Principal's Message
Term 2 Week 6
200 YEARS OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION MASS
24TH MAY 2021
Students from 45 of our Catholic schools across the Diocese of Wollongong gathered on Monday for a celebratory Mass to mark 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia.
Bishop Brian Mascord, representatives from Catholic Church agencies, religious orders, and Catholic school principals and students also gathered at St John Vianney Co-Cathedral, Fairy Meadow.
Our Diocese of Wollongong Director of Schools, Mr Peter Hill said during the mass that this celebration was a highlight of the bicentenary year. "Throughout the last two centuries, thousands of dedicated women and men, often with very limited resources, rose to the challenge of building the vibrant and diverse Catholic education system that exists today. As we reflect on the important work of Catholic education, we remember the intergenerational contributions that preceded us and that we continue to build upon.”
Since the very first Catholic school was established in NSW in 1820, countless children and young people have benefited from the dedication and commitment of faith-filled staff in our Catholic schools.
The nationwide celebrations mark the bicentenary of the first 'official' Catholic school, opened in Parramatta in 1820 by Fr John Therry. The first Catholic school in the Diocese of Wollongong, was established in 1828 in Campbelltown.
St Michael's Mittagong was established in 1891, known originally as St Joseph's Catholic School Mittagong, by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. We are currently celebrating our 130th year of Catholic Education.
Today, Catholic education has grown to 1751 Catholic schools in Australia educating around one in five or 768,000 students and employing 98,000 teachers and staff. The Diocese of Wollongong is home to 38 systemic Catholic schools and seven independent Catholic schools.
In the photo below are students from our combined parish schools of St Michael's Mittagong and St Thomas Aquinas Bowral.I would like to thank Daniel and Emily for representing our school at the Diocesan Celebration Mass on Monday.
Bishop Brian
This Friday, Bishop Brian and Fr Sean will be visiting our school as part of the Bishop’s parish visit. We are really looking forward to welcoming them. Bishop Brian is here to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with our parish candidates.
Congratulations to the following students who will be making their Confirmation:-
Rylan, James, Emily, Daniel, Jack, Heidi, Jorjee, Breanna
SCHOOL ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
Yesterday was our school Athletics Carnival. I would like to congratulate all our students for the great sportsmanship and enthusiasm that they displayed throughout the whole event. A big thank you to our wonderful staff for your preparation of the carnival, especially our coordinators, Mrs Anderson and Mr Tuckwell. Thank you to our fantastic parents, who helped support the carnival in many different ways, especially as carnival event volunteers and donation of time and goods at the P&F stall.
In the near future, we will be able to share with you the final results of all athletics events.
130 YEAR ANNIVERSARY ST MICHAEL’S SCHOOL FETE
On Tuesday, a note went out to all families about our fete that will be held on Saturday 23rd October. Please take time to read this note and notify our committee if you can support the fete in any way. We have a facebook page devoted to the organisation of the fete. The link is below if you would like to join- All welcome
Our next fete meeting will be held in the library on Friday 11th June at 9am. If you have any fete ideas, please come along to the meeting or else send any ideas or ways you can support, via the note from yesterday.
ENTERTAINMENT AT THE FETE
If you know of any groups that would like to perform at the fete such as dance schools, sporting groups etc, please contact Mrs Berrell at the school office. It would be lovely for the fete to be an avenue to showcase the talents of our local students.
ART AND CRAFT STALL
This stall needs to be organised really early, so if you know of any friends, grandparents, aunts, uncles etc that could donate items for the stall, it would be greatly appreciated. If you have craft supplies such as wool, ribbon, scrapbook paper, material, craft items etc that you would like to donate, please drop them off at the school office
GARDEN STALL
Now is the time to start planting seedlings and cuttings for our garden stall. If you are able to donate some plants in October, can you please let the school know so we can pass your details onto the stall co-ordinator.
SPONSORSHIP
If you or someone you know is able to sponsor the fete, please see attached for sponsorship details.
STATE GOVERNMENT- Live Life Well @ School
Calling all Lunchbox Heroes! We are inviting students and their families to share a photo of their healthy lunchbox for a chance to feature in our Lunchbox Heroes resource. Each eligible submission will receive a Lunchbox Heroes cooler bag! Lunchboxes must include: vegetable, fruit, grain, protein (animal or plant based) and dairy + water bottle. **Any packaged products included in your lunchbox creation needs to have 3.5 or more Health Star Rating**. Photos must be in colour, JPEG form 1MB or higher quality. Get your parent/carer to send in your submission by 16 July 2021 using this link. Good luck!
God bless
Mrs Katrina West
Principal