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Vision: Inspired by Christ, we aspire to excellence in learning, living life fully in community
The mission at St Michael’s is to:
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be a vibrant catholic community where all feel safe, valued, loved and respected
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display understanding, compassion and care for others and all creation
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foster dynamic and diverse learning opportunities
Faith Formation
This week as a staff we gathered to engage in a 2 hour twilight meeting with a focus on engaging with our personal stories and journeys of formation. A key theme of our session was taking the time to know our own stories and the stories of others through a compassionate lens. Sometimes as humans we can be quick to judge without taking the time to really know and understand the stories of others. As a staff, we are committed to knowing and understanding every student’s story. If there is any information from home that you feel would help us to better understand your child or family situation, please do not ever hesitate to contact the classroom teacher or leadership team. If we are a true partnership that works to make school the best place for every individual, ongoing open communication is critical. As I said at the opening school Mass, my door is always open for students, parents, and staff to share their story and discuss any challenges or concerns. If we don’t have the valid information, it is very hard to put the right support in place. I understand from the parent perspective that sometimes you don’t want to ‘bother’ the school. Please know that everyone's story is equally important to us. Please don’t feel that you can’t call or come in for a cup of coffee to share information that will help make St Michael’s the best possible place for your child. Below are some reflective questions that are similar to those that staff engaged with. I encourage you to reflect on these questions, and ensure we have early ongoing dialogue if concerns arise at home or school.
Reflective questions:
Do I take time to know the story of others before making judgement?
Are there parts of our family story that will help the staff at St Michael’s better understand my child?
Parent voice to support our strategic direction (Tell Them From Me)
Thank you for taking the time to complete the Tell Them From Me survey over the past 2 weeks. We are very pleased with the amount of parents' who engaged in the survey. On Monday of week 6, the school leadership team will be synthesising this information to then present to the whole staff. This data will be critical in ensuring that parent and student voice helps shape our strategic priorities over the next 4 years.
School uniform reminders
Recently a compass alert was sent out as a reminder of our school uniform policy, inclusive of haircuts. At St Michael’s we take great pride in our uniform and it helps symbolise who we are. If you have any questions, challenges or queries about the uniform policy please don’t hesitate to contact the school. Please see below our school uniform policy.
Mr James Bryce - Principal
Annual Improvement Plan - Formation in the Catholic Tradition
By the end of 2023, all staff will have increased their personal strategies to ignite their relationship with Christ
In week Two, James Bryce and I engaged in the Education With A Mission Lens (EWAML) professional learning and attended the One Heart Many Voices Conference held in Sydney. This learning aligns with our improvement focus on faith formation. This week the Staff formally began our shared learning journey together as we gathered for our first twilight session - Educating With A Mission Lens. The first meeting was about unpacking our own individual images of God and reflecting on the experiences that have helped shape the people we are today.
As educators, we play a critical role in shaping those students entrusted in our care, in hope that they can contribute to a more loving, just, and compassionate world. To do this we must be able to reconnect to our personal journeys and know and understand that we have all been created in the image of God and are called to share our unique gifts and talents to contribute to Christ’s mission.
Mother’s Day Prayer Service
The Mother's Day prayer service was a beautiful reflection of the love, strength, and sacrifice that mothers provide to their children and families. Through the prayers, songs, and readings, we celebrated and recognised the remarkable role that mothers play in shaping the lives of our students.
Our Lady Help of Christans
Our Lady, Help of Christians holds a special place in the hearts of many, as she is known to be a source of guidance, strength, and protection. Thank you Year Two for your prayer, and reflections may we seek assistance from our lady in our daily lives.
Upcoming Events
The Ascension of our Lord liturgy - hosted by Year Three, Friday 26th May - 2.30pm in school hall
Monday morning Assembly - 29 May at 9.00am
Prayer Service for Reconciliation Week - Hosted by the Inspired By Christ team
Pentecost Liturgy - Friday 2nd June at 2.30 pm in school hall
Confirmation Parent Meeting -Tuesday 6th June at 7.30pm in the Parish Church
Mrs Steph Brown - Religious Education Co ordinator
Enrolments for 2024
Enrolment Applications for Kindergarten 2024 are now open. If you have a child attending Kindergarten next year or you know of anyone who is thinking of enrolling their child, please encourage them to visit our St Michael’s website or visit the school office for the Enrolment forms. There is also opportunities for new families to visit the school to have a tour and meet our new Principal Mr James Bryce. https://www.smtdow.catholic.edu.au
Term 2 Sport Uniform Days
Please see the table below indicating sports days for each class for Term 2. Students are to wear their full sports uniforms on these days.
