Dear Parents, 

Catholic Schools Week

This week all Catholic schools in NSW celebrate Catholic Schools Week. You may have heard and seen advertisements highlighting the virtues of Catholic schools on the radio and through other media. This week is also the official launch of our enrolment period for 2021. On Monday we commenced the week with the following prayer which highlights what we are trying to do at St Michael’s Nowra:

Dear Lord 

Catholic Schools Week is a special time in the year when we celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our Catholic schools. It is a time to give thanks for the wonderful teaching and learning that takes place each day in every classroom. 

• We acknowledge and thank all who work in the service of Catholic education to create the opportunities for students that allow them to grow and thrive. 

Lord Hear Us (Lord Hear Our Prayer) 

• We thank you for 

• the wisdom and understanding of teachers 

• the enthusiasm and energy of students 

• the leadership of school Principals and leadership staff 

• the skill, care and commitment of administrative and support staff 

• the guidance of our priests and religious leaders 

• the support and partnership of parents, carers and local communities. 

Lord Hear Us (Lord Hear Our Prayer) 

• We pray that each student’s learning journey be inspired by a search for your wisdom and truth. 

Lord Hear Us (Lord Hear Our Prayer) 

• We pray that we never take for granted the learning opportunities that we have all been given, and that we use the gifts of learning wisely and responsibly. 

Lord Hear Us (Lord Hear Our Prayer) 

• We ask that we use what we have learnt to create a better world for all people, particularly the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. 

Lord Hear Us (Lord Hear Our Prayer) 

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen 

The best way to spread the good news about Catholic Schools is through ‘word of mouth’. If you know of families who have children planning to attend Kindergarten in 2021, please let them know about us. Interviews will occur in May. 

Tonight, the Wollongong Diocese celebrate Catholic Schools Week with a mass at St John Vianney Co-Cathedral. A number of our staff make the journey to Wollongong every year to attend this mass which is very significant in 2020 with the arrival of our new Director of Schools, Peter Hill. 

Today a number of our students attended the South Coast Swimming carnival. These students have trained very hard to prepare for the carnival and some of them will progress to the Wollongong Diocesan carnival on Monday 9th March. We will update you on their achievements next week. 

Next Tuesday night is the monthly Parents and Friends meeting. The meeting commences at 6pm and is usually completed by 7.15pm. Our new executive look forward to parents, especially new ones, joining us as we plan events for the students as well as look at fundraising possibilities for 2020. 

I have attached a letter from Bishop Brian Mascord outlining changes to occur when parents and students attend mass in our Diocese of Wollongong. The main change for our students is during the sign of peace. Children and adults have been asked to not shake hands due to the Corona Virus situation. Please refer to the Bishop's letter for full details.

Yours in Faith and Virtue,

Mr Christopher Paton