Filter Content
- Principal's Message
- School Calendar of Events
- Religious Education News
- Nowra Parish News
- School Fees
- Sports Corner News
- Several Students Represent Australia
- Positive Behaviour for Learning
- Robotics Club
- Year 4 Fizzics Education
- Defence Family News
- Library News
- Canteen News
- P&F News
- School Volunteers And Visitors
- Community Notices
Dear Parents and Carers,
Yesterday Year 6 students and their families gathered together in St Michael's Church for the ‘Graduation Mass’. Father Joseph led us in a beautiful liturgy which featured student participation in the readings, Offertory procession, singing, Communion and liturgical movement. The sermon by Father Joseph, based on the scripture readings, gave all students and families useful lessons in how to lay a strong foundation for high school. Thank you to the Year 6 teachers, Father Joseph, Mrs Mathieson, Ms Callaghan and all staff who prepared and assisted with the mass. At 5pm next Tuesday 10 December, Year 6 students and families will gather in the school hall for the annual Year 6 Awards Presentation.
On Friday 13 December 2024 at 9.15am, there will be a whole school assembly attended by all students to celebrate the Year 6 students and their achievements in 2024. The major Year 6 award winners from Tuesday night will be named again, and the special powerpoint of Year 6 student photos will be shared. The Year 6 students will then perform their farewell song and dance off. The assembly will conclude with the handover of student leadership from Year 6 to Year 5 students. At this assembly the school will also also acknowledge the staff members who will be leaving us at the end of the year.
The Year 6 students will finalise their time at St Michael’s with:
- A Pool day on Monday 16 December 2024
- Roxy Cinema on the morning of Wednesday 18 December 2024
- Final farewell walk of honour on Wednesday afternoon from 2.30pm.
On Tuesday 17 December the school will come together for a Christmas concert at 9.30am, followed by the Mission Fair in the playground.
During the next week there will be some Compass alerts regarding the upcoming events, teachers for 2025 and a final Principal message for 2024. Parents and Caregivers are urged to read all of these Compass alerts.
STUDENT REPORTS
Semester 2 reports for all students in Kindergarten to Year 6 will be available on the Compass Parent Portal on Friday 13 December at 5pm. Parents/carers will be notified by email when these are available for viewing and download. For students on personalised plans, these will also be available at this time.
Year 6 Parents/Carers are advised to download all of their children's reports and personalised plans from Compass prior to 21 December 2024 as student files will not be available once the annual rollover takes place on this date.
ADVENT
Last Sunday 1 December 2024, our Catholic Church commenced the Season of Advent. This is a time of great joy and expectation. Throughout December, students at St Michael’s are learning what Christmas truly means and how we can prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus. If you’re looking for ways to engage with your child during this special time, we’ve put together a few ideas.
The Christmas decorations are starting to appear, carols are playing softly in the shops, and there's a buzz of excitement in the air. But before we get swept up in the festivities, the Catholic Church invites us to pause and enter into the season of Advent.
Advent, meaning "coming" in Latin, is the period of four weeks leading up to Christmas. It's a special time of preparation where we not only anticipate the joyful celebration of Jesus' birth, but also reflect on his second coming. Think of it as a journey – a journey of hope, peace, joy, and love, leading us to the manger in Bethlehem.
At school, students will be learning about this journey through Scripture readings, prayers and activities. You can join your child on this adventure at home too. Click here for some simple ways to bring the spirit of Advent into your family life.
Wishing you and your family a blessed and joyful Advent season.
