Filter Content
- Important Dates & Events
- Principal's Page - Pat Ellis
- RE News: Meaghan Younger
- The APPetizer - Jess Figura
- App Info Sheet
- Amazing Art! - Jane McKeough
- Sports News: Erin Hardwicke
- Library News - Erin Hardwicke
- Harmony Awards
- Happy Birthday
- Canteen News
- Year 6 End of Year Celebrations
- Save the date - Christmas Carols
- Playgroup @ St Michael's
- Extra Curricular Activities
- Parish News
- School Sport ACT Trials
THIS WEEK | |
24 October | Reconciliation Retreat Day (St Monica's) |
24 October | Netball Clinics (3/4s & K) |
24 October | Reconciliation Parent/Child Prep Night @ St Michael's |
25 October | Boorowa Carnival |
27 October | Jump Fest 10am till 2pm |
NEXT WEEK | |
28 October | Chris Collin (Author) Visit |
29 October | Netball Clinics (1/2s & 5/6s) |
31 October | All Saints and All Souls Mass @ 9.30am |
31 October |
Netball Clinics (3/4s & K) |
1 November | WSPT: Catholic Mission @ 2.25 led by 1/2W |
COMING UP | |
6 November | Kinder Orientation 2020 - Session 1 |
15 November | Arts Showcase Assembly at 12.40pm |
20 November | Kinder Orientation 2020 - Session 2 |
2 - 13 December | Swimming Lessons K-2 |
5/6 December | St Michael's Art Show |
9 December | Carols Night |
19 December | Last day of school for 2019 (Thursday) |
NOTES GONE HOME THIS WEEK
Please remember that copies of notes sent home are available on our website. https://www.stmichaelsps.act.edu.au/term-3-notes-2018
- Term 4 Fee Statements
- Cake plates for Jump Fest
Each year, there is a Council Levy included in your school fees. As mentioned previously, this money goes to assist us with purchasing new furniture and equipment for our learning spaces both inside and outside. Some of these funds also combined with the Technology Levy to purchase bigger ticket Tech items such as new TVs, Chromebooks and iPads.
Year 1/2 classes will be receiving new classroom furniture for the start of 2020 which will be very exciting with 3/4 classes receiving new furniture in 2021. Kindergarten had a new TV installed in their room last term and another TV will be purchased for one of the 3/4 classes ready for 2020. Early next year we will be looking to update the C Block 30 iPad bank. This will compliment the bank of Chromebooks purchased this year. We also recently updated our hall data projector and sound. There is lots happening across the school to maximise opportunities for engaging learning to occur.
We have some very exciting news! I have recently requested some support from CE to install some split system units for our classrooms. I am pleased to inform everyone, that we will be installing split system units in all classrooms. I am hoping this is done in the next few weeks before it gets too hot. This will also mean that the old electric bar heaters can be removed from classrooms. As you would be aware, I am very passionate about creating the best learning environments for our students. I take great pride in ensuring we present engaging spaces inside and outside for our students with comfortable temperatures in classrooms contributing to an optimum space to learn.Term 4 Fee Statements
Fee statements have gone home this week. Please organise payment by the due date. If you are paying by direct debit, please ensure your direct debit will cover your fees for 2019. We have one of the best fee collection rates of Catholic schools. Thank you to everyone for ensuring these fees are paid to assist with our ongoing operating costs and expenses.
Food for Recess and Lunch
This is just a reminder to please pack enough food for your child each day. We are having a lot of children coming to the office for lunch each day, as they have eaten all their food at the first break because they were hungry. Whilst we would never allow a child to go hungry during the day we would organise a very basic sandwich for them, I have requested that parents are now to be called by the Front Office informing them that food is being supplied to their child. This will help you start a conversation with your child about the food they are eating at school and ensuring each child has enough food each day.
We also have students coming to the Front Office for fruit break where they haven't bought any with them. In these cases, students will go without fruit for the day. We do not have the facilities to store fresh fruit at school. As this is optional and there are many students across the school who choose not to have fruit at fruit break, we will not be providing fruit for students.
