Filter Content
- Important Dates & Events
- Principal's Page - Judy Egan
- Community Council Corner
- Treasure hunt competition for families!
- Happy Birthday
- Harmony Awards
- Parish News
- Religious Education News - Erika Tokich
- Library & Sport News - Erin Hardwicke
- Merici Open Days
- School Counsellor News
- Parentline
- School Sport ACT - ACT Teams Selection - 2024
- BelNorth Soccer!
- Out of School Hours Care Provider for St Michael’s in 2024
- School Hats For Sale
| Important Dates & Reminders | Time | Event |
| Friday 1 March | 2:30pm | School Assembly in Hall - 1/2 Blue |
| Thursday 7 March | Swimming Carnival @ Stromlo Leisure Centre | |
| Thursday 7 March | Reconciliation Formation Parent meeting @ 6pm | |
| Friday 8 March | Healthy Harold- Kinder visit | |
| Monday 11 March | Canberra Day Public Holiday | |
| Friday 22 March | School Photos | |
| Friday 22 March | Palm Sunday Liturgy K-2 | |
| Friday 29 March | Good Friday | |
| Monday 1 April | Easter Monday Public Holiday | |
| Tuesday 9 April | Cross Country Carnival | |
| Friday 12 April | Term 1 Ends |
Dear Parents and Carers,
On Monday evening we welcomed nominated members to the Community Council Executive and finalised positions listed below. Thank you to our parents who have committed time for this important role.
Chair: Evan Thomas
Treasurer: Daniel Kiley
Secretary: Caitlin Blackford
General members: Ann Macneill, Garrett Metz, Ryan Walsh, Hannah McNamara
Members of the Executive Council will shortly be in touch with parents who have nominated for working groups. If you would like to nominate for working groups, please contact us. Please see the ‘Community Corner’ section in the newsletter which keeps you up to date with our meetings.
NAPLAN
We are currently ensuring that we prepare for the delivery of NAPLAN testing which begins 13 March. It is important that Year 3 and Year 5 students attend school this week and sit all tests. Parents have received information around NAPLAN via compass. If you would like to withdraw your child from NAPLAN testing, please contact Bridgette McCann via email.
Bridgette.mccann@cg.atholic.edu.au
At present, we are completing familiarisation practice testing with the students. If students or parents wish to learn further about NAPLAN please visit the public demonstration site via
https://nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-site
Camp
As we publish our newsletter today our Year 5/6 students have arrived safely at Camp Wombaroo.
I sincerely thank our staff for taking time away from their own families to facilitate a wonderful experience for our students. Bridgette McCann will be attending camp on Wednesday/Thursday and I will be attending on Thursday/Friday. Campers are due back on Friday at 3:30pm. If details change we will notify families via compass.
Uniform
It is great to see our students arriving at school in correct school uniform ready to start the day. Our students wear their uniform with pride and we value the time and expense that goes into ensuring everyone wears correct uniform. We have a well-stocked second hand uniform space and parents are most welcome to visit the front office to access and provide a gold coin donation. Hats are also available for purchase from the front office.
Treasure hunt competition for families
Catholic school families are invited to enter a treasure hunt competition being run by Catholic Schools Guide. The winner will receive $2000 worth of school fees, and runners up will receive Roblox vouchers. A flyer is attached.
Attendance
At the beginning of each year, I am obliged to let you know that school supervision commences at 8:20am with entry to students via the sliding library glass doors. Our morning bell is at 8:50am, ready for a 9am start. Students are dismissed at 3pm. Our before and after school care team can be contacted if you are requiring earlier or late supervision. See our website for details.
It is important to establish consistent routines so that students do not miss out on important information and learning first thing in the morning. If you have any questions or concerns around your child’s attendance, please reach out so we can understand and assist.
Thank you to everyone for your continued support.
Many Blessings,
Judy Egan
Principal
Kindergarten Health Checks
Attached is a flyer reminding parents of the date (4th of March), that the KHC envelopes need to be returned to school.
