Dear Parents,

St Michael’s Parish Fete

Our Parish Schools Fete was held last Saturday and was a fantastic day. I really couldn’t believe how many people attended and just how electric the atmosphere was.

The weather was kind to us, the sun shone and the rain held out. The school yard was abuzz with excited children ready to go on yet another ride, the rides were very popular. The farm animals and pony rides were a hit, not to mention the face painting and the spray on body art. There were heaps of yummy food and some great shopping. It didn’t matter what your interest was there was something to see and do for everyone. We were very pleased with the day and eagerly wait to see what our profit will be.

The fete was the combination of two large parish primary schools working in partnership with each other and our school communities.

The committee would like to thank those people who helped out both before the day and on the day. Thanks firstly to our school staff. Our schools staff were the first to put their hand up to help, some of them on deck at 7.00am. Thanks also to those parents who came forward to help us in various ways, whether it be baking, sewing, donating, serving or selling something on a stall! Thanks also to those members of our Parish family who gave of their time to help us out.

Overall a great success! We will keep you posted when we have a final figure that has been raised for our schools.

Results from the Raffle drawn at the fete on Saturday are as follows:

1st Prize: Ellen Wolfe (Bali Holiday) 2nd Prize: Angie Heenan (Fitness Bike) 3rd Prize: Gerard VanderVelden (BBQ) 4th Prize Marilyn Moloney (Green Olive Voucher)

Winner of Holden car for the weekend. Jo-An Smart

I am amazed how quickly we have come to the end of Term 1. Thank you to all the parents, grandparents and friends who have attended Masses, Learning Together sessions, sporting events, Monday assemblies, sacramental meetings and classroom activities. The support that we receive from our families and the community really makes such a difference.

All students finish school on Thursday, at 12.30pm.

Attached to this newsletter is an Easter reflection. I wish all families a holy Easter with a happy and safe holiday break.

Keep smiling Cathy Blackford, Principal

Our Vision: St Michael’s is a catholic school community inspired by the life of Jesus. We are life-long learners and thinkers who have the courage to live our beliefs. Our Mission: St Michael’s is a school called to serve the families of St Michael’s Parish, Traralgon. We are committed to nurturing personal achievement in an environment where relationships are authentic and collaborative

NEWSLETTER No. 8 DATE: 22nd March 2016

News from the Principal

MARCH

22nd

Tuesday District Athletics

22nd

Tuesday RACV incursion – Gr 1/2

24th Thursday Holy Thursday

24th Thursday Last day of Term 1

– finish at 12.30pm

APRIL

11th Monday First day of Term 2

11th Monday Yr 5/6 indoor swimming – 2 weeks

12th

Tuesday School Photos

14th Thurs P&F Meeting – 9.00am

15th Fri Mass 9.30am 1/2A&B

25th Monday Public Holiday – ANZAC Day

26th Tuesday Yr 3/4 indoor swimming – 2 weeks

28th Thurs Lunch Order Day

29th

Friday School Closure – Literacy PD

MAY

2nd

Monday Catholic Education Week

6th Friday Mass – Prep 9.30am

6th Friday Mother’s Day Stall

10th, 11

th, 12

th NAPLAN

13th Friday Mass 9.30am 5/6C&D

16th Mon Parish Centenary Day

20th Friday Mass – 9.30am 3/4A&B

24th Tuesday 2017 Prep Information 7.00pm

JUNE

2nd

Thursday Yr 3/4 Camp Coonawarra

3rd

Friday Yr 3/4 return from Camp

3rd

Friday Feast Sacred Heart – Giving Mass

13th Monday Public Holiday – Labour Day

24th Friday Term 2 finishes – 12.30pm

Dates to Remember

STUDENT OF THE WEEK 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. The award winners for Weeks 6, 7 & 8 / Term 1

Isabella McIntosh Matt Sexton Aliana Krieger Tayla Giersch

Ashleigh Nachorny Lincoln Lovell Evzen Babu Hamish Pettie

Hayden Rodgers Emily Scholtes Jai Moloney Abbey Richards

Tom Spagnolo Elizabeth Cooper Harry Cooper Emilia Atkins

Mia Hollands Kye Spiteri Ruby Campbell Tajh Brand

Macey Manzo Charlee Rodgers Cooper Muller Madison Cox

Elaina Domagala Isobel Georgeson Tristan VanderMeer Julian Salerno

Liam Lawrence Georgia Said Sophie Fothergill Amon Croydon

Adam Wilbraham Kaidin Atkins

VALUES AWARDS Through a whole school focus on the values of respect, resilience, tolerance and excellence, St Michael's students are supported in their social, emotional, spiritual and academic development.

Each child who is nominated by a teacher or a peer for living out the values of St Michael's school, will be awarded a certificate acknowledging their efforts. These certificates will be displayed on the tree in our foyer on a Monday and left there for a week for all the school community to view and celebrate the children's efforts. On a Friday, the certificates will be taken down and given to the children to take home and share with their families.

.

Parents & Friends Group

A big thank you must be given to all the 2015 P&F committee members especially to President: Nicole Dunbar, Secretary: Lyndal Pettie and Treasuer: Julieanne McLuckie. The commitment and efforts of all members is greatly appreciated by the school community. We welcome the team for 2016:

President: Bianca Mason Assistant President: Nicole Dunbar

Secretary: Kelli Kus Assistant Secretary: Melissa Joske

Treasurer: Deb Rowley Assistant Treasurer: Amy Robson

Now that we have formed the executive committee we are looking for people to assist with one or more of our fundraising/school community events. If you have a skill or talent, perhaps some spare time please think about coming along to a P&F meeting. We understand that many people work or that there is just not enough time in the day – but would still like to help. Please keep in mind something like Mother’s Day Stall, you may be able to do craft, cutting, raffle ticket sorting, typing or wrapping at home. You do not need to be a committee member to help with P&F fundraising efforts.

