Dear Parents and Caregivers

Due to the King’s Birthday Long Weekend and the Staff Development day on Tuesday 10 June 2025, families were able to experience a four day weekend. The school appreciated your support with keeping students home on Tuesday 10 June 2024. On this day, staff at St Michael's Nowra participated in a professional learning day which focused on enhancing teaching and learning through effective feedback. Staff learned that effective feedback is crucial for improving teaching and student learning outcomes. Key topics included understanding how feedback connects to formative assessment, success criteria and learning goals. The day emphasised that feedback should be specific, timely, and goal-oriented to help students understand their performance and close learning gaps. Staff also explored how to plan for quality feedback based on student work samples and reflected on their current feedback practices to set actionable goals for improvement. The importance of explicit teaching of learning intentions and success criteria was highlighted, particularly how success criteria are significant in guiding assessment and feedback. All staff appreciated the professional learning. 

I extend our gratitude to parents, students and staff on your overwhelming support and generous contributions to Winter Appeal last Friday. The participation in this appeal has demonstrated the compassion that thrives within our school community. Compassion is one of the school’s four Virtues. Our dedicated Mini Vinnies students are already excitedly preparing to collate these items into essential packs, which they will present to the St Vincent de Paul representative during their visit next term for our annual Winter Sleep Out. This hands-on involvement allows our students to truly connect with the impact of their generosity. We are incredibly proud of our students, families and staff for embodying the values of empathy and service.

Last Friday, Year 6 students participated in their annual ‘Spirit Day’. As part of their Religion Unit - Confirmation: Celebrating the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, our students were involved in this vital spiritual experience. The meticulous planning and commitment by staff ensured that the students received a deeply meaningful and reflective day. This event is a significant part of a number of the Year 6 students' spiritual journey towards Confirmation. A number of students in Year 6 will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday 28 June 5pm Sunday 29 June 11am. A special thank you goes to Mrs Mathieson, Mrs Dempsey, Mrs Royston, Ms Ross-Kelly, Mrs Roles, Mrs Warner, and other staff  for their dedication in organising Spirit Day.

Last Tuesday evening our Parents and Friends group met in the school staffroom. It was a very productive meeting and discussions included the Winter Disco (Friday 1 August), Colour Run (Friday 14 November), Father’s Day Breakfast & LIturgy (Monday 8 September) and numerous other important events for the second half of the year. Thank you to this important group of parents who work very hard to provide for the students and families in the school. 

Advance notice is given for the annual Grandparent's Liturgy and open classrooms which will occur at midday on Friday 15 August, 2025. We always look forward to this special day. 

Mr Paton returned to school yesterday after a short period of Long Service Leave in China with his siblings. One of his early adventures was climbing the Great Wall of China. Welcome back Mr Paton.  

Yours in faith & virtue

Carolyn Rutkowski

Acting School Principal

VINNIES WINTER APPEAL MUFTI DAY

A BIG thank you to all our families for supporting our annual St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. We had an overwhelming response. Our Year 6 Mini Vinnies team will now put the items into packs for the St Vincent de Paul Vinnies Van Wollongong. Your support to families in need within our community is greatly appreciated.

LAUDATO SI' POSTER COMPETITION WINNERS

YEAR 6 SPIRIT DAY

YEAR 6 SINGING WORKSHOP

On Tuesday Tim Hart from the Creative and Music Ministry Team CEO visited Year 6 for a singing workshop in preparation for Mass with the Bishop next term. It was a wonderful session in which the students were commended for their excellent engagement and participation in the workshop. Well done Year 6.

GRANDPARENT'S DAY

Martine Mathieson

Religious Education Coordinator

TWEENS & TEENS: FREE PARENT WEBINARS 

The Council of Catholic School Parents is hosting two free webinars for parents and carers of tweens and teens. The sessions will be presented by esteemed author, speaker and educator, Michelle Mitchell.

Parenting Tweens: What Kids Need Now, Before the Teen Years
For parents and carers of primary school students aged 8+
Presented by Michelle Mitchell
Tuesday 24 June 2025
7.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Click here to register.

Parenting Teens: Staying Connected Through the Teen Years
For parents and carers of high school students aged 12+
Presented by Michelle Mitchell
Wednesday 25 June 2025
7.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Click here to register.

INFLUENZA VACCINE

Influenza isn’t as scary if you’re vaccinated.

