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Dear Parents and Carers,
Last Saturday and Sunday, many of our Year 3 students and two Year 5 students received the Sacrament of Eucharist through their ‘First Holy Communion’. The students were fully prepared by their teachers and parents and the four masses were beautiful celebrations. The reverence, knowledge and respectful behaviour of the students was outstanding. Congratulations to these students, parents and staff. Thank you to our REC Mrs Mathieson, Mrs Royston, Mrs Butler, Mrs Boyton, Mrs Chapman, Miss Milsom and Mrs Arnold and all staff for their preparation and support of the students. The parish hall was once again transformed into a beautiful mass setting. Thank you to our parents for presenting the students for their Sacraments this year despite the numerous challenges and restrictions experienced due to COVID-19. Finally, thank you to Father Joe, Father Ronan, Father Tiziano and Father Pat for leading these beautiful masses.
The school is in the final process of determining teachers and classes for 2022. As this is the time when families may receive a posting to another state or might just decide on a change of schools, I would appreciate contact through the office if your child/children will not be at St Michael's Nowra in 2022. Thank you for any notifications we have already received. It will also be an opportunity for us to farewell your family appropriately if you are moving to another school, region or state.
Student progress reports will be released through ‘Compass’ on Friday 10 December 2021. The format is similar to the reports from June 2020. COVID-19 has provided challenges to the students and staff but the reports will hopefully reflect student progress before, during and post remote learning. All of us are looking forward to a normalised 2022 school year.
As we move into our final two and a half weeks of the 2021 school year, the usual lessons are occurring and learning in all classes is continuing. We are encouraging the students to remain focussed and are closely monitoring the behaviour of some students. The school appreciates your support in sending the students to school ready for learning and dressed in the correct school uniform including shoes. The staff remain focussed to finish the year with an optimistic outlook and grateful appreciation for the challenges that have been faced and overcome in 2021.
This Sunday 28 November 2021 marks the beginning of Advent which is celebrated in today’s church as a time of waiting and preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. The students will know the advent story very well by the time we conclude schooling for 2021 on Wednesday 15 December at 3pm. Each class will celebrate the end of the year in their own way, but there will be a whole school event which is in the final phases of planning. On Thursday 2 December 2021, there will be a twilight swimming carnival for students in Years 2-5 who can easily swim 50 metres. Mr Allmark and a team of staff are finalising the preparation for this carnival.
Thank you for your ongoing support during a year like no other!
Yours in Faith and Virtue,
Mr Christopher Paton
Why do you think Mass is so important to Catholics?
I think it is important because even though Jesus is in heaven we still say the exact words he said at the Last Supper. We also receive the body and blood of Christ to show that he died on the cross for us because he truly loved us.
- by Ella Walsh 3B
Because it is a time where we can spend time with God and Jesus. Also because God is always protecting and looking at us wherever we go because he loves us.
- by Maryann McGee 3B
I think it is so important because we can spend our time with God and we can share the word of God to everyone and learn about it.
- by Amelia Le 3B
It's so important because we are spending time with Jesus and God and follow in their footsteps.
- by Braith Baker 3B
Because it makes Jesus present to them in their hearts.
- by Adam Wisniewski 3B
Maybe because Mass is not something that is boring, it is something that teaches you how to be like Jesus because there are so many ways to be like him.
- by Allison Edwards 3B
I think Mass is so important to Catholics because God is with them wherever they go even if you make a mistake.
- by Indy Hickmott 3B
Which part of the Mass do you like best?
I like the 'Liturgy of the Word' because we read from the times that Jesus made a leper not a leper and other amazing life lessons.
- by Ella Walsh 3B
I like the 'Liturgy of the Word' because Father Pat reads the bible and teaches us about Jesus' stories and their message.
- by Louis Weaver 3B
I like the 'Concluding Rites' because when they say 'Go out to love and serve the Lord' it means go out and try to be like Jesus in any way.
- by Samuel Coburn 3B
I like the 'Liturgy of the Eucharist' because I receive the body and blood of Christ and then I know that Jesus is with me today and forever.
by Allison Edwards 3B
I like the 'Liturgy of the Word' because we read the Prayers of the Faithful and they make our hearts warm.
by Adam Wisniewski 3B
I like the 'Liturgy of the Eucharist' because you receive the body and blood of Jesus and you know that Jesus is always with you.
- by Jordan Sater 3B
I like the 'Concluding Rites' because it's a part of the end of the Mass where you go out into the world and tell others about God and Jesus and to be kind to people even if you don't know them.
- by Maryann McGee 3B
Reconciliation
Congratulations to our Year 2 students and some Year 3 students who on the 9th and 10th November made their First Reconciliation.
First Holy Communion
Congratulations to our Year 3 and two Year 5 students who received their First Holy Communion last weekend.
Both sacraments were a beautiful celebration of our Catholic Faith.
Advent
Advent heralds in the church's new year. This year it begins on Sunday, November 28.
Advent is a season of waiting. Many of the words we pray and sing are full of desire, hope and expectation. We wait as the days get warmer. We look forward to the summer holidays. This "waiting" can help us to celebrate Advent well.
Advent is a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ's first coming is remembered. It is not a penitential season like Lent but rather one of joyful expectation. We know that the first coming of Jesus at Bethlehem will not happen again, so during Advent we prepare and long for a new coming of Jesus into our lives. We take this time every year to practise how to receive Jesus every day of our lives! We remember the call of Jesus to his followers to make our world a peaceful and loving place, and so, during Advent, we make special efforts to be signs that God is with us. This is what the word "Emmanuel" means - "God-with-us."
One of our Advent companions is Mary, and during these weeks we remember her as she waited for the birth of her child. During Advent we can try to wait, as the world waited long ago for the coming of Jesus, the "Light of the world." Over these last days of the school year, try to make the most of Advent with its many rich images.
Mrs Martine Mathieson
Religious Education Coordinator
St. Michael’s Twilight Swimming Carnival at Nowra Pool will be going ahead on Thursday 2nd December. Years 2 to 5 are invited to participate, as well as the current Year 1 students who will be turning 8 next year. In order to participate in the carnival, students must be able to swim 50 metres easily and make a commitment to representing St. Michael’s at the Diocesan level. There will be restrictions around the event which will be in line with our Covid Safety Plan. Letters for the carnival have gone home electronically through Compass and are due back today.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Regards,
Mr. Allmark
Sports Coordinator
St John the Evangelist Year 7 2022 Student Orientation
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Term 4 |
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Week 9 |
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Thursday 02.12.2021 |
St Michael's Swimming Carnival |
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Week 10 |
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Tuesday 07.12.2021 |
Year 6 Graduation and Mass |
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Week 11 |
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Wednesday 15.12.2021 |
Last day of Term 4 |
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Term 1 2022 |
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Tuesday 01.02.2022 |
First Day of Term 1 Years 1-6 |