Religious Education News
Mary MacKillop Whole School Mass
On Friday 9 August at 9:30am, we would like to invite our parents and friends to celebrate the feast day of Australia’s First Saint, Mary of the Cross MacKillop at our whole school Mass with Father Ken.
Requests for donations of non- perishable items can be brought in before Friday 9th August to be placed into your child’s classroom basket. Classes will be taking these up as part of the offertory procession at the whole school Mass. It can be cans, crackers, soups, chips, pasta, noodles, nappies, shampoo, conditioner, soap, razors, shaving cream - anything non - perishable!
Pupil Free Day and Staff Spirituality Day - Monday September 23
Monday September 23 will be a Pupil Free Day for students as staff will be involved in their annual Spirituality Day. The Staff Spiritual Formation Retreat Day will focus on the theme: Sustaining Our Purpose - Self-care & Staff Well-being. This day will include an integration of spiritual and psychological practices that support us in sustaining our purpose. “You either walk inside your story and own it or you stand outside your story & hustle for your worthiness." - Brene Brown
Book Week and Grandparents Day
Important Information
The theme for Book Week 2019 is ‘Reading is my Secret Power’. Book Week will run from the 19th - 23rd of August 2019 and so this year St Michael's will be celebrating Book Week on Friday 23rd August in conjunction with Grandparents Day.
To celebrate this wonderful occasion we are inviting all students from Kinder to Year 6 to come dressed as their favourite book character or around the theme of 'Reading is my Secret Power’ for our school book week parade on Friday 23rd August.
Timeline:
- Book Week Parade: 9:45am
Come one and come all to see the wonderful students at St Michael’s parade around as their favourite character from a book.
- Morning Tea: 10:30am in the school hall (after the parade)
Morning Tea will be provided for our lovely grandparents
- Recess with the students: 10:50am
Grandparents can join their grandchild on the playground at recess time.
- Open Classroom: 11:30-12:30am
Grandparents are welcome to come to open classrooms to help the students engage in fun & exciting Literacy Activities around the Shortlisted Books for 2019. ALSO in this time go to the bookfair to purchase a book for our wonderful school.
- Prayer and Blessing for grandparents: 12:30- 1:00pm.
The day will conclude with a special prayer and blessing for Grandparents
In the school library from 11:30am - 12:30pm there will be opportunities for families to buy a book to donate to our library. There will be cash only. Please remember to support our school library!
The Sacraments of First Penance and Communion
The Sacraments of First Penance and Communion are celebrated when a child is in Year 2 or seven years old (or older).
Prior to receiving First Communion, children are to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance [Reconciliation].
Enrolments close on Tuesday, 10 September 2019
Enrolment Forms for 2019 may be downloaded at the parish website: http://www.thirroulcatholic.org.au/ and they must be handed in directly to the Parish office.
In order to prepare for these Sacraments, there is a preparation program consisting of the following:
Parent Meeting: Tuesday, 15 October at 7:30pm
Penance Classes 1 and 2: Tuesdays, 22 and 29 October, 3:45 pm to 5pm
Sacrament of Penance: Wednesday, 30 October at 7:00pm
Eucharist Classes 3 and 4: Tuesdays, 12 and 19 November, 3:45 pm to 5pm
First Communion: at either of the weekend Masses on 30 November or 1 December or 7/8 December or any weekend from then on.
Year 6 Mass with the Bishop
Each year the Bishop meets with the students in Year 6 to join together with them in prayer and gathering. This year Bishop Brian Mascord celebrated a Mass with the Year 6 students from St Michael’s and a range of other Diocesan primary schools at St John Vianney’s Co- Cathedral, Fairy Meadow. After the Mass students had an opportunity to celebrate with the Catholic Youth Ministry Team and other Year 6 students in our diocese.
Religious Literacy Assessment
The Religious Literacy Assessment (RLA) in the Diocese of Wollongong is a Partners in Learning initiative between the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) and the Australian Catholic University (ACU). This Initiative began in 2000. This assessment project provides a sustained and systemic Diocesan approach to the documentation and reporting of students’ learning in the key learning area of Religious Education (RE) across the diocese and in particular, aspects of religious literacy. It is a means of celebrating and sharing the good news about students' learning in Religious Education and enables the story to be told on a continuing basis.
The concept of 'religious literacy' is the basis for the framework for assessment in Religious Education in Wollongong across K-6. To be religiously literate, children leaving a Catholic primary school need to be able to communicate with and be at home in Catholic society and religion in general. The assessment of religious literacy focuses on students’ knowledge and understanding of the key concepts that are being addressed by the Religious Education program and the children’s ability to communicate with their religious tradition. Year 4 will be completing the Religious Literacy Assessment on Tuesday August 20.
RE Display Wall
In the hallway that goes past the office we have our Religious Education Display board. One half of the board has information about Laudato Si’, mini vinnies, prayer and special days of significance. On the other half we have a rotating roster of grades displaying learning they are doing in RE.
Term 3, Weeks 3-6- Year 5
Term 3, Weeks 7-10- Year 2
Upcoming Events in Term 3
Religious Literacy Assessment
The Year Four Religious Literacy Assessment will be held on Tuesday 20 August
Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary Liturgy - Hosted by Year 4B
Thursday 15th August @ 2:30pm
St Francis of Assisi Liturgy- Hosted by Kindergarten
Wednesday 25th September @ 2:30pm
Miss Emma Groves – Religious Education Coordinator