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Dear Parents and Carers,
Each year Catholic schools across NSW celebrate Catholic Schools Week, which is also the commencement of the enrolment period for 2022. This Catholic Schools Week, we join with dioceses and Catholic education systems and schools across the country to celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia.
Our theme this year is ‘Faith in the future’ which reminds us to maintain our hope that God’s kingdom draws ever closer, while challenging us to ensure our Catholic schools continue to be vibrant communities of faith, providing opportunities for encounter with Jesus in the midst of a world often dominated by a sense of isolation, tragedy and despair.
Since the very first Catholic school was established in New South Wales in 1820, countless children and young people have benefitted from the intergenerational contributions of faith-filled staff in our Catholic schools.
As we look to the future with optimism and hope, and dream of the next 200 years, we can draw inspiration from the same source that has sustained generations of Catholic educators: a commitment to the gift of Catholic education and its continual improvement.
We make this commitment because we know that a school can transform a life, and our Catholic schools do this in a unique way. By inviting our students to encounter Jesus and develop a distinctly Catholic worldview defined by a Catholic spirit, a Catholic heart, and a Catholic intellect— we prepare them to find meaning and purpose in life as they read and respond to the signs of the times.
Usually St Michael’s Nowra would celebrate Catholic Schools Week with a whole school mass but are unable to do this in 2021 due to COVID-19. We have commenced receiving enrolments for Kindergarten 2022 and look forward to interviewing these prospective students on Saturday 15th May, 2021.
I conclude with part of the prayer that our staff shared this morning before school when we gathered together to celebrate Catholic Schools Week.
Prayer for Catholic Schools Week
Almighty and all-loving God,
with gratitude for the endeavours of Catholic education in the past, with confidence in our Catholic pre-schools, schools and universities today, and with faith in their continuing contribution in the future, we celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in this Great South Land.
As our Heavenly Father,
We thank you for your providential care for your children in this land in inspiring priests, religious and lay people to found and staff our schools in ages past. Through them the Good News of your Son was brought to the young even in colonial times – and ever since.
As Christ the Teacher,
you grace the staff and leaders of Catholic education today. As they build on the achievements of their predecessors, direct them in their present efforts to ensure that every young Australian has the opportunity for an excellent education and formation in faith.
As our Inspiring Spirit,
you lead us into the future. In the century ahead, grant those teaching and learning in our schools, those planning and leading, and the families and community that entrust their young people to us, a love of learning and a willingness to be the face of Christ in the world of tomorrow.
Pour out your abundant blessings upon all involved in the ministry of Catholic education. Amen.
Our Lady of the Southern Cross – pray for us.
St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Patron of Catholic Education in Australia – pray for us.
Yours in Faith and Virtue,
Mr Christopher Paton
This is our second week of Lent, which began with Ash Wednesday and marked the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice.
We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Next Friday 12 March students at St Michael’s can wear their favourite sporting colours for a gold coin donation. Also bags of PRETZELS are on sale for $2. If your child would like to purchase a bag, please return the slip with $2 to the class teacher by tomorrow.
Saint Oscar Romero is our inspiration for Project Compassion 2021, so in his words let’s “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.”
Sacraments
Confirmation will be celebrated in St Michael’s Parish on Sunday 6 June 2021. Students in Year 6 who have been Baptised and received the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Communion are eligible to be confirmed. A note outlining all the details will go home to Year 6 students tomorrow - 5 March.
Reconciliation will be celebrated on 8, 9, 10 & 11 September 2021. Students in Year 2 who are Baptised will be eligible to receive this sacrament.
First Holy Communion will be celebrated the weekend 16/17 October 2021. Students in Year 3 who are Baptised and celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation are eligible to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist.
Reconciliation
Lent is the liturgical season where we prepare for Easter by going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is an opportunity to grow closer to God. Students in Year 4, 5 & 6 will receive Reconciliation with Fr Leo during Week 8.
If you have any questions regarding any of the sacraments please contact the school office.
Mrs Mathieson
Religious Education Co-Ordinator
On Tuesday, we had 20 students representing St. Michael’s School at the South Coast Diocesan Swim Trials at Corrimal Pool. All the students that went to this carnival put in an almighty effort and their behaviour was exemplary. Our swimmers were up against some tough competition. One student even commented, “I swam my hardest and fastest but the other swimmers were like bullets”. Listed below are some of the outstanding performances achieved by students at St. Michael’s school.
