Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you are managing to deal with whatever ups and downs are coming across your path and that you are staying positive and well. St Michael’s community has certainly been impacted by COVID over the past few weeks including myself and other staff members. I am deeply grateful for the way staff and families have supported each other.

Before coming to St Michael’s, I helped set up a school garden and one year we grew sunflowers (Helianthus Annuus).  The Latin name of Helianthus Annuus comes from a combination of Greek words, Helios translates to sun and anthos means flower. The sunflower is often seen as symbolic of faith, as it turns towards and follows the sun across the sky, always seeking the light.

The sunflower leads us to reflect on true faith, loyalty and a willingness to trust in something far bigger than ourselves. I was moved to read this piece in a recent email and thought the connection worth sharing.   

“As we see the devastating and heartbreaking events unfold in the Ukraine, we know that now, more than ever, education must equip the next generation of children and young people to lead with conviction, courage, and compassion. The national flower of Ukraine is the sunflower, also known as the peace flower. We share it in solidarity.” (Australian Council for Educational Leaders)

In the spirit of harmony, faith and hope, thank you for your continued support.

Many blessings,

Judy Egan    

Parent/ Teacher Interviews

This week parents and carers have had the opportunity to participate in an interview with teachers via TEAMS. Normally in Term 1 we would have held our meet and greet evening which is more of an informal get together for parents and teachers to welcome everyone to a new year of learning. As this was not a possibility due to restrictions, we hope that you took the opportunity to make a connection with your child’s teacher and discuss some learning/social goals for your child.

NAPLAN

Tomorrow students in Year 3 and Year 5 will sitting a practice NAPLAN assessment. No data or results are collected from this assessment. It’s a low-key practice for the NAPLAN assessments, which will be occurring next term. Attached to the newsletter is additional documentation around NAPLAN. Over the coming weeks, teachers will be preparing students for the assessment, but at the same time we aim to keep students calm and relaxed about the process. Please contact Damien Webb if you require additional information.

Emails sent to School 

Previously, if you have emailed Lisa Monro directly for any school correspondance, please note this email is no longer active.

For all correspondance please email: office.stmichaelsps@cg.catholic.edu.au

Recording of Student Absences

A notification went home via Compass reminding parents/carers to ensure the school is provided notes for absences. It is a legal requirement for schools to ensure they have documentation around student absences, and we need your help. Please follow the instructions on the Parent Portal to send an absent note or email the front office and let us know.

office.stmichaelsps@cg.catholic.edu.au

We will be sending reminders each Thursday to any families missing notes, this is a generated email from compass, please email or phone the front office if you have any concerns. 

Kind Regards

Judy Egan
Principal

Religious Education around our school – 5/6

Students in 5/6 are investigating justice creates harmony in our world. We are currently looking at what is ethical clothing. The global fashion industry employs 50 million people worldwide. While it can be a source of opportunity, for too many people indignity and abuse, low-wages and modern slavery are rife. Consumerism, mass production, and the constant demand for more, has fuelled this injustice while the industry has turned a blind eye to the impact they’re having on the environment and carbon emissions. But fashion brands have the greatest power to affect change in the global fashion industry. And we, as consumers, can use our influence to affect change in each brand. Students have looked at how they as young consumers can influence the fashion world to be more ethical. This website is a source of information for these young buyers – perhaps you’d like to look at your favourite brands and make sure they stack up? https://baptistworldaid.org.au/resources/ethical-fashion-guide/

Religious Life of St Michael’s

Harmony Week This week Australia celebrates Harmony Week. We celebrate our cultural diversity in Australia and learn more about each other’s heritage. We explore ways to include everyone in all that we do to make Australia the wonderful country it is.

Project Compassion boxes / Lenten Appeal

Thank you for your ongoing support of Project Compassion – I heard from a child the other day that their money box is nearly full and it is all gold coins – very exciting!! How is your family finding ways to donate to Project Compassion? One Mum said she takes pocket money away when she has to ask twice for children to be off devices or do a job and gives that to the Project Compassion box – helping the children to understand the value of listening and cooperating with the family. Another family said they’ve given up sweets for Lent and the money they would usually spend on the weekly groceries to those is going into the box. Let me know if you have any great ideas for how you contribute to the money box for Project Compassion.

 Week 4 – Caritas Project Compassion

Rosalie had a tough childhood. Her father passed away when she was just two-years-old and her mother struggled to look after the family on her own.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, women are traditionally responsible for household tasks, with limited employment opportunities outside the home. Rosalie's mother found it difficult to afford food and clothing, let alone school fees, and Rosalie had to drop out school.

Then, when she was just 15 years old, Rosalie was forced to join the army. In recent decades, the DRC has experienced ongoing political instability, violence and conflict, and the recruitment of child soldiers is all too common.

When Rosalie finally left the army after six years, she was eager to start a new life, free from violence. But like many ex-combatants, Rosalie found the challenge to adjust to civilian life overwhelming. With her childhood and education cut short by the war, she had missed out on developing skills that would help her to find secure employment.

With your generous help, Rosalie was able to participate in business and social skills training, supported by Caritas Australia’s partners, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and Caritas Bukavu.

