Dear Parents and Carers,

This Sunday sees the beginning of Advent. Advent is a time of preparation and prayer. We await the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Advent also means new birth or new beginning. As we reflect on the year that has been we can certainly be caught up in the sentiment that we need to start anew. I encourage you to reflect on the learnings from this year and to focus our thoughts towards the importance of family, friends and Faith.

I would like to share with you a prayer written by Fr Sarkis in the publication that is distributed throughout our diocese ‘Adore; Advent  and Christmas Daily Reflections’.

Jesus, Lord, Son of God, I adore you! Jesus, son of Mary, I adore you! Jesus, God made Flesh, I adore you! Jesus, only Saviour of the world, I adore you! Jesus, still present with us in the Blessed Sacrament, I adore you! Jesus, my Lord, my Redeemer, my Love, my Friend, I adore you and I thank you! Lord, let me see your face and I shall be saved! Amen.

God Bless

Mrs Belinda Hughes - Principal

This year for our Christmas Appeal we are offering our support to the Christmas Card project run by Sister Myree Harris and the Gethsemane Community. 

Each child will receive the name of a person who has a mental illness or disability who live in boarding houses, group homes or aged care facilities and have limited  contact with family or friends. These cards are often the only personal mail these people receive all year. Our students will be making some lonely, isolated people very happy this Christmas. This year more than ever people need our support and Pope Francis has been repeatedly asking everyone  to move to the “peripheries” or margins—to the forgotten groups, the neediest, the most persecuted, the least powerful.

Can every student please bring in one Christmas card and envelope before FRIDAY DECEMBER 4.  

St Vincent de Paul Society has reached out to the St Michael’s school community to ask if we would be able to collect food items to add to their Christmas hampers this year. This year, due to Covid, the parish has only had about a third of its usual numbers attending Mass. Also, as a result of Ken taking some sick leave, Masses are no longer being televised. As a result, St Vincent de Paul may not get the usual response from parishioners in regard to the items required to create the Christmas hampers. Can everyone please bring in BEFORE FRIDAY DECEMBER 11. 

Ideas: 

• Christmas cake

• Christmas mince pies 

• Christmas pudding

• Bon bons

• Custard (long life)

• Ham (tinned)

• Tinned veggies

• Chips

• Biscuits - shortbread, scotch fingers, wafers, ginger biscuits

• Jelly

• Lollies

• Drinks - cans / bottles/ cordial / poppers / soft drink 

• Hot chocolate mix / cocoa mix

• Savoury Biscuits 

• Tea bags

• Coffee 

• Cake/muffin/pancake mix

• Spreads- nutella/ honey/ jam/ maple syrup/ vegemite

 Parent Spirituality 

I wanted to let you know that the next Episode for Ripples has just gone LIVE. 

This Ripples features Petrea King who runs the Quest for Life Foundation. In 1983 Petrea was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and wasn’t expected to survive. Meditation and integration of past traumatic experiences which included the suicide of her brother, became paramount in her recovery. Meditation has been a constant in Petrea’s life for over 50 years. 

In this Episode Petrea shares the story of the Quest for Life Foundation and the significance of creating spaces where people can hear the still small voice within and be truly heard. In Part 2 she shares some wisdom around accompanying others who are experiencing pain or trauma in their lives and this Episode will be released very soon!

 PODCAST LINKS:

LINK TO PODBEAN: https://ripples.dow.catholic.edu.au

APPLE PODCAST LINK: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ripples/id1511337808 

 First Penance and First Communion

Dear Parents of those enrolled for First Penance and First Communion Firstly, thank you for enrolling your son/daughter in these Sacraments. With the Covid-19 restrictions, there have been delays and, of course, complications. In addition, on medical advice, Ken has to take a break for a number of weeks, having had the major operation earlier in the year. Consequently, so as to avoid any rush, it has been decided to postpone both Sacraments of First Penance and First Communion until 2021. Sorry about this, but I trust you will understand the circumstances. In the meantime, Andrew will be looking after things in the Parish. Office hours etc. will be as usual. Ken Cafe ofm

 Liturgy with Bishop Brian 

“Today we celebrate that life is an adventure, you’re not alone and God is with you always” 

On Tuesday November 17, Week 6 Year 6 came together to celebrate a special liturgy with a video featuring Bishop Brian Mascord. As the students primary school adventure is coming to a close and their high school adventure is just around the corner, Bishop Brian reminded the students that they are not alone and that along with their friends someone else – very special, is always with them - God. 

The Christmas Story Virtual Art Gallery will go live the week following the Launch and will be available on the Sydney Catholic Schools Website. 

