Principal Message

Last weekend saw the beginning of Advent, a time of preparation, of hope and the sign of a new beginning. It is the beginning of the liturgical year, a preparation for new life and new beginnings. After the challenges that we have all faced this year the message of hope, new beginnings and new life are ever so important.

Carrying this theme forward of new beginnings it is with great pleasure that I share the launch of St Michael’s revitalised and renewed Vision and Mission. I would like to thank Miss Groves who has worked with Catholic Education Office staff and led this process strategically for the past 3 years. We look forward to sharing with you next year how as a school we are living out our Vision and Mission and sharing this among our community.

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 focused on editing, writing, publishing and ritualising a shared Vision & Mission (Capacity of Ritual). Families, students, staff and Father Ken were all asked for their contributions and perspectives for our Vision and Mission. As a result, I am proud to present our Vision and Mission.

Vision:

Inspired by Christ, we aspire to excellence in learning, living life fully in community.

Mission: 

The mission at St Michael’s is to

• be a vibrant catholic community where all feel safe, valued, loved and respected 

• display understanding, compassion and care for others and all creation 

• foster dynamic and diverse learning opportunities

As our final newsletter of the year, I would like to thank the staff for all that they do. They all have demonstrated great dedication and commitment as they responded to the ever changing landscape. I am so proud to work with an amazing group of people. To the students of our beautiful school, your resilience and tenacity this year is to be commended and praised. You should all be so proud of what you have achieved this year, as we are certainly proud of you all.

To our wonderful parent community, thank you for your support and compassion this year. You have all been in my thoughts and prayers and will continue to be. I truly wish you all a Merry and Blessed Christmas with a joyful start to the new year. I am grateful for the privilege to work with and learn with this fabulous community. Enjoy the break with your families.

God Bless

Mrs Belinda Hughes - Principal

SRI Differentiation

This year one of our school priorities was differentiation, focusing on pedagogy that engages, challenges and extends students at St Michael’s. Teachers engaged in professional learning to develop a shared knowledge and understanding of quality differentiation. In stage teams, teachers have collaboratively planned units of work that utilise contemporary effective teaching strategies which promote student engagement and provide students with an opportunity to have ownership over their learning. This started with our Religious Education units back in term 2 and has continued in other Key Learning Areas such as History, Geography and Science across the school. 

A lockdown didn’t stop us either! Teachers carefully planned remote learning activities to be engaging and challenging, with a variety of open ended seesaw activities, inquiry based investigations and learning that was individualised to meet students where they are at.  Throughout these varied learning experiences students have developed their skills to work collaboratively and be critical, creative and innovative thinkers. We are very proud of how students have embraced different ways of learning and look forward to seeing students continue to flourish in their learning. 

Miss Emma Riolo - Middle Leader 2

SRI Writing

One of our SRI goals this year was focused around writing. Our teachers came together to look at students' writing samples and it became clear we needed to narrow our focus down to the teaching of grammar. The teachers engaged in professional development with Jessica Mantei from Wollongong university. This professional development included collaborative planning time with Jesscia to authentically integrate the teaching of grammar during reading and writing sessions to achieve a balanced literacy block. As a staff we came together in term 2 to celebrate the success and growth of students in this area and to plan the next steps to continually develop the students’ skills. The teachers' plans may have been interrupted in term 3 however they need to be credited for continuing this focus during remote learning.  The students at St Michael's are now using technical language associated with grammar and can identify grammatical features in texts that they read. We have seen amazing growth in the students and are extremely proud of their hard work! 

Miss Eliza Treble - Assistant Principal

PB4L 2021 Wrap up

This year has certainly been an interesting year. Not too dissimilar from last year, however, we still prioritised student and family wellbeing and welfare. 

One of our School Review and Improvement goals was that we will have a targeted school wide approach that meets the needs of all students in order to promote student learning and wellbeing. 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 through the introduction of the Zones of Regulation. Students were exposed and explicitly taught how to articulate their emotions, their effects on others and how to regulate their emotional states. The strategies used were highly effective in supporting students to further develop building resilience and positive mindsets. 

This year, all classes engaged in Christian Meditation, this is a specific type of meditation and is not the same as “mindfulness” or other meditation practices. Christian meditation is the prayer of stillness and silence. It is a universal wisdom found in all spiritual traditions and is part of an ancient Christian tradition. As with all prayer, and in time, we are graced with the fruits of the spirit - love, peace, joy, happiness, patience, kindness, gentleness, attention, compassion and wisdom. 

Remote learning created stress and strain on many students and families. Being proactive and recognising this was very important for students to continue 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.

I hope that you all enjoy a happy and holy Christmas surrounded by those you love.

Thank you

Ronelle Peardon - Middle Leader 1

Social Justice

The Josephite charism is embedded in many school learning and mission-related activities. Through embracing the mandate of the foundress, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, ‘Never see a need without doing something about it’ (1871). This year the school supported the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal by contributing beanies to support those living on the streets during winter. In support of Caritas during Lent the school focused on a country each week, reading and watching stories highlighting how Caritas Australia is working together with vulnerable people, empowering them to develop their strengths and create change in their own communities. To raise money for caritas we dressed up as someone who inspires us to be more in line with the  theme ‘Aspire not to HAVE more but to BE more’. The Mini Vinnies ran an obstacle course fundraiser where students brought in a gold coin to raise money for the Lismore Flood Appeal. We are currently creating Christmas hampers and Christmas cards for St Vincent de Paul to distribute to those less fortunate during the festive season.  

Sacraments 

This year the Parish, school and parents have worked together to prepare our Year 6 students for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Next year we will continue with Sacraments suspended this year including Penance and Eucharist. 

Christmas Art Competition

Audrey M was a finalist in the Wollongong Diocese Christmas Art Competition and has now had her artwork selected for the ‘The Sydney Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition’ for 2021. 

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 2021 Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition Online Launch will be held on Sunday, 5 December at 12.30pm at: https://reonline.sydcatholicschools.nsw.edu.au/christmas-story/

The Virtual Christmas Story Art Exhibition will be launched on Monday, 6 December.

Congratulations to both Audrey and Leon for having there work selected as apart of the Wollongong Christmas Art Exhibition. 

Year 6 Activate Fire 

As part of the Year 6 Religion Curriculum our Year 6 students were involved in an Immersive Spiritual Experience based on the Year 6 unit Confirmation: Celebrating the Gift of the Holy Spirit. This day was held on Tuesday November 23. The day was facilitated by Emma Riolo and Madeline Negus. The students had a fantastic day and enjoyed this spiritual experience. 

Grandparents Day

Dear Grandparents & Great People, 

We usually have a special celebration for our grandparents and great people each year, however this year due to covid we are unable to do this. 

Instead, we thought that we would bring the beautiful children of St Michael’s into your hearts and homes this year. Each class has created a special video to acknowledge and bless all the beautiful grandparents and great people in our lives. 

What children need most are what grandparents and greatpeople can provide in abundance. They provide unconditional love, patience, humour, kindness, comfort and lessons in life. 

Kinder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt3GhJkqG40

Year 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8En7TJ5qMaE

Year 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XBIGZo55Gs

Year 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuH2J-Cur2s

Year 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw4IO5fmbDk

Year 5:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1dBr9MdvQk

Year 6W: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVZbeHMLK_M

Year 6B:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ61jVGQlYY

Whole School Liturgy 

On Friday 10th December we will be celebrating a whole school liturgy with Father Ken via zoom. 

Miss Emma Groves - Religious Education Coordinator

This week I’d like to showcase some of the work from our Early Stage 1 students.  

In Music we have explored the musical element of pitch and have gone on a LOUD and SOFT sound scavenger hunt.  

In Visual Arts we are learning how Australian artworks can tell a story so that we can learn more about our past.  We appreciated artworks by many artists including: Frederick McCubbin’s, On the Wallaby Track and The Pioneer and E. Phillps Fox’s, The Arbour. Kindergarten discussed how these artworks ‘told a story’ and students then created their own artworks that ‘told a story’ from their past.   During our period of Remote Learning students inspired by the artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo created portraits out of items from nature or around their home.  With our return to school we have sketched portraits of Grandparents.

Please see below just a sample of Kindergarten’s amazing work.

Mrs Laura Agulera - Creative Arts Teacher

Just a reminder we have our P&F Christmas Themed Mufti Day on this Friday 3 December. Students can wear Christmas themed mufti clothes and bring a gold coin donation.Thank you for your continued support.

Christmas Eve Mass in our Parish

Christmas Eve Mass will be in our Parish School grounds at 6:30pm on Friday, 24 December.  Children are involved in the readings and “walk-on non-talking” parts, e.g. carrying up candles, the bread and wine etc.  If you would like your daughter or son to be involved, please email the Parish Office on thirroul@dow.org.au, giving name, phone number and any “job” they would prefer to do.  Also, singers are needed to help lead the singing … anyone from 5 years to 105 years old are welcome!  Also, adult parishioners are needed as “Safety Officers / Ushers” at the 6:30pm Mass – you don’t have to be on the usual Safety Officers Roster.  Please contact the Parish Office by 10 December.

Other Christmas Masses are: 

·      9:30pm, Friday, 24 December, Christmas Eve in our Parish Church, Thirroul.

·      9:00am, Saturday, 25 December, Christmas Day in our Parish Church, Thirroul.

There is no Christmas Day, Saturday evening Mass on 25 December.

Congratulations to the following students receiving awards:

Principal's Award

• Talita W
• Maggie L
• Eva D