Filter Content
|
Tuesday 30 July |
100 Days of Kinder | |
|
Saturday 27-28 July 3/4 August |
Confirmation Commitment Masses | |
|
Friday 2 August |
2:15pm |
Assembly |
|
Thursday 8 August |
School Trivia Night in Hall | |
|
Thursday 22 August |
Book Character Dress Up Day and Parade | |
|
30 August |
Father’s Day Liturgy | |
|
5 September |
Confirmation Retreat and Parent/Child Formation Evening | |
|
17 September |
Sacrament of Confirmation | |
|
27 September |
St Michael’s Feast Day | |
|
18 October |
Grandparents & Good Friends Morning | |
Dear Parents and Carers,
Last Friday I was privileged to attend the CECG NAIDOC Mass 2024 at St Christopher’s Cathedral with Bridgette McCann, Alex, Evie & Maggie. We shared in a Smoking Ceremony, Mass and a wonderful Welcome to Country from Aunty Selina Walker. I was struck by Selina’s passion and her words.
“True Reconciliation lies in a simple yarn”
We all live, play work and learn on Ngunnawal Country and we can walk together towards a brighter future if we listen and share meaningful dialogue. St Michael’s is enriched by our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families. The images evoked by this year’s theme, ‘Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud’ ignite a renewed commitment to acknowledging, preserving and sharing the cultural heritage that enriches our nation.
This prayer read by one of the younger students summarises our call to work for true Reconciliation.
We pray for all of us. May we work together to forge a future where the stories, traditions and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are cherished and celebrated, enriching the fabric of the nation with the oldest living culture in the world.
Amen
We have several events happening in the school and please read on for other news. Thank you to our families who have donated prizes for the Trivia night on August 8. I’m also thrilled to report that our K-2 block was recarpeted in the school holidays and looks amazing.
Upcoming events
Trivia Night Thursday 8 August
National Science Week- showcase of student experiments Thursday 15 August
Book Week Parade Thursday 22 August
Trivia Night (Adults Only)
We are looking forward to an evening of fun and laughter on Thursday August 8 in St Michael’s Hall. Can you donate any prizes or are able to assist the working group? Funds raised will go towards a load of chip bark for our Junior playground and new bubblers.
Thank you for your continued support.
Many blessings,
Judy Egan
Principal
Last Friday, students from St Michael’s joined our Catholic Education Community to celebrate NAIDOC Mass. The morning began with a Smoking Ceremony performed by Wiradjuri Echoes. Following this, Selena Walker a Ngunnawal Elder and Chair of the Council of Catholic School Parents ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Parent Committee shared a Welcome to Country. Her words recognising the journey of reconciliation and inviting us all to stand in solidarity.
The 2024 NAIDOC theme and for the Mass was ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud’. This theme celebrates the unyielding spirit of our communities and invites all Australians to listen, learn and engage in meaningful dialogue, fostering a society where the wisdom and contributions of Indigenous Peoples are fully valued and respected.
Winter Walk to School Week is from 5 to 9 August 2024. It is an opportunity for the Canberra school community to encourage walking, riding, scooting or skating to school even in the colder months of winter.
St Michael’s is excited about taking part in this great event.
When: Monday 5 August
Time: 8.30am
Departing From: Kaleen Tennis Courts at the end of Birie Place Kaleen
Supervised by teachers
Whether students are walking, riding, or scooting to school let’s continue to venture outside in the cooler months.
To read more and get involved, visit Winter Walk to School Week 5-9 August - Transport Canberra (act.gov.au)
Special wishes to those children who will celebrate their birthday this week:
Harry B, Knox L, Maximiliano M, Charlotte O.
Congratulations to the following students who achieved a Harmony Award this week.
Well done!!
| K Yellow | Rosario C |
| 1/2 Blue | Samantha P |
| 1/2 Red | Freiya R |
| 3/4 Green | Ruby C |
| 3/4Orange | Larisa I |
| 5/6 Indigo | Chloe B |
| 5/6 Pink | Sean B |
Parish Sacramental Program 2024
Sacrament of Confirmation – will be celebrated:
Tuesday 17 September at 6pm in St Michael’s Church, Kaleen;
Wednesday 18 September at 6pm in St Monica’s Church, Evatt; and
Thursday 19 September at 6pm in St Monica’s Church, Evatt.
Registrations are open via the parish Qkr! app.
Registration for the Sacrament must be made via the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Qkr! App (NOT the school app).
If you are registering more than 1 child you will need to fully complete and pay for each separate registration in that candidate’s name.
ALSO – Please discuss with your child their Saint’s name and Sponsor as this is a requirement on the registration form.
No late registrations will be accepted after the closing date.
Commitment Masses – Sacrament of Confirmation
Students and parents must attend one of the weekend Masses at either St Monica’s Church (5pm 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 3 and Sunday 4 August
There will be no additional commitment masses beyond this date.