Just let us or the school office know if you are interested.

Thank you to everyone who supported the Easter Raffle - this year $1,500.00 was raised. Thank you also for the donations, lots of happy children went home with prizes.

SCHOOL PHOTOS will be taken on the second day of Term 2

Tuesday, 12th April 2016.

A note was sent home with the envelope from the photographer outlining prices and packages if you wish to order photographs.

There is the option for prepayment and online ordering of school photos. Please following the instructions on the back of your child’s envelope (their unique ‘Shoot Key’ is found on the front of the envelope) www.johnansell.com.au

If you wish to have a family group photo taken please collect a “Sibling Group Photo” envelope from the school office.

All students are to wear their summer uniform. Girls in their summer dresses and wearing school colour hair ties and ribbons. Boys are to wear their red polo tops and grey shorts. The photographer will start at 9.00am sharp so children will need to be at school on time.

We hope you’re enjoying this lovely autumn weather –

let’s hope it continues! This is just a quick note to please

remind you all to continue using sun protection

throughout the term break and for a few weeks in term

two.

UV levels are still above three so please continue

to Slip on sun protective clothing, Slop on SPF 30 or

higher sunscreen, Slap on a wide brimmed

hat, Seek shade and, if practical, Slide on wrap-around

sunglasses until the end of April.

Please check the daily sun protection times to be sure.

These are available on the free SunSmart app and widget,

in the weather section of the newspaper or

at sunsmart.com.au

Even in the cooler autumn weather, that UV exposure all

adds up.

Scripture Challenge

This week’s Scripture Challenge is based on the gospel-‘Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord’.

Who are the people who love you? What special things do they do for you? Jesus suffered and died because he loved us. How can we show God’s love to others? Sunday was the beginning of a special week of celebrations. How can we participate in Holy Week?

As the students listened to the Gospel of Luke, they heard of Jesus' triumphant entrance into and his painful exit out of the city of Jerusalem. We journey along with him on this week's events. We share in his glory and in his pain.

Lent is done and now Holy Week begins. This is an extraordinary week, in every sense of the word. It is a week of high drama, of courage, betrayal, tragedy, sorrow, grief, triumph, joy ... choose an emotion - you'll probably find it somewhere in the events of Holy Week! So, take a deep breath (perhaps some meditation?) and ready yourself to commemorate the greatest story of all time.

This holiest of weeks is a journey for all of us, not just a journey that was only for Jesus. Jesus invites us all to join him this week. We have started the Holy Week journey with the children. Try to continue it this week with your child. Please join with the parish community as we gather this week for the ceremonies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil (or Easter Sunday). Let the children hear and be a part of those last few days of Jesus' life on earth and then his triumphant resurrection.

We asked the children to tell in their own words what happened here.

How, in the course of a few days, did Jesus go from being a hero to being a criminal? Why did the people end up taking Jesus to Pilate?

Why did they want him crucified?

How do you think Jesus is feeling about all this?

How do you think Jesus' friends are feeling now?

How are you (the children) feeling about this turn of events? All this happened that first Good Friday because Jesus loves us and suffered and died for us. We asked the children to share how they were feeling as we read the Gospel. We shared with the children, how we feel each time we read or hear the Passion of Jesus. The children were asked if they could imagine how Jesus must have been feeling as he hung dying on the cross. Lastly, we talked about the reason for Good Friday – the ‘end result’ of Jesus dying on the cross. We mentioned briefly the joy and the hope that we now know will be Easter Sunday.

Education in Faith News

Education News

FAMILY MATHS The map below, which is not drawn to scale, shows farms A, B, C, D, E and F from which the milk truck must collect milk each day, and take it to the depot at Z. It starts and finishes at the depot each day. Find the shortest route (in kilometres) that could be taken. Show the route clearly on the map, and state its length.

The shortest path is 46 kilometres long.

1. Max has three coins and a balance scale. The coins are

alike in appearance, but one of them is lighter than the

others. How can Max find the lighter coin in just one

weighing?

2. If Max has eight coins and one is lighter than the others,

how could Max find the lighter coin in just three

weighings?

3. If Max has eight coins and one is lighter than the others,

how could Max find the lighter coin in just two weighings?

from the Community

LATROBE CITY

Pre school Storytime @ your local library Pre school Storytime is a special time to share

with your child.

It is held at the Traralgon Library on Tuesdays

and Thursdays at 10.30 am and 11.30 am

(repeat session) during the school term.

Also we have Afterschool story time for families on Wednesdays at 3.45 pm during school term mailto: Noeline.Grayden@latrobe.vic.gov.au Direct: 03 5176 3312 Fax: (03) 5128 5672 Phone: 1300 367 700 PO Box 264, Morwell 3840 141 Commercial Rd, Morwell 3840 http://www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/

FREE HOTSHOTS ‘Come and Try’ Session

will be held on Sat April 9th

Phone for details

JUNIOR PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

ANZ Tennis Australia Hotshots for ages 5 – 12

FREE trial lesson available FREE tennis racquet

and t-shirt upon enrolment in term program.

LET’S PLAY TENNIS - For children above 12 years of

age. FREE trial lesson available.

MUM’S and DAD’S PROGRAMS and CARDIO

TENNIS

LADIES’ and MEN’S GROUPS (beginners or

experienced)

PHONE NOW TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE

Call Sally: 0403282630 or Glen: 0408762679