Dear Parents/Carers,

Congratulations to everyone for a smooth and settled start to 2021. It was great to see the children, especially our new kindergartens, so excited, on time, in uniform and rearing to go! Routines keep us on track and help us to get our body clocks into gear. It can be difficult getting routines in place, but the initial pain is worth the gain.

Catalyst; High Impact Teaching Immersion

As part of the Catalyst Initiative, St Michael’s, St Thomas the Apostle Kambah and Holy Spirit Nicholls have been selected to be part of a Pilot Program to develop High Impact Teaching Practice for all teachers. We will be receiving coaching in Explicit Direct Instruction from Dr Lorraine Hammond AM. Dr Hammond will be visit us from Perth this term to work with teachers in K-2, where St Michael’s will host participating schools. This is an exceptional opportunity for us that has grown out of research into the best pedagogy teachers can utilise to support student progress. The Pilot involves multiple forms of Professional Learning and I thank the teachers for their commitment and enthusiasm. Pat Ellis is the Education Lead in Performance and Improvement in Catholic Education and he has done an amazing job organising the roll out of Catalyst across the archdiocese. This is a very exciting time in Education, and we are thrilled to be at the forefront in this Pilot.

Car Park/ Pick up, Drop Off

For our new families, St Michael’s has a very smooth morning drop off and afternoon pick up system in place. For it to work best,

• Adults need to stay in the vehicle, we will help open doors etc.
• Children exit from the left side, (sometimes this is tricky with car seats) some children can climb over or we can assist there by helping the child exit safely on the right side

The car park directly at the front of the school is the staff car park. Parents/Carers are welcome to park in the Parish/Courts car park and walk across to collect or drop off their children.

A reminder that the children are not supervised before 8.20am. If you need to drop your child earlier, please consider accessing our before and after school care to support the safety and wellbeing of your child.

Meet and Greet

We are looking forward to catching up tonight from 5pm-6pm in the courtyard. Last year this was an adult event, however we understand that both Parents/Carers may wish to attend and if you are having difficulty finding care for your children, we would not want you to miss out. Term Overviews listing class procedures and curriculum information will be available for Parents/Carers on Friday of Week 2. The children have been working on Literacy and Numeracy goals for learning which will be shared with you and discussed at 3 Way meeting sessions in Week 8.

Opening School Mass

We were proud of the way the children participated prayerfully and respectfully for our Opening School Mass. It has been a long time since we have been able to visit the Church and Father Loi was very happy to see us.

Sending our Best

I know you will join me in sending our thoughts and prayers to Ms Meaghan Younger who has taken carer’s leave to be with her Dad Ted, following an accident. Mrs Hoda Farhadi, a familiar and friendly face in our school is working with 3/4Y and the Teaching Team in Meaghan’s absence.

Looking forward to catching up with you tonight, it has been a smooth and calm start to 2021 and I particularly thank parents/carers for their efforts to support a positive return to school.

Many blessings,

Keep smiling,

Judy Egan

As several of the students at our school have a life threatening allergy to nuts and

related products we have adopted a NUT FREE policy.  Our school does not sell any nut products and we ask you to support our efforts by ensuring that your child does not bring peanuts, peanut butter, nutella or other nut related products to school in their lunch boxes.  This will require you to take note of the content of items such as muesli bars etc.

We appreciate your support in ensuring the health and safety of all our students.

Religious Education Curriculum

Our School Theme

Our students from K-6 have been creatively designing and making a whole school artwork to reflect our school theme, ‘Be Still and Know that I am God’. Our talented Mrs McKeough led the students through this process to produce a magnificent three panel artwork which is now proudly hanging in the C Block hall space. The K-2 students listened to the ‘Message of the Rainbow story’ to inspire their contribution to the artwork, whilst the 3-6 students shared the prayer below and were asked to imagine what living in harmony means to them.

Living God,

You call us out of our separate and separated places

To bloom together in multicoloured glory.

Blessing you for your gifts of difference and colour

We pray: 

Colour us red, passionate God

Colour us yellow, resurrection God

Colour us green, creator God,

Colour us blue, incarnate God,

Colour us purple, holy God

Colour us rainbow people of hope,

God of all People, bless the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia.

God of all nations, bring to fullness the richness bought to this country by peoples from many different cultures.

God of communion, bless us as we go forward to build communities of rainbow people in our homes, workplace and society.

Amen

In term 1 we will continue to explore the theme of ‘Be still and live in Harmony’. This is linked to our mission statement and explores the overarching concept of Harmony. We will continue to unpack the scripture Romans 12:6 and our symbol of the rainbow. Classes are building upon their Christian meditation routines during morning prayer time.

This term the students will be learners who inquire and discover. The following concepts will be explored across K-6.

