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PUPIL FREE DAYS
Monday 19 August and Monday 23 September
Last Friday night James Bryce and myself had the pleasure of attending the annual Diocesan Inspiring Leader’s Dinner. This year the guest speaker was Robyn Moore. Robyn’s voice is well known throughout Australia. Robyn has led an interesting and fruitful life, as a primary school teacher, communication industry and perhaps most famously as a voice over artist. She is the person behind the iconic Blinky Bill as well as many other well known commercials, such as Ajax Spray and Wipe, Mr Sheen and even as the voice of St George telephone banking!
Her zest for life was infectious as she spoke about the power of the word. How what we say can have such a dramatic impact on another’s life. The power of the word can be harming, destructive and negative, however it is our duty to ensure that we use the power of the word to spread joy, love and laughter. Her sense of humour kept us all entertained as she shared her inspiring stories as ambassador of the Make A Wish Foundation. The power of the word and the true depiction of love and laughter was truly evident through these amazing tales of happiness and heartbreak.
Robyn challenged us all to look in the mirror everyday and ask ourselves who is turning up today? “You are the only person responsible for your happiness.”
If you have the chance to listen to Robyn speak I would highly recommend it. A funny, witty and inspirational speaker.
NSW Community Grant Voting!
Places to Learn, Pray & Play
St Michael’s has been successful in being eligible for voting to gain a community grant from the NSW government. This substantial grant will allow us to fulfil completely the second stage of the landscape project. This is an exciting opportunity to be able to progress the project quickly for our wonderful students.
For us to be successful we need the most votes for our electorate. We can achieve this with your help and the support of your family and friends.
https://mycommunityproject.service.nsw.gov.au
Mary MacKillop Whole School Mass
On Friday 9 August at 9:30am, we would like to invite our parents and friends to celebrate the feast day of Australia’s First Saint, Mary of the Cross MacKillop at our whole school Mass with Father Ken.
Requests for donations of non- perishable items can be brought in before Friday 9th August to be placed into your child’s classroom basket. Classes will be taking these up as part of the offertory procession at the whole school Mass. It can be cans, crackers, soups, chips, pasta, noodles, nappies, shampoo, conditioner, soap, razors, shaving cream - anything non - perishable!
Pupil Free Day and Staff Spirituality Day - Monday September 23
Monday September 23 will be a Pupil Free Day for students as staff will be involved in their annual Spirituality Day. The Staff Spiritual Formation Retreat Day will focus on the theme: Sustaining Our Purpose - Self-care & Staff Well-being. This day will include an integration of spiritual and psychological practices that support us in sustaining our purpose. “You either walk inside your story and own it or you stand outside your story & hustle for your worthiness." - Brene Brown
Book Week and Grandparents Day
Important Information
The theme for Book Week 2019 is ‘Reading is my Secret Power’. Book Week will run from the 19th - 23rd of August 2019 and so this year St Michael's will be celebrating Book Week on Friday 23rd August in conjunction with Grandparents Day.
To celebrate this wonderful occasion we are inviting all students from Kinder to Year 6 to come dressed as their favourite book character or around the theme of 'Reading is my Secret Power’ for our school book week parade on Friday 23rd August.
Timeline:
- Book Week Parade: 9:45am
Come one and come all to see the wonderful students at St Michael’s parade around as their favourite character from a book.
- Morning Tea: 10:30am in the school hall (after the parade)
Morning Tea will be provided for our lovely grandparents
- Recess with the students: 10:50am
Grandparents can join their grandchild on the playground at recess time.
- Open Classroom: 11:30-12:30am
Grandparents are welcome to come to open classrooms to help the students engage in fun & exciting Literacy Activities around the Shortlisted Books for 2019. ALSO in this time go to the bookfair to purchase a book for our wonderful school.
- Prayer and Blessing for grandparents: 12:30- 1:00pm.
The day will conclude with a special prayer and blessing for Grandparents
In the school library from 11:30am - 12:30pm there will be opportunities for families to buy a book to donate to our library. There will be cash only. Please remember to support our school library!
The Sacraments of First Penance and Communion
The Sacraments of First Penance and Communion are celebrated when a child is in Year 2 or seven years old (or older).
Prior to receiving First Communion, children are to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance [Reconciliation].
Enrolments close on Tuesday, 10 September 2019
Enrolment Forms for 2019 may be downloaded at the parish website: http://www.thirroulcatholic.org.au/ and they must be handed in directly to the Parish office.
In order to prepare for these Sacraments, there is a preparation program consisting of the following:
Parent Meeting: Tuesday, 15 October at 7:30pm
Penance Classes 1 and 2: Tuesdays, 22 and 29 October, 3:45 pm to 5pm
Sacrament of Penance: Wednesday, 30 October at 7:00pm
Eucharist Classes 3 and 4: Tuesdays, 12 and 19 November, 3:45 pm to 5pm
First Communion: at either of the weekend Masses on 30 November or 1 December or 7/8 December or any weekend from then on.
