Dear Parents, 

This week’s newsletter is slightly longer than usual and includes information about our staff for 2020 as well as the usual events which occur. I am pleased to report that students have settled beautifully into their new classrooms. Our new staff received substantial orientation opportunities towards the end of 2019 and this assisted to make the transition into the new school year successful. Welcome to all of our new staff and all returning staff. We have a committed group of professionals excited to be teaching your children. Our teaching staff for 2020 include:

Principal - Christopher Paton

Assistant Principal - Carolyn Rutkowski

Religious Education Coordinator - Martine Mathieson

Middle Leader - Literacy - Michelle Heffernan

Middle Leader - PB4L and Wellbeing - Patrick Douglas

Middle Leader 2 - Diverse Learning - Bianca Koczka

Middle Leader 1 - ICT Support - Emma-Kate Callaghan

Middle Leader - Indigenous Education - Anne Dempsey

Good Samaritan Centre - Lee-Anne deRoo, Christine Hart

Benedictine Centre - Natalie Rojas, Cathy Palmer

Instructional Coach - Numeracy - Anne-Maree Berryman

Reading Recovery - Oonagh Cameron

Kindergarten - Melissa Firkin, Sarah Sansom, Jessica Phelps

Year 1 - Marian Crossley, Stephanie Jakimyszyn, Carly Butler, Michelle Heffernan

Year 2 - Sandrine Butler, Emma-Kate Callaghan, Henri Taylor, Viki Boyton

Year 3 - Martine Mathieson, Tara King-Gee, Bianca Koczka, Carol-Ann Robinson, Patrick Douglas

Year 4 - Maree Hamilton, Dylan Anderson, Michelle Warner, Andrew Allmark

Year 5 - Renee Roles, Margaret Webster, Amy Scurr

Year 6 - Anne Dempsey, Sam Luxford, Stephen Zamroz

Various Classes - Ashleigh Walker

PPT - PE - Ingrid Holland

PPT - Music - Maree McGrath

PPT - Library - Barbara McKenna

Yesterday we had our opening school liturgy where all students in Year 6 received their leadership badges blessed by Father Pat. In 2019, a new leadership strategy commenced with Year 5 students, including the use of a leadership passport and attendance at an overnight leadership camp. These students were prepared by their teachers to take up leadership opportunities and I am pleased to report that all Year 6 teachers believe the students are accepting the challenge and displaying excellent leadership motivation at this early stage of the new school year. 

Today our new Kindergarten students for 2020 commenced. These students received additional opportunities to attend the school for play based orientation sessions in 2019 and we know a great deal about this new group of students already. The Kindergarten teachers have worked tirelessly during the student vacation break to prepare the classrooms for the new students and all of us are excited about the learning that will occur in Kindergarten in 2020. 

I would like to congratulate parents on the way students have returned to school dressed in their full school uniform. Please teach and encourage (at the appropriate age) the students to clean their shoes on a regular basis. Our school has a strict dress code for student school uniform which parents fully support. The Catholic Education Office also has a dress code which staff are required to follow. I have been asked in the last couple of days if there is a dress code for parents to follow. The short answer is no, however I do recommend that parents are encouraged to wear clothing at school that would be acceptable if they were attending a meeting with a professional such as an accountant, doctor, solicitor or even the school principal. If you wish to further clarify, please see Mrs Rutkowski or myself. 

On Tuesday 18 February 2020 at 6pm, we will have our annual ‘Meet the teacher” evening. This will commence in the school hall and will move to classrooms for 6.30pm and 7pm sessions. We look forward to parents joining us for this opportunity. 

Tomorrow students in Years 2-6 will attend the Nowra Show for a couple of hours in the morning. Parents, please ensure you have approved this excursion as students without permission will not be able to attend. The Nowra show is particularly important this year for our local community. 

I would like to thank the P&F for the outstanding job they did putting together the school yearbook. A special mention to Natalie Kidd, Kate Morison and Jacinta Davis. Thank you to Andrew Allmark for supplying numerous photos of school events for the school year book. This a valuable resource for now and the future.

Yours in Faith and Virtue,

Mr Christopher Paton

The P&F AGM will be held on Tuesday 11th February at 6pm. We would love to see some new members for the 2020 P&F. Positions include: President, secretary, treasurer. Current committee members are happy to train you up and assist you in your new role.

There are many other ways you can be involved with P&F from suggesting new fundraising ideas, assisting with fundraisers, etc.

Please come along and support the P&F.

Therese Bagnall, one of our School Support Officers, has a property in the Araluen Valley. Her husband Troy, works with a range of organisations conducting feral animal control. The property backs onto Deua National Park which was devastatingly ravaged by bushfires. The town name 'Araluen' is thought to be Aboriginal for 'place where water lilies lie'. This area was home to thousands of native birds and animals including a significant Bandicoot reserve. The area is now void of water and food. 

As a positive environmental action, St. Michael’s is endeavouring to fundraise and provide animal pellets and water stations for this remote area. The pellets are suitable for a range of native animals and are approx. $20 a bag. At the moment, the Bagnall family is attempting to feed the native animals which are dehydrated and hungry. Steve Campbell, our Maintenance Provider, has already made 3 water stations that the Year 6 Environmental leaders will paint and decorate. Two water stations will go to the Bagnall family property and one can remain here in our garden to use as a resource for teachers and students. These water stations are also essential for bird life during periods of drought. The water stations and food pellets are suitable for a variety of wildlife and recommended to alleviate scarcity of food and water.

Therese will provide us with before and after photos of the fire affected area for the students. They already have a Game Camera set up on the food they have left out, so it will be interesting to see what is eating and drinking when they go back to check.

If your family can assist, a gold coin donation can be sent to the class teacher. This would be appreciated as soon as possible. The money will pay for the water stations and buy bags of pellets. Our pellet bag target is 25. If we raise more money than required we will expand the program to neighbouring properties or donate the money to WIRES. We will keep you updated on the progress on the native animals.

Thank you!

Netball registrations are now open for 2020. For further information on different clubs, please follow this link for Shoalhaven Netball Association:

http://sna.nsw.netball.com.au/

NORTH NOWRA NETBALL CLUB

North Nowra Bomaderry Netball Club registrations are now open for 2020. Girls and boys aged 4 and up. Take advantage of our Early Bird Special throughout the month of January to receive a $10 discount. Active Kids voucher available. For more information head to our website http://nnbnc.nsw.netball.com.au/ or contact us at northnowrabomaderrynetball@gmail.com.

LYREBIRD NETBALL CLUB

ALBATROSS NETBALL CLUB

Saints Netball Club