What an amazing first week back at school we had last week. A very calm and engaging start.

A very special occassion on Monday, as our Year 6 students received their Leadership Badges and Shirts. An important year for them. We have very dedicated students who are wanting to make a difference in their final year of primary school and leave their legacy. 

I have been asked to take part in an 'Evidence Forum' for Catholic Education. I will join the Director, Assistant Director and a small number of selected Principals from across the Archdiocese to take part in a process. Core to the success of transforming education across Canberra-Goulburn Archdiocese will be defining the right pedagogical improvements to be made in classrooms across the system. This Evidence Forum project will allow us to observe best practice classrooms in Australia, see the best school improvement programs in action and critically explore current educational research. This is an exciting opportunity not only for myself personally and professionally, but for St Michael's, as evidence I uncover will directly inform future directions and improvements made. I will be away from school on 20 February and 5 March (Canberra) and 25 Feb until 27 Feb (Sydney/Perth). I will keep you informed throughout this process. 

For this reason, I will not be able to attend the Year 5/6 Camp. Disappointing, however, I do need to be at school as much as possible. Jane McKeough will take my place. The Year 5/6 teachers will be attending Camp Cooba as previously arranged (Damien Webb, Jessica Figura, Shannon Blakey). Camp Cooba also have their own sport teaching leaders who will be assisting students throughout all activities. I know the teachers and students will have an excellent time. I have been to Cooba on several occassions over the years and it has always been excellent.

A reminder tonight is our Meet and Greet night. This is a very informal social event where parents can pop into their child's classroom to say hello. Following, drinks and nibbles will be served in the tuckshop area for parents to chat and perhaps meet a new family.

Just a reminder as the year starts for students to wear correct uniform to school everyday, this includes hats and jumpers, along with correct school coloured hair ribbons and hair ties and no line shavings in hair. Students are not permitted to wear nail polish. Sports shoes are to be predominantly white and school shoes are to be fully black shoes. They do not need to be full leather black shoes, however they must be all black, no white soles or white logos/ticks. Thank you for supporting us to ensure all students wear the correct uniform each day. 

The Term 1 School Fees went home and the end of last week, please take the time to check your fees and ensure that all direct debits will cover the fees for the 2019.  If you need to increase your direct debit, please see Lisa in the Front Office.  Please remember to return the Student Information Check List and the Medical Alert Form (if required) to the Front Office by this Friday, your assistance with this is greatly appreciated.

On Sunday I was reminded through the Gospel the importance of being present. Stopping and taking the time to connect with God through prayer. As a Catholic School, we value taking the time to pray to strengthen our relationship with God. We value accepting all, respecting all and walking in the footsteps of Jesus. 'They left everything and followed him'. Our lives are busy and demanding at times. It is important to model for our students/children how we follow Jesus - helping those around us, showing compassion and empathy, accepting all and valuing diversity. Taking the time to listen to what God is asking of us each day - 'Here I am'.

Enjoy the week ahead.

Be Kind.

Pat Ellis

Principal 

Congratulations to the following children who have achieved a Harmony Award in Week 2 and will receive their award this Friday at morning gathering.

Keen to help out in our own community? Mini Vinnies is for children to be involved

through prayer, understanding and action in the social justice needed in our community. Our first priority this year is organising volunteers to help with our Doorknock Appeal. We will be doorknocking in two local streets, adjacent to our school. The Doorknock will be on tomorrow, Thursday 14^th February from 3:30-4:30. Adults are required to help us with this special project. If you have time and are willing to help us with this very important event please contact Ms Meaghan Younger at school.

Sacraments 2019 Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish

Sacraments this year will be:

• First Communion 22 & 23 June
• Confirmation 10 & 11 September
• First Reconciliation 12 & 13 November

More information regarding information and preparation evenings and commitment masses will be in the newsletter prior to each of these events. The first of these will be the information evening for the Sacrament of First Communion on 2^nd May. Parents of children in Year Three and above are invited to this meeting to enrol their child for the Sacrament.