Year 6 Mass with the Bishop
Each year the Bishop meets with the students in Year 6 to join together with them in prayer and gathering. This year Bishop Brian Mascord celebrated a Mass with the Year 6 students from St Michael’s and a range of other Diocesan primary schools at St John Vianney’s Co- Cathedral, Fairy Meadow. After the Mass students had an opportunity to celebrate with the Catholic Youth Ministry Team and other Year 6 students in our diocese.
Religious Literacy Assessment
The Religious Literacy Assessment (RLA) in the Diocese of Wollongong is a Partners in Learning initiative between the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) and the Australian Catholic University (ACU). This Initiative began in 2000. This assessment project provides a sustained and systemic Diocesan approach to the documentation and reporting of students’ learning in the key learning area of Religious Education (RE) across the diocese and in particular, aspects of religious literacy. It is a means of celebrating and sharing the good news about students' learning in Religious Education and enables the story to be told on a continuing basis.
The concept of 'religious literacy' is the basis for the framework for assessment in Religious Education in Wollongong across K-6. To be religiously literate, children leaving a Catholic primary school need to be able to communicate with and be at home in Catholic society and religion in general. The assessment of religious literacy focuses on students’ knowledge and understanding of the key concepts that are being addressed by the Religious Education program and the children’s ability to communicate with their religious tradition. Year 4 will be completing the Religious Literacy Assessment on Tuesday August 20.
RE Display Wall
In the hallway that goes past the office we have our Religious Education Display board. One half of the board has information about Laudato Si’, mini vinnies, prayer and special days of significance. On the other half we have a rotating roster of grades displaying learning they are doing in RE.
Term 3, Weeks 3-6- Year 5
Term 3, Weeks 7-10- Year 2
Upcoming Events in Term 3
Religious Literacy Assessment
The Year Four Religious Literacy Assessment will be held on Tuesday 20 August
Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary Liturgy - Hosted by Year 4B
Thursday 15th August @ 2:30pm
St Francis of Assisi Liturgy- Hosted by Kindergarten
Wednesday 25th September @ 2:30pm
Miss Emma Groves – Religious Education Coordinator
Term 3 Assembly dates
School Assemblies
Assemblies at St Michael’s are an opportunity for our community to come together to acknowledge and celebrate the great learning and events that happen in our school. The school assembly allows all students at St Michael’s to be recognised for their efforts. This term we have added an additional component to our assembly which allows one class per fortnight to share some of the brilliant learning that has been happening in their classrooms.
Week 4- Friday 16 August (Year 6B sharing their learning)
Week 6- Friday 30 August (Year 4B sharing their learning)
Week 8- Friday 13 September (Year 3 sharing their learning)
Week 10- Friday 27 September (Year 4W sharing their learning).
A huge thankyou to all of the classes that have engaged in the work sharing component of our assembly. It has been wonderful to showcase just some of the wonderful learning that has been occuring in these classrooms.
Revised playground arrangements and passive play space
This term we are very fortunate to have two new outdoor play spaces available to our students. The soft fall soccer pitch and our new passive play space have been a hit with all of our students. The soft fall soccer pitch has been a key development of our ongoing school landscaping project. The passive play space utilizes the beautiful new landscaped area on our top playground. The St Michael’s SPB4L team have been able to purchase some engaging resources that students can use to either relax or play in a quiet environment. A big thank you to all of the parents who have brought in old toys to add to our resources for this area. The passive play space is now open and available to use on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
To accommodate for our new playground spaces we have modified the playgrounds to two areas (area 1 and 2). Area 1 now includes the top cement and passive play area whilst area 2 includes the basketball court, soccer field and play equipment. The students will rotate between the two areas on a weekly cycle.
NED Show
The students were treated to a show this week by the NED company which highlighted important messages of always applying a growth mindset to reach your goals and support others in reaching theirs. NED is the name of the character that delivers the message and is also an acronym for 'Never Give Up, Encourage Others, Do Your Best'. Throughout week 3 and the Monday of week 4 students have been able to purchase NED yo yos and use them in our passive play space.
The Leader In Me (TLIM) Update
TLIM program continues to be an important part of the St Michael’s school community. Our Year 6 Leaders have done an absolutely brilliant job of revisiting these habits with all of our students during our fortnightly assembly. This has been reinforced by students being able to earn TLIM icons both in the classroom and on the playground. These icons determine our class of the fortnight.
Professional Learning- Teaching Reading Strategies
This week five of our teachers completed the first phase of the Teaching Reading Strategies professional learning facilitated by the Catholic Education office staff and supported within our school structures. These teachers have gone above and beyond in applying this learning to continue to refine and improve the way in which they teach reading in their classrooms. I have been fortunate to witness first hand the impact this learning has had on the students engagement and ability to think critically.
