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Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers,
Our school, along with the 45 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sale, will celebrate Catholic Education Week from 19 May to 26 May.
The theme for this year’s celebrations is, Catholic Schools – Places of Encounter. ‘Let the words you speak always be full of Grace’, based on Colossians 4:6. Catholic schools are more than just buildings where students come to learn. They are Places of Encounter where students can grow academically, spiritually and personally.”
The ‘Speaking with Grace’ theme invites us to consider the power of our words and the impact our words may have on others. Words have the power to inspire, uplift, and transform lives but they can also be hurtful or discouraging. This year’s theme aims to encourage students and those in our school community to use their words to build up others, to speak out against injustice, and to spread love and hope in the world.
Catholic Education Week is an opportunity for all Catholic schools to celebrate our distinctive mission and share features that are special about our schools.
Lia and I will be attending a Leadership Mass and Dinner to celebrate and recognise outstanding service and excellence of staff and students in Catholic education in our Diocese in Traralgon on Friday,19th of May.
Our school will also hold a whole school Mass this Friday starting at 11:30am at St Michael's Church to celebrate Catholic Education Week. All are welcome to join us.
Foundation Enrolments
We are currently taking 2024 Enrolments. If you know of anyone considering St Michael’s for their child please ask them to contact the Office for a tour. Our grade six students love the opportunity to showcase the school and share why they enjoy being a student at St Michael’s. If you are an existing family please get your forms in asap.
Grandparents Day - Save the Date
Grandparents Day will be held on Friday 16th June from 2:30pm onwards. We invite all Grandparents and special people to come visit our school on this day and participate in a special class activity with students.
Mother’s Day Stall
A huge thankyou to all who helped make our Mother’s Day Stall a success. It was wonderful to see the children carefully picking out their gift for their special person. Thank you to the Parents and Friends who helped set up and assisted at the stall throughout the day. Without you, the children would not have the opportunity to participate.
Thankyou to the following businesses for their kind donations to our Mother’s Day Stall raffle.
|
Changing Seasons |
Reading Cinema |
This Little House |
Miss Frou Frou |
|
The Source Bulk Foods |
Valentina and Botanix |
LeKayah |
The Kitchen Cupboard |
|
Belle Chapman Photography |
Cafe Evivva |
AMPM Coffee |
Valley Surf |
|
Little Prince |
Neilson’s Kitchen |
We greatly appreciate your support.
PARISH NEWS
Sacraments News: The sacrament of confirmation will be celebrated on Friday 9th June with Bishop Greg Bennet at Lavalla Catholic College’s Champagnat Centre. An important information evening will be held on Wednesday 17th May at 6pm for parents and children here at St Michael’s Church.
Youth Ministry: Last Friday the young people of our parish gathered to discuss the role and needs of a Youth Council at St Michael’s. They enjoyed an evening of prayer, sharing their faith, their hopes for our Church and of course games and pizza. We are looking forward to the revival of our once thriving youth ministry, and the energy and excitement they bring to our parish.
They are organising a youth mass on Sunday 21st May at 5pm and are looking for young people to read, commentate, altar serve, and take on all the roles of the mass. If you are interested in participating in our Youth Mass, or becoming a member of our Parish Youth Council (Year 10 and above), please contact the parish office for more information. Their next meeting will be held on Friday 26th May in the Mary MacKillop Room.
Pentecost Sunday Parish Celebration: On Sunday 28th May, we will celebrate Pentecost with a multi-cultural Mass at 9:30am, which will be followed by a multi-cultural celebration in the Mary MacKillop Hall, where our various nationalities will promote their cultural foods, music and costumes. We are currently seeking leaders from our various cultural groups to lead and help organise this wonderful celebration. If you are interested in helping, or have ideas to share, please contact the parish office.
Kind regards,
Jodie
During the Last Supper Jesus told his disciples that he would soon be leaving them. The disciples were frightened and upset by Jesus’ words but he promised that he would not leave them on their own. The liturgical year is preparing us for the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, and Jesus is preparing us for life in the Spirit here on earth. This is the reason for our hope.This Spirit strengthens, comforts, guides and inspires us. Life in the Spirit requires that we conform our lives to the commandments of God, not in a legalistic or constraining way but out of love. The love that comes to us through the Spirit will then overflow into the lives of others, and we will be agents of God’s love in the world. Love is a commandment given to us by God. Jesus shows his love in many ways. Each one of us is called to be strengthened in the Spirit and live with love by the example given to us by 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 4 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 4 are:
| Ryan Rochstad-Lim | Marlee Williamson | Chloe Szkwarek |
| Lachlan Franklin | Ayden Berkelmans | Lily Olayemi |
| Sophie Taylor | Ajak Manhiem | Jorge Marcou |
| Elise McKenna | Dermot Clarke | Jack Brady |
| Kyle Kimani | Leni Rayner | Nathan Kimani |
| Connor Affleck | Ruby Darby |
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!
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:
