This is the last newsletter for 2022. The last week has been a very busy one but the students have remained settled. Learning, along with Christmas craft and preparing for the Christmas Concert, has continued to be the main focus. Yesterday the ‘Student Progress Reports' became available through Compass. The report format is similar to the Semester 1 reports. All Key Learning Areas have been reported on, using in most cases, the Common Grade Scale (A-E).

During this last fortnight, the following events have occurred: 

• Year 2’s performance of ‘The Gruffalo'
• Swimming carnival for 50 metres plus students
• Year 6 Pool and Slide day
• The Graduation Mass and awards for Year 6 students on Tuesday evening in the school hall. Parents, extended family and students joined staff for this significant event which was beautifully planned by the Year 6 teachers and reverently celebrated by the students and families. 
• Year 1’s excursion to Greenfields Beach - set amongst the picturesque setting of the Jervis Bay National Park.
• Promotions day for students to see their new classrooms and discover their teacher for 2023. These gatherings went well and classes are now set for 2023. 
• A whole school assembly where Year 6 celebrated their time at the school with final presentations, a slideshow, dance and transfer of specific leadership roles from Year 6 to Year 5. 

In the first liturgy in 2023, all of the present 2022 Year 5 students will be commissioned as leaders of our school. Mr Douglas, Mr Holgate and the Year 5 staff have provided numerous leadership training days during 2022 and we look forward to these students leading our school in 2023. 

This final week of school will be a very special one for our Year 6 students. We will officially say farewell to these students on Friday 16th December in the afternoon at 2.40pm. This will follow our whole school ‘Fun Day’ on the back playground for all students. On Tuesday night at the Graduation Mass and Awards, our two School Captains, Jaide Sutherland and Benji Rutkowski gave a wonderful farewell speech on behalf of Year 6, reflecting on their years of education at St Michael’s Nowra. Jaide, Benji, the prefects, colour captains and all Year 6 students have displayed wonderful leadership during this post-pandemic period.

In our first full year of post-COVID-19, 2022 has seen a continued easing of restrictions culminating in full attendance at Confirmation, First Holy Communion and Grandparents Mass. Despite the anxiety experienced by many families, staff and students following the pandemic, the year has finished well. Each class attended a significant excursion and the usual Mini Vinnies, environment group, culture activities, fundraising, student leadership, Spirit day with St Mary’s Milton, and numerous other endeavours occurred. Two highlights of the year included the Year 5 camp at Waterslea and the overnight Canberra trip for Year 6 students. The behaviour of the students at both camps was outstanding.

Literacy and Numeracy results continued to demonstrate promising learning gains and students received many opportunities to be extended in a range of Key Learning Areas. Our parents and caregivers continued to support the school in numerous ways such as the Easter raffle, Mothers and Fathers Day stalls, the excellent Colour Run and the tea towel fundraiser.

During the last two terms, individual classes have commenced attending a weekday mass. Father Joseph, our Parish Priest, has initiated this opportunity for students to have a close encounter with Jesus by attending one of these masses each term. Many families have also attended these masses. During the Christmas season, families will be able to attend mass in our school hall. 

Guiding the school through the Post COVID pandemic has been an enormous challenge, mainly due to teacher shortages and an increased anxiety experienced due to COVID-19. I would like to express a special thank you to Mrs Carolyn Rutkowski, our Assistant Principal, for her loyalty and support during the year. I am thankful for the support of Mrs Martine Mathieson for leading the religious dimension of the school as we have emerged from lockouts and welcomed everyone back to our liturgies. To all of our leadership team: Mrs Julie Vella, Mrs Michelle Heffernan, Mrs Anne Dempsey, Mrs Emma-Kate Callaghan, Mrs Lee-Anne deRoo and Mr Pat Douglas, may I thank you for what you have done for our students and staff in 2022. To all of our staff, you have been magnificent in every way and the St Michael’s community is lucky to have you.

2022 is also a year where we say farewell to some of the staff members. While the majority of our staff will be with us in 2023, we do have some staff who will be moving on to exciting new adventures. I would like to acknowledge the following staff and thank them for their gift of presence at our school:

• Ms Marian Crossley commenced at our school, many years ago, initially as an Aboriginal Education Assitant. After a period of time, Marian commenced her teaching degree and has had an incredible impact on all of our children during her time at our school. Marian is taking leave for 12 months to travel over to Western Australia to teach within a remote Aboriginal community. We wish Marian the very best and look forward to her arrival back for 2024. 
• Miss Amy Scurr arrived at our school three years ago and has given wonderful service during that time. Her commitment to our students, staff and families has been enormous and we wish her the very best for this new stage of her life teaching in Shellharbour.
• Mr Harry Toole has been working at our school, initially as a School Support Officer in 2021, and as a qualified teacher in 2022. Mr Toole has built a beautiful rapport with students, staff and families during the two years and will be greatly missed as he heads out to the country to further his teaching experience.
• Mr Cain Holgate has taught three days a week in the area of Social and Emotional Learning. Mr Holgate has strengthened learning opportunities for the students and will hopefully return to St Michael's in some capacity in 2023. 

Our main classroom teaching staff for 2023 include: