Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Last Sunday the Catholic church celebrated Pentecost Sunday. This day holds great significance for Catholics as it commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and marks the birth of the Church. According to the biblical account in the Acts of the Apostles, the disciples were gathered in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit descended upon them in the form of tongues of fire. This event empowered the apostles to preach the Gospel fearlessly and with extraordinary spiritual gifts. Pentecost symbolises the fulfilment of Jesus' promise to send the Holy Spirit as a guide and advocate, empowering the Church to carry out its mission of spreading the Good News to all nations. It is a time of celebration, renewal, and an invitation for Catholics to open themselves to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, seeking guidance, strength, and inspiration in their personal lives and in the life of the Church.

As I shared in the newsletter last week, on Saturday 10 June, a number of the Year 6 students will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in two sacred ceremonies held in St Michael’s church. Today all of the Year 6 students and their teachers attended a ‘Day in the Spirit’. Through prayer, activities and a walk in nature, these students learnt more about the Holy Spirit and will be prepared to reaffirm their faith and commitment to the Catholic Church during the Confirmation ceremonies. Bishop Brian Mascord will anoint all parish Confirmation candidates with holy oil and bestow the gifts of the Holy Spirit upon them. This is a moment of great significance for these students and we pray that they will always be guided by the strength and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Please keep these students and their families in your prayers. Thank you to all teachers, leaders, school support officers and Aboriginal Education assistants involved in the Spirit day. 

On Friday 9 June 2023, the Year 6 students and staff will have the opportunity to attend a liturgy at Warrawong with Bishop Brian Mascord and students from across the Diocese of Wollongong. This is a momentous occasion that holds great significance for all of our students. It provides a unique opportunity for students in the Diocese to come together in a spirit of unity, faith, and celebration. The presence of Bishop Brian, as a representative of the Church, brings a sense of reverence and solemnity to the liturgy, reminding students of their connection to the wider Catholic community. 

The liturgy serves as a platform for students to deepen their understanding of their faith and be active participants. St Michael’s Nowra will be providing a liturgical movement, choreographed and trained by one of our SSOs, Miss Shari Cook. The liturgy offers a chance for reflection, prayer, and spiritual growth as the students listen to the Bishop's words of wisdom and engage in communal worship. Additionally, the gathering of students from different schools within the Diocese fosters a sense of belonging and encourages the building of new friendships and connections. It is a joyous occasion that reinforces the students' identity as members of the Catholic Church and leaves a lasting impact on their spiritual journey.

Last week St Michael’s school hosted the Diocesan Cross Country Carnival. An event such as this fosters a unique sense of sportsmanship and participation among its athletes, and the unwavering support of parents adds to the vibrant spirit of the event. The students from all Diocesan schools strove for personal achievements but also displayed a remarkable camaraderie towards their fellow runners. During races, athletes often encouraged and cheered for each other, recognizing the shared struggle and determination required to overcome the challenging terrain and distance at Willandra.

Parental support also played a vital role in the Diocesan Cross Country carnival. St Michael’s Nowra was proudly represented by numerous members of our Parents and Friends group who provided great food and refreshments, raising much needed funds to support the students. I am grateful to all parents who assisted at the carnival, Mr Allmark, Mrs Baran, Mrs Boyton, St John’s Nowra students and all of our students who competed. Congratulations to all of our students who competed in the Diocesan Cross Country carnival and those progressing to the next level. 

The formal Student Progress reports for students in Year 1-6 will be released through the Compass portal on Thursday 22 June 2023, which is in Week 9. These reports express student progress using the Common Grade Scale of ‘A, B, C, D and E’. During the first half of the 2023 school year, teachers have taught and gathered evidence on student achievement in their class. An opportunity to formally discuss your child’s progress will occur during Week 10 of Term 2. Students in Kindergarten do not receive a formal written report at the end of term, however parent teacher interviews will still be provided. 

I will be on Long Service Leave from Monday 19 June 2023, returning to school on Tuesday 1 August 2023. During this time, Mrs Carolyn Rutkowski will be Acting Principal, fully supported by the school Leadership team and staff. I am looking forward to travelling overseas to explore parts of Italy, England, Ireland and Scotland during this time. 

Last Tuesday, 23rd May, 22 students from Years 3 to 6 competed in the Wollongong Diocesan Cross Country Trials at Willandra Course, Tapitallee. St Michael’s students were privileged to run on their  home track. All students ran the 2 km course against the best long-distance runners in Wollongong Diocese. Each race pace was extremely fast. I was exhausted just watching the students put in their best efforts!

The support and camaraderie from St Michael’s students was on display with a special mention to Ezekiel Blinksell who went out of his way to comfort a fellow St Michael’s student who was not feeling the best after their tough race.

We had some extremely pleasing results from the carnival;

• Finn Goddard, of Year 3, ran an extremely impressive race and came in first in his age group, the 8/9 boys.
• Ezekiel Blinksell, also in Year 3, finishing third behind Finn.
• Finn, Ezekiel and Deegan Freeman’s placings earnt the boys 3rd place in the 8/9 boys’ team event.
• Ella Walsh, of Year 5, backed up her first place last year to win the 11 year girls’ event. 
• Adam Wisnieski and Morten Ellerington, of Year 5, pushed each other throughout the whole race finishing 5th and 6th respectively. 

These runners will progress to the next stage of competition, representing the Wollongong Diocese at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre on Tuesday 13June. We wish them the best of luck!

 

Congratulations also to the following students who represented St Michael’s with fabulous results;