Influenza (flu) is serious.

Getting a flu vaccine is quick, easy and recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over. 

Your yearly flu vaccine offers the best protection from getting really sick and is free for:

• children aged 6 months to under 5 years
• pregnant women
• Aboriginal people aged 6 months and over
• anyone aged 65+
• people with serious health conditions

CROSS COUNTRY

On Wednesday 11 June, five of our talented students, Finn Goddard, Amarlie Ward, Jackson Golding, Mila Bozikov, and Ezekiel Blinksell, showcased their endurance and determination at the MacKillop Cross Country Trials held at the Sydney Equestrian Centre. With a bright and early start, their efforts certainly paid off with some fantastic results!

• Mila Bozikov finished an impressive 41st, contributing to the Wollongong team's 1st place overall for the 10 Year Girls.
• Ezekiel Blinksell secured 27th place, helping the 11 Year Boys' team achieve a remarkable 2nd place overall.
• Jackson Golding came in 39th, with his strong run supporting the 12 Year Boys to claim 1st place.
• Amarlie Ward displayed excellent form, finishing in a commendable 12th place.
• A massive congratulations to Finn Goddard, who crossed the finish line in a spectacular 1st place!

Finn's outstanding performance means he will now progress to the NSWPSSA Cross Country Championships on July 22nd. We extend our very best wishes to Finn as he prepares for this prestigious event!

AFL

On the 11th June, our talented girls' AFL team proudly represented our school in the South Coast Final of the Paul Kelly AFL Cup. After their impressive victory in the Shoalhaven competition, the team travelled to Batemans Bay, ready to face some formidable opponents.

The competition was fierce, with our girls playing against strong teams from Bega, Broulee, and Hayes Park. Each game was a testament to their dedication and skill. Despite the high level of play from their rivals, our team gave their absolute best in every match.

Although the results saw three very narrow losses, the girls held their heads high throughout the tournament. The margins were incredibly tight, with one game decided by a mere one point! This demonstrates the incredible effort and determination displayed by every player on the field.

We are incredibly proud of our team's performance and their fantastic sportsmanship. They represented our school brilliantly, showcasing their talent and resilience against some of the South Coast's best. Congratulations to all the girls for their outstanding efforts!

RUGBY UNION

Today our Year 5 and 6 Boys Rugby Union team travelled to Kiama to participate in the Regional Rugby Union Knockout Competition. 

The boys displayed fabulous teamwork to win the initial rounds against Catholic schools in Kiama and Shellharbour, to progress to the grand final match.

The nailbiting grand final was a close contest betwen St Michael's and St Peter & Paul Catholic School Kiama, with Harry Fulop scoring an excellent try on the buzzer to lead our team to a 21-17 victory. The boys will now travel to Sydney in August to progress in the next round of competition.

We would like to extend our thanks to Mr Pearman and Mason's father, James Milligan for coaching the team in the week leading up to the event and during the matches. We wish the boys the very best of luck in Sydney!

NETBALL GALA DAY

Next Tuesday, June 24th, selected students from Year 3 to 6 will travel to Berkeley for the Netball Gala Day. We wish all participants good luck!

ATHLETICS

Our school-based field events are currently underway and will be finalised over the next few weeks.

For students who regularly participate in discus at Little Athletics, there is a fantastic opportunity to nominate for discus at the Wollongong South Coast Carnival. If your child is interested, please email Mr Allmark a screenshot of their official discus throwing distance and the weight of the implement thrown, by 4 July. (info@smndow.catholic.edu.au)

BASKETBALL - YEAR 3, 4 & 6

Looking ahead, an exciting Basketball Gala Day in Shellharbour is scheduled for 18 (Years 3 & 4) & 19 (Year 6) September. Interested students are invited to nominate via the Google Form, with a deadline of July 21st. Please note,this event will require parents/carers to organise their own transport to and from the event. Unfortunately, Year 5 students will not be able to nominate as they will be attending their Leadership Camp at Waterslea on the same day.

If you have any questions about sport or any upcoming events, please don’t hesitate to contact me. 

Andrew Allmark

Sports Coordinator

END OF SEMESTER DEFENCE PARTY

On Friday 13 June, students in the Defence Club celebrated the end of Semester 1 with pizza.

