Dear Parents and Caregivers,

During the last two weeks the school has only had a limited number of our community test positive with COVID19. Families have continued to use the RAT kits on a regular basis and it appears we have endured the pandemic really well. Thank you everyone for your cooperation with monitoring the health of the students and supporting the school if a child has had a need to be collected due to COVID19 symptoms becoming evident at school. As you are aware from the two ‘Compass Alerts’ over the last two days, the Public Health Order (PHO) restrictions are being eased from this Friday. Our school is going to use a cautious approach as we commence easing the restrictions. Each restriction will be carefully considered in light of the current COVID19 safe guidelines and changes to the present routines will be gradually implemented. 

In the immediate short term, the following procedures will be in place: 

• Morning drop off will remain the same, with students being welcomed at the front gate by teachers with the hand sanitiser and a smile behind the face mask
• Staff and all visitors to all primary schools will continue to wear a face mask until Monday 7 March 2022. 
• Students will remain in grade cohorts for all playground time and use of toilets.
• Grade cohorts will commence coming together for various reasons, including events in a well ventilated space such as the Parish hall or the playground. 
• Parents will be permitted to visit the school office but will need to sign in as a visitor using the CEDoW system. Signing in using the QR code will no longer be required. 
• The afternoon dismissal will remain the same in the short term until the school explores and implements a new system which will allow for parental presence on the playground, guided by COVID19 safe guidelines. On wet days, parents will be permitted to enter the playground when the gates are opened and collect students from outside their classrooms.
• Further clarification of school procedures will occur and be shared with parents and caregivers via a ‘Compass Alert’. 

Due to COVID19 restrictions, the annual ‘Meet and Greet’ parent teacher nights will be replaced with a grade newsletter and phone calls by the class teacher. The grade newsletters are currently being prepared by the teachers and will be sent home to you via ‘Compass’ early next week.

Last week, parents were given a link to the Parents & Friends / School survey regarding parental engagement. Some families did have a slight technical hitch with the survey and we have received 53 reponses to date. The survey is now working properly and your voice is required. As we emerge from the last two years of non-existent physical parental connection, it is vitally important to work out how we can re-imagine both parental involvement and the Parents & Friends group. I ask all families to take 3-5 minutes only to do the survey and allow us to gather your opinion which will be valued. If you filled out the survey and had a technical hitch, please do consider doing it a second time. Please follow this link to the survey:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevnngge7sPaaCw81RG8PjF_FwpEwRRNMod85B4JjhQjTsrfQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0

This coming week we have two significant religious days that the students will learn about.

1 March 2022              Shrove Tuesday

In Australia and Britain the day preceding Ash Wednesday is popularly known as Shrove Tuesday. It is also frequently called Pancake Tuesday. It is the name “Shrove” that shows its religious origins. Shrove is the past tense of the English verb “Shrive” which means to obtain absolution for one’s sins by way of confession and by doing penance. Shrove Tuesday was the day when Christians were encouraged to go to confession in preparation for the penitential season that would end with Easter Sunday. Dating back to 1000 AD, over the years Shrove Tuesday not only became a day for Confession but a time for Catholics to feast on eggs, sugar and dairy which are traditionally restricted during the Lenten fast.

2 March 2022              Ash Wednesday - the commencement of Lent

Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days for Catholics. Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer. Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday, and is chiefly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians observe it too. Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolise the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person's forehead, he speaks the words: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

All students will receive the Ashes next Wednesday. 

Yours in Faith and Virtue,

Christopher Paton

Principal

On the 15 February, St. Michael’s had some students trial for the Wollongong Representative AFL team. Lincoln Taylor and Jack Meagher trialled against students from the Wollongong, Goulburn and Canberra Catholic Schools. They were up against 30 students and the trial was held on a very warm day. The boys reported that their trial was with some very talented players and they had to step it up to make the team. It is great to see that both boys made the team and will be participating in the NSW MacKillop Trials to be staged at Wagga on Friday 25 March. 

Next week, on the 01 March, we have a selection of students who will be participating in the Wollongong Trial Swimming Carnival at Corrimal Pool. The students will be competing against other students in the Diocese in the hope of being making the Diocesan Swim Team. We wish the students competing the best of luck and hope we have some fantastic news to share with you next newsletter. I have the results from last year's carnival and I’m waiting for assemblies to be run again so I can announce these in front of the whole school. 

The school Cross Country is coming up on 11 March at Willandra for students in Year 3 to 6. The students will be running or walking 2km. Notes have been sent home electronically and parents/guardians will need to go onto Compass to give consent for your child to attend.

Outside of school, there have been students putting in some fantastic efforts representing the Shoalhaven Region. On the 5th and 6th of February, Taj and Finn Goddard participated in the Regional Little Athletics Carnival at Beaton Park in a variety of track and field events. Taj has qualified for the State little Athletics Carnival in March in the 1500m. Finn recorded some excellent results in the Under 8’s, placing 1st in the 700m, 1st in the 400m, 1st in the 200m and 5 in the discus. Both boys displayed fantastic sportsmanship and dedication to their chosen events and fellow competitors. We wish Taj all the best at the State Little Athletics Carnival.

Being February, registrations for winter sports have already opened and teams will be looking at grading very soon. Here are some local sporting teams that your child is able to participate in during the winter months;

Netball 
Saints: http://saintsnc.nsw.netball.com.au/
Rebels: http://rebelsnc.nsw.netball.com.au/
Jervis Bay: http://jervisbaync.nsw.netball.com.au/
North Nowra and Bomaderry: http://nnbnc.nsw.netball.com.au/
Albatross: http://albatrossnc.nsw.netball.com.au/
Lyrebird: https://www.facebook.com/LyrebirdNetballClub/
Worrigee: https://www.worrigeetigersnc.com/

AFL
Nowra Giants: https://www.facebook.com/shoalhavengiants/
Bay and Basin: http://www.bombers.net.au/
Bomaderry: https://www.bomaderrytigersafl.com.au/

Rugby Union
Shoalhaven: https://www.facebook.com/weareshoals/

League
Bomaderry: https://www.facebook.com/Bomaderry-Swamp-Rats-270032815270/

Football
Bomaderry: https://www.facebook.com/BomaderrySoccerClub
Shoalhaven Heads/Berry: https://www.facebook.com/headsberryfc/

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 slowly filling up with events for the students to participate in and where students will be trialling for representative honours in a variety of sports:

School Cross Country - 11th March
AFL Gala Day Yr 3 and 4 – 15th March

If you have any questions about sports or any events coming up please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Regards,
Mr. Allmark
Sports Co-ordinator

Thank you to everyone who has signed up their son or daughter for Seasons for Growth this year. As mentioned previously, I will be starting with Year 4 this year due to them missing out last year. The Year 4's will hopefully start their Seasons program in Week 6.

I have resumed Art Club this year at lunch time once a week and have been inviting one year group at a time to come and complete an activity with me. So far, I have had students from Years 3 and 4 do some mindful colouring in, whilst Year 5 did some beading with me. Other break times I have spent on the playground with students or have invited some small groups of students to my room to play some games and to build up friendships with students in their grade or class. 

Last week Mrs Mathieson and I gathered the Year Six students who were interested in joining Mini Vinnies this year together. I am excited to be working with these students, to hear their ideas and to make a difference with them in the community. 

Just a reminder that I am working at St Michael's on a Thursday and Friday. Also, if you need to contact me please ring the school or send me an email: catrionan@catholiccare.dow.org.au