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Dear Parents and Carers,
As it is our final newsletter of the year, I would like to sincerely thank you for your ongoing support during what has been a very difficult year. We have greatly appreciated your words of encouragement and acknowledgement as we have attempted to navigate a challenging school year and continue to provide quality Catholic education. Once again I would like to acknowledge your partnership and commitment as you yourselves had to balance work and remote learning, we could not have done it without you.
To the staff of St Michael’s I am so proud to say that I am a part of this community. My sincere gratitude to the wonderful teachers and staff of this fantastic school. Your ongoing commitment and dedication to your students is priceless.
To the amazing students, you are why we are here. The resilience and perseverance you have demonstrated throughout this year is to be commended. You have risen to each and every challenge that has been placed in front of you and grown in strength and character. A special mention to our Year 6 students who have had a very different final year to any other. I thank you all for showing an understanding beyond your years and for embracing the opportunities we have been able to provide this year.
As a faith filled community we have a special connection with Fr Ken, pre and post remote learning, Fr Ken continued his connection with the students, sharing his knowledge and experiences. In his absence Fr Andy has been gracious with his time and continued to support the school community. We wish Fr Ken a speedy recovery.
One of the most challenging aspects of this year has been the limit of parent involvement and presence at the school. I again thank you for the understanding you have shown this year and I am quite hopeful that next year we may be able to return to having you onsite and joining us for events. Reigniting the community spirit face to face as opposed to virtually.
In this week’s newsletter we are looking at the ‘Year that Was’ putting some energy and focus on what we have achieved together as a community. Please enjoy looking back and celebrating with us on all that has happened in 2020!
Advent Reflection
Jesus sounds fairly fed up in this short passgae. He likens the followers of John, his own disciples, and indeed the entire generation, to children jostling in the marketplace - shouting, blaming and complaining when the game they have been playing has somehow gone wrong. The wisdom passage from Ecclesiates, "For everthing there is a reason.. a time to mourn and a time to dance" points to Jesus' conviction that all is as it should be - the repentance preached by John is a natural percursor to the feasting appropriate to the coming of Christ. Jesus insists that Wisdom is at work in a way that is full of meaning and life, the very opposite of the vanity which is characterised by shouting and blaming and complaining.
In the times of a pandemic when the world we have known seems to be no more and what is to come is not yet, this teaching is very pertinent. Rather than squabbling children immersed in the vanity of blaming and complaining, Jesus is calling us to the vision of Wisdom - clear seeing, compassionate and embracing acceptance of what is, knowing that in God's world all is well. Just as Jesus did, we need to hold fast in faith knowing God is with us in these in-between times. We can then ride the rising tide of hope in out hearts and dance joyfully into the season of rejoicing, for the One who is coming will have come.
Sr Magdalen Mather
God Bless,
Mrs Belinda Hughes - Principal
WRAP UP 2020
School, Review and Improvement
Our School, Review and Improvement (SRI) goal this year in Religious Education and Spiritual formation is, “all staff will engage in the reflection, revision and refining of the school vision and mission statement that is informed by spiritual formation”. This is part of our 3 year strategic plan (2019-2021). In 2019 we focused on “Who we are” (Purpose), In 2020 we have focused on revising and revisioning our Vision & Mission (Principle) and in 2021 we will focus on editing, writing, publishing and ritualising a shared Vision & Mission (Capacity of Ritual).
Recognising the important partnership between home and school, earlier this term we sent out a short survey to parents and families to ensure that their perspectives would be incorporated in the reimaging of our school vision and mission. In addition, Gary Quinn (Team Leader - Staff Spiritual Formation Catholic Life, Education and Mission Services / Macarthur) attended the school for a whole day to meet with each class (Kindergarten to Year Six) to ascertain the students point of view. Some of the questions Gary utilised in this process included: Why did your family send you to this school? What do you like about your school? What would you change about your school? What would you like your teachers to know? What does your dream school look like?
