An important part of being a parent is helping children learn to deal with disappointments and difficulties. We can help our children learn to cope emotionally with uncomfortable feelings by being there and listening to them. We can acknowledge that sometimes life is challenging or unfair but that we can learn to cope with this. Helping our children recognise emotions and deal with them, without being crushed by them, teaches our children emotional resilience.

All school staff aspire towards providing an environment where the best interests of the child are held paramount. While teachers may not have the same attachment to a child that a parent does, the majority of school staff care personally for the children in the school.  

We are starting the process of planning for the 2022 school year. If parents have a genuine reason for class placement requests for next year, could you please email them through to principal@stmtraralgon.catholic.edu.au by Wednesday 13th October. An enormous amount of time and effort is put into the creation of class lists and many factors are taken into consideration by the staff. A written request will be considered on its merits but is not a guarantee. Who is teaching which grade has not yet been decided so please do not request certain teachers.

At St Michael’s we work on a whole school approach to class planning and are blessed to have a committed teaching staff who collaborate to give the very best learning opportunities to all students in our care. Please be aware that a request has to be made for this current year, we will not be referring to requests made 12 months ago as circumstances change.

If your family situation is changing, we would also appreciate you letting the Office know. An accurate indication of student numbers assists us enormously in our planning for 2022. We have a waiting list for some grades and if we know you are leaving we can offer them your spot.

Return to School Foundation, One and Two

Today the Premier Daniel Andrews announced that the lockdown for the Latrobe City LGA has been lifted. This means that starting from tomorrow Wednesday 6th October grade Foundation, One and Two will be able to return to onsite learning. We look forward to welcoming them back tomorrow.

For children in grades Three to Six remote learning will continue each day for the rest of this week. Next week there will be staggered days for grades Three to Six. From the 26th October all grades will be onsite. If you are an essential worker or meet the criteria for onsite supervision as previously defined you will need to fill in the below form ASAP. Forms for the following fortnight will be sent out each week. 

Onsite Intention Form 6th - 8th October 2021

Kind regards

Jodie

Many in our school community continue to face financial impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to supporting families experiencing financial challenges through our School Fee Concession programs, and encourage any parent/carer/guardian experiencing difficulties to contact us regarding fee assistance.

Please contact Maria Churton, School Finance Administration Officer via email,office@stmtraralgon.catholic.edu.au,  to explore confidential financial support arrangements or to obtain further information.

Christmas Card Design Competition

The Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Office has announced a Christmas Card Competition open for all students who would like to participate and the winning designs will be used for publicity purposes. 

Theme: the cards are to be based on the following scripture quote

“...they saw the child with Mary his mother;

and they knelt down and paid him homage.

Then, opening their treasure chests they offered him gifts

of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”  (Mt 2:11)

Criteria: 

• Only religious images are to be used, not Santa, Christmas trees or presents
• The artwork must not be decorated with such things as leaves, cotton wool, sparkles etc
• There are to be no words used in the design
• The artwork must be completed on the Entry Form
  

The entry form will be available for your child to download on Google Classroom. If they are attending school they are able to collect an entry form from their class teacher or from Mrs Rickwood. For all enquiries please email srickwood@stmtraralgon.catholic.edu.au

Due Date: all entries must be handed to Mrs Rickwood by Tuesday 19th October at the latest.

This year's reading challenge has finished, well done and thank you to all the remarkable parents/guardians and students for signing up. We had 54 students registered and complete the challenge this year with 2013 books read and 270 published book reviews contributed. Certificates of achievement will be distributed in term 4 along with the award P.R.C Champion lapel pins for 2021.

Quote

" Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors , and the most patient of teachers"

 Charles William Eliot -  American University teacher