PRAYER REFLECTION
Last week in staff prayer, Miss Campbell shared with us, the beautiful poem of Dorothea Mackellar “My Country”. This poem was written by Dorothea when she was 19 years of age, living in England and feeling very homesick for Australia. She wanted to express her deep and true love for her country. 

MY COUNTRY

The love of field and coppice
Of green and shaded lanes,
Of ordered woods and gardens
Is running in your veins.
Strong love of grey-blue distance,
Brown streams and soft, dim skies
I know, but cannot share it,
My love is otherwise.

I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror
The wide brown land for me!

The stark white ring-barked forests,
All tragic to the moon,
The sapphire-misted mountains,
The hot gold hush of noon,
Green tangle of the brushes
Where lithe lianas coil,
And orchids deck the tree-tops,
And ferns the warm dark soil.

Core of my heart, my country!
Her pitiless blue sky,
When, sick at heart, around us
We see the cattle die
But then the grey clouds gather,
And we can bless again
The drumming of an army,
The steady soaking rain.

Core of my heart, my country!
Land of the rainbow gold,
For flood and fire and famine
She pays us back threefold.
Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze ...

An opal-hearted country,
A wilful, lavish land
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand
though Earth holds many splendours,
Wherever I may die,
I know to what brown country
My homing thoughts will fly.

This poem, illustrates the uniqueness and beauty of our country, as well at the many challenges that Australians have faced over time. It is especially pertinent to the challenges many have faced in recent weeks in battling drought, bushfires and flooding rains. 

Let us continue to pray for our country, for those who are coping with loss, those who have battled the weather conditions and for those who have helped and assisted their others in any ways.  

May we continue to look after others and let them know, that support is there for them.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.”
1 Peter 5:7

PS- I found a video on YouTube with Dorothea reciting her poem- really lovely to listen to

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5bNhQrKay0

WELCOME TO SCHOOL MASS
Last Friday we celebrated our Welcome to School Mass. It was such a special occasion to celebrate with our school community. During the Mass, we commissioned our Year 6 leaders into their leadership positions within four main teams: The Environment Team; the Sporting Team; the Social Team and the Mission Team.

The Mission Team
Paige, Daniella, Melinda, Abigail, Frankie, Brady and Dani 

The Sporting Team
Mitchell, Darcy, Emily, Sophie, Dallas, Karrwii, Jett and Brayden

The Social Team
Claire, Isla, Aa, Jane, Olivia, Matilda and Tiana

The Environment Team
Jacob H, Jacob S, Aimee, Kiara, Michelle and Taylan

I would especially like to thank Fr Sean for celebrating a wonderful Mass with us. Thank you also to Mrs Mitchell, Mr Tuckwell, Miss Abotomey (Music Teacher), the liturgy group and readers for the wonderful preparation of the Mass.

After Mass, we held a lovely Welcome Morning Tea for our parents, grandparents and parishioners. Thank you to Mrs Berrell for preparing the morning tea and to the staff who helped with cooking and preparation, especially Mrs Sewell and her yummy scones!

SWIMMING CARNIVAL
On Wednesday we held our St Michael’s Swimming Carnival. It was a great day. The children participated so well and were very involved in cheering their team mates and encouraging others. Thank you to Mrs Anderson and our staff, who organised and supported the carnival in many ways and to our wonderful parents, who helped with timing the students in their races on the day or being at the carnival to cheer the children on.

Our swimming presentation will take part during the Friday Assembly, which will commence earlier, at 2:15pm this week.

A big thank you to our parent helpers on the day:-

Megan Tully (Breanna Year 5)
Suzanne King (Mitchell Year 6)
Vanessa Tasker (Dallas Year 6)
Donna Walker-Smith (Melinda Year 6)
Bernadette Taylor (Sophie Year 6)
Shane Tully (Breanna Year 5)
Kylie Goodfellow (Imogen Year 5)

SPORTING REPRESENTATION
This year there has been changes to our sporting registration for representative teams. If your child has been invited to trial for a Diocesan sporting team, you will need to fill in a registration form from Catholic Schools NSW. Students who have been selected to trial, will have received a note regarding this. I ask that you register as soon as possible please.

