Dear parents,

Welcome to our Term 4 Week 3 Newsletter. I truly cannot believe that we are only seven weeks away from finishing our 2023 school year. We have already had a busy start to the term and I have highlighted some of the events in the news below.

TOMORROW-WORLD TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF DAY

Tomorrow is World Teacher and School Staff Day. On this day we celebrate the wonderful teachers and staff that care for our students here at St Michaels.  I would like to thank all of our staff, for their enthusiastic and outstanding commitment to the care and support of our students. They are very passionate about their teaching and administration of the school, and they strive each day to make our school community a place of faith and learning. I am sure our parents and students feel the same about our teachers and support staff. 

A Prayer for World Teacher Day 

Giver of all wisdom and greatest of all teachers, 

Look upon our teachers with love 

Grant them the resolve to nurture our eager minds 

and to never give up on us who fall behind. 

Bless their hearts for they rejoice when we succeed 

and encourage us when we fail 

And bless them with gentle patience

 for the path of learning is never easy 

Kindle a spirit and passion in them 

it is the flame that ignites the love of learning in us 

Help them see the potential in each student 

Their belief in us means much more 

than the grade we make 

Instill in them a commitment to keep on learning 

It shows us to not fear new knowledge and experiences 

Inspire them to touch the future 

They influence how big a dream we dream for ourselves 

Bless our teachers who have come before 

For their work endures to this day 

Let the light of your example shine upon all teachers 

To build up with their words 

To love with their mind 

To share with their heart. 

Amen 

LEAVING FAMILIES

Now is the time of year for anyone who may be planning to move your child/children to a different school in 2024 to let us know as soon as possible, as we have had quite a few enquiries over the past weeks for new enrolments and we need to gauge an idea of class sizes for 2024. Thank you. 

ENROLLING NOW FOR 2024

Applications for enrolment for Years 2-Year 6 at St Michael’s Mittagong are now open. Enrolment forms can be collected from the school office or downloaded from the Catholic Education Office of Wollongong website https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/for-parents/enrolment/

KINDERGARTEN 2024 COHORT- PLAYGROUP

This week we commence the first of  our Kindergarten 2024 Playgoups. It will  be so wonderful to see all our new future students and their families. A big thank you to Mrs Bourke-Nash for all her preparation of these groups.

The playgroups will take place on the following afternoons.

Friday 27 Oct 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm

Monday 31 Oct 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm

Wednesday 8 Oct 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm

Friday 17 Nov 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm

A reminder that we have our Orientation Meeting for all families with Kindergarten students 2024 on Monday 6th November at 9am in the school hall. Details regarding that morning have been emailed to those families. This is a parents only meeting. 

YEAR 3 BIKE EDUCATION PROGRAM

Tomorrow, our Year 3 students along with Mr Nash and Mrs Townsend are going on an excursion to the Campbelltown Bike Education Centre. They are very excited about this opportunity. If the weather changes, we will send a COMPASS alert out in the morning. So as it stands, the excursion is going ahead. Mr Nash and Mrs Townsend will meet the students at Mittagong Railway Station. 

BASKETBALL 

Last Thursday, 20 students from Year 5 and Year 6 travelled to STA Bowral to play some mini basketball games, practice skills and engage in some fun activities. Thank you to Mrs Worner, Mr Boyd and Mrs Webb for helping facilitate the day. A special thank you is extended to St Paul's International College, Moss Vale. St Paul's provided free transport for our students and staff in their bus, and also sent us two students, Josh and Lachy, to assist with refereeing and games. We loved the opportunity to have some friendly competition with our friends from STA on a beautiful morning in the highlands.

CRAZY SOCK DAY- MONDAY 23 OCTOBER

Last Monday, students were encouraged to wear crazy socks to school with their school uniform to join in the fun to raise money for Catholic Missions, to support their "SOCKTOBER" Fundraising appeal. A wonderful way to support Catholic Mission. Thank you to our Year 6 Mission leaders and Year 1 for organising this appeal.

PIZZA DAY

Thank you to our wonderful P&F for organising a Pizza lunch this week. It was a great initiative.

YEAR 6 RESEARCH EXHIBITION

On Friday, Year 6 put forth a wonderful display of the learning they have been working on with biographies. Each student chose a person that they admire or find inspirational. Each display included a poster, costume and a short statement about their person. Thank you to all the students, staff and parents who visited the Year 6 Wax Museum.

