TERM 4 WEEK 6 NEWSLETTER

Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you for the wonderful support you have given to our staff and students since the return to school this term. I really appreciate your understanding with the many changes to school routines and events that have needed to happen due to our current Covid restrictions. Thankfully all our students have returned to school with enthusiasm and have continued to thrive, back in the classroom. Across the school, the students are settled and enjoying their learning experiences. 

As there are a few items that need to be shared with you, we have placed them here in our newsletter, so that you have all our up to date information in one spot. We will continue to send COMPASS news feeds for any additional information a grade may need to know, as well as our weekly online assemblies and Facebook posts. If you have a Facebook account and have not yet joined our St Michael’s Facebook Page or the St Michael’s Parents and Friends page, I would encourage you to click on these links and “like” the pages. 

REMEMBRANCE DAY
Yesterday, our school participated in a special online Remembrance Day Liturgy. Thank you to Mrs Mitchell and Year 6 for supporting our school’s recognition of this important day. 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them. 

Lest we forget

HSC 2021
On behalf of  our school, I wish our Year 6 class of 2015, the very best in the HSC exams. We are thinking of you and your families, as you undertake this last part of your educational journey.

ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT 2021
Currently we are preparing for our Annual School Report. As part of this process, the Catholic Education Office Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) have three surveys that they ask all schools to undertake. I ask that you consider completing the short….. I promise it is short…. “Survey For Parents”. Our Year 6 students will also complete a short survey, along with our staff.  The link to the survey is here:

CEDoW CHRISTMAS STORY
Every year, students in our Year 5 and Year 6 classes participate in the Dioceses of Wollongong Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition. As part of the process, three artworks and  descriptions from Year 5 and three artworks and descriptions from Year 6 are sent to the CEODoW for judging. This year the judging was completed in a digital format. When all of the entries are assessed, the top 39 artworks are chosen from the artworks entered into the competition to be a part of the Virtual Exhibition. We are very excited to announce that our three Year 5 entries were chosen for this next stage of the competition. The students whose work was chosen are Liam Gospel, Ruby Francis and Emily King. Their work was among the 39 top entries judged to best respond to the criteria and were exemplary of Stage 3 reflective writing and artistic skills. 

This year the Christmas Story Art Competition and Exhibition opening and awards night will be a virtual event and will be premiered on YouTube from 7.00pm on Wednesday 24 November. A link will be made available to schools on Monday 22 November. 

Congratulations Liam, Ruby and Emily.

GREAT SPORTSMANSHIP
Congratulations to Gabrielle in Year 4 for participating in the Run 2 Cure during the past weeks.  This was a 10km run and fundraiser for childhood cancer research. Gabrielle also participated in the City 2 Surf VR - 14 km run. It is so great to hear about our students achievements. 

KINDERGARTEN 2022 ORIENTATION
On Friday 19th November we will welcome our new Kindergarten 2022 students to school for their Kindergarten orientation. We are so excited to meet our new Kinders. Parents with students in the Kindergarten 2022 cohort will be sent a powerpoint presentation next Monday, explaining the many interesting things about our school. A Kindergarten information pack will be given to the parent bringing their child to school. A reminder that only one parent or carer can attend with their child and that parent or carer must be fully vaccinated. Whilst the children are in the classroom with Mrs Bourke-Nash, Mrs West will have a chat with the new parents and purchases of the sports shirt and hat can be organised during that time. No parents are permitted in the classroom due to covid restrictions. We thank you for your support of this orientation. 

God bless
Mrs Katrina West
Principal