Christmas Carol Night 

Thank you everyone for your understanding with the cancellation of our Carol Night. Whilst disappointing, at least we aren't dealing directly at present in the ACT with the bushfires. We do have families who live outside of Canberra who are dealing and managing the threat of fires at the moment. We keep everyone in our prayers, especially at this time of year leading up to Christmas. 

Thank you to Community Council members and parents who continued with a Cake Stall on Tuesday afternoon to help raise money for Companion House. We raised over $200. We appreciate everyone's efforts. 

Kiss and Drop Trial

It has been pleasing to see families using the 'Kiss and Drop' option for morning drop off. Thank you to all the parents who have provided such positive feedback about it. We have had quite a focus on Wellbeing this year, in line with our Berry Street Education Model training, and having the opportunity to greet every child walking into school each day (and their families) is priceless. Mr Webb and I are loving that connection, so thank you. I know from listening to many parents that you are appreciating this and that it provides an easier option in the morning. This is something that the vast majority of schools already do, so I am pleased that we are looking into this also. 

Kiss and Drop will continue until the end of the term and at this stage, will continue next year. I will confirm this in next week's newsletter. 

Before School Care - 2020 

After the recent survey put out by YMCA, I am pleased to announce that we will be trialling a more formal before school care in 2020. As expected, there was enough interest to warrant providing this service. YMCA will run this service in our school hall (similar to after school care) and will operate from 7am each morning. There will be a fee for using the service and I will provide that information as soon as we get it. Students will have access to the breakfast program provided by YMCA. There will also be the opportunity through YMCA for you to apply for Child Care Subsidy as is the case for After School Care. Students will then be walked up to the courtyard and handed over to the St Michael's staff member who starts formal supervision at 8.20am. 

As mentioned previously, the early 8am library before school care arrangements in place this year will stop at the end of 2019. This was in place as an interim measure whilst we were sorting out more formal arrangements. From the start of 2020 school year, supervision at school will go back to 8.20-3.30pm. Anytime outside of these hours, we would ask people to access YMCA Before and After School Care Program. 

The YMCA Before School Program will run for semester 1 (Term 1 and 2) as a trial. Providing that the service is accessed by the community and numbers are maintained, this will continue for the remainder of the year. 

I will provide further information from YMCA as soon as I receive it. I am pleased we can now offer before and after school care, not only to our current families but that I can now offer this service to prospective families. 

Staffing 2020

Further on from information in previous newsletters relating to staffing for 2020, I am pleased to announce and confirm additional roles. Staffing for 2020 will be as follows;

Principal - Patrick Ellis

Assistant Principal - Damien Webb

Religious Education Coordinator - Meaghan Younger

Classroom Support and Wellbeing Leader - Josephine Krippner

Curriculum & Pedagogy (Technology) - Jessica Figura

Curriculum & Pedagogy (Literacy) - Bridgette McCann

Curriculum & Pedagogy (Numeracy) - Damien Webb

Curriculum & Pedagogy (Religious Education) - Meaghan Younger

Aboriginal Education - Jessica Lewis

Librarian - Erin Hardwicke

Sport - Erin Hardwicke

Art - Jane McKeough

Languages (Indonesian) - Jacqui Ramesh

Sustainability - Damien Webb

KL - Jessica Lewis 

1/2M - Bridgette McCann (Thursday - Damien Webb)

1/2B - Shannon Blakey

3/4FR - Laura Frogley

3/4A - Sarah Anderson (Friday - Meaghan Younger)

3/4F - Nadia Farhadi

5/6F - Jessica Figura (Tuesday - Meaghan Younger)

5/6K - Natasha Kapantais

Front Office Manager - Lisa Monro

Administrative Support - Maria Papasidero

Classroom Support Assistants

                - Kylie Arena

                - Sonja Vocisano

                - Sharon Friend

                - Unnati Shah

Maintenance & Grounds - Kim Kennedy

Damien Webb and Meaghan Younger will also be providing additional release and support in other classes over the course of each week. 

Year 6 End of Year Celebrations

Our Year 6 end of year celebrations all begin on Friday with their Final Assembly at 12.40pm. This will be followed by Passing of the Light Ceremony on Monday at 1pm, Graduation Liturgy and Dinner on Tuesday at 5.30pm, Staff and Year 6 Breakfast on Wednesday at 8am and their Big Day Out also on Wednesday. 

We look forward to celebrating and journeying with our amazing Year 6 students as they finish their primary schooling experience. 

Advent

Over the last few weeks, as a school we have been journeying through this Season of Advent. Our infant classes have been leading prayer each Monday morning at assembly. To move through the 4 weeks before the end of the year, we have been a little ahead (celebrating the week that is to come on a Monday). These prayer experiences have allowed us as a whole school community to pray and prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. 

St Michael's Archies (Art Show)

A huge thank you to Jane McKeough for her hard work and energy with coordinating the recent Art Show. As you would be aware, this year we have introduced an Art Lesson each week (above what art students already do in class) with Jane. These lessons are to focus on specific skills and elements of Visual Arts. We have had amazing feedback from students about how much they love their Art lessons and for this reason, these lessons will continue next year. 

Thank you to everyone who popped in to have a look at the amazing art on display last week. We have so many creative students at St Michael's. The portraits were incredible!!

Last day of school - Thursday 19 December

Just a reminder that the last day of school is Thursday 19 December. There will be no school on Friday 20 December. This is in line with all other Catholic Primary Schools in the ACT and the ACT Education Directorate. 

As we journey into the last week of term, can I please ask that families settle any remaining school fees owing (unless in a direct debit arrangement). It is important to ensure fees are finalised each term. 

Important Dates for 2020 are now on our School Calendar! Hope this helps with planning ahead. 

Enjoy the week ahead. 

The countdown is on!

Kind regards, 

Pat Ellis