11th SUNDAY YEAR C- READINGS REFLECTION

The secret that the fox told the boy in the story “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint Exupery, was “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” This is similar to the message of the texts presented this week. The things we cannot see are more important than the ones we can see. It’s the invisible things like love, faith and trust, that shape our lives.

ST MARY OF THE CROSS MACKILLOP FEAST DAY
Last Thursday, we celebrated the Feast day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. This was a very special day for us, as our school was started by the Sisters of St Joseph in 1891. We commenced the day with the NED Show, followed by a fantastic sausage sizzle cooked by Mrs Petzer and her beautiful mum. We then celebrated a special liturgy to honour St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Thank you to Mrs Mitchell for preparing this lovely liturgy. Then Year 6 lead the rest of the day, by organising fun activities for the whole school to participate in. The students had so much fun, working together as a team. Thank you to everyone who helped prepare the day, especially our office staff, Year 6 and our wonderful teachers.

At the assembly the following students received MacKillop Awards for the kindness they show towards others:

• Kinder - Sam Purdon
• Year 1 - Brody Dowsley
• Year2- Ava Snowden
• Year 3- Micah Yap
• Year 4 - Ava Fairbairn
• Year 5 - Darcy Reid
• Year 6 - Max Gardiner
  
  

NED SHOW
Last Thursday, the students and staff participated in the NED Show. NED’s Mindset Mission uses storytelling, humour, illusions, and YO-YO tricks to deliver a very important message about growth mindset and learning. NED reminds our students to have the right mindset when you make a mistake - it's just a learning opportunity. Learning happens everywhere, every day for everyone. 

N - Never Give Up

E - Encourage Others

D - Do Your Best

Thank you to Megan who presented a wonderful show full of very important messages for all of us.

WESTERN REGION ATHLETICS
Congratulations to all the students who represented St Michaels at the Western Region Athletics last Friday. Mrs Mitchell and Miss West attended the day and have said that the team represented our school with great enthusiasm and pride. Thank you to the many parents and carers that went along to support our students.

Following on from this event, we have three students who will now represent our school, in the next level for field events.  They are Karrwii (3rd in 11 years discus ), Sam F (4th in junior boys 100m) and Imogen G (3rd junior girls discus, 2nd junior girs shotput).

SHIPS CARNIVAL
This Friday, selected students will represent St Michael’s at the SHIPS (Southern Highlands Independent Primary Schools) Athletics carnival at Tudor House, Moss Vale. The dress code is full sports uniform including their school hat. Students are to bring their own food and drinks. Travel will be by bus, which will depart the school at 8:50am and return approximately by 2:30pm. We hope the students, staff and parents have a wonderful day.

A reminder to parents that your consent and payment needs to be done via COMPASS. Please do not hesitate to contact our school office, if you have any queries about how to access the COMPASS event page.

KINDERGARTEN EXCURSION
This Friday, our Kindergarten students will go on their first excursion in Primary School! They are very excited about this. The Kinders will be visiting The Botanical Gardens in Mount Annan, as part of their Science investigations about the needs of living things and how they are met. The students will participate in interactive, hands-on activities use their senses to discover evidence of animals in their habitats and will make mini shelters for an animal. We know they will have a fantastic day.

INSTAGRAM APP FACTSHEET
Please see attached “APP Facts” sheet on Instagram.  Please take the time to read the fact sheet. 

YEAR 6 MAUBARA FUNDRAISER
The sum of $239.55 was raised at the Year 6 Mary MacKillop Feast Day Fundraiser.  Thank you for your support. 

G’DAY (Grandparents or ‘Great’ people day) Friday 30th August
Grandparents' day is fast approaching.  Students are already eagerly practising their items for the concert and are looking forward to it.  This day is a always a fabulous  success, particularly due to generosity of our families.   

Thank you to those who have kindly offered to help.  If you are able to assist on the day, please let the office know.

