Over the last three years, Damien Webb and I have worked closely as a partnership as  Principal and Assistant Principal. We have often been compared (of course Mr Webb has the style over me) and played along with it. Early on, a parent referred to us as 'Batman and Robin' and more recently as "Bert and Ernie', so, of course in our style and humour, to celebrate my last week at St Michael's, we are going to celebrate our favourite duos from cartoons/movie/TV next week wearing matching t-shirts each day. Then we can finally settled the three year commentary of what duo best represents us. Which duo do you think?  

Confirmation Parent Information Night

Tomorrow night, the OLPH Parish will host a Zoom Info Night for the parents of those Year 6 children who are preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation. This is such a special occasion for the young women and men of our school. When it comes to Confirmation, I often find myself reflecting on a quote from Saint John Paul II "Only in Christ can men and women find answers to the ultimate questions that trouble them. Only in Christ can they fully understand their dignity as persons created and loved by God."

As our Year 6 students prepare to take the next step on their faith journey, I hope that they step closer to, and deepen their relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. 

Virtual Trivia Night

Saturday is the night! It has been a long time coming to have a community event (even if virtually). A huge thank you to Damien Webb, Community Council and parents who have been busy behind the scene preparing this night. It should be a fun night! Please access via the Zoom Link https://cgcatholic.zoom.us/j/93477617845 

Fun and Fitness Week 

Next week we have an exciting week planned and we will be doing physical activity everyday. Students can come dressed in their sports uniform for the week, alternatively, if they wanted to wear normal uniform with their joggers/sneakers, that is fine also. We know that it has been a difficult year for everyone, and our students have also felt the challenges of the year. To say thanks and to have some fun, we will host a Fun and Fitness Week. We have purchased new equipment, organised treats, and have the colour powder at the ready. The Quiz Master himself, Mr Webb, has organised trivia every afternoon also. The week of fun is all covered by some of Term 3 Excursion/Incursion Levy. We look forward to fun, laughter and fitness to finish off a big term!

Year 5/6 Leadership Fun Days

Ms Younger has been busy organising and coordinating our Year 5/6 Fun Leadership days next term (in lieu of Camp). I am jealous that I will miss the fun. It involves Bootcamp, Lego STEM, Creative Arts, Slip & Slide, Kaleen Indoor Sports Centre, Bubble Soccer, just to name a few activities. Catering is also getting sorted which will involve recess (fruit, chips, popcorn, muesli bars) and lunch (chicken and chips, pizza and McDonalds). We want these three days to be as much fun as possible, not only for the students but for Ms Younger, Miss Kapantais and Ms Hallahan (Figura), who were very much looking forward to Camp also. 

Thank you for everyone's continued kind words leading up to me finishing next week. I am continued to be reminded of what a great school and great community we have. I have felt honoured to be a part of change at St Michael's, and to elevate the school to be a very special place to learn and have fun. As you can imagine, things have been pretty busy for me getting things finished up here as well as getting in the head space of my new role in CE. The team, under Mr Webb's leadership, is ready for Term 4 and to finish off a quite challenging year, focused on continued improvement in teaching and learning as well as centring on everyone's faith and wellbeing.

The recruitment for a new Principal for 2021 has progressed to the next stage, with the job advertisement closed. Short-listing and interviews will take place over the weeks ahead by Catholic Education. We imagine an announcement will occur in the first half of next term. 

Enjoy the week ahead and take care.

Pat Ellis
Principal

It is not too late to register your family group. Join the family fun! Please register via the google doc link below if you would like a visit on the night, alternatively, just join in via Zoom on the night!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/18xJpKyVcGTGZPeVJ7lAuSpEAEmAOSqfvahmzNcJfyLQ/edit?usp=sharing 

Religious Education Curriculum

This term, Year 1/2 have been deepening their understanding of prayer as a special way of spending time with God. We have been exploring the words, actions, places and aids associated with prayer, and the different types of prayer such as prayers of thanks, praise, forgiveness and prayers asking for help for self and others. We have shared the story of how Jesus taught the disciples to pray the “Our Father” and then explored the words in greater detail. Students are currently writing their own prayers of thanks, forgiveness and intercession. Some thanksgiving prayers written by 1/2  students: 

Dear God, Thank you for making us all different and unique. Thank you for bringing peace to the world and for our lovely fresh fruit. We honour you and love you, Amen (Isabella, Year 2)

Dear God, Thank you for the animals and people and our family and nature. Thank you for the birds and the owls and meerkats. Thank you for the flowers and trees and the water and deer and penguins and bears. Amen (Charlotte, Year 2)

Dear God, Thank you for the lovely world and thanks for the Sun. Thank you for the food and for nature and water. Thank you for the animals and our friends and for making us different. Amen (Zanna, Year 1)

Dear God, Thank you for the nice fruit and for the beautiful land. Thank you for the beautiful flowers and for the nice water. Thank you for the beautiful plants and for the nice colours and beautiful trees. Amen (Lucy, Year 1)

Dear God, Thank you for me and my family. Thank you for the bees and cats and dogs and fish. Thank you for the trees and the rain. Amen (Hamish, Year 2)

Dear God, Thank you for the beautiful land that we live in. Thank you for the cute and fluffy animals. And thank you for the big, blue sea. Thank you for the trees and thank you for our families. And thank you for making me. Amen (Kye, Year 2)

Religious Life of St Michael’s School Community

St Michael’s Feast Celebrations

Sunday 27^th September is the Feast of Archangels and our own St Michael. In Week 10 we will have different ways of celebrating our Feast Day. Throughout the week we will enjoy a variety of sporting activities to celebrate as a school.