Miss Emma Groves - Religious Education Co Ordinator

Term 4 Assemblies

With our final assembly for the year approaching, I would like to thank all of our wonderful Year 6 leaders for their creative ideas and support in facilitating our fortnightly assemblies. They have done an outstanding job in ensuring that our assemblies remain meaningful and provoke thinking to grow as people and a community. 

Our final fortnightly assembly will be held on Friday of week 8. We look forward to coming together for one final time this year to recognise and share the wonderful work and achievements of our students both academically and pastorally. 

A tribute to our Year 6 leaders 

At the end of this term we will farewell our wonderful Year 6 leaders. On behalf of the school community I would like to thank each and every student for their contributions to St Michael’s. We have loved watching these students grow as people through their many experiences and interactions. We wish them well on their journeys and hope they always keep a piece of St Michael’s close to their hearts. 

Mr James Bryce - Assistant Principal

Kinder Orientation

We have held our Modified Kindergarten Orientations, they were very successful and it was a wonderful opportunity to meet the students and find out a little more about them. They loved the craft activities and in particular enjoyed the tour of the school. We look forward to seeing them walk through those gates next year in their brand new uniforms and their beaming smiles.

Semester 2 Reports 2020

Due to Covid-19, the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has permitted schools to select the content that will form the basis of educational programs for Kindergarten to Year 10 students during 2020. As a result, not all syllabus content will be reported upon in Semester 2.

Annual School Report

This week we sent a link home in regards to the Annual School Report. Your voice and input is an important part of the process and will also assist to inform future planning. If you could please take the time to fill in the short survey that would be greatly appreciated.

https://forms.gle/JwVwzxpEZ5W4Agy28

Band News and Update - Available to Year 4, 5 and 6 students (2021)

Yule music will no longer be facilitating the band program in 2021 as Andy the Director takes some leave. Mr Brett Lucas from the Thirroul Academy, music, dance and drama will be taking over the band program in 2021. Please see important information below if you would like your child to be involved in the band in 2021.

School Band Program 2021

Expression of Interest

Dear Student & Family

We are privileged to deliver the band program for St Michael’s Catholic Parish Primary School for 2021. For returning students, we have been working with Yule Music to make the transition without any major changes. The only changes will be administrative.

At the Academy, we believe learning to sing and skills with a musical instrument provide significant benefits for the student in their personal and academic growth. It is known through many studies that students learning music are capable of absorbing more in other subjects.

Our band program provides a platform for your students to learn creative skills through individual and group musical activities.

To continue or to express your interest to participate for 2021, please go to our website musicdancedrama.com.au and click ‘schools’ in the menu. If you have any questions or to discuss the program, please call me on 4268 5033.

We look forward to meeting you in 2021

Best Regards

Brett Lucas - DIRECTOR

Year 6 Speeches

Year 5 students who wish to be in contention for Captain and House Captain positions next year delivered their speeches yesterday. They all did an amazing job at speaking in front of their peers. The voting process is underway and we anticipate we will be able to announce the successful applicants in our next newsletter.

Mrs Hughes’ Leave

Next week I will be taking 3 days leave from Wednesday to Friday, Mr James Bryce will be acting Principal during these days.

Creative Arts    

“Creativity is seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought.” - Albert Einstein  

This week’s ‘Creative Corner’ is looking at the incredible year that has been. The creativity process has had an enormous role in all areas of Creative Arts teaching and learning. Students have been given the permission, confidence and the space to be creative. Creative Arts lessons were aimed to foster an environment where out of the box thinking was given time, valued and rewarded, that way, students were able to take risks and be more innovative. Providing a balanced structured learning environment for all students gave opportunities for self-direction and the freedom to explore ideas and options in all learning tasks. 

To celebrate the creative work of all students throughout the year, please see below a recap of the year that has been in ‘Creative Arts’.

Thank you, and God Bless.

Mrs Paula Jackson- Creative Arts Classroom Teacher

Thank you, and God Bless.

Mrs Paula Jackson- Creative Arts Classroom Teacher

St Michael's School Book Fair

A reminder that we have a virtual Book Fair at Collins Books, Thirroul. This is a great school fundraiser as we are unable to hold our traditional School Book Fair. Please see below the instructions on how to register and purchase books for the school. There is also a "St Michael's" table in store.

A big congratulations to Angus Douglas (Basketball) and Baden Balding (Tennis) for successfully reaching the next stage of the Diocescan Trials. Angus and Baden will both attend the Mackillop Trials in 2021, best of luck boys!

Mr Jason Novak - Sports Co ordinator