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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
Welcome back to what is shaping up to be another amazing term at St Michael’s. It was lovely to see staff, students, and parents upon my return this week. Working in such a beautiful community certainly makes it easier to transition back to work. I’d like to thank Amy for her outstanding leadership stepping into the Principal role whilst I was away. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to switch off and spend quality time with my family.
As I have communicated previously, we value strong partnerships between school and home. Please always feel welcome to raise your questions, concerns, or ideas. The information you share helps us to better understand your children's needs and assist us in providing the best possible school environment for all.
Excellence in learning (early career teacher visit)
This week we were asked by the Catholic Education Office to hold a professional learning day for early career teachers from across our diocese. The day was focussed on student engagement and our school was selected because of the high quality practice within our classrooms. A key aspect of the day was the opportunity for our visitors to experience a number of our classrooms to observe teacher practice and student engagement. I felt a real sense of pride as I guided our visitors into a number of classrooms. Upon entering each classroom, I could see all students excited about learning and eager to share their thinking with peers. It was also terrific to see the students owning their learning and identifying what they have done to be successful. It is pleasing to see that the openness and commitment of our teachers has resulted in a huge shift in student engagement. Our school and external data collection is also showing upward trends in both literacy and numeracy. With the quality of teachers we have, revitalised structures, and the culture we are establishing, it is exciting to see what we can achieve as a school community. As our vision statement identifies, we don’t simply want to be a good school, we strive for excellence in learning.
Play equipment update
During the holidays I received confirmation that construction is commencing shortly for our brand new play equipment. If all goes to plan, installation will likely commence in August. After the installation, we will then begin utilising funding the additional spaces in that area. Our wonderful P&F Executive have identified some exciting fundraising opportunities this year to help us bring the additional areas in this space to life.
Upcoming P&F Meetings
On Friday 24 May at 8.15am, we will be holding our termly P&F general meeting in our school library. We welcome all available parents to attend. Some of the key agenda items include:
- Upcoming fundraising events to support the development of our new space behind year 5 and 6
- Unpacking and seeking feedback on the current award structure at St Michael’s
- Strengthening Parish and school connections
- Introduction of methods to seek feedback on student leadership structures
- Update on progress against our improvement targets
If you have any items you wish to be discussed at our upcoming P&F, please send them to pandf@smtdow.catholic.edu.au by Monday 20 May.
Calendar overview
Week 3 |
Monday 13 May |
Tuesday 14 May |
Wednesday 15 May |
Thursday 16 May |
Friday 17 May |
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Week 4 |
Monday 20 May |
Tuesday 21 May |
Wednesday 22 May |
Thursday 23 May |
Friday 24 May |
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Week 5 |
Monday 27 May |
Tuesday 28 May |
Wednesday 29 May |
Thursday 30 May |
Friday 31 May |
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Canteen Open |
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Mr James Bryce - Principal
What’s happened at St Michael’s over the past three weeks?
Staff Development Day T2
At the beginning of Term 2, the dedicated staff of St. Michael's converged with a unified purpose: to unravel and deepen our understanding of educating through the lens of mission. Here's a glimpse into the enriching learning journey we embarked upon:
At St. Michael's, our mission is not merely a statement but a vibrant reality that defines our community. It encapsulates our collective purpose, the essence of our existence, and the vision we aspire to realise. We are committed to living out this mission in every facet of our lives, guided by the values of joy, justice, and peace.
Our Mission in Action:
Community Collaboration: Mission is where everyone in our joyous community works together to build the kingdom in everything we do. It's about fostering a sense of togetherness, where each member plays their unique part in realising our shared vision.
Living Christ's Values: We are dedicated to living the values of Christ every day, striving to be in right relationships with each other and God. Our actions are guided by compassion, love, empathy, and forgiveness, mirroring the divine qualities we see in Jesus.
Partnership with God: We recognise that our mission is not solitary but a partnership with God. By working alongside the divine, we bring about the Kingdom of God, seeking out opportunities to serve and make a positive impact in the world.
Journey of Evolution: Mission is a journey that continues to evolve. It's a dynamic process where we constantly seek new ways to embody our values and further the Kingdom of God, adapting to the changing needs of our community and the world.
Being Present and Playing Our Part: Mission is about being present to help build the 'kingdom,' both within our community and beyond. Each of us has a role to play, and by fulfilling our responsibilities with dedication and humility, we contribute to the realisation of our collective vision.
Living in Right Relationships: Mission is about living in right relationships—with ourselves, with others, and with God. It's about fostering a sense of unity, where we walk alongside one another, supporting and uplifting each other on our spiritual journey.
