Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As Term 1 draws to a close today, we pause to reflect with gratitude on a wonderful beginning to the school year. It has been a true gift to welcome our new Kindergarten cohort to the school community. These youngest members have settled in beautifully, supported by their teachers and peers, and are already embracing the routines and rhythm of school life with enthusiasm and joy.

Across all year levels, students have shown excellent commitment to their learning. Classrooms have been alive with curiosity, creativity and deep engagement – a true testament to the dedication of both our students and their teachers. The parent and teacher meetings over the last two weeks have been well attended. Thank you to our teachers for sharing the students’ learning progress with parents and carers. 

This term, we also celebrated the strength of our school community through a number of key events. Our Parents and Friends gatherings provided valuable opportunities for connection and collaboration, and the school working bee was a fantastic example of our community spirit in action. The Easter raffle was an extraordinary success! Thank you to all who contributed time and energy to these events.

Faith remains at the heart of all we do. We are especially grateful for the opportunity for individual grades to attend Friday Masses, and we congratulated the Year 3 students when they received the Sacrament of Penance – a special step in their journey of faith. On Wednesday over 100 students in Years 4-6 showed exceptional reverence when they received Reconciliation in the church. Thank you to Father Joseph and Father Vincent for celebrating this Sacrament with the students. 

JUBILEE YEAR PILGRIMAGE – A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES

As part of the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year, families are invited to grow in faith through pilgrimage, prayer, and acts of charity. The Jubilee offers a unique chance to receive a plenary indulgence by visiting designated pilgrimage sites, receiving the sacraments, and praying for the intentions of the Pope. In our Diocese of Wollongong, Bishop Brian Mascord has named special pilgrimage churches, including St Joseph’s in Kangaroo Valley and St Mary Star of the Sea in Milton. All Year 2–12 students have received a Pilgrim Passport to support their spiritual journey throughout the year. We encourage families to visit these local sacred sites together and embrace this grace-filled opportunity during the Jubilee Year.

This week, our Year 6 students hosted a wonderful ‘Notables’  showcase in their classrooms. Each student selected a notable figure who has played a significant role in shaping various aspects of Australia’s history. Through the creative use of technology, role play, storyboards, and games, students brought these figures to life in engaging and informative ways. The level of effort, research, and presentation was truly outstanding. A sincere thank you to the Year 6 teaching team for guiding the students through this enriching experience, and to the families who came along to support and celebrate their work. Click here to view more photos of 6 Red.

Our students have also shone on the sporting field this term. We have celebrated outstanding individual and team achievements, and our recent Cross Country Carnival was a highlight – showcasing perseverance, sportsmanship and school spirit. Today we congratulate all Kindergarten, Year One and Year Two students who engaged in our Mini Cross Country event at school. Thank you to Ms Callaghan, Mr Allmark and all staff for their organisation of our cross country events.

As Principal, I extend heartfelt thanks to our dedicated staff whose unwavering commitment to the learning and wellbeing of every student is at the core of our success. Their passion, professionalism, and care have made this term a rich and rewarding one. I would like to personally thank the numerous students, families and staff who have congratulated me on my transition to retirement. I have been privileged to work within St Michael's Catholic Primary School Nowra for the last twelve years and will have my last day at the end of the year. We have a very special school community.  

As we enter Holy Week, we turn our hearts and minds to the most sacred time in the Church’s year. In just two days we will celebrate Palm Sunday, marking Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We then journey with Him through the events of the Passion – His suffering, death on the Cross on Good Friday, and finally, His glorious Resurrection on Easter Sunday. This central mystery of our faith reminds us of the hope and new life that comes through Christ. We pray that all our families experience the deep joy and peace of the risen Lord, and enjoy a truly blessed Easter celebration.

We wish all our families a safe and restful holiday break. We look forward to welcoming students back for the start of Term 2 on Tuesday 29 April 2025.

Yours in faith & virtue

Christopher Paton

School Principal