A SEASON OF NEW LIFE  
Spring has definitely sprung here in the Southern Highlands. As we look across our school grounds, there are many signs of new life, such as the seven gorgeous ducklings that are living under the music room and the beautiful pink blossoms of the trees along the sidewalk.

Spring is such a glorious time. It is a time of rebirth, new beginnings, and fresh starts. It is a time of growth, a time of beauty, and most of all a time of life. Being out and about in the spring air can help people to awaken their spirit, enlighten their mind, energize their body, and uplift their soul. Recognising the beauty around us can make us aware of just how precious each day is and just how priceless each moment of our lives can be. Life is for living and for loving not just for existing.

A PRAYER FOR SPRING

May the new life bursting forth in nature
awaken us to the endless life in our own souls.
May the new growth and new beginnings around us
help us to choose new growth in love
and new beginnings in joy in our own life.
May this wondrous glory of creation
remind us of the loving hand of God that created it.

Amen

Have a happy Spring everyone.

BOOK FAIR
Book Fair has commenced!!

The students are very excited to visit the Library and look at all of the wonderful selections. They may be bringing home a "wish list". Please discuss their list with them and send in an amount if you agree to these purchases.

You can make payments online via
https://parentpayments.scholastic.com.au/BookFairs

Record your receipt number on the Student Wish List and return it to school this week. 

BOOK CHARACTER PARADE- Literacy Week
Our Book Character Parade will be held tomorrow - Wednesday 2^nd September for the students and staff. The students will be able to wear their costume to school. We are looking forward to a very fun day! We will take some photos and post them on our school Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/stmichaels.mittagong/ and in the class SeeSaw pages. Unfortunately due to COVID 19 restrictions, we are unable to have parents and grandparents onsite for the parade.

GDAY
Also due to COVID 19 restrictions, our GDay will be different this year. We will not have visitors to the school, however, we are planning an online assembly for all the “Great People” to view this Friday. The link will be sent via our school Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/stmichaels.mittagong/ and in the class SeeSaw pages.

On this day you will see two videos that the family can watch. The first is a lovely Grandparents Liturgy and the second will be a GDay Music, Dance and Literacy performance. We hope you enjoy these videos. I would like to thank all of our staff for the time and preparation that has gone into creating an online version of our GDay. Hopefully by this time next year, our GDay will be back to “normal”.

FATHERS DAY STALL
Thank you to all our families who supported the P&F Fathers Day Stall. All items ordered will be sent via the students on Thursday this week.

HAPPY FATHERS AND GRANDFATHERS DAY
We wish all of our fathers and grandfathers a wonderful Father’s Day. Thank you for all the love and care you give to your children. We hope you have a great day celebrating with your families.

CANTEEN
Please note that from this week the canteen will be open on Wednesday and Thursday. 
The canteen will no longer be open on a Friday.

SCHOOL UNIFORMS
As you are aware, Mimosa has closed their business. We have purchased their remaining stock. If you need a uniform item, can you please contact the school office. Thank you.

Have a wonderful week everyone,
Take care and God Bless
Katrina West

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE CARE OF CREATION

From the 1^st September to the 4^th October each year, we celebrate God’s gift of creation by praying and acting together to protect our common home. During this time our global family prays and continues to protect every creature in God’s beautifully complex web of creation. The theme of this year’s Season of Creation celebration is “Jubilee for Earth”. Today, take a moment to stop and appreciate the beauty of God’s creation, our home.

Click on this link to listen to what Pope Francis says about our connection to creation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbK5l8OcjJg&feature=emb_logo

THANK YOU YEAR 3
Thank you to Year 3 for the wonderful idea to wear comfortable clothes last Friday. They raised a fantastic amount of $204.60. This will be very much appreciated by the Sisters at the Maubara Orphanage.

MASS
Be assured that in the Parish, every precaution is being observed to ensure the safety of those who come to Mass:  distancing is clearly marked in the Church and maintained during Mass; all of the liturgical restrictions are followed (Communion in the hand and no singing); the Church is cleaned after each Mass; registration of those who attend is carefully recorded; sanitising is practiced by all who enter the Church.  So, please, if you are well and able do not be hesitant about coming to Mass.

Please remember that all Masses will be celebrated at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, because of the social distancing requirements.

Weekends Mass times will be:

Vigil Mass 5^th September           5.00 p.m.

Sunday     6^th September            8.00 a.m.

                                                 9.30 a.m.

                                                 5.00 p.m.

Monday                                      7.15 a.m. (The Hermitage, Mittagong)

Tuesday                                     8.00 a.m.

Wednesday                                 7.30 a.m.

Thursday                                    7.30 a.m.

Friday                                         8.00 a.m.

​

Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered from 4.15 p.m. to 4.45 p.m. on Saturday.

Reminder - If you have any students who are in Year 6 and wishing to be Confirmed this year, they will need to attend Mass to register. If you have already registered for Confirmation remember to get your name marked off after Mass. You will still need to follow the links on the parish website www.ccsh.org.au to register for any of the weekend Masses.

​Rebecca Mitchell
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.

OCTOBER

Click here to access the Calendar

School Dental Visit
Due to the recent Catholic Education Office directives, the dental visit has been cancelled for 2020.

Have a School Related Query?
Please contact the school directly for any questions or concerns - as this is the best source of information you will receive.

We communicate information fortnightly to parents via the school newsletter. The Compass Parent Portal allows us to send out instant news items along with our school facebook page.

The school calendar can be accessed via the Compass Parent Portal and upcoming events are noted in the newsletter.

School Fee Statements
School fee statements will be emailed within the next few days.  If you do not receive your fee statement, please contact the school.

If you are experiencing financial hardship and are having difficulty paying your school fees, we ask that you do not ighore your fee statement and contact the school office to discuss options that may be availble to you.

If you have any queries regarding your school fees, please contact the school.

Clarification regarding return to school following flu-like symptoms
Students who have been sick with flu-like symptoms defined by NSW Health as:

• Fever
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath (difficulty breather)
• Sore Throat
• Loss of smell or taste

are required to present a negative COVID test result before returning to school. 

Please provide the school with a copy of COVID test results, as we are required to add this information to our school COVID testing register which is updated on a daily basis. The best way to do this is by sending a quick email to info@smmdow.catholic.edu.au.   Once the result is received, please email a copy to the school immediately, this can be done as a screenshot if the result is sent as a text to your phone.  Please note that your child will need to be symptom free and have a negative COVID test result before returning to school. 

• Headache
• Muscle or joint pain
• Runny nose
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomitting or diarrhoea
• Loss of Appetite

School Uniform Supplier
As previously advised to parents, we received notification that Mimosa has closed down their business effective Saturday 22nd August.   The school received notice from Mimosa on the 19th August of their decision.  The school is arranging to purchase what little stock Mimosa has left.

We are currently looking at new uniform suppliers and hope to be able to advise you of that decision shortly.  

Water Bottles

Due to COVID 19 restrictions, the bubblers have been turned off.  Therefore it is important that students come prepared to school with their own water bottle.

FATHER'S DAY STALL

Thank you for supporting the P&F Father's Day Stall.  All gifts will be sent home with students on Thursday/Friday of this week.