K – Stories of and about God and Jesus 

1/2 – God’s Loving Nature

3/4 – God's People and Community 

5/6 – Faith lived and celebrated, shared and strengthened 

Religious Life of St Michael’s School Community

Opening Mass

Thank you to Fr Loi, the students in 3/4Y and teachers who led us in our Opening Mass. It was a beautiful celebration and we thoroughly enjoyed coming together as a school to celebrate in the Church.

Eucharist

Students have been busily preparing for the Sacrament of Eucharist. Families are encouraged to support their child to complete the Eucharist preparation book and return it to school to their class teacher. As you support your child, it is important to spend a few minutes together in prayer. This will help your child to understand the importance of prayer and to develop a personal relationship with Jesus.

Parent / Child Formation Evening

Our Parent/Child Formation Evening for Eucharist will be held tomorrow night, Thursday 11^th February from 6:00pm. It will be held via Zoom. The link for this is https://cgcatholic.zoom.us/j/98091975011

Students will have bought home a scripture reading ‘Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand’ with some reflection questions that will be discussed during the evening. They were also given a small outline of a Cross which will be used during the evening’s activities.

Please remember all candidates and a parent must be present for this special part of the preparation for Eucharist.

Retreat Day

The Eucharist retreat day will be held on Friday 19^th February. Lunch will be provided and students are to wear a free choice of clothes. There is no cost for the day and additional information will follow.

Bridgette McCann Acting REC

Sacramental Program 2021 – First Eucharist for catch-up students Y4 from 2020

The Sacrament of First Eucharist for the students from Year 4 in 2020 will be celebrated in Term 1 of 2021 on the following dates:

• Tuesday 23 February at 6pm in St Michael’s Church
• Wednesday 24 February at 6pm in St Monica’s Church
• Thursday 25 February at 6pm in St Monica’s Church

Please keep the candidates for First Eucharist in your prayers.

Parent/Child Formation Night for First Eucharist – Term 1 (catch-up students from Y4 2020)
The parent/child formation night is compulsory and will be held on Thursday 11 February 2021 at 6pm via zoom at https://cgcatholic.zoom.us/j/98091975011

Home Booklets
The home booklets should be completed ready for the parent/child formation night on 11 February 2021. The completed booklets are then, to be returned to the school no later than Monday 15 February 2021 with the ‘Parents’ Discernment of Readiness’ (the last page of the booklet) completed and signed ready for Fr Loi to also sign. The booklets will be returned to the candidates on the night of the Sacrament along with their certificates. 

There will be a further celebration for First Eucharist in Term 2, 2021 for students in Year 4 in 2021. More information will be available in the school and church bulletins and also on the parish website at www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth

For further information please contact the Sacramental Program coordinator at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au

Welcome to the Library for 2021!

Library Lessons and Borrowing  

Library Lessons 

Monday - 5/6K, 5/6F, 1/2B & 1/2H

Tuesday - 3/4A, 3/4L, KF & 3/4Y

Many students return books weekly but you may keep library books for a period of two weeks. If you wish to return books outside of library lessons, they can be placed in the returns slot on the front of the library desk.

Scholastic Book Fair  9th -12th March

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming! We are excited to be hosting another Book Fair early in the year. It is a great fundraising opportunity for the library and we look forward to seeing you there. The students will have the opportunity to visit the Book Fair during the day and make a ‘wish list’ of books they are interested in.         

Thank you in advance for your support of this event. 
Dates: Week 6 Tuesday – Friday (9^th March – 12^th March)
Times: 8:30-8:50am and 3-3:45pm.
Location: Library

Please be advised that during the Book Fair we will be adhering to COVID restrictions based on the capacity of our library. 

Volunteering

If you are interested in volunteering in the library I’d love to hear from you. It is a great way for parents, grandparents and carers to get involved in school life and your time makes a valuable contribution to the running of our library for staff and students. We are always looking for people willing to help out with covering new library books. It is an easy job that can even be done at home. If are able to volunteer with this task please get in touch.

Looking forward to an exciting year in the library,

Erin Hardwicke

Erin.hardwicke@cg.catholic.edu.au

Swimming Carnival - Wednesday 10th March at Stromlo Leisure Centre

Permission notes and nomination forms are due back this Friday 12th February. Unfortunately, it is not possible for us to accept late nominations. Please remember that two notes need to be returned for each child.  Some families are returning only the Nomination Form.  If you need another copy of the notes they can be found on the school website.   

If you are able to assist at the carnival, your assistance will be greatly appreciated and you can indicate your preference for a role on the Nomination Form. A current WWVP is needed if you wish to help out on the day. 

K- 2 Water Fun Day

On Wednesday 10^th March students in Years K-2 will enjoy a water fun day here at school (on this day our older students will be participating in the swimming carnival). The day will commence at recess with a ‘special recess’ and then students will rotate through water-based activities in their house groups. Thank you to those families who have returned notes.  All notes are due back this Friday, 12th February.

Belconnen Region Swimming Competition

Please be advised that the Belconnen Region Swimming Carnival will be held on Wednesday 17^th March at Stromlo Leisure Centre. There is a very short turn around between our school carnival and the Belconnen Region carnival. We will endeavour to inform students as quickly as possible if they have qualified for the Belconnen Region Competition.

Our 5/6 school camp will be held at the same time as the regional competition. Please send me an email or see me at school to discuss options should your child be in 5/6 and wish to compete at the regionals.  

Gymnastics Clinics

Starting next week students from K-6 will have the opportunity to participate in five weeks of gymnastics clinics.  The clinics will be on Tuesday of Weeks 3, 4, 5, 6 & 8.

Thanks to our successful Sporting Schools Grant we are able to offer these clinics to our students.  We look forward to working with the gymnastics coaches from the Canberra City Gymnastics Club.

Cross Country Carnival
Please be aware that we are holding our cross country carnival in Term 2 this year and not in Term 1. Our carnival will be held on 7^th May (Term 2, Week 3).

School Sport ACT

We have now been advised by School Sport ACT that at this stage National level competitions are planned to go ahead where possible. The ever-changing nature of the Covid situation may mean revision of planned events at short notice. However, if you expect your child to be in contention  for selection to a state squad to compete at national level, I strongly advise parents to keep up to date with current information available through School Sport ACT. Should any new decisions be made in relation to School Sport ACT, I will keep you informed through the newsletter.

Please see the School Sport ACT webpage http://www.schoolsportaustralia.edu.au/stateterritory-school-sport-offices/school-sport-act/ or Facebook page for the most up to date information.

SCHOOL SPORT ACT TRIALS – Please keep an eye on the School Sport ACT website www.schoolsportact.asn.au for upcoming ACT trials. The process for registering can be found below. If you need any assistance registering your child please feel free to ask for assistance.

How to register your child with School Sport ACT

School Sport ACT now collects all registration information online – this is to prevent the movement to and fro of a paper note and have all information readily available to officials prior to the trial. As this process incurs a fee for data storage, system maintenance and admin, a small $5 fee payment via credit card will be required.

1. Go to the School Sport ACT website – www.schoolsportact.asn.au
2. Click Register (top right corner of homepage) for an Account – enter parent details and password
3. A confirmation email will be sent to your chosen email that will contain a link that you must click on to verify the email account.
4. Click Log In (top right hand corner of home page) enter password then click on top tab My Profile
5. You will see a ‘dashboard’ of your information, click green box to Add Student – enter student and medical details and save.
6. Go to the Sports Tab – choose your specific sport, click on Trial Information box then click on the Register to Trial link.
7. Select your child’s name from the dropdown box and then enter the optional fields for Playing History, Preferred Position (if applicable) and Representative Experience. If you are already in the system, ensure your child’s school is up to date in your profile – have they moved onto High School?

Please contact me via email if you have any questions, feedback or are able to offer your assistance at any of our sporting events throughout the year.

Looking forward to another big year of sporting participation,

Erin Hardwicke
erin.hardwicke@cg.catholic.edu.au

Congratulations to the following students who achieved a Harmony Award in Week 2.  Awards will be presented at Friday morning's assembly (weather permitting).

Well done!!   

Special wishes to those children who celebrate their birthday this week:

Isaac 5/6F, Adeline 1/2H, Lydia 1/2H, Jayla 5/6K and Sierra 3/4Y

We hope you have a great day!!

DANCECORE -  Dance classes will recommence in Term 1 on Friday's at recess in the school hall, forms are available at the Front Office. 
Contact Cassie 0417 442 750 

CHESS -  Chess classes are held in C Block on Tuesday’s at recess, forms are available at the Front Office.  Contact Sydney Academy of Chess 9745 1170

GUITAR - Guitar lessons with Sam on Thursday's, please contact
Sam on 0408 196 855

PIANO - Piano Lessons with Mary-Liz on Mondays & Tuesdays, please contact Mary-Liz on 0413 425 753

SCHOOL BANKING  -  Banking has been suspended for Term 1.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB -  Scholastic Book club is back and runs twice a Term.  If you have any queries, contact Mrs Monro or Mrs Hardwicke.

CHESS!!

Learn to be a chess champion! Coaching for students at St Michael's Primary School - Kaleen (ACT) is held on Tuesdays from 11:00am to 11:40am, starting on 2 February 2021.

Learning and playing chess helps children develop their logical thinking and problem solving skills, improves their concentration and focus, while also being a great source of enjoyment. Activities include group lessons on a demonstration chess board or interactive whiteboard, puzzle solving and fun practice games.  Students earn merit awards by making checkmates, or by displaying skills and positive qualities, which all good chess players strive to develop.

If your child is interested in taking part, you can collect an enrolment form from the school office, or email enrol@sydneyacademyofchess.com.au for a copy. For all enquiries, please contact Sydney Academy of Chess on (02) 9745 1170.