Gary Quinn also came out to St Michael’s to assist the staff in undertaking a process of comprehensively reviewing the school’s vision and mission. The staff have been involved in looking into our major beliefs and the implications of these beliefs for our school. This process will continue into next year, along with the editing, writing, publishing and ritualising of our shared vision & mission.
Prayer and Liturgical Life
This year we have still been able to create a rich liturgical prayer life at St Michel’s. Due to COVID-19 significant Church and community occasions were commemorated via video communications including Ash Wednesday, the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Great people Day, Mission Month and World Environment Day. Each class organised and presented a Liturgy of the Word for special feast days throughout the year. Year 6 students celebrated a special liturgy with a video address from Bishop Brian Mascord with the message, ‘life is an adventure, you’re not alone and God is with you always’. Students from K-6 participated in ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day services via video conference. Our beautiful Graduation ceremony for Year 6 will be available to watch on Youtube until the end of the Term:
Social Justice
Through embracing the mandate of the foundress, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, ‘Never see a need without doing something about it (1871)’. In 2020 the school supported the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal by contributing financial support to those suffering from financial and mental health issues as a result of COVID-19. For Mission Month students wore crazy socks and brought in a donation, with donations being sent to Catholic Mission in order to help empower children and young adults with disability at the Arrupe Centre in Cambodia. For our Christmas Appeal we have created Christmas hampers for St Vincent de Paul and written personalised Christmas Card people who suffer from a mental illness or disability.
This year the Parish, school and parents have worked together to prepare our Year 6 students for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Next year we willl continue with Sacraments suspended this year including Penance and Eucharist.
Visual Arts
St Michael’s was represented by students in the Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition conducted by CEDoW where one student (Isabelle White) received a highly commended and two students (Audrey Mackey and Monique Summa) were Wollongong Diocese finalists. There were 95 Finalists from 'The Archdiocese of Sydney', 'The Diocese of Wollongong', 'Diocese of Bathurst' and Monique Summa won the Artistic Achievement Award and Trophy.
Religious Education
Online Learning
This year St Michael’s has been involved in creating online resources for the Cathoic Education Office to support the teaching of Religious Education in our classrooms. “Behind the Good News” is a resource to support the teaching of RE in Years 3, 4, 5 & 6. Episode 2 features St Michael’s in the Super Sleuth segment. See the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buqTpo9kopc&feature=youtu.be
Pray School is an engaging weekly Religious Education program, appealing to the spirituality of the child through storytelling, music, singing, listening and responding to Scripture as well as making connections to life through wonder and awe. The project dubbed Pray School looks to imitate a children’s educational playschool type program, only covering Religious Education content appealing to the Spirituality of the child. See our St Michael’s students in action, in the environmental section of this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvBwjK1elBs&feature=youtu.be
Messages from Father Ken
Christmas Volunteers Are Still Needed
This year, because of the Covid-19 restrictions and construction in the school grounds, all Christmas Masses will be in Thirroul Church with extra seating provided outside on the grassed area. Numbers are currently limited to 100 in the church – details will be updated in accordance with NSW Health Regulations. There will be four Christmas Masses this year. If you can help with any of the tasks below, please phone or email the Parish Office by this Wednesday – Thank you for your help!
Helpers needed at 4:30pm Christmas Eve to set up chairs for the 6:30pm Mass
5 Children needed to do the readings at the Christmas Eve 6:30pm Mass
Advent Reconciliation
Rite II of Reconciliation at Thirroul: Tuesday, 15 December at 7:30pm
Christmas Mass Times – you must Register beforehand
Christmas Masses: Thursday, 24 December 6:30pm Thirroul Church
Thursday, 24 December 9:30pm Thirroul [not at Wombarra]
Friday, 25 December 8:00am and 9:30am Thirroul
Saturday, 26 December 5:30pm Thirroul
Sunday, 27 December 8:00am Thirroul
then Masses will be at the usual times
Friday, 1 January 2021 9:00am Thirroul
Miss Emma Groves - Relgious Education Co ordinator
Writing Goal: All teachers will have a shared knowledge and understanding of the teaching of Writing in order to implement consistent evidence based practices that lead to improved student growth.
