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| 7 August | 6.00pm | Confirmation Parent Information Night |
| 8 August | 8.50am | Morning Awards/Birthday Assembly |
| 8 August | Feast Day of Mary of the Cross MacKillop and Winter Woolies | |
| 15 August | 9.30am | K-6 Book Week Performance in Hall Treasure Hunt |
| 15 August | 12.00pm | Feast of the Assumption Mass in Church |
| 18 August | Book Week Dress up & Parade | |
| 19 August | Belconnen Athletics @ AIS | |
| 20 August | 6.00pm | 5/6 Puberty Parent Information Talk |
| 21 August | Year 5/6 Camp | |
| 22 August | Year 5/6 Camp | |
| Thursday, 4th September |
Confirmation Retreat Day/Family Prayer Night at St Monica’s |
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| Tuesday 16th September (St Michael’s) and Wednesday/Thursday 18th/19th September (St Monica’s) | Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation |
Dear Parents and Carers,
Last Friday we attended the annual NAIDOC Mass and Awards at St Christopher’s Cathedral. Selina Walker, Ngunnawal Elder began with the welcome to country where she invited all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people forward to the Altar to stand together in solidarity.
Zanna demonstrates a deep understanding of the techniques and symbols used to create artworks that represent First Nations Peoples. She created a Memory Game for students in our school to play by painting Aboriginal symbols on wooden blocks. Zanna also designed the Year 6 Leadership shirt for 2025. The design uses colours and symbols in an effective way to reflect our school vision and incorporate Aboriginal symbols that represent a meeting place and rivers as the word ‘Kaleen’ means ‘water’ in traditional Aboriginal language.
101 Days in Kindergarten
Our Kindergarten children and Miss O’Rourke were not at school yesterday! Instead at line up there were very cute dalmatians celebrating 101 Days at school! Miss O’Rourke mentioned they had a ‘pawesome’ day celebrating 101 days of Kindergarten with exciting activities and a special visit from their Year 6 Buddies.
On Tuesday last week our Green team were involved in another wonderful workshop with support from Bunnings. There was a lot of planting and re-potting to get ready for some serious planting in September.
Potatoes and cabbages together with sunflower seeds and some other herb seeds have all been planted. Great effort team!
Thank you and farewell…
It has been a privilege leading St Michael’s. Sharing the journey with your precious children has been a joy and a blessing. Your children are at the heart of everything we do. I have been very fortunate to be supported by Fr. Mick and Sr Kate from the Parish and my wonderful leadership team - Bridgette McCann and Erika Tokich. I am so proud of every staff member for their dedication and passion and for always giving student wellbeing and inclusion first priority.
Grateful thanks to Evan Thomas, the Chair of the Community Council and his team of generous parents. We have such a vibrant and supportive community, thanks to all our families. Thank you for the beautiful flowers and gifts, they are so greatly appreciated. It was really wonderful having my family at Assembly to celebrate and share some precious memories. I know I will continue to hear great things about St Michael’s, and it will always have a special place in my heart.
Best wishes for a future filled with peace, hope and joy for all.
Many Blessings,
Judy Egan
Principal
Community Council Corner
At our recent Community Council meeting, we took a moment to thank our wonderful Principal, Judy Egan, for her tireless commitment, leadership and passion for St Michael’s. Judy has made a lasting impact on our school—not just in the way things run day to day, but in the way she’s helped shape a kind, inclusive, and values-driven culture that supports every student. As she prepares for a well-earned retirement, Judy shared her gratitude for the support of the Council and the wider community. With her usual warmth and humility, she spoke about what a privilege it’s been to lead the school and expressed full confidence in the team who’ll continue the great work. We’re incredibly thankful for everything she’s done—for our children, our families, and our staff.
The meeting also touched on a number of exciting things happening around the school. Planning is well underway for Term 3 events like Book Week, Father’s Day, and our St Michael’s Feast Day. We celebrated the great results from our Year 5/6 futsal teams and heard about upcoming activities including tennis clinics, Indigenous cultural sessions, and author visits.
We also gave the green light to a new healthy Snack Food Sale Pilot, looked at ways to improve Before and After School Care, and noted recent staffing updates. As always, we thank our school community for their continued involvement and support in helping St Michael’s thrive.
