Mission and Religious Education

Baptisms

We congratulate and keep Kahlani, Alex and Alex’s younger sisters in our prayers as they receive the Sacrament of Baptism this afternoon. Wishing all of you the very best on your special day.

Congratulations again to Arthur who was baptised on Saturday 10 May, you looked very dapper in your suit. A big thank you to his Mum Tracy for sharing some photos from his Baptism.

First Reconciliation

Please keep Tommy, Darcy, Arthur, Kahlia, Kahlani and Alex in your prayers as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Penance for the first time on Friday 30 May, 12.00pm.

Year 6 RE Test

Each year students in Year 6 sit the Armidale Diocesan Year 6 RE Test. The test consists of 30 questions across the RE Curriculum K-6 and helps us to identify areas of strength and areas for improvement across the RE Curriculum at St Michael’s. This year the test is in Term 3 Week 4. In preparation for the test, students in Year 6 will sit the Practice Test. The Practice Test will be undertaken on Monday 26 May at 12.15pm.

Australian Catholics

The Australian Catholics Magazine is going home today with the eldest child in each family. It has a lot of interesting articles to read.

Important Feast Days

Tomorrow 24 May is the Feast Day of Our Lady Help of Christians who is one of the two patron saints of Australia. Our Lady Help of Christians is one of the titles given to Mary.

On Saturday 31 May we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation, when Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist.

On Sunday 1 June we celebrate the Feast of The Ascension. On this day we remember Jesus ascending into Heaven.

Catholic Schools Week

Next week commencing Monday 26 May is Catholic Schools Week. It’s a great opportunity for us to stop and reflect on the gift of Catholic Education. Centred on Christ, we take the time to celebrate who we are and why we do what we do.

C2S (Called to Shine) Committee News

Our C2S Committee is a team of volunteer students in Years 2-6 who work with Assistant Principals Cathy Shepherd and myself for ecological justice in our world. The Committee meets at the start of lunch each Monday and gives an authentic student voice to addressing social and ecological issues in our school and world. The C2S Committee leads charitable works and ecological initiatives at St Michael’s.

Week 3 Meeting - Monday 12 May

We discussed Laudato Si’ Week which commenced on Friday 16 May. Committee Members volunteered to lead our Laudato Si’ Mass celebrations - great work everyone.

Week 4 Meeting - Monday 19 May

Meeting cancelled as Mrs Shepherd and Miss Cronin were both away.

Vinnies Winter Appeal - Friday 13 June

Week 7 each term is Service Week at St Michael’s. This year our C2S Committee is committed to helping people break the cycle of poverty. We know that winter can be an especially difficult time for the poor and homeless, and understand that the Vinnies Winter Appeal makes a big difference to the most vulnerable in our society. Please help us support the Vinnies Winter Appeal by wearing mufti and donating generously on Friday 13 June. This is also our Give and Gather Day, an initiative of Miss Rasche. Please support both of these activities.

Environmental Legends and Little Doves

Our Environmental Legends are a team of volunteer students in Years 3-6 who work with the Little Doves, a team of volunteer students in K-2 and myself to lead environmental and sustainability initiatives within our school. Our work in this area is in response to Pope Francis’ call to action in Laudato Si’ to Care for the Earth Our Common Home and to hear and respond to the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor.

Veggie Gardens

Students are still harvesting zucchinis and Year 2 have planted more veggies - great work everyone!

Legends of the Light Shine

Our Legends of the Light Shine Program is a program that runs across our school, led by students in Stage 3. This program focuses on Christian living, recognising and promoting Christian virtues and positive attributes.

This Fortnight’s Legends of the Light Shine Focus

Today we introduced our new Legends of the Light Shine focus for Weeks 5 and 6 of Term 2, ‘Peacemaker’. The world needs more people to be peacemakers and not peacebreakers. Peace is one of the first and most important messages from Pope Leo XIV.

Connecting With Our Parish

Weekend Mass Times

We encourage all of our families to celebrate Sunday Mass with our parish.

Manilla Parish Mass Times

1st Sunday of the month - Sunday 8.30am

2nd, 3rd & 4th Sunday of the month - Saturday 5.00pm (5.30pm DST)

Attunga Mass Times

2nd, 4th & 5th Sunday of the month - Sunday 12 noon

Living Well, Learning Well

Living Well Learning Well is a student support framework for Catholic Schools in the Armidale Diocese. The framework is based on a universal and unconditional positive regard for children and young people and supports faith, learning, wellbeing and positive behaviour domains.

St Michael’s School Rules For Living

St Michael’s School Rules For Living encompass those in the Living Well Learning Well Framework.

Parents As Partners

St Michael’s works in partnership with the families in our school to achieve a high standard of education for the students in our care.

Armidale Catholic Schools work with Realtalk to offer families free premium access to resources to help navigate difficult areas children face, particularly in the digital world, from a catholic perspective in an increasingly complex world. SIGN UP FOR FREE ACCESS HERE

Key Upcoming Dates

Friday 30 May: First Reconciliation 12pm

Saturday 28 June: First Eucharist 5pm

“Let Your Light Shine” support others to let their light shine and remember “We Shine Brighter Together”

Jacquelene Cronin

Assistant Principal - Mission

Celebrations

Birthdays and Awards