Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Thank you for your support in arranging your child to remain home for the school’s recent Staff Development Day with literacy expert Dr Tessa Daffern, which was held on Monday 24 June 2024. Working with one of the author’s of the new NESA Spelling component of the English curriculum was a huge benefit to all staff. The school is in the process of determining our next steps with this area of the new curriculum.
CONFIRMATION LAST WEEKEND
Congratulations to all of our students who were Confirmed in the Holy Spirit last weekend. Father Joseph, the Parish team and numerous members of St Michael’s school staff supported the Confirmation candidates in many ways. As part of their learning in Year 6, every student researched an interesting Saint, whose name was often used by the student as their Confirmation name. My own Confirmation occurred in 1966 and I chose the name Peter, our first Pope.
STUDENT PROGRESS REPORTS - SEMESTER 1
Families have now accessed the Student Progress Reports for Semester 1, 2024. Every child in Kindergarten to Year 6 received a formal report through Compass. As it was a new format, there were a few technical glitches which we managed prior to being accessed through Compass. Please contact the school if any clarification is required. Well done to our students for a successful first six months of learning.
NAIDOC WEEK
Each week staff from all of our Catholic schools in Wollongong receive a newsletter from the Catholic Education Office Wollongong (CEDoW) and it always commences with a spiritual theme. This week the reflection is on NAIDOC week and I believe it beautifully sums up what our Aboriginal and Torres St Islander team are trying to achieve at St Michael’s Nowra.
From CEDoW:
“Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud” is this year’s NAIDOC theme that honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations cultures – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
As we approach 2024 NAIDOC Week celebrations in this post-Voice referendum year, we hold to the call in Hebrews to consider how we can spur one another onto love and good deeds in our communities.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10: 23-25
NAIDOC Week is an invitation for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. It also celebrates the unyielding spirit of our communities and invites all to stand in solidarity, amplifying the voices that have long been silenced.
Let us all be inspired by the resilience and tenacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities; their encouragement to not give up, to engage, and join their efforts to bring urgent change through justice, truth-telling, treaty and genuine relationship, fighting for a better future. Non-Indigenous Australians can support by showing up, by listening, learning, and amplifying First Nations voices - this is how we add logs to the fire. May we take actions together to keep the flame of justice, truth and hope burning so all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, now and into the future, are safe, free and flourishing.
Allow this inspiration (the breath and work of the Spirit) to fan the fire that burns within each one of us and calls us to mission. Live this mission by responding to the invitation to engage, connect and celebrate with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This includes continued work on promoting and living reconciliation while fostering right relationships through a commitment to shared understanding. From our Catholic social teachings, we are called to stand in solidarity - to keep the fire burning – and create space to encourage First Nations people to be blak, loud and proud. It is through this solidarity that the beauty of First Nations cultures will continue to flourish, keeping the fire burning and passing it on to future generations.
Pope Francis speaks about recognising the gifts that individuals and cultures add to the richness of community:
“Unity does not imply uniformity; it does not necessarily mean doing everything together or thinking in the same way. Nor does it signify a loss of identity."
Points to Ponder
- How do I create space to listen and learn from our Indigenous Sisters and Brothers?
- How do I take action to keep the flame of justice, truth and hope burning so all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples now and into the future, are culturally safe, free and flourishing?
- What do I need to do to stand in solidarity with our Indigenous Sisters and Brothers?
- How can I be a good steward of God's love to each one of my neighbours so that I may listen, learn and welcome?
This morning our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team presented a wonderful assembly where the students proudly shared numerous aspects of our rich Aboriginal culture in Nowra. Through reading, dancing, performing, singing, music, language and sharing of our Aboriginal culture, our students, staff and families celebrated the gifts of our students and stewardship of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team.
Our genuine thanks to Miss Vanessa Longbottom, Miss Zali Lonesborough, Mrs Anne Dempsey, Aunty Christine Finney, Mr Mark Mongta and Mr Ky Nolan for providing such a valuable insight to the gifts of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and our local Aboriginal culture. Thank you to the students in our school choir and Mrs Jessica Rosskelly and Mrs Jessica Dakin for their assistance with the ‘Come Together’ song. A special thank you to all students who actively participated in our assembly.
YEAR 6 CUPCAKE DAY
On Wednesday 26 June, Year Six students hosted their first fundraising event to generate funds for purchasing a graduation gift to the school, to be presented at the end of the year. Students were delighted to have raised $873.50 and look forward to organising another event to reach their goal of purchasing a drinking water fountain for the front playground. Thank you to all families for supporting this event with a special mention to Year 6 parents for generously providing the delicious treats!
CONDOLENCES TO MRS BUTLER
As you may be aware, Mrs Butler’s father, Hugues Savy, has been unwell for a period of time and entered palliative care just recently. On Monday at midday, Mr Savy passed away aged 88. While there is always great sadness with the passing of a loved one, the family are thankful that Mr Savy is no longer in pain and is at peace with our God. I visited the 3B classroom on Wednesday morning and informed the children. We said a prayer for Mr Savy, Mrs Butler and her extended family. Mrs Butler’s mother, Lilette Savy, is being supported by all of the family during this sad period of time.
I would like to thank you for your support during this difficult period of time for Mrs Butler and her family. All of the children are very fond of Mrs Butler and look forward to her return in Term 3, 2024.
I wish all students, families and staff a well earned two week holiday. School will resume on Monday 22 July 2024.
Yours in faith and virtue
Christopher Paton
School Principal