THE A to Z OF STARTING SCHOOL

Starting school is a huge milestone for all of us and this year at the Primary Campus our Reception students have risen to the challenge with great resilience. Stories help us make sense of the world and early readers and learning your letters is helped with the use of rhyme. In  2021, someone I cannot remember who – had an idea about a picture book that would help our young learners feel welcome and settle in.

So, last year we asked all the illustrators (students) in our school to draw a picture that matched a letter of the alphabet, a letter that we used to tell a story about our school.  We then were fortunate to engage the services of a local artist named Kate O’Reilly who designed the front and back covers, all the lettering, and an outstanding pullout page in the middle of the book that highlights the special learning spaces in our school. The words were written by some of the teachers with the idea that they (mostly) rhymed and would help students remember some of the new routines and expectations at school.

It was quite a big project and the finished product is a result of everyone involved working together. Thank you to all the students who helped illustrate the book. We hope that the Reception students of 2022  and their families enjoy sharing the stories and pictures and making a few memories of their own.

Ms Joanne Gilmore, Director of Teaching & Learning (Primary)

#always learning

A VIRTUAL WELCOME LITURGY THAT ENCOURAGES US TO BE PRESENT TO EACH OTHER IN A REAL WAY

This pandemic has made us understand that isolation and social distance are necessary; but loneliness and fear should not be. Despite not being able to gather as a whole school community physically, we are reminded that the beginning of a new school year is special and so is celebrating together, albeit virtually.

On Friday 11 February St Michael’s Primary extended a warm invitation to staff, students and their parents to celebrate together our virtual Welcome Liturgy, encouraging us to be present to each other in a real way. As Christians we are invited to be like Simon Peter and his friends (Luke 5:1-11) who join Jesus to look for the people to do God’s work. We are invited to bring God’s hope to others, to show them a generous hand and a kind heart, and to help them believe in a brighter future. We envision wonderful things for the children entrusted to our care.

May this Liturgy be a message of hope and resilience for us all, sustained by God’s constant presence and love.

Please click here https://youtu.be/18yL4KOSF9I for the Welcome Liturgy. You may wish to celebrate together as a family, maybe invite your children’s grandparents to this special gathering. To prepare the prayer space, you could light a candle.

Prayer of Hope

Loving God, you promise to be with us always.

You gave us your son, Jesus, who, through his words and deeds, showed us how to live a hope-filled life.

Inspired by his message, may we be willing to shine this light of hope to others so that we can all find joy and promise in our lives and look to a brighter tomorrow.

Amen.

The Readers of the Prayer of the Faithful in the Welcome Liturgy

From left to right: Sotiri Tsaconas (6M), Daniel Romano (6B), James Del Bono (6M), Hunter Marr (6B), and Frank Marino (6M).

Luke 5:1-11 Jesus Calls the First Disciples (Altar, School Chapel, 1954)

Having a visual representation of Luke’s Gospel reading encourages dialogue. A series of activities further enhances children’s understanding of the Bible story and meaning.

St Michael the Archangel (Lead lighting window, Chapel) watching over our students

Saint Michael is an archangel, a spiritual warrior in the battle of good versus evil. He is considered a champion of justice, a healer of the sick, and the guardian of the Church and its people. In art Saint Michael is depicted with a sword, a banner, or scales, and is often shown defeating Satan in the form of a snake or dragon.

Reception Children’s Acknowledgement of Country

Helping our small children to gain a sense of belonging and respect for the traditional owners of our country.
We would like to acknowledge Tina Albert from Lifelong Learning Centres https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSa- for inspiring this children’s Acknowledgement of Country.

Ms Patrizia Puglia, Director Religion and Spirituality (Primary)