FENCING

I have been overwhelmed by the amount of parents who have stopped me to say thank you regarding the fencing around the oval. I am aware it has been a safety concern for many with the road, public footpath and storm water drain right next to the school.

As mentioned in previous newsletters, potential new families who walk through often comment and ask why the oval isn't fenced. Safety is a huge priority for families when looking to enrol their child into a school and is most important for us at St Michael's.

Fencing the oval will also assist in maintaining the oval and ensuring safe surfacing remains. It will also assist us each week without having to clean up after dogs who have ventured onto the oval. Lastly, a huge reasoning for us is to continue to maintain an inclusive environment. For some of our little people who are settling into St Michael's, having clear boundaries ensures their safety and the staff who support them. Excluding any student from the oval at playtime is not what we stand for at St Michael's. Creating a safe and inclusive playground is a key priority for us. We appreciate the continued support of the school community with regard to this. 

100 DAYS IN KINDERGARTEN

I would like to congratulate the 22 kindergarten students for reaching 100 days at 'big school'. The time has past so quickly. Thank you to Miss Lewis for your continued passion and dedication for the Kinders of our school and to the parents and carers for your support. We trust that every student in KL have enjoyed the last 100 days, made new friends, learnt a lot and had fun! Here's to the next 100 and beyond!

ANNUAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN UPDATE

As you know, this year we have been more explicit with our developments with our Annual Improvement Plan and communicating how we are working towards our annual goals through our newsletter.

With the introduction of the Berry Street Education Model, SoundsWrite Phonic Program, new RE Curriculum, MathsBurst program, STEM and RoboCup, Wellbeing lessons, specific Art lessons, continuing deepening a culture of Sustainability, attendance each week at Parish Mass, further developing student leadership, increased classroom support, being more explicit with learning intentions of lessons, ensuring students receive timely feedback, introduction of the Rainbow Award, improving play spaces and class spaces have all occurred in the first 6 months of this year. All have been actions identified at the start of the year based on parent, student and staff feedback and in line with our school goals. 

We will continue to push forward for the second half of the year to ensure we are living up to our full potential as a school and ensuring we have an innovative, calm, positive and fun learning environment. 

ANNUAL SATISFACTION SURVEY

An annual satisfaction survey of parents, students and staff will be conducted on behalf of all Catholic schools in the Diocese this term. The surveys are designed to gather feedback from parents, staff and students about our school and will be used to inform school improvement. Responses are confidential and individuals can not be identified. 

The surveys will be launched via email on 29 July and close on 9 August 2019 using the email addresses supplied to the school. If you do not receive an email with a link to the survey, please email the school to obtain.

REMINDER - HATS BACK ON TOMORROW - AUGUST 1st

Thank you in advance for your honest and constructive feedback. 

Enjoy the week ahead. 

Regards,

Pat Ellis

Principal

Sacrament of Confirmation

Thank you to those families who participated in our Sacrament of Confirmation Information Evening last week. If you were unable to attend, your child should have brought home the notes you missed. If you have any further questions please contact me at meaghan.younger@cg.catholic.edu.au . A reminder that all candidates for Confirmation need to make a commitment for preparation at any of our Parish masses. Thank you to those who have already done so. I look forward to working with all candidates and their parents again at the Parent / Child evening on Thursday 22 August. That evening will be held in C Block here at St Michael’s.

The Confirmation Retreat is for all students in Year 6 and will be held at St Francis Xavier College this year. Youth Leaders in the Belconnen Parishes will be assisting with the day’s events. Students are to come in casual clothes and bring their own morning tea and water bottle. Buses will depart by 9:15 and return for the end of the school day.

Paperwork to return at present:

• the registration form,
• Sponsor letter,
• white card information and
• Retreat permission note.

Whole School Prayer Time

Thank you to Year Six for your prayerful leadership of the NAIDOC Whole School Prayer Time last Friday. It was a beautiful way to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture.

Our next Whole School Prayer Time is next Friday 9 August. We will gather in the Church ready to start at 2:25pm. Kindergarten have been excitedly preparing to lead us in prayer as we celebrate Australia’s first saint, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

Growing with the Spirit 

As we continue to consider how we ‘Grow with the Spirit’ we are offering families an opportunity to try some different forms of prayer to add to their family prayer life.

From next week each class will be sending home prayer bags for you to use. These will each have a holding cross and a prayer journal. You are invited to add to the journal your own prayers, either written personally or ones you have found or use often. Your family may wish to read the prayers added by other families over time or simply use some of the traditional prayers included.

Staff have begun the prayer journals with some of their own favourites. Please be sure to return the prayer bags so all families have the opportunity to use and contribute to their growth. I am hopeful that these can become a tradition at St Michael’s over coming years.

Please RSVP via this link https://docs.google.com/document/d/155aPgqLJRC8Rxzus9ApYfwocQxV6ky5Y_XTawyjlMv4/edit?usp=sharing

We hope to see you all there!

Scholastic Book Fair

Save the Date Tuesday 6th – Friday 9th August 

We are looking forward to our second Book Fair of the year. The theme for this Fair is ‘Dino-mite’

The Book Fair is a great opportunity to check out the new and exciting titles or even to make some early purchases for Christmas presents. We appreciate your support of these events as a percentage of the proceeds are given to our school to purchase new books for our library. 

The Book Fair will be open each day from Tuesday 6th August – Friday 9th August. Before school 8:20-8:50am and after school 3:00 – 4:00pm. 

