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| Important Dates & Reminders | |
| Thursday 1 June | OzTag Gala Day (Girls) |
| Friday 9 June |
St Michael's Athletics Carnival |
| Monday 12 June | King's Birthday Public Holiday |
| Thursday 15 June | School Disco in Hall 5-7pm |
Dear Parents and Carers,
This week marks the season of Winter in Canberra. Stories of ‘Jack Frost’, the occasional snow shower, hot soups, freezing Saturday morning sport and days where the fog doesn’t lift till lunch time! During Winter we can snuggle up with a book or movie and technology now gives us the chance to binge on a favourite series, play digital games and chat online to family and friends. Screen time can be wonderful and magical, however there are also multiple concerns for children using the internet without adult supervision.
The eSafety commissioner website has information for families about safe internet usage, which is very helpful, addressing multiple questions such as;
- How much screen time is a good balance?
- How to set boundaries at home
- What are parental controls and how do parents access them?
- How do I talk to my child about pornographic images they may have seen?
https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/screen-time
There may also be instances where students exposed to inappropriate content share conversations with their peers. It’s often confronting as a parent when your child brings up something at the traffic lights in front of younger peers that was totally unexpected! The good news is communication lines are open and its crucial as your children grow older to encourage them to come to you and chat. CatholicCare is a great family resource when you need a hand with family conversations and relationships. Jo from CatholicCare our school counsellor can always assist, she is with us every Monday and her details are below;
Jo Samprathi
Student and Family Counselling
CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn
T 02 6162 6106
PO Box 3167 Manuka ACT 2603
Tell them from me
We are inviting students, teachers and parents to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online 
survey.
The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process. We would like to invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. As we value the role of parents and carers within our school community, we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at St Michael’s.
The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. You can access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using the URL below:
http://tellthemfromme.com/h4t63
Parents are welcome to complete the survey in the library if you are popping in to share a book with your child. The survey is also available in several languages, please let us know if this is helpful.
What’s on at St Michael’s
Our Eucharist Retreat day is next Thursday 8 June- best wishes to all our students preparing for their First Holy Communion and thank you to Mrs Erika Tokich for her organisation. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish is a special part of who we are at St Michael’s and at assembly last Friday I presented Father Mick and the Parish with a print from Israel- detailing the Sea of Galilee and the Ministry of Jesus.
Good luck to our Oz tag students and congratulations to the Cross Country Team, we love our sport at St Michael’s.
The Disco is coming up- 15 June 5pm-7pm! Thank you to the Community Council Team and parent helpers who are organising the event- get your dancing shoes on!
Thank you to all our parents and families and for everything you do to support your children and our school community.
Many Blessings,
Judy Egan
Principal
Congratulations to the following students who achieved a Harmony Award in Week 6.
Well done!!
| KD | Benjamin F |
| 1/2K | Matthew H |
| 1/2T | Angus H |
| 3/4B | Aveline D |
| 3/4O | Maggie O |
| 5/6H | Madeleine B |
| 5/6M | Ella A |
| 5/6S | Kosta B |
The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin
Celebrated on May 31, the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary commemorates the Virgin Mary’s visit to her cousin, Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist (Luke 1:39–56). Both found themselves pregnant in unusual circumstances – Elizabeth in her old age after suffering from infertility, and Mary by the Holy Spirit. At their meeting, John the Baptist leaped in the womb of Elizabeth, and she blessed Mary and the Christ Child. Mary, in turn, responds with the famous Magnificat praising the Lord.
The Most Holy Trinity
Trinity Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost.It celebrates the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, the three Persons of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The trinity is a mystery of faith and can be explained to children using the analogy of an apple; an apple has 3 different parts - the skin, the flesh and the seeds, but come together as one.
In 1 John 4:16 we learn that “God is Love.” John is talking about something special about God’s nature itself. Inside the Trinity is an everlasting relationship of love that flows between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is actually made of Love! On this feast day we reflect on how we experience God’s love and how we share it with others.
Whole School Focus – Live in Harmony
This week we continue to focus on gratitude during prayer and class, and will celebrate students who display our school value of gratitude during our Harmony Awards. We are practicing expressions of gratitude for blessings big and small.
Gratitude turns what little you have into abundance.
Gratitude is so much more than saying thank you.
Gratitude changes your perspective of your world.
Tiffany Sauber Millacci, Ph.D. 2017. What is Gratitude and Why Is It So Important? https://positivepsychology.com/gratitude-appreciation/
For all Religious Education enquiries please email Erika Tokich at:
Parish Sacramental Program 2023
Sacrament of First Eucharist - will be celebrated across the four Sunday Parish Masses:
5pm - 17 June at St Monica’s Church – Evatt;
8am - 18 June at St Michael’s Church – Kaleen;
10am – 18 June at St Monica’s Church – Evatt; and
5.30pm – 18 June at St Michael’s Church – Kaleen.
Retreat Day – will be held on Thursday 8 June 2023.
Parent/Child Formation Evening – Thursday 8 June 2023 at 6pm via MS Teams.
The link is: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_Njc1NTE1ZmItNWQ2Mi00MWUzLWIzZGYtNGE1MDRmMTBkYzhj%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%229ba8c2d6-be27-4583-a686-5c6f5c4a9e97%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22bb949535-9d39-4203-b664-93d90c050e23%22%7d
Families will also require the completed home booklets for discussion at the child/parent formation evening.
The link to the child/parent formation evening is also on the parish website at: www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth
Home booklets - should then be returned to the school (with the last page ‘Parents’ Discernment of Readiness’ completed) following the evening and no later than Wednesday 14 June – the booklets will be signed and stamped with the ‘parish stamp’ and returned to the candidates at their First Eucharist celebration.
Stoles for First Eucharist
Purchased stoles have been delivered to the schools. If you purchased a stole and you have not yet received it, please send an email at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au.
Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on 5, 6 & 7 September 2023.
Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated in term 1, 2024.
For further Information – please contact the Sacramental Program Coordinator at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au or check the parish website at www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth
Our boys OzTag teams having an awesome day - great effort all round!!
Girls Gala Day is tomorrow - 1 June 2023 at Southwell Park, Lyneham
Parents will need to arrange transport for their child to and from the event. St Michael’s staff will attend the carnival and parents are not required to stay.
Our school athletics carnival will be held on Friday 9 June at Kaleen playing fields.
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.
Erin Hardwicke
Veerpal (Ruhani's mum- class 1/2T) has kindly offered her school uniform alteration services to families.
Veerpal charges a minimum cost depending on alterations required.
Please contact the school on (02) 6241 4022 to get in touch with Veerpal!