Boys Senior Relay 6th overall; Kai Reid, Noah Jamieson, Nash Norton and Cody Chater
Jack Webber: 5th Overall for his age group
Nash Norton; 4thoverall for his age group, 5th 12 yrs 50m Freestyle, 6th Senior 50mBackstroke, 3rd Senior 50m Butterfly, 4th Senior 50m Breaststroke
Anna Duncan: 5th 100m Senior Freestyle, 7th 12 yrs 50 m Freestyle
Grace Seller: 7th 9yrs 50m Freestyle
Noah Jamieson; 7th 11 yrs 50m Freestyle and Breaststroke
Miles Edgerton; 7th Jnr 50m Backstroke
Kai Reid; 7th 11 yrs 50m Backstroke
Zoe Douglas; 7th Junior 50m Breaststroke
On Friday, we have a number of students trialling for a position in a Diocesan team in Soccer, Netball and Rugby League. We wish the best of luck to;
- Imogen Wynn and Anna Duncan for trials in Netball.
- Brodee Green, Luke Keating, Noah Jamieson and Taj Goddard for their trials in Rugby League.
- Zahli Schnelleger and Matthew Wisniewski for their trials in Soccer.
Also, on Friday we have students from Years 5 and 6 who have nominated to participate in the AFL Paul Kelly Cup at Nowra Showground. We wish all students participating in this day the best of luck.
Last Friday, Taya Sanchez represented St. Michael’s School and the Wollongong Diocese in tennis. Across the day Taya played 7 games, only dropping 1. Due to Taya’s outstanding effort she has been selected on the MacKillop Tennis team. Taya will now complete in the NSWPSSA Tennis Championship in April. Well done Taya and we wish you all the best in April.
Also, last Friday, Diesel Romeo represented St. Michael’s School and the Wollongong Diocese in Basketball. Over the course of the day, he played 4 games. Diesel was amazed by the standard of games and quality of players he was up against. He played his heart out and had a fantastic day. Unfortunately, Diesel did not make the MacKillop team, though he did gain valuable experience.
Winter sports registrations have already opened and, in some cases, grading has been done or will be done very soon.
I have been contacted from some sporting clubs who still have room for players to join;
AFL – The Shoalhaven Giants are currently offering free registrations for 100 players for the 2021 season. If you are interested in providing this opportunity for your child, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/shoalhavengiants/ for further information.
Rugby – The Shoalhaven Rugby Club are extremely keen for children in the U6, U7, U8 and U9 to come and register with them. If you are interested in taking this up for your child, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/weareshoals/ and for further information. They are also looking to put together a St. Michael’s team for future Diocesan Gala days and potential matches against some of the local schools. In order to do this, they would like to run some skills and drills after school on the back oval. If your child is keen to do this, you can email Mr. Allmark at Allmarka01@dow.catholic.edu.au.
Don’t forget to redeem your Active Kids Sport Voucher where you can claim two $100 vouchers that can be used towards your child’s sport each year.
The school calendar is very quickly filling up with events for the students to participate in and where students will be trialling for representative honours in a variety of sports:
Football, League and Netball trials 5th March
Paul Kelly Cup 5th March
Yr 3 and 4 AFL Gala Day 17th March
School Cross Country 19th March
If you have any questions about sports or any events coming up please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Mr Andrew Allmark
Sports Co-Ordinator
My name is Natalie Hayes and I will be supporting Defence students and their families as the Defence School Mentor at St Michael's Nowra. Over the next few weeks, I will be meeting with each student to introduce myself to them. I am looking forward to supporting and getting to know all the Defence students.
As a Defence spouse, I am well aware of the many challenges associated with the Defence way of life, particularly how quickly plans can change. Therefore, one of my main priorities is to provide support to Defence families as they navigate these challenges. So I can provide appropriate support, I would encourage Defence families to let me know of any upcoming deployments, periods of absence or changes in circumstances that may affect a student's overall wellbeing.
If you would like to contact me please feel free to email me at hayesn01@dow.catholic.edu.au or phone 4421 3630.
St John's will be holding school tours on Wednesday 10 March for those who were unable to attend the Open Night. Please see the attached flyer.
Year 7 2022 enrolments are now open and close on Monday 29 March 2021.
Some of our students will be appearing in the upcoming musical Moana Jr.
Please see the attached flyer for further information.
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Week 6 |
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Friday 05.03.2021 |
Year 4 Mass - 9:30am (students only) |
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Week 7 |
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Friday 12.03.2021 |
Year 3 Mass - 9:30am (students only) Mufti Day - Students can wear sporting colours |
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Week 8 |
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Friday 19.03.2021 |
Year 2 Mass - 9:30 (students only) |