Embodying Mission: Mission is not just an abstract concept; it's who we are in the ordinary and the extraordinary moments of our lives. It's about embodying the qualities of compassion, love, respect, and kindness in our interactions with others, reflecting the divine presence within us.
In essence, our mission is the heartbeat of St. Michael's—a constant reminder of our purpose and calling as a community of faith. It's a journey that we undertake together, guided by the light of Christ and fueled by our commitment to building the Kingdom of God here on earth. As we continue on this path, may we always remember that each one of us is mission, and together, we can make a meaningful difference in the world.
Vale Bishop Peter
Bishop Peter has profoundly impacted countless lives within our community. Today, as we collectively grieve his passing, we find solace in our unwavering belief that he is now enveloped in the boundless love of the Divine.
On 25 July 2001, Bishop Peter was installed as the fourth bishop of Wollongong, and with his typically selfless dedication, served the diocese for 16 years, retiring in November 2017. He was 83 years of age and almost 60 years a priest.
He was compassionate and approachable, faith-filled and prayerful—in essence, a servant leader. His greatest joy was to be a disciple of Jesus and a true shepherd of God’s people.
We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus: God will bring them with him.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
Amen.
May almighty God bless us with his peace and strength, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Easter liturgy
At the close of the previous term, our hearts united in jubilation to honour the Resurrected Lord. "Alleluia, He is risen!" echoed through our hall, as Year 5 and Kindergarten joyfully led us in commemorating this pivotal moment of our shared faith.
Living the Vision awards
At the culmination of last term, we had the privilege of honouring those exceptional students who embody the essence of our vision: "Inspired by Christ, we aspire to excellence in learning, living fully in community."
We were even treated to an outstanding performance from our very talented choir
The ANZAC Day liturgy marked a poignant beginning to our term, inviting us to reflect deeply on the selfless sacrifices made by those who prioritised the needs of others above their own.
Mrs McLeod and myself attended the dawn service at Thirroul cenotaph with our school captains, Maggie and Nate. They represented our school with such pride. A special mention to Nate and his dad, who travelled back from the central coast to be there. They returned later that day - what a stellar effort.
Mother’s day
Mother’s Day is a special occasion that celebrates and honours motherhood and Mums nationwide. It’s a time to honour the powerful maternal bond that connects Mother and child and celebrate the influence our Mums have on us as individuals.
Celebrating Mother’s Day is a fairly new pastime, but celebrations honouring mothers have been held for thousands of years. Some notable examples include: Christian Mothering Sunday (originally a commemoration of the Mother Church, not motherhood directly); the festivals held in ancient Greece to honour mother goddesses Cybele and Rhea; the Roman Festival of Hilaria.
Tender, gentle God of love, bend down your ear: bless the mothers of our families. Bless them with the strength of your Spirit, as they taught their children to walk. Bless them with the melody of your love, as they shared how to talk and sing. Bless them with a place at your eternal dinner table, they who fed and nurtured life. Bless them today with good things, with good health, with pride in their children, with joy, love and laughter. Surround them with many good friends. May they who carried life in their wombs be carried one day to your divine embrace. May your blessings descend on all mothers. Amen! (Fr Ken)
What an incredible turnout we experienced in commemorating Mother’s Day! It was a truly beautiful occasion, honouring the extraordinary mothers who grace our community with their love and strength. Thank you to all who joined us in making this celebration truly special.
The feast of the Ascension
Year 5 made a visit to each class and led the classes in prayer. They asked the classes to reflect deeply…
Was Jesus ascending to heaven the start or the end of God’s mission to build right relationships with us and others? It was actually the start.
As Jesus left, it was sad for the disciples. They thought that they would never see Jesus again and that Jesus wasn’t with them anymore. But they knew he was still looking after them, Jesus was still with them. He is still with us!
Through the Ascension, Jesus invites us to tell everybody that God loves us and to help each other grow as we go about each day. Our actions can help spread this good news. We can treat others with love, we can care for each other by checking if they are okay, we can include people in our games and we can listen to one another.
How can we spread the good news and show that Jesus is still with us?
