Dear Parents,

Last Friday the Year 6 students organised and ran the ‘Mission Fair’. This was the second year that this mission fundraiser has occurred. The Year 6 students and their teachers did a magnificent job organising the imaginative stalls and fun activities. The Director of Catholic Mission in Wollongong, Mr David Harrison visited the Fair and was impressed by the enthusiasm of all students in the school. Congratulations to the Year 6 staff and students, Mrs Mathieson and all other staff involved. It was truly a great community effort and a sum of $3362.40 for Sister Stan at Nazareth Home for God's Children in Ghana was raised on the day. Congratulations to all involved. 

On Sunday over two hundred people attended the ‘Mass with a difference’ on God’s grass. Father Leo led us in this liturgy and everyone enjoyed the different mass setting. One of our parishioners, Mrs Bernadette Pullen co-ordinated the mass and was supported by many others. A number of students in the parish youth group attended and the sausage sizzle afterwards was enjoyed by all. Thank you to all involved. The next ‘Mass with a difference’ will occur early next year.

On Tuesday night we celebrated the Year 6 Graduation Mass and Awards. Father Pat and Father Leo led us in a beautiful mass celebration and we gathered in the hall afterwards to present various awards and acknowledgements. It was an emotional evening as it signalled to all present that the Year 6 students will be moving very soon to high school. Congratulations to all of our Year 6 students for the way they have conducted themselves in 2019. Tuesday night was a real tribute to the Year 6 students, staff and families. Thank you to the Year 5 students, parents and staff who provided supper. 

The Director of Schools in the Wollongong Diocese, Mr Peter Turner, will be retiring at the end of the year. Mr Turner has led our Diocese for the last 13 years and has been a wonderful support for all of our schools, especially St Michael’s Nowra. The new Director will be Mr Peter Hill. We look forward to meeting with Mr Hill and inviting him to Nowra early next year. There will be a Farewell Mass of Thanksgiving for Mr Turner on Thursday 12 December 2019 and I will be inviting a group of Year 5 students to represent our school at this mass. 

Next Tuesday 10 December 2019, the Parents and Friends group will host a thank you for all parents and staff who have assisted in any way during 2019. If you are available, the evening will commence at 6pm. Thank you again to our Parents and Friends executive who have co-ordinated so many great activities this year. 

Our last whole school assembly for 2019 will be held on Wednesday 11 December 2019 in the school hall at 11:30am. This will include a farewell to our Year 6 students and staff as well as announcing the Year 6 leaders for 2020. All are invited. 

Next week will be the last newsletter for 2019. School will conclude on Wednesday 18 December 2019. 

Yours in Faith and Virtue,

Mr Christopher Paton