KINDERGARTEN EXCURSION

Kindergarten had a wonderful time on their excursion to the Mount Annan Botanic Gardens recently. They enjoyed learning about the environment and ways they can care for plants and animals. Thank you to Mrs Bourke-Nash and Mrs Townsend for organising the day. 

YEARS 5 MARY MACKILLOP PLACE EXCURSION

Year 5 had a lovely excursion to Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney this week. At the centre they were able to see where Mary MacKillop lays in rest in the chapel and all of the exhibitions about her life and the work of the Sisters of St Joseph. As a school founded by the Sisters of St Joseph, this is a very important excursion that we run every year. A big thank you to the P&F who pay for the bus for this excursion each year, through their fundraising efforts. 

CHRISTMAS ART 

Congratulations to Gabby (Athena) who was presented with a Highly Commended Award at the Diocese of Wollongong Christmas Story Competition tonight. Gabby’s work is now hanging in the Wollongong Art Gallery, along with 44 other artworks from primary schools across our Diocese. We are very proud of you Gabby.

SAFETY MESSAGE- DROP OFF ZONE

Thank you to all the parents who are using the drop off zone to  pick up or drop off their children. We ask that no one parks in the drop off zone AT ALL during the afternoon and especially during Friday Afternoon Assembly as sometimes cars are parked in the drop off zone and parents that did not attend the assembly are waiting to pick up their child.

This week we trialled the K-2 students and siblings  at the office gate and 3-6 at the hall gate. There is still a lot of congestion at these gates, so I ask that when you collect your child, you move out of that particular area, just so that in front of the gates there are not a lot of people blocking access. Can parents also please not stand on the road in the drop off area. Thank you for your cooperation with this. 

Thank you for your ongoing support of our school.

Have a lovely evening.

God Bless

Mrs Katrina West

TERM 4

• 1st November - All Saints Day
• 2nd November - All Souls Day
• 5th November - K-2 Combined School Parish Mass at  St Thomas Aquinas Church, Bowral
• 19th November - 1 December - St Vincent De Paul Christmas Hamper Appeal.
• 21st November - Year 5 Mini-Fete 
• 26th November - First Holy Communion
• 3rd December - End of the Year Combined School/Parish Mass at St Thomas Aquinas Church, Bowral
• 14th December - End of the year Liturgy 

K - 2 Combined Schools Mass

On Sunday the 5th of November at 5 pm students from our Parish Schools are invited to attend a combined school's Mass for K - 2 to celebrate Mass. All students and families from all grades are invited to attend mass. 

Hot Dog Day 

On Wednesday 8th November, Year 6 will be hosting Hot Dog Day to raise funds towards the end of the year gift to the school. A note will go home on Friday to allow enough time for items to be purchased

CRAZY SOCK DAY

Parish News!

​Weekend Mass times 

Saturday Vigil 5.00pm

Sunday Morning 8.00am, 9.30am

Evening 5.00pm

​​Weekday Liturgies

St Thomas Aquinas Church, Bowral 

Tuesday  Mass     8.00am

Wednesday  Mass    8.00am

Thursday   Mass    8.00am

Friday      Mass    8.00am

SCHOOL FEES

All school fees need to be finalised by the end of November. Payment of school fees are part of your enrollment obligation and receiving these are imperative for the running of the school.  If you are having trouble paying your school fees, please contact the school office to make an appointment to see Mrs West.

Mrs Faavae

CHRISTMAS ART -CARDS CALENDARS ETC

Thank you to all those families who supported the Christmas fundraiser for children's art on card etc. Further details about collections will come in the future weeks.

PIZZA DAY

Thank you to the parents who helped with this week’s pizza day. The students were very excited to have the opportunity for a yummy lunch. 

P&F MEETING NOTES

P&F Meeting minutes- see below

NEW CHOIR (independent of St Michaels)  

Please see attached flyer for information in regards to a new community choir for 2024. 

Theme: HALLOWEEN Dress Up   

Date : Saturday 28th October

Times : 4pm to 6pm

Venue: Mittagong RSL – Bessemer Street, Mittagong

Cost : $5

Ages : 0-14

Please note: This is a CASH ONLY event.

Alcohol free event.

All money raised goes back to the children in the Southern Highlands community.  

We hope to see you there .

Thank you as always for your ongoing support.

Chris and Sandra Roberson - and the amazing committee of the Mittagong Junior Disco.

 Chris Ph - 0412 321 555