CE Retreat

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the annual CE Leader's Retreat. The first day centred on the CE Learning Agenda, which is currently constructed around five focus areas, Instructional Improvement, Instructional Leadership, K-2 Literacy and Numeracy, Curriculum, and Data. I will keep you all updated as to the development of the Learning Agenda over the course of the year. 

The following two days was focused on Spirituality with the first day centring on Hope and the second day on Trust. Reflection took place with how we develop our schools as 'Beacons of Hope' and as Catholic leaders, the importance of building trust within our school relationships. A great three days to refresh, reflect and network. Whenever I am at whole system days and events, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to lead such a supportive and compassionate school community. Thank you! 

Camp - Countdown is on!

Final touches are occurring for our Year 5/6 Camp next week to Birrigai. Students in 5/6 arrive to school as normal on Wednesday and we will be leaving later that morning. Students will return to school at normal time on Friday. 

I am looking forward to attending, to connect further with the student leadership of St Michael's and have some fun! In my absence, please contact Damien Webb. 

A final reminder note went home recently, with another copy going home this week. It is also available on our school website https://www.stmichaelsps.act.edu.au/notes under Term 1 Notes (Camp Note 2). Any questions you may have, please see your child's class teacher. 

Staff Retreat  

This Saturday, staff will gather at the Botanic Gardens for our Staff Spirituality Day. In line with our school theme this year of 'Knowing and Growing as Stewards of God's Creation', we will be reflecting upon Pope Francis' Laudato Si' on Care for Our Common Home, an encyclical letter on ecology and climate. This is a great opportunity as a staff group to come together, reflect and pray. Fr Loi will be joining us during the day to lead Mass. 

Book Fair

Communicated last week was the information regarding postponing our Book Fair. This was disappointing and we apologise if this caused any inconvenience. As you would be aware, we switched over companies this year to RedGum and are working with them to fix the issue. We are receiving the rest of the books by the end of this week, so our Book Fair will be able to run next week from Monday-Friday, before and after school. Thanks for your patience and understanding. 

Parent Representative Network (PRNs)

Thank you to all the parents who recently completed the survey regarding PRNs at St Michael's. We have decided to proceed with forming this network again in 2020 with a slight shift in the role. 

In 2020, we would like a Parent in each class, to be the PRN. The idea behind the PRN is to look to organise some social gatherings (either within the class or across the classes) a few times a year. Perhaps a meet at a park, a family lunch out somewhere etc. Something small, where people within the same class/grade can gather to connect socially. The role of the PRN is also to email parents about these social events, keep other parents in the loop with significant events occurring within the class group (eg a birth of a new sibling etc), put the call out if a family is having a rough or challenging time to organise some meals, organise class teacher birthday present, promote our Community Council Social events (eg family picnic afternoon, movie night, trivia etc). We would like to see the role of PRN more as a social role. There is no need for the PRN to communicate school related information, as this generally is communicated via the newsletter, Facebook, SZapp and hard copy notes. However, it is working to keep families connected, to ensure everyone feels welcome (particularly any new families) and to promote our value of Harmony. 

If you would like to be considered for the role of PRN, please fill out the details below. School/Community Council, will then be in touch to organise a gathering of all the PRNs and to set the tone for the year with regard to this role. 

Enrolment Period

I am again calling on our school families to promote the enrolment period for our school. We are holding an Open Day on Wednesday 6 May between 8am-6pm for potential families to pop in and have a tour around the school.

This year saw our biggest Kindergarten enrolment for recent years and we are looking to keep this momentum going into 2021. 

The best PR we can do is through word of mouth. Staff and families spreading the great news of our school, really places us in high standing among the community. Thank you in advance. 

Parent-Teacher Check Ins

In Week 8, we are offering the opportunity for students to sit down with their parent/s and teacher, to discuss how they are travelling so far this year, how they have settled into the year and areas they would like to focus on this year. These will be 10 minute chats and will occur over Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 March. 

If you have recently met with your child's class teacher for a Personalised Plan (PPs) and set goals for your child, then there is no need to meet again, unless you are wanting another meeting. Teachers will work with those students to unpack their PP goals and bring them to life. 

An email will be sent out in the next few days with a link to book in for these sessions. 

Week 7 - Family Sabbath Week

Next week, and each term during Week 7, we try to keep this week as a Family Sabbath Week. This week we encourage no meetings to take place for staff and families, no homework set and try to limit the communication home. Our intention during this week is to allow more time for families to connect, spend time together and recharge as a family unit. Unfortunately, for our 5/6 children, they will be at Camp for half of the week (dates were given to us), however perhaps some time at the start and end of the week can be set aside for those families to connect. We hope everyone enjoys their week. 

Lent

Have you ever thought of Lent as a yearly second chance? Each year during Lent, we have the chance to reflect on our lives to see if our values and priorities are in line with God’s desires for us. Since many of us find that we’ve wandered from God’s path at different times through our lives, Lent becomes that second chance, or do-over, to 'return to God with our whole heart'. I leave you with this to think over as we continue our journey through Lent. 

Enjoy the week ahead. 

Kind regards, 

Pat Ellis

Principal