Dear Parents and Carers,

We were privileged to join with our Year 6 students and their families yesterday to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation. Father Loi led a beautiful liturgy in the Church at 12pm and 6pm where the students, together with their sponsors came forward to be anointed.

On behalf of the students, I would like to thank Fr. Loi, Mrs Sue Collins, the OLPH School of Religion, Meaghan Younger, Year 6 teachers and all who helped the children in their journey, particularly the Parents and Carers who continue to offer love and support.

Friday Fun Day

A huge thank you to Damien Webb for his organisation of Friday Fun Day last week. The children were delighted with magic shows, jumping castles and food treats. Thanks to Mr Kennedy for cooking the BBQ and to all the staff who assisted to make sure it was a super fun day! 

Welcoming parents back to school

It is wonderful with restrictions easing, we can welcome parents/carers into the courtyard for awards assemblies. On Monday 29 November at 8.50am we will present the Rainbow awards for Term 3 and Term 4 in the courtyard space and parents are welcome to attend. Please observe social distancing, wear a mask, check in via the Canberra App and If you feel unwell, please do not attend. In the event of wet weather, we will present these awards in the Church.

On Monday 13 December at 8.50am we will also gather for any awards and farewells in the Courtyard.

Reporting and Interviews

The impact of the remote learning experience has meant that schools have not been able to assess and collect genuine data for all subject areas as the students have been working remotely and with a variety of family circumstances. At St Michael’s we have focused on Religious Education, English and Mathematics as priority reporting areas. Earlier in the year we looked at formal ways we could assess children’s engagement with learning. These important areas include creative thinking, critical thinking, communication, responsibility, and collaboration. These areas align with our keys to learning and focus on not ‘what’ has been learnt but ‘how’ is your child developing as a confident and capable learner. As the Semester 2 reports will also have no comment section, we are ensuring that the reporting process is modified to an interview before the formal reports are sent home in Week 10. Teachers are preparing learning goals for students and are keen to share the insights from parental experiences during remote learning.

Shortly, Parents/Carers can log into the Compass Portal and book an interview with teachers for next week. Staying safe is our priority, parents can now enter the school building via the sliding doors near the library to access their child’s classroom and teacher. Please check in via the Canberra app and use hand sanitiser. ACT Government Health guidelines also recommend 1.5 metres social distancing and face masks for adults in schools. If you would prefer to meet your child’s teacher via TEAMS, please ensure you email them so that they are able to set up a TEAMS meeting link. 

Student Absences

While teachers mark the digital roll each morning, the onus for ensuring students attend school is the responsibility of the school principal.

“Principals must communicate attendance requirements to students and families each semester, including any requirements for absences to be approved, and ensure students are encouraged to attend school regularly.”  (CECG Attendance Policy)

With regard to parental responsibility, the policy states;

“Parents/carers must provide an explanation to the school for any absence, ideally on or before the day of absence, and no more than five school days after the absence occurs. Parents/carers may be liable under the ACT or NSW Education Acts if students fail to attend school without a reasonable excuse.” (CECG Attendance Policy)

You will have noticed that if your child has an unexplained absence, you will receive an email reminder to provide a reason for absence. You will also be able to send a note of explanation via the app. Please assist us by ensuring you keep up to date with absences to assist teachers and particularly Lisa Monro who manages and updates the data in the COMPASS platform.

Parking in the Kiss and Drop Zone

We have noticed that cars are arriving and parking at 2:30pm in the kiss and drop zone. This is causing a bank up of cars on Tyrell Circuit. Until we are advised that we can return to normal pick up, perhaps you might look at options like parking in streets behind the school and walking across the bridge to collect students.  This will alleviate traffic congestion on Maribyrnong Avenue and Tyrrell Circuit.

We look like we may have some wet weather pick ups in the next few days. A reminder that if it is raining all students are collected from kiss and drop. Thank you for your assistance in keeping car lines moving efficiently in the afternoons.

Have a great week,

Many Blessings

Judy Egan

Erin, Emma, Delilah, Dylan, Noah, Clarisse, Cameron, Jayla, Ada, Stefano, Eamon, Ethan, Joey, Beth, Mitchell, Lilly, Matthew and Lucas.

May the Holy Spirit come upon these children in a special way this week.

Advent

Next week marks the beginning of the season of Advent in our Church calendar. Children will have special Advent prayers in class on Monday, and in coming weeks. You may wish to share our first week of Advent with this small prayer: https://youtu.be/A43QdNMBK14 . In the first week of Advent we light a purple candle, the candle of hope. You may like to make your own Advent Wreath at home – here is a quick guide to making your own: https://youtu.be/k39q7shhQN0 .

Archdiocesan Advent Program

Prepare reflectively for Christmas using the free online Walking Together Advent resource. Created by families for families, this home-grown Archdiocesan program will be made available in 4 instalments - one each week - including a 10 minute video and downloadable discussion/reflection questions. Use it whenever suits you, alone or in a small group. Or join a weekly zoom discussion group. 

Watch a 3 minute trailer: https://youtu.be/0eaQJFCNxLI

Explore the resource: www.cgcatholic.org.au/ADVENT

Join a zoom discussion group this Sunday 4pm or this Tuesday 10am

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/96186839540

Meeting ID: 961 8683 9540

Enquiries lara.kirk@cg.org.au 0429 192 869

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hamper Appeal

Christmas is of course our season of giving. And what better way to share in the joy of Christmas than to brighten the life of someone with less than we have? In our own community of Kaleen our St Vincent de Paul chapter is seeking support to provide Christmas Hampers for those unable to buy their own special foods at Christmas. Can you please spare a box of chocolates, a tinned pudding, tinned ham, fancy biscuits or chips like you will enjoy in the season of Christmas? Baskets will be at the front of the school each morning for easy delivery, or your child can add your family donation of non-perishable food to a basket in their classroom. Thank you for your generous support of those in need this Christmas.

Sacrament of Confirmation

Congratulations to the Candidates who celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation this week.  Please keep these students in your prayers.

Further Information regarding the Sacramental Program – 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