Dear Parents and Caregivers,

During the last two weeks, students in Year 5 and 6 have produced some outstanding Christmas artwork and delivered amazing public speeches. The students worked on their Christmas Art for a few weeks and produced some excellent artwork, accompanied by a narrative, explaining the significance of the artwork and its relationship to the Christmas story. The Public Speaking competitions for Year 5 and 6 were outstanding. Congratulations to the following students:

Christmas Art 

Public Speaking

The six Christmas Art winners will have their work judged alongside other students in the Diocese of Wollongong. The CDF Regional Public Speaking competition will occur on Monday 11 September and our school will be represented by Ella Walsh and Olivia Seymour-Munn. 

Last Friday the Parents and Friends hosted a Fathers’ Day BBQ on the back playground. All aspects of the BBQ were extremely well organised and I would like to thank Jirgens Civil who sponsored the breakfast. Thank you to the wonderful Parents and Friends group for the creative gifts sold in the Fathers’ Day stall and the school staff who supervised the students at the BBQ. After the BBQ, Mrs Mathieson, staff, students and families joined together for a Fathers’ Day liturgy. Thank you Mrs Mathieson, Mrs Royston and all staff and students who assisted with the liturgy. 

In the coming two weeks there will be a number of sporting events including the South Coast Basketball Gala days. Good luck to these students. 

This coming Tuesday night at 6pm, the Parents and Friends group will have their monthly meeting. Any parents are welcome to attend in person in the school library or by Zoom. This group has made significant contributions to the improvement of school facilities this year. Please support them. 

During the student vacation, there will be some major ground and building works happening at the school. The new artificial grass area will be completed on the front playground. This area has been made possible by the fundraising efforts of the Parents and Friends over the last two years and a funding grant from Veolia. The Catholic Education Office Wollongong (CEDoW) is funding the replacement of the damaged bitumen between the school office and the Year 6 classrooms. The students, staff and families will return to a vastly enhanced front playground. CEDoW is also replacing the roof on the buildings between the school office and the Year 6 classrooms. I am very thankful to the Parents and Friends group and CEDoW for financing these works. 

WORKING BEES

Some families have asked about the significance and rationale for Working Bees. Thank you to the parents who have offered to assist this afternoon with culling and reorganising the Parents and Friends property which is stored under the Parish Office!!! 

Since the establishment of Catholic schools in the 1800s, the goodwill of families and staff has come together in Working Bees to ensure adequate educational and play facilities for the students. In the past in some schools, Working Bees have actually built brick classrooms and ensured the playgrounds and facilities in the school remained safe for students, families and staff. Government funding for Catholic schools did not commence until the 1960s. The contribution to running a school primarily comes from the Federal and State Governments, supported by family school fees which is approximately 8% of the total income for the school. 

All schools receive a budget from CEDoW for school maintenance. For schools like ours which require significant ongoing maintenance, the budget only goes so far. Like St John’s Nowra, Working Bees at St Michael’s Nowra provide the practical assistance which the maintenance budget cannot cover. More importantly, they are an opportunity to meet other parents and be involved in enhancing the playground and other improvements. A three hour Working Bee can provide an instant facelift to the school environment which practically assists the students. The 8% family school fees is only allowed to be used towards teaching and learning. 

The upcoming ‘Spring’ Working Bee, next Saturday morning 16 September 2023 is an opportunity for families to come together and provide a quick ‘facelift’ for the students. Our contracted mowing and gardening team do a wonderful job each fortnight but their scope only covers the essentials. Next Saturday we hope to do additional gardening and a general sprucing up of the playground. Whipper Snippers, wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes and gardening equipment will be required! Even just one hour of donated time can make a huge difference. Thank you for your ongoing goodwill and support of our school.

Yours in Faith and Virtue,