It has been great to see some rain falling in the ACT over the last few days. This has brought some needed relief for the fires and for the smoke. We continue to pray for rain in the coming days, weeks and months. We had minimal water issues (mainly our guttering), so we are thankful that we haven't had the issues that some other schools have had to deal with. 

Student Welfare Officer

It is with great pleasure that we welcomed Shahenie Burns last week to the role of Student Welfare Officer to St Michael's. 

Shahenie brings much strength to the role with experience in Youth Ministry, Sacramental Coordinator for South Belconnen and her youth and art backgrounds. Shahenie is spending the next few weeks just getting to know students and staff, floating in and out of rooms, connecting and building relationships. Shahenie will be working on Thursdays and Fridays. 

'Hi my name Shahenie. I am the new Student Welfare Officer at St Michael's. A little about me, my parents emigrated from Sri Lanka to Australia before I was born. I grew up in the South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne where I attended lovely local Catholic Primary and High schools. I studied Interior Design, Visual Arts and Fine Arts (Painting) at RMIT Melbourne City campus. After my studies, I spent a year volunteering as a member of the Youth Mission Team (YMT) in the Archdiocese of Perth. I moved to Canberra to be with my partner and worked in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn as the manager of the Catholic Youth Ministry team. I have been married for 9 years and my husband and I have 3 primary school age daughters. In addition to my role at St Michael's, I am also the Sacramental Coordinator for the South Belconnen Parish of St Matthew's and St Vincent's. I loved my first week at St Michael's and am really excited about being part of the St Michael's community. I warmly invite parents to come and speak with me if they have any questions about student welfare. I will be working Thursday and Fridays'. Shahenie Burns

CatholicCare Counsellor

Unfortunately, Carrie Coghlan, our school counsellor, has been moved to a different school this year. Carrie has been with St Michael's for a few years and helped and supported students, staff and families through a difficult period. I am waiting for confirmation of who will be our next counsellor (this is done externally through CatholicCare) and confirmation of hours and which day. Once I have this information, I will inform the community. 

In the interim, I have spoken to CatholicCare about where I can direct families to access counselling support. Any families in need can access support from Catholic Care's Family & Relationship Counselling Program. For appointments, families can ring their reception on 6162 6100. Please advise them you are families from St Michael's Primary School. Any issues with accessing this service in the short term, please let me know directly. 

Keys for Learning - Perservere 

This week our focus shifts to our 2nd 'Key for Learning' - Perservere. This is a tough one and one that I think we can all work on. 

At St Michael's, we set high expectations for everyone. We are there to support and guide all students but we want students to have some struggle with their learning. These are the prime opportunities for rich learning to occur. We focus on a growth mindset and we encourage a switch in phrasing from students saying 'I don't know' to 'I don't know it yet'. We are wanting to provide a learning environment that encourages feedback, risk taking and where each individual takes responsibility for their own learning. 

Meet & Greet

A reminder that class teachers will be in their classrooms between 3-4pm and 5-6pm tonight (Wednesday 12 February) for parents to pop in, introduce yourself and see how your child has settled into the new year. There will be no formal presentations. This is a social, informal event. There will be light afternoon tea in each block area for parents. Hope to see you there. If you wish to sit down more formally with teachers, you can organise that at another time by emailing them directly. 

Supervision Times

A reminder that students should not be at the front of the school until 8.20am. There have been a few students waiting out the front of the school from about 8.10am. Please know that students at the front of the school are not supervised prior to 8.20am. If you require care prior to 8.20am, we now have Before School Care with YMCA. This service operates from 7am and accepts casual one off bookings. 

Camp Update (Bushfires & Air Quality)

Our Year 5/6 parents would be aware that we have a planned Year 5/6 Camp to Birrigai in Week 7 (18-20 March). Of course, we have been watching closely the fire down South as this is near the camp accommodation. 

At this stage, Birrigai have cancelled Camps last week and this week, while the fire hopefully gets sorted. They have put any Camps in Week 3 and 4 on notice at this stage. Luckily for us, our camp isn't until Week 7. At this stage, they are planning March camps to proceed as normal. Nothing has been affected by the fires at this stage. 

