Filter Content
- Important Dates & Events
- St Michael's Enrolment Open Days
- Principal's Page - Judy Egan
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander News - Danielle Madsen
- Happy Birthday
- Parish News
- Religious Education News - Erika Tokich
- Library & Sport News - Erin Hardwicke
- Canberra Raiders Discount Tickets and Holiday Clinics!
- Parent Workshop!
- School Holidays!
- Holiday Clinics!
- Merici Open Days
- John Paul College II Open Events
- SFX Open Day
- Daramalan Open Day
- St Clare's College Open Day
- School Counsellor News
- School Sport ACT - ACT Teams Selection - 2024
- Parentline
| Important Dates & Reminders | Time | Event |
| Friday 12 April | 2:15pm | Assembly- Rainbow Awards & Cross Country Ribbons |
| Friday 12 April | Last Day of Term 1 | |
| Thursday 25 April | ANZAC Day | |
| Tuesday 30 April | First Day of Term 2 |
Hello Families,
Please contact the front office if you are able to assist with a letterbox drop of our 2025 enrolment flyers in your street and/ or surrounding streets! Our school catchment area includes the suburbs of Kaleen, Giralang, Crace and Lawson. Please see our Facebook page and share our enrolment advertising information.
Dear Parents and carers,
It wouldn’t be a Cross Country Carnival at St Michael’s without some damp weather to keep us on our toes! Thank you so much to Erin Hardwicke, our staff and students and to our wonderful band of parent helpers who came along with umbrellas and wet weather gear to help us out. It was great to see our students showing resilience and cheering each other on. Our Cross-Country Representative team has been selected for the carnival at Stromlo- information has gone out to families via compass. Congratulations to everyone for a wonderful effort!
Assemblies at School
We have had great attendance at assemblies since we have changed times for our school assemblies from mornings to afternoons. Friday afternoon assemblies will be held at 2:15pm in the hall. As we have limited seating in the hall students are required to sit with their classes. Parents are very welcome to collect children after assembly. Children will return to classes and parents can walk via the calm space/canteen entrance to classrooms to let teachers know their child will be going home. Alternately parents can wait till 3pm to collect children via drop-off areas.
Term 2: School Events
Our Community Council Executive met on Monday evening and discussed the Annual School Community Council Plan for 2024. Some events coming up next term include:
ANZAC Day Liturgy 2:15 pm Tuesday 30th April; St Michael’s Church (all welcome)
Parent members of Defence Forces are very welcome to attend in Uniform.
Please email Erika Tokich if you can attend in Uniform as we would love to have you join us.
Erika.tokich@cg.catholic.edu.au
Pancake Morning Tea (Fundraiser): Friday 3 May
Working Bee: Sunday 5 May 9am-1pm
All are welcome to our working bee- we will supply lunch, an event will be created on Compass.
We need your help to re-mulch our Senior Playground, add topsoil and weed our garden beds before our Open Days. If you have landscaping experience and/or equipment it would be a great help, contact Daniel Kiley if you are able to assist with equipment.
Mother’s Day Gift Stall: Thursday 9 May
School Disco: TBA
Term 2 Uniform
In Term 2 we change to our Winter Uniform as the days begin to cool down. Please visit our website to check Winter Uniform requirements. In the Winter months students can wear navy blue jacket, navy beanies, gloves and scarves. Please assist us by ensuring your child wears the correct school uniform and accessories in the correct school colours. You are most welcome to visit our clothing pool for second-hand items 8:30am-4pm or contact Lynda or Maria with any questions.
https://stmichaelskaleen.schoolzineplus.com/_file/media/2632/uniform_for_website.pdf
In June and July when the UV Index is mostly below 3, students are not required to wear hats unless they spend an extended time outdoors.
School Fees
School Fees have been sent to families this term. We thank all our families who assist us by paying school fees as they contribute to the quality Catholic Education that we provide for our students. Please contact Lynda Logan our Office Manager, if you require any information regarding fees.
Staffing News
Melissa Morella, a valued member of our Classroom Support Team, will have her last day with us this Friday. Mel is moving southside in a full-time capacity. We wish her and her family all the best.
Lastly, a huge thank you to everyone in our community for their contribution to a fulfilling and settled start for our students in Term 1. We are blessed with an amazing group of staff who are passionate about teaching and learning and a welcoming and supportive parent community.
I hope all families stay safe and well over the break and look forward to seeing everyone in Term 2.
Many blessings,
Judy Egan
Principal
MONTHLY SCHOOL FEE STATEMENTS
(INCLUDING ACT BUILDING FUND AMOUNTS)
Please note Families who have a zero balance and no current transactions will not be issued a statement. Where we have received payments for School Fees since the last statement, a statement will be issued displaying the movement in their account.
