Last Sunday was the first Sunday of Lent. During the season of Lent, we are invited to examine our lives, to repent our sins and do penance. By means of fasting, penance and prayers, we obtain the strength we need to overcome temptation. The Gospel told us of the victory of Jesus over the devil in the desert. Led by the Spirit, Jesus went into the wilderness, where he prayed and fasted for forty days. He was tempted three times and he resisted all three temptations. The three temptations can be summed up as temptations to power, pride and glory. The first temptation demanded that miraculous power be used to provide for basic material needs. The second temptation demanded that Divine power be used to produce a spectacular “sign” that would compel anyone to believe, leading to pride. The third temptation demanded the use of Divine power to establish a worldly Kingdom of God and secure glory. All the three temptations can be summarized briefly as short cuts to an end and to be unfaithful to the call and mission of God. All appealing just like today’s ‘get rich schemes’ they seem too good to be true, usually are, and then come at a high price.

Jesus had the mission to save the world by his suffering and cross. All the temptations Jesus underwent in the desert called for the misuse of his power as messiah and Son of God. The devil tried to get Jesus to take the easy way out. Imagine how things would have changed if he didn’t stay true to his mission.

Lord,
Help each one of us to see our priorities and not be led astray,
Help us to not become too concerned about material things and seek our own glory.
During this time of Lent help us more clearly to see the ways to follow you,
We come to you for refreshment and renewal,
Help us to forget ourselves and find true happiness in serving you. As we
re-examine our lives through self discipline and prayer may we enter your stillness, be sensitive to your call and know your will for us.
Amen.

Thank you to everyone who attended our special assembly for Catholic Schools’ week on Friday. A special thank you to Mr. Tuckwell for his preparation and setting up. It was lovely being able to have the liturgy outside in our beautiful surroundings. If you haven’t yet had a chance to visit our “gallery” in the hall, it will be on display until next week so feel free to drop in or view it at this week’s assembly.

Have a lovely week everyone,
Kayleen Petzer

Last week, Years 1 to Year 6 (and many members of the parish) celebrated Mass for Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the season of Lent.   ‘Project Compassion’ boxes have been placed in classrooms and it would be great if each child made little contributions over the next six weeks. The Caritas Australia website has a lot of information (and links to videos etc) that demonstrate how even a small amount of money can make a difference. It would be worth having a look together as a family.

Last Friday we held an outdoors assembly to finalise our Catholic Schools Week celebrations. It was lovely to all be outside together in the Prayer Garden and give thanks for our school and our community. Posters and artworks designed by each class will be on display in the Hall this week.

Mr Richard Tuckwell, REC

Listed below are some important school dates.  The school calendar is updated regularly and can be accessed via the school website, Compass Parent Portal and Skoolbag.

MARCH

Parent Teacher Interviews (Years 1-6) 
A reminder that parent teacher interviews will be held in week 9 of this term. Bookings are made through the Compass Parent Portal.  Please contact the school if you need assistance with making a booking. 

St Michael's Facebook page 
St Michael's facebook page is a means of communication and promotion of the school to current and potential new families.  Facebook alongside other avenues of communication allows the school to distribute information to parents and school community members regarding upcoming events, fundraising efforts or school community news. 

The page is not the correct forum for complaints, issues or questions regarding the school.  In these instances, you are asked to raise these queries directly with the School.  We do not encourage comments on the posts as this is not the purpose of the page so you will find that they are deleted.

EXCITING NEWS!!!  Fresh Starts Canteen will shortly be trialling a 24/7 cashless solution for the ordering and purchasing of canteen lunches.  The system largely replaces the traditional lunch order system where students bring money and a bag to school to place an order. 

The online ordering system, called Flexischools, allows parents to place orders from home or work at any time up until 9.00am in the morning. As payment for the order is made online, parents no longer need to send cash and a paper lunch order to school.  

As well as being convenient for parents, the online orders are much faster and easier for the canteen to process, making everyone's life a little easier. Flexischools is well established and tested, and is operating in hundreds of schools across Australia.

If you do not have access to the internet you will be still be able to order lunches using a paper bag and money.

This week's canteen specials:-

Chicken burger, lettuce and mayo $5.00
Snack pasta pot $1.00

CANTEEN CLOSED MONDAYS/TUESDAYS

Purpose of the P&F
St Michael's Parents and Friends Association (P&F) plays a vital part in supporting the school community. It is a forum for parents to contribute suggestions and ideas that assist the principal's role of building a welcoming and supportive community.

Every P&F fundraiser is run entirely by volunteers - from the big jobs of organising events, right down to baking cupcakes or manning a sausage sizzle for an hour. No amount of support is too great or small.

P&F Committee
President - Liz Martinovic 
Treasurer - Karen Alexander

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:-

Kinder: Sue Butler
Year 1: Symone Scott and Sandra Talman
Year 2: Sue Butler and Belinda Snowden
Year 3: Suzanne King
Year 4: Karen Alexander
Year 5: Katrina Bartone
Year 6: Linda Francis

P&F Egg Stravaganza and Guessing Competition

Please see attached flyer regarding changes to primary and secondary school entry & immunisation.  As part of our immunisation register requirements, we will be contacting any families who have not provided the school with a copy of the AIR Immunisation History Statement.  A copy of vaccination details from your child's My Personal Health Record (the Blue Book) is not accepted.

Parents should provide the school with:

• an AIR Immunisation History Statement for a child that is up to date, not up to date or can’t be immunised for medical reasons or has natural immunity, or
• an AIR immunisation History Form for a child on an approved catch-up schedule.

Children can still be enrolled if an immunisation certificate is not provided or if they are listed on the immunisation certificate as not fully immunised. However, these children will be considered unimmunised and may be excluded from school if there is an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease at the school or if they come into contact with a person with a vaccine preventable disease, even if there is no outbreak at the school.