Welcome to our Term 1 Week 4 Newsletter

A PRAYER FOR CREATION
During the past week, Year 3 have been talking about God’s creation and ways we can care for the environment that we have today and into the future. I was reading their prayers and I was really amazed at the deep thought and special regard the children have for our environment and the way they can succinctly put into words, their message for all of us. 

Thank you Year 3 for sharing your prayers with us and being good stewards of God’s Creation. 

Oliver’s Prayer

Dear God,
I am praying to you
Because people always pollute.
I want to stop pollution
And I want you to help me
Because I can’t do it on my own.
So thank you for listening to my prayer.

Amen

Esther’s Prayer

Dear God,
Help me and other people
not to be mean to one another
Or mean to your creation.
Always help me to be a good steward to people.
Don’t let us cut down trees.
Thank you for all you have given to me.

Amen

NATIONAL LAUNCH - BICENTENARY OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION 
This year we celebrate 200 years of Catholic schooling in Australia. The National Catholic Education Commission will broadcast a virtual national launch on Thursday 18 February, at 10:00 am & 2:00 pm AEDT, for educators, leaders, students and their families in Catholic schools and education offices. The link for the launch and other information about our Bicentenary of Catholic Education can be found here: 

https://200years.catholic.edu.au/

YEAR SIX LEADERS
Last week our Year 6 students were commissioned with their leadership roles. I congratulate all our Year Six students on the way they have already undertaken their roles with enthusiasm. 

MISSION TEAM

SOCIAL TEAM

ENVIRONMENT TEAM

SPORT

MEET AND GREET
Next Wednesday night, we will be having our St Michael’s Parent/Teacher Meet and Greet night. This is an opportunity for you to visit your child’s classroom and meet their teacher. The teachers will give a general overview of  the school year and various important information pertaining to your child’s class activities and routines. We are fortunate to be able to do this provided we adhere to the COVID 19 hygiene and social distancing procedures. 

I ask that all adults entering the school site, please scan the QR code that will be present on the entry gate near the hall and then proceed to the classroom for the meeting. At the entrance of the classroom, will be some hand sanitizer, which is to be applied upon entry please. This is not an individual parent/teacher meeting. It is a general meeting for all student’s parents and the class teachers. Please also keep to social distancing whilst in the classroom and walking to and from the school buildings. Children are encouraged to not attend as this year, we are unable to supervise them in the hall due to covid restrictions. We currently have health department  restrictions on children mixing in different stage groups and with adults in a school site. I appreciate your support in this matter. 

If you are unable to attend this evening, we will have a handout for each class that your child can bring home with them. This handout will have the main facts presented. 

Meet and Greet Times for each class 

Year 1 and Year 2:     5:30-6:00pm
Year 3 and Year 4:     6:00pm-6:30pm
Year 5 and Year 6:     6:30pm-7:00pm

NCCD
The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) takes place every year. The NCCD is a collection that counts: 

• the number of school students receiving an adjustment or help due to disability 
• the level of adjustment they are receiving to access education on the same basis as other students. Students are counted in the NCCD if they receive ongoing adjustments at school due to disability. This assistance allows them to access education on the same basis as a child without disability. The NCCD uses the definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. Schools provide this information to education authorities.

The information collected by the NCCD helps teachers, principals, education authorities and governments to better support students with disability at school. 

To assist schools in communicating key information about the 2021 NCCD, a fact sheet and resources for parents, guardians and carers are available on the NCCD portal.

PARENT FACT SHEET ABOUT THE NCCD

https://www.nccd.edu.au/sites/default/files/fact%20sheet%20for%20parents%20guardians%20and%20carers.pdf

ENROLMENTS
We are currently taking enrolments for our Kindergarten 2022 class. If you know of anyone who is considering St Michael’s Mittagong for Kindergarten next year, please pass on this information. Enrolment packages can be found on our school website or by contacting our school office. I am very excited to share with you our fantastic  enrolment advertisement  photos that were taken last week. Thank you to the students in Year 1 and Year 3 who helped with this promotion.

Best wishes,
Mrs Katrina West
Principal