Dear Parents, 

This week a number of our students have represented our school most admirably. Yesterday Ashleigh Innes (Year 6) and Evie Wood (Year 5) attended the Regional Public Speaking Competition at St Joseph’s Bulli. They both presented their speeches with great confidence. Unfortunately, they have not been nominated to move through to the final round of Public Speaking. To get to this level is exceptional. Congratulations to Ashleigh, Evie and their families. Well done. 

Yesterday a group of our senior Year 5 and 6 students represented our school at the Mark Taylor Cricket shield match at Narellan. It was an early start and a late finish for these boys, their families and Mr Hunt. From all accounts, it was a great cricket match and our students certainly held their own. Congratulations to all of these students and a thank you to Mr Hunt and the parents who transported the students. Our participation in the Mark Taylor Shield has concluded for 2019.

Last night students who will be receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist at their First Holy Communion on Sunday 24 November 2019 gathered in the school hall with their parents/carers for a preparation evening. Thank you to these students, parents and staff who attended this important evening. Father Pat, Mrs Mathieson and the teachers were pleased with the engagement of families. 

The Kindergarten Orientation Evening for 2020 students is on tonight from 7pm to 9pm. Some parents have already commenced their journey as parents of present siblings and those who have participated in the ‘Transition to School Through Playgroup’ sessions each Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning for the first four weeks of term. Tonight is an opportunity to have all questions about Kindergarten 2020 answered. We are looking forward to the meeting tonight.

Final preparations are being made for the Year 5 Leadership Camp on 31 October 2019 and 1 November 2019. Both days have been very carefully planned and will provide crucial leadership and faith opportunities for the Year 5 students. I look forward to joining the students for parts of the camp, including the evening program. Please keep these students and staff in your prayers. 

Please keep the School Fair on Sunday 10 November 2019 at the forefront of your planning over the next three weeks. It is hoped that all students will attend the school fair, bring along carloads of family, extended family, friends and neighbours. This is our major fundraiser for the year. The tickets in the raffle are selling well. There are only 600 tickets available and the prizes are exceptional. The $4000 travel voucher for first prize will be highly sought after. Please get involved in the excitement! 

This Sunday 27 October 2019, the school and parish will celebrate the regular “Mass with A Difference” which occurs a few times a year. The mass is at 6pm, on God’s Grass opposite the Year 4 and Year 2 classrooms. This is always a beautiful and lively mass. Please feel invited to join us for the mass.

Finally and most importantly, on Friday our school will celebrate a Mission Mass. It will commence at 11.30am and all families are invited to attend. Thank you to Mrs Mathieson, Mrs Royston, staff and students who have been preparing for this mass. This is such an important part of our Catholic heritage and truly reflects the story of the Good Samaritan. See you at mass. 

Yours in Faith and Virtue,

Mr Christopher Paton

In preparation for our Mission mass, the students of St Michael’s have been exploring the Catholic Mission website to find out more about the many needs of our world. This year the focus is the African country of Ghana, its people and the life challenges faced by many children and young people.

Please join us for our whole school Mass tomorrow Friday 25 October at 11.30am when we celebrate World Mission Day together and pray for those who do not have the things we have. Our Year 6 students will lead the mass.

After the huge success of our first Mission Fair last year, we will once again hold Mission stalls in late November. The Fair is a fun way to support this very worthwhile and important cause as we do what Jesus said “........sell what you own and give the money to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven.” Mark: 10:2.1.

Pope Francis Prayer for the Extraordinary Missionary Month

Heavenly Father,

when your only begotten Son Jesus Christ

rose from the dead,

he commissioned his followers

to “go and make disciples of all nations”

and you remind us that through our Baptism

we are made sharers in the mission of the Church.

Empower us by the gifts of the Holy Spirit

to be courageous and zealous in bearing witness to the Gospel,

so that the mission entrusted to the Church,

which is still very far from completion,

may find new and efficacious expressions

that bring life and light to the world.

Help us make it possible for all peoples

to experience the saving love

and mercy of Jesus Christ,

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

One God, forever and ever.

Amen

Sunday 27 October- Mass with a Difference 6pm on God’s Grass

Friday 1 November- All Saints Day

All Saints Day is when we honour all the saints of the church those who have entered heaven. Year 6 and Year 4 will attend the parish mass at 11.30am.

Sunday 3 November- Kindergarten Parish Mass

Please join us at 9.30am mass, which will be led by the students and families from Kindergarten. After mass a morning tea will be held in the Parish Centre, all welcome.

