Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers,

What a lovely day it turned out to be on Friday for the Athletics Sports, after predictions of rain all week we were pleasantly surprised with the lovely weather. 

Congratulations to Gold House for winning the aerobics competition and Red House for being the overall winners of the day. We were so proud of the positive attitude the children brought to the day, having a go at the events to earn points for their team. Well done! 

On your behalf I also wish to thank Shona Arber, Sharon Dortmans and Sharon Scholtes for their organisation of the day. These days don’t just happen, a lot of work goes on behind the scenes and we appreciate all they did in ensuring it ran smoothly.

School Review

This year St Michael’s is undergoing it’s four yearly review, where external reviewers visit and  to talk to staff, students and parents to give feedback about the school. If you are invited to participate we would appreciate your assistance. 

Another way you can contribute to this, is by providing feedback and  taking the time to complete parent surveys when they are sent to you. Each year at the start of term two 50 families are sent an invitation to complete an annual survey so if you happen to get it this year we would appreciate you taking the time to complete it. 

This year we also have a new survey available that you can complete to give us feedback on Catholic Identity and Religious Education at St Michaels. It is a really quick survey , it should take less than 10 minutes to complete and will give us feedback in this area to help with the review process. Please click the link below if you are able to do this survey.

School Review Survey Parent Survey

The process of school review is an important element of the ongoing improvement of schools in the Diocese of Sale. This survey tool is a way for your school to examine its practices and shared understandings as a way of identifying practices to be maintained and strengthened, and opportunities to be addressed moving forward.

As a parent, you have an important perspective to share. Please answer each question, rating your response on the five-point scale. Responses are anonymous and will assist the school in its school review.

The link for your survey is:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScivUcllk54cciOOjRLv47LWJR8uc7FsCR9MSYoSMC9TekBUg/viewform

The survey will take about approximately 10 minutes to complete. It will be closed on Thursday 3rd of March at 4pm. 

“Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity,
let us do good to all” (Gal 6:9-10)

Tomorrow we start the season of Lent. Pope Francis in his annual message says  “Lent invites us to conversion, to a change in mindset, so that life’s truth and beauty may be found not so much in possessing as in giving, not so much in accumulating as in sowing and sharing goodness.”

God, he explains, is the first to sow, sowing “abundant seeds of goodness in our human family.” During the period of Lent, “we are called to respond to God’s gift” by listening to His Word, so that it might “bear fruit in our lives.” In this way, we become “God’s co-workers,” which is a grace of sharing in God’s own “bountiful goodness.”

“Lent is a favorable time to seek out—and not to avoid—those in need; to reach out—and not to ignore—those who need a sympathetic ear and a good word; to visit—and not to abandon—those who are lonely,” he wrote.

“Let us put into practice our call to do good to all,” he wrote, “and take time to love the poor and needy, those abandoned and rejected, those discriminated against and marginalized.”

The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney had the following on their facebook page, it may provide some ideas for conversation with your family as you prepare for Lent:

Ash Wednesday Masses will be held for the public at St Michael’s Church on Wednesday March 2nd at 12pm & 6pm.

RECONCILIATION: 

Sacrament of First Reconciliation will be celebrated at St Michael’s Church on the 29th, 30th and 31st of March 2022, for Grade 3 students and above. An information session will be held on Wednesday March 9th for parents of children interested in taking part in the sacrament of first reconciliation in 2022. The meeting will be held in the Church at 7pm, all who are interested are encouraged to attend. Enrolment forms and further information can be collected from the parish office or by contacting Jen on 5174 2060 or via email at sacraments@smpt.org.au

BAPTISM FOR SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN:

(RCIC- Rite of Christian Initiation of Children) A course of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children will be offered in the parish for children of school age who have not been baptised. An important preparation meeting will be held on Wednesday March 16th for parents and children, and the Baptism celebrated on Sunday March 20th . Please contact the parish office on 5174 2060 for further details and to enrol your child.

Kind regards

Jodie