On the 31st October and 1st November Father Leo confirmed many of our Year 6 students and parishioners The masses were just beautiful and the students and families were incredibly respectful. Due to COVID directives,these celebrations had only immediate family and the sponsor present. While it was a different celebration, the mass was very sacred and the students were ‘Confirmed in the Spirit’. Thank you again to Fr Leo, Mrs Mathieson, Mrs Royston, Mrs Collins, Mrs Dempsey, Mrs Luxford, Mrs McKenna, Mr Zamroz and all staff who attended or assisted in any way. 

On Monday our students participated in the annual school photo day. The company, MSP Photography, worked strictly within the COVID directives and were able to do class groups as well as individual photos and family ones! Group photos were not permitted in the period leading up to the photo day. The company was astounded by the respectfulness and good manners shown by the students!! Well done parents! 

Yesterday our school honoured Remembrance Day with a classroom focus, using a video put together by Mrs Wenban. Remembrance Day and ANZAC Day are highly important days in our school year due to St Michael’s connection with the Defence Forces. The students observed the one minute silence in the classroom prior to going out to recess. Mrs Wenban was assisted by Mrs Callaghan and other staff in the preparation of the video. Thank you Mrs Wenban. 

Teaching staff are in the midst of preparing the Student Progress Reports for the second semester of 2020. These are academic reports similar to what the students received in 2019 and previous years. Attitude to learning and effort to complete studies is also reflected in the report. Student Reports will shared with parents through the Compass Portal on Thursday 10 December in Week 9. 

Today our Year 6 students who will be attending St John’s Nowra from 2021, travelled to and from the school by bus to attend an orientation day. I am sure they had a great learning day! Due to COVID directives, parents were unable to attend.  I look forward to hearing their stories on Friday. 

On the weekend of 21/22 November 2020, many of our students in Year 3 as well as some parishioners will receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist during their ‘First Holy Communion’. This is a day that no person ever forgets. I still remember receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist during ‘First Holy Communion’ 56 years ago in St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Wangaratta, Victoria. The Year 3 teachers, Mrs Mathieson, Mrs Koczka, Mrs Robinson and Mrs King-Gee are currently teaching final lessons of preparation. This is a most special day for our young people and their families. Please keep them in your prayers. 

Finally, Please continue to note that Monday 23 November 2020 is a pupil free day. The staff will be experiencing a Spirituality day, based on the writings of Pope Francis. A hard copy reminder will be sent home to families in the next couple of days. 

This week our students have been learning about our rich and vibrant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Excellent resources have been shared with students. We are lucky to have Ms Vanessa, Jody Myers, Mark Mongta, Anne Dempsey and Marian Crossley guiding our learning.