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Vision: Inspired by Christ, we aspire to excellence in learning, living life fully in community
The mission at St Michael’s is to:
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be a vibrant catholic community where all feel safe, valued, loved and respected
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display understanding, compassion and care for others and all creation
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foster dynamic and diverse learning opportunities
As we come to a close, I’d like to thank each of you for your unwavering support. It has been an absolute pleasure returning to St Michael’s as Principal. Like I said on my opening days, I won’t always get every decision right, but I will aim to stay true to my values and make decisions based on the best interest of your beautiful children that you have entrusted into our care. I truly hope you feel a sense of belonging and an important part of the St Michael’s family.
I truly look forward to building on what’s been a very enjoyable year. We are excited about the strategic direction of the school, and look forward to working in partnership with you to provide the best possible experience for all students.
I’d like to also take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff I am so lucky to work with. We are continuing to build an effective learning culture, which is driven by our highly motivated and passionate teachers. The staff’s openness to new learning and support of the strategic direction of the school, is a testament to their commitment and shared desire.
I wish you and your loved ones a blessed and Merry Christmas, filled with the warmth of family, the love of friends, and the grace of God. May the joyous celebration of Christ's birth fill your heart with peace, love, and hope this Christmas.
Year 6 Student Leaders in 2024
Over the past 3 weeks, a number of our current Year 5 students have been a part of an extensive process to select our student leaders for 2024. We had 20 students who were successful in making it to the speeches stage of the selection process. This on its own is a phenomenal achievement. I was blown away by the quality and authenticity of each of the speeches. The students delivered heartfelt messages with such confidence and passion.
After the speeches, all students (years 2-6) and teachers took part in the voting. The voting was extremely close, and had to be reviewed multiple times to ensure it was a fair process. When reviewing the voting, the roles were not gender or role based, rather students with the highest vote were matched with their role selection preferences. The successful applicants were notified on Friday morning and the exciting news was shared with the wider school community that afternoon. Congratulations once again to the following students elected to be in a formalised leadership role at St Michael’s in 2024:
School Captains
Nate R
Maggie L
Vision leaders (previously Vice Captains)
Mahli D- Inspired by Christ
Monte H- Living Fully in Community
Olivia L- Excellence in Learning
House Captains
Edison C- Mackillop
Flynn S - Fitzroy
Chayce S- Tenison
Xavier K- Penola
Leaving families
One of the most beautiful aspects of St Michael’s is the close knit community we have. It is always sad to see some of our wonderful families leave the place in which they have spend a large amount of time. I’d like to thank the following leaving families for entrusting their children with us and for their ongoing support of our school community:
The Coleman Family
The Gully Family
The Dennyson Family
The Davies Family
The last day of Year 6
Friday 15 December, marks the last day at St Michael’s for our wonderful Year 6 students. To celebrate their time and impact on our community, we will have a final farewell. All parents are welcome to enter in through the school gates from 2.45pm onwards to farewell these students and thank them for their contribution to our school community.
Calendar overview
Week 9 |
Monday 4 December |
Tuesday 5 December |
Wednesday 6 December |
Thursday 7 December |
Friday 8 December |
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Yr 6 Graduation & Liturgy 5.30pm - 8.00pm |
Andrew Chinn Christmas Concert |
Semester 2 Reports distributed |
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Week 10 |
Monday 11 December |
Tuesday 12 December |
Wednesday 13 December |
Thursday 14 December |
Friday 15 December |
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Healthy Harold |
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Healthy Harold Year Two Class Mass Parish Church 9.30am |
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Mr James Bryce - Principal
What’s happened at St Michael’s over the past three weeks?
Season of Advent
As we embrace the spirit of Advent, let us remember the true gifts of the season: love, generosity, and the joy of coming together as a community. It is a time filled with warmth, reflection, and the joy that comes from preparing our hearts for the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
Holy Communion
Our Year Two students during the weekend Masses in December are joyfully receiving the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time. It is a celebration filled with love, prayer, and the collective support of our school family. Thank you Father Ken and the St Michael's parish for your support and guidance in the preparation of this special sacrament.
Living the St Michael’s Vision Awards
Last week, our school community came together for the St Michael’s Living the Vision Awards Assembly. It is an occasion where we have the privilege of recognising and celebrating those individual students who have exemplified the very essence of our school's vision.