On Monday night, the Community Council met for the first time for 2024. We were lucky to have more members come and join us and it was lovely to see the table full. At the meet and greet we had many parents volunteer to help with the working groups, and we are happy to extend this invitation to anyone else who may want to be a part of this. There are six working groups and they are -
- Community Engagement
- Fundraising
- Sports
- Pastoral care
- Grounds
- Canteen
If you would like to be a part of these groups, please email the school and we will get in touch with you. Judy Egan (Principal) led our meeting with Bridgette McCann and Victoria DeMattia as school representatives. We started off with elections and we are pleased to announce that Evan Thomas will continue as Chair, Daniel Kiley as Treasurer and Caitlin Blackford as Secretary. We are joined by general members – Ann Macneill, Garrett Metz, Hannah McNamara and Ryan Walsh.
The Council discussed ideas for the coming year and will kick off with the Hot Cross Bun drive and an Easter Hat parade. Please keep an eye on compass for details.
The next community council meeting will occur in week eleven and will involve planning the events to come for the year, if you have any ideas, please get in touch!
Caitlin Blackford
For Information
Catholic school families are invited to enter a treasure hunt competition being run by Catholic Schools Guide. The winner will receive $2000 worth of school fees, and runners up will receive Roblox vouchers.
We invite families to enter -
Details: catholicschoolsguide.com.au/competition
Special wishes to those children who will celebrate their birthday this week:
| Bram S | 1/2 Red |
| Cameron J | 3/4 Green |
Congratulations to the following students who achieved a Harmony Award this week.
Well done!!
| KYellow | Peyton E |
| 1/2Blue | Matthew H |
| 1/2Red | Matthew M |
| 3/4Green | Heliose G |
| 3/4Orange | Eden P |
Parish Sacramental Program 2024
2024 Parish Sacramental Program – for students who are baptised and in years 4-6 in 2024.
Sacraments to be celebrated in 2024
Sacrament of Reconciliation – will be celebrated during term 1 on:
Tuesday 2 April in St Michael’s Church, Kaleen;
Wednesday 3 April in St Monica’s Church, Evatt; and
Thursday 4 April in St Monica’s Church, Evatt.
Registrations are now open and will close this Friday 1 March 2024.
Registration for the Sacrament must be made via the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Qkr! App (NOT the school app).
If you are registering more than 1 child you will need to fully complete and pay for each separate registration.
No late registrations will be accepted after the closing date.
Commitment Masses – Sacrament of Reconciliation
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 9 and Sunday 10 March
Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 March
There will be no additional commitment masses beyond this date.
Sacrament of First Communion - will be celebrated across the four Sunday Parish Masses on the weekend of 15 and 16 June.
Sacrament of Confirmation – will be celebrated on 17, 18, and 19 September.
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
Religion Education Curriculum
Last year Catholic Education Canberra and Goulburn released an updated Religious Education Curriculum Scope and Sequence. This document ensures teaching programs are consistent and build on students prior knowledge. It provides teachers with a series of units for each year level under the stands of Sacred Texts, Beliefs, Church and Christian Life. Each unit has a theme built around scripture and includes religious knowledge, understandings and skills. This year I will be working in collaboration with our staff to build teacher capacity and confidence to deliver the new programs.
Project Compassion
This week we meet 22 year old Ronita. She lives with her husband and two children in a barangay (local district) in Quezon City, which is situated in Metro Manila in the Philippines.
Ronita left school when she became pregnant as a teenager. This could have had a life-long impact on her ability to find work and provide for her family but, thankfully, she heard about the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program run by the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ), Caritas Australia’s local partner in the Philippines.
Through the FCJ, Ronita was able to re-enrol in her studies and continue learning in a safe and flexible environment – even with the arrival of her second child.
After completing her ALS classes, Ronita went on to earn her Grade 12 Senior High School Diploma. With her new diploma, Ronita has now secured a job at a call centre and is looking to a brighter future for her whole family.
“I have now graduated senior school and I am so proud of myself,” she said. “I feel hopeful for the future… Now it’s not impossible for me to achieve my dream… Thank you.”
Your contribution to Project Compassion can help people like Ronita and vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow for all future generations. Click to watch Ronita’s story.
You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes or online by visiting our school fundraising page:
https://schools.projectcompassion.org.au/o/st-michaels-primary-school-kaleen
Library
Thank you!
A huge thank you to all the generous members of our community who have worked feverishly to cover more than 700 books! We appreciate the effort!!
If you can assist with covering books, we are still trying to cover new InitialLit resources for our K-2 literacy program. We would really appreciate any help with this task.
Please see Mrs Hardwicke if you are able to help.
Sport News
Swimming Carnival - Thursday 7 March, Stromlo Leisure Centre
We are excited for our swimming carnival next Thursday. Please be reminded that the bus leaves at 9am. Thank you to the many parents who have volunteered to assist. Please see the Compass event for more details about the day. Spectators are welcome to attend.
We will commence with the 100m and 50m events at approx 10am. The 25m events will be held as soon as possible after recess, approx 12pm. We are unable to provide exact times for individual events and thank you in advance for your understanding.
K-2 Water Fun Day
The K-2 students are looking forward to the water fun day on Thursday. Please see the Compass event for details regarding what to bring/wear on the day.
Save the Date - Cross Country –Tuesday 9 April
Erin Hardwicke
My name is Jo, and I am happy to be back as the School Counsellor at St Michaels in 2024.
I have a psychology and counselling background and I have a great passion in working with young people. I feel it is a great privilege to be able to support them with their growth, emotions, relationships, and any other concerns they might be experiencing.
The school counselling program is a first port of call in supporting your child’s mental wellbeing within the school environment. I am able to provide short-term counselling intervention sessions over a few weeks and provide support and guidance in accessing external services if required. Feel free to touch base with any questions or concerns relating to the counselling service at your school, happy to chat through the program and the support I can offer in this role. I am at the school on a Monday each week.
If you would like to make a referral for your child, please use the link below to access the form – once the referral has been put through, I will be in touch as soon as possible.
https://catholiccare.force.com/housing/s/school-referral-form
I look forward to working with you and your school throughout 2024!
School Sport ACT - ACT Teams Selection - Important Information
Please see the School Sport ACT webpage http://www.schoolsportaustralia.edu.au/stateterritory-school-sport-offices/school-sport-act/ or Facebook page for the most up to date information.
SCHOOL SPORT ACT TRIALS – Please keep an eye on the School Sport ACT website www.schoolsportact.asn.au for upcoming ACT trials. The process for registering can be found below. If you need any assistance registering your child please feel free to ask for assistance.
How to register your child with School Sport ACT
School Sport ACT now collects all registration information online – this is to prevent the movement to and fro of a paper note and have all information readily available to officials prior to the trial. As this process incurs a fee for data storage, system maintenance and admin, a small fee payment via credit card will be required.
- Go to the School Sport ACT website – www.schoolsportact.asn.au
- Click Register (top right corner of homepage) for an Account – enter parent details and password
- A confirmation email will be sent to your chosen email that will contain a link that you must click on to verify the email account.
- Click Log In (top right hand corner of home page) enter password then click on top tab My Profile
- You will see a ‘dashboard’ of your information, click green box to Add Student – enter student and medical details and save.
- Go to the Sports Tab – choose your specific sport, click on Trial Information box then click on the Register to Trial link.
- Select your child’s name from the dropdown box and then enter the optional fields for Playing History, Preferred Position (if applicable) and Representative Experience. If you are already in the system, ensure your child’s school is up to date in your profile – have they moved onto High School?
Community Services #1 are pleased to announce that we will be the Out of School Hours Care Provider for St Michael’s in 2024.
Information about our service
Daily session fees and opening hours:
Before School Care: 7.00am-8.45am - $27.00 per session * - includes breakfast
After School Care: 3.00pm-6.00pm - $41.00 per session * – includes afternoon tea and a late snack after 5pm
* Session fees are calculated before the Child Care Subsidy is applied.
Program:
Children have access to a wide range of resources such as sports equipment, board games, construction, art and craft, books, small world, dramatic play and loose parts. Experiences planned by and with the children are run each session as well as spontaneous experiences based on children’s interests on the day.
Expressions of interest and more information
If you would like to submit an expression of interest for care in 2024 or have any questions, please email stmichaels@communityservices1.org and you will be sent through information regarding enrolment.
We look forward to meeting you next year.
Regards,
Emily
|
Emily Richardson Operations Director – Early Childhood Education and Care Head Office: 1800 960 938 PO Box 7, Narrabundah ACT 2604 |