JUMPFEST
A reminder we have JumpFest on Sunday (10-2pm). Thank you so much to all those parents and friends who have volunteered to help on the day and everyone for baking something to donate. Remember, all money will go to Jariah Education Centre in Kenya. We are hoping to raise at least $2500 for them to purchase a water tank for their school so they can access fresh water during the day.
Thank you to our sponsors...
- Own It Finance
- Premier Capital Properties
- McDonalds
Please support those who support us!
You can still pop your name down to help. Why not help out for an hour when the kids are jumping?
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EivbL4sjpZ_nNeDJ8fWJJqhr9fyCBX6cw9b4D34T4Ro/edit
Today, we celebrated World's Teachers Day (official Australian date is the last Friday in October). We have incredible teachers at St Michael's, all passionate and dedicated to their profession of making a difference in the lives of every student they encounter. Thank you to the Community Council for providing lunch for staff today as a thank you on behalf of the parent community. Much appreciated!I will be away from school on Thursday afternoon and Friday. I will be attending a Principal's Retreat in Galong. Damien Webb and Meaghan Younger will be points of contact in my absence.
Tomorrow night, our Year 3 students preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and their parents will be required to participate in a preparation evening at St Michael's at 6pm. I wish you all well on this next step.
Good luck to our teams heading to Boorowa on Friday. Mr Webb, Mrs Hardwicke, Mrs McCann and Miss Lewis will be attending the carnival.
Enjoy the week ahead.
Kind regards,
Pat Ellis
Principal
Reconciliation
Tomorrow (24th October) is an exciting and busy day for those preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation next month. The children in Year 3 will be taking part in a retreat at St Monica’s Primary School from 9:30 – 1:00pm. The bus will leave St Michael’s by 9:15am and return in time for lunch at school. Children need to bring their morning tea and a drink bottle.
The Parent / Child Formation Evening will begin at 6:00pm in C Block at St Michael’s Primary School. Candidates and at least one adult need to participate. We will all keep the Reconciliation candidates and their families in our prayers during this time of preparation.
Our Youth Mass is growing each month and was well attended again this week. St Michael’s School was well represented with readers and servers and we will claim the drummer too, even if he belongs to a staff member! Why don’t you come and try our youth mass for yourself next month? They are the third Sunday of each month, making our next one 17/11.
Mission Month
October is Mission Month in the Catholic Church and as such we turn our thoughts to the missionary work being done overseas helping those in poverty. Catholic Mission works in countries all around the world helping with food, education, health services and evangelisation. Learn more about their great work on their website: https://youtu.be/NgqfiddU78s
At St Michael’s we will hold a special Missionary Rosary Day on 1st November. There will be some special activities that day exploring the importance of the Rosary in our faith tradition and the work of Catholic Mission around the world. Students are invited to come wearing plain clothes in the colours of the world as nominated below:
Blue (for the Pacific Islands)
Green (for Africa)
Yellow (for Asia)
Red (for the Americas)
White (for our Holy Father, Pope Francis)
Pope Francis' Prayer for October 2019
Heavenly Father,
when your only begotten Son Jesus Christ
rose from the dead,
he commissioned his followers
to “go and make disciples of all nations”
and you remind us that through our Baptism
we are made sharers in the mission of the Church.
Empower us by the gifts of the Holy Spirit
to be courageous and zealous
in bearing witness to the Gospel,
so that the mission entrusted to the Church,
which is still very far from completion,
may find new and efficacious expressions
that bring life and light to the world.
Help us make it possible for all peoples
to experience the saving love
and mercy of Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, forever and ever.
Amen.
JumpFest
This Sunday 27th October St Michael’s is hosting ‘JumpFest’, a day of fitness and fun. The Aird family through their compant 'Canberra Jumping Castles' are supplying their 10 jumping castles and our Council will host a cake stall, BBQ and have the Greenhouse open. JumpPacks are $20 which will allow you to jump on all 10 jumping castels, with all money raised will go to our Global Partners School, Jariah Education Centre for assisting to provide a much needed water tank.