Christmas Appeal
Let's make this Christmas season a truly special one by joining hands to bring joy and comfort to those in need.
Our annual Christmas Appeal for Food Hamper Donations is underway, and we invite each of you to join us
Thank you for your generosity, and may the spirit of giving bring warmth and happiness to all.
All hamper donations will be sent to your child’s class basket to be offered at the end of Year Mass on Friday 15th December.
Kindergarten - CHRISTMAS CAKE PUDDING / BISCUITS
Year One - JELLY / CUSTARD
Year Two - CORDIAL
Year Three - SOFT DRINK
Year Four - TINNED HAM
Year Five - CANNED VEGGIES
Year Six - TINNED FRUIT
Christmas Gift Giving Tree
Our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming generosity displayed through our Christmas Giving Tree initiative in partnership with St. Vincent de Paul. Each gift represents hope, joy and comfort to those in need.
End of Year Whole School Mass
Friday 15th December at 9.30am at the St Michael’s Parish Church. This Mass will be a reflective and joyful occasion where we gather to thank the Lord for the blessings of the year, acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, and staff. We look forward to coming together as one St Michael’s family to close the year in the spirit of togetherness. Following Mass the Staff invite our parent community to join us for morning tea in the hall. This is an opportunity to express our gratitude for all your support throughout the year.
Andrew Chinn Christmas Concert
What a celebration it was! The echoes of joy and laughter from our Christmas Concert still resonate in our hearts. The evening was truly magical, filled with festive cheer, heartwarming performances, and a sense of community that defines the spirit of St Michael’s.
Year Six Graduation and celebration
The evening was a profound celebration of accomplishments, gratitude, and the spiritual growth our students have experienced throughout their time at St Michael’s. May the journey that our Year Six graduates embark upon be filled with opportunities, growth, and joy. As they spread their wings, may they carry the light of St Michael's community spirit wherever they go.
End of School Year Prayer
Loving God,
As the school year comes to a close, we offer our thanks for the gift of time, growth, and learning. Bless our students, teachers, staff, and families for their dedication and contributions throughout the year.
May our community find moments of joy, peace, and connection with loved ones.
Amen
Mrs Steph Brown - Religious Education Co ordinator
Week results: 7
Year 1: 75%
Year 2: 71%
Year 3: 68%
Year 4: 100% clap clap clap
Kindy: 69%
Year 5: 52%
Year 6: 21%
So the Gold Waste Free Warriors for Week 7 were: Year 4
and the Silver Waste Free Warriors for Week 4 were Year 1
Week results: 8
Year 1: 57%
Year 2: 38%
Year 3: 66%
Year 4: 75%
Year 5: 37%
Year 6: 47%
Kindergarten: 84%
So the Gold Waste Free Warriors for Week 8 were: Kindergarten
and the Silver Waste Free Warriors were Year 4
The overall Term 4 Waste Free Warriors with the most waste free lunches was…KINDERGARTEN and the runner up was YEAR 2. Kinder will enjoy some fresh fruits and vegetables harvested from the school garden and some free time and Year 2 will enjoy an ice cold lemon drink with mint from our school garden as their prize.
Kindergarten Christmas Letters to Santa’s Elves
Kindergarten have been writing letters to Santa’s elves as it is too late for Santa to reply back seeing as he is so busy getting ready for Christmas. They have busily been writing their letters ready for the head elf to polar express them straight to the North Pole. We are happy to announce that the letters have safely reached the North Pole and are in the hands of the elves. Next week, a letter from the elves will arrive back at St Michael’s addressed to each Kinder student. We are so excited to read what the elves have written.
Term 4 Respect Focus
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Weeks |
RESPECT FOCUS |
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7-10 |
Consent |
Our RESPECT FOCUS is ‘CONSENT’
Consent is:
- asking permission of others to use, share or take their food or photo
- asking permission to enter someone’s body boundary
-accepting if someone says ‘No you can't touch me’ or ‘I feel uncomfortable’
-being aware that you may be in someone’s body boundary
-asking permission to borrow or use other people's property
Consent is not:
-entering someone’s body boundary without permission
-using,sharing or taking photos without permission
-taking others property or food without asking
-touching or entering others body boundary after they have said ‘no’
We encourage you to have lots of conversations about onset with your child to help them understand that it is part of being respectful to seek permission to touch someone or use their belongings. Here is a website to support you https://www.safesecurekids.org/teaching-consent
Peer support
We had our second peer support session last week where groups of students gathered in small teams to discuss our respect focus: Consent. They had open and honest conversations about what consent is and is not. They engaged in role plays and they had completed some activities facilitated by Year 6 leaders.
