Dear Parents and Carers,

The CEO has released a blurb to remind parents of the responsible use of Social Media and some further explanation of the Diocesan Social Media Policy. Please see below for some important messages in regard to this system policy.

Social Media and our school community - Update for parents and carers

Social Media is an important part of all our lives and in relation to Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW), and our community of St Michael’s, it is a valuable part of creating a vibrant Catholic school community of faith and learning in a contemporary world. When used in valid educational contexts social media supports student learning and wellbeing, as well as parent/carer engagement and connection to our school.

It is important however that all members of the community use social media in a way that maintains our school environment as a safe, supportive and respectful one, upholding our Catholic values and building positive, respectful relationships. 

As we commence another school year it is timely that we update you about the expectations of the CEDoW Social Media Policy and Social Media Statement and what they mean for parents and carers at St Michael’s.

First some background…..

The CEDoW Social Media Policy and Social Media Statement exist to ensure social media:

• is used in our school to support communication for valid educational contexts,
• is appropriately established and maintained to protect all stakeholders when communicating on social media, and to minimise the reputational risk to individuals, the school and/or the CEDoW.

The Parent School Partnership Framework (released in 2020) also references adhering to the Social Media Standards (as outlined in the Social Media Statement) as part of the commitment of us all to maintaining a safe, supportive and respectful school environment.

What this means for parents/carers……

1. When using social media in relation to CEDOW or any of its school communities it is expected that individuals will:

• respect the dignity of self and others in the context of their role
• not promote perspectives contrary to the Catholic faith
• not bring the school into disrepute
• not publicly criticise CEDoW, schools, staff or students

These standards, and the expectations regarding any material posted, apply to all members of our community. Find them here.

2. Any social media presence established by parent/carers that is associated with the school must be approved by the Principal and established using the CEDoW Social Media Administration Procedure.

3. Parents/carers are expected to:

• not post content on social media of other students without the express consent of their parents/carers;
• notify the school of any inappropriate use or content on official school social media, or on any social media that may impact negatively on CEDoW or any of its school communities.

Inappropriate use or content posted by a parent or carer will be addressed using the CEDoW Social Media Standards Noncompliance (Parents/Carers) Procedure.

The full Social Media Policy and Statement can be found at www.dow.catholic.edu.au/socialmediapolicy. 

A parent/carer information flyer is available here.

Please contact the school office if you would like more information or have any questions. 

Last newsletter I shared the Pope’s message for Lent. On the CEO website there is also a video message from the Pope in regards to Social Media, please take a few minutes to hear his papal message.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16sn95u1Jq8onQUtMF6iobQw-Xkm7_TgH/view

God Bless,

Mrs Belinda Hughes - Principal

Over the last two weeks, the staff have continued to work with Jessica Mantei from University of Wollongong in the effective integration of grammar and punctuation. We have explored the mechanics of grammar and punctuation and how to teach it across K-6. Over the next 2 weeks teachers will have the opportunity to plan with Jessica and Eliza Treble to design quality learning experiences to meet the needs in each class. 

Mrs Belinda Hughes - Principal

Beginning of School Liturgy & Induction of Leaders 

All students from Kindergarten to Year 6 were involved in a Whole School Liturgy via Zoom on Friday 26th February at 9:30am. The zoom was lead by Father Ken at our outdoor prayer space. Father Ken blessed the Year 6 students and presented them with their badges. Thank you to the student Living the Faith team for their contributions to our liturgy. 

Date	Planned Activities for CSW
Monday 1/3 Prayer Service	To kick off Catholic Schools Week we had a Prayer Service via Zoom. This was a great opportunity to begin Catholic Schools Week and the acknowledgment of 200 Years of Catholic Schooling in Australia.
Tuesday 2/3 Games - 200 Years of Catholic Education	On Tuesday, students were invited to participate in some games that would have been played on the playground over the last 200 years. The leaders of Community and wellbeing facilitated the games.
Wednesday 3/3 Mini Vinnies Commissioning         Project Compassion Fundraiser	On Wednesday Morning at our morning Assembly at 9am we commissioned our 2021 Mini Vinnies, which compromises of 37 Year 6 students. This year our fundraiser was focused around.. ‘BEING MORE’ With a focus around WHO WE ARE (present, grateful, resilient, resourceful and community-minded), not WHAT WE HAVE (we live in a world obsessed with ‘having’ things). This year for our Caritas: Project Compassion Fundraiser students came dressed up as someone who has made a difference in their life, the world or the progress of humanity. Thank you for your generous donations on this day, it was very much appreciated. We raised $532.55 for caritas!
Thursday 4/3 Clean Up Australia Day	Clean Up Australia Day took place after lunch on Thursday, 4th of March. We took this time both to appreciate and care for God’s creation.
Friday 5/3 Sharing Learning & Assembly	Classes completed one of these activities: ★       Student’s imagine and present what their school will look like in another 200 years ★       Students write their own prayers celebrating 200 years of Catholic Education. ★       Discuss what classrooms used to look like. Similarities/ differences. ★       Create a time capsule. What items define your school now. ★       Creating a banner of the school motto. Year 6 students from the Learning & Innovation team came to students classes after recess to film/put together a clip of the classes work samples. In the afternoon we had a whole school Assembly via zoom.

Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be conferred by Bishop Brian on Tuesday and Wednesday, 22 and 23 June 2021 to Year 6 (or older) students. Because of COVID-19 current arrangements might be changed.

Enrolment Forms for the Sacrament of Confirmation close on 11 May 2021. To download an Enrolment Form, click here

Download and complete the Form, then return it to the Parish Office:  thirroul@dow.org.au Parish Office:  325 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul. Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9am to 3:30pm  and Fridays 10am to 3pm

Parents/Guardians need to attend the Parent Meeting:

7:30pm, Tuesday, 1 June 2021

Parents/Guardians and students need to attend:

Class 1: Tuesdays June 8, 3:45pm to 5pm

Class 2:  Tuesday June 15, 3:45pm to 5pm

Parents/Guardians and students need to attend:

Confirmation Practice: Monday, 21 June, 7:00pm

Sacrament of Confirmation:

7:00pm on Tuesday, 22 June 2021

7:00pm on Wednesday, 23 June 2021

Parent Information Sheet will be available soon

Confirmation Classes Information will be available soon

Confirmation Handout #1 will be available soon

Confirmation Handout #2 will be available soon

 Miss Emma Groves - Religious Eucation Co Ordinator

The Catholic Education Office has released information this week on changes to when staff development days are held. This will now be the case from 2022 onwards, this change is in line with the direction that the Department of Education has also taken. Please see below a summary of the dates for 2022. (Term 2 and Term 3 2022, Staff Development Days are yet to be determined)

Specifically for 2022 the CEDoW gazetted dates are as follows: 

• 26 January - Australia Day holiday (Wednesday) 
• 27 January - Student vacation (Thursday) 
• 28 January - Staff Return Pupil Free Day (Friday) 
• 31 January - Staff at School Pupil Free Day (Monday) 
• 1 February - Students return (Tuesday) 

For Primary schools - Best Start will be conducted 1 February to 7 February and the first official day of  school for the 2022 Kinder cohort is 8 February (Tuesday). 

• 8 April - Last day of Term 1 (Friday) - 11 weeks (10 plus 1 day) 
• 25 April - First day of Term 2 (Monday) 
• 1 July - Last day of Term 2 (Friday) - 10 weeks 
• 18 July - First day of Term 3 (Monday) 
• 23 September - Last day of Term 3 (Friday) - 10 weeks 
• 10 October - First day of Term 4 (Monday) 
• 19 December - Last day of Term 4 (Monday) - 11 weeks (10 plus 1 day)
• 20 December - Pupil Free Day 

Covid-19 Ease of Restrictions

Please see the link below outlinging recent changes relating to Covid-19 restrictions.

PB4L

How exciting to see family faces back on our school grounds! 

All the students and staff have been re familiarising ourselves with the afternoon dismissal. Last Monday, Miss Cole facilitated a whole school practice to ensure that all students were aware of the expectations and procedures that ensured a smooth transition in the afternoon.

We have a structure around how the students are dismissed and from all accounts is going very smoothly.

Parent Pick Up

• By 3:15pm, all students are seated in class lines while parents and carers are invited into the school grounds. 
• Parents may wait for their child to be dismissed along the silver seats. Once you have collected your child, please move off quickly so that the area is free of congestion. 
• Each class is invited to depart with their parent or carer in an organised manner. It was lovely to see how even Kindergarten have adapted to the new procedure. One of the Kindergarten boys sat so very patiently while dad was beckoning him to come, however, our kinder student sat so very patiently and mouthed to him that he had to wait. The procedure of waiting helps the staff to ensure that all students are safe and going with the appropriate persons. 

Car Pick Up

• Between 3.15pm and 3:20pm, car pickup commences. 
• A gentle reminder to assist the flow of traffic is to continue around the block until there is room for you to pull up in the designated drop off and pick up area. 
• Adults must remain in the car. If you require to leave the car and adjust seating or handle bags, please find an appropriate place to park and collect your child via parent pick up.