Some special messages to be found in our playground
Parish news
Mass for 11/12 May 2024, the feast of the Ascension of the Lord.
https://cloud.swivl.com/v/7a5c16780d24948aa2eaa2cbf2425b25
From the moment of His resurrection triumph, the Saviour was living in the bosom of the Father. The faith of the Church had its beginnings in meetings with the Risen Lord – in which he ‘showed himself alive’ and ‘told them about the kingdom of God’
– preparing them for the great mission that would be theirs. Today’s celebration reminds us that these meetings finally came to an end – after ‘forty days’, as Luke puts it in our reading from Acts. Luke is preparing us for what will occur after ‘not many days’: at the Pentecostal celebration, fifty days after the Passover.
Jesus is not abandoning his friends. On the contrary, he tells them to look forward to ‘what the Father has promised’
When they are ‘baptised with the Holy Spirit’ – the Spirit who is the very expression of the life he shares with the Father – he will be with them in all that they are called to be and do. The Lord’s new presence will fill with new life the Church which is about to be launched forth on its mission – to bring the power and blessings of the Lord’s Paschal Mystery ‘to the ends of the earth’ (Luke), ‘to all creation’ (Mark).
According to the Gospel of Luke the angels tell the disciples not to seek the Lord ‘in the sky’, but to take up the mission they have received, to be his ‘witnesses’ throughout their world. The era of the pilgrim Church that is about to begin – the angels tell them – will end when Jesus returns, and the Church’s life in faith and sacraments gives way to the absolute fulfilment of the final Kingdom.
Our readings describe the task of the Church as it journeys through history towards the final Kingdom, bringing the ‘Good News to all creation’. Its life together – in the power of the Resurrection – should be a living sign, confirming the message it brings. ‘Charity, selflessness, gentleness and patience’ should be an expression of the ‘unity of the Spirit’
– the unity which only God can give, the unity of the ‘one Body’ of Christ, the unity of those who know that they are called together by the ‘one God who is Father of all’
Today, however, we begin by forgetting ourselves and just looking at him, and expressing our joy that at the end of his life’s journey, God raised him to life and took him to himself, into the eternal embrace of love that we call heaven.
Like us, Jesus spent his life dreaming of this day, his whole being longing to see God face to face and to enjoy, without distraction, the communion of love for which we are all created and for which we all yearn. As we love him, so our hearts are happy for him. His time of waiting, his time of suffering is over. Nothing can ever come between the longing of his heart and the joy of experiencing his heart’s desire.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS SUNDAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS
First Reading Acts 1:1-11
“Then they prayed.” Do you pray before you make important choices? Would you feel comfortable “casting lots,” throwing dice, or flipping a coin after you pray? How would you make a final choice like the one they had to make?
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This could be the definition of evangelization. Pope Francis says that Jesus himself is the model of evangelization. How important is listening to people’s needs in being a witness and evangelist for Christ?
Weekend, 18/19 May Baptisms
Thursday, 30 May 19:15 Baptism Preparation for June Baptisms
THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION 2024: THURSDAY, 27 JUNE
The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in our Parish on Thursday, 27 June 2024 for Year 6 (or older) students. Enrolments for the Sacrament of Confirmation 2024 close on Monday, 13 May 2024. Enrolment Forms for 2024 are downloadable from the Parish website or may be collected from the Parish Office:
http://thirroulcatholic.org.au/images/stories/02_Enrolment_Form_Confirmation_2024.pdf
Enrolment Forms are to be returned to the Parish Office, not to the School Office.
THIRROUL LADIES BOWLING CLUB – MANGO FRUIT CAKE + AMBROSIA SALAD
500 grams mixed fruit; 6 glazed cherries cut in half; 1 tin mangoes. Chop mangoes roughly, place in a saucepan and simmer for 5 minutes. Cool slightly. Preheat oven to 160°C. Add to saucepan 1½ teaspoons baking powder, 1½ cups self-raising flour, 2 lightly beaten eggs. Put in square or round tin. Bake at 160°C for 1 hour, or two loaf tins, bake for 50 mins.
1 can (420g) mandarin oranges, drained; 1 can (225g) pineapple titbits, drained; 1 cup miniature marshmallows; 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut; 1 cup sour cream; In a large bowl, combine the oranges, pineapple, marshmallows and coconut. Add sour cream and toss to mix. Cover and refrigerate for several hours.
