From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

Please note that weekly Parish mass times will now be located each week on our School Hours / Timetable page in our newsletter. 

Prayer 

Prayer of Aboriginal People 

(For the Pope's visit to Australia in 1986, Aboriginal people composed the following prayer for the ceremony in Alice Springs. This prayer now is prayed by many Catholic Aboriginal groups around the country.) 

Father of all, you gave us the Dreaming. 

You have spoken to us through our beliefs. 

You then made your love clear to us in the person of Jesus. 

We thank you for your care. You own us. You are our hope. 

Make us strong as we face the problems of change. 

We ask you to help the people of Australia to listen to us and respect our culture. 

Make the knowledge of you grow strong in all people, so that you can be at home in us and we can make a home for everyone in our land. 

Amen.

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

What a marvellous celebration of Grandparents and Special Friends we had today at St Michael's. Thank you to all the families who donated morning tea for this event - more than enough was shared with everyone! We will have a photo montage of today's events in next week's newsletter.

Principal Conference

Our network of Principals had a most enjoyable week in Darwin last week, which wasn't difficult given the consistent temperature of 32C each day. We took time to learn about Darwin's history, specifically the 1945 bombing and the devastation caused by Cyclone Tracey. We also learned about the set up of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and how far it reaches the isolated areas in so many communities in Northern parts of our country. 

A true highlight of the week, however, was the tour across to the Tiwi Islands, approximately 80km by ferry north of Darwin. We spent a day on Bathurst Island, meeting many locals, including an indigenous community who engaged us in a welcoming ceremony. We learned a little about their history and culture, particularly about their relationships and strong belief in marriage. We also learned about their special connection and respect for the earth; when hunting, Tiwi people never take the mothers or baby animals from their nest so as to preserve future generations. Both Art and Music are central components of Tiwi culture. Colour and geometric features are evident of Tiwi art and their artworks are used to help pass on history and wisdom through generations.

We had the added pleasure of spending time with Sister Anne at St Therese's Church on Bathurst Island, which was originally set up as a mission in 1911. Sr Anne, now 92 years old, has been at St Therese's for approximately 70 years, starting there very early in her life as a nun. She talked to us about the special people of the Tiwi islands and her beautiful connection with them was clear from the moment we met her. A truly amazing experience which will be with me always.

100 Days of Prep

Next Thursday 3rd August our Prep students celebrate their 100th day of being in Prep. In order to mark this special day, our Prep students will come to school dressed as if they are 100 years old and many of their learning tasks throughout the day will focus on the number 100. We look forward to celebrating this special day with our Prep class.

Family Maths Night

This year, we have been fortunate to secure some funding for professional learning of the staff in the area of Mathematics. This has meant that we have been able to employ emergency staff to release teachers from the classroom in order that we can conduct "Lesson Studies" across year levels to develop our knowledge and skills in best practice of Mathematics teaching. We have also used funding to add to our Mathematics resources across the school. One of our main focuses in this area has been around working with students in problem solving tasks with various 'entry points' into tasks to cater for the many learning needs within the classroom. This is something we have been implementing in classrooms over the last two terms.

Part of our plan is to assist parents in understanding what happens in the modern day Maths classroom and we wish to invite parents to attend our Family Maths Night on Wednesday 23rd August, 6.30-7.45pm. We will begin in the Hub with some general information, then move into classrooms where you and your children can engage in some problem solving tasks together.

Following this evening event, we invite parents to come along to an Open Maths Morning on Thursday 7th September, from 9.00-10.00am. Our purpose here is for families to see how a Maths lesson unfolds in the classroom. Straight after the session in class, we will be holding a morning tea for parents in the Hub. All welcome.

Please mark these important dates in your calendar and complete the Operoo notices regarding your attendance.

Seesaw

No doubt by now you have taken many opportunities to view some of your children's learning through the Seesaw App. If you still do not have access to this, please email your child's class teacher so that you are able to access it. It is our hope that you will take some time to view some of your child's learning, particularly in the area of Maths which will be a main focus in 2023, and that you will take some time to align the tasks with your child's goals which were shared with you at our recent Parent / Teacher / Student Conversations. Take the opportunity also to give feedback to your child through the app as well when you can

Father's day breakfast, from 7.30am 

Please save the date for the Father's Day Breakfast on Friday 1st September. This will be from 7.30am. More details to come.

St Michael's School Production

With two weeks of practice under our belts now and the selection of our main cast, we are getting excited about our upcoming production. Please continue to keep the date free and we are working now on details of ticketing to release to families soon.

PARENT HELPERS NEEDED - If you are interested in being involved in a parent committee for our school production, An Aussie Adventure, please contact Eloise Ellis via email, eellis@smashburton.catholic.edu.au. This may include organising costumes, supporting with programs etc.

Parent Helpers in Literacy Block

For parents who would like to assist in the classroom, please fill in sheets available at the front of classrooms or contact your classroom teacher via email. All parent helpers require Working With Children Checks and need to have completed the Parent Helper Course. If you are yet to complete the course, please email eellis@smashburton.catholic.edu.au.

Term 3 Kinder Kids Reading final session

Friday 25th August, 8.50-9.45am