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Dear Parents and Carers,
This weekend is a time to celebrate and acknowledge the father figures in our lives. The importance of positive male role models in the lives of our children. On Friday we will be holding a liturgy to pray and bless the father figures in our community.
May we also recall the exemplary role-model and patron saint of fathers - St Joseph - father of Jesus.
St Joseph experienced the same difficulties in life we all do, yet he lived an exemplary life and established an ideal that is well-worth emulating for all fathers who have come after him. St Joseph was a man of compassion and caring. He was a man possessed of unwavering faith in God. He was a man who loved and protected his family. As St Matthew describes him in the Gospel, Jospeh was a "righteous man" (Mt1:19).
I pray that this weekend is an opportunity to spend with loved ones and displaying gratitude to those close to us. To all the dads and father figures of the St Michael’s community I wish you a day filled with love, laughter and good times. Happy Father’s Day.
God Bless
Mrs Belinda Hughes - Principal
Staff Spirituality Day
Last Friday the staff gathered together for our Staff Spiritual Formation Retreat Day. The aim of the day was to continue our ecological conversion journey exploring aspects of eco theology and eco spirituality deepening our understanding of Laudato Si' and our call to care for our common home.
It was an opportunity to reflect on our faith and what it means to be a human being on this planet with a 21st Century understanding of our world, its origins and complexities that invites us to have a change of mind and heart so as to hear and respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.
It was a beautiful day, an opportunity to share and connect with one another.
A special prayer service to honour the special “Father role models in our lives”
Tomorrow at school we will be celebrating the special men in our lives with a Father’s Day prayer service in the hall at 2:30pm. We would like to invite all families to attend this prayer service.
Christmas Story Art Competition
This term our Stage Three students have been given the opportunity to deeply engage with and explore the Christmas Story students through scripture and texts. They have used interaction skills to contribute to discussions about these texts and used their reading comprehension strategies to interpret and analyse ideas and meaning within the text. Students have engaged in art appreciation by exploring artworks from previous years competitions; they have discussed reasons why artists make particular artworks and why different interpretations are possible, recognising similarities and differences in how subject matter is represented. They have investigated selected techniques and styles to create their own artworks for the Christmas Story Art Competition to capture ideas and perspectives. The students have developed a deeper appreciation for their talents and recognise the value of the arts in expressing understandings of the Catholic faith.
The students' engagement and responses through this process have been very thoughtful and insightful which is currently being expressed and reflected through the creation of their artworks. Thank you to Miss Riolo and Mrs Peardon for creating such a meaningful experience for these students.
Upcoming dates
Father’s Day Prayer Service Friday September 2nd at 2.30pm
Year One and Four Buddy Grade Mass
Friday September 2nd at 9.30am
World Day prayer for the Care for Creation Liturgy
Monday September 5th at 2.30pm
Kindergarten and Year Five Buddy Grade Mass
Friday September 16th at 9.30am
Grace and Blessings
Mrs Steph Brown - Religious Education Co ordinator
This year R U Ok day will be held on Thursday the 8th of September. R U OK day is a day to encourage people to say connected and have conversations that can help others through difficult times in their lives. It is about building motivation, confidence and skills of the help-giver to have meaningful conversations with someone who is struggling.
Here at St MIchael’s we will be celebrating this important day in a number of ways. Students will be meeting back up with their peer support group and our peer support leaders will be guiding their groups through relevant and fun activities. They will then have the opportunity to eat their lunch as a peer support group to continue to build strong connections with students from across the school.
Assembly for this week will be moved from Friday to Thursday afternoon so that we can come together as a whole school community to acknowledge and celebrate this important day.
The students will be asked to wear something yellow with their school uniform.This could be a yellow ribbon, hat, socks etc.
We look forward to celebrating this important day!
Miss Eliza Treble - Assistant Principal
World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation Liturgy
The World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation is on the 1st September each year.
This day also marks the beginning of the Season of Creation, which is an annual event that encourages prayer and action for our common home which runs from 1st September through to 4th October. In 2022 the theme is Listen to the Voice of Creation.
We will be celebrating the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation with a special liturgy.
This liturgy will be held on Monday, 5th September at 2.30pm in the school hall.