This year to achieve our writing goal all staff began by unpacking the syllabus and learning progression documents to develop a shared understanding of the assessable elements of writing. This foundation allowed staff to use these elements of writing to co-construct a common grade scale (criteria) for writing, ranging from Kindergarten to Year 6. This was a highly valuable process that not only developed shared understandings about assessing writing, but also provided a clear direction of the whole class, small group and individual needs of students. To utilise this assessment data staff recorded their common grade scales on a tracking spreadsheet that allowed them to identify student areas of need and identify learning growth.
Once teachers had a comprehensive understanding of their students' needs in writing the school engaged in further professional learning to consolidate previous learning of the implementation of the 7 Steps to Writing Success program. Each stage then used their data to collaboratively design teaching and learning activities that were responsive to the needs of their students. This proved to be a high impact strategy, which was evident during the celebration of learning structures where staff shared their successes in a variety of ways.
This year the school continued to focus on engaging in a variety of differentiation strategies that allowed teachers to engage, challenge and extend all students. As a part of this process the Stage 3 team engaged in a collaborative writing project that included support from CEDoW staff and external professionals. This project supported students to develop a range of tools and strategies using digital technology to bring their writing to life. The impact of this project was extraordinary, which was evidenced by the engagement of all students and the quality of student work samples.
Next year we will continue our journey of refining our teaching practice in writing with a particular focus on grammar, punctuation and spelling. We look forward to sharing and celebrating our progress with you throughout 2021.
Mr James Bryce - Assistant Principal
PUPIL FREE DAYS
WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER
THURSDAY 17 DECEMBER
FRIDAY 18 DECEMBER
Year 6 Graduation and Liturgy
This week we celebrated the Year 6 graduation and liturgy. It was a special time to acknowledge and celebrate the years of our Year 6’s at St Michael’s. We were fortunate to have Fr Andy be present and bless the students, the P&F payed tribute to our leaving families and the students shared their memories. Congratulations to Emmanuel O who was awarded the Anna J Kelty award, a significant award presented to one Year 6 student every year.
Term Dates for 2021
- Term 1 - Wednesday 27 January (Staff)/Thursday 28 January (students) - Thursday 1 April 2021
- Term 2 - Monday 19 April - Friday 25 June 2021
- Term 3 - Monday 12 July - Friday 17 September 2021
- Term 4 - Tuesday 5 October - Wednesday 15 December (students) Friday 17 December (staff)
- Kinder Best Start 2021 - Thursday 28 January to Wednesday 3 February 2021
Student Leadership 2021
After a process of nomination, delivery of speeches and student and staff voting. The Student Leadership Team for 2021 has been decided. Congratulations to the following students.
School Captains:
Leon D and Rose D
School Vice Captains:
Jasper H and Daisy B
Sport House Captains:
Penola - Baden B and Nieve S
Fitzroy - Harrison L and Seidah B
MacKillop - Kyran P and Asha B
Tennison - Josh B and Mia S
Staffing 2021
After completing the recruitment process, and careful consideration of class teacher placements. I am pleased to announce staffing for 2021.
Leadership Team
Principal: Mrs Belinda Hughes
Assistant Principal: Mr James Bryce and (Instructional Coach)
Religious Education Coordinator: Miss Emma Groves
Middle Leader: Miss Eliza Treble
Middle Leader: Mrs Ronelle Peardon
Senior School Support Officer: Mrs Claire Ryan
Class Teachers:
Kindergarten: Mrs Katie Kelly
Year 1: Mrs Ronelle Peardon
Year 2: Miss Eliza Treble and Mrs Amie Dutaillis
Year 3: Miss Groves and TBC
Year 4: Mrs Chelsea McLeod
Year 5: Miss Claire Cole
Year 6B: Miss Madeline Negus
Year 6W: Miss Emma Riolo
TPPT: Mrs Laura Aguilera (Creative Arts)
Diverse Learning Needs Teacher: Mrs Shari Mayo
Congratulations to Mr Jason Novak and Mrs Paula Jackson who have positions at Good Samaritan Fairy Meadow.