The app of the week is Box Island. This impressive game allows children to learn the fundamentals of coding, while working their way through an exciting adventure. Kids apply the basics, such as loops and conditionals and work their way through a series of challenges on Box Island. This is suitable for students Kinder through to Year 6.
PORTRAITS
This week we will begin our self-portraits.
Do you know that one of the best ways to get over the fear of drawing people is to draw them without looking at the paper?
It removes the artist from the responsibility of result, and allows them to study the subject more closely.
We will discuss:
* The elements, such as shape and line when drawing faces.
*Tints and shades of colour when mixing skin tones.
*Proportions and positioning of features of the face.
Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is the world's most visited artwork.
Boorowa Touch & Netball Carnival
Good luck to all our teams at Friday's carnival, we wish you all the best.
ACT Trials Information
Please check the School Sport ACT website https://www.schoolsportact.asn.au/ for information about current and upcoming trials. The process for registration can be found in the School Sport section below.
We are very excited to be welcoming author Chris Collin, author of the very funny Funky Chicken series, to our school next Monday 28th October. Chris will present two workshops; one with the students in K-2 and then another with the students in Years 3-6. We look forward to meeting Chris and learning more about being an award winning author and the writing process.
For more information and resources visit the FunkyBooks website https://www.funkybooks.com.au/home-2/about-us/
ACT Public Library Book Apps
BorrowBox and Libby are two apps which are offered through ACT Public Libraries. They are a terrific way of accessing books and audio material to download to a personal device. They can be downloaded free through the apps store.
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).
KL | Hunter H |
1/2F | Hugo H |
1/2M | Mallory B |
1/2W | Phoenix D |
3/4AK | Aarush B |
3/4YM | Finley H |
5/6B | Levi B |
5/6FW | Billy S |
Lunch Orders are to be placed by MIDNIGHT on Wednesday nights.
Friday 25th October (Week 2) | Friday 1st November (Week 3) | ||
9.00-12.00 | YMCA | 9.00-12.00 | YMCA |
12.30-1.45 | Lupi | 12.30-1.45 | Lupi |
The canteen require assistance on Fridays for Term 4 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.
DANCECORE - Dance classes are held on Wednesday’s at recess in the school hall, forms are available at the Front Office.
Contact Cassie 0417 442 750
CHESS - Chess classes are held in C Block on Tuesday’s at recess, forms are available at the Front Office. Contact Sydney Academy of Chess 9745 1170
GUITAR - Guitar lessons with Sam on Thursday's, please contact
Sam on 0408 196 855
PIANO - Piano Lessons with Mary-Liz on Mondays & Tuesdays,
please contact Mary-Liz on 0413 425 753
SPEECH & DRAMA - Drama classes are being held on Tuesday’s at lunchtime, please contact Elizabeth McIntosh if you are interested on 6255 9054
SCHOOL BANKING - Banking day is Thursday, please leave your books at the Front Office.
BOOKCLUB - Scholastic Bookclub runs eight times a year, there will be two issues each Term. If you have any queries, contact Mrs Monro or Mrs Arena.
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 the Orana Parish Center just outside of St Vincent's Church, Aranda on Saturday 26th October 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
Changes to School Sport ACT
From the commencement of this year there will no longer be Belconnen Region level trials for specific sports. To replace the regional level completion, many sports are holding gala days for schools to attend. We will enter teams in these gala days where there is student interest. The pathway for selection to an ACT sporting team is through trials offered in the same way as they have been previously. Please see the information below in relation to the process of registering your child for ACT trials on the School Sport ACT website.
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 $5 fee payment via credit card will be required.
- Go to the School Sport ACT website – 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?
- Make the $5 credit card payment then click to register.
- An automated email will then be sent to your Principal/School Approver for their approval to trial (no need to take anything to school for the Principal to sign).
- You will be able to see the process has been complete back in My Profile – once your Principal/School Approver has completed the approval process your child’s information will be collated onto a list for the Team Manager and Coach prior to trial.
- Note the registration process closes two days before the first trial date to allow sufficient time for approval and sharing of collated information.
Looking forward to another big year of sporting participation,
Erin Hardwicke
erin.hardwicke@cg.catholic.edu.au