Parents are welcome to attend.
St Francis of Assisi Award - For love of and appreciation for all of God’s creation
Last year we introduced a new award at St Michael’s - The St Francis of Assisi Award. It is an Environmental Award that will be presented to students who have exemplified themselves by contributing to a range of the criteria listed below. One student per class will be nominated by their teacher. This award will be presented on Monday, 5th September when the school community comes together for a liturgy to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. The award is equivalent to a superstar award and contributes to the 5 awards that go towards a Principal Award.
Criteria
- Aligns their environmental beliefs with Gospel Values through their words and actions, at school and at home.
- Reflects St Francis' devotion to God through their love and appreciation for all of God's creation. This includes showing care / concern for those less fortunate, the poor or sick.
- Exhibits the naturalist intelligence. Students with naturalist intelligence are those who seem to be in love with the natural world. They like to spend time there, they thrive there, they are skilled and confident and comfortable there, and they learn best there — in short, they are nature smart.
- Demonstrates great interest in nature, the environment, conservation, stewardship, ecology, and/or sustainability and sustainable development.
- Exemplifies enthusiasm, energy, initiative, and commitment toward the natural environment, and serves as an inspiration to other students.
- Has perhaps put their interest into action through an ongoing campaign or one-time project (of age/grade-appropriate scale) that has raised environmental awareness or led to environmentally friendly discussion, reaction or change in the student's class, school or community.
- Demonstrates commitment in being part of the Green Team and taking care of the gardens on a regular basis.
- Assists with the waste management within the classroom and the playground by making sure the 4 coloured bin system runs smoothly.
We look forward to seeing who the recipients are for this year.
Mrs Katie Kelly WEN - Wollongong Environmental Network Contact
Transition to Summer Uniform
The formal transition to summer uniform is the 1st day of term 4, Monday 10 October. If the weather is quite warm in Weeks 9 and 10 of Term 3, the students can begin to wear their summer uniform in those 2 weeks. Please see below an outline of our updated school uniform policy.
This week at St Michael’s saw the reintroduction to the ‘Focus of the Week’.
The behavioural focus for week 7 and 8 is the expected behaviours on the playground during the morning prior to school starting.
We have unpacked the behaviours with the students as:
- wearing your hat
- playing handball in the designated courts
- using the other painted games that are on the asphalt
- talking with friends
- Walking
- making sure that our bags are placed in their designated areas
- being present in the supervised areas.
These expected behaviours are to ensure that we are true to our school rules of taking care of each other, taking care of yourself and taking care of this place. With the limited amount of area that we can use during this busy morning period, our aim is to ensure the safety for all.
Each fortnight we will roll out a new focus area and will be celebrated at the fortnight assembly. We appreciate the conversations that you have with your children at home in helping to support endeavours, such as these. We are aiming to project a consistent message of respectful behaviours.
Mrs Ronelle Peardon
Would you like to share your expertise with our students?
Do you have a special gift, talent or experience in a field that you would like to share? We are looking to build a ‘database’ of parent / grandparent names and talents at the school where teachers may be able to access your expertise in the classroom when it is appropriate. For example you may be a writer or editor and you may wish to share your skills in how to be a good writer, you may be musical and you may be able to help out at liturgies and masses with the music. If you would like to share your talents please complete the google form and we look forward to hearing from you.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14jsRoUG5KBwKskCaO9a0RnqHd2RCYCXaHJyMf4IEfSI/edit
Message from Fr Kens - First Penance and First Communion
First Penance and Communion
The Sacraments of First Penance and Communion are celebrated when a child is in Year 2 or seven years old (or older).
First Penance and First Communion Information - 2022
Enrolments for 2022 close on 13 September 2022
Enrolment Forms are returned (by email or by hand) to the Parish Office.
Do not return forms to the School Office.
The Sacrament of First Communion is given to children who have reached the age of reason, which is accepted as seven years old, that is, when a child is in Year 2. [Canons 913, 914]. Prior to receiving First Communion, children are to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance [Reconciliation].
