ST MICHAEL’S SCHOOL bASSEndEAn

V E R I T A S

NEWSLETTER 9

31st March 2017

St Joseph’s Parish,

20 Hamilton Street, Bassendean 6054

Parish Office: 9379 2691

Fr Son Nguyen : 9279 1549

Email: bassendean@perthcatholic.org.au

MERCY

St Michael’s School is a school community founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1914. We aspire to provide a secure, caring learning environment where commitment to

Faith, Truth, Service and Compassion are encouraged as a way of life.

St Michael’s School

4 James Street, Bassendean 6054

PO Box 428, Bassendean 6934

Phone: 6278 9888 Absentees: 6278 9802

www.stmichaelsbass .w a.edu.au

Merit awards this week PP……Olivia W. & Flynn R.

Yr 1 ….Harrison B., Jude P. & Holly M.

Yr 2…. Nathan D. & Imali F.

Yr 3… .Owen M. & Liam P.

Yr 4.. .. Samuel D., Layla G. & Blake M.

Yr 5….Lachlan M. & Amity S.

Yr 6 ..... Emily W. & Jayden H.

Dear Parents I would like to congratulate Bethany Griffiths for organising such a fantastic swimming carnival on Tuesday this week. Bethany took a new approach into this carnival by having an extended team games competition at the end of the races. It brought a whole lot of fun and happiness to our beautiful students and had a real emphasis on teamwork. Well done Bethany! Text Messages - We live in a world of instant communication which most people love. However, it does have its own problems. We have received some feedback from parents that at times, there are too many text messages coming home. Some may argue that this is a good problem! Therefore, we would like to improve this as best we can and have made some changes to our process. We now will try to only send one text per week from each different group in our community (unless it is an obviously busy time like a P&F function that week). Please be aware that the messages we send must be less than 160 characters, otherwise you will receive multiple texts for the same message. Also, we will send the message via the eldest student only. Finally, we will try to disseminate the importance of the message so that only really important messages get sent home. Thank you for your understanding with this issue. As we are humans, we do make mistakes from time to time and we try our best in the front office to get things right, even though it can get very hectic with multiple things happening at once. Mass - All parents are invited to our Mass next Wednesday at 9.00am which will be led by Year 1. There will be a washing of the feet and other Holy Week activities in it to help us prepare for Easter which occurs during the school holidays

Laurie Bechelli - PRINCIPAL

Dates for your Diary

Mon 3 Apr Blue for Autism Awareness Day

Wed 5 Apr Mass, Stations of the Cross, Year1

Fri 7 Apr Last day of Term 1

Fri 7 Apr Assembly

Sun 9 Apr Palm Sunday

Fri 14 Apr Good Friday

Sun 16 Apr Easter Sunday

Tue 25 Apr ANZAC Day - Public Holiday

Wed 26 Apr Children commence Term 2

Compassion is language

the deaf can hear

and the blind can see

“Mark Twain”

PLEASE WATCH & SLOW DOWN! We have had a couple of “too close for comfort” incidents with our children crossing the road recently. Parents, although the speed limit in school zones is 40km per hour, please be aware that some of our young children cross slowly, so we would appreciate it if you could keep your driving speed to “walking pace” as you come around the corner onto James and Hamilton Streets at pick up and drop off times.

SCHOOL FEES

Our ANZ Bank Account details are as follows, for anyone wishing to pay directly into it. .

BSB: 016-255 ACC: 4247 69155

Your name must be included in any payments made

through the bank account.

Alternatively, direct debit forms are available from the school office if you wish to set up a regular payment.

If you wish to apply for HCC discount on the tuition fee portion of the account, please come to the office to fill in a HCC form and present a copy of your concession card. ABSENTEE LINE: 6278 9802 Please phone the number above if your child is absent from school. We ask that you do not email individual class teachers regarding absence, but use the dedicated phone line instead. You will also need to give a signed note of explanation to the class teacher on your child’s return to school.

TRASH FREE TUESDAY We ask that on every Tuesday you are mindful of the way you package your children’s lunchbox to minimise waste at our school. Ideally we would love to see no wrappers, and all food packaged into containers.

NO PARKING IN KISS AND RIDE! Please don’t park in the Kiss & Ride and leave your vehicle. It badly impedes the flow of traffic and holds up other families who are trying to drop children off. If you need to help your child out of the car or escort them to the classroom, please park your car elsewhere.

OUR SCHOOL IS A NUT FREE ZONE

St Michael’s School is an Allergy Friendly School. We have students who can experience a life threatening reaction to tasting, touching or smelling nuts.

