Dear Parents, 

This is the last newsletter for 2019. The last week has been a very busy one but the students have remained very settled and learning has continued to be the main focus. Today the ‘Parent Portal’ has opened for parents to access the student reports. The parent portal facility for booking parent teacher interviews next week will also be open from Thursday 12th December to Sunday 15th December. We are looking forward to you viewing and downloading the student progress reports. 

 During this last week, the following events have occurred:

• Promotions day on Monday afternoon for students to see their new classrooms and discover their teacher for 2020
• The Parents and Friends thank you gathering on Tuesday night
• The final whole school farewell liturgy for Year 6, including the handover of student leadership to Year 5 students

Today Mrs Mathieson and I accompanied 8 of our Year 5 student leaders for a Diocesan mass to farewell our CEO Director, Mr Peter Turner. It was a beautiful farewell, led by Bishop Brian. Mr Turner has been an excellent Director of Schools.

Tonight the Year 6 students and their families will gather in the school hall for a farewell disco. In the next few days, Year 4 will attend an excursion to the Wollongong Science Space Centre and the Roxy theatre will entertain Year 3, 5 and 6.

Our final big event for 2019 will be our Christmas concert. On Monday evening 16 December 2019, the Christmas concert will start at 6pm. All students will gather in their classrooms from 5:45pm.  I am very appreciative of the leadership Mrs Mathieson our Religious Education Co-ordinator and the staff has shown to organise this Christmas Concert. During the concert the students will be sitting with their grade group, both before and after their class’ performance. All students are involved and are encouraged to attend, especially our Year 5 and 6 students. It will be held on the back playground. There will be some seating provided, but feel free to bring picnic rugs or your own chairs for the night. Our Parents and Friends will provide a BBQ (cash only) and drinks. This is always a beautiful night and we are looking forward to finishing with this special event. 

This final week of school will be a very special one for our Year 6 students. We will officially say farewell to these Year 6 students on Wednesday 18th December afternoon from 2.40pm when we will all gather on the front playground and bid our farewells. This ritual has been in place for many years and is a touching tribute to our Year 6 students and their families. I would like to also acknowledge our Year 6 School Captains; Abby Griffis and Thomas Rutkowski  for the wonderful leadership they have shown this year.

As the year draws to a close, it is important to briefly reflect on the many events that our school community has shared this year. The 2019 school year commenced with a welcoming liturgy for staff, students, parents and all members of our school community. During the year our students participated in many areas of school and parish life such as the Sacramental programs, numerous excursions, countless sporting opportunities, liturgical celebrations in the Church, fundraising for the missions, the school fair, and many other extra curricula activities. 

Academically, the students experienced a rigorous education program. Literacy and Numeracy results continued to demonstrate promising learning gains and students received many opportunities to be extended in a range of Key Learning Areas. Many students represented our school in sporting and academic pursuits. In 2019 the school staff engaged in numerous professional development opportunities and University courses as well. 

Our parents and caregivers continue to support the school in so many ways including classroom assistance, Parents and Friends, excursions, School Fair and many sporting opportunities. We have a very supportive group of parents in our school. Congratulations to our Parents and Friends President, Phil Duncan and his very capable executive team. This hard-working and dedicated group of parents has supported numerous school events with BBQs as well as fundraise to provide the students with valuable resources. 

I would like to say a special thank you to Mrs Carolyn Rutkowski, our Assistant Principal, for her loyalty and support during the year. Mrs Rutkowski has been supported by Mr Matt Downes in the second half of the year. Thank you Mr Downes, you will be missed! To all of our leadership team, may I thank you for what you have done for our students and staff in 2019. 

To all of our staff, you have been magnificent in every way and the St Michael’s community is lucky to have you. Our Parish Priest, Father Patrick Faherty, our Assistant Priest, Father Leo Mifsud and Father Ronan have been most supportive of the faith development of our students.