Evan Thomas - Chair
On Monday we gathered as a community to give thanks and celebrate Mrs Egan; her leadership, her service, and the lasting impact she has made on all of us.
Mrs Egan was presented with some beautiful class pages, which every child contributed to and were gratefully received. The students also shared a poem and sang Mrs Egan a song with actions.
Acrostic Poem for Mrs Egan
M: Musical and full of grace,
R: Radiating warmth in every space,
S: Such a leader, kind and strong,
E: Embracing the community all along,
G: Guiding with compassion and care,
A: Always inspiring, always fair,
N: Never forgotten, beyond compare.
Song for Mrs Egan
Mrs Egan, Mrs
You’ve led the way
You’ve led the way
Reminding us of the rules
Keeping us on track
We’ll miss you
We’ll miss you
Mrs Egan, Mrs Egan
You’re so great
You’re so great
Always singing songs
Big smile on your face
Magic with a rake
Magic with a rake
Mrs Egan, Mrs Egan
You’re the best
You’re the best
You can have a holiday
Travel with your family
Have some rest
Have some rest
We would like to thank our special guests who attended Mrs Egan’s farewell assembly, especially Mrs Egan’s family, Fr Mick, Sr Kate and Evan Thomas our Community Council chair. Thank you to the Parish Team for their generous gifts. Thank you also to the Community Council for the beautiful flowers that were presented to Mrs Egan on behalf of the parent body.
On behalf of the staff, I would like farewell Mrs Egan as she embarks on a new chapter in her life—one filled with travel, adventure, and exciting opportunities. Throughout her time at St Michael’s, Mrs Egan has led our school community with grace, compassion, and commitment. Her deep empathy has allowed every student, family, and staff member to feel valued, while her generosity of spirit has touched countless lives.
Mrs Egan’s leadership has always been grounded in kindness and a passion for education. She has worked tirelessly to build a nurturing, inclusive, and inspiring environment where every learner is encouraged to flourish. Whether through her thoughtful guidance, her calming presence, or her tireless advocacy for student wellbeing, Mrs Egan has made a profound and lasting impact on our community. While we will miss her dearly, we send her off with heartfelt thanks and every blessing for the road ahead.
Bridgette McCann (Assistant Principal)
Special wishes to those children who will celebrate their birthdays this week: Heath W, KY, Harry B, 5/6P, Knox L, 2R, Max M, 1B, Charlotte O, 3/4G, Jeremy M, 5/6I, Aryan K, 3/4G.
Congratulations to the following students who achieved a Harmony Award this week.
Well done!!
| K Yellow | Eupel C |
| 1 Blue | Alicia K |
| 2 Red | Mia B |
| 3/4 Green | Christopher J |
| 3/4 Orange | Eliza D |
| 5/6 Indigo | Matteo L |
| 5/6 Pink | Zanna B |
In Week 1, St. Michael’s Primary School celebrated NAIDOC Week with lots of cultural activities. It was an opportunity for students and teachers to come together and celebrate the rich history, diverse cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the oldest continuing cultures on this planet. The NAIDOC 2025 theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors.
All classes engaged in exciting and thought-provoking learning which celebrated the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Art lessons with Mrs McKeough in our first week explored an Aboriginal theme. Teachers reported wonderful engagement with the “The Next Generation” theme and were deeply affected by the conversations they had with their students.
On Friday 25th July was the Canberra NAIDOC mass at St. Christopher’s Cathedral, Manuka. We again congratulate Zanna B from Year 6 who received the 2025 NAIDOC Art Award. She is a creative and passionate young artist, and I wish her continued success in the future. We also thank Mrs Egan, Mrs McCann and our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who represented St Michael’s at this event.
Feast Day of Mary of the Cross MacKillop – Friday, 8th August
This Friday, we come together as a school community to celebrate the Feast Day of Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australia’s first saint and a woman of faith, courage, and compassion.
Mary MacKillop was born in Victoria in 1842 and from a young age, she felt a strong calling to help others. While working as a teacher, Mary met Fr Julian Tenison Woods, a priest with a passion for providing education to children in rural and remote areas of Australia. Together, in 1866, they founded the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph, Australia's first religious order. That same year, they also opened the first free Catholic school in Penola, South Australia.
After taking her vows, Mary became known as Mary of the Cross. She dedicated her life to serving the poor and vulnerable, establishing orphanages, schools, hospitals, and homes for the homeless across Australia and New Zealand. Mary’s mission was not without hardship; she faced criticism, poverty, and even excommunication from the Church. Despite these challenges, she remained steadfast in her faith, showing forgiveness and refusing to speak ill of those who opposed her.
Mary MacKillop was a strong female leader who, through her perseverance and trust in God, changed the lives of countless people. She passed away on 8th August 1909, aged 67. Her legacy lives on, and in 1995, Pope John Paul II declared her “Blessed,” the first step toward sainthood. She was officially canonised as a saint in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI, becoming Australia’s first saint.
As we celebrate Mary MacKillop’s Feast Day, we honour her example of faith in action by continuing her mission of service. Students are invited to wear non-uniform and bring in cash donations in support of MacKillop House, a local service that provides crisis accommodation for women and families in need. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to live out Mary’s motto: “Never see a need without doing something about it.” Let us follow in the footsteps of Mary of the Cross MacKillop, responding to the needs of others with open hearts, generosity and faith.
Confirmation – Important Dates and Information
Registrations for the Sacrament of Confirmation have now closed. The Sacrament will be celebrated across three evenings: 16th, 17th, and 18th of September at St Michael’s and St Monica’s churches.
To ensure candidates are fully prepared, the following commitments are required:
- Attend two Parish-led formation sessions at St Monica’s Church with at least one parent:
- Thursday, 7th August | 6:00–7:00pm
- Thursday, 4th September | 6:00–7:00pm
- Thursday, 7th August | 6:00–7:00pm
- Complete a family-based workbook program during the preparation period.
- Participate in a Confirmation Retreat Day, supported by both St Michael’s and St Monica’s Primary Schools on Thursday, 4th September.
Throughout the preparation, candidates will:
- Choose a Saint’s name and a sponsor.
- Reflect on the gifts of the Holy Spirit received at Baptism, which will be strengthened through the Sacrament of Confirmation.
For any enquiries, please contact Leanne Smith, Sacramental Coordinator for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, at BelconnenNorth@cg.org.au, or Erika Tokich at erika.tokich@cg.catholic.edu.au.
Feast of the Assumption
On Friday, 15th August, we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the most significant feast days in the Catholic calendar. This day is a Holy Day of Obligation, meaning Catholics around the world are called to attend Mass and reflect on the importance of Mary in our faith.
The Assumption of Mary is a central teaching of the Catholic Church. It tells us that after Mary, the Mother of Jesus, completed her earthly life, she was assumed—body and soul—into Heaven. This moment marks not only the end of her life on Earth but also her reunion with her Son, Jesus Christ. The Assumption is a powerful reminder of God’s promise of eternal life and the special role Mary holds as the first and most faithful disciple.
To honour and celebrate Mary, our community will gather to celebrate Mass at 12:00pm on Friday, 15th August at St Michael’s Church. We warmly invite all families to join us.
Book Week Celebrations at St Michael’s – Save the Date
The 2025 CBCA Children’s Book Week will be celebrated from 16 -23 August with this year’s theme, ‘Book an Adventure.’ The highlight of the week is our dress up day and parade, which will take place on Monday 18 August. We are also looking forward to a performance from Meerkat Productions based on the adaptation of two CBCA shortlisted books. The performance will take place on Friday 15th August.
Library classes will participate in lessons based on this year’s shortlisted picture books and young reader’s novels as we try to guess who will be awarded best in their category. We can’t wait to see everyone’s costumes and creativity on display for our parade!
For more information on the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book Week please visit https://cbca.org.au/
Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival
The time has come to again nominate our teams for the 2025 Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival to be held on Friday 24 October. Students from Years 3-6 are eligible to participate in ONE of the sports/teams. Information and consent will be sent out via Compass shortly. Please note that Boorowa is 1.5hrs from Canberra and families are required to organise their own transport to and from the event. We look forward to entering as many teams as possible and thank you for being willing to commit to the event so far ahead of time.
Belconnen Region Athletics
The Belconnen Region Athletics Championships will be held on 19 August at the AIS. The 2025 St Michael's team has been announced and permissions are now available on Compass.
Oztag Gala Day Update
The dates for the Oztag gala days have been moved to Wednesday 20 August (boys) and Thursday 21 August (girls). Please see Compass for full event details. If you child is no longer able to play, due to the change of date, please email Erin Hardwicke.
