Two weeks ago our Year 6 students within the parish received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Bishop Brian Mascord was very impressed with the preparation and presentation of the Confirmation candidates. There was a huge amount of preparation put into preparing the students for receiving the sacrament. Thank you to Father Leo, Mrs Hart, Mrs Lenihan, Mr Allmark, Mrs Mathieson, Mrs Royston, Mrs Rutkowski and numerous staff for the enormous amount of time that they all put into teaching the students, preparing the hall to become a sacred mass setting, the preparation of resources and attendance on the days. The preparation for Confirmation was a true team effort. 

To finalise the Confirmation journey for 2021, all students in Year 6 attended a celebration day at Milton on Monday 7 June 2021. This day was run by the ‘Youth Team’ in the Wollongong Diocese and was called ACTIVATE. To support their Christian leadership as confirmed Catholics, yesterday all of the Year 6 students attended a ‘leadership day’ in the school hall, led by Mr Douglas, Mr Holgate from St Joseph's Albion Park and the Year 6 staff. As an observer on the day, I was impressed by the enthusiasm displayed by the Year 6 students.  

Father Leo has had his last weekend within the Parish and has now headed across the Nullarbor Plain to Perth to continue his vocation within the Oblate order that he belongs to. Father Leo will be missed and we are thankful for the two years he was with us. Father Joseph Pothenparampil is our new Parish Administrator and comes to us from St Paul’s Camden Parish with great optimism and plans for our parish. We look forward to parents meeting Father Joe in the weeks and months ahead. Welcome Father Joe. 

Last week, four of our students participated in the NSWCCP Cross Country Carnival at Eastern Creek. Congratulations to these students and their amazing accomplishments:

Anna Duncan - 7th place 

Ella Walsh - 38th place

Milla Cooper - 17th place

Taj Goddard - 18th place

It is quite a journey to Eastern Creek and parents are thanked for supporting their children in their sporting journeys. Last Tuesday, many of our students from Years 3-6 participated in the CEDoW South Coast Netball Carnival. The school received excellent feedback about the behaviour and sportsmanship of our students. Thank you to Mrs Lenihan, Mrs Warner, Mrs Turner and parents who assisted the students at the carnival. On Monday 21st June, Brodee Green and Noah Jamieson will be representing the Wollongong Diocese at the MacKillop Rugby Union Trials in Forbes.  

Today all students will receive their half yearly progress reports through parents/carers accessing the Compass Parent Portal. These reports have been designed to give families valuable information about many aspects of their child’s progress at St Michael’s Nowra. This report contains academic, social development and work habit information as well as attendance details. Parents are now familiar with how to access the “Parent Portal” to receive the report and book an interview time with the classroom teacher. The booking system will be open from Friday to Sunday evening to allow a 15 minute appointment to be booked by parents for next week. Please take some time to sit with your child and go through all aspects of the report with them prior to the parent/teacher interview. The teachers are looking forward to having an interview with you. Thank you for the time and effort staff have put into preparing these student progress reports.

This coming Monday 21 June 2021 is our school athletics carnival at Shoalhaven High, Thank you to Mr Allmark, Mr Anderson and their teams for organising the carnival. The primary students in Years 3-6 will leave from school by bus at 9 am and the infants students in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 will travel by bus to the carnival, arriving at approximately 9:45 am. There will be a canteen run by Meaghan’s Kitchen but no lunches will be provided. Parents are invited to attend the carnival and asked to observe social distancing. All students and parents will have their hands sanitised when arriving at the carnival. 

Details regarding the school’s observance of NAIDOC week will be shared early next week through a Compass announcement. As all parents know, we have a very rich history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders education here at St Michael’s Nowra. Our team here at school have been in the process of planning to involve many of our students in NAIDOC week activities for 2021. We look forward to sharing information with you when it is finalised. 

School concludes on Friday 25 June 2021. School will return for Term 3 on Monday  12 July 2021. There will be NO Staff Development Day on Monday 12 July 2021. All students and staff will be at school on this day. 

Enjoy the two week vacation commencing next Friday 25 June, 2021.