On Friday 5th February, our Year 6 students participated in a liturgy in the school hall. All students received their leadership badge, and specific students received badges for school captain, prefect or colour captain. Thank you Father Leo for leading the liturgy. The year has commenced very well for this group of Year 6 students and I know their leadership skills will continue to flourish as the year goes on. Parents of these students should be very proud of the fine young people who have accepted the privilege of being a leader at St Michael’s school. We are going to have a great year! Our Year 6 leaders for 2021 are:

School Captains: Marshal Avery and Bonni Bolam

Prefects: Alex Sivonen, Imogen Wynn, Henry Fairs, Kilarni Aldridge, Mylan Brunton, Zali Delaney, Cody Chater and Rebekah Allmark.

Colour House Captains: Purcell House - Matthew Wisniewski and Taya Sanchez, Polding House - Brodee Green and Izzy Watters, Ruth House - Henrik Schaefer and Anna Duncan, Michael House - Kobi Warbrook and Ella Douglas.

Our Parents and Friends group met on Tuesday evening at 6pm last week. It was also the Annual General Meeting. Congratulations to the following office bearers for 2021.

President: Sophie Pavlis

Vice President: Rachelle Moore

Treasurer: Kylie Plant

Secretary: Carina Beattie

While still just a small group of people, some excellent ideas were raised which we will share with you soon. It was also a Zoom meeting for parents who chose this option. A number of fundraising events were discussed as well as practical issues such as the carpark concerns and an upcoming ‘Working Bee’. I encourage all parents to Zoom in for the next meeting which will be on Tuesday 9 March, 2021.

Last Friday our first assemblies were held. Congratulations to the students who received awards and acknowledgement for a great start to the new school year. Assemblies will occur on Fridays in Week 5, 7 and 9. Unfortunately parents are unable to attend these masses due to Covid19.

Shrove Tuesday was celebrated by all students earlier this week. Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent in the Roman Catholic Church. Shrove Tuesday is a reminder that Christians are entering a season of penance and was originally a solemn day. 

Yesterday we celebrated Ash Wednesday. Students in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 had a small liturgy in their classes and received the ashes on their forehead from their teacher. Year 3-6 attended a mass in the school hall and received the ashes as part of the celebration. It was wonderful coming together for a mass led by Father Leo. For many of our students, this was the first mass for 12 months due to Covid19. The behaviour of the students and their reverence during mass was exceptional. During the next 6 weeks, the students will learn about Lent and the Easter Holy Week. I have included a Youtube clip about Ash Wednesday and Lent. 

https://saintannparish.org/the-meaning-of-ash-wednesday/

For the remainder of the term, each grade will be on a roster to attend mass in St Michael's Church at 9.30am. Unfortunately it will be only for the students and teachers due to Covid19. Year 6 will attend mass this Friday 19 February 2021 and Year 5 will attend on Friday 26 February 2021. 

By the end of next week, all families will receive through Compass an overview of the year from their child’s teacher. Any requests for parent teacher meetings can be made through the school office.