Welcome to Catholic Schools Week

Catholic Schools Week is a special time in the year when we celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our Catholic schools. It is a time to give thanks for the wonderful teaching and learning that takes place each day in every classroom. Here at St Michael’s Mittagong, we are blessed with talented and caring staff, inquisitive and enthusiastic students, supportive and thoughtful parents and parish community.

The theme for Catholic Schools Week is “Embracing Our Future Together”.

Let us pray:

We acknowledge and thank all who work
in the service of Catholic education
to create the opportunities for students
that allow them to grow and thrive.
 We thank you for the wisdom and understanding of teachers 
the enthusiasm and energy of students
the leadership of school Principals and executive staff
the skill, care and commitment of administrative and support staff
the guidance of our pastors and religious leaders
the support and partnership of parents, carers and local communities.
We pray that each student’s learning journey
be inspired by a search for your wisdom and truth.
We pray that we never take for granted the learning opportunities that
we have all been given,
and that we use the gifts of learning wisely and responsibly.
We ask that we use what we have learnt
to create a better world for all people,
particularly the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

 Amen. 

This Thursday morning there will be a liturgy to celebrate Catholic Schools Week. It will commence at 9:30am in the Hall and all are most welcome to attend. Other events for this week are outlined in our Religious Education section of this newsletter.

ENROLMENTS
Our enrolments are now open for 2021. Please click here to access a CEDoW school enrolment package.

ST MICHAEL’S IN THE NEWS
Last week, St Michael’s was highlighted in the Southern Highland News article on Catholic Schools Week. For those who may not have read the story, it can be seen below.

OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS, CATHOLIC EDUCATION OFFICE, WOLLONGONG
Last week, members of our Mission Team had the opportunity to meet our new Director of Schools,  Mr Peter Hill. Mr Hill was very interested in hearing all about our school and he said that he would love to visit our school very school. We wish Mr Hill every success and happiness in his new position as our Director.

PROJECT COMPASSION

Each week, we will focus on a community that Project Compassion is supporting. This week we hear of Shirley, 36, who is an indigenous Manide woman living in a remote province of the Philippines. She is a mother of four and the sole breadwinner of the family, as her husband is sick. But Shirley was struggling to support the whole family and keep her children in school. With Caritas Australia’s support, Shirley trained to become an indigenous health worker and a leader in her community. She has learned to supplement her income and is able to feed her family. The program has also helped Shirley’s children with school fees, uniforms and supplies. See Shirley’s story in the link below:

https://lent.caritas.org.au/page/week-1

CROSS COUNTRY
What a fantastic day we had for our Cross Country carnival yesterday. The students had a wonderful time and everyone tried their very best and had fun. Thank you to all the parents and grandparents that came to cheer everyone on. 

A big thank you to our staff and parent helpers who supported the carnival. A great way to celebrate the first day of Catholic Schools Week.

Here is our school getting ready for our great day.

DIOCESAN SWIMMING CARNIVAL
Today, representatives of our school along with Mr Tuckwell, have travelled to Campbelltown Swimming Pool to participate in the North Western Regional Swimming Carnival. We wish everyone a great day of sportsmanship and happy personal achievements.

UPDATE: Great news just in from the Swimming Carnival: We have three of our students who placed in their events! They will be going on to the represent the North West region in the Diocesan Swimming Carnival.

They are:

Breanna Tully- 11 years 50m Breaststroke
William Frank- 8 years 50m Freestyle
Esther Yap- 8 years 50m Freestyle

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.

Dear students, families and school communities,

Thank you for your school's participation in Catholic Schools Week from 1-7 March. It's a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and showcase many of the fantastic things happening in your school every day, and in all our Catholic schools across the Diocese of Wollongong.

We thank you for working together in partnership with us to help make your school community such a vibrant, nurturing place of learning, faith, belonging and hope.

If you or a family member or friend would like to enrol your child in one of our schools, please download an enrolment package here.

Have a look at our Catholic Schools Week video below, celebrating what our students across the diocese love about their Catholic school. Can you spot the students from your school?

Term 1 2020

• • Monday 2^nd – 6^th March – Catholic Schools Week
  • Thurs 5^th March - Catholic Schools Week Liturgy 9:30 am
  • Friday 6^th March – World Day of Prayer service St Stephen’s Anglican Church, Mittagong
  • Tuesday 17^th March - Year 2 Maubara Fund Raiser
  • Thursday 19^th March – St Joseph’s Day , Whole School Mass 12pm
  • Friday 20^th March – Year 6 visit Abbey House
  • Thursday 9^th April – Holy Thursday
  • Friday 10^th April – Good Friday

ASH WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday was a beautiful celebration as a school. I would like to thank Father Sean, staff and the students for making this such a reverent liturgy.

