Dear Parents and Carers,

The last two weeks have continued to be challenged by daily notification of COVID19 cases within the school and staff/student absences. This trend is being experienced by most schools but I am confident that the most difficult period has now passed. The school will continue to closely follow the ‘Public Health Orders’ and will communicate any easing of social distancing and community re-engagement through Compass. All families are invited to access additional Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits from the school. If you would like to receive additional kits, collect them from the school office or ring the office and the kits will be sent home with your child. Thank you again for your cooperation during these most difficult times. 

I am excited to announce that Mrs Sarah Samson and her husband Mat are having a baby in the very near future. Mrs Sansom has been advised by her medical team and the Catholic Education Office Wollongong (CEDoW) to finish her teaching commitment a little earlier than she had expected. Mrs Sanson is well, but needs to follow her medical team and CEDoW’s advice. As a result, today is Mrs Sansom's last day with 2B. I would like to sincerely thank Mrs Sansom for her hard work, great teaching and commitment to the students, families and staff at St Michael’s Nowra. The school is in the process of selecting the right teacher for 2B  and hope to make an announcement soon. Until the end of the term, Mrs Carly Butler will be 2B’s teacher. Mrs Butler is highly respected and has been working within a number of classes this term. Mrs Butler will teach from Mrs Sansom’s program until the end of this term. 

Last week all Year 6 students received their leadership badges which were blessed and distributed with Father Joseph, our Parish Priest. The first Year 6 leadership training day for 2022 will be conducted in the school hall this Monday 28 March. Mr Holgate and Mr Douglas will work with the students and Year 6 teachers. The school has an excellent Year 6 cohort and this training day is the first of four planned for 2022. The Year 6 students have engaged with their Kinder buddies and numerous leadership opportunities are planned for Term 2, 3 and 4. 

Next Thursday 31 March 2022 is the annual school cross country carnival. Students in Years 3-6 will travel by bus to Willandra Cross Country Track for the carnival. Parents are welcome to attend this outdoor event. Hopefully, the weather will allow us to compete at Willandra. The school will keep families updated next week. 

Tonight some staff and families will be attending the Mother Ruth fundraising night at the Nowra Players Theatre. The show is called, “The Game’s Afoot’ and funds are raised for the Mother Ruth Scholarship program. In Term 4, Year 6 families are invited to be considered for one scholarship to St John’s Nowra. 

Term 2 will officially commence on Wednesday 27 April 2022. Monday 25 April 2022 is ANZAC Day and there will be a staff Spirituality day on Tuesday 26 April 2022. The Term 1 school term will officially conclude on Friday 8 April 2022. 

 Yours in Faith and Virtue,

Christopher Paton

Principal

The school Cross Country will be held next Thursday 31 March at Willandra. We pray that the rain holds off for this day. New notes have been sent home electronically, parents/guardians will need to go onto Compass to give consent for your child to attend. This needs to be completed again due to the change of dates.   

It has been a busy couple of weeks with students out trialling for or participating in a range of sporting events.

As you are aware, the swimming selection trials were cancelled due to wet weather. CEDoW sent out times that students had to meet in order to participate in Wollongong Selection trials. Kai Reid, from Year 6, qualified for the 12-year-old boys Backstroke. Last Monday, Kai went to Corrimal pool where he swam in the 50m Backstroke in a very competitive time of 42 seconds coming in 5^th place. Well done Kai on this exceptional effort.

On Friday 18 March,  Matilda Martin, trialled for the Wollongong Hockey Team. She had a great time at the trial and benefited from the drills she was put through. Matilda showed great skill and determination at the trial and was successful in making the Wollongong team. We wish Matilda all the best at the NSW MacKillop Trials which will be held in Canberra on May 6.

Taj Goddard represented the St Michael’s and the Wollongong Diocese in NSW MacKillop Touch Football Trials which were held at St Mary's. It was a beautiful day, after all the rain we have had. There were over 55 children trialling and only 12 children selected. The standard of touch football was high amongst the 5 dioceses competing. Unfortunately, Taj didn't make it to the next trials, however he made some impressive plays in the mids and was commended on his talking and sportsmanship amongst the team. Taj was proud to represent the Wollongong diocese and St Michaels.  

On Monday 21 March, Zane and Chloe Farrugia, Joshua Barker and Orville Sarkar trialled for the Wollongong Football side in Unanderra. This is a tough trial as the standard of skills of the students trialling is quite high. They participated in 3 skills activities then they were divided into teams to play games to showcase their skills for the selectors. Unfortunately, none of our students from St. Michael’s were successful in making the Wollongong team.

We also had Riley Eastcott and Jazmine Tolhurst-Moon trial for the Wollongong Netball side at the Illawarra Sports Stadium on Wednesday 23rd March. There were 50 students trialling for this event. The girls were under the watchful eye of 5 experienced selectors. They played in 5 rounds of netball. 20 girls then progressed to the ‘Possible and Probables’ before the final games and announcement of the team. Unfortunately, Riley and Jazmine missed out on making the team.

Today we have Taj Goddard, Noah Jamieson, Callum Farrugia, Cooper Green and Luke Keating trialling for the 11 years and 12 years Wollongong Rugby League Teams. We wish those boys all the best in their trials.

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

Saints Netball Club are looking for players aged 9 & 10 years. 

Shoalhaven Junior Rugby Union Club need players from 7yrs to 12 years old. Training is at 4:30pm on Thursdays at Rugby Park, Flinders Rd South Nowra. Games will be played on Sundays. Contact Tessa 0458118093 for more information.