Mr James Bryce - Assistant Principal
School Environmental Management Plan - Landscape Update
Over the school holidays another phase of the school’s landscape project was completed. The bottom grass was replaced with a synthetic grass surface with a soccer pitch marked out. Along with this a wet pour area was also included to create a safe and even space as well as another play area. This will be eventually marked with lines for handball courts and or racket games. The students have loved the new space and are very excited to utilise the new area.
Planning is already underway to explore what is feasible for the next school holidays.
Don’t forget to gather votes from family and friends on the Community Grant. Every little bit will help to complete all the works.
Support from the P & F
New Sports Cage
Thank you to our generous parent community and the P & F, with funds pledged to the school this year we have been able to update and purchase sporting equipment. We have converted one of the cages between the year 6 rooms and toilet block to house our Sports equipment. We have made it weatherproof and have added sturdy shelving too. Thanks to the sports captains who helped me to relocate our sports equipment from the basement room.
New School Tent
We have also purchased a new school tent. We were lucky enough to receive it the day before the athletics carnival and therefore it has already been put to good use.
Thank you to the P and F for the funding to support the purchase of the equipment and completion of the project.
Sporting Schools Grants
This term we have received another grant to support the students of our school. This term all students will be attending Gym sports for 4 weeks which we thank Sporting Schools grant for covering the cost for each of the students this term. We were also able to purchase 17 new basketballs with the residue from the basketball grant last term. Mrs Kirra Calvert
Morning Supervision
Dogs in the Playground
A reminder that due to our duty of care and the safety of others on school grounds, dogs are not allowed onto school property. The only exception would be a certified therapy dog. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Professional Learning - Leadership Conference
Last week Miss Groves, Miss Treble and myself had the privilege to see Dr Brene Brown give a workshop and talk focused on daring leadership. She was inspiring and great to listen to. Her learnings are applicable to leadership but also to every day life. Her theme was Courage over comfort.
Parent Engagement Sessions - Friday 16 August
On Friday 16 August we are hosting a parent workshop on assessment and reporting from 12-1pm and a parent support session on Compass during the P&F meeting starting at 1.30pm.
A light lunch and tea and coffee will be supplied in the hall between these sessions. Please advise the office via email or phone call if you are able to attend so we can cater appropriately. I look forward to seeing you all.
Parent Support Sessions - Compass
We are looking forward to launching the parent portal within Compass, I know it will help you as parents with many aspects of school life.
Please note that at the next P&F meeting (Friday 16 August @ 1.30pm) a representative from CEO will be explaining the parent portal and how it works. Parent log in details will be distributed then, along with a guided workshop on the capabilities of the portal. Further parent support sessions will be available on:
Tuesday 20 August from 8.30am-9.30am and from 2.30pm-4.00pm
After these sessions all log in details will be sent home.
With the introduction of COMPASS, there will be no need to use the skoolbag app. From Monday 26 August, skoolbag will be turned off and will not be used to communicate messages from the school.
PARENT ENGAGEMENT, FOSTERING EFFECTIVE AND POSITIVE PARTNERSHIPS IN LEARNING, LEADING AND LIVING THE FAITH
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Parent Forum: Assessment and Reporting |
This is the workshop that will focus on assessment and reporting practices within the school and exploring effective ways to share this progress with you as parents. |
Friday 16 August 12pm-1pm |
Uncle Kevin Butler – Aboriginal Education Assistant
Catholic Education in the Diocese of Wollongong
Kevin Butler is a well-known local Aboriginal artist and his Traditional homeland is Gumbainggir- originally from Nambucca Heads.
Uncle Kevin’s painting experience spans over 30 years and has been working across schools in the diocese of Wollongong for many years supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and sharing Aboriginal cultural knowledge with students and staff.
We are very fortunate to have Uncle Kevin working on some art projects at St Michael’s each Monday.
So please don’t hesitate to say hi and have a yarn.
Learning Labs
The University of Wollongong would like to invite your child to LITTLE AND EARLY LEARNING LABS, an academic enrichment holiday program. They are targeting students from Year 1 to 6 during 2019, who are passionate, self-motivated and curious learners.
Dates: Little Learning Labs (Years 1 and 2): 30th September – 2nd October 2019
Early Learning Labs (Years 3 to 6): 2nd – 4th October 2019
Venue: University of Wollongong (Wollongong Campus only)
Applications close: 21st August 2019
Please see the link below for more information
https://www.uow.edu.au/engage/outreach-pathways/learning-labs/wollongong-learning-labs/
During Week 1 of this term, St Michael’s Thirroul celebrated NAIDOC week. The Leaders of Learning and Innovation looked at the theme Voice, Treaty, Truth and decided to get each class to look at the meaning behind each word and why it was significant to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Kindergarten to year 6 all researched and planned amazing posters that they presented at our Friday NAIDOC assembly. Each grade explained the meaning behind their chosen colours, symbols and word.