Of course, student and staff safety is our number one priority at all times and we will follow advice from Birrigai, Catholic Education and the Emergency Services Agency as we draw closer. At this stage, we are planning for everything to run as normal and the fire down South to be extinguished. There are no other venues at this stage that would be able to hold a 2 night camp, so worse case scenario for a 'Plan B' would be for a camp night at school and local excursions and leadership experience. We will cross that path if we are advised that we can't attend the camp. 

Wendy Rix

We welcome Wendy Rix to our school for the next fortnight (starting on Monday). Wendy will be an Artist in Residence. As part of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander funding, we will have Wendy work with every class, paint some murals around the school and work in smaller groups with our Aboriginal students. Please make Wendy feel welcome. This will be a great fortnight of Aboriginal art. 

Student Information Checklist and Medical Alert Forms

Please remember to return the Student Information Checklist and Medical Alert Form (if applicable) back to the Front Office by this Friday.  Thank you for your assistance with this.

Enjoy the week ahead. 

Kind regards,

Pat Ellis

Principal

All schools in the Canberra-Goulburn Archdiocese are working through a process of Curriculum renewal in Religious Education. As a school community we are accessing the resources of the Brisbane Archdiocese’ Curriculum. A key element of their approach is seeing Religious Education as two overlapping circles encompassing Religious Curriculum and the Religious Life of the School. As such the RE News will from now on come under these two headings.

Religious Education Curriculum

Worlds of the Text

Over the coming weeks I will update you on the creative, inspiring and fabulous work being done in each and every classroom at St Michael’s in the Religious Education Curriculum area. Already staff are planning for great learning in RE. We will be using a wide variety of current best practices in teaching and learning. One core focus is using ‘3 Worlds of the Text’. Throughout 2019 teachers have been beginning to use this concept, especially in sacramental classes.

Essentially 3 Worlds of the Text is a way to ‘unpack’ any piece of writing but in Religious Education we focus on using it for Scripture. The 3 ‘Worlds’ we explore are: The World Behind the Text, The World of the Text and the World in Front of the Text.

World Behind the Text - is the environment in which the piece of writing was written. We learn about the context of the community, who they were and why they wrote it.

World of the Text – we examine the literary style of the text. What are its key features and how is an understanding of this text influenced by its type and structure?

World in Front of the Text – how should we read this text today? Are there any challenges or nuances that we bring to this text because of our own cultural context?

Religious Life of St Michael’s School Community

Knowing & Growing in the Spirit

Our Spirituality Theme for 2020 is Knowing & Growing as Stewards of God’s Creation. We have ‘planted’ a tree in the corridor leading to C Block where we have shared an intention for the year ahead that we would like to nurture and grow. As a school we look forward to finding ways to see these aspirations blossom.

Prayer Bags

Last year we began the practice of sending home prayer bags to support family prayer time. I have received very positive feedback from all who had the opportunity to take part in this and am looking forward to this being an ongoing element of prayer life at St Michael’s. Unfortunately at the end of last year we did not receive all of the bags back to school and are missing 4 of them still.  If you had one of the prayer bags during December could I please ask you to have another look around home and see if it is hiding somewhere? I’d love to begin sending them home in each class from the start of next week if possible.

Shrove Tuesday

As a school we celebrate the Feast of Shrove Tuesday with feasting on pancakes before the ritual fasting and penance associated with Lent. This year as our Swimming Carnival is on Shrove Tuesday we will be celebrating on Monday 24^th February. I’m looking for parents to organise the preparation and cooking of pancakes for the school community. Please contact me on meaghan.younger@cg.catholic.edu.au if you are available to help with these delicious celebrations.

Ash Wednesday & Lent

Lent begins this year on 26^th February with Ash Wednesday. As a school community we will celebrate Mass and be marked with ashes from 11:45 on Wednesday 26^th February. All families are warmly invited to join with us on this solemn day of our liturgical year. 

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 last week and are due back 14th February. 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. 

New Titles in 2020

Over the next few weeks we will have over 200 new books available for students to borrow. The new titles span across picture books, novels and non-fiction. Many of the popular authors have recently released new titles and we will soon have many of these available for our students. If you are willing to assist us with covering books we will have a 'Coffee, Chat and Contact' day on Wednesday 26th February (Week 4) between 9-11am. Any help you are able to offer would be greatly appreciated.