Yours in faith & virtue
Chris Paton
School Principal
WEEK 9
| Monday 9 December |
Year 4 Art Gallery Excursion |
| Tuesday 10 December |
Year 4 Roxy Cinema Excursion Year 6 Graduation Award Ceremony (5pm in Hall) |
| Wednesday 11 December | |
| Thursday 12 December | Students Meet their 2025 Teacher & Class |
| Friday 13 December | Induction of 2025 Leaders Assembly 9:15am |
| Monday 16 December |
Year 6 Pool Day |
| Tuesday 17 December | Christmas Concert 9:30am (Back COLA). Family welcome to join us! |
| Tuesday 17 December |
Mission Fair. Infants 11am-12pm Primary 12:05pm - 1:05pm |
|
Wednesday 18 December |
Year 6 Roxy Cinema Students Final Day for 2024 |
|
Thursday 19 December |
Staff Development Day |
| Friday 20 December |
Staff Development Day Final Day for Year 6 Parents/Carers to download student reports from Compass. |
UPCOMING DATES FOR THE DIARY
| Friday 31 January |
Staff return to school for 2025 |
| Monday 3 February |
Staff Development Day |
| Tuesday 4 February |
Years 1-6 2025 Return to School for Day One |
| Wednesday 5 February |
Kindergarten 2025 Commence School |
As the Sacramental Program is managed by the Nowra Parish, all enquiries may be directed to Madira Arnold at the Parish Office on 0473 360 183.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
YEAR 6 GRADUATION MASS
CHRISTMAS CONCERT & MISSION FAIR- Tuesday 17 December
St Michael's Mission Fair is a fundraiser for Catholic Mission, to support those in need. This will be held on Tuesday 17 December, following the school Christmas Concert.
Infants 11:00-12:00 and Primary 12:05 – 1:05
Year 6 students will be hosting various stalls and games on the back playground for students to enjoy. During the next week, students are to bring in their money (no more than $10) to spend at the Fair.
Please ensure the money is in a zip lock bag, clearly labelled with your child's name and class. Class teachers will hold the money until the Fair on Tuesday 17 December.
Stalls include ice-cream spiders, hair spray, nail salon, lucky dips, craft, lots of games, cupcakes, donut challenge, shoot to win, BBQ, tattoos, Zooper Doopers and and so many more! Lots of FUN to be had by all!!
Please send in your child’s money to their class teacher before Friday 13 December.
A big thank you to Year 6 and their families for supporting this important fundraiser.
CHRISTMAS MASS
Martine Mathieson
Religious Education Coordinator
Father Joseph Pothenparampil
Nowra Parish Priest
PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES BY INSTALMENT
School Fees are invoiced as an annual account, due for payment in full 30 days after invoicing. However, many families elect to pay their school fees by regular instalments and as a new family to our school, we would like to offer you this option. If you wish to take up this offer, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on our school website or by clicking here. On completion of the request, please email the form to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.
IMPORTANT: Please note that if you currently have a child or children at another school in the Diocese and you are paying by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment eg. weekly, fortnightly, etc.
If you are currently paying by instalments there is no need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment as your request carries over from year to year unless you wish to amend the frequency of your payments eg Weekly to Fortnightly.
Existing Families in our School without Instalments
If you would like to pay school fees by instalments in 2025 and have previously not taken up this option for payment, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form. On completion of the request either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.
IMPORTANT: Please note that if you currently have a child or children at another school in the Diocese and you are paying by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment eg. weekly, fortnightly, etc.
ST MICHAEL'S SWIMMING CARNIVAL
Our annual Swimming Carnival was held on Monday 18 November at Bomaderry Pool. The event was a great success, with students showcasing their swimming talents, team spirit, and sportsmanship.
Congratulations to the following students who achieved outstanding results in their respective age groups:
The overall winning house is Purcell. Congratulations to all the students in Purcell House for their well-deserved victory!
WOLLONGONG DIOCESAN TENNIS TRIALS
On Monday 25 November, Elina Kottackal and Chloe Webb represented our school at the Wollongong Diocesan Tennis Trials. Despite initial nerves, both students gave their all in a round-robin of games, demonstrating impressive skills and determination.
While Elina narrowly missed out on selection, we commend her for her effort and dedication. A special congratulations to Chloe Webb, whose exceptional performance earned her a place on the Diocesan Tennis Team. Chloe will proudly represent Wollongong at the MacKillop Trials in 2025.
