PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear Families,
Welcome to Term 3.
This is definitely going to be a term filled with many community events and activities. We have already commenced our community focus, with an outstanding parent information night, last night.
Thank you to all who attended and to all who said they would really have loved to attend but couldn’t due to family, work or health circumstances. I totally understand that not everyone could attend and I am hopeful that in the coming weeks, the resources that I share with the parent community in regards to our Respectful Relationships, Child Safety, Growth, Development & Sexuality Education program, will be helpful for all.
Next week, I will forward a copy of the questions and feedback that we received from last night. It was so positive and affirming. I thank all of you, for your open and honest recognition of the importance of this program and what it means to our students from K-6, and what it means to you, that we are working together as educators and parents, to provide authentic and informative information, that is stage and age appropriate and reflects our Catholic identity.
PRAYER
Last night I shared this special prayer that will be the focus prayer for all the students within this program. I thought I would share this with you today.
I am Special
In all the world there is nobody like me.
Since the beginning of time, there has never been another person like me.
Nobody has my smile.
Nobody has my eyes, my nose, my hair, my hands, my voice.
Nobody anywhere has my tastes for food or music or art.
No-one sees things just as I do.
In all of time, there has been no-one who laughs like me, no-one who cries like me.
And what makes me laugh and cry will never provoke identical laughter and tears from anybody else, ever.
No-one reacts to any situation just as I would react.
No-one in the universe can reach the quality of my combination of talents, ideas, abilities and feelings.
Like a room full of musical instruments, some may excel alone, but none can match the symphony sound when all are played together.
I'm a symphony.
Through all of eternity no-one will ever look, talk, walk, think or do like me.
I'm unique.
I'm rare.
I'm beginning to realise it's no accident that I'm special.
I'm beginning to see that God made me this way for a very special purpose.
He must have a job for me that no-one else can do as well as I.
Out of all the billions of applicants,
only one is qualified,
only one has the right combination of what it takes.
That one is me.
YEAR 6 MASS WITH BISHOP BRIAN
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It was a truly special occasion and one I am sure our Year 6 students will remember fondly. After Mass, the students were able to share lunch with the other students. I thank St Paul’s Camden for their hospitality and organisation. Thank you to Mrs Mitchell, for her preparation towards the Mass and the students and to Mrs Amy Eggleston and Mrs Mitchell for attending the Mass with the students.
ATHLETICS- message from Mr Tuckwell
On Wednesday last week, as well as Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, we have been completing as many athletics events as possible at school, to select a team for the Diocesan Carnival on Friday 5 th August (Campbelltown Athletics Stadium).
Our booking for Mittagong Oval on Tuesday this week was cancelled by the council due to the ground conditions, therefore we went ahead and completed our events in an alternative way. Thank you to the staff who have assisted in the supervision of events and the children for making the best of the situation. Students who have qualified will be notified today and details sent home to parents via COMPASS.
Assistance will be required by parents on the day so please consider volunteering.
A reminder that many events are “Junior” events which combine 8 YR, 9 YR and 10 YR age groups. We wish all of our competitors next Friday the very best of luck.
TERM 3 EVENTS
Last term, I shared with you a note (see image above) that had all of the Term 3 major events. I hope this was helpful. A few parents have already told me that they have it placed on their fridge to remind them of dates for this term..
Below are a few major events that are coming up in the next few weeks, with further information about each event. Please take note of the dates, so your children are prepared. We will definitely give the children and yourselves, reminders about the days as they come. I have recorded the information below, in the order that the event will be happening.
THIS WEEK
19 - 29 July St Vincent De Paul Winter Food Appeal
TOMORROW (29/7) Year 4 Maubara Fundraiser
Year 4 will be holding a “Dancing for the Kids” fundraiser for Maubara Orphanage TOMORROW. Students are asked to bring in SILVER COINS to donate (Busker Style) to our Year 4 dancers. This is a fun event and one that the students look forward to. A great way to support a charity and offload some of those silver coins we have gathered at home and in the car.
TOMORROW (29/7) Canteen open for purchases of treats.
Starting from tomorrow, Friday 5th August 2022, the canteen will be open at afternoon tea for students to purchase snack items. This will be every Friday over Term 3. If the day changes due to other events, a note/Compass alert will be sent home. A small selection of chips, flavoured rice cakes, muesli bars, LCMs, sour straps, Gummie Bears, Pop Corn, Jelly fruit cups, lollies, Zooper Doopers, flavoured Milk and homemade cupcakes/biscuits will be on offer. Items will range from 50 cents to $2.00. Year 6 will be at the sales counter under Mrs Mitchell's or Mrs West’s supervision.
This is a fantastic chance for students in our school community to practice purchasing items with money, receiving change and using social skills to request items. This also comes from a suggestion from parents at the P & F meetings to provide opportunities for their children to experience the opportunity to purchase at the canteen.