SHIPS SPORTING EVENTS
The three Catholic Primary Schools in the Southern Highlands will no longer be participating in the annual SHIPS sporting events (swimming, cross country, athletics) effective from the beginning of this year.

This decision was reached after consultation with our Diocesan Catholic Education Office. Our Diocese provides many more sporting opportunities than they used to in previous years and we need to support them so that they continue. Therefore, our Diocesan sporting schedule and participation obligations require precedence. We appreciate the Independent schools in the area allowing us to be involved over the years.

MEET AND GREET - KINDER
This week, Mrs Bourke-Nash will be having “Meet and Greet” interviews with Kinder parents. These interviews provide you with an opportunity to discuss any important information you feel that the Mrs Bourke-Nash should be aware of, as well as discussing how your child has settled into school.  You will also be provided with information regarding your child’s “Best Start” assessment.

If you are unable to make your scheduled appointment time, please contact the office.

MEET AND GREET - YEARS 1-6
Tomorrow evening (Wednesday 19^th February), we will hold our 2020 Meet and Greet meetings. This is an opportunity for you to meet your child/children’s class teacher and learn about the various activities planned for their class.

Times for Meet and Greet

Year 1 and Year 2:     5:30-6:00pm

Year 3 and Year 4:     6:00-6:30pm

Year 5 and Year 6:     6:30-7:00pm

Best wishes,
Mrs Katrina West
Principal

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.

Term 1 2020

• • Friday 21^st Feb – Year 6 visit the Abbey Nursing Home
  • Wednesday 26^th Feb – Ash Wednesday Liturgy
  • Monday 2^nd – 6^th March – Catholic Schools Week
  • Friday 6^th March – World Day of Prayer
  • Thursday 19^th March – St Joseph’s Day Mass 9.30am
  • Friday 20^th March – Year 6 visit The Abbey
  • Thursday 9^th April – Holy Thursday
  • Friday 10^th April – Good Friday

School Mass

Thank you to all who attended our first school Mass for the year. It was a wonderful celebration for our school community. It was also a fantastic day for Year 6 as they were commissioned into their leadership roles as part of the Environment group, Sport group, Social group and Mission group. Thank you to all who attended the morning tea after the Mass.

Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is one of the most important holy days in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season of fasting and prayer. Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us. As the priest (or Lay person) applies the ashes to a person's forehead, they speak the words: "Repent and be faithful to the Gospel." Ashes also symbolize grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned and caused division from God.  Ashes are distributed during Mass or a Liturgy and all are invited to accept the ashes as a visible symbol of penance. The ashes are made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year's Palm Sunday Mass.

This year our school will be participating in a Liturgy in the school hall.

St Joseph Feast Day Mass
Thursday the 19^th of March, we celebrate the feast of St Joseph. We will be having a whole school Mass to celebrate the life of Joseph at 12p.m. This will also be the first time that Kindergarten attend a school Mass.

All are welcome to attend.

Parish News

Ash Wednesday Service 26th February 2020 at St Thomas Aquinas Parish 12pm and 7pm.

Catholic Enrichment  - The Parish Catholic Enrichment course will resume 4 March, 2020 at 7:15p.m in the Parish Hall. The first topic: “ Word made flesh, true bread of heaven (Mystery of the Liturgy and Eucharist).”

 Scripture Study – The next gathering of the Parish Scripture Study will be on Tuesday 18^th February at 7p.m in the Parish hall. Discussion will be on Chapter 5 of St Matthew’s Gospel – Jesus’ first sermon. 

All welcome to attend…….

Reconciliation is held on Saturday morning at St Thomas Aquinas church, Bowral at 9:30 a.m

Rebecca Mitchell
REC

P&F General Meeting
All parents of St Michael’s are automatically members of the Parents & Friends Association. The P&F works to support the school and provide much needed resources for all our children to use. Specifically, the school last year installed 75” TVs and Apple TVs in the Kinder and Year 3 classrooms. This year the school is hoping to continue the installation of the TVs and Apple TVs across the other class grades as well as update our iPad technology.  The P&F has agreed to contribute funds towards the cost of technology. The work of the P&F is to fundraise in order to meet commitments such as this.  Volunteers are always sought to assist fundraising events, in fact they are instrumental to the success of the event.  A lack of volunteers means an event can not proceed.

