Dear Parents/Carers,

In the last few weeks meeting families for 2022 has been wonderful. Parents who once attended St Michael’s return with their children because they believe in our Mission and Vision. As the semester ends, I want to acknowledge and thank everyone in our community for everything they do to build a place of harmony and challenge.

For anyone who’s cooked soup for the sleep out, timed a race at the swimming carnival, fed the fish, cooked the BBQ, taught a class, answered phones, emptied the bins and the list goes on- no matter how big or small you make this community special, in the words of Saint Teresa of Calcutta;

“Its not what you do, its how much love you put into the doing,”

May your family have a safe and restful break and a special welcome home to the Bradnam family as Jack grows stronger each day- what an inspirational journey of courage,

Many Blessings

Judy Egan

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Feast Day, Your team for our Team

Please be generous this Friday 25 June as we fundraise for the new TV Monitors at St Michael’s Church. Children are invited to wear their favourite team jersey for the day and we are asking that each family donate the cost of a cup of coffee for the privilege.

Pupil Free Day -  Monday 12 July

A reminder to families that the first day of Term 3, Monday 12 July has been allocated by Catholic Education as a Pupil Free Day. St Michael’s are excited to be welcoming staff from Holy Spirit Nicholls, St Bernard’s Bateman’s Bay and St Thomas the Apostle Kambah to continue our Catalyst Journey.

COMPASS

Thank you to all parents/carers for downloading the Parent Portal and working with us to use this new facility that CE have rolled out across the Archdiocese. All communications, events, notifications with come through this portal including reports, interview booking etc. We understand change involves a few hiccups to start with and we thank everyone for their patience and attendance to compliance especially around student absences.

Census PRIVACY Letter

In August schools are required to submit Census data to the Australian Government’s Department of Education. Please see the letter below providing further information around data collection.

A special congratulations to Grace A 5/6K who competed in the Rostrum Quarter Final on Monday night. Grace put in a lot of work to deliver an engaging and articulate speech. An awesome effort!!

We are giving away the rotating chairs on wheels that are currently in the breakout spaces in Block B and Block C.

The chairs are currently in the library and you are welcome to  take as little or as many as you like.

Community Council Corner

Save the Date: Friday 13th August

We will be hosting our very popular, annual TRIVIA NIGHT. On the back of last year's very successful mobile, virtual trivia concept, this one is a return to in-person gatherings, much like our Council meeting itself. One of the highlights in the St Michael's calendar, we will share more info about ticketing, theme, etc. as the event draws closer but we can confirm it will be Friday 13th August. If anyone is willing to volunteer to help out, either on the night or beforehand, please email us on office.stmichaelsps@cg.catholic.edu.au.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch if there is anything you would like raised at our Community Council meeting.

Religious Education Curriculum

Students in 3/4 have explored the Sacraments of Initiation this term. They have looked closely at the symbols, rituals and actions associated with Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.

Students have made connections with these sacraments and changes in people’s lives.

Religious Life of St Michael’s School Community

St Vincent de Paul Winter Woolies Day and Stay Out

Thank you so much for the support last week for our Winter Woolies Day and then the Stay Out. St Vincent de Paul were very grateful for all the donations of warm clothing and blankets. We also raised $800 which will be used to directly support people in our own Canberra community affected by poverty. Thank you very much. Special thanks to our soup heroes for the evening, Emma Bickley, Esther Coghlan and Kate Cox.

Youth Mass – Date Correction

Youth Mass this month is on Sunday 27^th June. Apologies for the incorrect advertisement last week. This is celebrated at the 5:30pm Mass at St Michael’s each month. Following Mass there are games and food for the young people. See you there hopefully!

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Feast Day

The feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (our parish patron) is June 27. As a parish, the two schools within it (St Michael’s and St Monica’s Primary Schools) will hold simultaneous days of celebration on Friday 25^th June as the last day of Term Two. Due to ongoing COVID restrictions we are still unable to come together as the two schools but will hold these celebrations in our own school contexts. At St Michael’s from 9:00 – 12:30 students will be involved in multi-age groups participating in a range of prayer, reflective, physical and creative activities organised by the teaching staff. We will hold a special prayer liturgy at St Michael’s Church at 1:00pm to which families are all invited. Students will spend some time back in their own classes after lunch. Please be sure to let your child’s teacher know if you intend to take them early after the liturgy and sign them out at the Front Office.

Outstanding Cross Country Achievements

We congratulate two of our students, Mahli (1/2B) who came 2nd in the U8 ACT Cross Country and Cameron (5/6F) who came 7th in the U11. A great effort! We also congratulate Mahli on coming 2nd at the ACT Little Athletics Championships last weekend. Way to go!!

Boorowa - Save the date!

The Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival is going ahead this year. It will be held on Friday 15th October (Term 4, Week 2). Notes have come home today with all students who have expressed an interest in attending. We have entered a 3/4 touch team, 5/6 netball team and two 5/6 touch teams. If you would like your children to attend, please return the permission note as soon as possible. We are looking forward to attending this fantastic carnival this year!

5/6 Boys Basketball - Jamie Pearlman Cup

We will be entering two 5/6 teams in the competition to be held on 20th July (Term 3, Week 2). If your child would like to participate please return the permission note as soon as possible. We are looking for a parent who can assist with coaching. If you are happy to help out please get in touch. 

K-2 Swimming Program

The K-2 swimming program will take place in Term 4. The program will run from 25th -29th October. An information note will come home next term.

Presentation of Athletics Carnival Ribbons

We have just completed our field events and are now able to finalise the team to compete at regionals.  We will present the ribbons from our carnival on Friday 23rd July (Week 2) at morning assembly.  Parents are welcome to join us!

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

This term we have been looking at the Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky. He was one of the pioneers of abstract art. Wassily suffered a condition called synaesthesia, a neurological condition in which information meant to stimulate one of your senses stimulates several of your senses.

When he heard music, he saw colours and when he was painting he heard music.

During art we have been creating artworks to music and discussing the emotions that are evoked by these pieces. We have used a variety of media and the elements of line, colour and shape to create artworks to music.

Several Year 5/6 students were also involved in creating mosaics which portray a variety of emotions.

I would like to thank Rivoland Tiles for donating the tiles, Bink Pavers for their generous discount and Adam Ciuffetelli for his advice and free glue.

Congratulations to the following students who achieved a Harmony Award in Week 10.  Awards will be presented at Friday morning's assembly (weather permitting).

Well done!!   

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

Josephine 5/6K & Joel 5/6K

We hope you have a great day!!

All lost property for this term is on display outside the Front Office, please remind your children to check for any misplaced items.  Any unclaimed items will be placed in the 2nd hand clothing pool at the end of Term.

Please also remember to label all clothing and lunch boxes/drink bottles.  Could you please also double check your children's clothing to ensure they have bought home the correct uniform item.  I have a lot of parents still looking for named items.  Your help with this would be greatly appreciated.

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

DANCECORE -  Dance classes are on Wednesdays 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 Tuesdays at recess, forms are available at the Front Office.  Contact Sydney Academy of Chess 9745 1170

GUITAR - Guitar lessons with Sam on Thursdays, 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.

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