School News
Practice tests for 2022 NAPLAN Online
CSNSW is working with NESA to prepare for participation in the delivery of 2022 NAPLAN online. Practice tests and training will be available to ensure staff and students are familiar with the online assessment platform.
Practice tests
All schools participating in NAPLAN Online are expected to participate in practice tests.
Catholic schools will participate in practice tests using the online assessment platform during a limited testing window between 21 March and 25 March.
The limited testing window will provide:
- An opportunity for Dioceses/ School Authorities to test local IT and support structures i.e. a dress rehearsal for the real event.
- An opportunity for a national platform resilience test.
- An opportunity for students to experience a mini version of a real test schedule and engage with the test platform
At St Michael’s the testing will occur for Year 3 and Year 5 on the following dates.
Monday 21 March: Year 5 Writing
Tuesday 22 March: Year 5 Omnibus
Wednesday 23 March: Year 3 Omnibus
NAPLAN Dates for 2022 - Tuesday, 10 May to Friday, 13 May.
Student Leadership at St Michael’s 2022
Each fortnight the Year 6 leaders will be introducing themselves and talking about their leadership hopes and aspirations. This week we celebrate our School Captains and Vice Captains.
Parent Helpers 2022
With restrictions easing we are able to invite parents helpers back into the classrooms. This is an exciting time for our students but also for you as parents and carers. Any teachers who will be using parents helpers will make contact via Compass.
In the meantime, there is an opportunity to express an interest in assisting in the library to cover much needed reading books for the classrooms. Mrs Medina is looking for volunteers to assist from 9.00am-11.00am on Wednesday 30 March, Thursday 31 March, Wednesday 6 April or Thursday 7 April. If you would like to please send in your details with the day you would be available to the school office. Thank you in advance for considering.
2023 Kinder Enrolments
The enrolment package is available from our school or online at www.dow.catholic.edu.au
Mini Vinnies
The Term 1 Mini Vinnies team consists of an enthusiastic group of Year 6 students.
Last week all Mini Vinnies received their badges and pledged their time and compassion to the projects that Mini Vinnies will take on.
Easter Appeal:
This term, the Mini Vinnies are hosting an Easter Appeal so that they can provide non-perishable food and water to those less fortunate and enable them to celebrate in this Holy holiday. Each classroom will be provided with a basket for students to collect their non-perishable items. Non-perishable items include but are not limited to pancake mix, muesli bars, canned tuna, canned beans, noodle cups, tea bags, powdered milk, juice poppers etc.
The Easter Appeal collection will be running from Monday 21st March (Week 9) through to Friday 1st April (Week 10). The baskets will then be collected by John Denning, the St Vincent de Paul Thirroul coordinator for our school, who will provide these items to people in need in our community.
Vinnies Flood Appeal:
We have been seeing many members of our community impacted by the devastating floods across the east coast of Australia.
The Mini Vinnies team is stepping up to help those that have been affected to rebuild their lives by creating ribbons for St Patrick’s Day and Harmony Day.
Through this initiative, students will be supporting each other and the members of the community by buying green ribbons on St Patrick’s Day (Thursday 17th March - Week 8) and orange ribbons on Harmony Day (Monday 21st March - Week 9) with a gold coin donation.
All proceeds raised during these two events will be donated to the Vinnies Flood Appeal.
You can also donate directly to St Vincent De Paul Society by accessing their site.
To quote Mary MacKillop, “Never see a need without doing something about it.”
More often than not, it takes only a few small steps to make huge changes in the world. We are a small school that can make a big difference.
We thank you in advance for all the support you provide to the school, the Mini Vinnies team and the community.
Miss Negus and the Mini Vinnies team.
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
Teacher WEN (Wollongong Environment Network) Day
On Wednesday 9th March I attended the WEN Teacher Contact Professional Development Day which was held at St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School, Gwynneville. It was a wonderful day where I got to collaborate with teachers from other Primary Schools as well as Secondary Schools. We had time to reflect on our own school’s journey with environmental initiatives. I also looked at our SEMP (School Environment Management Plan) and came up with a plan forward on what we can work on this year as a school community.
SCHOOL GARDEN
We will be starting our Garden Club at the beginning of Term 2. There will be students from each class who will spend time with me each Friday in the garden.
In the meantime, we would like to prepare the garden beds with the soil and tidy the area up.
If there are any parents / grandparents available on Friday, 25th March, your help would be greatly appreciated. Please contact the school office if you’re free. We will be working in the gardens from 1.00 - 1.45pm on this day.
Mrs Katie Kelly - WEN (Wollongongong Environment Network Contact)