption from attendance has been granted or an exception to their attendance applies.

Absences

If your child is away sick or away due to a planned absence or appointment, please ensure you advise the school office. Student absence text messages are sent out if your child is marked as absent without a reason. In some cases, if you email your child's classroom teacher, they may be away and may not be able to check their emails to forward to the office. It is imperative that you notify the office through one of the following methods:
1. Log into PAM (Parent Access Module) and register your child's absence;
2. Email administration@stkmoe.catholic.edu.au
3. Phone the office on 51273606

When sending an email, you may wish to "cc" your child's classroom teacher so they are aware of the absence too.

Holidays

If you are planning an extended holiday (a week or more) during the school term, please email principal@stkmoe.catholic.edu.au addressing your intentions to our Principal, Mr Peter McKenna. 

Year 5/6 Camp

Melbourne City Camp: An Unforgettable Adventure! Our three day Melbourne City Camp was an absolute blast! From the moment we hopped on the train in Moe, excitement was in the air, and it only grew as we arrived in the heart of the city, ready for an adventure. The students really learnt a lot and embraced every experience with enthusiasm. It was a hot few days, but the students were absolutely fantastic the entire time, showing great resilience and positivity. Along the way, we received so many compliments on their behaviour. It was great to see them representing our school so well. Great job, everyone! There were so many moments that had the students in awe! The Eureka Skydeck was a massive highlight! Standing at the top of one of the tallest buildings in the Southern Hemisphere, looking out over all of Melbourne, was absolutely mind-blowing. The Queen Victoria Market was buzzing with energy, and the students had a great time exploring all the stalls and tasting delicious market treats.

Monopoly Dreams was a theme park kind of experience with so many fun interactive games and even an immersive 4D cinema! Another highlight was learning about the incredible Metro tunnel system underneath the city. This really engaged some of our young engineers and it was great to see even big Lachie learning a thing or two about the complex train tunnels. History came to life at the Melbourne Old Gaol, where students were fascinated (and maybe a little spooked!) by the stories of the past. And of course, for the sports lovers, the MCG tour was a dream come true, walking the same ground as some of the biggest legends in Australian sport. Staying in a cool hotel right in the middle of the action made the whole experience even more exciting, and the students were treated to some seriously good food, with delicious Italian and Chinese meals to top it all off. By the time we caught the train back home, the students were exhausted but absolutely buzzing with stories to tell. Melbourne City Camp was an experience they’ll never forget. One filled with fun, adventure, and memories to last a lifetime!

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School Fees and Fee Concessions

Fees are payable annually by the 1st of November or per term by the 4th week of each term. If any families would like to pay off their fees either weekly, fortnightly or monthly, please set up a regular bank transfer through your internet banking.  The school banking details will be listed on the annual statement. For any assistance please contact the school Admin office via email on: administration@stkmoe.catholic.edu.au

For any families that have recently received a Government means-tested health care concession card, please forward or bring in a copy of your card to the office to check your eligibility, as a substantial fee concession may apply. The card must be in the name of the parent/fee payer for a fee concession to apply with the student details listed on the card.  

If your current Health Care concession card has expired, or is due to expire and your card is re-issued, please send a copy of your new card details to the office as soon as possible for the concession to be checked and applied to your fees.

You will receive an email of the fee statement in the coming weeks.  If you would your statement sent sooner, please email administration@stkmoe.catholic.edu.au

Afternoon Carline

To keep the carline flowing, please ensure that you display your carline surname when using the carline in the afternoon.

Sticky Beak Bags for Tuckshop

We currently have stock of Stickybeak reuseable lunch bags that students use for Tuckshop on a Friday.

If you would like to order a Stickybeak reuseable lunch bag for your child’s tuckshop orders, please place the order through CDF Pay.  The bag will be delivered to your child’s classroom and remain at school.

• Lunch wallet - $9.00
• Insulated bags - $11.00

LOTE News

Hello everyone! Here are some wonderful paper cutting creations from our Grade 3-6 LOTE students over the past two weeks. A big thank you to all the teachers and LSOs for their incredible support in making this project possible!

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