Dear Parents/Carers,

Well the cold weather has certainly arrived with a blast! I hope there was an opportunity for families to enjoy some warmth and companionship over the term break.

We begin our celebration of NAIDOC week with exciting news that Katija (5/6K) has won the NAIDOC Postcard competition from schools across the archdiocese. The prize will be presented to Katija at the conclusion of the NAIDOC Mass at St Christopher’s Cathedral. Thank you to Jessica Lewis and Shahenie Burns for accompanying our students to the event and congratulations Katija!

Catalyst Update

On Monday the teaching staff participated in professional learning around High Impact Teaching Practices with Dr. Lorraine Hammond. Due to the unfolding COVID situation, the day was conducted online. This week staff will share their learning and receive coaching around implementing strategies into classroom practice.

Staffing

After an initial hiccup, a note has gone home to Year 3/4A parents/carers to notify families that Sarah Anderson (3/4A) will be taking some personal leave this term. Mrs Ritu Budhraja, who has recently been teaching at St John the Apostle will be joining our staff this term to teach 3/4A. As a community we welcome Ritu and send our best wishes to Sarah.

COVID Updates

Families received information on Monday 12 July via the parent portal regarding CE updates for COVID safe practices at school. It is also attached to this newsletter. Any updates for parents will be communicated via the portal as it is now our primary means of communication. Please assist us as we work together to ensure everyone in our community stays safe. Always seek current advice by following ACT Government Health Guidelines at.

 https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/

Teams for Teams Day

Thank you to everyone in our community who supported the teams for teams day, we have contributed an amazing $800 towards the Parish Sound System in our Church.

Your continued support is valued and appreciated, stay well,

Many Blessings

Judy Egan

Religious Education Curriculum

Our concept for investigation this term is sustainability. Our focus will be, Be Still and Know that I Am God and be a Steward of Creation. Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 will be exploring:

• what makes up God’s Creation,
• what is a steward and how we fulfill that role in practical ways,
• Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si
• how prayer is a practice of sustainability

God of all Creation You gave us a world of gifts to share with all our brothers and sisters; soils, plants, animals, water, air and more. Transform our hearts and minds to care for our common home. Let us see and feel your presence in our sacred land and be in wonder and awe. Remind us of the dignity of all living things and to tread lightly on this earth. Be with us as we take action and seek environmental justice for all. We give you thanks and praise for all of Creation.

Amen

“When we can see God reflected in all that exists, our hearts are moved to praise the Lord for all his creatures and to worship in union with them.” Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ #87

Religious Life of St Michael’s School Community

NAIDOC Whole School Prayer Time

In our Catholic Schools we are celebrating NAIDOC Week this week. Our week’s activities will culminate in a Whole School Prayer Time on Friday morning, 16^th July, immediately following our Assembly. This will take place in the St Michael’s church. 1/2B are excitedly preparing for this special prayer time.

NAIDOC Mass

Miss Lewis, Mrs Burns and 5 students will represent St Michael’s Primary School at our Archdiocesan NAIDOC Mass this Friday, 16^th July. This is an opportunity for all schools in our Archdiocese to gather in prayer and liturgy and celebration of the ongoing contributions made by our indigenous people.

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 has come home today.

Year 5/6 Basketball

We wish our two teams good luck as they compete in the Jamie Pearlman Cup next Tuesday.  All players received a final information note today.

K-6 Tennis Clinics

We are excited to have been able to secure a grant from Sporting Schools and our students will be participating in tennis clinics this term.  When days and times have been finalised we will let you know.  At this stage clinics will be in the later part of this 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

Indigenous Literacy Foundation

This year during Book Week  (Term 3, Week 7) we will hold another Great Book Swap. After the wonderful support the event received last year we would like to show our support to the Indigenous Literacy foundation (ILF) again. The Giant Book Swap will take place on Tuesday 24th August. In order for the event to be a success we are asking each student to donate a pre-loved book, that is in good condition, and can be enjoyed by someone else. On the day of the book swap students will then be able to choose a new book to take home for a gold coin donation. The money we raise is used by the ILF to purchase books that are then sent to regional and remote Indigenous communities. 

We ask that all donations of books be made prior to the Friday 20th August. Books can be left at the Front Office or with Mrs Hardwicke in the Library. Thank you in advance for your support of this important initiative. 

Chief Minister's Reading Challenge

Thank you to all those wonderful students who have taken on the challenge and have returned their completed forms already.  The challenge concludes on 6th August so there is still time to get your forms in to Mrs Hardwicke.  Please ensure forms as received by no later than Friday 6th August to be eligible.

CBCA 2021 Book Week

Term 3 is always an exciting time for the library as we celebrate Book Week and spend the term looking at this year's short listed books.  We were excited to receive our delivery of this year's short listed books during the holidays, and these are now available to our students and will be used during library lessons this term.  

This years theme is 'Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds'.  We have a range of exciting events planned for Book Week and the students are already looking forward to our Book Week dress up day on Wednesday 25th August.    

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.

Congratulations to the following students who achieved a Harmony Award in Week 1.  Awards will be presented at Friday morning's assembly (weather permitting).

Well done!!   

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

Sofia KF, Oliver 3/4L, Bentley 3/4A, Vera 1/2B, Mitchell 1/2H and Dillilah 1/2H

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

Hunter 1/2H, Isabella 3/4L, Toby 3/4Y and Jayden 3/4L

We hope you have a great day!!

DANCECORE -  Dance classes are on Wednesdays at recess in the school hall, enrolments are now online (please see ad in Newsletter).
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.

Dancecore enrolments are now to be done online, please see below.

CHESS!!

Learn to be a chess champion! Coaching for students at St Michael's Primary School is held on Tuesdays from 11:00am to 11:40am, starting on 13 July 2021. 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.

All information regarding the chess class can be found by visiting our website www.sydneyacademyofchess.com.au/payment with code D1NONBWC7U.  To enrol your child in the class, fill in the electronic form, with your child’s details and complete the payment.

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