NEXT WEEK
1st August Photo Money due to the photographers
3rd August Book Club due by this date
4th August School Photos
All students need to be at school by the school bell on that day, as we have the whole school photo taken first thing in the morning. The students need to be in full winter uniform with clean shoes, as this does show in the photos if they are scuffed.
A reminder that girls are to wear school colours (red/blue) ribbons only if they are wearing ribbons on the day.
Can all of the Year 6 students please wear their badges on the day.
5th August Diocesan Athletics Carnival
Mr Tuckwell will send out a letter to those students who have qualified for the Diocesan Carnival. It will be held at Campbelltown Athletics Stadium and parents will be required to provide transport on the day.
OTHER EVENTS
8th August Mary MacKillop Feast Day
As a tradition each year St Michael’s School community celebrates the feast day of St Mary MacKillop on the 8th of August. This is a very special occasion for our school community as we were founded by the sisters of St Joseph's. We are also celebrating the Josephites Sisters 150th year in New South Wales.
On Monday the 8th of August we will be celebrating with a day full of activities. Students are able to dress up in clothes from the time of Mary MacKillop. This is to be something that you have at home. We will start with a liturgy in the hall in the morning. After lunch, the students will participate in different activities that have been organised by Year 6.
9th August SPLICED workshop at Hartzer Park
Some of the students completing the SPLICED program will be attending Hartzer Park for a workshop with Mr Charadia. Thank you to Mrs Eggleston who will be accompanying them.
10th August Year 6 Hot Dog Fundraiser
Year 6 are hosting a hot dog day fundraiser on Wednesday 10th August 2022 to raise money for their gift to the school at the end of the year. All students who wish to order will be able to pre-order a hot dog and a popper for lunch for the cost of $4.00.
Please complete the order form that was given as a paper copy this week and return to the school with the correct money no later than Friday the 5th August 2022.
12th August Young Mary Performance
The Young Mary Performance will be coming to our school on this day to perform a story about Mary MacKillop.
17th August P&F Movie Night - Book Week Theme “Dreaming With Your Eyes Wide Open”.
On this night, the students will be able to come to school dressed in pyjamas, oodies or onesies, to watch a movie. There will be a movie for Kindergarten to Year 2 held in the Kindergarten room and a movie for Years 3-6, held in the hall.
On the night the student will receive a pre-ordered treat pack, consisting of popcorn (or chips) and a popper. Children are also encouraged to bring a water drink bottle. The movie night is being organised by the Kindergarten parents. If you would like to help out, please contact your Kindergarten Class Co-ordinators, Amy James and Tessa Steele. Further details will go out soon in regards to this evening.
23 August Book Parade and P&F BBQ for students
Then from 11:40am, parents and family members are invited to attend the school, to watch the Book Week Parade. The students can dress in any costume representing a favourite book character. The parade will commence at 12pm.
Toddlers/Preschool children will have the opportunity to parade as well. If parents would like to dress up, you definitely can too. The more parading, the merrier it will be.
Week 7 Book Fair
Book Fair will be open for the students and their parents and grandparents to view the books and purchase items. Further details regarding the Book Fair will be given in later newsletters. This is a great opportunity to purchase books as birthday or Christmas presents and you might even like to donate a book to our library. That would be wonderful.
Book Fair will be open during GDay for purchases.
31st August P&F Father’s Day Stall
Thank you to Katrina Bartone and the Year 2 parents for coordinating our Fathers Day Stall.
2nd September G’Day- Grandparents and Great People
We would love to see as many Grandparents and Great People as possible on this day, to share in our GDay liturgy and concert.
On this day, the P &F (Parents and Friends Association) will be coordinating morning tea and lunch for our visitors. All families are asked to help provide items of food for morning tea or lunch on the day. In the past, Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 parents helped with the provision of morning tea (eg cakes, slices, scones, biscuits etc) and Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 parents helped with the provision of lunch (eg sandwiches, soup, pasta, zucchini slice, quiches etc).
Further details will come from the P&F in regards to this day. Please contact our P&F committee members, Melissa Bartolo, Linda Francis, Yasmine Gospel, Amy James and Emma Neggo, if you can help assist on the day.
9th September Activate Fire Year 6
Year 6 from St Michael’s, along with Year 6 classes from other Catholic schools in our area, will attend a spirituality/youth day at St Paul’s Moss Vale. Details will be given to our Year 6 parents in regards to the organisation of this day.
WHOLE SCHOOL ASSEMBLY
Thank you for all the support you give to our students, staff and school community.
Don't forget, every Friday, families are welcome to attend the Whole School Assembly commencing at 2:20pm in the school hall
Have a lovely week.
Best wishes and God Bless,
Katrina West
Principal