This year we farewell Mrs Carmel Gralton as she begins her retirement. We will be saying a formal goodbye at tomorrow’s liturgy. We thank her for the significant impact she has had on so many children and families at Thirroul and her amazing ability to tell a story! You will be missed Carmel.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
Uncle Kev’s Mural
We have finally been able to have Uncle Kev back this week to finish off the incredible mural for our school. We hope to have this up in our school early next year.
NAIDOC Week
In Week 5 we celebrated NAIDOC Week. Students engaged in activities around this year's NAIDOC theme. We came together over zoom to share our learning. Here is a video clip of each class sharing their learning.
Learning Technologies
1:1 iPad Online Parent Workshops for Stage 2 & 3 2021
Please find below the links to the workshops for you to work through at your own pace. They are not very long however will offer further explanation about how iPads are used in the classrooms, a guide to Digital Citizenship and some tips for managing the iPad at home.
- Online Workshop 1: iPads in the classroom
- Online Workshop 2: Digital Citizenship https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vTxJ02Ui5CpAajtOTlZL0VztYDsV9AiBOU1R9vQGDHPSBUxVYOAKJ4qrKVY0wLQKb2rBVt6XE9KJeYj/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000
- Online Workshop 3: Tips for managing the iPad at home https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vRTooO4Ni9iBhepQUbPfO-6k0NLCoBSRGqET5apyolkJdDrvUYjru4D62J3NQVdUPANW2DIn9m_bY0K/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000
As this is the first time we have delivered these in an alternative format we would appreciate your feedback - please follow the link at the end of each workshop to provide us with feedback.
SeeSaw
All grades have used SeeSaw as a tool for sharing work with you this year. We look forward to using this platform again next year as a way for students to share their wonderful learning experiences with their parents and carers.
Technology across the school
Learning technologies are used across the school to enhance teaching and learning. The iPads are used across all Key Learning Areas - work is shared on your child’s SeeSaw page, so check it out!
Stage 3 - Learning about Food Waste
Did you know?
(Information from www.ozharvest.org)
This term Year 5 & 6 students have been learning about the role we can play in reducing the waste of food and developing an awareness of food waste issues. They have also learnt about nutrition and improving our health.
Throughout this unit students have learnt to prepare, cook, and eat nutritious foods in a sustainable manner.
Take a look at some of the amazing food and recipes students have created!
Miss Emma Riolo
The year that was
There have been some huge achievements this year to recognise and celebrate.
SPLICED 2020
This year we had twenty-seven students take part in the SPLICED program. All of these students worked extremely hard to produce some outstanding and insightful pieces of work. Out of these twenty- seven students eleven students have been published in the Catholic Education of Wollongong contemplating connections book or the 2020 SPLICED website https://spliced2020.dow.catholic.edu.au/home
These students displayed work that clearly identified critical, creative and reflective thinking. We as a school community should be extremely proud of their achievements. Congratulations to the following students for having their work published by the Catholic Education Office;
Zoe M, Kyah T, Emmanuel O', Ciaran S, William E, Audrey M, Daisy B, Leon D, Sophie L, Daniel M and Darius H.
We also had a number of students that created amazing pieces of work that will be showcased in the St Michael’s Thirroul SPLICED website that will be launched on Monday 14th December. Congratulations to the following students;
Lila H, Maggie L , Amelia N, Edison C, Oliver F, John S, Tori G, Sophia L, Lachlan F, Jeong Eum L, Arabella B, Isabelle W, Oscar L, Zoe W, Layla B.
I would also like to thank Mrs Shari Mayo for all of her support through the SPLICED program this year.
St Michael’s Coding Club- pre covid
Before social distancing started students from stage 3 had the opportunity to participate in the St Michael’s Coding Club. They participated in the club during lunchtimes to develop their coding skills using mBots. The students had a wonderful time and we look forward to planning more opportunities like this in 2021.
