TOMORROW

Rainbow Family Walkathon 

Tomorrow is our Rainbow Family Walkathon. We would love to see as much rainbow on display as possible. For parents and family members coming along, we will start our walk at 1pm. Lunch will be earlier for students. Thank you to all the parents and family members who will be helping on check points and/or cutting up fruit. Please send any more money into school tomorrow morning. Lisa will ensure all money is counted and raffle tickets are written by recess. Looking forward to a great afternoon! Don't forget water bottle, hat and sunscreen. 

2019 Planning

As mentioned previously, we have started planning for 2019. At this stage we have a few items to share.

• Fees - 2019 School Fees have been taken to Community Council for approval and will be distributed next week. As you can appreciate, we have slight increases in our school levies to keep with rising costs across most items especially electricity, water, furniture and technology. The Catholic Education Commission and Catholic Education Canberra-Goulburn set the tuition fee component. After fighting for the past 18 months to save Catholic schools from funding cuts totalling hundreds of millions of dollars, Catholic education welcomed the Morrison government’s commitment to largely restore the funding to Catholic schools. There is still uncertainty around exactly how much government funding our school, therefore to ensure we can continue to provide quality Catholic Education at St Michael's these tuition fees have increased along with our local levies. 
• Appointments - After a recent interview process, we are pleased to announce that Mrs Bridgette McCann has been appointed as a classroom teacher on a permanent basis. Bridgette comes to us from St Monica's at Evatt, where she has been Acting Coordinator and Literacy Leader. Bridgette has 22 years experience with expertise in Literacy. We congratulate Jessica Lewis being appointed as a classroom teacher in a temporary capacity. Jessica is currently on Kindergarten and she will continue this role into 2019 along with continuing the Aboriginal Education Contact Teacher. We also welcome Jessica Figura in a part time capacity for 2019. Jess comes to us from St John's at Florey, where she has been Technology Leader, a role she held previously at
  St Monica's along with an Acting Coordinator role. Jessica Figura is currently doing some casual work with us this term. We congratulate Bridgette McCann, Jess Lewis and Jess Figura and welcome them all to the St Michael's Community. 
• Resignation - After much thought, Cathy Holland has decided that she will finish up at the end of the year. Cathy is currently our Teacher-Librarian. Cathy will be accessing Long Service Leave from Week 6 until the end of the year. Cathy's last day with us will be Friday 16 November. Cathy has been teaching at St Michael's for 19 years. Next year, Cathy intends to do some casual teaching around the place. We thank Cathy for her years of service and dedication to our school and wish her all the best in future endeavours.  
• Erin Hardwicke will take over the Teacher Librarian role for 2019 along with her continuing Sports Leader role.
• As mentioned previously, Jo Krippner will return on a part time capacity as Classroom Support Teacher. 
• Damien Webb will continue to be our Assistant Principal in 2019, lead Sustainability and will return to an 'on class' position sharing with Jessica Figura.
• Specialist Curriculum Areas - Next year we are looking to change the RFF (Release from Face-to-face teaching) subjects that are offered to our students. This year it has been Library and Languages (Indonesian). In 2019, this will continue, however we will shorten those lessons so we can continue Sustainability lessons as well as introduce Arts which will be led by Jane McKeough and will focus on some elements of Arts. This will also involve an Art Show being held toward the end of 2019 to showcase student work through the year.
• BYOD ipad information pack will be coming home to parents in Year 4 in the coming fortnight. Any questions, please contact Maria at the Front Office. We will be holding Parent ipad Bootcamps at the start of 2019 along with student bootcamps during class time to bring everyone up to speed with the most effective way to utilise an ipad for learning. Teachers will continue to develop in this area also. In 2019, along with continuing STEM Clubs, we will be looking to introduce a Coding Club and Robotics Club to complement the tech being taught in class. 
• This year our Year 6 Leadership shirts for 2019 will be ordered this term ready for Week 1 next year. Apologies to parents this year where leadership shirts weren't ready for the start of school. I'm conscious that paying for a Year 6 Leadership Shirt for one year means you want to get the most wear out of it. Current Year 5 students are discussing shirt design options.
• In the coming weeks, Year 5 students will be writing a letter to Mr Webb and myself detailing what leadership group they would like to belong to in 2019. This will be decided before students finish school this year.
• Year 5/6 Camp has been booked for 2019. Students and teachers will be attending a Leadership Camp at Cooba Sport and Education Centre. This will occur in Term 1, Week 5. Information regarding this camp will be coming home shortly. 