Students and Staff in 3/4 have been very busy preparing our WSPT to celebrate the Feast of St Michael on Thursday 24^th September. Unfortunately we are still unable to invite families to join us for this celebration but we will be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers at that time.

Confirmation

Parent Information and Formation Evening will be tomorrow, Thursday 17^th September, from 6:00pm via Zoom. The link is https://cgcatholic.zoom.us/j/99770997965 . Please remember to book your family into one of the upcoming Masses so you can make your commitments for preparation for Confirmation. Staff will be assisting with this on the weekend of 19^th & 20^th September. Please let the priest know prior to Mass if you are making your commitment on the weekends of 26^th & 27^th September or 3^rd & 4^th October as school staff may not be present at these Masses.

Sacramental Program – Confirmation 2020
Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on:

Tuesday 10 November in St Michael’s Church
Wednesday 11 November in St Monica’s Church
Thursday 12 November in St Monica’s Church
Tuesday 17 November in St Monica’s Church

Registration for the Sacrament of Confirmation can be made via the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Qkr! App (not the St Michael's school app) and will close by 25 September 2020. 

Parent Information Night
The parent information night is on 17 September 2020 via zoom at https://cgcatholic.zoom.us/j/99770997965

Commitment Masses
Students and parents must attend one of the Masses listed below to make their commitment for the sacrament. 

Please remember to make a booking for the Mass in advance, through the parish website.

Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September
Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September
Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October

There will be no more commitment masses beyond these dates.

The Sacrament of Confirmation is available in 2020 for the School of Religion. Any queries can be made to sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au

Book Week 2020

A reminder that our Book Week dress up day will be held on Thursday 22nd of October (Term 4, Week 2). We will also hold the ILF Giant Book Swap on this day. The theme for the 2020 CBCA Book Week is ‘Curious Creatures, Wild Minds’. We look forward to seeing the creative costumes on dress up day!

ILF Giant Book Swap

A reminder that donations of pre-loved books, in good condition, can be dropped off at the office or students can give them to Mrs Hardwicke on their class library day. We need 200 books to be donated so as each student can take part in the book swap during Book Week. A flyer with more information about the ILF Giant Book Swap was sent home last week

Term 4 Book Fair

We are going to hold our Book Fair online during Weeks 1 & 2 of Term 4, and we would love your support.  We have made the decision to move to the online fair as we are uncertain as to what the restrictions will be in coming weeks and months.  Your support of the fair allows us to gain credit with Redgum which is then used to buy additional books for the library.  This year we are focusing on updating our non-fiction material.

Fun and Fitness Week

We are looking forward to next week!  Please see the timetable below.

Students may wear runners to school each day and are encouraged to dress up and accessorise in line with the theme for each of the five days. We recommend sending additional water with your child. 

All lost property for this term is on display outside the Front Office, please remind your children to check for any misplaced items.  Any unclaimed items will be placed in the 2nd hand clothing pool at the end of Term.

Please also remember to label all clothing and lunch boxes/drink bottles.  Could you please also double check your children's clothing to ensure they have bought home the correct uniform item.  I have a lot of parents still looking for named items.  Your help with this would be greatly appreciated.

A key was found out the front of the school with a paris key ring.  Please see Lisa if you are missing a key.

Congratulations to the following students who achieved a Harmony Award in Week 9.  Awards will be presented at Friday morning's assembly (weather permitting).

Well done!!   

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

Jesse 1/2W, Xavier 3/4A and Mallory 1/2W

We hope you have a great day!!

WODEN VALLEY YOUTH CHOIR

Woden Valley Youth Choir has provided a music education to hundreds of students from ACT and surrounding region for over 50 years.   WVYC offers a dynamic choral programme for young people aged 8 to 25 and we are proud to provide so many positive benefits to our members: the value of learning to sing with confidence, positive self-esteem, and performance skills, which will hold them in good stead for the rest of their lives. WVYC is a not-for-profit community choir with a strong music education programme. We don’t just sing – we become musicians.

AUDITIONS
Auditions for young people going into year 3 next year through to college age will be held in late September and early October prior to first term 4 rehearsal on Tuesday October 13.  We have vacancies in all choirs and are especially keen to audition more young men for our changing and changed voices choir, Centauri Voices.  For more information on auditions please go to https://www.wvyc.org.au and download an application form or email info.wvyc@gmail.com or phone 1300 599 655.