Dear Parents and Carers,

Our school is preparing for the return of all students this Monday, 25 May 2020 and all of our staff members have been fully briefed. We are looking forward to seeing all of the students and re-establishing the ‘new’ normal. As a staff, we are fully aware that some students may find the return to a mainstream school setting a challenge and all classes will be scheduling regular ‘wellbeing’ check-ins to assist the transition back. As I reflect back over the last 8 weeks I am very thankful to our teachers for their ability to design remote learning opportunities for the students, and I applaud the parents and carers who worked closely with the students to assist with the new way of learning. I am also very grateful for the extraordinary commitment that all of our school support staff have made to the students at St Michael’s. The pastoral care and learning support that the students have received from all staff members has been outstanding. 

As the students return, I wish to assure all families that the present practices regarding hygiene, cleaning and social distancing will continue into the future. The following specific measures are in place:

• Our school cleaners now come into the school for a number of hours during each school day to ensure all efforts are being made to provide a clean and safe environment. Toilets, frequently touched surfaces and bins are being cleaned a few times a day.
• Parents and carers will continue to follow the social distancing procedures introduced by the school for Phase 1. In the morning parents and carers will be met at the school entrances by a staff member and students will enter through the school gates on their own.  In the afternoon, there will be two pick up times (2.45pm and 3.00pm) and parents will maintain social distances of 1.5 metres as they follow a circular movement into and out of the school, supervised by school staff. 
• The school now has an isolation room for staff/students showing COVID-19 symptoms while they await assistance to depart the school and seek medical assessment
• First Aid/Sick Bay rooms are equipped with an infrared contactless thermometer
• There is contactless sign-in for all staff, visitors and contractors on the school through use of iPads
• Fixed playground equipment and sandpits will remain closed

Within the classrooms, students are allowed to work at the same double desk and in small groups, but all adults on the school site must maintain a distance from other adults and students. Thank you parents for your ongoing support as we return to school this Monday. 

Next week students will return wearing their full school winter uniform. We encourage all families to follow the school uniform policy which includes students not having coloured hair.

As a Catholic school, one of the big challenges has been the inability to engage in masses or larger liturgies and prayer services. A number of important events such as Holy Week (Easter), Mother's Day and days of significance such as ‘National Sorry Day’ have not been celebrated in the usual way. The inability to attend class, grade or Sunday masses has left staff and families in a state of Spiritual wilderness. Religion lessons have continued to be provided through remote learning and next week each class will experience liturgy in some form. Despite the inability to attend weekend masses, the church calendar has continued. 

Catholics in Australia will celebrate the Ascension of the Lord this coming Sunday. It commemorates Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven, according to Christian belief and is a Holy Day of Obligation. The following youtube clip gives a short explanation of the feast day and provides some insight into its significance. All students at our school will learn about the Ascension of the Lord through a religion lesson in their classroom. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmE4uon5OBk&autoplay=1&list=PL58g24NgWPIw5mZAZZggyowJf_WrJ7SCE

Once again, thank you to everyone for your ongoing support during these COVID-19 times. There is light at the end of the tunnel! 

Yours in Faith and Virtue,

Mr Christopher Paton

Our Lady Help Of Christians

Patron of Australia

Feast Day - 25th May

Almight God, deepen in our hearts

our love of Mary Help of Christians.

Through her prayers and under her protection,

may the light of Christ shine over our land.

May Australia be granted harmony, justice and peace.

Grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens.

Bless especially the men and women

of the Australian Defence Force and their families.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Mary Help of Christians, pray for us.

It's time for a treasure hunt! Look under your beds, in your book cases, in your desks, and find those books you borrowed oh so long ago!

Kookaburra Kids Connect

Introducing ‘Kookaburra Kids Connect’, a new way of delivering our programs so that we can expand our reach beyond in-person camps and activity days. Online delivery means we can reach young people anywhere in Australia.

Plans for Kookaburra Kids Connect were already underway before the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions required Australians to remain at home in lockdown. Knowing that kids from families experiencing mental illness were in even greater need of our support during lockdown expedited our plans and we’re delighted to now announce the launch.

Kookaburra Kids Connect has been an ambitious and very necessary project. It represents an enormous shift in how we deliver our services and we look forward with great enthusiasm to rolling out the online sessions.

Isolation Bake Off

Defence Community Organisation Nowra invites you to get creative in the kitchen.

Bake a cake, cupcakes or cookies and decorate using the colours of your chosen Defence Force Service (Navy, Army, Air Force). Spice it up by adding in a ship/helicopter/aeroplane/submarine or anything you can think of! Innovative creations will win a first prize worth $50, a second prize worth $40 or a third prize worth $30.

Where: Your kitchen

To Enter: Submit a photo of your entry to dco.canberra-nowra@defence.gov.au by Friday 29 May 2020.

More Information: dco.canberra-nowra@defence.gov.au or 02 4421 3855. Images must be no bigger than 4MB in size. Winners may be showcased on DCO social media sites.

If you require any further information, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Renee Wenban

Defence School Mentor

We are excited to announce that the canteen will be open from Tuesday 26th May! We wil continue to operate Tuesday to Friday. We have missed you all so much and look forward to seeing those smiling faces. 

We have a NEW limited menu this term so please pop it on the fridge or in your child's diary for safe keeping. 

The preferred method for ordering lunch is online, however cash is still accepted. 

Just a reminder that students are required to wear full winter uniform from Monday 25th May.