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TERM 4 WEEK 6 NEWSLETTER
Dear Parents and Carers,
Thank you for the wonderful support you have given to our staff and students since the return to school this term. I really appreciate your understanding with the many changes to school routines and events that have needed to happen due to our current Covid restrictions. Thankfully all our students have returned to school with enthusiasm and have continued to thrive, back in the classroom. Across the school, the students are settled and enjoying their learning experiences.
As there are a few items that need to be shared with you, we have placed them here in our newsletter, so that you have all our up to date information in one spot. We will continue to send COMPASS news feeds for any additional information a grade may need to know, as well as our weekly online assemblies and Facebook posts. If you have a Facebook account and have not yet joined our St Michael’s Facebook Page or the St Michael’s Parents and Friends page, I would encourage you to click on these links and “like” the pages.
REMEMBRANCE DAY
Yesterday, our school participated in a special online Remembrance Day Liturgy. Thank you to Mrs Mitchell and Year 6 for supporting our school’s recognition of this important day.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Lest we forget
HSC 2021
On behalf of our school, I wish our Year 6 class of 2015, the very best in the HSC exams. We are thinking of you and your families, as you undertake this last part of your educational journey.
ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT 2021
Currently we are preparing for our Annual School Report. As part of this process, the Catholic Education Office Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) have three surveys that they ask all schools to undertake. I ask that you consider completing the short….. I promise it is short…. “Survey For Parents”. Our Year 6 students will also complete a short survey, along with our staff. The link to the survey is here:
CEDoW CHRISTMAS STORY
Every year, students in our Year 5 and Year 6 classes participate in the Dioceses of Wollongong Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition. As part of the process, three artworks and descriptions from Year 5 and three artworks and descriptions from Year 6 are sent to the CEODoW for judging. This year the judging was completed in a digital format. When all of the entries are assessed, the top 39 artworks are chosen from the artworks entered into the competition to be a part of the Virtual Exhibition. We are very excited to announce that our three Year 5 entries were chosen for this next stage of the competition. The students whose work was chosen are Liam Gospel, Ruby Francis and Emily King. Their work was among the 39 top entries judged to best respond to the criteria and were exemplary of Stage 3 reflective writing and artistic skills.
This year the Christmas Story Art Competition and Exhibition opening and awards night will be a virtual event and will be premiered on YouTube from 7.00pm on Wednesday 24 November. A link will be made available to schools on Monday 22 November.
Congratulations Liam, Ruby and Emily.
GREAT SPORTSMANSHIP
Congratulations to Gabrielle in Year 4 for participating in the Run 2 Cure during the past weeks. This was a 10km run and fundraiser for childhood cancer research. Gabrielle also participated in the City 2 Surf VR - 14 km run. It is so great to hear about our students achievements.
KINDERGARTEN 2022 ORIENTATION
On Friday 19th November we will welcome our new Kindergarten 2022 students to school for their Kindergarten orientation. We are so excited to meet our new Kinders. Parents with students in the Kindergarten 2022 cohort will be sent a powerpoint presentation next Monday, explaining the many interesting things about our school. A Kindergarten information pack will be given to the parent bringing their child to school. A reminder that only one parent or carer can attend with their child and that parent or carer must be fully vaccinated. Whilst the children are in the classroom with Mrs Bourke-Nash, Mrs West will have a chat with the new parents and purchases of the sports shirt and hat can be organised during that time. No parents are permitted in the classroom due to covid restrictions. We thank you for your support of this orientation.
God bless
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.
| Friday 19th | Kinder 2022 Orientation Session 1: 9.30 - 10.30 Session 2:12.00-1.00 |
| Thursday 25th | School Photos |
| Friday 26th | Staff Spirituality Day (Pupil Free Day) |
DECEMBER
| Wednesday 1st | Year 5 Leadership Day |
| Thursday 2nd | Year 6 "2 Days of Fun" - Day 1 Parents to collect child at 9.30pm |
| Friday 3rd | Year 6 "2 Days of Fun" - Day 2 |
| Saturday 4th | First Holy Communion 10am and 11.30am |
| Friday 10th | End of Year Mass / Year 6 Awards |
| Monday 13th | Andrew Chin Christmas Concert (TBC) |
| Tuesday 14th | Transition to New Classes |
| Wednesday 15th | Last day of School for students and staff |
| Friday 28th |
School Opens (staff only) |
FEBRUARY 2022
| Tuesday 1st |
First day of school for Students (years 1 -6) |
| Wednesday 2nd | Best Start Assessments continue for Kinder 2022 |
| Thursday 3rd | Best Start Assessments continue for Kinder 2022 |
| Friday 4th | Best Start Assessments continue for Kinder 2022 |
| Monday 7th | Best Start Assessments continue for Kinder 2022 |
| Tuesday 8th | Kinder 2022 Students commence |
| Thursday 17th | Swimming Carnival (Years 2-6) TNC |
The link below will take you straight to the parent calendar.
