TERM 1 WEEK 11 NEWSLETTER

Dear Families,

As our Easter holidays come shortly upon us, we have been reflecting about all the wonderful things that have occurred this term.

To start, we have welcomed our new Kindergarten children and their families to our school. It definitely was a different start for those children, with covid restrictions affecting the community gatherings we normally have, however, they adapted so well and have really enjoyed their start to school. Thank you to Mrs Bourke-Nash and all the staff who work with Kinder along with the Kinder parents, for supporting this transition.

We have had some great community and fundraising events this term. 

Our Beginning of School Mass saw our Year 6 leaders receive their leadership roles and badges, watched on proudly by their parents. We have celebrated liturgical feast days and special days, such as Shrove Tuesday; Ash Wednesday, our St Joseph Feast Day Mass; St Patrick’s Day (Green Day); Catholic Schools Week; Caritas Launch and the Holy Week Liturgy that was held today. A big thank you to Mrs Mitchell, our Religious Education Coordinator for preparing these events and to Miss Abotomey and the liturgy group, for preparing the music for these events. 

Other exciting events that have occurred this term have included Two Two Twosday, Healthy Harold, our competitors Swimming Carnival, Cross Country Carnival, Diocesan Representative sporting trials, Kindergarten Meet and Greet, Parent/Teacher meetings, SPLICED workshop, First Aid Course for Year 5 and Year 6, BBQ Fundraiser for the Flood Appeal  and finally tomorrow, we will be having the wonderful P&F Easter Raffle! There are so many prizes and that is because we have such generous families who support our school. 

So all in all, despite covid restrictions and so many people sick with COVID or isolating because of covid, we have together, supported the children to receive a positive and happy start to the year.

Thank you to all our staff, students and parents for enabling this. I truly appreciate your support. 

PRAYER FOR UKRAINE

As we all reflect upon the devastating events that have occurred in Ukraine over the past weeks, the Bishops of Australia have called us to prayer. Please spend a moment if you can, in reflection upon the following prayer.

BISHOPS OF AUSTRALIA- PRAYER FOR UKRAINE

SUNFLOWERS

One of our talented Catholic Education Officers at the Catholic Education Office in Wollongong and local parishioner, Mr Tim Hart,  has written a beautiful song called SUNFLOWERS, to reflect upon the story of the plight of the people in Ukraine. I truly recommend that you listen to this special song of solidarity and hope.

CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL
Thank you to all the parents who came to support our school at the Cross Country Carnival yesterday. I am so sorry I was unable to attend. I have had to isolate due to covid. I was so disappointed to have missed the carnival, but I heard such great stories about the students' great participation and the fantastic sportsmanship they showed. 

Thank you to Mr Tuckwell for organising the carnival and adapting so quickly to changes due to the weather. A big thank you to all the staff and parents who helped with the carnival. Final results and notification of those students who will be representing our school at the Diocesan Carnival, will be given in Week 1 next term. 

ENROLMENTS 
Next term, we will be commencing enrolment interviews for our new 2023 Kindergarten students. If you know of any family who are interested in applying for enrolment at St Michaels, can you please let them know that their application forms will need to be sent to the school office as soon as possible. 

Our school is always open to applications in other years as well. If you know of any family who are moving to the area or looking for a change of school, I am happy to have a conversation with them. Our Diocesan Enrolment Policy and information about our Diocesan Catholic Schools can be sourced at

WINTER UNIFORM
Last week, we mentioned that the students can wear their winter uniform if it is cold. Next term, all students will be in winter uniform from Week 1 onwards. Can you please remind your child to keep a jacket in their bag, as many mornings have been very cold and there have been a number of students without jackets as they have left them at home.

HATS
At the end of each term, we send the student’s hats home to be washed. Can you please check that their name is on the hat ready for Term 2. Sometimes names become hard to read after washing. Please also check that all jackets are labelled as well. We greatly appreciate your help with this. 

PARENTS AND FRIENDS (P&F)
Thank you to the parents who have supported our school, especially over the past two weeks:

FLOOD APPEAL BBQ
Thank you to those families who helped  with donating food and resources for the Flood Appeal BBQ, especially the Lewis family for donating all of the sausages, onions and sauce, James family for donating the bread, Anzures family for donating sauces and serviettes and to the various volunteers on the day for preparing and cooking the BBQ, along with every family who supported the BBQ by purchasing the sizzle sandwiches

EASTER RAFFLE
Thank you to all families who donated the eggs and decorations for our Easter Egg Raffle. Thank you to the ladies who helped wrap the many prizes and to Mrs Berrell and the staff in the office for coordinating and supporting the collection of all the tickets 

CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL
Thank you to the parent helpers who helped monitor the race course throughout the carnival.

Our P&F have many special events organised for Term 2. If you would like to support in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact Mrs Berrell in the school office or the P&F team. A reminder that the P&F have a Facebook page. The link is 

ABC FRIENDS OF THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
The Southern Highlands branch of Friends of the ABC is sponsoring a number of competitions, for students who live or study in the Southern Highlands of NSW, to celebrate the 90th Birthday of our public broadcaster, the ABC.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS
I wish all our families and staff a blessed Holy Week and Easter and a restful Easter holiday. 

I am looking forward to sharing a fantastic Term Two with you all. 

God bless,
Mrs Katrina West
Principal