Dear Parents/Carers,

We have been spoilt with gorgeous Autumn weather at present, I hope you were able to enjoy some family time this past long weekend.

Last Friday we held a meaningful prayer service as part of our Remembrance for Anzac Day. How wonderful for our little people to proudly wear the medals earned by other family members.

Open Day

We are excited to hold our Open Day next Wednesday 5 May 9.30am-6pm. So much wonderful learning is happening at St Michael’s and we are proud of our great reputation, please tell your friends and family all are welcome.

Mother’s Day

Just to let you know that on Friday 7 May we will have a special recognition of Mother’s at our morning assembly. We will make sure our drive through Mum’s and those not able to come along receive a little something as well. You are most welcome to stay for our cross country which will follow at 9.30am.

Catalyst Initiatives

We had very positive feedback from our Reading Information Night with Associate Professor Lorraine Hammond AM, PhD, CF. She has shared some resources which complement Let’s Decode;

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons

https://www.booktopia.com.au/teach-your-child-to-read-in-100-easy-lessons-phyllis-haddox/book/9780671631987.html?dsa=s1-east&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvYSEBhDjARIsAJMn0ljRG9Xc1CvD_ASY17VQGiP1u8XCrvNERxdDLg98NSSrbv5WXoRSthMaAlm6EALw_wcB

Lorraine also recommends a publication by Stephen Parker;

Teaching a Preschooler to Read, Phonics for Parents and Other Care/Givers

You can download a free pdf at;

https://www.parkerphonics.com/books

Thank you for your continued support,

Many blessings

Judy Egan

COMPASS

Next week, St Michael’s Kaleen is introducing a new online portal called Compass. The parent Portal allows parents to receive information about your child’s school and their progress. It will give you access to school reports, messages, classroom blogs and the ability to submit attendance notes. The portal is accessible via the web and the Compass School Manager App (via the App store on your device). We will be sending you log in details next week.

This Parent Portal will make engaging with your child’s school faster, easier and more secure.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Receive relevant messaging through the app or desktop
• Submit absence notes
• Give consent for events/excursions
• Communicate directly with teachers (desktop only)
• Book parent-teacher conferences
• Access your child’s academic reporting
• Update basic contact information knowing your data will remain secure

Please make sure your contact details including email and phone contacts are up to date.

As you know, we are moving into enrolment period for 2022.

Our new online enrolment option has gone live! If you have a younger child ready to enrol in Kindergarten for 2022, please follow the enrolment link on our website (see below) and enrol. Alternatively, we have paper enrolment forms in the Front Office. 

https://www.stmichaelsps.act.edu.au/enrolment

If you know of any other potential enrolments, please mention our school as an excellent option. To ensure class structures/sizes remain as they are, we do require more enrolments moving forward. Our enrolment zoned areas are Kaleen, Giralang, Lawson and Crace, however under varying circumstances, we can accept from outside our area. Please encourage all to ring the Front Office to arrange a tour and chat. 

Our official Open Day is Wednesday 5 May, where families can come to the school at anytime between 9.30am and 6pm for a tour. We can however arrange a tour at anytime if that does not suit. 

Thank you in advance for promoting our school to the wider community.

Sacramental Program 2021 – First Eucharist for students in Y4 from 2021

The Sacrament of First Eucharist will be celebrated in Term 2 of 2021 on the following dates:

• Tuesday 8 June at 6pm in St Michael’s Church
• Wednesday 9 June at 6pm in St Monica’s Church
• Thursday 10 June at 5.30pm in St Monica’s Church
• Thursday 10 June at 7pm in St Monica’s Church

Please keep the candidates for First Eucharist in your prayers.

Information Night for First Eucharist
The parent information night will be held on Thursday 29 April 2021 at 6pm via zoom (https://cgcatholic.zoom.us/j/94062726919).

Registration for the Sacrament of First Eucharist
Registration must be made via the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Qkr! App. Registrations opened on 30 March 2021 and will close by 16 May 2021.
No further registration will be accepted after the closing date.

Commitment Masses
Students and parents must attend one of the weekend Masses at either St Monica’s Church (6pm Saturday or 10am Sunday) or St Michael’s Church (8am or 5.30pm Sunday) on one of the dates listed below to make their commitment for the Sacrament.
Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 May
Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 May
Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 May 2021

There will be no additional commitment masses beyond these dates.

Purchasing a stole for First Eucharist
Purchasing a stole is optional and is not compulsory. If you wish to purchase a stole, please make a payment of $20 through the Qkr! App and send an email to sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au and arrangements will be made for delivery/pickup.

For further information please contact the Sacramental Program coordinator at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au

 

Term 2 Sports Dates

Please save the date for both our Cross Country and Athletics carnival's which will take place this term. 

Cross Country: Friday 7th May 

Athletics Carnival: Friday 11th June, Kaleen North Playing Fields (changed date)

Swimming Carnival Relay Ribbons

Ribbons will be presented this Friday morning at gathering (weather permitting).  We will also present the trophy to the winning house.  Please feel free to join us.

Cross Country Carnival 

Please ensure your child/ren wear sports uniform on the day and have suncreen applied prior to arriving at school. An additonal drink bottle is also recommended. We look forward to seeing which house will take home this years cross country shield!

Parent Volunteers

Thank you to those parents that have volunteered to assist at the carnival.  We are still looking for a couple more volunteers to help out with our cross country between 9-11am. We would greatly appreciate your assistance in supervising a small section of the course. If you are able to help, please let Lisa in the Front Office know or you can email Erin Hardwicke at erin.hardwicke@cg.catholic.edu.au

Erin Hardwicke

Overdue Notices

There are a number of students with overdue library books.  If you could please return all overdue library books as soon as possible.  Overdue notices have been sent home today.   If you have any issues, please contact Erin Hardwicke at erin.hardwicke@cg.catholic.edu.au.

Congratulations to the following students who achieved a Harmony Award in Week 2.  Awards will be presented at Friday morning's assembly (weather permitting).

Well done!!   

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

Maggie 1/2B and Sebastian 3/4Y

We hope you have a great day!!

DANCECORE -  Dance classes are 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

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB -  Scholastic Book club is back and runs twice a Term.  If you have any queries, contact Mrs Monro or Mrs Hardwicke.

The Entertainment Book is back, bigger and better, prices starting from $69.99.  Please click on the link below to order your digital copy of the new book.

https://au.entdigital.net/orderbooks/232g38

Please see the School Sport ACT webpage https://schoolsportact.org.au/ or Facebook page for the most up to date information.

SCHOOL SPORT ACT TRIALS – Please keep an eye on the School Sport ACT website https://schoolsportact.org.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 – https://schoolsportact.org.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?

Please contact me via email if you have any questions, feedback or are able to offer your assistance at any of our sporting events throughout the year.

Looking forward to another big year of sporting participation,

Erin Hardwicke
erin.hardwicke@cg.catholic.edu.au