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Principal Message
This weekend we celebrate the gifts and talents that all of our father figures give us in our life. It is an opportunity to share some precious family time together or to remember the special moments with those who may no longer be with us.
Father figures in our life bring so much joy, strength and love to our world. They teach us what is important and valuable and provide moments in time that stay with us thorough our own lives. They shape the people we are today.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful father figures in our lives and for all that you do for your children. In these current times we are so blessed that we can still celebrate Father’s Day in some way. I wish you all a happy father’s day filled with laughter, love and gratitude.
“A father holds his child’s hand for a short while, but holds his child’s heart forever.” -Anonymous
God Bless
Mrs Belinda Hughes - Principal
Book Week 2020
The theme for Book Week 2020 is ‘Curious Creatures, Wild Minds’. This year St Michael's will be celebrating Book Week on Friday 23rd October. 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 'Curious Creatures, Wild Minds’ (STRICTLY no props - e.g.: sword, wand etc due to covid). There will be no parade or visitors on site this year as we still have our covid restrictions in place.
In the coming weeks students will be reading shortlisted picture books during their library time and doing an activity that Mrs Medina has organised. On our Book Week celebration Day (Friday, Term 4, Week 2) teachers are organising an activity based on their allocated book. There will also be a raffle ticket lucky door prize for every class! The winners will receive a book!
Grandparents Day
We usually celebrate Grandparents Day in conjunction with book week - having open classrooms and a lovely liturgy. This is such a beautiful time for both our grandparents and students but unfortunately at this time, health restrictions prevent us from doing so. This year we will be doing something a little bit different to thank and celebrate our wonderful grandparents.
From John Dening -
On behalf of the Thirroul Conference, I would like to express our gratitude to the staff, students, parents and carers of St Michael school for the recent donation.
The donation has been used to purchase food for the overseas students at Wollongong University. They are in need of food assistance following the impact of Covid 19 and the subsequent loss of their employment. We are also truly grateful for the continuous support given to us through the efforts of the Mini Vinnies and the direction provided by Emma Groves. Thank you and God bless.
Parent Spirituality
I wanted to let you know that this week's Ripples Episode and Meditation have now gone LIVE!
This week's Episode features Fr Laurence Freeman. He is a Benedictine monk, a spiritual guide and the Director of the World Community for Christian Meditation. This Episode is a Zoom conversation as he is based in Bonnevaux, a new retreat centre in south-west France. In this first Episode Laurence explores the practice and gifts of Christian Meditation.
The links to the Podcast are provided below.
PODCAST LINKS:
LINK TO PODBEAN: https://ripples.dow.catholic.edu.au
APPLE PODCAST LINK: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ripples/id1511337808
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CathEd.DoW/videos/649600145674930/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/p/CEV65G0g0M-/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/CathEd_DoW/status/1298500935610556417
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.
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR YEAR 6 STUDENTS
If you want your son/daughter in Year 6 to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, you need to enrol them ASAP – check the Parish website.
Books and Books are Needed by Vinnies
Vinnies has a huge demand for books in this present pandemic environment. If you have any good reading books, please drop them into the Vinnies bin in the church grounds, or drop them in to the sacristy or Parish Office. Thanks for your generosity.
Baptisms at Thirroul
If you want your child baptised in our Parish, please contact the Parish Office so that a suitable time can be organised for the celebration – currently baptisms will not be held during the weekend Masses.
Miss Emma Groves - Religious Education Co Ordinator
Assemblies
“A simple act of caring creates an endless ripple. ”
This fortnight our wonderful Year 6 leaders Zali and AJ led our school community in another moving assembly. Our focus for the fortnight was to be proactive, with an emphasis on the impact we can have on others lives through a simple act of kindness. As a school we explored a powerful video clip that demonstrated how one small action can change someone's day and sometimes even their life. Together as a school we reflected on the importance of kindness and seizing opportunities to bring joy to others lives. Below are some snapshots and powerful messages that were expressed during our assembly.
Professional Learning: Writing
This term we have begun our journey with our professional learning in persuasive writing after experiencing the positive impact our previous professional learning on imaginative writing has had on student engagement and learning. Since implementing these shifts in practice we have noticed increased levels of engagement by students in the writing process and increased creative thinking. Students now also have demonstrated a deeper understanding of their learning intention and are able to identify what they need to do next to improve their writing by referring to the success criteria.
The purpose of this professional learning on persuasive texts is to ensure that all writing experiences are engaging and meaningful for all students, whilst allowing them to think critically and express their ideas in a variety of creative ways. Already this term we have seen shifts in the ways that teachers are designing writing learning experiences that engage and inspire their students. This has even included some teachers using Augmented Reality where a range of farm animals were placed on our playground and recorded to be used as a stimulus for the writing process.
As a part of this professional learning staff have also collaboratively constructed persuasive writing assessment criterias for all classes based on the 10 elements of writing. These assessment criterias have been used to identify students strengths and areas of need in persuasive writing in order to ensure the whole class, small group and individual learning is tailored to student needs.
We look forward to continuing this professional learning and sharing our celebrations of progress with you.
Mr James Bryce - Assistant Principal
Child Protection Week
Next week is Child Protection Week and the theme is Putting Children First. National Child Protection Week is a campaign held annually across Australia to raise awareness of child safety and child abuse prevention.
It is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the protection of the children and young people in our care. We strive also to support all of our students to learn to develop respectful relationships with others.
