Filter Content
| THIS WEEK | |
| 16-20 August | Remote Learning |
| NEXT WEEK | |
| 23-27 August | Remote Learning |
| COMING UP | |
| 7 September | Sacrament of Confirmation (TBC) |
Please remember that copies of notes sent home are available on our website. https://www.stmichaelsps.act.edu.au/notes
Dear Parents/Carers,
Firstly, a huge thank you to all our families- you have our care and support as we navigate remote learning together. Particular thanks to those in our community who are essential workers and are keeping systems in place for all of us, we are grateful for your communication to us around attendance for your children. If you are an essential worker and your circumstances and attendance days change please email Lisa at the front office to let us know.
(office.stmichaelsps@cg.catholic.edu.au)
Due to the severity and ease of transmission of the Delta Strain, Catholic Education have advised us to have minimal staff on-site. Staff are meeting online daily regarding supporting families and I encourage you to email your teacher directly if you are struggling with access to sites, devices, or log-ins. I also want to acknowledge the stress caused by broken links on Compass, I have been in touch with the CE Tech team who have identified that this is an issue across schools. They are working to resolve this issue.
Our primary platform for remote learning is our St Michael’s Remote Learning Website. This is the first point of contact for the daily learning plan. Currently the staff are updating families around MS Teams and checking access and support with families. The information for this week is a simple pack with a variety of learning options, next week there will be more detailed learning in line with our current Curriculum. Please do not feel pressured around remote learning, we understand that every family is different, and we will support you in whatever capacity you can operate in the online space. We are trying to find a balance between offering tasks that are engaging and child-friendly but can also offer challenge. Please follow these steps to access remote learning via this website:
- Visit this link and look at your child’s daily learning plan. (https://sites.google.com/cg.catholic.edu.au/remotelearningkaleenstmichaels/home)
- Open MS Teams and check the calendar for your child’s daily check-in time as well as their small group session. Children on Personalised Plans will also have a Classroom Support check-in.
- Complete learning tasks and upload to Seesaw (K-4) or Google classrooms (5,6).
As a school community we have been directed to use Teams as our daily check-in for students. In the past, teachers used Zoom or met with individual students over the week for one-on-one sessions. The Child Protection mandates issued to us by CE have advised that this is not to occur. As a result, staff are setting up small groups via MS Teams, to check in together over the week. We are conscious that we need to provide opportunities for your children to see their friends and teachers and share their learning. At any time, your child is on a call it is important an adult is in the room with them. Bridgette McCann, our Learning Support Teacher has also been organising check- ins for students on Personalised Plans as we want to ensure everyone has the support they need. If your child requires additional support, please contact their classroom teacher.
Due to meeting Covid- requirements, our front office is not staffed on a full-time basis. If you have enquiries regarding remote learning, please contact your child’s classroom teacher directly via email. For other enquiries, or if for any reason you need access to enter the school premises please email Lisa at the front office (office.stmichaelsps@cg.catholic.edu.au)
We have also received a few questions regarding types of contacts regarding covid-19 and isolation. For information on what each type of contact is (close, casual, secondary etc.) and what your obligations are, please use this link. (https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/stay-safe-and-healthy/quarantine-and-isolation/types-of-contacts).
You may have questions around school fees. I am aware that some families may be under financial stress, I will let you know when I have any updates from CE regarding support for fee payments.
I thank parents/carers for their ongoing support throughout these unprecedented times. Our staff and our leadership team are wholeheartedly committed to providing the best learning experience and support for your children. I want to express that this is a very difficult situation for our community, and we send our thoughts of hope and peace as people of harmony to you all.
Please stay connected and stay safe.