SUNDAY MASS TIMES
Saturday 17:30
Sunday 08:00
THIS WEEK’S LITURGIES
Monday ———
Tuesday 17:30
Wednesday 09:00
Thursday 09:00
Friday 09:30
Tues, Wed 09:00–15:00; Fri 08:30–1
Upcoming events:
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Week |
Date |
Event |
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3 |
Friday 17th May |
Year 4 Class Mass and conversation with Fr Ken |
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Pentecost Liturgy at 2pm led by Year 6 (prior to assembly) |
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5 |
Monday 27th May |
Our Lady Help of Christians - Patroness of Australia (Official date 24th May) led by Year 2 |
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Tuesday 28th May |
Reconciliation Week Prayer Service led by Year 1 |
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6 |
Tuesday 4th June |
Confirmation information night 7:30pm in the Church |
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Wednesday 5th June |
Prayer Service: World Environment Day |
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Friday 7th June |
Years 2 and 3 Class Mass (anointing of the sick). Year 2 will stay behind and enjoy a conversation with Fr Ken |
Mrs Ronelle Peardon: Acting Religious Education Coordinator
What’s happened at St Michael’s over the past three weeks?
K-6 Semester 1 Student Reports - new format
As you may be aware, the NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA) have undertaken a comprehensive review of the NSW Curriculum, leading to curriculum reform and subsequent implementation of a reformed curriculum which commenced in 2023. In response to the curriculum changes, Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong has made significant modifications to student semester reports for Primary schools to better reflect your child's academic progress at key points throughout the year and provide parents and carers with a clear picture of their child’s strengths and areas for improvement in specific subject areas.
The following changes will be evident in your child’s semester report from Semester 1 2024:
- A ‘new look’ report format released via Compass reflecting the outcomes of the new K-10 English and Mathematics syllabuses providing a descriptor for each of the focus areas of the respective syllabuses
- All Kindergarten students will now receive a written report in Semester 1 and Semester 2 with a three-point grade scale used to report student achievement using the following performance descriptors:
- Thorough
- Sound
- Basic
- Students in Year 1 - Year 6 will continue to receive semester reports twice a year with a five-point grade scale used to report student achievement using the following performance descriptors:
- Extensive
- Thorough
- Sound
- Basic
- Elementary
Report formats are also available for students who are working towards outcomes by which a graded report will not accurately represent their learning progress. As an alternative to a graded report, a comment is provided for each Key Learning Area in line with the student’s goals identified in their Personalised Plan. These reports are only used following consultation between school and parents/carers.
We look forward to this positive shift in our reporting system and appreciate your continued support in your child's educational journey. A supportive video is provided to help you understand the new report format. Parent Video - Academic Reports.mp4
Tips and Tricks to support you child in English Maths
If you would like to know how you can support your child with the content of the new English and Mathematics syllabuses, please refer to the NESA parent guides
RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS NEWS
The Student Advisory Group (SAG) met last week to analyse the student voice data. The results revealed that our first RESPECT FOCUS is It’s NOT kind, iT’S NOT true!
What it is…
-Saying unkind things about others (mean words)
-Saying untrue things about others (rumours)
-ignoring untrue and unkind things that people say
-joining in when others say unkind and untrue things
What it is not….
- Saying kind things to others
- Telling the truth about others
- Calling it out when people say untrue and unkind things
The SAG team will launch this focus at the Friday assembly along with role plays for everyone to practise. We will be encouraging ‘calling out’ unkind words and untrue words for the next 2 weeks. Peer support groups will also begin in Week 5 where students form small groups across the grades, Stage 3 will lead the groups and students will have an opportunity to work together on all things related to respectful relationships.
Waste Free Wednesday News
Congratulations to all students who ditched the plastic and came waste free to Wednesday these past 2 weeks. Let’s aim for all classes to be above 60% waste free.
Here are the results for Week 1
- Kindergarten: 72%
- Year 1: 80%
- Year 2: 72%
- Year 3: 83%
- Year 4: 60%
- Year 5: 86%
- Year 6: 40%
So the Gold Waste Free Warriors for Week 1 were:Year 5
and the Silver Waste Free Warriors for Week 7 were: Year 3.
Here are the results for Week 2:
Kindergarten: 78 %
Year 1: 81%
Year 2:86 %
Year 3: 89%
Year 4:74 %
Year 5:95 %
Year 6: 36%
So the GOLD waste free warriors for Week 2 were: Year 5 and the silver WFW were Year 3 again. Congratulations to both these classes.
Mrs Amy Sammut - Assistant Principal
Vision In Action Awards
We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new award within our school community: The 'Vision in Action' Award.
This award will recognise students who embody our school's vision statement: "Inspired by Christ, we aspire to excellence in learning, living fully in community."
Every day, we witness students bringing our vision to life through their actions and words. As a school community, we believe it's essential to acknowledge and honour these outstanding students not only at the end of the term but on a weekly basis.