St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal
Next week we will start to collect donations of non-perishable food items to help St Vincent De Paul support people in our community who need help over the festive period.
These non-perishable food items will be donated to our local St Vincent De Paul Chapter to distribute to families in need within our local community.
Please see below an item list for each Year. There are some suggestions of items for each class but you are not limited to the items.
PARISH NEWS
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
First Holy Communion has commenced and students from Year 3 within our parish are preparing to receive the Eucharist for the first time. Each week students will complete a variety of activities with their parents, to understand the importance of the Eucharist. On Saturday, the 4th December there will be two special Masses, 10 am and 11:30 am for students to receive the Eucharist.
Please keep all of these students in your prayers and thoughts over the coming weeks.
MASS
Slowly, but surely Masses are returning to a more regular practice of our faith, and a further easing of restrictions have come into effect as of Monday 8th November.
So, from this weekend (13th/14th November), you will no longer be required to pre-register for Mass, as the capacity of the Church will increase to 270.
When you arrive at Mass, you will still need to sign in through the QR code on your phone or write your name and contact details on the sheet at the entrance to the Church. Masks will also be required to be worn once inside the Church.
Weekend Masses
Saturday Vigil - 5:00pm
Sunday - 8:00am
Sunday - 9:30am
Sunday - 5:00pm
Weekday Masses
Tuesday - 8:00am
Wednesday - 7:30am
Thursday - 7:30am
Friday - 8:00am
REMINDER: Christmas cards and Columban Calendars are available to purchase from the front of the Church. Please place the money in the Poor Box.
Keep "Christ in Christmas"
Cards - packs of 8 @ $3.50
Columban Calendars @ $9.00 each
Please put money in the Poor Box
SCHOOL FEES
All school fees need to be finalised by Friday 3rd December 2021. Payment of school fees are part of your enrolment obligation and receiving these are imperative for the running of the school. If you are having trouble paying your school fees, please contact the school office to make an appointment to see Mrs West.
SCHOOL PHOTOS - CHANGE OF DATE
Our school photos will now be on Thursday 25th November.
LEAVING FAMILIES
Please let us know if you are planning to move your child/children to a different school in 2022 as soon as possible, as we have had quite a few enquiries over the past weeks for new enrolments and we need to gauge an idea of class sizes for 2022.
Please see attached letter regarding the introduction of an IT levy in 2022.
We are happy to announce that all classrooms including the music room now have 75' TV's complete with apple tv and mobile stand. These valuable technology additions to the school would not have been possible without the generous fundraising support from our Olympics Day Fundraiser held earlier this year and the Catholic Education Office Wollongong's contribution. Thank you for your support.
We have recently purchased 10 new iPads which the school has purchased for use within the classrooms as part of our continued replenishment to digital technology.
COMMONWEALTH BANK - STUDENT BANKING
Thank you to our many parent volunteers over the years who have helped St Michael's with the student banking.
SEMESTER 2 REPORTS 2021
Due to the disruption caused by COVID-19, adjustments to curriculum have been made throughout Terms 3 and 4. Focus for Semester 2 has been on student wellbeing and learning, and priority has been given to Religious Education, English and Mathematics. As a result of this extended period of Remote Learning and the lack of opportunities for teachers to provide reliable assessment tasks to determine student learning attainment and/or growth, student reporting in Semester 2, 2021 will look a little different to the one you received earlier this year.
This Report provides information about your child’s participation in learning during this time of extended Remote Learning. I would like to extend my thanks to you, the parents and carers, for your ongoing support and commitment to your child’s learning through these unique times.
Semester 2 Reports will be published via Compass on Friday 3rd December. Semester Reports are no longer printed by the School (except for Year 5 and Year 6). For those unable to download or print a copy of the school report, please notify the school and a copy will be printed for you.
A reminder that a student profile exists on Compass only for the period of their enrolment at St Michael’s. When a student leaves St Michael's, their profile and semester reports will not be accessible. As students' academic reports are provided to families via Compass, it is important that parents of leaving students download and save the reports before the student leaves St Michael’s so that it remains accessible in the future (eg for high school application).
EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITH INSTALMENTS
If you are currently paying by instalments there is no need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment as your request carries over from year to year unless you wish to amend the frequency of your payments eg Weeky to Fortnightly, etc.
EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITHOUT INSTALMENTS
If you would like to pay school fees by instalments in 2022 and have previously not taken up this option for payment, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on the school’s website or from the school’s administration office. On completion of the request either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au or submit at the school office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your school fee account during the process of invoicing 2022 school fees. Your school fee statement will provide a list of scheduled payments and their due date depending on the frequency you have chosen eg Fortnightly, Monthly, etc.
School Fees are invoiced as an annual account, due for payment in full 30 days after invoicing. However, many families elect to pay their school fees by regular instalments and as a new family to our school, we would like to offer you this option. If wish to take up this offer, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on the school’s website or from the school’s administration office. On completion of the request, either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au or submit at the school office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your school fee account during the process of invoicing 2022 school fees. Your school fee statements are emailed to you and they will provide a list of scheduled payments and their due date.
YEAR 6 CAMP (updated)
As mentioned previously due to COVID 19 guidelines and directives, excursions and school camps are not able to proceed for the remainder of the 2021 school year. This means that we are not able to attend camp this year. This has caused great disappointment and we have since been working to find alternative arrangements, so that the Year Six students will still have a memorable experience to finish their year.
Whilst we are not able to offer Year 6 the traditional camp experience, we have arranged a variety of fun activities to take place over the two days that camp was scheduled to take place. These activities have been arranged exclusively for Year 6 as a way to celebrate their end of primary schooling at St Michael’s. We will be incorporating many of the camp experiences, using venues across the Southern Highlands. Please see below the new itinerary for Thursday 2/12/21 and Friday 3/12/21.
Thursday 2nd December
Students will travel by bus to the Moss Vale Basketball Stadium for three hours. Mrs Mitchell and Mr Tuckwell will provide Year 6 with a variety of game and skill-based activities. Students will depart school at 9:30am and return to school at approximately 1.45pm.
Following lunch, students will play games and arts and craft activities before they settle down to a sausage sizzle dinner and watch a movie on the ‘big screen’ outdoors. The sausage sizzle dinner and ‘g’ rated movie on the big screen will be held on the grounds of St Michael’s Primary School Mittagong with Mrs Mitchell, Mr Tuckwell and Mrs West supervising.
Year 6 students will shortly be asked to vote for a ‘g’ movie and once decided, Mrs Mitchell will view it prior to the day to ensure suitability.
Parents are asked to collect their child from the school by 9.30pm.
Students will need to bring morning tea, lunch and a drink bottle.
Friday 3rd December
Students will walk to the PCYC at Mittagong and participate in a variety of activities including circus skills, archery, ninja warrior obstacle course and multi sports/games. Students will depart school at 9am and return at approximately 2pm.
Students will need to bring morning tea, lunch and a drink bottle.
On both days, students are allowed to wear casual clothes and sandshoes/joggers.
The camp cost billed to Year 6 families for 2021 was $281. The cost for the Year 6 ‘2 Days of Fun’ is $90 per child. This cost is non refundable due to non attendance or should events need to be cancelled closer to the due date. The cost will be deducted from the billed camp levy. A refund credit will be processed for the remaining camp charge, namely $191.00.
COVID19 precautions
As part of our Covid Safe requirements, hand sanitiser will be provided for students when they enter and exit each venue and when entering/exiting bus transport. All students will be encouraged to promote physical distancing and hygiene. A Covid Safe plan has been obtained from each venue. In the event that your child displays symptoms of COVID19 whilst attending the ‘2 Days of Fun’, measures will be put in place to maintain the health and wellbeing of your child as well as other students and staff. Should your child fall ill (including displaying any flu like symptoms) parents will be contacted and asked to collect their child immediately.
We sincerely thank parents and carers for the support you are giving your children and for the understanding you are showing to our school as we respond to this unique situation.
Rebecca Mitchell Katrina West
Year 6 Teacher Principal
Recently students harvested the beetroot and some of the spinach from the school's veggie and subpods. After giving the beetroot a good cleaning we cooked, peeled and cut them up and placed them into a mixture of vinegar and sugar. It was interesting tasting freshly cooked beetroot, a tasting that many students enjoyed. The spinach too was cooked up and turned into Mrs Lane’s famous Spinach Pie. Many students enjoyed a piece and were amazed at how good spinach can taste. A big thank you to Mrs Lane.
