Filter Content
Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers,
Harmony Week is a celebration held annually in March across Australia. It’s aimed at promoting diversity, respect and inclusiveness. This event is an excellent opportunity for parents to teach their children about different cultures, traditions and customs. The goal is to encourage everyone to appreciate and celebrate differences and promote a sense of community and belonging for everyone.
During Harmony Week, there are a number of events and activities held to bring people from different cultures together. These activities include multicultural food festivals, cultural performances, art exhibitions and workshops. Participating in these events helps children to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the diverse communities that make up Australia.
As a parent, you can engage your children in discussions about multiculturalism and encourage them to ask questions. Promoting a more harmonious and inclusive society, can help children grow up with a greater appreciation for the richness and diversity of Australia's cultural landscape.
This Special Report hopes to instil positive values and create an opportunity to start a conversation with your child about understanding diversity and multiculturalism. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please consider seeking medical or professional help.
Click on this link to view the Special Report https://stmtraralgon.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-celebrating-harmony-week-au
SCHOOL CAMPS
There has been a lot of discussion in the media regarding the new EBA for Victorian schools and the impact on school camps. In 2023, St Michaels will be honouring the agreements we have made with local camp providers so the camp program will be unchanged.
We will need to review the camp structure moving forward as it is not financially viable for the school to continue with the existing structure and/or fees to parents. As a result we are seeking your thoughts to help the school make an informed decision moving forward into 2024.
Please take a few minutes to complete the linked survey and share your thoughts about what camps at St Michael’s could look like moving forward.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION PREPARATION
We continue to keep the Reconciliation families in our prayers as they prepare to receive this Sacrament.
Key dates for the children and families are:
- Presentation of pins – 25th /26th March.
- Completed journals to be returned to school - 27th March
- Celebration of Reconciliation - Wednesday 29th March, 4.30pm or 6pm
- Presentation of certificates and Pizza Night - Sunday 2nd April
PARISH NEWS
Youth News:
Holy Week Mass times:
UPCOMING SCHOOL CLOSURE DAYS
On the following dates the school will be closed to students:
- Thursday 6th April
- Monday 24th April
Term One holidays will begin at 3:20pm Wednesday 5th April.
Term Two will resume on Wednesday 26th April at 9am.
Kind regards,
Jodie
The gospel reading this week has a significant theme and imagery of light. Although today’s passage is about the healing of a blind man, the event takes place as part of a longer section of the gospel dealing with the image of light and specifically the image of Jesus as Light of the World. What does it mean to live in the light? What does it mean to be blind, and now able to see? Think about the things that you have done today: getting out of bed, making breakfast, going to work/school …. Would you have found these things harder to do if you couldn’t see? In this weekend's gospel we hear how Jesus helps a blind man to see with his eyes and his heart. The story of the man born blind is a perfect choice for the Lenten season. During this season we are invited once again to open our eyes to Jesus; to step out of darkness and into the light; to look towards the future with hope and not despair. When we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at the Easter vigil, we celebrate the coming of the Light of the World into our lives. This annual call to turn away from darkness and walk in the light is a powerful and poetic call to focus our lives on the way of Jesus.
Each week students from each class are awarded Student of the Week certificates. These children are nominated for the example they have been within the school based on the School Wide Expectation focus for that week. The weekly focus will be from Wednesday until Tuesday the following week. Awards will be presented to students at assembly on Friday.
In Week 9 the School Wide Expectation focus was Learning:
I set high expectations of what I can achieve.
I work hard and always try my best.
I reflect on my own learning and how I can improve.
I can receive and act on feedback.
The award winners for Week 9 are:
| Emma Paulet | Lucy Steevens | Cadence Van Unen |
| Toby Flowers | Johnathan Salama | Vinuli Dissanayake |
| Tessa Rouget | Sienna Hunter | Braith McNeill |
| Leo Graham | Mila Campbell | Mila Koppen |
| Wyatt Verdaas | Gracie Pryce | Hugo Macpherson |
| Jackson Stanistreet | Campbell Quail | Chris Keo |
Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge
The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and (insert school name) is excited to be participating. The PRC application offers a range of exciting features including:
- access to a library catalogue (including book images and blurbs)
- a modern user-friendly interface
- rewarding students with badges as challenge milestones are achieved
- the option for students to mark books as a favourite, give them a star rating or complete a book review
The Challenge is open to all Victorian children from birth to Year 10 in recognition of the importance of reading for literacy development. It is not a competition; but a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 8 September 2023.
Children from Prep to Year 2 are encouraged to read or ‘experience’ 30 books with their parents and teachers. Children from Year 3 to Year 10 are challenged to read 15 books.
All children who meet the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers.
To read the Premier’s letter to parents, view the booklist and for more information about the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge, visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/premiers-reading-challenge
Deborah Gilmour in the school library is able to help with any enquires.
To participate in the challenge please click on the link below:
St Michael's is once again participating in the Wonder Recycling Rewards Program. Our school is collecting bread and muffin bags to redeem for sports equipment. Could you please keep your bags and place them into the green bin outside of the hall. Bread bags should be as free from crumbs as they can be to keep the recycling process free from contamination (there is no need to wash them). Any questions can be forwarded to Mrs Dortmans or Miss Petesic. Thank you for your support!
