Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
On Monday, 24 February 2025, our school community came together for a beautiful Opening Liturgy to mark the beginning of the new school year. It was a wonderful opportunity to welcome back students and families, setting a positive and faith-filled tone for the year ahead. A special highlight of the event was the presentation of leadership badges to our newly appointed student leaders, including School Captains, Prefects, Colour House Captains, all Year 6 students, Year 6 Aboriginal students, Mini Vinnies, and the Year 3-6 Student Representative Council. Congratulations to these students and their families on this important achievement! A special thank you to Mrs. Rutkowski, Mrs. Mathieson, Mrs Royston, Year 6 teachers and all staff involved in organising such a meaningful and uplifting event. We look forward to a fantastic year ahead!
This week all families have received through Compass a copy of the Grade Newsletter. Some Grade ‘Meet and Greets’ have occurred during the last two weeks and will continue during the next week. Grade meeting times have been shared with all parents. The Grade Newsletters contain hyperlinks to school policies and timetables. Please refer to the Grade Newsletter on a regular basis.
WELCOME DISCO- FRIDAY 28 FEBRUARY
Tonight our exceptional Parents and Friends group will be hosting the annual ‘Welcome Disco’ from 5pm - 7pm beneath the back COLA. Parents and students are invited to attend the first social event of the school year with a night of fun, music, and community spirit. Please note, this is not a drop and go event. Parents/carers must remain with their child for the duration of the event.
This much-anticipated event is the perfect chance to meet new families, catch up with old friends, and enjoy a relaxed evening together. With DJ ‘Bop Till You Drop’ keeping the dance floor alive for the students (and families), a delicious sausage sizzle, cold drinks, and snacks available for purchase, and the return of the preloved uniform stall, there’s something for everyone. Plus, grab a coffee from Franks Espresso Bar while the kids dance the night away!
Entry is by voluntary donation, and both cash and EFTPOS will be available. So bring your picnic rugs, chairs, and dancing shoes, and let’s make it a night to remember. As with all functions which include students, this is an alcohol free event. See you there!
PROJECT COMPASSION
On Tuesday 4 March 2025 our School Captain, Sidney Warner and Prefect, Phoebe Guyatt will join Mrs Warner and myself at the Wollongong Diocesan launch of Project Compassion. Parents and students often wonder, 'What is Project Compassion?' The following information provides an insight:
Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion invites you to Unite Against Poverty this Lent.
As Caritas Australia’s largest annual fundraising campaign, Project Compassion mobilises Australians to raise much-needed funds to help alleviate poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity in the most vulnerable and marginalised communities in the world.
Held during Lent, the six-week period before Easter, Catholic schools, parishes, and the wider Australian public participate in a diverse range of fundraising and awareness raising activities and events to support Caritas Australia’s programs both overseas and here in Australia with our First Australian partners. Project Compassion is an extraordinary demonstration of the faith, empathy and generosity of our supporters.
WORKING BEE
The first Working Bee for 2025 will be on Saturday 15 March 2025. It will commence at 8.30am and conclude by midday. Due to the recent regular rainfall and ideal growing conditions, this Working Bee will concentrate on gardening. Students are welcome and parents are invited to attend for some or all of the morning. To make an impact, a minimum of 40 volunteers are required. A Google Survey Form will soon be distributed through Compass to complete, noting your availbility for putting aside some time on Saturday 15 March 2025.
With the development of the school’s recent Vision and Mission, one of the key Virtues is 'Service’. What a perfect way for students and their families to put this Virtue into action. There are numerous areas around the school that we would like to beautify for the students. Please consider one or more hours of ‘Service’ on Saturday 15 March 2025.
ENROLMENTS 2026
The new student enrolment in our Catholic Schools for 2026 has commenced. The school has already received over 50 enrolments for Kindergarten 2026. If you have an eligible child for Kindergarten 2026 or family and friends who are considering St Michael’s Nowra for 2026, please advise them to submit their child’s enrolment online through our school website as soon as possible.
SCHOOL UNIFORM FEEDBACK
Thank you to all families who have sent students back to school this year in the correct school uniform. There are three main areas which still require some attention in the early days of 2025;
- Correct black school shoes
- Correct socks
- Hair grooming and extreme hair styles
The school has now been back for four full weeks and parents are requested to attend to the following areas of the school uniform policy by Monday 17 March 2025. During this week, class teachers will begin to distribute ‘Uniform Reminder Slips’ so that families can action the uniform requirements over the next two weeks, prior to Monday 17 March 2025.
Correct black school shoes as per the uniform policy
Summer and Winter uniform: Black polishable leather shoes – with black laces or black velcro (not boots). Shoes that do not have a black polishable leather finish are not to be worn with the Summer or Winter uniform.
Correct Socks as per the uniform policy
Summer and Winter uniform: Girls - white ankle style; Boys - grey with a stripe.
Sports uniform: Red ankle style for boys and girls.
Correct Hair Grooming - extreme hair styles - as per the uniform policy
In the 2024 survey, parents were satisfied with the school uniform policy and asked that attention be given to extreme hairstyles, particularly the following:
- Undercuts;
- Carved hairstyles;
- Rat’s tails or horsies (not permitted even if tied back);
- Mullets with significant differences in length- hair must be blended;
The school is aware that some of the students still have some hairstyles from the 6 week holiday break, but it is now time to abide by the school policy regarding mullets, rat’s tails, carved hairstyles and undercuts. It may take a few weeks for mullets, carved hairstyles and undercuts to begin to grow out, but parents are asked to not support student requests for these hairstyles in future. Thank you for your support.
In Week 7, there will be two significant events occurring:
- School Cross Country on Monday 10 March 2025 at Willandra
- NAPLAN will commence on Wednesday 12 March 2025. Year 3 and 5 will be involved in this program.
Information has been distributed to families regarding these two events. Thank you to all of the school staff involved in these two areas.
Yours in faith & virtue
Christopher Paton
School Principal