MORTEN TO RECEIVE PRESTIGIOUS AWARD
Morten Ellerington of Year 6 has been invited to attend the Catholic Schools NSW State Sports Awards at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday 11 December 2024 where he will be presented with a NSWCPS Maroon Award for Excellence in Netball. Morten has been asked to provide a short video for this prestigious presentation. The event will unite the NSWCCC Blue Awards (Secondary) and the NSWCPS Sport Awards (Primary) into one special evening, celebrating the top-performing student-athletes from Catholic schools across NSW.
Congratulations on this incredible achievement, Morten!
Kind regards,
Andrew Allmark
Sports Coordinator
JACK & DEAN SELECTED TO REPRESENT OVERSEAS IN FUTSAL
Jack Butler and Dean Osgood of Year 6, have rececently enjoyed the unforgettable experience of representing Australia in Malaysia, competing in two prestigious Futsal tournaments, including the KL Junior 5’s and the Sarawak Unity Friendship Cup.
Facing tough competition and showcasing exceptional skill, Jack and Dean competed against talented teams from both Australia and Malaysia. While the KL Junior 5’s didn’t yield their desired outcome, their resilience and determination shone brightly as they secured 2nd place in the Sarawak Unity Friendship Cup.
Despite the challenges posed by Malaysia’s intense heat and humidity, the boys exhibited remarkable perseverance and camaraderie throughout. Beyond the tournaments, the trip was an opportunity to forge lifelong friendships with skilled futsal players from across Australia.
Cultural Highlights
The experience extended far beyond the futsal court. The boys immersed themselves in Malaysia’s rich culture, exploring iconic landmarks and engaging in unique activities, including:
- Batu Caves – A breathtaking limestone hill and cultural landmark.
- Petronas Towers – Towering symbols of modern Malaysia.
- Aquaria KLCC – A fascinating underwater adventure.
- Sunway Lagoon – Thrilling waterpark fun.
- Semenggoh Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre – Encounters with Malaysia’s incredible wildlife.
- Jong Crocodile Farm – A thrilling look at these majestic reptiles.
- Kuching City Tour – Exploring the vibrant capital of Sarawak.
- Famous Layer Cake Factory – Sampling traditional delights.
- Sarawak Cultural Village – A glimpse into Malaysia’s diverse cultural heritage.
- Royal River Cruise – A serene journey showcasing Sarawak’s natural beauty.
This adventure was a perfect blend of competitive futsal and cultural enrichment, creating unforgettable memories for the boys both on and off the court.
Congratulations Jack and Dean!
FOOTBALL IN FIJI FOR CADEN, CHASE & BENJAMIN
Year 4 Students Caden Wynn, Chayse Aldous and Benjamin Bryant recently travelled to Fiji to play for Australia in the Under 10's division of the International Soccer Tournament on 28 November 2024.
PB4L FOCUS: WEEK 8, TERM 4
Front Gate - Arrival Time
The PB4L team would like to remind parents and carers that the front school gates open at 8:15am. This is the appropriate time to drop students off so they can enter the school and be properly supervised. In the event students arrive before the bell rings, the expectation is that students are to sit down in front of the gate. Furthermore, the second bell goes at 8:45am. It is important that students are dropped off before this time so they are on time to start their learning.
No Hat - No Play
The PB4L team would like to again remind parents and carers about the importance of students having their school hat with them each day. The temperatures are continuing to rise and the school hat is an essential part of the uniform. St Michael’s Catholic School has a no hat, no play policy in place to ensure students are sun safe. We ask students and parents to please ensure their school hat is with them each day. School hats may be purchased from the school office for $15. Credit card payments over the phone are also accepted.
Drink Bottles
The PB4L team would like to remind parents and carers to ensure students bring a refillable drink bottle to school each day. This will allow students to stay hydrated throughout the warmer temperatures experienced throughout Term 4.
This week we concluded our St Michael's Lunchtime Robotics for 2024 with a fun soccer battle. Students designed and trialled a variety of custom made robots to complete our soccer challenge. It was an amazing term of building that saw many students adapting base designs with a wide variety of add-ons such as cranes, scoops and defence features. All students are to be congratulated for their problem solving skills, collaboration, innovation and engineering. It was also incredibly exciting to watch!