Any member of our dedicated staff can nominate a student for the Vision in Action Award, identifying moments where our vision shines through actions that truly make a difference. Criteria for this award may include acts of kindness, inclusivity, sharing, empathy, gratitude, initiative, perseverance, and resilience.
These awards are held in equal esteem to our Superstar awards and contribute to a student's "big 5," leading to a Principal's Award. Recipients will be announced during our Monday morning assembly each week.
We look forward to recognising the little actions that make a difference at our beautiful school.
Below is a breakdown of our awards structure.
Awards Breakdown
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Superstar award |
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Vision in action award (new) |
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Principal’s award |
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Termly Vision Award |
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Gold award |
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St Michael’s Blue award |
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Frequently asked question:
My child was previously at a different school. Can any of their previous awards be recognised at St Michael’s?
If your child has awards from a previous school setting, we ask that you send them in accompanied by an explanation of their award structures. If there is alignment between our structures, the Principal will have discretion as to whether these previous awards contribute to our school award structure.
daVinci Decathlon
Last term our school participated in the da Vinci Decathlon which was held at the Illawarra Christian school. The da Vinci decathlon is an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of students.
Before the big day, our students dedicated themselves to workshops, sharpening their skills and getting ready to face the challenges ahead. The students competed in teams across 10 disciplines: Engineering, mathematics, code breaking, art and poetry, science, English, ideation, creative producers, cartography and legacy.
On the day itself, our teams demonstrated remarkable teamwork and determination, filling both myself and Mrs. Sammutt with immense pride as we witnessed them collaborate and uplift one another.
I'm thrilled to share some fantastic news with you all: our school received two awards! We came in 2nd place for Creative Producers and 3rd place for Engineering. What an amazing achievement!
Congratulations to all the students who took part. Your effort, resilience, and talents truly shone brightly, making us all proud. Let's celebrate not just the awards, but also the friendships made and the lessons learned along the way.
Here's to our incredible students and to many more successes in the future!
Chelsea McLeod - Diverse Learning Coordinator - High Potential and Gifted Students
Wollongong Running Festival - Sunday, 2 June
We have a small number of students that have already registered for the 2km Fun run. Last year St Michael’s won the first prize for the largest number of school participants. Let's see if we can do it again in 2024!
To register simply click on the link:
https://www.wollongongrunningfestival.com/
(Team; join a team; St Michael's) It was such a fantastic event last year seeing our students running proudly in their sports t-shirts. It's a tight competition this year so let's get our 'sea of blue' out there on the day!!!
We are looking forward to our training session on Friday with James from Savvy, he will surely motivate us to lace and and have a great run.
Applications are now being accepted for Kindergarten 2025. To enrol your child please visit our website; www.smt.catholic.edu.au . Applications are now completed online. Click on the ENROL NOW option.
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
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 - SPORTING EVENTS AND DATES
Upcoming dates for your 2024 “Sports Diary”
- Diocesan Cross Country Championships - 28th May, Willandra Course, Nowra
- School Athletics Carnival - Wednesday 19th June, Beaton Park
- Netball Gala Day - Tuesday 25th June, Fred Finch Park
Diocesan Cross Country
We are still in need of a parent volunteer to act as an official. Each school is required to provide one official to support this event. We have been allocated Marshall Point 6 on the course. This role can be shared by more than one person breaking the role down to shorter time periods. Please contact the school office if you can help in this role.
School Athletics Carnival New Date
With all the wet weather now hopefully behind us, we have a new date for our school athletics carnival. The carnival will be held on Wednesday the 19th June at Beaton Park. Unfortunately we were only able to secure a half day booking so we have made some modifications to the day and will be holding some of the field events at Gibson Park prior to the carnival.
We are once again asking for parents to act in official roles at our carnival so if you are able to assist please fill in on the carnival note that has been sent home via compass.
We thank you in advance for volunteering your time as days like this aren’t able to happen without your assistance.
STUDENT SPORTING & EXTRACURRICULAR SUCCESS STORIES
We invite all our families to share their child/children’s sporting and extracurricular 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 Mrs Campbell.
Mrs Danielle Campbell - Sports Convenor
Mrs Emma Cook - Instructional Coach
Thirroul Seaside and Arts Festival Returns!
This year St Michael’s will be hosting a cake stall down at Thirroul Seaside and Arts Festival on Sunday 2nd June.
We are very excited for the community to come together again for such a joyous event!
Each family will be sent home with a cake box which we kindly ask if you could donate a baked good or sweet treat to be sold at the event. More details will be sent out in the coming weeks including when and where you can drop your filled cake boxes.