Growing with the Spirit

As we explore our theme for the year, Growing with the Spirit, we are focusing this term on how we include. We all belong and have our special place here at St Michael’s and everyone has something valuable to contribute, just by being their own amazing self. This week we have inducted our Year Six Leaders and we look forward to each of them making the most of their leader roles at St Michael’s. They will expand and grow the Leadership roles, bringing to each their own gifts and talents. Across the school we have also been discussing our own role in our learning journey and our personal wellbeing. Classes have discussed how each of us is different with special attributes and features. We accept everyone as they are and encourage each other to be the best we can at all times. May the Holy Spirit be with us this year as we all develop our sense of belonging and community.

Last week I attended a day's training of SoundsWrite. An excellent phonics program which we have implemented across our infant classes, and in the coming weeks, across our 3/4 classes. 

In line with one of our school goals for 2019 'Delivery and development of curriculum that is cohesive, challenging and relevant of the learner' We are refining our Literacy Blocks and ensuring students are supported and challenged. Should you have any questions about what you could be doing at home to compliment what is happening at school in Literacy, please contact your child's class teacher to discuss further.

Saturday 16 March 10-2pm 

We only have 10 days to go until our Autumn Fete. Many people have been busy behind the scene organising and preparing to make this day a huge success. Like any fundraising, there is a certain risk involved regarding how much work has gone into the event vs the amount of people who will turn up to support and the amount of money we will raise. Please support by attending and purchasing as much as you can and please invite friends and families to do the same. We are a small Catholic primary school who rely heavily on funds raised at events such as this to purchase bigger ticket items like playground equipment, furniture and tech equipment to name a few items. Please support and please give generously. 

We are still looking for

• Jars
• Craft items to sell
• Second hand books (in good condition) to be dropped off (tables on stage in the hall). We are after children's books and good quality literature.
• Next week, information will come home regarding baking items for the cake store. 

Each class has been allocated a stall, and we would ask parents/carers from that class to volunteer to help run the stall on the actual day. 

Please follow the link below to the google doc to put your name against a time slot, all help is greatly appreciated. 

All volunteers will need to have a WWVP card, however if you do not have a card you are required to sign a statutory declaration which is available at the Front Office.  

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OwudBffkTMb_hHJCyUvlkZYtNJcKUKwU4GW9-b8oyt0/edit?ts=5c732a8d#gid=2097185166

Cricket Clinics
Cricket clinics will commence tomorrow for all classes. The 4-week program offers our students the opportunity to develop fundamental gross motor skills of catching, hitting and bowling as well as knowledge of the game. We are fortunate to have the specialised coaching made available through our Sporting School grant.

School Swimming Carnival
Our school carnival will take place on Tuesday 12th March (Week 6) at Queanbeyan Pool. Permission notes and nominations forms will come home this week.  Please assist us by returning them on or before 1st March.  Unfortunately, no late nominations will be accepted.  If you are able to assist at the carnival, your asistance will be greatly appreciated.  All students in Year 3-6 will attend the carnival, along with competitive swimmers in Year 2 who turn 8 this year.

K-2 Water Fun Day

On Tuesday 12th March, students in Year K-2 will enjoy a water fun day here at school.  The day will commence at recess with a 'special recess' and then students will rotate through water based activities in their house groups.  An information note and order form for recess will come home this week.

Hockey Taster
Hockey ACT are hosting their annual ‘Come and Try’ day on the weekend of the 16/17th February. Visit http://www.hockeyact.org.au/News/come-try-day-2019 for more information.
Saturday 16th February National Hockey Centre, Lyneham 9am -12pm
Sunday 17th February Greenway Hockey Centre 9am-11am

SunSmart
A reminder that all students should be wearing a school hat during play times. Hats can be purchased from the Front Office. It is great to see that many students are coming to school with sunscreen already applied. We have sunscreen available for students to reapply throughout the day.

