We are pleased to announce that St Michael's Primary, Kaleen has recently introduced the BPoint Enterprise Solution to manage direct debit arrangements for the payment of school fees.

What is BPoint and What Do You Need to Do?

BPoint is a secure Commonwealth Bank payment processing platform designed to facilitate online payments, while ensuring the highest security standards. This system safeguards your financial information using industry-leading security measures.

Our new direct debit platform will allow you to pay school fees using either a bank account or a credit card (excluding AMEX). Please note that payments made via credit card will incur a 0.5% surcharge.

Establishing Direct Debits.

Families will receive an email outlining estimated weekly, fortnightly, and monthly repayment options to ensure all fees are paid by the end of the year. These amounts will also include any outstanding 2024 balances.

What next?

You will receive an email that will provide a start date for direct debits and options for selecting your preferred payment frequency. Once a payment frequency is selected, you will be directed to enter your bank/credit card details. Once the information is entered, you will receive an email from no-reply@bpoint.com.au . The email will contain two links,

1. The first link requires confirmation of the direct debit arrangement. Please note that the link will expire within 7 days.
2. The second link provides a copy of the eDDRSA for your records.

 While using the direct debit payment option is not compulsory, many families find it helpful in staying up to date with their financial obligations.

For any questions or further assistance, please contact us.

Special wishes to those children who will celebrate their birthdays this week: Matteo L, 5/6I, Ruby W, 3/4O, Aryan G, 5/6P.

Holy Week Liturgies

Today the K-2 students led a liturgy which dramatised the gospel story of Palm Sunday. We pondered on questions such as ‘Why was Jesus riding a donkey?’, 'Why were some Jews excited and others angry?’ and ‘How have we welcomed Jesus into our hearts this Lent?’

Tomorrow the Year 3-6 will lead the Holy Thursday and Good Friday liturgies. The 3/4 students will reenact The Last Supper where Jesus shared his last meal with his disciples during the Passover Meal.

The 5/6 students will then present our Good Friday liturgy where we will commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Even though the events of Good Friday are full of sadness, God sacrificed his Son for our freedom, which is why it is ‘Good’ Friday.

Thank you to the students and teachers who have prepared and led the liturgies and parents for joining us.

Project Compassion

Caritas Australia would like to express our heartfelt thanks for your incredible support of Project Compassion this Lent. So far the St Michael’s community has raised over $300! Your generosity this Lent is helping to empower the world’s most vulnerable communities, enabling them to overcome challenges and lift themselves out of poverty. If you still have your Project Compassion box at home, please bring them back into school TOMORROW.  A final amount will be published next term.

Easter Colouring Competition

Over the Easter break, students are encouraged to enter our St Michael’s Easter Colouring Competition. Every student will be given a sheet to colour over the holidays which will need to be returned by Wednesday the 30 of April. All entries will be displayed around the school. Mrs McKeogh our Art teacher will choose a winning entry from each grade.  Prizes will be awarded Friday of week one at morning our assembly. 

Easter

This year Easter will be celebrated on the 20th of April. Easter is when we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. The Liturgical Season of Easter will continue for weeks to come.  It includes the Ascension of Jesus and ends with Pentecost. The season lasts for 50 days and during that time we will hear stories of Jesus’ resurrection appearances and testimony about life in the Spirit. While we focus on the glory of Jesus’ resurrection during Easter, it is our resurrection too. Every year we celebrate Christ blessing us with new life. When we choose this new life we are sharing in Christ’s victory over evil and death. Let us truly be an Easter people, blessing others and shining out with the Light of Christ.

First Eucharist

Next term we will be celebrating the Sacrament of First Eucharist. There will be an information night on Thursday the 1 May at 6pm St Michael’s Church. If you wish for your child to receive this Sacrament it is important that you attend this evening. Other key dates for the Sacrament are Thursday the 12 June which is both the Retreat Day and the Parent/Child Information Evening. The sacrament will be celebrated on Sunday the 22 June.

Qkr! Registration opening for the Sacrament of Eucharist – Closes Friday the 2nd of May

Registration opens this week for the Sacrament of Eucharist through the Qkr! App. Registrations close Friday the 2^nd of May.

In Qkr! Search for Our Lady of Perpetual Help to find the Parish.  Then go to Sacramental Programs.

The Sacrament will take place at Masses on Saturday the 21^st and Sunday the 22^nd of June 2025.

If you have issues or questions please contact the Parish at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au or speak to the school’s Religious Education Coordinator.

We invite you read this article on how developing a child's home language provides the foundation for reading and writing and prepares children to be biliterate.

https://theconversation.com/do-you-speak-other-languages-at-home-this-will-not-hold-your-child-back-at-school-250405?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=bylinecopy_url_button

Do you speak other languages at home? This will not hold your child back at school - The Conversation It is common for Australian children to grow up with languages other than English in their family lives. More than one-fifth of Australians report speaking a language other than English at home ... theconversation.com

Belconnen Region Cross Country

A terrific day was had last Thursday for our Cross Country Carnival. Congratulations to Red Kangaroos who won this year’s carnival. A big shout out to the parents who volunteered as course marshals. 

The regional carnival will be held on 22 May. The top 5 runners from 8-12 years are eligible to compete. Information will be sent home next term via Compass to all students who have qualified.

AFL AusKick Afterschool Program

We are excited to be hosting 4 weeks of after school AFL program in Term 2. If your child is interested in participating, please see the attached flyer for details on how to register.

Save the Date – Athletics Carnival 13 May 2025

Our School Athletics Carnival is coming up early in Term 2. We are fortunate to be able to use the Merici College oval and facilities again this year. Please keep an eye out on Compass for the permission note. If you can assist at the carnival, please contact Erin Hardwicke erin.hardwicke@cg.catholic.edu.au. We greatly appreciate your help with running the event.

Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge

The Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge has commenced for 2025! The theme for this year is ‘Spaces and Places Where we Read.’ All students received their recording sheet in library lessons this week. We encourage all students to participate in the challenge by reading 30 books by 12 September. Books can be physical, digital or audio and include books read independently as well as those read by others.

All completed entry forms can be placed in the prize barrel in the library. The prizes will be drawn at the conclusion of the challenge. Happy Reading!

More information can be found at https://www.education.act.gov.au/public-school-life/additional-programs/chief_ministers_reading_challenge

Following the success of our first The Resilience Project webinar - we are excited to offer:  Building Resilience at Home with

Luke on Tuesday 13th May, 6:30 - 7:30 pm (60 minutes)

What the webinar will explore:
A whole community approach is key to enhancing student wellbeing. This workshop is designed to empower parents and carers by equipping them with practical strategies to practise Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness (GEM) at home. 

To register, use this link or scan the QR code. The Resilience Project will then send you a zoom link and a calendar invitation.

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.

1. Go to the School Sport ACT website – www.schoolsportact.asn.au
2. Click Register (top right corner of homepage) for an Account – enter parent details and password
3. 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.
4. Click Log In (top right hand corner of home page) enter password then click on top tab My Profile
5. You will see a ‘dashboard’ of your information, click green box to Add Student – enter student and medical details and save.
6. Go to the Sports Tab – choose your specific sport, click on Trial Information box then click on the Register to Trial link.
7. 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?