Dear Parents and Carers,

This Saturday marks the feast day of Mary MacKillop, our first Australian Saint. She was and is many things to many people, most of all an inspiration to all in Catholic Education. She was a pioneer of her time and fought for what she believed was just and right.

As a school that is founded on the Josephite charism it is timely that we reflect on the lessons we can learn from St Mary MacKillop. She advocated for the poor, she believed in a Catholic education for all, she was able to truly forgive and most importantly she had trust in God and a profound sense of gratitude. We can all take something from her life. At school we often use her most well known phrase, “Never see a need without doing something about it.”

I share with you a Prayer for Children to Mary MacKillop that you may wish to pray together as a family.

Prayer to St Mary MacKillop Friend of Children 

St Mary MacKillop, friend of children 

Help us get on well with our brothers and sisters. 

Help us listen to our parents Keep us interested in our work 

Help us make new friends Comfort us when we are sad 

Help us be sorry when we are cranky 

Keep us trying to be true 

Help us to forgive when someone hurts us 

Help us love ourselves 

Help us to love God heaps 

St Mary MacKillop, pray for us! 

God Bless

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR YEAR 2 STUDENTS 

Students in Year 2 or older are encouraged to enrol for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion.

Enrolments for First Reconciliation and First Communion close on 10 September. Enrolment Forms may be downloaded from our Parish website: click here Please return completed Enrolment Forms to the Parish Office – not to the school office. The format for 2020 will depend on NSW Government Health Regulations.

Please enrol, and emails will be sent to those enrolled as to how preparation and celebration of these Sacraments will take place in 2020. Please enrol by 10 September 2020.

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR YEAR 6 STUDENTS 

If you want your son/daughter in Year 6 to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, Sacrament of Confirmation, you need to enrol them ASAP – check the Parish website.

Whole School Mary MacKillop Prayer Service Via Zoom 

This Saturday August 8 is the Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. 

As a result of our school being founded by the Sisters of St Joseph our community embraces the Josephite tradition of love, understanding and acceptance of others. It is important that we continue embrace the charism of Mary MacKillop that pervades the ethos of St Michael’s school. 

We will be celebrating the Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop this Friday August 7 at 2:15pm. The leaders of Living the Faith and Miss Groves will be facilitating a prayer service via zoom. 

Vinnies COVID-19 

Winter Appeal 

Vinnies St Micheal's Thirroul is now undertaking its annual winter appeal and seeking your financial contribution to qassir those in need within our community 

This year as a result of COVID-19, many more are suffering from economic hardship, social isolation, homelessness and mental health issues. 

Please help Vinnies to provide support to those in our community by daunting via the below link: 

St Michael Thirroul Vinnies Winter Appeal in Fundraise your way

All donations over $2 are tax deductible and your receipt will be automatically processed and sent via email.

Thank you for your support! 

 Parent Spirituality 

Ripples is a PODCAST developed for staff and parents on-going spiritual formation designed by Robyn Gallagher (Professional Officer - Staff Spiritual Formation - Catholic Education Office). 

PARENTS can access on this site: https://sites.google.com/dow.catholic.edu.au/clem-spiritual-formation/spiritual-formation/parents

KNIT4NEED 

Thank you Katrina Linton and Tye and Summer Fitzgeralds’s Grandmother for knitting scarfs & beanies for those living rough this winter. 

 Miss Emma Groves - Religious Education Co-ordinator

Students Who are Unwell

Thank you to all of you for your understanding with the new guidelines and restrictions in regards to students who are unwell. Your cooperation assists in ensuring that we keep everyone safe and healthy.

If your child is unwell and stays home OR is sent home from school unwell, parents are required to obtain a medical certificate that specifically states that your child is fit to return to school. Please note this is not necessarily connected to Covid, this is not about being Covid negative it is clearance that your child is no longer exhibiting flu like symptoms. 

School Communication

If at any time you need to or would like to contact your child’s teacher please contact them via the school office email address or by phoning the school. All communication will be passed on to the most appropriate teacher so that they can return your inquiry. 

Staff Development Day

We will hold our next Staff Development Day on Friday, 31 August.

Creative Arts News

Creative Corner

"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken the joy in creativity, expression and knowledge" Albert Einstein

The Creative Arts program at St Michael's school provides all students with a rich foundation in Visual Arts, Dance, Music and Drama. Creative Arts lessons are integrated across all classroom themes in Religious Education, Literacy, History and Science while incorporating aesthetics, and art reflection. The curriculum for each grade level is designated to nurture student's creativity and problem solving skills. Students choose a medium, apply the elements and principles of art, use appropriate vocabulary, include content, symbolism, reflect and evaluate the outcome of their work and the work of others.

Currently due to the school restrictions in sharing students' work, as a school we have decided to add to the fortnightly newsletters a "Creative Corner" for students to share their creativity in all areas of Creative Arts. This fortnight's Creative Corner is our wonderful Stage 1 students sharing their inspired Still Life arrangements from artists Vincent Van Gogh and Margaret Preston.

Mrs Paula Jackson - Creative Arts Teacher

COVID-19 Catholic Education Information Centre

Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong has launched a new COVID-19 Information Centre on its website. It is the best place to find the latest information about CEDoW's systemic response to COVID-19.

We will continue to provide you with updates if the situation changes and as soon as new information becomes available.

Random Acts of Kindness

Thank you to our parent community for your random acts of kindness and gratitude, from the lovely home baked cakes and slices for the staffroom to the anonymous coffee tab at our local favourite. These gestures make our day and let us know how much you care and appreciate what we do. A huge thank you from all of us!

Band

A reminder that Band has recommenced on a Tuesday at 8am in the hall. Please check emails from Andy for all the details.

Mrs Belinda Hughes - Principal

PB4L Update:

Explicit teaching of expected behaviours 

PB4L is a framework that St Michael’s implements to create a safe and supportive learning environment for all students. We provide clear expectations and rules that use positive language, for example "walk" instead of "don't run". This is done for all areas across the school and all people involved in the school community. It is a system that is designed to acknowledge students for following the expectations. At St Michael’s, we have defined expected behaviours and these behaviours are supported by explicitly teaching these expectations. PB4L uses an educative approach so there is the opportunity for all students to get back on track. 

In weeks two and three we have had a whole school focus on how we have been lining up and leaving our break time assembly area. Each class Teacher has explicitly taught and practiced the expected behaviours and had a video to support the lessons. 

In weeks four and five, we will be focusing on wearing our correct school uniform with pride. 

Mrs Ronelle Peardon - Middle Leader 1