I am pleased to let the St Michael's School Community know that our Classroom Support Team have been selected as a finalist for the ACT Chief Minister's Inclusion Awards. This is a huge achievement for the team, led by Jo Krippner as Classroom Support Teacher. Our Classroom Support Assistants, Kylie Arena, Sonja Vocisano, Sharon Friend and Unnati Shah go above and beyond each and everyday to ensure that all students feel included, supported and challenged. I appreciate their dedication and passion to making a difference in the lives of all our students. 

The category we are a finalist in is... 

Inclusion in Education and Training
This award recognises an educational and training organisation or individual either within the private sector or government funded that has provided exceptional or innovative educational or training opportunities for people with disability. The finalists are:

Black Mountain School
Charles Weston School Coombs
Jake Naylor
Classroom Support Team at St Michael’s Primary School
Panache Driver Training
The Pastoral Care Team at The Woden School
Rebecca Jefferys

There will be a Gala Night on Thursday 5 December where the team will attend and celebrate this great achievement. On behalf of the whole school community, I would like to say thank you to our amazing Classroom Support Team!

Catholic Mission Day

On Friday, Catholic Mission was a focus with students wearing uniform free (the colours of the world) and each child received Mission Rosary Beads. Pope Francis has chosen the theme 'Baptised and Sent: The Church of Christ on Mission in the World'. The Extraordinary Missionary Month (October) is an invitation for all to join in and do something extraordinary for mission. For us at St Michael's, raising awareness and bringing focus to what is happening in the world. 

This year, we were encouraged to learn about how the Church in Ghana is taking a lead in providing life-saving care to children with a disability and fostering their personal development for a brighter future. 

Kinder Orientation

Today, we welcomed 26 little people and their families to St Michael's. It was so great to see them altogether for the first time. We look forward to their next visit on Wednesday 20 November where they will again spend time with the 2020 Kinder Team and also meet their buddies for next year. 

Book Club/Book Fair 2020

Over the course of the year, we have been discussing and reviewing our current arrangements for Book Fair and Book Club. Scholastic do a great job and have done for years, however, we have been noticing in recent years that the quality of literature is dropping and more stationary items and novelty type books have been increasing. Whilst we want children to be excited when we hold book fairs and book club, we also need to centre on what the purpose of holding them is and what message we are sending to our students. We have been working extremely hard over the last year to ensure good quality literature is present at school. We have purchased in excess of 500 books for the library, updated class reading sets and have begun the long process of sorting out the quality of home readers.

The Book Club and Book Fair commission that we receive each year has contributed to enabling us to do this. So, holding book clubs and book fairs are important moving forward however, we have been exploring other companies.

We have come across Redgum. Redgum Book Club is an Australian owned and operated children’s book club. The team has a strong background in publishing, marketing and distribution, and they are passionate about providing engaging and educational books to kids and promoting Australian products. Redgum are proud to promote the unique work of emerging and award winning Australian children’s authors and illustrators and independent Australian publishers. They are providing a fresh offering in the children’s book market by promoting a mix of high quality products including books with strong Australian content and current popular titles

Our librarian (Erin Hardwicke), Front Office Manager (Lisa Monro) and myself have been discussing the benefits of this new company and recently took this information to Community Council to ask for their support in switching to Redgum next year. Community Council have supported this change based on various reasons including, increasing the range of quality literature, a higher commission rate back to the school based on sales, a digital catalogue to stop the waste of sending home 2 catalogues every term (in line with being a more Sustainable school) and less impact on school staff with sorting out payments etc. 

In 2020, we will hold two Book Fairs, (Term 1 and Term 4) and one book club per term. We hope that you welcome the change and continue to support these programs in order to keep increasing the quality literature our students are exposed to and promote a love of reading!

Remembrance Day

On Friday we will pause, pray and remember those who have sacrificed so much for us. 5/6FW will lead us in this prayer reflection. On Monday, we will pause for a minute silence. 

Maths Cluster K-2

On Monday we will again host teachers from across Canberra-Goulburn Archdiocese for our K-2 Maths Cluster Professional Learning. All our K-2 teachers will be involved. This has proven to be a great opportunity for us this year where Leonie Anstey, Numeracy Consultant works closely with teachers and students with 'Make, Say, Do, Write' in Maths lessons encouraging higher order thinking and understanding. 

Sacrament of Reconciliation

On Tuesday, we will celebrate with 16 Year 3 students who begin the next step in their Sacramental and Faith journey by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I wish them and their families all the best as they begin this journey. Thank you to Ms Younger for all her preparation behind the scenes. 

Enjoy the week ahead. 

Kind regards, 

Pat Ellis

Principal

The school Community Council is an essential component of our school. Constitutional requirements for Council membership means there will be vacant positions on the Executive of the School Community Council from 2020.  Any parent in the School community is eligible to nominate.

What does the Community Council do?

The Constitution states that the council ‘provides opportunity for members of the community to support the mission of Catholic education in the school. Working with the Principal, Parish Priest and staff, the members of the council and its committees provide leadership to the wider school community’

The Community Council works with the Principal, Parish Priest and staff collaboratively to ensure the smooth operation of the school. The council takes a decision making role in areas such as developing capital and maintenance programs, promoting the school in the local community, approving school uniform, developing and monitoring school enterprises (eg hall hire) and fundraising to name a few items. The council also has an advisory role in areas such as curriculum, student welfare and educational policies for the school.  

Meetings are held twice a term and a commitment to attending these meetings is required.

How to nominate

Each nomination must be made on the Nomination Form available from the Front Office (emails will not be accepted as a formal nomination).  The nomination must be seconded and agreed to by the person being nominated. All nominations are confidential.  Please send nominations addressed to Patrick Ellis in a sealed envelope labelled ‘Community Council Nomination’ by 3pm on Wednesday, 13^th November 2019.  All nominations will be placed in a sealed box in my office and will be opened by Father Loi (or a parish representative) and the Principal after this date.

Points to note:

• There is 1 parent member position available with another 3 possible positions to be appointed for their expertise.
• If the required number of nominations are received, the nominees will be declared elected to the community.
• Only if there are more nominations than the possible 4 positions available, a parent community election will be held.
• Existing members wanting to serve another term of membership, can re-nominate.
• A term of membership shall be for a period of two (2) years.
• Members of the council may be elected for a maximum of three (3) consecutive terms.

Reconciliation

We keep in our prayers these children as they prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation next week. Many of our Year Three children will receive this sacrament of healing on Tuesday 12^th November in a special liturgy at St Michael’s Church. Families are reminded that this liturgy will begin at 6:00pm. Other members of our Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish will receive this sacrament in a similar liturgy at St Monica’s Church on Wednesday 13^th November.

All Saints Mass

Thank you to Miss Frogley and 1/2F for their beautiful leadership of Mass last Thursday. What a lovely way to celebrate all the saints and holy people in our lives.

Extraordinary Mission Month

Congratulations to everyone for your participation in World Mission Rosary activities last Friday. I hope you continue to use your Mission Rosaries regularly.

Whole School Prayer Time

Thank you to Miss Kapantais and 1/2W for your lovely WSPT on Mission last Friday. What a prayerful way to reflect on the ways missionaries care for those in need around the world.

5/6FW are looking forward to leading the Whole School Prayer Time this week to mark Remembrance Day. Whilst we will join the rest of Australia and pause as a school at 11:00am on 11^th November for a minute’s silence, 5/6FW will lead us in a special prayer service this Friday, 8th November in St Michael’s Church from 2:25 reflecting on the service of all those who have served our country in wartime.

The app of the week is Cato’s Hike. This app teaches children (ages 5+) the essentials of programming and how to think about solving complex problems. Children must work to help Cato get through up to 60 levels through coding. This app is visually appealing and also includes a map editor so that children can create their own maps and puzzles to share. Currently available in the app store for $4.99.

K-2 Swimming Clinics

Please ensure that all student enrolment forms are returned by this Friday. The forms can be returned to the classroom teachers.  If you have misplaced your form a copy is available at the Front Office.  Gungahlin Leisure Centre requires these forms in order to prepare the groupings for our program starting in Week 8.

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.

End of Year Borrowing & Returns

The last of week of borrowing from our library will be in Week 6.  We ask that all library books be returned by Friday of Week 8 as this will greatly assist us with stocktaking during Weeks 9 & 10.  If you have misplaced any books, please contact erin.hardwicke@cg.catholic.edu.au so they can be deleted from student accounts.

Congratulations to the following children who have achieved a Harmony Award in Week 4 and will receive their award this Friday at morning gathering (weather permitting).

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

Billy 5/6FW & Jewel 1/2M

We hope you have a great day!!

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

The canteen still 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.  

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

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Youth Mass

We have our Youth Masses on the 3rd Sunday of every month at the 5.30 pm time slot at St Michael's, Kaleen. The Youth Mass dinner is done in a potluck style, where all parishioners have a fellowship. Students from the ages of 8 to 18 are welcomed to take part in the liturgy. This has greatly helped our parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help grow as a community. Our next Youth Mass falls on 17th November 2019, Sunday at 5.30 pm. All young people are invited to partake in this, including playing any instruments in the choir, reading, procession, etc.

The Student Wellbeing Hub is a great website that has been set up where you can find information and advice about important topics like online safety, child wellbeing and much more, to help you make your child’s learning journey a safe and positive one.

Check it out! https://studentwellbeinghub.edu.au/parents/

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.

1. Go to the School Sport ACT website – 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?
8. Make the $5 credit card payment then click to register.
9. 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).
10. 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.
11. 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