For all ACT families who have responded to the CCSBF letters, if a family has opted into the contribution the amount will be visible on their next statement issued on 4th & 5th April 2024.
BUILDING FUND OPT IN RESPONSES
Your continued support is important of the building fund as this funding is vital for the maintenance and upkeep of our school facilities.
Please read the following information:
- An email has been sent from donotreply-accounts@cg.catholic.edu.au email address. This is an authentic CECG email address and is not SPAM.
- The Opt-In email will be sent to both parents and take the option chosen by the first parent. Split families will receive separate emails for their portion of the split.
- Each family will be requested to either select “Yes” or “No” regarding their intention to contribute to the Building Fund.
- The amount and frequency will be locked to $210 per Term, however an additional area has been included that will enable a family to contribute an additional amount if they wish to do so.
- Families can amend the Receipt details if they are contributing, i.e., for tax purposes.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Performance
Last week our students experienced Ryka Ali’s highly engaging and culturally rich performance. Ryka performed both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dances in traditional dress, played instruments such as the didgeridoo and shared his knowledge about a variety of artefacts used by our First Nations people. He invited students up on stage to participate in ‘painting up’ with ochre, while explaining its importance and the significance of the designs. The students just loved the performance and participated in the traditional dances with great enthusiasm and energy.
Special wishes to those children who will celebrate their birthday this week and in the school holidays:
| Charlotte M | 5/6 I |
| Matteo L | 3/4 O |
| Ruby W | 3/4 G |
| Aryan G | 3/4 G |
| Sebastian P | K Y |
| Julia J | 1/2 B |
| Alexander F | 5/6 I |
| Nina K | 5/6 I |
| Ruby C | 3/4 G |
| Maggie O | 5/6 P |
| Tendzin W | 3/4 G |
Parish Sacramental Program 2024
2024 Parish Sacramental Program – for students who are baptised and in years 4-6 in 2024.
Sacrament of First Communion – will be celebrated during the weekend Masses on 15 and 16 June 2024.
Registrations are open and will close on Friday 3 May via the parish Qkr! app.
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.
Please note that the school holidays fall within the registration period, so please register sooner rather than later.
No late registrations will be accepted after the closing date.
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
Aboriginal Spirituality
Last week Katrina Cambridge and Lachie Everton from the Catholic Education Office ran workshops with all classes about Aboriginal Spirituality. They began by explaining their personal connections with Aboriginal heritage. They then went on to discuss how the land is a spiritual part of the Aboriginal people and their deep connection to the land. The students were shown examples of Aboriginal totems which represent ownership and responsibility to the land and natural world. Birds are often used as totems and also represent the spirit of the land watching over us. This was connected to the image of the year of the Holy Spirit, a bird of prey which helps and guides us. Students reflected on how the Holy Spirit can help them to grow and do things they are challenged by. They then painted their own representation of the Holy Spirit as a bird. Thank you to Katrina and Lachie and congratulations to the students for their participation and impressive artworks.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Nick (5/6P), Mahli (5/6P) and Kosta (5/6I) who have been selected to represent the ACT at the National Futsal Competition in Queensland later in the year.
Cross Country Results
Our carnival was lots of fun yesterday, despite the wet conditions. Thank you to the staff and parents who braved the weather to make the day happen. Our team for regionals has now been selected. These students will represent our school at the regional carnival on 23 May at Stromlo Forest Park. If your child is in this year's team, you will have received the consent via Compass. Please approve or decline the event as soon as possible.
Ribbon Presentation
Ribbons will be presented (1st, 2nd, 3rd place) this Friday 12 May, 2:15pm at our assembly. Parents are warmly invited to attend.
Athletics Carnival – Save the Date
Our school athletics carnival will be held on Thursday 16 May at Merici College. We are looking forward to a great day and are thankful to Merici for allowing us to use their facilities. All students from K-6 will attend and will travel to and from the venue by coach.
If you are able to assist on the day, please get in touch. We greatly appreciate your help at these school events.
AFL - Paul Kelly Cup
A reminder that if you would like your 5/6 child to join our Paul Kelly Cup AFL team the consent is due this Friday. The gala day will be held on 14 May at Kippax Playing Fields.
Thank You
Thank you to the many parents who have helped with covering new library books and K-2 classroom readers. Thanks for your efforts, we now have over 1000 new resources for our students.
The K-2 teachers are excited to be able to start using the new books in their Inital Lit lessons from the start of next term!
Overdue Library Books
We have many overdue library books at the moment and would appreciate families taking a few moments over the holidays to look for any books that may need to be returned.
Erin Hardwicke
Sunday 14th April
6:15pm Kick Off
https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/Show.aspx?sh=RAI0624&ep=CANGOLD24
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?