I will continue to keep you up to speed with any plans or developments regarding 2019. 

Fete News 

Thank you to those parents who attended our first Fete Committee Meeting last week. We had a great group, enthusiastic with fantatsic ideas. More information will come out in the coming weeks with how we can all help. Remember to save the date - Saturday 16 March 10-2pm.

Kinder Orientation - Wednesday 7 November (9.15-10.30am)

Next Wednesday we welcome 20 preschoolers who will be attending St Michael's in 2019. They will visit for the morning with their parents staying at school for a coffee and information session. 

# Please note - Before School Care - start date will be Monday 5 November 8am (Week 4)

Thank you all for your continued support and providing feedback with how your child is going at school, what we are planning and overall thoughts about the direction the school is heading. What makes St Michael's so special is that home and school work so closely together. It makes a massive difference. Thank you!

2018 Fundraising Summary

This year we have focused on fundraising events for the school which focus on Building Community/Relationships as well as raising funds. All events this year have been extremely successful and I truly thank everyone for your support. We have raised...

Trivia Night - $2500

Movie Night / Raffle - $3800

So far....Walkathon - $4500 and counting!!!

Money raised has contributed to us purchasing the playground game markings, outdoor table tennis, running of the Greenhouse and the upcoming upgrade to the infants play equipment (watch this space). Money raised also supported our community breakfast and will support our Yr 6 students at their Graduation celebrations. As a thank you, Community Council will be putting on a free BBQ for the upcoming Christmas event. Further information will follow.

Morning Arrival

A reminder also to please ensure children are at school for the start of the day (8.50am). I understand there are occassions where things are a bit hectic at homes in the morning, however, by a child starting the school day right from line up in the morning, tends to mean that we have a settled and calm start to the morning. Resources are also allocated to different rooms first thing in the morning, so children coming late can end up missing out on extra support and assistance particularly with reading and writing. They also miss important explicit teaching and therefore need to catch up. If at any time you need support with getting children to school on time, please let me know what we can do as a school to assist further in this area. 

This week I have reflected upon the story of Bartimaeus from Sunday's Gospel. As educators who have the privledge to make a difference in the lives of the child trusted to our care, this Gospel reading reminded me of the importance of being aware of those around us. At times, we may feel like Bartimaeus, waiting desperately for someone to help. Sometimes, we may be so concerned with ourselves, our needs and lives that we ignore that person or people in need who are calling out for support. At other times, and hopefully we are instilling in our students, that we respond to those who are in need, stretching out our hands in love to include all around us. 

Enjoy the week ahead.

Kind regards,

Pat Ellis

Principal

Congratulations to the following children who achieved a Harmony Award in Week 3 and will receive their award at our next assembly on 16 November.

Reconciliation

A reminder that our Parent/Child session is next Thursday 8 November from 6:00pm. We will meet in St Monica’s School. We aim to conclude by 7:00pm, mindful of bedtimes for the children involved. Please remember involvement in this session is a very important part of preparation for your child’s First Reconciliation.  We will be creating symbols for use during the Reconciliation rituals at our group celebrations of the Sacrament.

All Saints Day Mass

November is celebrated in the Catholic Church as the month of All Souls. We particularly remember those people we have known and loved who have died and are with God in heaven. The 1st November is the Feast of All Saints, when we remember those men and women who are recognised as Saints who have given their whole lives to God. 5/6B prepared a beautiful Mass today to celebrate this day. 

SUNSMART REMINDER

The warmer weather is certainly here and it’s been great to see so many students wearing their hats! Remember, NO HAT, MEANS PLAY IN THE SHADE. Sunscreen is available in each of the blocks for students to reapply during the day. Students are encouraged to come to school with sunscreen having been applied in the morning. 

