Dear Parents,

It has been wonderful to see our students entering the school grounds with genuine happiness and confidence this week. We were not sure what to expect but I have to say that the response has been fantastic!

I would like to thank you all so much for your understanding and support with the new structures and systems that have been put in place, these were needed to enable increased hygiene and social distancing. I know it probably hasn’t been easy for many of you, especially not being able to enter the school grounds in the morning. However, the resilience, independence and confidence your children are displaying is testimony to the preparation you have given them. It is pleasing to see how well they have settled back into school.

Next Tuesday the grades three to six children will begin their face to face learning at school and we are as excited to welcome them back to St Michael’s as we were with the junior grades. The same arrangements will stay in place for the morning drop off and afternoon pickup. As adults it is important that we maintain our social distancing at all times when dropping off and picking up children.

As we can’t gather as a school community yet, other arrangements have had to be made for our weekly assembly. Each year level will gather in their own area for assembly, including the presentation of awards. Names will still be shared via the school newsletter. Unfortunately, due to the current restriction’s, parents are not able to join us.

The focus for this week’s student of the week award for the Foundation to Two grades is Respect. As a part of the Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour Support Respect refers to:

The Middle and Senior Grades will start presenting their awards next week when they return to school.

Kind regards

Jodie

As per the fee letter sent to families on 6th April 2020, Important Message about School Fees, there will not be an automatic reduction in school fees for term 2. 

School fees are an essential portion of resources for the operation of our school and assist our leaders and staff to enhance curriculum and teaching programs.  Therefore, we are asking, for those who can, to continue to support the school financially.

If you have concerns about your financial situation, please contact Maria Churton, School Administration Officer at office@stmtraralgon.catholic.edu.au so that we can explore confidential financial support arrangements to enable your child(ren)’s education at our school to continue.

2020 Camp Fees

At this stage all camps are still proceeding and therefore camp fees have not been removed from fee accounts.

Grade 4 camp - September, due 07/08/20

Grade 3 camp - October, due 30/10/20

Grade 6 camp - November, due 30/10/20 (this fee is not due in term 2 as shown on fee statements)

We will keep you updated on any activities that are cancelled such as  camps and swimming and where no alternative is available those fees will be removed and not payable.

Thank you for your understanding.

Answer from last week:

12 000 km – 6212 km = 5788 km
Jill’s family could fly a further 5788 km from their current location.

Welcome to the 2020 Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge.

Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge

The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and St. Michael’s Primary School is excited to be participating. A new application is being used this year that 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 4 September 2020. 

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 booklists and for more information about the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge, visit:www.education.vic.gov.au/prc 

As you know, reading helps ensure children develop important foundational skills –
setting them up for school and for life. Just as importantly, reading also helps our kids imagine, explore and learn more about the world around them.
This year, everyone who completes the Challenge will receive a Certificate of
Achievement – and with more than 12,000 titles on the Challenge’s reading list, there really is a book for everyone.
For children not yet at school, the Challenge invites parents and carers to experience
40 books with their child. For students from Prep to Year 2, the Challenge is to read or experience 30 books and for students in Years 3 to 10, the Challenge is to read 15 books.
I also encourage you to visit the Challenge Facebook page: facebook.com.au/VicPRC
There you can join the community of avid readers to share stories, stay informed and
recommend books.

Harrison Kus used sculpture to recreate some of his stay at home experience. His art is called 'Board games during isolation'.