If you would like more information on Lenten obligations please visit https://www.ccsh.org.au/lent

PROJECT COMPASSION

On Tuesday 25^th March, representatives from the Mission Group travelled to Oran Park with other schools in the Wollongong Diocese to attend a Mass with Bishop Brian and be presented with our Project Compassion Candle and boxes. At Friday’s assembly we learnt about the work of CARITAS Australia and each class was presented with a Project Compassion box.

Over the next four weeks, each class will learn about how Project Compassion helps people around the world, including Australia, and how through our kind donations, people are able to help themselves and their families.  Project Compassion provides people with new skills and training to better their lives.

It is amazing what even one dollar can do to change a person in need’s life.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK LITURGY
Each year we celebrate the gifts of Catholic Education and focus on a theme which connects deeply to our schools. This year the theme is “Embracing Our Future Together”. Over the last week, each class has made an artwork that connects them with their school and their faith. They will be displayed around the school over this week of celebration. There will also be a liturgy on Thursday morning at 9:30am in the Hall and all are most welcome to attend.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
On Friday 6^th March we celebrate “World Day of Prayer”. Year 6 leaders from the Mission Group will attend a service at St Stephen's Anglican Church, Main St, Mittagong, commencing at 9am. It will be a wonderful celebration this year focusing on Zimbabwe.

For more information please see link https://worlddayofprayer.net/zimbabwe-2020.html

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
Confirmation is the final Sacrament of Initiation into the Catholic Church.  Parents who wish to present their children (Year 6 or older) for the Sacrament of Confirmation can collect an enrolment form from Fr Sean after any weekend Mass over the next three weekends.  Group classes will begin later this term and the Confirmation ceremony will be held in Term 2 on 16 May, 2020.

PARISH NEWS
Parish Fundraising To help fund our projects for this year (and beyond) eg. Awnings outside both churches, a “MEGA RAFFLE” has been launched.  First prize is a HONDAJAZZ, valued at over $20,000 (supplied by Southern Highlands Motor Group).  Tickets on sale now, $10.00 per ticket. Tickets can be purchased after Mass, via https://www.raffletix.com.au/ccsh or at the Parish Office.  The raffle will be drawn at the Trivia Night on 30 October, 2020.

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

Rebecca Mitchell
REC

This Year, St Michael's students are growing vegetables in our brand new Vege Pods outside the Year 3 and Year 4 classrooms.  The nice thing about the Vege Pods is they have a net on top to stop the birds eating the vegetables.

There are eight pods in total and each class was given their very own section.  Pod 1 has Year 1's rhubarb, Pod 2 has Year 2's lettuces, Pod 3 has Year 3's cucumbers, Pod 4 has Year 4's carrots, Pod 5 has Year 5's beetroot and Pod 6 has Year 6's beans.  Pod 7 and 8 are being looked after by the Yr 6 Environmental Group and they are growing radishes and strawberries.

Year Four has been measuring the veggies growth rates and we were surpirsed by how quickly they've grown.  We think it might be all the lovely rain we have been getting.

Today the Year 6 Environmental group are picking and selling the radishes at the end of school.

CROSS COUNTRY

Results:

LOOP - order online 
LOOP is the Scholastic Book Club Linked Online Ordering & Payment platform for parents. It allows you to order and pay online via credit card, negating the need to return forms and cash to school. It also cuts out the middle man, so you can be assured that your order is exactly as you want it. No waiting for change or wondering if the order actually made it to the Book Club Organiser. You can order and pay for Scholastic Book Club by credit card by visiting the Scholastic website at  https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent.aspx or on the go with the app (available in Google Play and the App Store). More information here http://www.scholastic.com.au/schools/bookclub/assets/pdfs/toolkitpdfs/Loop%20registration.jpg
 
Returning members can jump straight into your login and order here https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx

P&F Committee
This year the P&F coordinators are supported by class representatives. The P&F meet with the Principal and/or Assistant Principal as needed otherwise business arising will be agreed upon via email. We thank the following who have offered to volunteer as P&F class representatives:-

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

Abigail S, Billy L, Jorjee S and Brennan B