Differentiation
The teachers at St Michael’s are always looking for ways to improve the engagement and motivation of our students so we have happy and successful learners in our classrooms. This year the teachers have looked at a range of different teaching methods to learn more about how their students are feeling within-subjects and at school in general. This insight into the students has been used to create new and exciting teaching and learning programs that take into account the emotional and educational needs as well as the learning styles of our students. The results have found engineers in year 1 that built cities out of three-dimensional shapes, movie makers through storytelling in year 5 and 6, website builders in year 4 determine to make a difference in the world, year 2 artist telling stories and portraying messages through art, greenhouse designers in year 3 focusing on sustainability. All students and staff have enjoyed teaching and learning in new and exciting ways.
Miss Eliza Treble - Middle Leader 2
2020 has definitely been an interesting year, one that I am sure we will all remember. While we had a few curve balls thrown our way we still ensured that student’s wellbeing was at the forefront of decisions being made.
One of our School Review and Improvement goals was that the school will have a shared understanding of a wholistic and balanced education so that students continually evolve into the best version of themselves. We undertook several strategies to achieve this. This included classes integrating Social and Emotional Learning through the PDHPE and RE curricula. Our programs incorporated the building of personal and social capabilities that included self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and social management. Catholic Care services were also employed within a number of classes. These sessions further supported students in building positive relationships with peers and the development of social and emotional learning. The strategies used were highly effective in supporting students to further develop building resilience and positive mindsets. Several classes also undertook an approach to managing emotional regulation. These classes were exposed and explicitly taught how to articulate their emotions, their effects on others and how to regulate their emotional states.
Remote learning created stress and strain on many students. Being proactive and recognising this was very important to students continuing to feel safe and supported upon their return to the classroom and learning. Staff undertook professional development on addressing the needs of students and how anxiety may have presented itself. Students and families were checked in on regularly, assessing their social and emotional needs. Strategies were employed to provide a smooth transition to their continued learning on site.
Regularly, students were taught explicit behaviour expectations and were given appropriate feedback when displaying such behaviours. We also used videos of students displaying appropriate behaviours to support teachers in the educational process. At the end of Terms 3 and 4, students who achieved a high amount of tokens were rewarded with a special treat from Mrs Hughes.
Let’s pray and hope that we can reintroduce some forms of ‘normality’ such as our passive play initiatives next year.
I hope that you all enjoy a happy and holy Christmas surrounded by those you love.
Thank you
Mrs Ronelle Peardon - Middle Leader 1
Principal's Awards
- Georgia C
- Lara McE
- Lulu B
- Mitchell F
- Zane B
- Ari C
- Elliot P
- Grace B
- Oska Mc
Term 4 Token Winners
|
K |
Lillian C |
Oliver W |
|
1 |
Ayden D |
Oska Mc |
|
2 |
Georgia C |
Maggie L |
|
3 |
William H |
Lucy B |
|
4 |
Mitchell F |
Ari C |
|
5B |
Arabella B |
Isabelle W |
|
5W |
Jeong Eum L |
Milly G |
|
6 |
Sienna H |
Jessica S |
2021 P & F Dates
The P & F Meeting will be held on the following dates;
Term 1 - Thursday 18 February at 7.00pm (General Meeting & Annual General Meeting)
Term 2 - Thursday 13 May at 7.00pm
Term 3 - Thursday 5 August at 7.00pm
Term 4 - Thursday 28 October at 7.00pm
AFL HOLIDAY PROGRAM
The AFL will be running a Holiday Program at Croome Rd Oval between 9.30 & 1.30 on Tuesday the 12th January at Croome Rd Sporting Complex and between 9.30 & 1.30 at Thomas Dalton Oval on Tuesday the 19th January.
Boys & Girls turning 5 to 12 years are welcomed to get along and have some fun.
Skills, drills and lots of fun an a safe friendly environment.
Google Auskick, where to register, pop in the postcode and select Wollongong City (after school) Auskick Centre then select Thomas Dalton or Croome Rd Holiday Auskick Program and follow the prompts.
The cost is $51.00 includes a sausage sambo, dinks, insurance & AFL footy pack.
More info call John on 0411226086