The P&F meeting will be held on Friday 28th February 2020 at 1.40pm in the school library. The purpose of this meeting is to brainstorm ideas for fundraising throughout the year, nominate a person for each grade that will coordinate one of the events with their grade helpers, and to ensure that we have a treasurer and someone for communications. You don't have to particpate in every single event.  If connecting is your strength, being a class coordinator is joy-filled and not a chore.

The rewards of being a part of a parent team can be life changing. The more hands, the lighter the burden, the bigger the cheer squad for each other in our walk together. Every single one of us can help in a small or large capacity.

The P&F organises events such as:

• Movie and disco nights
• Year level fundraisers school
• Mother's Day/Father Day stalls
• Trivia Nights

As part of the P&F, you get to promote your school to the wider community and demonstrate to your children that volunteering is a good thing.  There are so MANY ways to help the P&F including:

• helping with ordering supplies
• running the P&F facebook page
• serving as the president/secretary
• event leading
• fundraising

If you are unable to make the meeting, but would like to be a class representative or have ideas for fundraising please let us know.

CHANGE OF ROUTINE
Please remember to inform the office or your child's class teacher if there is going to be a change in routine.  DO NOT TAKE OTHER CHILDREN home if permission has not been relayed to the school. If a parent is held up, your child will be supervised until you or a designated person arrives.  All messages to your child need to go via the school office.  Please do not send messages via imessage or text to your child. 

RIDING OF BICYCLES TO SCHOOL

Our School Policy states that children under 10 years of age do not ride bicycles to or from school unless accompanied by an adult.  Students who ride to school must have read the School’s Bicycle Policy and returned to the school the signed acknowledgement form along with a written permission note signed from the parentsbefore they are allowed to ride their bike to and/from school.

HEADLICE

Once again head lice are on the move.   Head lice are very common so there is no need to be alarmed, however they should be treated quickly to prevent them from spreading.

We are asking that all parents examine their child’s hair and look for the following signs:

• Persistent scratching, particularly behind the ears and the nape of the neck accompanied by a red rash.
• Tiny silver white eggs at the base of the hair shaft.
• Small pale brown lice. You may wish to use a magnifying glass and a fine tooth comb under strong light to help identify lice.

Head lice can be treated quickly and effectively by following the following steps: 

1. Visit your local Pharmacy to purchase the latest specialist head lice treatment and apply according to the directions on the pack.
2. Wash out the treatment and use a fine tooth comb to remove the dead lice and eggs.
3. Repeat the treatment in 7 – 10 days if lice are still present or eggs are found within 1cm of the scalp.

As a precaution, any items which may harbor lice such as bed linen, towels and combs should be washed in hot soapy water.  To prevent head lice in the future, all family members should avoid sharing items such as clothing, brushes or hats from each other or friends.

Head lice can happen to anyone:

It doesn’t matter whether your hair is curly or straight, long or short, blond or brunette.  And contrary to popular belief lice prefer clean hair.

As an added precaution we suggest that girls with long hair have it tied back.

Thank you for your co-operation.  

The Canteen will be open Thursday and Friday this week.

Just a reminder that we do our best to be a nut-free school and appreciate that you don't send any nut products to school with your child.

Year 7 2021 Information Evening in Bowral High school library this Tuesday evening 5:00-6:00pm.

Families are also welcome to join our Year 7 Welcome BBQ prior to the Information Evening to meet with new Year 7 families to Bowral High School and our staff members.

Further information can be found at: https://facebook.com/events/s/year-7-2021-information-evenin/1045953125768996/?ti=cl

Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrated a birthday this week:

Kobi N, Archie P, Isaac D, Arianna L and Kayd C

Venue: Mittagong RSL – Bessemer Street

Date : Saturday 29^th February    

Times : 4pm to 6.00pm

Cost : $5.00

Please note all money raised goes back to the children in the Southern Highlands community.