2019 is also a year where we say farewell to a number of staff members. While some of these staff will be returning to us some time in the future, some will be retiring or moving on to new challenges. I would like to acknowledge the following staff and thank them for their gift of presence at our school: 

• Mr Matt Downes will be returning to St John’s Dapto after a two term secondment. Mr Downes has been a valuable support in the student behaviour and wellbeing area. 
• Miss Helena Karas will be heading south to St Mary’s Milton after an excellent year with the 3W students.
• Mrs Sharon Quinn will be retiring after many years of dedicated service in our Catholic schools in Wollongong. Mrs Quinn will be missed in our Benedictine Centre. 
• Mrs Melonie Olijnyk will be heading back to Canada following a year on teacher exchange. Mrs Olijnyk and her family have been a great addition to our school community. Mrs Viki Boyton will be returning home to us from Canada. 
• Mrs Nicole Lenihan will be heading to Canada for a year of teacher exchange
• Miss Renee Maguire will be heading north to St Pius X Unanderra for a one year secondment and will return to Nowra in 2021. 
• Mr Anthony Hunt will be heading north to Taree. We wish him all the best.
• Mrs Joyann Arnold will be on leave for the 2020 school year and will return to us in 2021
• Mrs Charissa Passafaro and Mr Mark Tweed have both officially resigned from St Michael’s Nowra and will hopefully be available for casual relief teaching in 2020
• Mrs Amanda Mason will be heading to the Wagga area for 2020 to teach in a rural setting and will return to our school in 2021.
• Miss Bridgett Duffell and Miss Katie De Souza will leave us as full time teachers and will be available for casual relief teaching in 2020. 

We welcome to our school two new Middle Leaders, Mrs Michelle Heffernan and Mr Patrick Douglas as well as a number of new teachers. On Monday and Tuesday this week most of our new teachers attended the school for an induction process which included meeting their new students and learning about numerous aspects of the school. Each of the new teachers had a formal exchange of student information with the present teachers. We have an exciting 2020 ahead of us. 

At this time of the year we also say farewell to a number of families who have been part of St Michael’s School for many years. Some of these families have seen three or more students attend St Michael’s Nowra during their time at the school and their assistance, loyalty and support has been most appreciated. All of our leaving families are always welcome back at St Michael’s at any time. Thank you for your support over the years. 

Our teaching staff for next year includes:

Principal 

Christopher Paton

Assistant Principal

Carolyn Rutkowski

Religious Education Coordinator

Martine Mathieson

Instructional Coach - Literacy

Michelle Heffernan

PB4L and Wellbeing

Patrick Douglas

Good Samaritan Centre

Lee-Anne deRoo

Benedictine Centre

Natalie Rojas

Instructional Coach - Numeracy

Anne-Maree Berryman

Reading Recovery

Oonagh Cameron

Kindergarten

Melissa Firkin

Sarah Sansom

Jessica Phelps

Year 1

Marian Crossley

Stephanie Jakimyszyn

Carly Butler

Year 2

Sandrine Butler

Emma Kate Callaghan

Henri Taylor

Viki Boyton

Year 3

Martine Mathieson / Tara King-Gee

Bianca Koczka

Carol-Anne Robinson

Year 4

Maree Hamilton / Dylan Anderson

Michelle Warner

Andrew Allmark

Year 5

Renee Roles

Margaret Webster

Amy Scurr

Year 6

Anne Dempsey

Sam Luxford

Stephen Zamroz

Various Classes

Ashleigh Walker

PPT - PE

Ingrid Holland

PPT - Music

Maree McGrath

PPT - Library

Barbara McKenna

School recommences for all students in Years 1-6 on Wednesday 29th January 2020. 

Finally, I am praying that Christmas will be a wonderful time of celebration for all families. We have much to thank our God for. I am hoping Christmas will be a time for renewing friendships, making peace, simply enjoying one another’s company, sharing love and appreciation for each other with the exchange of good wishes and gifts.

Yours in Faith and Virtue,

Mr Christopher Paton