WELCOME TO WEEK 8
Thank you for the wonderful support you are giving the school community during this time. Yesterday, I sent out a news feed item on COMPASS that explained the current processes put into place by the NSW Government, Catholic Schools NSW and the Catholic Education Office Wollongong.  For the children though, we are endeavouring to keep their school life as happy and as routine as possible, with just a few changes to things like the assemblies, personal body space and the extra handwashing focus, as differences that they will be aware of.

Today our Director of Schools, Mr Peter Hill, has sent out a letter to reconfirm the strategies we have put into place and the information that parents need to be aware of. It is very important that you read this letter. This letter was sent to you via COMPASS.

How does this impact St Michael’s Primary School?
Apart from all the points raised in the information given by our Government and Educational organisations, the following items address particular procedures that are pertinent to our school.

• Our Friday Assembly has been postponed until further notice, as there is to be no gatherings of 50 people or more. We will conduct an in-class assembly instead. We are currently working on ways we can share digitally, the weekly awards, class prayer, class presentations and liturgies.
• The students are asked to line up outside their classrooms when the bell rings rather than assemble on the playground
• Students who are sick are asked to stay at home until they are well. Any child who becomes sick at school will need to go home as per NSW Health guidelines. If your child does come into contact with Corona Virus Covid-19, you will need to follow all of the protocols relating to that.
• Parents who bring their children to school of a morning, are still most welcome to do so, however we ask that you leave the site as soon as possible, in order to lessen the numbers of people on the asphalt area. The same procedure for afternoon pick up.
• End of Term 1 Parent/Teacher meetings will be conducted via a phone call. Further details will be given about this.
• The students are required to wash their hands with soap according to National Health Guidelines. We have been encouraging this as a usual practice always, but particularly now with the discussion of keeping our hands clean, being very prominent as a response to COVID 19.
• Students have been asked not to shake hands or “High 5” and be mindful of giving people personal space. We have discussed other ways we can say hello in a meaningful way.

Our staff really care about your children and we are trying as much as we can, to keep your children happy, safe and supported whilst they are at school. Thank you for your continued support of our staff and our school, especially during this time of change.

Speaking about change, at our staff prayer last week, Ms Brogan shared this special prayer with us and I thought it would be nice to share with you too.

Lenten Prayer for Transformation

Loving Father,

I invite you into my life today
and make myself available to you.
Help me to become the-best-version-of-myself
by seeking your will and becoming a living example
of your love in the world.
Open my heart to the areas of my life that need to change
in order for me to carry out the mission
and experience the joy you have imagined for my life.
Inspire me to live the Catholic faith
in ways that are dynamic and engaging.
Give me courage when I am afraid,
hope when I am discouraged,
and clarity in times of decision.
Teach me to
to become all you imagined I would be.

Amen.

PROJECT COMPASSION
Third Week of Lent

Project Compassion, Week 3, brings you the story of Barry, a Gamilaroi man originally from western NSW. Barry is a father of four and he embodies resilience and strength. Growing up in a tough environment, he had to look inside himself to make the right choices for himself and his family.

Barry, and others like him, were able to take part in a cultural healing program called Red Dust Healing. This program encourages participants to examine their own personal hurt and allows them to heal from within, addressing family and personal relationships and what may have been life-long patterns of violence, abuse and neglect.

Your support of Project compassion can help build a brighter future for people like Barry through the Red Dust Healing program.

Let’s Go Further, Together! lent.caritas.org.au

HAPPY ST PATRICK’S DAY
Today is St Patrick’s Day, a day where we celebrate the life of St Patrick and all he accomplished. St Patrick loved to help others and our Year 2 class have followed his example, by raising money today, to help the children at the Maubara Orphanage. Congratulations to all of our students at St Michael’s for supporting our Year 2 fundraiser and for joining in the spirit of this special day.  The sum of $184 was raised.

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

• • Thursday 19^th March – St Joseph’s Day
  • Thursday 9^th April – Holy Thursday
  • Friday 10^th April – Good Friday

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 Mass this weekend (last weekend).  Group classes will begin later this term and the Confirmation ceremony will be held Saturday, 16th May, 2020.

St Joseph’s Day 
This Thursday the 19^th March, is the feast day of St Joseph. As our school was founded by the sisters of St Joseph’s we celebrate our connection with St Joseph and the sisters with a special class liturgy.

The Abbey
For the time being Year 6 visits to The Abbey are postponed.

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 continue on the 25th March, 2020 at 7:15 p.m in the Parish Hall. Topic: “Prayer & The Life of the Spirit.” All welcome to attend.

​Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross will be held at St Thomas Aquinas Chapel on Friday 20 March, 2020 at 11.00 a.m. All welcome to attend.

Second Rite of Reconciliation
The 2nd Rite of Reconciliation will be held on Monday of Holy week (Week 11) 6^th April, 6pm at St Thomas Aquinas Church, Bowral.  Several priests will be in attendance.  This is a very good way to prepare for the Easter season and is quite timely for our Year 6 Confirmation candidates who have been asked to participate in the Sacrament of Penance as part of their preparation.

If participating in this sacrament is something that interests you but you are unsure of the process, here is a short summary of what takes place:

The second form of the Sacrament of Penance is a communal liturgical celebration and begins with the community listening to the word of God. There is a brief homily which emphasises our need for repentance and the infinite mercy of God. During the examination of conscience, the assembly reflects together on where and how they have fallen short of their baptismal commitment to follow Christ.

The individual confession and absolution that follows is communal too in that the penitents approach the priests in full view of all present. The priests stand at appropriate points around the church in such a way that penitents can be seen but not heard by others. Those who wish to confess their sins approach one of the priests. While no restriction is placed on the individual's confession, good manners and common sense dictate that people limit the time they spend with priests.

Rebecca Mitchell
REC

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

Jack M, Tiana G, James S.B and Anthony B

Please see attached flyer regarding the P&F Easter Raffle.

The NSW Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) will take place again this year.  Challenge entries are now open.  The PRC student site is available again this year! Students in years 3-6 can search for books to read by visiting https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/studentExperience.html#/.

The final day for student entries is Friday 28 August.  Start reading and start recording! 

Mrs Linda Sewell