Students should not bring ANY items of food where the key ingredient is nuts. This means pastes such as Nutella and Peanut Butter; raw nuts such as almonds, pistachios, cashews and peanuts; or foods with nuts as a main ingredient, such as muesli bars or

chocolate bars containing nuts. We ask that these

products not be brought to school . REMINDER - LATE ARRIVALS Parents, if your child gets to school LATER THAN

8:40am a parent/guardian MUST SIGN THEM IN at

the Office so the Roll can be adjusted. Thank you

for your cooperation. .

UNIFORM SHOP OPENING HOURS TUESDAY mornings 8:30—9:00am THURSDAY afternoons 2:30—3:00pm

After school

conversation…

Do you often find yourself on the way home

from school in the afternoon listening to

every moan and groan about your child’s

school day? Sometimes we can

unintentionally develop a pattern where the

question, ‘So how was your day?’ is met with negative

responses, whinges and complaints.

On a daily basis, this not only makes us feel concerned and

worried about how our child is going at school, but also

pretty frazzled! Most often, your child’s day has not been

that bad at all, but as their safe and trusted parent/carer, they

are saving the worst stories of the day just for you!

Listening to our child’s worries is important, but it’s equally

important that we teach them to focus on what has gone well

in their day.

Try starting the trip home with some of these questions

instead and notice the difference it makes:

What was the best thing that happened today?

Give me the two top things that you did at school today.

What made you laugh today?

What did you learn today that you didn’t know yesterday?

What made you smile today?

Lisa Mueller - Social Worker

To celebrate Autism Awareness Day on Sunday 2nd

April, we would like to once again support the day in a

small way by inviting staff and students to wear

something BLUE on Monday 3rd April (Week 10).

We have a number of students in our school who have

an Autism diagnosis and it is just a small way to

acknowledge this fact.

Please encourage the students to wear an item of blue

for the day.

Perth Running Club: St Michael’s

We focus on running technique for cross country season in Term 2. For kids in Year 1-6, every Tuesday, May 2 to June 20, 7.30 - 8.15am, at the BIC. $80/child (if paid by Apr 23), $90/child

(if paid by Apr 24). LIMITED SPOTS! Registration: https://goo.gl/forms/SfcVVd4JqkWYsYUI2 or email: info@perthrunningclub.com.au

P&F News Hello St Michael’s Families, It seems strange that we are writing for the first time this year, but we have all been so busy it’s been hard to find the time!! A few updates from our recent P&F meeting, held on Monday 20th March:

We welcomed our new committee members:

President: Bree Jennings Treasurer: Rebecca Dwyer Secretary: Melissa Kroon Fundraising Coordinator: Sarah Payne Board Representative: Amanda Versace Parish Representative: Fran Velardo

**Thank you, and welcome to all our committee members for 2017! A big thank you to Ali Faraone, who has put up her hand to coordinate this year’s Book Fair. Thanks to Carolyn Jess, who has done a FABULOUS job the last few years. The fundraising committee welcomes it’s new coordinator, Sarah Payne. A fundraising meeting will be held shortly to discuss ideas for 2017. Big thanks to Laura Roberts (Year 1 mum) who came along to talk to the P&F about our mission and future goals. St Michael’s netball is running again this year. If you can help in any way (coaching, umpiring) please see this year’s coordinator, Luisa Sanfilippo. Dave Kelly, our local Labor MP has pledged $10,000 to all local schools as part of Labor’s commitment to education. St Michael’s put in a submission for this grant and we are now waiting on distribution of those funds. Footy Tipping is well under way at St Michael’s, with the first round already complete. Get involved through Rebecca Dwyer and GOOD LUCK! The P&F are involved in Laurie Bechelli’s Principal review, as part of his 8-year contract agreement. P&F approved the following spending: Levelled Literacy Intervention (guided reading program) for years 1-6 ($19 061) As always, we thank you for your continued support and welcome everyone at our monthly P&F meetings. Thanks, St Michael’s P&F

AFL Footy Tipping 2017 A big shout out to all our terrific St Michaels’ families…..we

have a record 51 members for this year’s footy tipping

competition and I am so pleased to see such a huge range of

participants as well, from students to grandparents, mums and

dads, teachers, our principal, family members from interstate

and a loyal parish member who is always among the first to

join each year.

Round 1 of 2017 started with a huge bang, with the highlight

of the weekend for me being the AFLW Grand Final

(amazing) and awesome role models for all young people

aspiring to Aussie Rules success. Tiger Dustin Martin showed

his muscle, we had a potentially heartbreaking injury for St

Kilda, the comeback story I’ve been waiting for, a surprise

package Port Adelaide beating Sydney at home as well as

player trade wins in Jordan Lewis, Travis Cloke, Drew Petrie

and Sam Mitchell. There were some shake ups with a loss at

home for the Dockers and North Melbourne’s inaccuracy cost

them against Josh Kennedy’s bag of 7 straight goals.