LIBRARY BOOKS
Our school canteen is available for ordering four days per week (Tuesday-Friday). I would like to remind parents/carers wishing to place lunch orders for their children for Friday to please place their order online prior to 2pm Thursday.
The link for ordering online may be found on our school website;
https://smndow.catholic.edu.au/parents/canteen/
P&F PRESIDENT'S REPORT - CARINA BEATTIE
the astro turf, PA system, marquees, sports equipment, and even completing the school toilet project, which provided uplifting affirmations for students in the back toilets.
Despite the challenges of COVID, we emerged stronger and have continued to rebuild our community connections. It has been a privilege to work alongside Chris and Carolyn, sharing a vision of enhancing the school environment and supporting student growth. Being part of this journey has been truly special, and I will carry this experience with me always. I hope that in my role as President over the past two years, and my time in executive roles three years prior, I’ve helped to guide and support the next generation of P&F leaders so you, too, can make lasting contributions to our school community.
Thank you for entrusting me to lead this committee. I believe deeply in the philosophy that “there is no ‘I’ in team.” Although I’ve held this position, we have all worked together to build a strong P&F team. I couldn’t have done my job without each of you, and without all of you, there would be no P&F.
The past few months have been incredibly busy behind the scenes, preparing for the Colour Run fundraiser to ensure it brought joy and laughter to the students. As the event has now concluded and the year comes to an end, I’d like to express my heartfelt thanks to a few special people:
- Cohen – Your dedication to building and strengthening community connections and fostering positive partnerships with local businesses has been essential to every P&F event. I greatly appreciate your work in securing sponsorships and raffle prizes, ensuring that we have enough funds for these which allowed us to give even more back to the school.
- Hayley – You’ve done a fantastic job managing social media and newsletters this year. Often, it feels like a full-time job, yet you’ve handled it all without hesitation—even during your exams when
university was intense. Thank you for your commitment.
- Tracey – Thank you for managing our finances, from sending invoices to paying them, and ensuring that the P&F maintains a healthy bank balance. I’m grateful for your hard work and value the
friendship we’ve developed over these past two years.
- Lisa – Thank you for all that you do to support our Committee and for representing the P&F at sporting events. It’s been wonderful reconnecting since our boys were two. I value our friendship
tremendously.
- Caroline – Thank you for stopping to say hello to me in Bomaderry Woolworths back in 2022 and recognizing the need for support, and rallying the community to strengthen the P&F. Your efforts
have had a profound impact, and our Committee is thriving because of you.
- Cath – Where would I be without you? Thank you for being an amazing secretary, taking detailed and accurate minutes, keeping our meetings on track, and writing things diplomatically on my behalf and keeping a level head in times of frustrations has been invaluable.
- I also want to thank the many parents who’ve supported us along the way, including Marg & Ash, Simone, Tim, Stacey, and anyone I may have missed. Your contributions have been invaluable and certainly don’t go unnoticed.
Lastly, a special thank you to Chris and Carolyn for working so collaboratively with me and the P&F over these years. Giving parents a platform to communicate and be heard is important so thank you for having robust discussions with us (and we have had a few this year alone) and taking our feedback on board. I know the school is in good hands with you both leading, and I look forward to returning one day to see the
continued support the P&F has in store for the future. I also extend my gratitude to all the teachers who support us with our events.
Signing off with immense gratitude,
Thank you.
P&F AGM
Warm regards,
St Michael's P&F Committee
We are very grateful for all of the parents, carers, grandparents and friends who volunteer to assist with various school events.
To ensure childrens' safety, all volunteers are required to provide the school with their details and a Working with Children Clearance or signed volunteer declaration. To streamline this process, the following QR code may be scanned to register your details with the school. Once registered, you will be provided with a digital token (number) to be used for signing in at the school office.
Artisan Market – 8 December 2024
at Huskisson Community Centre (10am –3pm)
This is an excellent opportunity to see the work of 30 artists from the Bay and
Basin area and buy unique Christmas presents not available in stores, including art, textiles, Ceramics, Sculpture, Cards, Candles, Jewellery, Dyed scarves, Bags, Homewares, Clothing and Books. Go to www.artsmuster.com.au for details.