Rosalie also joined a Saving and Internal Lending Community group (SILC), which helped her with a loan to start her own small business, selling second-hand shoes and natural remedies. She learnt savings and group management skills and became the SILC group’s president.

Through the program, she gained essential skills in generating an income while gaining a sense of belonging and community spirit.

Rosalie is now a business owner, a community leader and a role model for other ex-combatants who are seeking to readjust to civilian life. She is inspiring women and other members of her community to overcome the violence of the past, to work towards a more peaceful and harmonious world for all future generations.

See her story here: https://youtu.be/wp1UmTgo5UE

Your generous support today can help people like Rosalie to create a better tomorrow for their families and communities. 

Community Photography and Art Competition

Council on the Ageing (COTA) ACT are inviting students to take part in a Community Photography and Art Competition.

This competition promotes the value, contribution and importance of older people in the community.

Photographic images or works of art must feature an older person/s (Aged at least 55 years). It can be a portrait type image or perhaps an image of an older person involved in a recreational activity or spending some quality time with grandchildren or family members. The image might show an older person serving as a volunteer or doing other community work. Images can be humorous and entertaining.

Prizes for finalists in each category include photographic and art-related vouchers, bookstore gift vouchers and more.

Categories: Pre-school to Year 1

                         Year 2 to Year 6

Category finalists and other entries will be displayed throughout Canberra in Public libraries, retirement villages and other venues.

The deadline for this competition is 5pm, Friday 8 April.

Artworks and completed Entry Forms must be hand-delivered to COTA ACT’s office, located within the Hughes Community Centre complex, adjacent to Hughes Shopping Centre, 2 Wisdom Street, Hughes ACT, between 9.00am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

For more information and entry details visit cotaact.org.au

Tennis ACT Canberra Girls Get Active Day

This weekend is the annual Canberra Girls Get Active Day, a free community event encouraging women and girls to get active. A range of local sports and sporting teams will be on-site offering free lessons and activities for women and girls of all ages.

There will be outdoor exercise classes, seated massages, roaming characters, face-painting, tunes from a local DJ, a tennis Hot Shots showcase on Centre Court, and the first 100 girls through the gates will receive a free tennis racquet.

Sunday March 27 9.30am-11.30am

This Sunday will also feature the finals of the first ACT Claycourt International event that’s currently taking place. A wonderful opportunity to watch world-class tennis right here in Canberra!

Erin.hardwicke@cg.catholic.edu.au

Parish Sacramental Program 2022

If you have a child in years 3, 4, or 6 in 2022, this is a Sacramental year.

This also applies if your child is in year 5 and he/she has previously missed the Sacraments of Reconciliation and/or First Eucharist.

Sacrament of First Eucharist - will be celebrated on the weekend of 18 and 19 June 2022 (Corpus Christi Sunday) across the four Parish Sunday Masses.

6pm - 18 June at St Monica’s Church – Evatt;

8am - 19 June at St Michael’s Church – Kaleen;

10am – 19 June at St Monica’s Church – Evatt; and

5.30pm – 19 June at St Michael’s Church – Kaleen.

Parent Formation Evening

The parent formation evening will be held on Thursday 31 March 2022 at 6pm via zoom at https://cgcatholic.zoom.us/j/62414099856

Registration for the Sacrament of First Eucharist

Registration must be made via the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Qkr! App (NOT the school app).

Registrations will open on Monday 4 April 2022 and will close by Friday 29 April 2022.
No late registrations will be accepted after the closing date.

Commitment Masses
Students and parents must attend one of the weekend Masses at either St Monica’s Church (6pm Saturday or 10am Sunday) or St Michael’s Church (8am or 5.30pm Sunday) on one of the dates listed below to make their commitment for the Sacrament.
Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May
Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 May
There will be no additional commitment masses beyond these dates.

Purchasing a stole for First Eucharist
Purchasing a stole is optional and is not compulsory. If you wish to purchase a stole, please make a payment of $20 through the Qkr! App and then send an email to sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au and arrangements will be made for delivery/pickup.

Confirmation will be celebrated in term 3, 2022.

Reconciliation will be celebrated in term 4, 2022.

For further Information regarding the Sacramental Program – please contact the Sacramental Program Coordinator at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au or check the parish website for updates at www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth

Congratulations to the following students who achieved a Harmony Award in Week 7.  Awards will be handed out to students during the day on Friday.

Well done!!   

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

Peyton A 3/4L, Kye M 3/4F

We hope you have a great day!!

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.

Parent Support Network

Dear Parents

We are calling for nominations for parents to be the class representatives on the Parent Support Network.

This network would help support communication between the classroom teacher/s and the parents in the class. These networks have proven very successful in past, but with the interruptions of the past 2 years, we haven’t called for parent volunteers since 2019.

We are looking forward to getting this network up and running again and helping everyone stay connected and continuing to build our wonderful school community.

Parents on the network will receive a copy of the email address of the families in the class and there will be a short digital meeting in the coming weeks with Mr Webb to discuss the simple duties of the role and the ways that you can support the class. It is not a time consuming role, so the commitment to role is certainly not demanding 

If you are interested please email Mr Webb, damien.webb@cg.catholic.edu.au and include the following information

• Your name and name of child
• Class of child
• Email address
• Best contact phone number

Once again, thank you all for the continued support

Many thanks

Mr Webb