Dear Parents/Carers,

Congratulations to the children who received the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time last night. They were well-prepared and a credit to themselves and their families. Special thanks to Father Loi, and Sue Collins the Parish Sacramental Coordinator. A special mention to Bridgette McCann and Haley Stonham for their support and organisation as Religious Education Coordinators and Laura Frogley and Natasha Kapantais.

Catalyst Update

Today a group of teachers will meet online with Dr Lorraine Hammond to commence our journey in coaching and support to improve our High Impact Teaching Practice (HITP) As this professional learning evolves, I will keep you updated in the ways we are refining teaching to improve your child’s learning.

COMPASS

St Michael’s has been a Pilot School in using the COMPASS online platform for recording attendance data. Preparations are underway to expand the online platform to include a Parent Portal. As we know more information, we will keep you posted to make the best use of this communication tool.

Special Thanks

Thank you to the Rotary Club in Belconnen for a donation of $400 to assist the needy in our community. We are very appreciative of your support.

Save the Date

School Photos have been booked for Tuesday 30 March. This is the last week of school as we have a nine-week first term this year. Normal uniform for a Tuesday is Sports Uniform, however children will need to come to school dressed in full summer school uniform on this day.  Thank you for your understanding and if you would like to check uniform requirements please visit this link or go to our web page and find the information under the communication tab, notes, general notes, Uniform Policy.  

https://www.stmichaelsps.act.edu.au/general-notes

I am impressed with the way parents and children support the wearing of our school uniform, it is an integral part of our identity and fosters a sense of community at St Michael’s.

Many thanks for your continued support,

Judy Egan

Religious Education Curriculum

FIRST EUCHARIST & RETREAT DAY

Last Friday the Year 5 students participated in our Eucharist Retreat day. Fr Loi spoke to our students and was impressed by their thoughtful wonderings about Eucharist. The students participated reflectively in prayer and unpacked Luke’s Gospel ‘The Feeding of 5000’. We were awed by the beautiful artworks created and all the students enjoyed baking bread. Our Students explored the symbols of Eucharist and designed posters for the ‘Knock On Effect’ as a call to action from St Vinnies to look out for the vulnerable people in our society and raise much needed funds. Thank you to Miss Kapantais, Miss Frogley and Mrs Burns who made this day so special.

Congratulations to our First Eucharist Candidates – Charlize, Santo, Stella C, Katija, Finley, John, Milena, Jordan, Aaron, Cameron, Madison, Tom, Katie, Isaac and Sienna - who celebrated the Sacrament last night. They participated reverently and reflected on their commitment maturely. Receiving communion for the first time affirms our belonging to Christ and our union with God and the Church. We pray for Joel as he makes his First Eucharist on Thursday at St Monica’s. Thank you to Fr Loi, for his presence, time and patience; Mrs Sue Collins, the OLPH School of Religion, our teachers and our parents for their ongoing support and preparations for this celebration.

LENT

Thank you to Miss Frogley and 5/6F for their prayerful leadership of Mass last Wednesday. It was a beautiful way to begin this season of preparation. Children have considered what they will be doing to get themselves ready for the death and resurrection of Jesus again this coming Easter.

 

PROJECT COMPASSION

Ash Wednesday – 17th February 2021

Last week the season of Lent began with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project

Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice.

We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Each family will receive a Project Compassion box and/or a set of envelopes for their donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: lent.caritas.org.au    

Saint Oscar Romero is our inspiration for Project Compassion 2021, so in his words let’s “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.”

First Week of Lent  

We begin our annual Lenten Project Compassion journey by learning about the story

of Jamila and her family. Jamila, 22, is a Rohingya woman, living in the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. A single mother, she fled armed conflict in Myanmar to save herself, her elderly mother and eight-month-old baby. 

With the support of Caritas Australia, through Caritas Bangladesh, Jamila was able to access emergency food and shelter. She also received counselling, emotional support and learnt sewing skills, to help her earn an income.  Jamila now feels less alone, with a sense of community around her. She is able to ‘Be More’ to her little family.  

• 860,494 people remain in the densely populated camps, in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, especially due to COVID-19. (UNHCR)

Watch a short film about Jamila’s story here.

 “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.” Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au

VINNIES KNOCK ON EFFECT

The Knock On Effect is a brand-new Vinnies initiative that will replace the Doorknock Appeal. Students are invited to come to school in casual clothes or #DressedbyVinnies. This special day is to raise awareness of the vulnerable people in our society and to fundraise for and support Vinnies and the people and communities we assist.

We will celebrate this initiative on 19^th March.

Vinnies changes lives every day, but we need your help

During the month of March Vinnies is running the Knock on Effect campaign to highlight the knock on effects that donations, fundraising and raising awareness can have.

With over 2 million people living below the poverty line in Australia, including over half a million children, your contribution allows the St Vincent de Paul Society to provide more than immediate help, it provides something much more valuable - the opportunity of a better life.

You may not see the Knock On Effect of your support, but it will be felt by some of the most vulnerable in our community.

Bridgette McCann Acting REC

Sacramental Program 2021 – First Eucharist for catch-up students Y4 from 2020
Congratulations to the candidates who have celebrated the Sacrament of First Eucharist this week.  Please keep these candidates in your prayers.

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 next week 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

Chief Minister's Reading Challenge

We are excited about the launch of the Chief Minister's Reading Challenge! The students who are interested in participating will bring home more information next week. Are you up to the challenge of reading 30 books between now and August?

Scholastic Book Fair  9th -12th March

The Scholastic Book Fair books have arrived! All classes will get a sneak peak during library lessons as to what is available at this year's fair. Week 6 can't get here quickly enough! Your support of this event will be our only library fundraising opportunity for the year and your support is greatly appreciated.     

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. 

SORA Library App

If you haven’t already downloaded the SORA App, we encourage you to do so. It allows students to borrow ebooks and audiobooks from our school's digital library collection. When in the App, it will ask for the school name, please select 'ACEN Member Collection' (this is for various CE schools). If your child logs in from home, student login details are required. Your child's login details are as per the student login used at school. If your child has forgotten their login details please see their classroom teacher.

Looking forward to an exciting year in the library.

Erin Hardwicke

Erin.hardwicke@cg.catholic.edu.au

Swimming Carnival Reminders - Wednesday 10th March at Stromlo Leisure Centre

Please be advised that the buses will be leaving at 9.10am and we are unable to wait for late arrivals.

A canteen will be in operation on the day.  The hot food menu consists of four different hot food lunch packs at $10.  There will be a selection of drinks and treats available throughout the day. 

Please ensure your child brings adequate food and water for the day, also their hat and has that they have had sunscreen applied prior to coming to school.  All personal items should be clearly labelled.

Parents are welcome to join us as spectators whilst following the pools COVID guidelines. Please sign in upon arrival using the Check In CBR app. There is a spectator fee of $2.55. 

Thank you to all the parents that offered to volunteer, a note has been sent home with your child today outlining your role at the carnival.  

We are super excited to be holding our first carnival of 2021!

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

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

Ana 1/2H

We hope you have a great day!!

Congratulations to the following students who achieved a Harmony Award in Week 4.  Awards will be presented at Friday morning's assembly (weather permitting).

Well done!!   

DANCECORE -  Dance classes are 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.

Please see the School Sport ACT webpage https://schoolsportact.org.au/ or Facebook page for the most up to date information.

SCHOOL SPORT ACT TRIALS – Please keep an eye on the School Sport ACT website https://schoolsportact.org.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 – https://schoolsportact.org.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