Special wishes to those children who will celebrate their birthdays in this week: Clark B, KY, Ariana E 2R, Hailey D, 3/4O, Zoe E, 3/4O, Ivy-Rose G, 3/4O, Lillian B 3/4O.

Congratulations to the following students who achieved a Harmony Award this week.

Well done!!   

Recently, our Year One students wrote letters to the students at Merici College after our Athletics carnival, to thank them for their help and support. Our Year One students have been learning how to include interesting adjectives and accurate punctuation. Thanks to Year One for sharing their writing and to their wonderful teachers Mrs Tokich & Mrs Kelly.

Over the last couple of weeks our Year 6 Sustainability Leaders have been busy planting new seeds, carefully repotting thriving seedlings, and diving into the science of hydroponics. From leafy greens to root vegetables, it’s exciting to see the plants, and our students, grow! Stay tuned to see the fruits (and veggies!) of their labour.

Godly Play

What is Godly Play? Godly Play is an approach to retelling Scripture stories using tactile materials that invite hands-on engagement. It encourages listeners to connect biblical narratives with their own personal experiences through thoughtful, open-ended wondering questions. Godly Play inspires students to listen for God’s presence and respond to God’s call in authentic and creative ways.

This week, teachers participated in professional learning focused on incorporating Godly Play into the classroom. They will be integrating a Godly Play story into their upcoming Religious Education module to deepen students’ engagement with Scripture.

First Eucharist

Upcoming Event – Eucharist Retreat Day

The next step in the students’ preparation is the Eucharist Retreat Day on Thursday, 12 June at St Michael’s School. All Year 4 students from St Michael’s and St Monica’s along with other candidates, will come together for a day of learning, reflection, and spiritual growth. Through Scripture, activities and discussion, the students will explore the meaning of the Eucharist and its significance in our lives.

We look forward to sharing this retreat experience with those preparing for their First Eucharist and all Year 4 students.

Key Dates to Remember:

Thursday, 12 June – Eucharist Retreat Day and Parent/Child Prayer Night

Sunday, 22 June – Celebration of the Sacrament of First Eucharist

Sacrament of Eucharist

The Sacrament of Eucharist will take place at Masses on Saturday the 21^st and Sunday the 22^nd of June 2025.

If you have issues or questions please contact the Parish at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au or speak to the school’s Religious Education Coordinator.

St Michael’s Book Fair

We are excited to be holding our annual book fair from Thursday 26 June to Tuesday 1 July. The fair will be open each day both before and after school. We would greatly appreciate your support as a significant percentage of all sales goes towards purchasing new books for our school library. We will again partner with Lamont Books for this year’s fair. Keep your eye out for further details!

Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival

The time has come to again nominate our teams for the 2025 Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival to be held on Friday 24 October. Students from Years 3-6 are eligible to participate in ONE of the sports/teams. Information and consent will be send out via Compass shortly. Please note that Boorowa is 1.5hrs from Canberra and families are required to organise their own transport to and from the event. We look forward to entering as many teams as possible and thank you for being willing to commit to the event so far ahead of time.

Belconnen Cross Country Results

Congratulations to all our students who competed in last weeks Belconnen Region Cross Country. The students gave their all and showed great perseverance and resilience in very challenging, cold and wet conditions. We congratulate Mahli (5/6I) who came 1^st in the 12yrs Girls and has been selected to the ACT team.

Belconnen Region Athletics

The team to represent St Michael's at the Belconnen Region Athletics Championships will be announced in the coming weeks. The championships will be held on 19 August at the AIS.  

Hello, my name is Connor Howland and for the past year and a half I have been lucky enough to teach every child at St Michael’s. This year, I am joining in on the Push-up Challenge which will see me complete 3,214 push-ups between the 4^th & 26^th of June. Below is a link to my fundraising page if you feel inclined to support the incredible Headspace Canberra through a small donation.

I would also simply love you to chat to your kids about the event and its importance while encouraging them to join Mr. Howland in a couple of push-ups to support their physical and mental health.

https://www.thepushupchallenge.com.au/fundraiser/connorhowland

Parent and Carer series: Exploring the online experiences of boys and young men

For boys and young men, the internet can be a place where they seek connection, validation and guidance as they explore what it means to be a man today. However, it also exposes them to risks like harmful content, online exploitation and the growing influence of misogynistic ideologies.

This 45-minute webinar will help parents understand:

• the social and cultural influences shaping boys and young men
• how boys engage online, build relationships and how they may be vulnerable to manipulation or exploitation
• the impact of social media, gaming, and influencers on their attitudes, behaviours and sense of identity.

This presentation will share practical strategies to build critical thinking, challenge harmful narratives, and create open conversations that empower boys and young men to navigate the online world safely and respectfully.

Term 2 (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

• 27 May, 12.30pm
• 30 July, 12.30pm

REGISTER NOW

Exploring the online experiences of boys and young men  

We are pleased to announce that St Michael's Primary, Kaleen has recently introduced the BPoint Enterprise Solution to manage direct debit arrangements for the payment of school fees.

What is BPoint and What Do You Need to Do?

BPoint is a secure Commonwealth Bank payment processing platform designed to facilitate online payments, while ensuring the highest security standards. This system safeguards your financial information using industry-leading security measures.

Our new direct debit platform will allow you to pay school fees using either a bank account or a credit card (excluding AMEX). Please note that payments made via credit card will incur a 0.5% surcharge.

Establishing Direct Debits.

Families will receive an email outlining estimated weekly, fortnightly, and monthly repayment options to ensure all fees are paid by the end of the year. These amounts will also include any outstanding 2024 balances.

What next?

You will receive an email that will provide a start date for direct debits and options for selecting your preferred payment frequency. Once a payment frequency is selected, you will be directed to enter your bank/credit card details. Once the information is entered, you will receive an email from no-reply@bpoint.com.au . The email will contain two links,

1. The first link requires confirmation of the direct debit arrangement. Please note that the link will expire within 7 days.
2. The second link provides a copy of the eDDRSA for your records.

 While using the direct debit payment option is not compulsory, many families find it helpful in staying up to date with their financial obligations.

For any questions or further assistance, please contact us.