ANZAC CEREMONY FEEDBACK

Last week, Mr Paton received a lovely letter from Catherine Petersen, Chair of the Diocesan Schools Council, Catholic Diocese of Wollongong, commending the efforts
of our school community, in delivering a deeply moving Anzac Day commemoration. We thank Catherine for taking the time to provide her feedback. To read Ms Petersen's letter, click here.

Mrs Julie Lawrence

Defence School Mentor

Hello St Michael’s Families,

With just weeks left of Term 2, things are moving quickly – and there’s still lots happening behind the scenes! Our P&F is busy planning ahead and we’d love your support with two exciting opportunities to get involved and give back to our school community.

 

CALLING ALL LOCAL BUSINESSES

BE A PART OF THE COLOUR RUN!
Our major fundraiser for the year, The Colour Run, is planned for later this year – and we’re on the lookout for local businesses to join us as event sponsors!

This is a fantastic opportunity to promote your business while supporting our wonderful school community. Sponsors will be acknowledged across our social media platforms, newsletters, and promotional material in the lead-up to the event.

If you or your business would like to be involved – especially before the end of the financial year – please reach out to the P&F at stmichaelspnf@gmail.com to chat further about sponsorship options. We’d love to hear from you!

DRESS-UP DONATIONS FOR KINDY MORNING PLAY
We’re putting the call out on behalf of the school for donations to support Kindy’s morning play sessions. If you have any hats, scarves, and handbags at home that are no longer needed, please consider donating them. Items can be dropped off at the school office. Thank you for helping bring more creativity and fun to our kindy kids’ mornings!

Volunteers Needed – Dio Soccer Gala Day Canteen

Friday 29 August

We’re looking for helpers for the canteen at the Diocesan Soccer Gala Day on Friday 29 August. Whether you can spare an hour or help for the day, we’d love to hear from you. Please email stmichaelspnf@gmail.com.

 

WINTER DISCO - FRIDAY 1 AUGUST
Our Winter Disco is coming up on Friday 1st August and will feature two sessions:

• Infants Disco (K–2): 5pm - 6pm
• Primary Disco (Years 3–6): 6:15pm - 7:45pm

Further information coming soon – but for now, save the date and start practicing those dance moves!

 

NAIDOC Week – HELPERS NEEDED
We’re preparing to celebrate NAIDOC Week and would love some helping hands on the morning of Friday 4 July. If you’re free and can assist without morning tea, please get in touch.

CALL OUT TO BUSINESSES

STAY CONNECTED – FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Want to stay in the loop with everything happening at St Michael’s?
Follow the St Michael’s P&F on:

• Facebook: P&F Events Page
• Instagram: St Michael’s P&F Association

By following our pages, you’ll receive:

• Event and fundraiser reminders
• Important community updates
• Fun photos and highlights from school activities

Join us online and be part of the conversation!

Warm regards,

St Michael’s P&F Committee
stmichaelspnf@gmail.com

Thank you to Meagan's Kitchen for providing our wonderful canteen service.

Our school canteen is managed by Meagan's Kitchen, operating four days per week (Tuesday-Friday).

Lunch orders may be placed by online through 'My School Connect' on the following link. (Also available beneath the parent tab on our school website). A reminder for parents/carers, lunch orders for Fridays are to be placed by 1pm Thursday.

School Canteen Online Orders

Students in our upcoming 2025 School Musical Production of 'The Jungle Book' are invited to purchase a commemorative t-shirt. Orders may be placed through the Compass Parent Portal.

Our dedicated staff members are highly trained and passionate about providing quality care. They ensure that each child feels valued and encouraged to explore their interests. The program includes homework assistance, recreational activities, and nutritious snacks, all within a structured and supportive setting.

For more information or to enrol your child, please contact Simone Danby at Aspire on 0438 358 118. Simone is available to answer any questions and provide further details about our program offerings.

We look forward to welcoming your child to Aspire Before and After School Care at St Michael's.

Lowes_Sale_25_to_27_June_2025.pdf

Lowes_Sale_25_to_27_June_2025 _pdf 508.94 KB

Enrolment_Flyer.pdf

Enrolment_Flyer _pdf 710.52 KB

Holiday_clinics_Flyer_1.pdf

Holiday_clinics_Flyer_1 _pdf 1.25 MB

WINTER_2025_PROGRAM.pdf

WINTER_2025_PROGRAM _pdf 630.34 KB