Red Gum Book Fair  - Save the date!

10th -14th March

Our first Book Fair for 2020 will take place in Week 6. The Book Fair will be open before and after school each day from 8:20-8:50am and 3:00-4:00pm. We would love your support as this is the major fundraiser for our library and allows us to purchase new material throughout the course of the year. 

Why do you think Yayoi Kusama is so obsessed with dots and pumpkins?

Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese artist who is sometimes called ‘the princess of polka dots'. She makes lots of different types of art – paintings, sculptures, performances and installations – they have one thing in common, DOTS!

She also creates environments of dots.

We will be working collaboratively to create an environment of dots.

Why do you think she is so obsessed with dots?

Infinity Room by Yayoi Kusama

On now at the National Gallery

There is no ticket required and it's free to enter.

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:

Isla KL, Adeline 1/2B, Lydia 1/2W, Jayla 5/6F, Sierra 3/4F & Logan 1/2W

We hope you have a great day!!

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 

Dear Parents,

We are participating in Redgum Book Club this term and the flyer has been sent home with your child. Every order will earn resources and books for our
school library.

With books starting from $2 and with hundreds more titles on their website to order this term, please go to their website www.redgumbookclub.com.au

The catalogue is now open and closes on the 24^th February. Orders will be delivered to the school by the 20^th March.

New Release titles in the current catalogue include:

• Love from the Crayons – From award winning Oliver Jeffers, celebrate love with the number 1 bestselling Crayons!
• Peter Rabbit Movie 2 Sticker Activity Book – Peter Rabbit is hopping into cinemas in spring 2020. This book is perfect for keeping little paws busy for hours!
• Ultimate Football Heroes: Messi - Messi tells the magical story of how the tiniest boy in South America grew up to become the greatest player on earth.
• Aussie Kids: Meet Zoe and Zac at the zoo -Aussie Kids is an exciting new series for emerging readers, from Australian author, Belinda Murrell.
• The Beast of Buckingham Palace - Fly into a fiery and fantastical future with No. 1 bestselling author David Walliams, in an epic adventure of myth and legend, good and evil and one small boy who must save the world.
• Our Planet - The official children's book to the Netflix original documentary series, Our Planet, with a foreword by Sir David Attenborough.
• The Kid who came from Space - A remarkable story of sibling connection, friendship and interstellar adventure from the bestselling and award-winning author of Time Travelling with a Hamster, Ross Welford.

How to place an order:

• Order online and pay by credit card redgumbookclub.com.au
• Email orders@redgumbookclub.com.au

If you have any questions, email Lesley on schools@redgumbookclub.com.au

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 (NO CLASSES FOR TERM 1)

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

DRAMA  -  Drama classes are being held on Wednesdays at lunchtime, please contact Elizabeth McIntosh if you are interested on 0408 620 899

SCHOOL BANKING  -  Banking day is Thursday, please leave your books at the Front Office.

REDGUM Book Club -  Redgum Book club runs four times a year.  If you have any queries, contact Mrs Monro or Mrs Hardwicke.

CHESS!!
Learn to be a chess champion! Coaching for students at St Michael's Primary School (Kaleen, ACT) is held on Tuesdays from 11:00am to 11:40am, starting on 11
February 2020. Learning and playing chess helps children develop their logical thinking and problem solving skills, improves their concentration and focus, while also being a great source of enjoyment. Activities include group lessons on a demonstration chess board or interactive whiteboard, puzzle solving and fun practice games.
Students earn merit awards by making checkmates, or by displaying skills and positive qualities, which all good chess players strive to develop.

If your child is interested in taking part, you can collect an enrolment form from the school office, or email enrol@sydneyacademyofchess.com.au for a copy. For all enquiries, please contact Sydney Academy of Chess on (02) 9745 1170.

Thank you to Fiona, Connie & Cheri for offering to process the school banking for 2020. A reminder that books are to be left at the Front Office on Thursdays for processing.  Forms to open new accounts are available at the Front Office.

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.  

Playgroup is held on Wednesdays in Weeks 2 to 9 from 9am till 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. 

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