Our lucky weekly winner for the first round was…..Sheedy

(that’s me) – thanks to my Bombers!

Remember to get your tips registered on the website before

the start of the games….there are a number of Thursday night

matches again this season, so don’t get caught out.

Please keep the registration forms and fees rolling in and if

you have any questions at all, feel free to contact me via

westernblueplumbingperth@gmail.com

Happy Days!

Bec Dwyer (Sheedy)

Assistant Principals’ Update PROJECT COMPASSION As we move through the Lenten season, we encourage our families to think about those less fortunate than ourselves, and encourage children to make small sacrifices for the good of others. Thank you to those who have already donated generously to support the good work of Caritas Australia through Project Compassion. You can continue to hand your donations in to school till the end of this term. PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL Closing date for applications: 4th May, 2017. Forms available from Mrs Lola Stewart, who will enter online. Categories are: solo, duet, vocal, instrumental. WINTER UNIFORM Parents, a reminder that the wearing of winter uniform commences in Term 2. While we have a two week “grace period” for the transition, it is expected that all children will be properly attired in correct winter uniform by the beginning of Week 3. A full list of the uniform can be found on the school website under the “enrolments” tab. Please start to check over the children’s winter uniforms now, and see Mrs Swindale in the Uniform Shop (Tuesdays 8:30-9:00am and Thursdays 2:30-3:00pm) to discuss any items your child may need. Lisa Liebregts & Jacquie Fox

COMMUNITY NEWS School Banking

Give your child a head start in money matters!

The deposit wallet is to be placed in each classroom

inside the CBA grey satchels each Wednesday for

collection and return. Please check your child’s school

bag to make sure that the deposit wallet has been

processed and returned. In the event that the deposit

wallet has not been returned the same day each

Wednesday, please check with your respective class

teacher. In the event that your child arrives late at

school, and the CBA grey satchels have been

collected, please come and see us at the work room at

the back of the school library (only up to 9.55am) to

drop off your banking wallets or with money to be

banked accordingly as per your instructions if you

have forgotten your wallets , but still wish to make a

deposit.

In 2017 all Students who open a New CBA Youth

Saver Account and commence banking at St

Michael’s in 2017 for the first time, will receive a

once off amount of $5.00 to be deposited into the

same account and to be processed at the end of

each term from the St Michael’s P&F.

TO MAKE ONE DEPOSIT PER MONTH - In

order to ensure that your child’s Youthsaver account

earns bonus interest on top of the standard interest you

must make at least one deposit per month.

Calling for School Banking Volunteers! - Please

confirm your interest in volunteering for this great

program by contacting me on details provided.

Jordana, School Banking Coordinator 0405829869

or r@jrgroup.com.au

ST JOSEPH’S PARISH NEWS St Joseph’s 24:7 Bassendean Youth Group Next meeting is on the 31st March 6.30-8.30pm in the Parish Hall For all youth in Years 6-12. For more info call Amanda 0421 144 992 or Samuel 0474 310 944

Perth Children’s Hospital Volunteers

Since 1929, the volunteer presence at Princess Margaret Hospital has

been extremely important to the experience that our patients and

families have during their time here. Their concern for people and

their ability to create an atmosphere of friendliness and goodwill is

invaluable. With the exciting move to the world class Perth Children’s

Hospital we are expanding the volunteer team and we are recruiting

now for a variety of roles. If you are aged 18+, and want to make a

positive difference to the lives of children and their families who visit

the hospital then we would like to hear from you. You can download

an application form from our website: http://

www.cahs.health.wa.gov.au/help_us/volunteers_pmh.htm . Once an

application has been received you will be asked for interview and if

successful will commence induction and training. We are looking for

people who can commit to a minimum of 4 hours per week (1 shift).

If you need further information contact Andy Wahid, Coordinator

Volunteer Services 08 9340 8716 or email

andy.wahid@health.wa.gov.au

ST MARY’S SCHOOL NEWS

Save the date: St Mary’s School, Northampton, cordially invites past

students, families and staff to celebrate 150 year of Catholic education

in Northampton. The celebration will take place next year, 13th and

14th April 2018. We are currently collecting a variety of

memorabilia, if you have any special items that you think would be of

interest, please contact us. Photos will be appreciated. RSVP via

email: hasleby.maree@cathednet.wa.edu.au or phone 99341112.