We have had a calm and engaging start to Term 2. We hope everyone had a restful and peaceful Easter break. 

Next week we celebrate Catholic Schools Week. The theme for Catholic Schools Week 2019, ‘Engaging Faith, Minds and Community’, which best describes the Catholic school experience. It illustrates the holistic approach to educating children at St Michael's to become adults who personify Catholic values and serve their communities.

The theme highlights the faith based nature of St Michael's, while emphasising our inclusiveness – that all are welcome. Catholic Schools are places where we strive for all to be engaged in faith, inspire the mind and build strong communities.

The theme explores what makes us unique, in particular the richness of our Catholic school communities.

Faith – placing Christ at the centre.

Minds – inspiring achievement and the fulfilment of each child’s potential.

Community – to become valuable, caring members of the school and extended community.

At St Michael's we strive to embody these values every day, so it is fitting that they form the theme for celebrating Catholic education in 2019.

Pope Francis at the World Youth Day 2019 final Mass, reflected on the importance of young people for society. He said their gifts are not reserved only for tomorrow. Young people, he said, “are the today for tomorrow. They are not ‘in the meantime’, but are the ‘today’, the ‘now’, of the Church and the world.” To inspire young people of today Catholic Schools are places that embrace their joyful presence and provide a community where young people can personally encounter God through the nurturing words and actions of others.

As part of a Catholic community our schools are called to celebrate the gifts and diversity of all its members, inspire the minds and spirit of all those in our midst and help shape the young people to care for and serve those most in need.

We will celebrate Catholic Schools Week by hosting Open Classrooms on Monday morning (9-10am) where we invite parents and families to come into the classrooms and join in the learning experiences. On Tuesday, we host our Community Breakfast, Wednesday is our official Enrolment Open Day and Thursday we will celebrate our Mothers and the special women in our lives with Mass at 9.30am and an Afternoon Tea (3-4pm). A fun and exciting week full of celebrating the special place that St Michael's is. 

Please keep the Lualua family in your prayers during this difficult time. 

Enjoy the week ahead. 

Regards,

Pat Ellis

Principal