Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers,

It feels like we have just started the year and yet here we are with only a few days left of the 2020 school year and what a year it has been with two lots of remote learning occurring and all becoming very familiar with google meetings and participating in online events. We are lucky to have such a supportive parent body - without whom remote learning would not have been possible. For many of you balancing your own work while supporting your child provided many challenges but together we got through it. Thank you!

On Friday we farewelled our grade six students with a lovely Mass, lunch and the traditional hat toss.  It was great that we were able to gather in the Church for the Mass and still include the parents via a live stream. A huge thank you to Steve Kimani for your assistance and time so that this could happen. As a cohort, the grade six students showed amazing resilience throughout the whole year and we are very proud of all of you. I also need to acknowledge the school captains, Marley, Shinn, Chloe and Phoebe who took their role seriously throughout the year and looked for any opportunity to help out. Well done!

For some families this year means the end of their time at St Michael’s. I would like to thank them for their involvement in their child’s education and being a part of the St Michael’s family. We hope you take away many wonderful memories of your time here.

Our staff have also worked tirelessly throughout the year to keep the learning needs of our students foremost in their minds. I commend them for the way they have embraced and explored different ways of teaching.

This year we are also saying farewell to Mr Farmer. We thank him for the many years of service to our school community. Miss Dash is also leaving us as an ESO to begin her teaching career at St Josephs’ Warragul and whilst Mrs Christensen is leaving us a class teacher, she will be back here during the year as a Replacement Teacher. On behalf of the school community, we wish all of you well.

Finally, I would like to wish you all a happy, healthy and holy festive season, and we will see you all when students return to school on Thursday 28th January 2021.

Regards,

Jodie

Parish news

SMY@L YOUTH GROUPS NEWS:

Our thanks to Serenta Donchi, Scott Donchi, Rachel Dodd, Sally Kirstine, Leah Arbon and Louise Varsaci who have been enthusiastic leaders of the SMY@L group. May God bless them.

On November 26, 2020 they made the decision that it is now time for others to take up the reins as leaders of this energetic group. We ask all to spend time in prayer as we seek new leaders to join in this area of our Youth Ministry in 2021.

ATTENDING MASS:

Due to current COVID restrictions you are required to make a booking to attend Masses:

• To book through Trybooking.com for Masses on the weekends of Dec 20, 27 and Jan 03, 10 & 17 please go to https://www.trybooking.comn/BNIAG. Bookings for Masses on Dec 27 and Jan 03 close at 11:00am on Wednesday 24th December.
• To attend a Christmas Mass, please go to https://www.trybooking.com/BNNUV Bookings for Christmas Masses will open at 2:00pm on Tuesday 15th December.

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES 2020

Christmas Eve - Thursday Dec 24:

• 7:00 pm Mass at St Michael’s 
• 11:00pm Mass at St Michael’s

Christmas Day - Friday December 25:

• 8:00am Mass at St Michael’s
• 10:00am Mass at St Michael’s

It is necessary to book to attend the Christmas Masses. (see above for booking information)

SACRAMENTS DATES FOR 2021

Now that we seem to be back on the road to ‘normal’, the Parish is excited to be able to have decided on dates for First Communion and Reconciliation in Term 1.

First Communion for 2021’s Year 5 students who were prepared to receive this sacrament in 2020 will be celebrated on Friday 5th February at 6:00pm, Saturday 6th February at 5:00pm Mass and Sunday 7th February at 10:30am Mass.

Reconciliation for students in Years 3 &4 in 2021 will be celebrated on Tuesday 16th March, Wednesday 17th March, Thursday 18th March and Friday 19th March. Further details will be available in the new year.

Covid restrictions, allowing, of course.