Dear Parents/Carers,

At St Michael’s we see the awards process as an expression of our commitment to promoting positive behaviours and productive relationships as outlined in the Student Welfare and Behaviour Management Policy.  We believe that every child is special and deserves to feel valued and rewarded in many ways. We actively promote and agree to follow the '4 Bees'. These expectations will help us achieve our aims and support all to feel safe and supported in their learning: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible and Be a Learner.

We also emphasize our 5 Keys for learning, Collaboration, Perseverance, Creativity, Questioning and Exploration.

Harmony Awards are given each week. The wording of these awards is often around the 4 Bees or the Keys for Learning. We endeavour to give every child a Harmony Award over the year.

Rainbow Awards are given at the closure of each term to 2 students from each class. These often recognise academic achievement, excellent effort and consistent contribution to upholding school values.

At the conclusion of the year Rainbow Award recipients receive further recognition by having the opportunity to participate in an organised celebration. In Term 4, Year 6 students are nominated for 3 school awards recognising Community Service, Academic Excellence and Pastoral Care and Christian Values.

We strive to recognise the talents, gifts, and uniqueness of every child at our school by challenging our students to give their best and to live in harmony. We work with all students to set goals and face difficulties with resilience and confidence. The second verse of our school prayer expresses this desire to learn and grow together and is truly a prayer for our whole community.

“Jesus, today I invite you into my heart

So that I may live in harmony with those around me

And have the courage to face the things I find difficult”

St Michael's Regal Themed Trivia Night

The St Michael's Regal Themed Trivia night is being held on Friday 13th August.  Please book your table on the google doc below and pay for your ticket on QKR, under Community Council Events.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/16PWWw5lPUs3H0nTmTbLaBUp-PzXx6NK6EoQj7LrsmjA/edit?usp=sharing

Students in years 5 & 6 have already dived into exploring the action of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers; in particular those we name as saints. They are learning about the special relationship our saints have with Jesus and how we can use them as role models for how we live our own lives. Some students in Year 6 will also be using their learning about a particular saint as they choose a saint in preparation for their own Confirmation. Here are some great websites if you are curious to learn more about a particular saint:

https://mycatholic.life/saints/

https://www.catholic.org/saints/

https://www.catholicaustralia.com.au/what-catholics-believe/the-saints

Religious Life of St Michael’s School Community

St Mary MacKillop of the Cross Feast

5/6K are preparing to lead the Whole School Prayer Time reflecting on St Mary MacKillop this Friday. St Mary MacKillop is the first Australian to have been canonised and is patron saint for all of Australia. Her feast day is 8^th August each year and as this falls on the weekend we will celebrate as a school on Friday 6^th August, before our Friday morning assembly. All families are warmly invited to join us in the St Michael’s Church at the beginning of the school day.

Global School Partners: Jarriah Education Centre Update

We look forward to welcoming Mr Simon Carroll back to our school this Friday, 6^th August, to share updates on our friends at Jarriah Education Centre in Kenya. Mr Carroll will speak to students in 3-6 from 12:30 in C Block and students in K-2 in B Block from around 1:00.

Feast of the Assumption

3/4A are already busy preparing to lead the whole school in prayer on Friday 13^th August. The Whole School Prayer Time will be in the St Michael’s Church at the beginning of the school day, before morning assembly. The focus of our prayer that day will be the Feast of the Assumption which will occur on the following Sunday.

The Return of Hats

As we are now in August, hats are required when students are playing outside during break times. UV levels are now such that the Cancer Council recommends students need to wear a hat or play in the shade. New hats can be purchased from the Front Office. We thank you for your support.

Tennis Clinics

We are very excited to have confirmed that tennis clinics for all classes will commence in Week 6 and run until the end of this term. K-2 classes will have their lessons on Tuesday’s and 3-6 classes on Thursday's. Students are welcome to bring their own tennis racquet if they wish.

Belconnen Region Cross Country

Thanks you to all those students who have returned their permission notes for the carnival on 20^th August. Please see Mr Webb and Miss Lewis when you arrive and prior to leaving. If you would like your child to attend only for their scheduled events, parents are able to drop off and collect their children as required. Students need to be escorted by their parent to and from the venue. No student can be dropped off or picked up from the front gates/car park. Please adhere to all COVID requirements at the venue.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Ada (5/6K) on her success at the ACT Swimming Championships last weekend. Ada competed in 5 events and medaled in all of them. It looks like Ada’s dedication to her training is certainly paying off. Well done, Ada!

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

New Books have Arrived!

We have about 80 new titles that are now available for our students to borrow! The titles include, the How to Train Your Dragon series, Disney Twisted Tales, Bad Guys, Tiny Timmy, Tom Gates and many more. The students cant wait to get started reading them.

Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge

All completed challenge forms are due in by this Friday. Congratulations to all those students who have taken part this year!

Book Donations

We are still accepting donation of books for our Great Book Swap. At this stage we need around 100 books for us to be able to successfully hold the event. All money raised goes directly to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. We would appreciate any books being dropped off prior to Friday 20^th August.

Overdue Loans

Could all library books please be returned next week during your child library lessons. Overdue notices will be sent home after this date to any families who still have books at home.

Assistance with Contacting New Books

If you are able to spare an hour or so covering new library books please see Erin Hardwicke or Lisa Monro.

Student Welfare News

Over the last few weeks we have been working on some large scale collaborative artworks.

As an emerging artist myself, I’m able to bring my artist flare to work and celebrate creativity with the children. This has provided great excitement in small groups as we work together. I’ve always felt as a child that art cultivates great diversity, insight and healing. Working with the children I can see these things happening.

Wall Art:

Wall art in Ms Younger's Office - Week 1

Week 2

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!!   

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

Alessia 3/4Y & Jahzara 3/4L

We hope you have a great day!!

DANCECORE -  Dance classes are on Wednesdays at recess in the school hall, enrolments are now online (please see ad in Newsletter).
Contact Cassie 0417 442 750 

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

GUITAR - Guitar lessons with Sam on Thursdays, please contact
Sam on 0408 196 855

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

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

https://au.entdigital.net/orderbooks/232g38

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