Semester 2 Academic Reports
The semester 2 academic reports will be available on Compass on Friday afternoon. Please go into your child’s profile to view their report. Parent/teacher interviews are optional this semester and if you would like to meet with your child’s teacher during Week 10, please contact the office to make an appointment.
Canteen Chip In total for 2023
Thank you so much for your generosity in chipping in a little bit more when ordering your child’s lunch through the canteen. The total from the ‘chip ins’ is a little over $300 for 2023. This money will go directly towards an outdoor learning space to complement the new play equipment that will be coming in 2024. We will continue the chip in system in 2024, so please support us if you can.
Mrs Amy Sammut - Assistant Principal
PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES BY INSTALMENT – NEW FAMILIES TO OUR SCHOOL School Fees are invoiced as an annual account, due for payment in full 30 days after invoicing. However, many families elect to pay their school fees by regular instalments and as a new family to our school, we would like to offer you this option. If you wish to take up this offer, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on the school’s website or from the school’s administration office.
On completion of the request, either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au or submit at the school office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your school fee account during the process of invoicing 2024 school fees. Your school fee statements are emailed to you and they will provide a list of scheduled payments and their due date. IMPORTANT: Please note that if you currently have a child or children at another school in the Diocese and you are paying by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment eg Weekly, fortnightly, etc.
PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES BY INSTALMENT EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITH INSTALMENTS
If you are currently paying by instalments there is no need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment as your request carries over from year to year unless you wish to amend the frequency of your payments eg Weekly to Fortnightly.
EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITHOUT INSTALMENTS
If you would like to pay school fees by instalments in 2024 and have previously not taken up this option for payment, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on the school’s website or from the school’s administration office.
On completion of the request either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au or submit at the school office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your school fee account during the process of invoicing 2024 school fees. Your school fee statement will provide a list of scheduled payments and their due date depending on the frequency you have chosen eg Fortnightly, Monthly, etc. IMPORTANT: Please note that if you currently have a child or children at another school in the Diocese and you are paying by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment eg Weekly, fortnightly, etc.
Message from Fr Ken
All are welcome at any of our Parish’s three Christmas Masses:
- 6:30pm, Sunday, 24 December in the school grounds
- 9:30pm, Sunday, 24 December in the parish church
- 9:00am, Monday, 25 December, in the parish church
Please bring a bell to whichever Mass you attend.
If you are coming to the 6:30pm Mass on Christmas Eve,
children are encouraged to dress up as shepherds or angels … and
children are needed to participate as Readers or helping carrying items.
If you child is willing to help as a Reader or carrying something,
please email the parish office with details: thirroul@dow.org.au
Merry Christmas to one and all.
Ken Cafe ofm
St Michael’s School Social Media
With so much going on at school, a great way to follow any up and coming events and read about the great things that are happening, please follow us on:
Instagram- stmichaels.thirroul or Facebook-St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Thirroul.
2024 Representative Sport Pathway nominations update
The 2024 Representative Sport Pathway Trials have now closed. These nominations have now been forwarded to the Catholic Education Office for review in the coming weeks/months. You will be notified of the outcomes by the Catholic Education Office when the nominations are finalised. If your child is successful in their nominated sport, you will then receive a letter via Compass outlining the next steps.
Sporting Pathway - Basketball success - Flynn Saville
On Tuesday, 14th November, 2023, Flynn Saville attended the Sporting Pathway Basketball Trials at “Snakepit”, Beaton Park, Gwynville.
The competition was very competitive with participants selected for the trails coming from all our Wollongong Diocese schools. Flynn performed well on the day, standing out among his peers, resulting in him being selected for the MacKillop Trials to be held on Friday, 23rd February, 2024.
This accomplishment may open up new doors for Flynn, allowing him to continue to grow as a basketball player and potentially pursue higher levels of competition in the future. It's a moment to celebrate and acknowledge the effort and commitment that he has put into his basketball journey. We wish Flynn all the best at the MacKillop Trials. “Keep striving for your goals Flynn.”