Cross Country Carnival
Save the date: 4th April, 2019 (Thursday Week 9)
If you are willing to assist on the day as a course marshal, your time would be much appreciated.

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

Welcome to the library for 2019!

Volunteering

If you are interested in volunteering in the library I’d love to hear from you. It is a great way for parents, grandparents and carers to get involved in school life and your time makes a valuable contribution to the running of our library for staff and students. We are always looking for people willing to help out with covering new library books. It is an easy job that can even be done at home. If are able to volunteer with this task please get in touch.

Student Borrowing
Library lessons for each class will be on Wednesday's. Each Wednesday students can return books and borrow new ones for the week. If you wish to return books at other times, they can be placed in the returns slot on the front of the library desk. I look forward to working with all the students to develop their love of reading and literature throughout 2019.

Book Fair – Catch the Reading Wave!

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming! We are excited to be hosting another Book Fair early in the year. It is a great fundraising opportunity for the library and we look forward to seeing you there. The students will have the opportunity to visit the book fair during the day and make a ‘wish list’ of books they are interested in.         

Thank you in advance for your support of this event.
Dates: Week 4 Tuesday – Friday (26/2-1/3)
Times: 8:20-8:50am and 3-4pm.
Location: Library

Visiting our Library
We hope that the library is an inviting space for our students and families too. If you wish to come in and spend a few minutes reading to your child/ren either before or after school, please know that you are welcome to do so. We ask that you return the book to the returns slot (on the front of the library desk) and it will be re-shelved for you.

Parent Library
A new initiative to the library this year is the parent borrowing bookshelf. It is located just inside the library, opposite the library desk. The system is based on a book swap approach. Please feel free to take a book and return when you are finished or bring in a book to swap. We are hoping to include literature that is for enjoyment and also related to parenting and educational information. If you have any books to donate to our parent library they would be gratefully accepted.

We would like the library space to be 'the heart' of St Michael's. A space to gather and enjoy. So, if you have any ideas, feedback or questions, please flick me an email erin.hardwicke@cg.catholic.edu.au 

This week in Visual Art lessons we will continue looking at Line and introduce the element of Shape. Particular emphasis will be placed on the difference between Geometric and Organic shapes and how contour lines create 3D effects.

All students made their mark on a large canvas

last week and created an awesome Artwork.

We haven’t given it a title as yet! 

Please take time to view our painting and discuss a title. Ideas can be place in the Suggestions Box.​

The app of the week is Telestory! This one allows children to become the newsreader and includes exciting graphics that will make it a popular choice. 

A fun way for your child to recount the events of the day, or a different way to present their homework.

Hello, as a part of our role as Community Leaders for 2019, there will be at least two ‘Peace Makers’ who will be wearing orange vests during recess and lunch. It is our job to help make the community of St Michael’s more enjoyable for everyone.

If anyone needs any help on the playground, and are unable to find a teacher, please come and see us. If you are feeling lonely or need help finding friends to play with, come and see us and we will help you. We are a very friendly bunch and we will always do our best to assist any students in need. We are looking forward to making some real connections with many of you.

Thank you.

Year 6 Community Leaders

On Tuesday 19 February we will hold our first Community Council meeting for 2019. This meeting will predominately focus on members deciding on various positions on council, as well as planning out the year ahead. Last year we changed focus for community events to be both fundraising but more importantly on community building. The feedback that was received overwhelming supported this new approach with many emails and discussions acknowledging the effort that went into planning the community events to deepen connections between each other.

Before the meeting, we would love to hear from everyone on events they would like to see happen this year. Of course, we can't do all suggestions, however, all will be considered. We would also love to hear from you if you could help out with the planning of these events. 

We focused funds raised last year on revamping outdoor spaces (new wooden garden beds and seats, upgrade to infants playground, table tennis, playground markings) and inside spaces (new SMART TVs, Kindergarten furniture and more tech equipment). Again, we would love to hear ideas of what you feel funds should go towards. Often these funds contribute to purchasing items that the school can't cover themselves. 