Celebrating Book Week 2019 at St Michael’s

During Weeks 5 and 6 we have lots of exciting events to celebrate Book Week!

Tuesday 20th August - Book Week Dress Up Day

Students can come to school dressed as their favourite character. Our parade will take place in the Hall immediatley following Morning Gathering. Parents are very welcome to attend.

Wednesday 21st August – Great Book Swap

We will be showing our support for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation by holding a ‘Giant Book Swap’ during library lessons on Wednesday. For a gold coin donation students can choose a book to take home from a selection of donated books.

To support this important cause, we are calling for donations of pre-loved (but still in good condition) books. These books will then form part of the Giant Book Swap. We are hoping to receive 200 books so there are enough books for each child to take part in the swap. If you are able to donate a book, or maybe even two, books can be left in the tub behind the library desk or dropped to the Front Office. If donations can be brought in to school by Friday 16th August, it would be appreciated.

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation aims to raise enough funds to gift over 35,000 books to remote communities in 2020. We would love to show our support and assist in addressing the literacy gap in Indigenous communities.  

Friday 30th August – Big Dreams Performance

Our whole school will come together for the ‘Big Dreams’ performance in the Hall at 9:10. The performance links together the themes of the CBCA shortlisted books for this year.  

The app of the week is the NSF Science Zone.

This free app presented by the National Science Foundation allows children to explore hundreds of new discoveries. Fascinating videos and stunning photos accompany detailed information that will have the kids entertained. The technical language will make this app more targeted towards older students.

Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival

Save the Date:  Friday 25th October

Please consider if your child would like to take part in the Boorowa carnival this year. Information and permission notes will come home next week, as we need to register our teams. The carnival is a wonderful day and a terrific way to support the town of Boorowa and the surrounding region. Last year saw 434 teams compete and thousands of children enjoying a day of sport focused on participation rather than competition. We would love to have even more students involved than we did last year.  Students from Years 2-6 can participate in either touch football or netball. 

K-2 Swimming Program

Yesterday an information and permission note for our K-2 Swimming Program came home with all students in Years K-2. The program will take place in Term 4 during Week 8 & 9 (2 Dec – 13 Dec). If you have any questions or require any additional information about the program please get in touch via email erin.hardwicke@cg.catholic.edu.au 

Please note that this year we require permission notes to be returned in the next two weeks to confirm numbers with the pool. Payment however is not due until the end of this term (27 September).  Notes are to be returned to your child’s classroom teacher.

At this time of year we tend to see an increase in headlice cases across many schools in Canberra. We are no exceptation and now have cases right across the school. It is really important to check your child/rens hair. If they have signs of headlice/eggs, it is important to keep them home and fully treat before returning. If children come back to school where treatment has not been followed through, the cycle starts again with other children getting them also. 

Please read this information from NSW Health regarding prevention and treatment. Thank you

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/headlice/Pages/treatment.aspx

ICAS Testing 

Students from Years 3-6 are invited to participate in the ICAS assessment competition. These assessments will give students the chance to partake in a variety of different assessments that will test their skills and knowledge in particular subject areas.

All the assessments have now moved to an online format. All participants receive certificates which explain their results and are given suggestions on areas of improvement. The dates of the assessments and costs involved are included in the note that went home last week.

Please ensure that all notes and payments are due by Friday 2nd August.

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

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

Elizabeth 3/4AK & Alessia 1/2F

We hope you have a great day!!

Mischa (5/6B) performed at the Time to Shine Dance competition

in the holidays and was awarded 4 x 1st places, 1 x 2nd place and 2 x honourable mentions for her solo routines in various styles.

Playgroup is held on Wednesdays in Weeks 2 to 9 from 9am til 10.30am in the School Hall. It is for children ages 0-5 and their parents/carers.  Please contact Kylie Arena or Lisa Monro on 62414022 for any enquires. 

Lunch Orders are to be placed by MIDNIGHT on Wednesday nights. 

The canteen still require assistance on Fridays 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.  

Please feel free to contact Empire Catering on 0408 200 481 for queries with lunch orders or any constructive feedback you have regarding menu items.  

ALTER SERVICE

Our Parish would warmly welcome any new candidates to join our roster as Altar Servers for our Sunday Masses. Sr Kate will hold a training session at St Michael’s church on Wednesday, 31st July, at 3.30pm. All children who have received the Sacrament of the Eucharist will be most welcome. Senior servers who are currently on the roster are asked to come along to assist our new recruits.

VOLUNTEERS FOR SUNDAY MASS AT ST MICHAEL’S CHURCH
More volunteers are needed for the ministries of Mass Coordinator, Reader and Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist for Sunday Mass at St Michael’s church. Please
pray and consider if God is calling you for one or more of these ministries. If you would like to receive training, then be placed on a roster, please contact the parish office via
email or phone. Thank you.

Belconnen Youth Ministry - 

Inviting all students in year 3-7 to join us for an afternoon of faith, friendship and fun at South Belconnen Parish's Junior Youth Group and Youth Mass. Join us in Marian Hall just outside of St Matthew's Church, Page on Saturday 24th August at 4:45pm for Youth Group then stay on to celebrate Mass at 6pm. Contact Youth Minister Sarah for more information at Sarah.Larkin@cg.org.au

ONLY 3 BOOKS LEFT - LAST CHANCE TO PURCHASE

The 2019/20 Entertainment Book is still available to purchase.  Books can be purchased at the Front Office for $60 or digital copies can be ordered through the following link.  Please see Lisa in the Front Office for more information.