St Michael's Catholic Parish Primary School Nowra
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28 North Street
Nowra NSW 2541
Subscribe: https://smndow.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

Email: info@smndow.catholic.edu.au
Phone: 02 4421 3630

Principal's Message

Dear Parents,

This is our last newsletter for Term 1 and school will conclude next Thursday 6 April 2022. We have a number of great events prior to breaking up next Thursday.

  • Tonight between 5-7pm, the school is having its first social event for 2023 - the Family BBQ Disco. This will occur on the back playground, hosted by the school’s Parents and Friends group. I encourage all families to join us. There is a BBQ available as well as drinks and other goodies. A parent or carer must remain with their child at the Disco. BRING YOUR CASH AS THERE IS NO EFTPOS MACHINE. 
  • On Wednesday morning from 9.15-10.40am, students in Kindergarten to Year 2 will have their own small cross country carnival on the back oval. Families are welcome to attend.
  • On Thursday morning all grades in the school will participate in the Holy Week liturgy in the hall. Each grade will perform an important Holy Week event. This period of Easter is the most important religious time of the year. The liturgy will occur from 9.30-10.30am. Families are welcome to join us. 
  • An Easter Hat parade will occur for the students in Kindergarten to Year 2 on Thursday afternoon from 2-3pm. Families of these students are welcome to attend. 

 

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Catholics around the world will celebrate Palm Sunday this weekend. Palm Sunday is the start of Holy Week and is an occasion to recognize Jesus as King of the Jews. But it is also the beginning of one of the saddest true stories of all time. 

 

Following Jesus’ triumphant arrival into Jerusalem, he gathered the Apostles together on the evening of Holy Thursday and shared the “Last Supper” with them. At this stage, Jesus was aware that he was soon to be ridiculed, taunted and hung on a cross to die. At this “Last Supper” Jesus actually led the apostles in the first mass where he used the symbols of bread and wine to signify his own body and blood. Every mass that occurs around the world has a Priest present to lead the gathered people to remember the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. 

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On Good Friday, we have a clear reminder that God loved us so much that he allowed his son Jesus to die on the cross so that we all could be saved. On Easter Sunday the Catholic Church celebrates the risen Jesus. Amidst the arrival of Easter eggs and chocolate, we celebrate the commencement of our new lives. For our first Pope, St Peter and the apostles, Easter Sunday was the beginning of their journey in establishing a church of followers, to be known centuries later as the Roman Catholic church. 

 

Please feel welcome to attend any of these important celebrations in the Church during Holy week and Easter. The school hall will continue to be the mass setting for all Easter liturgies. A schedule of the liturgies is in the newsletter. 

 

The first day for students in Term 2 is Wednesday 26 April 2023. It is a normal day and we look forward to seeing all students. All staff will attend a spirituality day on Monday 24 April and Tuesday 25 April is the ANZAC Public Holiday. On Friday 28 April 2023 our school will celebrate ANZAC day with a service in the front playground. All families are invited to attend. Thank you to our Defence School Mentor, Mrs Natalie Hayes, who is also one of our parents, for organising this important service. The school ANZAC service will commence at 9.15am. 

 

PRIME DRINKS AND BOTTLES ALERT

In response to reports of children playing ballgames in the school carpark, we wish to remind families of our morning drop off routine.

Our school gates open and supervision is provided from 8:15am each morning. If students arrive prior to 8:15am, they are to quietly sit on the steps of the Parish Centre, beside the school gate. Students are not to move around or play ball games as it presents a dangerous situation with cars entering the parking area.

We ask that parents/carers please remind your children to sit patiently until the gates are open. Thank you for your assistance in keeping the children safe.

 

EARLY LEAVERS- MAJOR DISRUPTION

In recent weeks, the school office has been inundated with parents collecting students before 3pm. The formal school day concludes at 3pm and parents are requested to make medical or other appointments after this time. Collecting students early disrupts teachers and student learning. It also prevents our office staff from finishing their work at an appropriate time each day.

Students are not permitted to be collected early without a legitimate reason. For example, when assembly finishes in the hall on a Friday afternoon, parents will not be permitted to collect their children early, as has become the case in recent weeks.

We also ask you to contact the school office before 2:15pm if a specific change of plans needs to be conveyed to students, for example, a student needs to catch the bus instead of being picked up. Phone calls to the office with last minute instructions after 2:15pm puts enormous stress on the office staff and teachers to ensure the student receives the updated change of plans. Thank you for your assistance with this.

As we conclude the term, I would like to thank all of our staff at St Michael’s Nowra for their amazing commitment to our students and families. While COVID19 is continuing to circulate through our community, our staff have continued to support students and families with conviction and purpose. I appreciate family support with the current teacher shortages and the need to occasionally split a class if the school is unable to employ a casual teacher. Have a well earned holiday everyone. 
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Yours in Faith and Virtue,

Mr Christopher Paton

Principal