After each meeting, we will start to have a Community Council section in the newsletter to keep everyone informed of what is happening behind the scenes. 

Please take the time to fill out this quick survey.

Thank you!

Dear Parents and Carers,

I am a Student and Family Counsellor with CatholicCare Canberra and Goulburn and I am excited to be working at St Michael’s Primary School once again in 2019. I will be at the school every second Thursday from 9am to 3.30pm (the even weeks).

My role is to support the emotional and social wellbeing of students and their families. As a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers, I offer a professional service and I provide a safe space to talk about any issues your child is experiencing. Please feel free to contact me through the school office if you have any concerns for your child, or you can speak with your child’s teacher and they can refer you to me.

At this time of year many parents struggle to know how to help their child who may be experiencing school refusal. It is a common issue for many children but there are some things you can do at home to help your child. I’ve attached a link to some good information about what you can try. If you find you are still struggling then I’d be happy to have a chat with you.

https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/school-learning/school-refusal/school-refusal

Warmest wishes,
Carrie Coghlan

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

Adeline KL, Lydia KL, Jayla 3/4YM, Ethan 5/6B, Sierra 1/2F, Logan 1/2W and Ada 3/4YM

We hope you have a great day!!

We have a new canteen menu for 2019! This is an exciting, healthier change and we thank Empire Catering for engaging in conversations and making these changes. Feedback from the school community assisted in these changes. 

All lunch orders now need to be placed by 5pm on Wednesday's, please see the note that came home yesterday.

A copy has been sent home with each family and is available on our website. You can now order through Qkr! - all menu items are listed there. Some exciting new additions of Chicken Snitzel roll, baked potato with various fillings, caesar salads or wraps, meatball cheesy sub, wedges, garlic and herb breads and fish and vegie burgers. There will be various specials available online throughout the year including rice paper rolls, Asian Noodle Salad and Greek Chicken Yiros on Pita Bread, just to name a few. We will be moving towards online lunch ordering only in the future, so please download the Qkr! app and start using. 

The canteen require assistance on Friday's from approximately 12.30-1.45 to help pack lunch orders, if you can assist in anyway, please contact Lisa in the Front Office.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

A big Thank You to Fiona, Cheri and Connie for volunteering to run the School Banking. 

Banking days will be Thursday morning's.  Books can be left at the Front Office and will be returned to your child in the note bag.  If you require more information, forms are available at the Front Office.

Congratulations and thank you to Mischa, Jemima, Cameron and Ellie who went door knocking for St Vinnies. 

They collected $306.80! A great effort for helping those in need.

Church Cleaning Roster

Dear Parents and Friends of St Michael’s Parish - we need some new and energetic people to help with the Church cleaning roster. It isn’t a hard or time consuming activity. It involves several tasks – vacuuming, dusting, sweeping, mopping and general cleaning and each team member usually takes one task. The roster involves teams of volunteers, each with a team leader. We usually start at 9.30 on a Saturday morning, and the task takes from 1 to 1.5 hours. However we can arrange for you to do your section anytime that suits your busy life – eg Friday afternoon etc. The roster allocates 2 rostered cleaning times per 6 months, so not a big ask really. If you can help with this, please email or text me at margaretkenna@bigpond.com or 0408864285. I hope to hear from you soon - Margaret Kenna

Vinnie's February Doorknock Appeal

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish are undertaking the Vinnie's Doorknock appeal again this year. For the 2019 Doorknock there are 105 collection areas for them to cover, up from 100 areas last year – the increase is due to the completion of dwellings in Lawson. To cover these areas will require 73 collectors, up from 63 collectors last year.
We have had over 20 collectors who participated last year not participating in 2019 - which makes it difficult to cover all our areas. We are looking for assistance from anyone who would be willing to undertake an area in Kaleen. This would take between an hour to an hour and a half to complete. Help will be very grateful. Please contact Timothy Power - timjim1@bigpond.com or 0437 013 328 if you could give a little of your time to help those in need.