Dear Parents and Carers,

The last two weeks have continued to be challenged by daily notification of COVID19 cases within the school and staff/student absences. This trend is being experienced by most schools but I am confident that the most difficult period has now passed. The school will continue to closely follow the ‘Public Health Orders’ and will communicate any easing of social distancing and community re-engagement through Compass. All families are invited to access additional Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits from the school. If you would like to receive additional kits, collect them from the school office or ring the office and the kits will be sent home with your child. Thank you again for your cooperation during these most difficult times. 

I am excited to announce that Mrs Sarah Samson and her husband Mat are having a baby in the very near future. Mrs Sansom has been advised by her medical team and the Catholic Education Office Wollongong (CEDoW) to finish her teaching commitment a little earlier than she had expected. Mrs Sanson is well, but needs to follow her medical team and CEDoW’s advice. As a result, today is Mrs Sansom's last day with 2B. I would like to sincerely thank Mrs Sansom for her hard work, great teaching and commitment to the students, families and staff at St Michael’s Nowra. The school is in the process of selecting the right teacher for 2B  and hope to make an announcement soon. Until the end of the term, Mrs Carly Butler will be 2B’s teacher. Mrs Butler is highly respected and has been working within a number of classes this term. Mrs Butler will teach from Mrs Sansom’s program until the end of this term. 

Last week all Year 6 students received their leadership badges which were blessed and distributed with Father Joseph, our Parish Priest. The first Year 6 leadership training day for 2022 will be conducted in the school hall this Monday 28 March. Mr Holgate and Mr Douglas will work with the students and Year 6 teachers. The school has an excellent Year 6 cohort and this training day is the first of four planned for 2022. The Year 6 students have engaged with their Kinder buddies and numerous leadership opportunities are planned for Term 2, 3 and 4. 

Next Thursday 31 March 2022 is the annual school cross country carnival. Students in Years 3-6 will travel by bus to Willandra Cross Country Track for the carnival. Parents are welcome to attend this outdoor event. Hopefully, the weather will allow us to compete at Willandra. The school will keep families updated next week. 

Tonight some staff and families will be attending the Mother Ruth fundraising night at the Nowra Players Theatre. The show is called, “The Game’s Afoot’ and funds are raised for the Mother Ruth Scholarship program. In Term 4, Year 6 families are invited to be considered for one scholarship to St John’s Nowra. 

Term 2 will officially commence on Wednesday 27 April 2022. Monday 25 April 2022 is ANZAC Day and there will be a staff Spirituality day on Tuesday 26 April 2022. The Term 1 school term will officially conclude on Friday 8 April 2022. 

 Yours in Faith and Virtue,

Christopher Paton

Principal