EVENT REMINDERS FOR THE NEXT 3 WEEKS:

• SHIPs Athletics Carnival, Kinder Excursion and P&F Meeting for Walkathon on Friday 16th August;
• Activatefire at Bowral for Year 6 Monday 19th August;
• Book Week Tuesday 20th August (children to wear mufti and cape to school);
• P&F Fathers’ Day stall Wednesday 28^th August;
• Concert dress rehearsal for G’day at 12:00 on Wednesday 28^th August;
• Book Fair starts on Wednesday 28th August through to Friday 30th August;
• Soccer Gala Day Thursday 29th August;
• G’Day on Friday 30th August.

Have a lovely week.

Mrs Katrina West
Acting Principal.

Last Wednesday Year 6 attended a beautiful Mass at St Paul’s Primary School, Moss Vale. Bishop Brian discussed the importance of Jesus in our lives and how we need to work on our relationship with him. Following the Mass Year 6 students from our local area had an amazing time with a music concert from the Catholic Youth Ministry lead by Joel Duval and Seth Harsh.

On Thursday the 15^th of August we celebrate the Assumption of Mary, the Mother of God, into Heaven. It is also an appropriate time to reflect on the life and character of the woman chosen by God. From the Gospels we know that Mary had amazing qualities. She was brave, resourceful, a loving wife and mother, proud of her son and loyal to God.  Mary suffered immense sorrow but was ultimately triumphant, finding her place as Mother of God and the Mother of the Church. 

Due to Father Sean being away there will be a Mass held at St Paul’s Moss Vale at the following times: 9:30 am (school mass), 12 pm and 6 pm.

Rebecca Mitchell, Acting REC

Listed below are some important school dates.  The school calendar is updated regularly and can be accessed via the school website and Compass parent portal.

AUGUST

As part of the changeover, additional features were made available to parents in the Compass Parent Portal including the ability to consent and, if needed, pay online for events such as representative sport, sport gala days and school fees through the portal.

The changeover came at a busy time, with quite a few sports events and excursions in our school calendar requiring parental consent. Despite a few technical issues, we have seen many parents who are using Compass. Thank you to the many families who are now logged in and using the Compass Parent Portal.

For those parents whose children are attending the upcoming Soccer Gala Day, a reminder to check your parent portal for event consent. Please also keep an eye on the cut-off date for the consent. You will not be able to provide consent online once the date for for consent has expired.

If you child is not attending an event could you please email the school informing us the reason your child will not be participating. Please send the email to this address:

info@smmdow.catholic.edu.au

Should you have any queries or require assistance with your login details for the Compass Parent Portal please do not hesitate to contact the school office. 

Soccer Gala Day
Soccer Gala Day will be held on Thursday 29 August 2019 at Tahmoor.  Please note that parental consent and payment of $4 is to be made online via the Compass Parent Portal. Please keep an eye on the cut off date for permission as you will not be able to provide consent once the cut off date has expired.

If you need help with the parent portal, please contact the office.

We ask that if you have siblings who attend St Michael's who are NOT participating in the representative team or sports gala days, that they are attend school.  Only students representing St Michael's are to attend the sporting event.

Library News – Celebrating Children’s Book Week

Each year across Australia, the CBCA brings children and books together celebrating CBCA Book Week.  The theme for book week changes each year.  This year’s theme is ‘Reading is my Secret Power’.

We will be celebrating Book Week on Tuesday 20th August 2019. We are asking the children to come to school wearing a cape, which your child can create and make at home or buy if you wish. Please do not go to any expense in costume dress up. Children are allowed to wear mufti clothes to school on that day.  Activities are planned for the middle session of the day.

Thanks
Mrs Sewell

• Friday 16th August - Walkathon Fundraising Meeting 1.30pm

• Wednesday 28th August - P&F Father's Day Stall.
  Volunteers are kindly needed to help with the stall on the day.

• Friday 20th September - P&F Walkathon Fundraiser.
  P&F meeting 16th September 1.30pm in the school library. 

Happy birthday to the following students who celebrate a birthday this week:

Riley F.H, Cooper F.H, Nash L, Jacob S, Kalea T and Suria C