Dear Parents and Carers,

Recently, our Year 3/4 students experienced the beautiful sacrament of Reconciliation and next week our Year 5/6 students will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. I want to thank Father Loi and the School and Parish sacramental teams, Meaghan Younger and our teachers for supporting the students and families during these special times. The sacraments are opportunities to receive God’s abundant love and grace and they nurture us in our spiritual journey. 

Teaching and Learning

This week the teaching staff have continued our Catalyst journey by videoing their Daily Review lessons and forwarding them to our professional mentors in Perth. Using Daily Review is part of our commitment to high impact teaching practice at St Michael’s.

What is Daily Review?

Daily review is a research-based strategy that is using research about how the brain works to support students to move information from short term to long term memory. It is well-planned, fast paced and designed to revise previously taught material and basic facts.

Why do we need it?

If we move surface level knowledge to long term memory where it can be recalled quickly, it frees our working memory to process new information and complete more complex tasks.

How long does it take?

It is usually only 10 to 15 minutes and fast paced. It can include important facts knowledge and information from various disciplines like Mathematics, English etc.

Our teaching staff are committed to improving practice and spending time accepting feedback and reflecting on what works best for student learning.

Webinar for Parents

The Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT (CCSP) invite parents and carers to join the eSafety Commissioner’s education and training team for a free live webinar on Monday, 22 November 2021 from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. The webinar will provide parents and carers with strategies to assist young people and their mental health when engaging in an online environment. The webinar will cover topics such as:

• What to do about accidental exposure to content about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders.
• Using games, apps and social media to support mental wellbeing.
• The pros and cons of digital mental health platforms.
• Strategies for young people to support friends online.

See the flyer attached to the newsletter.

Pick up/wet weather

CECG continue to advise that we are to keep our COVID safe pick-up plans in place so that we are not mixing cohorts of classes. The pack up bell rings at 2:50 and classes move to pick up areas from this time onwards.

On wet weather days everyone is picked up from the kiss and drop morning drop off area. During wet weather all cars come to the one spot. To avoid bank ups of cars along Tyrell Circuit we try to have classes ready by 2:45. Thank you for supporting us in keeping everyone safe.  

We are looking forward to a Friday Fun Day with your children, a note went home yesterday and there are further details in this newsletter.   Thank you for all you are doing to support your children, the teachers and our wonderful St Michael’s community it is greatly appreciated.

Many blessings

Principal

Sacrament of Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated next week with 5 liturgies on:

Tuesday 23 November in St Michael’s Church at 12 noon and 6pm;

Wednesday 24 November in St Monica’s Church at 6pm; and

Thursday 25 November in St Monica’s Church at 12 noon and 6pm. 

3^rd Rite of Reconciliation – via zoom – Monday 22 November 2021 – 6pm 

In lieu of current Covid restrictions we have been experiencing challenges regarding Reconciliation for candidates preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Fr Loi will conduct the 3^rd rite of Reconciliation with the candidates and their families via zoom on Monday 22 November at 6pm.

The zoom access is     https://cgcatholic.zoom.us/j/67062838298

COVID Restrictions - due to lifting of the Covid restrictions - the people allowed in the church for each of the liturgies has been increased.

This means the number of people attending has been revised to a maximum of 9 per family (this includes the candidate). There is no requirement to book the extra tickets via Trybooking.

If the sponsor is unable to attend, a parent may stand in as a proxy.
Please keep the candidates for the Sacrament of Confirmation in your prayers.

Further Information – please contact the Sacramental Program Coordinator at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au or sue.coll@bigpond.com or check the parish website for updates at www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth