What a very settled week we have had to welcome the 2020 school year. A huge thank you to all the staff for their preparation leading up to the start of school. A calm start doesn't just happen in a school, it takes a lot of organisation and preparation. I really appreciate the amazing team we have here at St Michael's. 

Parent Operated Canteen

This year St Michael's was not able to secure a canteen provider so some parents have stepped in to make healthy meals twice per term. The first of these meal days will be FRIDAY 21 February. There will be a few items available for children to purchase with their money at recess. At lunch time we will have one freshly cooked meal available: the first meal will be bolognese pasta bake! You will need to pre-order your child's lunch via QKR and there will be instructions on how to do this in next week's newsletter. All profits go straight back into our canteen.

We also NEED VOLUNTEERS to keep this canteen going. It's really easy, either volunteer some time on the two Fridays each term to cook, serve and clean OR be given a recipe the week before to bake for sale at recess. Please email council.stmichaelsps@cg.catholic.edu.au for more information.

Keys for Learning 

Over the course of this week, all classes have been unpacking our first Key for Learning - Collaborate. 

We believe at St Michael's it is important for students to learn the understanding and skills of how to collaborate with others. We believe students should have fun when learning, living out their full potential and working with others. 

There have been some interesting learning experiences occurring across the school involving team work, problem solving and leadership. 

Before School Care

We have 4 families already accessing the Before School Care. In order to keep this service running, we really need to support YMCA. 

Just to provide some further information, as there was incorrect information circulating. 

Due to Government requirements, Before School Care and After School Care are charged on a per session basis, not by time. The morning session is 7-8.30am and the afternoon session is 3-6pm. 

The cost of Before School Care session is $22.50 for a permanent (ongoing) booking and $25.00 for a casual booking.

YMCA are most happy to assist families with either a permanent or casual booking. Please contact their Customer Care Team on 6242 4040 / cscanberra@ymca.org.au

With regards to the Child Care Subsidy, this differs for every family. Some families may receive 85% cost of fees to 50%, whilst some receive zero. This link may assist families - https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/child-care-subsidy

Meet & Greet

On Wednesday 12 February, we will host an informal opportunity to Meet & Greet the teacher. This is a social connect rather than a presentation/information session. 

Teachers will make themselves available between 3-4pm and 5-6pm in their classrooms. Feel free to pop in, introduce yourself and have an informal chat. I am aware many parents have already connected with teachers before and after school. Some light afternoon tea will be available in both block areas for parents. 

If you require a more formal sit down conversation with teachers, this can be arranged at a separate time by emailing the class teachers directly. 

Teacher's emails are as follows;

KL - jessica.lewis@cg.catholic.edu.au

1/2W - damien.webb@cg.catholic.edu.au

1/2B - shannon.blakey@cg.catholic.edu.au

3/4A - sarah.anderson@cg.catholic.edu.au

3/4F - nadia.farhadi@cg.catholic.edu.au

5/6K - natasha.kapantais@cg.catholic.edu.au

5/6F - jessica.hallahan@cg.catholic.edu.au 

Swimming Carnival & Water Fun Day

Notes came home with every student on Monday. If your child has misplaced the note, you can either pick up a paper copy from the notestand in the foyer or download a copy from our school website. 

The carnival will be on Tuesday 25 February at Gungahlin Pool. We have changed venues this year based on feedback from parents. Notes came home for the carnival for all

students in Years 3-6.

Students in Kinder and Year 1 will remain at school for a Water Fun Day and Special Lunch. Students in Year 2 who are turning 8 this year, can attend the swimming carnival if they wish. All other Year 2 students will remain at school for the Water Fun Day. 

Any questions you may have, please contact your child's class teacher or email our Sports Coordinator directly erin.hardwicke@cg.catholic.edu.au 

A huge thanks to Erin for her preparation and organisation of both events. 

Year 6 Leadership Ceremony 

On Monday 10 February we will hold our Year 6 Leadership Ceremony. This will be held at 9.30am in the school hall. Our Year 6 Leaders will be presented with their badges and leadership shirts. All most welcome to attend. This will mark the next step in their leadership journeys. 

Kindergarten Welcome!

A huge welcome to our 26 little people who started on Monday. We have a very settled group of students. As well as some exisiting families, we welcomed 12 new Kindergarten families starting their schooling experience with us. If you need anything at all, please feel free to email me directly patrick.ellis@cg.catholic.edu.au 

New Families Welcome!

As well as our new Kindergarten families, we welcomed 5 new families across the school. Welcome to Nate, Elliot, Aanya, Suraya, Samuel, Miriam and Ari.

Opening School Mass

All are most welcome to attend our Opening School Mass tomorrow. This is the first time as a whole school and Parish community that we are coming together in prayer. It is the first time for our Kindergarten students to attend Mass with us (an hour is a very long time for them, we will do our best). Thank you to Jess Figura, 5/6F and Meaghan Younger for your preparation of this Mass. Fr Loi will lead our celebration. 

Reconciliation Action Plan 

Last year we began the process of developing an Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for our school. Not many Primary Schools have a RAP, however, we feel it is important to show leadership with Reconciliation. Part of showing our commitment and spirit of Reconciliation, we have redesigned our staff sport shirts. This is one of the visual ways in which we are displaying an inclusive environment, welcoming all and celebrating a shared positive journey of Reconciliation. 

Kind regards, 

Pat Ellis

Principal

2020 School Theme - Knowing & Growing as Stewards of God's Creation

Swimming Carnival

As always our sporting year starts off with the school swimming carnival and we are excited about the carnival being held for the first time at Gungahlin Leisure Centre. The carnival will be held on Tuesday the 25^th February (Week 4). All students 8 years and over received the permission note and nomination form on Monday. If you are able to return both the permission and nomination forms as soon as possible it would be greatly appreciated. If you do not wish for your child to attend this year’s carnival, could you please still return your note and indicate that they will not be in attendance. All notes need to be returned to your child’s teacher. If you are able to volunteer to assist on the day we would love to hear from you!

K-2 Water Fun Day

On Tuesday 25^th February, while the older students take part in the swimming carnival, our students in the younger years will enjoy a Water Fun Day and special recess here at school.  Permission notes and an order for the special recess came home on Monday. If you are able to assist with the preparation of morning tea, we would appreciate your help. Please return notes to your child’s teacher. More information will come home closer to the date. 

Sporting Schools Grant

Last year I mentioned that we were successful in receiving a Sporting School Grant for Term 1. This term all students from K-6 will have the opportunity to participate in basketball clinics offered through Basketball ACT. We are finalising the dates and the clinics will be in the latter half of the term.

New Sports Equipment

Over the break we have purchased new soccer, AFL, rugby league and rugby union balls for the students to have available to them at recess and lunch time. Last year the decision was made that students could not bring these balls from home but that we would instead provide them. The decision worked out to be a great way of creating an even playing field and reducing the tension around the ‘my ball, my rules’ scenario. We will continue with this again this year.

School Sport ACT

The annual sports coordinators meeting will be held on 19^th February. I will communicate via the school newsletter, about any changes to the processes around school sports and ACT trials after attending this meeting. More to come!

Congratulations to the following children who have achieved a Harmony Award in Week 1 and will receive their award this Friday at morning gathering (weather permitting).  

Special wish to those children who celebrated their birthday in the holidays:

Marissa 3/4A, Stefano 5/6K, Jillian 5/6K, Liam KL, Izzy 3/4F, Ana 3/4FR, Cameron 5/6K, Grace KL, Maria KL, Josiah 3/4A, Chiara 1/2W and Jimmy 3/4A

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

Jordan 3/4FR, Eden KL and Maya 3/4F

We hope you have a great day!!

As of 2020 - we are holding special lunch order days (Week 3 & 8 each term).  This will be more a homemade, healthier and sustainable option.

This year St Michael's was not able to secure a canteen provider so some parents have stepped in to make healthy meals twice per term. The first of these meal days will be FRIDAY 21 February. There will be a few items available for children to purchase with their money at recess. At lunch time we will have one freshly cooked meal available: bolognese pasta bake! You will need to pre-order your child's lunch via QKR and there will be instructions on how to do this in next week's newsletter. All profits go straight back into our canteen.

We also NEED VOLUNTEERS to keep this canteen going. It's really easy, either volunteer some time on the two Fridays each term to cook, serve and clean OR be given a recipe in the week before to bake for sale at recess. Please email council.stmichaelsps@cg.catholic.edu.au for more information.

Reminder that all volunteers are required to have a valid Working With Vulnerable People Card.  A copy of all cards are to be kept at the Front Office.  Cards can be obtained from Government Shopfronts or from the following link https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/1804/kw/working%20with%20vulnerable%20people%20card

Looking forward to your support!

Canteen Committee 

The school accepts all donations of preloved school uniforms, they are kept at the Front Office and are then available for families to purchase for a gold coin donation.  Please feel free to drop by at any time and check out our supply.  

Thank you to Fiona, Connie & Cheri for offering to process the school banking for 2020 starting in Week 2.  A reminder that books are to be left at the Front Office on Thursdays for processing.

Changes to School Sport ACT

From the commencement of 2019 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