Child Protection Week is an opportunity to raise awareness about child protection systems and preventative strategies for safeguarding children in our schools.
Please find below a flyer that has been developed by the CEO to support Child Protection Week and some very useful resources and links to support families.
Student Attendance - Late Arrivals and Early Departures - Holiday Leave
A reminder that all students need to be at school by 9am to be able to begin the school day. If there is the odd occasion where children arrive later than 9am a parent or carer must bring them to the office to be digitally signed in.
Please avoid making regular appointments (like music, swimming) during school time. If there is a situation where this is the case it needs to be discussed with the class teacher or the Principal and documentation needs to be completed for approval.
If you are taking holiday leave from school, from as little as 1 day, there are new forms that need to be completed and approved by the Principal. Please see the office for the revised forms from CEO.
Condolences
Our condolences and sympathies to Mrs Chelsea McLeod who lost her nan, Doreen Richards, last week. Please keep Chelsea and her family in your prayers and thoughts.
Mrs Chris Loughrey
Mrs Loughrey is on extended leave until at least the end of October. She is currently unwell and requires time to recover. Please keep Chris in your prayers.
Summer Uniform
Our official change over date to summer uniform is Monday 12 October, Week 1, Term 4. If the heat increases parents may use their discretion in Week 10 of this term. Please refer to the Lowes website or Wollongong store if you need any summer uniform items.
Creative Arts News
"Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun." - Mary Lou Cook
Fostering Creativity
- Creativity happens when you move out of the comfort zone, when you are challenged, and when you are in contention with yourself, or with others.
- Creativity happens when you have the confidence to make mistakes; it happens when we are not tied to narrow targets but allow the spirit of play and imagination to inform what we do.
- Creativity means being open to chance and opportunities, to try the past less travelled, to be open to doubts and uncertainties in seeking to generate what is new and original.
Unlocking Creativity Teaching Across the Curriculum
This fortnight’s "Creative Corner” is our wonderful kindergarten students sharing their Creativity in the processes of making, drawing and performing in Creative Arts.
The Christmas Story, Art Exhibition and Competition 2020, Stage 3
Key Dates:
Selected artworks due to CEO by Friday 18th September
Shortlisting of artworks - Monday 22nd September
Judging of artworks 4th October
Installation of artworks - Thursday 5th October
Exhibition Opening Night - Wednesday, 14th October - 5-7pm (Depending on Restrictions)
Exhibition open to public - Saturday 7th October - Wednesday 25th October (Depending on Restrictions)
Helpful Resource:
The link below provides helpful ideas and activities for parents to do at home in creative learning and development: creative play, arts and crafts, digital media, drama, music, dance, movement and creative writing for primary school-age children.
Please feel free to contact me via the school office, if you have any questions or queries. Thank you
Mrs Paula Jackson - Creative Arts Classroom Teacher
- iPad paid through school fees over 2 years. (Option to bring your own device and have it included in the school managed system).
- All Apps, including paid Apps are managed and remotely installed by the school.
- Screen time decided by the school. For example: iPad apps unavailable between 8pm and 7am
- Content Filtering will be in place both at school AND at home.
- Students receive 200GB school managed Education iCloud Account.
SPLICED
Some of our Primary SPLICED students were lucky enough to have Mr John Charadia and the SPLICED tutors come and work with them last Wednesday. The students are creating amazing paintings, drawings and written texts that are truly inspiring pieces of work!
All of our SPLICED students will continue to work on their projects both in class and future workshops. I would like to thank Mrs Mayo for her support last Wednesday but also all the hard work behind the scenes. Thank you also to the classroom teachers for allowing our incredible students time in class to continue working on their masterpieces.
We look forward to sharing all their work once it is complete. Watch this space…
Miss Eliza Treble & Mrs Shari Mayo - Spliced Co-ordinators
PB4L Update:
This week our PB4L team will be meeting to revise our behaviour matrix. The matrix clarifies observable behaviours in the classroom and outside the classroom. The revision will ensure that there is clarity around poor choices and classify the behaviours into low and high behaviours. While PB4L primarily focuses on the promotion of positive behaviours, poor choices do have consequences and having a clear guideline ensures that these behaviours are addressed promptly and appropriately with consistency.
It has been great to see the many parents ensuring that their children are attending school in the correct school uniform. Thank you for viewing our video that the students have also been watching.
This week, we have had a focus on how we use the toilets. For many students, the videos have provided them with the explicit instructions that enable them to put into place the expected behaviours.
We still are required to comply with the COVID safe restrictions when dropping off students and again when collecting.
As a reminder:
- Drop students at the school gates
- Students will enter the school grounds unaccompanied by a parent
- Students move to their designated area of the playground
- Tennison (Red) and MacKillop (Yellow) house on the basketball court
- Fitzroy (Blue) and Penola (Green) on the top playground.
When collecting your child/ren after school,
- Arrive at your designated times:
- Tennison (Red) and MacKillop (Yellow) at 3pm
- Fitzroy (Blue) and Penola (Green) at 3:15
- stay outside the school gates
- Parents should not be congregating on or near the school gates.
We highly encourage safe social distancing and gently ask that parents not be congregating or mingling at or around the school gate.
Mrs Ronelle Peardon - Middle Leader 1
Congratulations to the student who received the following award:
Prinicpals Awards
- William Egan-Brown