2024 - SPORTING EVENTS AND DATES
Upcoming dates for your 2024 “Sports Diary”
2024 - Swimming Carnival - Thirroul Swimming Pool (Note: Change of Venue)
2024 - Cross Country - Gibson Park - Friday - 1st March, 2024 (Week 5, Term 1)
2024 - Athletics Carnival - Kerryn McCann Oval, Beaton Park - Friday 5th April, 2024 (Term 1, Week 10). Note: Full day.
Note: these dates are subject to confirmation of all venues. You will be notified of any changes as they come to our attention.
2024 SWIMMING CARNIVAL - THIRROUL SWIMMING POOL
We are excited to announce our 2024 Swimming Carnival, which is shaping up to be an exciting whole community event. After our 2023 swimming carnival, we received feedback from a number of parents. The two main themes that emerged were:
- providing additional time for the event
- the inclusion of all students from Kindergarten to Year 6
We are pleased to inform you that Thirroul swimming pool has provided us with an extended time slot that commences at 8.00am and concludes at 1.30 pm. The close location also allows us to include our Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students to participate in the House chants, engage in waterplay activities in the children's pool, and a chance to cheer on their house members.
The Swimming Carnival will take place on Friday 9th February, 2024 at Thirroul Swimming Pool, commencing at 8:00am for competitive swimmers. The day will run until approximately 1.30 pm for our Years 3-6 competitors.
Activities for Kindergarten to Year 2: For our younger students in Kindergarten to Year 2, the focus on the day will be on fun and engaging water activities. There will be various water games and activities to ensure a day of laughter and joy for our little swimmers. The students will commence school at normal time, before walking down to Thirroul pool with their teachers at approximately 9.15 am. The students will then return to school after morning tea at approximately 11.30 am.
Activities for Year 3 to Year 6: For our older students in Year 3 to Year 6 (and competitive Year 2 swimmers turning 8 in 2024), the Swimming Carnival will feature competitive swimming races and fun water activities. Students will have the opportunity to showcase their swimming skills and compete in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. The races will include, 200m Individual Medley, 100m freestyle (All Age Open event), 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly and 50m breaststroke. NOTE: The 200m Medley and some other competitive races will commence at 8:00am due to the availability times of the pool. We encourage all students to participate, whether they are seasonal swimmers or trying competitive swimming for the first time.
Age Divisions are:
- Junior 8, 9 and 10 year old
- 11 Year old
- Senior 12 & 13 year old
The nominations for the 2024 Swimming Carnival are now open on Compass for our current Kindergarten to Year 5 students. 2024 Kindergarten parental consent will be sent out in Term 1 - Week 1, 2024. Parental consent and nominations for all students close on Wednesday 13th December, 2023.(Parental consent is required for ALL students attending the Swimming Carnival).
Student Sporting Success - Emily Deeming
Emily's sport is competitive dance. She recently competed with her teams from NRG Studios in Wollongong in the AASCF (Australian Allstar Cheerleading Federation) national cheer and dance championships in Melbourne, which was held 21-24th November.
Emily competed in the youth novice pom and youth elite jazz divisions with her teams. Emily and her pom team placed third out of 11 teams nationally, winning the bronze medal.
In the youth elite jazz division, Emily and her team came first and won the national championship. Her team was awarded the gold medal, out of 8 teams nationally.
Congratulations Emily on your amazing results and we wish you continued success.
STUDENT SPORTING SUCCESS STORIES
We invite all our families to share their child/children’s sporting achievements outside of school, so we can share in their success as a whole school community through our School Newsletter.
If you require any further information about sporting events at St Michael’s please contact Ms Shea.
Ms Maria Shea - Sports Coordinator
Dear Wonderful Parents,
A very big Thank You to our parent and carer community at St Michael’s. Your time, efforts and dedication towards our school fundraising events in 2023 has truly made a difference, creating memorable experiences for our children. We are blessed with a wonderful community and look forward to another exciting year in 2024. Thank you again for your contribution to our school community. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Regards,
P&F Committee 2023
Congratulations to the following students who received awards at a previous assembly.
Principals Award
- Buddy H
- Evie M
- Ethan Z
- Edison C
- Freya G
- Will H
- Oscar N
Gold Award
- Ethan Z
St Michael's Blue
- Liam D