On Friday evening, 19 August 2022, the Mini Vinnies students in Year 6 participated in the annual ‘Winter Sleep Out’ in the school hall. These students received insight regarding the plight of the local homeless people and raised much needed funds for St Vincent de Paul. The students and staff participated in prayer and reflection during the evening. The next morning all participants received a hot BBQ breakfast prior to heading home at 7.30am. Thank you to the staff who supported these students.

Last Thursday and Friday many of our Year 6 students attended the annual two day excursion to Canberra. I was fortunate to attend the excursion with the students, staff and some parents. The behaviour and engagement displayed by the students was exemplary. Each venue that the students visited, gave very positive feedback to the school staff and parents supervising the students. The excursion involved visits to Parliament House, the Electoral Centre in the old Parliament House, the War Memorial, Questacon and the Institute of Sport. All families of students in St Michael’s Nowra should be very proud of these students. A special thank you to all staff and parents who attended and assisted with the excursion.

On Monday the staff and I participated in a Professional Development Day on ‘Writing’. I would like to express my appreciation to all families who made arrangements for the students to remain home on this day. The inservice was facilitated by Mrs Heffernan and Mrs Rutkowski, using a professional development package that the school has been accessing in 2021 and 2022. All teaching staff were fully engaged in the process and have been using elements of this package over the last year to analyse student writing to ensure differentiated teaching and learning in this area of literacy.

This term, Father Joseph Pothenparampil, our Parish Priest, has been leading three weekday masses a week for individual class groups to attend. It has been wonderful to have so many families attending these masses. Our last class group attended Mass this morning. Next term, these masses will commence again. Thank you parents for your participation.

Last night, Year 6 Confirmation Candidates and their parents/carers attended a Confirmation reflection evening. Today all of our Year 6 students have engaged in ‘A Day in the Spirit’ led by Mrs Mathieson and staff. We are fortunate to have such dedicated staff in our school who are preparing the students to receive this important Sacrament. Year 6 Confirmation Candidates will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation with Bishop Brian Mascord in our Parish Hall Mass setting on Saturday 10 September at 10.00am or 1.30pm. As preparation for this Sacrament, all Year 6 students have been doing a ‘Saints’ assignment to assist them to select a Confirmation name of a Saint who inspires them. Please keep the Confirmation Candidates, families and staff in your prayers.

Tomorrow morning at 9am, we will all gather on the front playground to celebrate Book Week. Students have been encouraged to dress up for the parade. All families are invited to join us. Thank you to Mrs McKenna and staff who have encouraged the students to embrace this annual event.

On Monday morning at 8.45am families are invited to join us on the front playground for a ‘Fathers Day’ prayer. At this time of the year, we remember fathers, present and past, and the crucial role that they play in the lives of their children. We also acknowledge the significant ‘father figure’ people in the children’s lives. To be a Dad is the greatest gift that I have personally been given and I will be catching up with my children this coming Sunday. After the short prayer on Monday morning, those attending will be invited to join the students for ‘munch and crunch’ before classes commence for the day. Thank you to our Parents and Friends group for selling Fathers Day gifts and organising the annual Fathers Day Raffle. I would like to conclude my Principal section with a short prayer for Fathers day.

Christopher Paton
Principal