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Class |
Sports Days |
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Kindergarten |
Tuesday and Friday |
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Year 1 |
Tuesday and Friday |
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Year 2 |
Tuesday and Friday |
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Year 3 |
Monday and Thursday |
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Year 4 |
Monday and Thursday |
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Year 5 |
Tuesday and Friday |
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Year 6 |
Tuesday and Friday |
Work experience students
This term we are very fortunate to have some wonderful St Michael’s former students complete their work experience.
Starting this week Madison Grantham will be with us for the rest of the term as part of her Certificate 3 School Based Education Support.
In Week 7 we welcome back Lucas Allen and Hugh Rouse to complete a week of work experience as part of their Year 11 studies.
We are very excited to have these lovely young people back at St Michael’s supporting our amazing students. We hope that they enjoy their time back in the St Michael’s school community.
St Michael's Cook Book
School Photos
This year our school photo day will be held on Wednesday, 14 June. Students are to wear their full winter uniform with their hair neat and tidy. Envelopes went home with students this week. If you require a sibling photo, sibling envelopes are available at the office.
Please note that all envelopes are to be brought in on (or before) the actual day of photography, this assists in the smooth operation of the pre-payment system.
School Assembly Timetables
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Week |
Focus |
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5 |
Awards and Respectful Relationships |
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7 |
Awards and Respectful Relationships |
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9 |
St Michael’s Vision and Mission Awards |
K-2 reading volunteers
We would love to welcome some of our parents/carers to support the reading of K-2 students. If you are interested in being a volunteer in your child’s class and reading with students. Please come along to one of the following information sessions week where you will learn what is expected of supporting students with their reading and sign up for some sessions. You can also complete a Working With Children Check declaration while you are here. Parent/carer reading with students will commence in Week 7
Monday 29 May at 2:45 - 3:15 pm in the library
Thursday 1 June at 9:00 - 9:30 am in the library
Mrs Amy Sammut - Assistant Principal
3-6 Numeracy
This term teachers from years 3-6 have engaged in collaborative planning to collaboratively plan units of work that embed research based practices for teaching mathematics. Students have been very excited to engage in lessons that use Non-Permanent Vertical surfaces, rich learning tasks and collaborate in groups to reason mathematically. Ask your child about some of the learning they have been engaged in this term.
Miss Emma Riolo - Year 5 Teacher/Instructional Coach
WASTE FREE WEDNESDAY (Update)
We are well underway with our Waste Free Wednesday initiative. Thank you for supporting our goal to be plastic and packaging free every Wednesday. The Living Fully in Community Year 6 team are leading this initiative very well and showing students what waste free lunch boxes look like. Here are the results for Week 4 and Week 5.
Week 4
Kindergarten: 78%
Year 1: 28%
Year 2: 60 %
Year 3: 50%
Year 4: 30%
Year 5: 44%
Year 6: 65%
Congratulations Kindergarten, you are the Week 4 Waste Warriors
Week 5
Year 1: 57%
Year 2: 92%
Year 3: 91%
Year 4: 57%
Year 5: 62%
Year 6: 78%
Kindergarten: 100%
So the Waste Free Warriors for Week 5 are: Kindergarten again. Congratulations.
It was really close so let’s see if another class can win the St Michael’s peace lily next week.
Mrs Amy Sammut - Assistant Principal
STEM Connect initiative
We are excited to offer some of our Year 5 and Year 4 students the opportunity to work with secondary students from Holy Spirit College (HSC) on a STEM project. So far the students have been nominated by their teachers based on either data or an aptitude or interest in STEM or both. These students have completed a survey to identify their interests in the area of STEM. The results have been analysed by myself and a teacher from HSC and it appears that our students are very much interested in planning, designing and making, working collaboratively on a project where they can build a product. We are in the process of organising times for the secondary students to visit St Michael’s on a regular basis to begin this work. We will keep you posted on this progress.
Humpty Dumpty Crime Update
This week there have been further developments in the Great Humpty Dumpty crime. Kindergarten have been involved in some detective work, where they have brushed Humpty’s shell and the jar of egg yolk for fingerprints. They have matched the fingerprints on these pieces of evidence to 6 suspects in Year 5. Then ust yesterday, 2 witnesses reported that they found more evidence in the playground: a mixing bowl with egg in it and a spoon. This is very suspicious and the constables in Kindergarten are still investigating. Stay tuned for the next development in the GREAT HUMPTY CRIME!
From the Library
A huge thank you to Joanna and Sofia for their kind donation to the library.
Mrs Medina - SMT Library
Cross Country Championships
St Michael’s Athletics Carnival - Wednesday, 28 June
The St Michael’s Athletics Carnival will be held on Wednesday 28th June, 2023 at Beaton Park (Term 2, Week 10). More information will be sent out via Compass closer to the date. To ensure that this event is successful, we are again asking kindly for our wonderful St Michael’s parents to support us on the day.
