Welcome to Term 4. I hope you all enjoyed some quality family time during the holiday break. I feel privileged to be fulfilling the role as Acting Principal for the duration of Term 4 and I look forward to working with you, our wonderful parent community, our amazing students and staff. There is much to be excited about this term. My message will be aligned to our Vision statement and reflect how I see the students, staff and parents living out our vision to ensure that together we are a thriving and vibrant catholic community

Inspired by Christ

Christmas Art Project Achievement

Congratulations to Sophia LP in Year 6 who made it through to the next stage in the Christmas Art Competition. Her beautiful artwork was chosen and displayed in the Wollongong City Art Gallery over the holiday period and I am pleased to announce that Sophia received a Highly Commended Award and Medallion on the exhibition night. What an outstanding achievement for Sophia who through her art and scripture was clearly inspired by Christ.

Mr Ryan jamming with Edi C and Monte H

Mr Ryan has loved jamming with Edi and Monte to teach them how to play the Aboriginal Our Father on their guitars. This is just another example of how our teachers work with students to bring out their gifts to share with the wider community. Thank you Mr Ryan, Edi and Monte for giving up your lunchtimes to rehearse together. 

We aspire to excellence in learning

Writing Improvement - Student Author

One of our improvement goals this year is to improve writing across the grades. Students and teachers have busily been engaging in Writer’s Workshops and putting newly learnt skills to the test. Student choice over topic or genre has been big on the agenda and with the introduction of Writer’s Notebooks for all students in Year 2-6, we have seen an increase in the volume and interest of all writers. Below is an example of Eisley C from Year 4 sharing her ‘writer’s voice’ in a creative nonfiction piece. 

Hum, the birds that dance in the sky.

Curse the cross that eats and shatters. 

The birds that hum at funerals, oh, the many I’ve been.

The thunder roars and lightning flashes, on off, on off, on off, like a warning, something is coming.

I sprint through the woods to my home, I like that term, my home. Oh the many things I’ve had and lost.

The graveyard, my home.

The haunting horizon rises as the new day in Pompeii begins. That’s when the volcano screams an ear deafening screech. 

The last day in Pompeii.

Public Speaking Champions 

Congratulations to Darcy F and Maggie L who represented our school at the Public Speaking Competition. Darcy came first in the South Coast cluster which is an outstanding achievement. His speech was titled, Handwriting, a thing of the past. Darcy will now represent St Michael’s at the next level. We wish him well. 

Living Fully in community

Student Proposal - Planet Protectors

I absolutely love it when students come to me with ideas on ways they can lead and improve our school. So when Willow B and Daisy D in Year 3 came to me with a proposal titled Planet Protectors, I was so excited. The girls have seen a few environmental problems in our playground and want to fix them. They have pulled a team of protectors together and will launch Going Green Week where there will be a number of activities and initiatives for all to get involved in. Stayed tuned for the planet Protectors and Going Green Week . The Planet Protectors will be in yellow high vis vests so you won’t miss them.

World Teachers Day

I was in awe of our students when they showed their gratitude for our teachers and staff on World Teachers Day. The amount of students who ‘took their hats off’ to teachers and said ‘thank you’ was heartwarming and showed how appreciative our students really are. Please enjoy this video that our Year 6 Living Fully in Community team members created of our students saying what they love most about their teachers. 

Calendar overview 

Pupil Free Days

Mrs Amy Sammut - Acting Principal