Dear Parents and Carers,

As it is our final newsletter of the year, I would like to sincerely thank you for your ongoing support during what has been a very difficult year. We have greatly appreciated your words of encouragement and acknowledgement as we have attempted to navigate a challenging school year and continue to provide quality Catholic education. Once again I would like to acknowledge your partnership and commitment as you yourselves had to balance work and remote learning, we could not have done it without you.

To the staff of St Michael’s I am so proud to say that I am a part of this community. My sincere gratitude to the wonderful teachers and staff of this fantastic school. Your ongoing commitment and dedication to your students is priceless. 

To the amazing students, you are why we are here. The resilience and perseverance you have demonstrated throughout this year is to be commended. You have risen to each and every challenge that has been placed in front of you and grown in strength and character. A special mention to our Year 6 students who have had a very different final year to any other. I thank you all for showing an understanding beyond your years and for embracing the opportunities we have been able to provide this year.

As a faith filled community we have a special connection with Fr Ken, pre and post remote learning, Fr Ken continued his connection with the students, sharing his knowledge and experiences. In his absence Fr Andy has been gracious with his time and continued to support the school community. We wish Fr Ken a speedy recovery.

One of the most challenging aspects of this year has been the limit of parent involvement and presence at the school. I again thank you for the understanding you have shown this year and I am quite hopeful that next year we may be able to return to having you onsite and joining us for events. Reigniting the community spirit face to face as opposed to virtually.

In this week’s newsletter we are looking at the ‘Year that Was’ putting some energy and focus on what we have achieved together as a community. Please enjoy looking back and celebrating with us on all that has happened in 2020!

Advent Reflection

Jesus sounds fairly fed up in this short passgae. He likens the followers of John, his own disciples, and indeed the entire generation, to children jostling in the marketplace - shouting, blaming and complaining when the game they have been playing has somehow gone wrong. The wisdom passage from Ecclesiates, "For everthing there is a reason.. a time to mourn and a time to dance" points to Jesus' conviction that all is as it should be - the repentance preached by John is a natural percursor to the feasting appropriate to the coming of Christ. Jesus insists that Wisdom is at work in a way that is full of meaning and life, the very opposite of the vanity which is characterised by shouting and blaming and complaining.

In the times of a pandemic when the world we have known seems to be no more and what is to come is not yet, this teaching is very pertinent. Rather than squabbling children immersed in the vanity of blaming and complaining, Jesus is calling us to the vision of Wisdom - clear seeing, compassionate and embracing acceptance of what is, knowing that in God's world all is well. Just as Jesus did, we need to hold fast in faith knowing God is with us in these in-between times. We can then ride the rising tide of hope in out hearts and dance joyfully into the season of rejoicing, for the One who is coming will have come.

Sr Magdalen Mather

God Bless,

Mrs Belinda Hughes - Principal