Many Blessings,
Judy Egan
Religious Education
This term all classes have been focusing on different aspects of our prayer lives and how prayer sustains our relationship with God. As we move to Remote Learning for the next few weeks these learnings may help to sustain our every day as we call on God to be with us in these different times. Please note that prayer opportunities are encouraged for the start of each day, just like we would do each day at school. Students will continue to have learning tasks exploring their own specific content area of Religious Education in the coming weeks. Please reach out if you need any extra support with the learning tasks in RE. My email is meaghan.younger@cg.catholic.edu.au
One practice experienced in all our Archdiocesan schools is Christian Meditation. I invite you to watch this short clip about Christian Meditation and then perhaps try it at least once a week? This prayer opportunity will be provided on the remote learning platform for classes next week. https://youtu.be/RvFneqPA8U8
Another prayer practice 3/4 have investigated is the litany. That is a repeated word or phrase with appeal to various saints for their intercession to God. Here is an example of the traditional Litany of Saints. https://youtu.be/zer3KCCHSUI
Religious Life
Feast of the Assumption
Last Sunday was the Feast of the Assumption – one of only two holy days of observation still recognised in Australia. Interestingly it fell on a Sunday this year. 3/4A had a beautiful prayer liturgy ready to go for last Friday – thank you to the students and Mrs Budhraja for your preparation. Below is the sacred scripture we would have used during this prayer time. I encourage you to take some time to read it carefully. What words or phrases stand out to you? How does this scripture meet you in your life today? And what is it calling you to action?
A Reading from the Gospel According to Luke.
Luke 1:46-56 (Mary proclaims the glory of God)
Mary said, My heart praises the Lord;
My soul is glad because of God my saviour,
For he has remembered me, his lowly servant!
From now on all people will call me happy,
Because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me.
His name is holy;
From one generation to another he shows mercy to those who honour him.
He has stretched out his mighty arm and scattered the proud with all their plans.
He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones,
And lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And sent the rich away with empty hands.
He has kept the promise he made out to ancestors,
And has come to the help of his servant Israel.
He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham
And to all his descendants for ever.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Confirmation Retreat
Just before the craziness of lockdown Year 6 managed to gather with the St Monica’s Year 6 students and enjoy a fabulous retreat day. They explored the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit and what they mean for them in their own lives. Thank you to Miss Frogley and Miss Kapantais and the staff of St Monica’s for all their support on the day. We will keep you posted on when we reschedule the Parent/Child formation evening. Until then we continue to keep the students preparing for Confirmation in our prayers.
Sacramental Program 2021
Sacrament of Confirmation for eligible Year 6 students – will be celebrated on:
- 7 September in St Michael’s Church at 6pm
- 8 September in St Monica’s Church at 6pm
- 9 September in St Monica’s Church at 6pm
Trybooking – is open for you to book your family for the service you have chosen. The links to book the service are listed on the parish website at www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth
Saint’s Name and Sponsor – If you have not indicated this information on your registration form – could you please send an email to sc.belconnennorthg@cg.org.au with the information as soon as possible.
Covid Restrictions – Updates regarding Covid restrictions relating to the Sacrament of Confirmation will be provided in the school bulletins and on the Parish website.
Further Information – please contact the Sacramental Program Coordinator at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au or check the parish website for updates at www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth
Creating
'Research shows that making things with your hands is great for decreasing stress, relieving anxiety and improving mental health.'
Kids seem to gravitate towards using their hands to create especially when they can see a desired outcome.
These paper accordion chains are fun to make, exciting and provide satisfaction. Using a simple repetitive process the kids are able to create a chain. Watching their response to seeing their chain grow is invaluable.
I look forward to making a video of how to make a paper accordion in the weeks to come.
Shahenie Burns
Student Welfare Officer
Belconnen Region Athletics Carnival
The Belconnen Region Athletics carnival will NOT go ahead this Friday 20th August. We will let our athletics team know of any further information we receive.
Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival
We are sorry to advise that the Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival has been cancelled the 2021. With the current COVID situation the organisers have made the decision to cancel the carnival. They would like to thank everyone for their support and are hopeful that they we will see everyone for the 2022 Carnival on the 21st October 2022.
Tennis Clinics
We will make a decision about how to proceed with our scheduled clinics at the end of this week.
Erin Hardwicke
erin.hardwicke@cg.catholic.edu.au
Special wishes to those children who celebrate their birthday this week:
Finley 5/6F, Emma KF, Josip 1/2B, Aidan 3/4Y and Ryder 1/2H
We hope you have a great day!!
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.
- Go to the School Sport ACT website – https://schoolsportact.org.au/
- Click Register (top right corner of homepage) for an Account – enter parent details and password
- 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.
- Click Log In (top right hand corner of home page) enter password then click on top tab My Profile
- You will see a ‘dashboard’ of your information, click green box to Add Student – enter student and medical details and save.
- Go to the Sports Tab – choose your specific sport, click on Trial Information box then click on the Register to Trial link.
- 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