Mrs Martine Mathieson

This year at St. Michael’s we have undertaken a new Maths initiative called Challenging Maths Tasks. Professor Peter Sullivan presented this initiative to all of St Michael’s staff earlier this year.

As part of this initiative we would like to offer a Challenging Maths Family Afternoon.

It will take place for Years 3-6 on Tuesday 29th October and for  K-2 on Thursday 31st October. It will be in the school hall from 3.30-4.30 (approx).

A short explanation of Challenging Tasks 15 - 20 mins will be presented for both parents and students. Following that there will be an opportunity for everyone to complete some Challenging tasks. Please come along and challenge yourselves with some fun maths.

Coffee and tea will be provided from 3pm for parents.

2019 School Fair

Our 2019 School Fair is just around the corner!!! SAVE THE DATE FOR SUNDAY THE 10TH NOVEMBER, from 10:30am-2:30pm.

Tell your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues. please help us spread the word by sharing our social media posts and sharing our Monster Raffle! You can purchase your Monster Raffle tickets either by filling out the form that went home last week, purchasing one from the P&F table that has been set up before & after school, or online at the following link: https://www.trybooking.com/BFUMO

If you have any unwanted plants, succulents, pots or books, please keep them aside for our plant and book stall. Every school day from now until the Fair, the P&F will have a table set up before and after school where you can ask questions, drop off your donations and basket stall items. You can also have a guess at how many lollies are in our lolly jar for $1 per guess. Please remember to hand in your helper notes to your classroom teacher.

Please remember to send a hamper item in to school, the grade hampers are located in each “R” classroom. The themes this year are: 
Kinder: Christmas

Year 1: Pamper (soaps, bath bombs, please no makeup)

Year 2: Craft

Year 3: Games

Year 4: Outdoor (BBQ, garden & outdoor games)

Year 5: Toys/games

Year 6: Gourmet Food Items (please check items are in date).

Please keep the basket stall items coming in, we’ve uploaded a few examples on our P&F Facebook page if you’re stuck for ideas. Thank you so much to everyone that has brought one in so far, they are fantastic!

Power FM Breakfast
We are super excited to announce that 94.9 Power FM will again be hosting their breakfast show at our school on Thursday the 7th of November, just in time for our School Fair! Those children that are wanting to have breakfast at school will need to bring a bowl and spoon.  Stay tuned for more details!


2019 Year Book
The production of our annual Year Book is well under way, if you have any exciting news, or extracurricular achievements of your child that you’d like to share, please email them through to yearbookstmichaels@gmail.com

CONTACT US:

Got any suggestions? Can you assist us? You can contact the P & F any time.

St Michael’s Parents & Friends Events 

P & F Mailbox is located in the school office

Parents and Friends Executive Committee contact numbers:

Thank you to students who have already submitted their Remembrance Day Poems. All of the poems have shown hard work and effort and great pride in our armed forces. We have started our poppy garden in the back of the library, all students in the next few weeks should be able to bring some Flanders poppy seeds home to grow.

Thank you.

Mrs Renee Wenban

Canteen special for week 2 and 3.

Here is the new summer menu and link to online ordering.

https://myschoolconnect.com.au/login

Thanks

Meagan

PASSIONIST FAMILY GROUP MOVEMENT

Have you heard this before? “We do not know each other”

Maybe you have said to yourself:

“How can we make the Church very relevant for our children?”

Well now you can do something.

JOIN A FAMILY GROUP

You will get to know people like yourself and people who are different from you. You will have a lot of fun and be able to get support from others. Importantly, you will have the opportunity to support and care for others.

Through the interaction within your Family Group you will find you are bringing a happy, loving spirit to your parish community. Children will feel they belong to a large extended family and will learn loving and caring from the examples of others.

This was how the Church first began

This is what it can be now: “See how they love one another”

Come and hear Fr. Ray Sanchez CP share the Family Group Ministry on

Sunday 17 November at 9:30 am Mass at St. Michael’s Church followed by a presentation in the Parish Hall and shared lunch.

Southern Boys Soccer Trials for 2020 Season at Ison Park – Mumbulla Street, South Nowra

Boys Skills Acquisition Program u/9s, u/10s, u/11s, u/12s

Friday November 1st & 8th       6 pm - 7.15 pm

Sunday November 10th          9 am - 10.15 am

Boys Youth   u/13s, u/14s, u/15s, u/16s

Friday 1^st November 6.30pm – 8pm

Friday 8^th November 6pm – 7.30pm

Sunday 10th November - u/13s, u/14s       9 am - 10.15 am

Sunday 10^th November - u/15s & u/16s     10.45 am – 12 noon