For further Information – please contact the Sacramental Program Coordinator at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au or check the parish website at www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth
Confirmation
This term, some of our Year 6 students will be preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation in the Catholic Church; Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. When someone is confirmed, they are blessed with fullness of the Holy Spirit; it becomes a personal Pentecost. When confirmed, you receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit; Courage, Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Right Judgement, Reverence, and Wonder and Awe of God. These gifts help you to go out into the world and continue the mission of Jesus. Confirmation preparation is vital and happens at home, school, in the Parish and with the support of a chosen sponsor. We pray that our Confirmation candidates and their families will be truly blessed by the intervention of the Holy Spirit during this special time of preparation. For more information, including dates, please read the Parish Sacramental Program Information in the newsletter.
Fruits of the Holy Spirit - Kindness
This fortnight in classes, students have begun exploring the fruits of the Holy Spirit and how they can help and guide us. We have been focusing on kindness, what it means to be kind and how the Holy Spirit can help us to make kind choices. Our Harmony Awards, this week and last week, celebrate students who display the value of kindness. Kindness is nothing other than loving our neighbours as ourselves. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, preached that a smile is a great gift we can give to others; it is truly the gift of love which is God himself at work. We pray that our students grow as learners and follow the example of Jesus, to treat others as they wish to be treated.
Key Dates RE for Term 3
|
25 July |
Confirmation Parent Information Night |
|
27/28 July- 3/4 August |
Confirmation Commitment Masses |
|
15 August |
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
|
30 August |
Father’s Day Liturgy |
|
5 September |
Confirmation Retreat and Parent/Child Formation Evening |
|
17 September |
Sacrament of Confirmation |
|
27 September |
St Michael’s Feast Day |
Please feel free to contact me for all Religious Education enquiries via my email: emily.orourke@cg.catholic.edu.au
Book Week 2024 Events
The theme for this year’s CBCA Book Week is ‘reading is magic’ and we have lots of fabulous events and activites planned for Week 5. The students are buzzing with ideas for the dress up day and we can’t wait for our parade. The teachers are rehearsing their roles for the teacher play…
Friday 16 August – Sue Whiting Author Visit
Tuesday 20 - ILF Great Book Swap
Thursday 22 – Book Character Dress Up Day and Parade
Sue Whiting Author Visit
We are looking forward to welcoming Sue Whiting on Friday 16th August. She will present a workshop to K-2 and 3-6 students. If you would like to order any signed copies of her books, orders can be placed through The Book Cow and will be delivered to school. Please see the flyer for how to place your order.
The Great Book Swap – Thank you to the families who have donated books. Please keep them coming in! We are almost there but still need a few more books.
This year we will again support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) by hosting a Great Book Swap. The Great Book Swap will be held next term as part of our CBCA Book Week celebrations. To help make the day a success, we are asking each child to donate a book in good, second-hand quality. Books can be donated at any time this term and can be dropped at either the front office or given to your child’s teacher. On the day of the Great Book Swap each class will visit the book stall and be able to choose a book for a gold coin donation. All money raised will then be used by the ILF to purchase books for Indigenous children in remote communities. We hope you will help us to support this great initiative.
Belconnen Region Athletics
If your child has qualified to represent our school at the upcoming regional carnival, please provide consent online as soon as possible. All information regarding the event can be found in the ‘Resources’ tab within the event. If you are having difficulty downloading the attachments, please try accessing Compass via an internet browser on a computer rather than a tablet/phone. Alternatively, please see Lynda or Maria at the Front Office for assistance.
OzTag Gala Day
Please note that the North Canberra Primary School Gala Days on Tuesday, August 6th, and Wednesday, August 7th will now be held at Kaleen Playing Fields, located at Birie and Turon Place, Kaleen.
The field map and draw can now be found in the ‘Resources’ tab in the event. If you are having difficulty downloading the attachments, please try accessing Compass via an internet browser on a computer rather than a tablet/phone. Alternatively, please see Lynda or Maria at the Front Office for assistance.
3/4 OzTag Training
3/4 boys oztag training will take place each Friday at lunchtime. 5/6 boys had a training session today. We thank the coaches for volunteering.
Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival
The Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival will be held on Friday 25 October (Term 4, Week 2). We are now finalising the details, including the number of teams we will enter and the availability of coaches, managers and umpires to assist on the day. Please note that Boorowa is 1.5 hrs from Canberra and parents need to make their own arrangements for transport to and from the venue. The carnival is open to students in Years 3-6. If you would like your child to participate, please complete the Compass consent by Friday 2 August.
Erin Hardwicke
Next term, St Michael’s will be participating in National Science Week 2024 with the theme: Species Survival - More than just sustainability. The theme aims to highlight the importance of science and innovation in ensuring the survival and thriving of different species in an ever-changing world. We are encouraging students to plan, investigate and create a science experiment at home around the topic of sustainability to showcase at school in week 4.
Below are some links which might be good starting points for students’ experiments:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/environmental-science
https://www.scienceweek.net.au/diy-science/
Any questions regarding National Science Week next term can be directed to Miss Sahariv: shianne.sahariv@cg.catholic.edu.au