ORIENTEERING CLINICS

Orienteering clinics commenced last week for all students. Students have enjoyed taking part and the program offers a great link between PE and important mathematical skills, particularly mapping and coordinate geometry. The next 3 clinics are sure to be a continuation of the fun from Tuesday. 

K-2 SWIMMING Weeks 7 & 8

Thanks to everyone for returning the permission notes. More information about the particulars of the program will come home with your child/ren. 

BOOROWA TOUCH & NETBALL CARNIVAL 

By all reports the carnival was a huge success again this year, not only for us as a school but also for Boorowa and the surrounding districts.  244 touch teams and 188 netball teams from schools across NSW and the ACT took part. An amazing effort from the two local primary schools who coordinate the carnival each year. 

My thanks to all those who volunteered in one way or another, we could not have done it without you. Special thanks to the Houlihan family, who left home before the sun was up so as they could set up our spot with the marquee. Congratulations to our students who participated in the spirit of the day and played with enthusiasm and displayed great sportspersonship. Looking forward to heading to Boorowa on the 25th October next year! 

SCHOOL SPORT ACT TRIALS 
Please keep an eye on the School Sport ACT website www.schoolsportact.asn.au for upcoming trials. If you need any assistance registering your child please feel free to ask for assistance.

On Monday 5 November, some home-grown tomato plants will be on sale before and after school for $1 each from Parish members. These will be on sale near the rainbow mosiac at the front of the school. All money raised will go directly to support the Parish. 

Week 5

We introduce a 3 step model this week to encourage resilient responses; Pause, Plan, Proceed. The children take part in an activity to identify their feelings and the immediate effects on their bodies ie butterflies in their stomachs. The normalcy of feelings is acknowledged and the importance of being proactive is stressed. The children learn that pausing when they are emotional is helpful. They can do this by being still, taking a deep breath or counting to ten. Pausing gives children space to see a situation more accurately before planning a response. Ask your child to describe the 3 steps of the model and what is involved in each one.

Schools Recycle Right Challenge 

Monday 22 October to Friday 16 November 2018

Junk to Funk Competition

Design a visual art creation using recycled material. Write a short summary of how it was put together.

Why you chose those particular materials, and a description of your recycled creation.

All entries in by Friday 16 November

Special wishes to those children who celebrate their birthday 

this week:  

Stavros 5/6H, Joel 5/6H, Lachlan 5/6R & Angelina 3/4YM

We hope you have a great day!!

Playgroup is held on Wednesdays in Weeks 2 to 9 from 9am till 10.30am in the School hall.

It is for children ages 0-5 and their parents/carers.  Please contact Kylie Arena or Lisa Monro on 62414022 for any enquires.

Friday 2nd November (Week 3)

9-11.30        YMCA

12.30-1.30   Fiona

Friday 9th November (Week 4)

9-11.30       YMCA

12.30-1.30  Jared

Thank you for your assistance, all help is greatly appreciated.

As you may be aware, CatholicCare offers the Bringing Up Great Kids Program to the Canberra community.

For parents of young children, this is a great opportunity for your school community to gain insights and skills to : 

 Promote positive and nurturing relationships

•  Management of stress in parent's role
•  Encourage development of the child's positive  self-identity
•  Contain strong emotions and responses
•  Overcome some of the obstacles that are getting in the way of being the kind of parent you would like to be

The Bringing Up Great Kids Program is an evidenced based parenting program developed by the Australian Childhood Foundation.

For our next course, we would like to offer this to the Belconnen Community and have invited Catholic Schools within this district.

This is a FREE course (usually $100 per participant) and we would like to extend an invitation for you to invite your school parents to attend this program.

The details are:

                 Dates : 3x Mondays - 5th, 12th & 19th November

                 Time :   6.00 - 8.30pm

                 Venue : St Thomas Aquinas Primary

                             25  Lhotsky Street, CHARNWOOD

                 Registration : 1800 068 698 (Gayle Caragh / Sue Pobjie)

                 Gayle.caragh@catholiccare.cg.org.au