Thank you for all the patience shown as we move into a new and exciting COVID safe environment.

Mrs Ronelle Peardon - Middle Leader 1

ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS

Clean Up Australia Day

On Thursday 4th March, all classes were involved in Clean Up Australia Day.
The main aim of our clean up was to pick up rubbish in the areas that were allocated for each class. Year 6 also did a wonderful job of weeding the garden beds.

Thank you to all staff and students for your enthusiastic involvement in the Clean Up Day. 

Primary Student WEN Day

On Friday, 26th March there is going to be a Primary Student WEN Day ‘Caring for Our Common Home – A Call to Action’ held at St Paul’s Catholic Primary School, Albion Park. I’ll be attending the day as the Wollongong Environmental Network Contact for St Michael’s.  Four Stage 3 students will be joining me for the day.

I’m sure the day will be one full of inspiration, sharing and collaboration for both students and teachers.

Mrs Katie Kelly (WEN – Wollongong Environmental Network Contact)

2022 Kindergarten Enrolment Applications

2022 Kindergarten Enrolment Forms are now available from the school office. You may also access the forms from our school website. We look forward to welcoming siblings and new families to our wonderful community.

The enrolment package is available from our school or online at www.dow.catholic.edu.au

Lowes Wollongong

Lowes have advised that their Wollongong store will be holding a 20% sale on Thursday, 11 March and Friday, 12 March. This includes all St Michael's school uniform items. Flyer in Community Notices

Another wonderful message from our House Captains.

Mini Vinnies

The Term 1 Mini Vinnies team consists of an enthusiastic group of Year 6 students. 

Last week all Mini Vinnies received their badges and pledged their time and compassion to the projects that Mini Vinnies will take on. 

This term, the group have the pleasure of introducing the first fundraiser for Mini Vinnies of 2021. 

They have decided to do an Easter Appeal so that they can provide non-perishable food and water to those less fortunate and enable them to celebrate in this Holy holiday. 

Each classroom has been provided with a basket for students to collect their non-perishable items. 

Non-perishable items include but are not limited to pancake mix, muesli bars, canned tuna, canned beans, noodle cups, tea bags, powdered milk, juice poppers etc. 

The Easter Appeal collection will finish Friday Week 9 (26th March). The baskets will then be collected by John Denning, the St Vincent de Paul Thirroul coordinator for our school, who will provide these items to people in need in our community.

To quote Charles Dickens, “A very little key will open a very heavy door.” 

More often than not, it takes only a few small steps to make huge changes in the world. If each student brings in one item, positive changes will happen in regard to the social injustices occurring in our community.

We thank you in advance for all the support you provide to the school, the Mini Vinnies team and the community. 

Miss Negus and the Term 1 Mini Vinnies team.

Regional Swimming Carnival 

On Tuesday 2nd March students represented St Michael's at the Diocesean Swimming Carnival. 

We had some fantastic results: 

• The Girls Junior Relay Team placed 2nd. The team consisted of Giselle, Imogen, Sofia and Tully. 
• The Boys Senior Relay Team placed 3rd. The team consisted of Josh, Oscar, Darius and Noah. 

Josh:

• 4th place: 100m Freestyle 
• 3rd place: 50m Freestyle 
• 2nd place: 50m Backstroke
• 3rd place: 50m Breaststroke
• Senior Boys 3rd Place Overall

Imogen:

• 3rd place: 50m Butterfly
• 3rd place: Medley 

Tully: 

• 4th place: 50m Freestyle

St Michael’s also won the Small Schools Award. Well done to all our swimmers! 

Diocesan Swimming Selection Trials 

On Monday 8th March students who made it through at the regional swimming carnival participated in the Diocesan Selection Trials. This event selects students to represent at MacKillop level. Unfortunately none of our students made it through, however some great results. We congratulate our students! 

Results from this event:

• The Girls Junior Relay Team placed 5th. The team consisted of Giselle, Imogen, Sofia and Tully. 
• The Boys Senior Relay Team placed 3rd. The team consisted of Josh, Oscar, Darius and Noah. 

Josh:

• 4th place: 100m Freestyle 
• 6th place: 50m Freestyle 
• 5th place: 50m Backstroke
• 7th place: 50m Breaststroke

Imogen:

• 7th place: 50m Butterfly
• 8th place: Medley 

Tully: 

• 6th place: 50m Freestyle

. 

Miss Emma Riolo

Congratulation to the following students who received awards at last week's Assembly:

Principal's Awards

• Ava T
• Aiden G
• Riley S
• Mia S
• Anika G
• Tyrah B

Gold Award

• Aiden G
• Riley S
• Mia S

St Michael's Blue

• Mia S