During our assembly, we also heard the Australian Anthem sung in the Dharawal language, the first peoples of this land. We ended our celebration with the song ‘I am Australian’ because we acknowledge and understand that the issues our Indigenous Australians face are not THEIR issues but they are OUR issues… as we are ALL Australian.
Miss Eliza Treble - Middle Leader 2
Athletics Carnival
What a wonderful day in the sunshine! We all had a very fun day at our Athletics Carnival. Well done to all the students for doing their best and displaying sportsmanship throughout the day.
A big thank you to all our parent/grandparent helpers who made sure the events all ran smoothly.
Congratulations to the winning house FITZROY!
Age Champions
Junior girl: Zoe Wilson
Junior boy: Riley Saville
11 year girl: Finlay Reid
11 year boy: Kalan Taylor and Charlie Lamberger
Senior girl: Holly Sheldrick
Senior boy: Archie Scari
Kindergarten Athletics Carnival Recounts
Yesterday we went to the athletics carnival and I sat next to Ariah. Then I got off the bus and then I went to my house colour. Then I sang our house song then we played games. Then we did the running race and I came first. By Oliver
Yesterday we went to the athletics carnival. We did some sack races. The sack races was my best thing and my other thing was the running race. The boys went first and the girls went second. We did the frisbees and we did some chicken throws. We made a caterpillar train then we did some bean bag races. By Abby
Yesterday we went to the athletics carnival and we all played games and we played caterpillar train and I did a running race and I came last. And we played throwing chickens and we played a frisbee game and a parachute game. By Ariah
Charlie Lamberger (Year 6) recently participated at the Havianas Grommet State Surfing Titles. Charlie made it to the second round but was knocked out of the competition right on the bell. Congratulations Charlie on making it to the State level and doing so well.
Interschool’s Snowsports
Once again this year we had a group of students representing St Michael’s Thirroul at the Interschool’s Snowsports Competition. The boys team - Darius Hamod and Jesse Miklas placed first in both events and the girls team - Amelie Kelly and Sienna Hamod, placed second in both events. Kalan Taylor also participated, competing in the Skiing events. He was up against many other students and although he didn't place, he tried his hardest and had a great time.
All kids will be going through to the state level of competition in August.
The best news of all is that St Michael's took out first place for primary Co-ed Snowboarding. Out of 25 schools that competed from the Illawarra to the QLD border, they won! They were presented with a plaque and congratulated in front of all participants - hundreds of kids.
“It was a very proud moment for all of the parents and as a member of the Thirroul and St Michael's community.” Rachel Miklas
The kids showed great skill and sportsmanship and represented St Michael’s proudly. Congratulations to all the students who competed, what an amazing effort.
Girl’s Rugby 7 Trials
Congratulations to Holly Sheldrick who was selected in the Inaugural Mackillop Girls Rugby 7s team which will compete at the PSSA State carnival in September. What an amazing achievement, we wish her luck at the next carnival.
South Coast Athletics Carnival
We wish all our competitors heading to the South Coast Athletics Carnival on Tuesday the 13th of August the best of luck.
Soccer Gala Day
The soccer gala day was a great day, all students thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We would like to say a big thank you for all being so respectful and responsible on and off the field. It was great to see the level sportsmanship and cheers for one another. Also, a huge thank you to all the parent volunteers on the day. We greatly appreciate your help on the day!
NSW Cross Country Championships
Congratulations to Amelie Kelly for competing at the NSW Cross Country Championships coming 21st out 77 athletes on the day. An amazing effort at such a high level competition. Well done!
South Coast Basketball
Our next gala coming up is the Junior and Senior Basketball Gala Day:
19th September, 2019 Junior Boys & Girls (Years 3 & 4)
20th September, 2019 Senior Girls & Boys (Years 5 & 6)
Which will be held at the Berkeley Illawarra Sports Stadium.
Awards
Principal's Awards:
- Macie Shoobert-Brown
- Evie Shoobert-Brown
- Thomas Meaney
- Ruby Witten
- Lila Harrison
GOLD Awards:
- Harper Pingnam
- Ruby Witten
Michele Smith (nee Deland), is an ex student of St Michael’s. Michelle and another ex-student Monique McMahon (nee Doesburg) are organising a class reunion. The function room at the Thirroul Bowling & Leagues Club has been booked for the 17th August from 3pm on. Anyone who would like to attend please bring along photos and memorabilia of your years together as a class to share. Nibbles will be provided, drinks and dinner(optional) is at attendees discretion.