South Coast Netball Gala Day
Nominations for the Netball Gala Day have now closed. Students who have nominated will be placed in either junior teams (boys/ girls - Years 3 & 4), senior teams (boys/girls - Years 5 & 6) or a boys team (Years 5 & 6 only) team. Further details about this event will be sent out via Compass and a finalised draw will be forwarded to parents when finalised.
NSW Netball Primary
The School Sport Unit is conducting a state trial to select a NSW Netball Primary All Schools Boys 12 Years and Under Team to compete at the inaugural School Sport Australia 12 Years and Under Netball Championship in Perth, Western Australia (Years 5-6). Registration and trial details can be accessed through the attached flyer, registrations close Friday 26 May.
Please note: All boys who aim to represent NSW at a School Sport Australia Championship in Netball must be selected through this pathway.
Attached is the flyer outlining all the details you require and how to register.
To register you must use the Catholic Schools link on the Boys Netball flyer.
The flyer contains a registration link specifically for Catholic School NSW Students. Please note that students/parents must use this link as searching DASH for this event will not allow them to register.
To apply for the Primary All Schools Selection Trial, complete the relevant online registration form on DASH (NSW Government schools, NSW Catholic schools, NSW Combined Independent schools) and make payment by the closing date, Friday 26 May 2023.
We invite all our families to share their child/children’s sporting achievements outside of school, so we can share in their success as a whole school community through our School Newsletter.
Upcoming sporting events and nominations
Term 2 - 2023
June 20 - Netball South Coast Netball Gala Day
Term 3 - 2023
July 28 - Soccer 2023 South Coast Gala Day
August 8 - Athletics 2023 South Coast
September 14-15 - Basketball 2023 South Coast (BERKELEY ONLY)
September 14-15 Basketball 2023 South Coast Junior and Senior
Term 4 - 2023
October 12 - Cricket Gala Day (Yrs 5 & 6) 2023
October 27 - Softball - Boys and Girls - Selection trials (2024) - Paper Trial ONLY
November 14 - Basketball - Boys and Girls - Selection Trials (2024)
If you are interested in nominating your child for any of the above trials, please login to https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/sport/events-primary/ to find out further details about the events, how to nominate your child and the closing date. It is the responsibility of the parents to individually nominate their child.
If you require any further information about sporting events at St Michael’s please contact Ms Maria Shea (Sports Convenor).
Ms Maria Shea - Sports Co 0rdinator
Dates to remember in Term 2
Wednesday 14 June: School Photo Day
Wednesday 28 June: Athletics carnival at Beaton Park
Mrs Amy Sammut - Assistant Principal
Thank You to those who came to Term 2 P&F meeting. The meeting was very productive and covered many different topics. If you have any questions, feedback or suggestions you would like raised at Term 3 P&F meeting, please send them through to pandf@smtdow.catholic.edu.au.
Uniform Shop
Please donate all pre-loved uniforms to the school office as this helps to build what stock we have available at our pop-up uniform shops. Parents who are interested in helping at our regular pop-up uniform shops, please reach out to Gill Sharratt or pandf@smtdow.catholic.edu.au. We also value any feedback or suggestions you may have. Next pop-up uniform shop will be communicated in the coming weeks.
Thirroul Seaside Festival, Sunday 4th June
Cake Boxes will be sent home with families this Friday, 25th of May. We kindly ask if you could please donate a baked good to be sold at the St Michael’s Cake Stall. Last year was a huge success! We had locals lining up to buy a delicious treat and we look forward to setting up shop again this year. All money raised on the day will go towards P&F.
Mufti Day
We are looking forward to Term 2 Mufti Day - Week 10 – July 29, 2023. This term our Mufti Day theme is Winter Wonderland! Kids are to come dressed in their cosiest outfits… ugg boots, beanies, gloves and warm jumpers. It’s winter wonderland theme at St Michael’s! All students are encouraged to bring a gold coin donation which goes towards the P&F.
Parent Night Out – 2023
A reminder to those who missed the memo.. the 2023 SMT Parent fundraising Event is happening on Friday the 17th of November, and we are excited to host another great night for you all! Although we won’t be challenging you with trivia questions, we still promise a great night ahead.
Please click on the link below to cast your vote towards the theme for the night
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BWXGM3W
Remaining meetings
Term 3
Executive meeting - Thursday 3 August (2-3pm)
General Meeting - Thursday 10 August (6.30-8pm) Venue Beaches
Term 4
Executive meeting - Thursday 26 October (2-3pm) Venue TBC
General Meeting - Thursday 2 November (6.30-8pm)
Congratulations to the following students who received awards at the last assembly.
Principals Award
- Anna H
- Julia M
- Leo H
- Xavier K