In order to prepare for these Sacraments,
there is a preparation program consisting of the following:
- a parent information evening
- two classes (after school hours) in preparation for First Penance
- celebration of First Penance
- two classes (after school hours) in preparation for First Communion
Enrolments close on 13 September
Enrolment Forms may be downloaded at https://www.thirroulcatholic.org.au/images/stories/Enrolment_Form_Communion_2022.pdf
Enrolment Forms are returned (by email or by hand) to the Parish Office.
Do not return forms to the School Office.
Life Education Van Visit
Early in term 4 we are pleased to be able to welcome back the Life Education Van. All classes will have the opportunity to visit the van to learn about topics that are being covered in their PDHPE lessons. Further details will be forwarded shortly. There is no extra cost involved as this was included in school fees for 2022.
Year 3
Where do we begin…………… So many reasons to celebrate!
English
This term Year Three have been learning how to provide a series of precise, sequenced steps or directions that explain to the reader how to do something. We have created texts like
- How to wash your dog
- How to sneak your animal into school
- How to bake a creative cake
- Let’s prepare a wrap, roll or sandwich.
Year Three through their writing process have written texts that are humorous, creative and informative.
Meditation & Mindfulness
With Spring approaching we have been spending quality time meditating outside, looking thoughtfully and gazing at something from God’s wondrous creation. Allowing opportunity for us to ponder, reflect and pray to God for all of the blessings in our lives.
Science Week- Ice-Cream Making
During Science Week, Year Three made ice-cream! Our Science Unit this term is all about States of Matter- Solids, Liquids and Gases. So it was a perfect opportunity to turn a liquid (cream and milk) into a solid (delicious ice-cream). The budding Year Three scientists wrote down the experiment procedure and made their predictions about what was going to happen and why. The students all had a turn at shaking the liquid and watched as the milk and cream transformed into ice-cream. Of course we had to all have a taste test after our hard work!
Spotlight Competition 2022
Throughout the Term Year Three have been involved in the Spotlight Competition. This is a Diocesan initiative that requires the students to create a digital presentation highlighting how to be safe and respectful online. Last week we met with Year 5, who are also participating in the competition, for a sharing and mentoring session. Year 3 learnt alot from the wonderful Year 5 students.
Book Week Celebrations
During book week we participated in The NSW State Library virtual excursions. These virtual excursions encouraged students to think imaginatively and use a different set of skills to express themselves.
Mrs Steph Brown - Year 3 Teacher
R U OK RHYTHMS
Did you know that actively participating in musical and rhythmic activities can contribute to greater emotional and social well being. On "R U OK? DAY" September 8, CEDoW is ENCOURAGING ACTION by inviting everyone to start a meaningful conversation through “RUOK RHYTHMS - A Simultaneous Drumming For Wellbeing” experience.
At our Thursday assembly in Week 8 we will participate in the “RUOK RHYTHMS - A Simultaneous Drumming For Wellbeing” experience.
During Week 8 break times, students will be invited to come along and practice drumming. If any parents would like to assist during these sessions please contact Miss Riolo through the school office.
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Recess 11-11.30am in the hall Monday:Years 4-6 LUNCHTIME SESSIONS: 1.15pm - 1.45pm in the hall Tuesday: Kindergarten - Year 1 Wednesday: Year 2-3 |
PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION
During Week 9 (12th - 16th September) students will be participating in our school level public speaking competition in their respective classrooms. Each speech your child gives provides a wonderful learning opportunity to prepare, practise and reflect upon their oral language progress. As students continue through school, these types of presentations are expected across many areas of the curriculum.
At the completion of this competition three students from each class will compete in our school competition the following week.
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Whole School Public Speaking dates
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You should have received further information regarding speech topics and timing via compass. Please contact your child’s classroom teacher if you have any questions.
BOOK WEEK WRAP UP
Well, Book Week certainly was a fun week at St Michael’s. We had lunchtime activities, library visits, online author zooms, book parade, assembly and a colouring competition. Thank you to the Year 6 Dynamic Learning Team for planning an engaging week for our school community. Thank you to the amazing teachers who embraced this week and volunteered the time to ensure the success of the activities.
Miss Emma Riolo - Middle Leader 2
Principal Awards:
- Sienna P
- Grace B
- Edison C
- River H
Gold Award
- Edison C
