Dear Parents and Caregivers

I hope you have all had a wonderful week. This week we felt the energy as all students returned to school. Our timetable returned a sense of normality and teachers were fully engaged in class-based teaching, engaging the students face-to-face. On Monday, we found out about a great act of kindness our students were part of over the weekend. Read the Assistant Principal section to find out more. Thank you to Dave Parson, our Board Chair, who has written a thoughtful letter to the school community on the behalf of the board thanking the parents and teachers for their efforts. You can read it in the School News section.

This week, the Catholic community celebrated the 5^th anniversary of Laudato Sí, a letter from the Pope calling on the community to care for creation. Laudato Si’ teaches us that “everything is connected.” During this extraordinary moment, Catholics everywhere are uniting to reflect, pray, and prepare for a better future together. The Year 6 class have made posters to promoting ideas of how students can care for the Earth at school. To find out more about Laudito Sí week, visit https://laudatosiweek.org/

Yesterday Catholics celebrated the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ. The Ascension occurred 40 days after Jesus had surprised the Apostles with his Resurrection. Throughout the Bible, the number 40 is used many times. It often represents a time of transition or transformation. How timely for us to reflect on the changes that have occurred and how school life has been transformed over the last 40 days.  The students from the early years have grown in confidence. They have relished the opportunity to be independent; walking from the gate to the class, putting their bag on the hook and getting ready for the day. For the older students, the situation has prompted many to start walking or riding to school, making those first steps towards becoming independent. I am sure this has been a challenging time for parents as they make that first ride or walk on their own. Well done to all the students riding their bikes to school for being safe and following road rules.

As always, thank you to everyone for your patience at pick-up. This week the Year 5 and Year 6 students moved to pick-up on the Hamilton St. This reduced the traffic on James St and the time taken. We are usually all finished by 3:10pm. Next week, Year 4 students and their siblings can also be picked up from Hamilton St too. We recommend if there is a sibling in Preprimary or Year 1, they continue to be picked up from James St.

A reminder that due to COVID our canteen and uniform shop are only available online. This week we had some disappointed students who tried to bring money in for ice-cups. Lunch, recess and ice-cup orders must all go through the online store. Please visit quickliq.com.au to register and make orders.  

This week the government released information around upcoming reports. States and systems have been given flexibility in the way they report for this semester. Students will not be assessed against the 5 point system (A-E) but will have an interim report with information on a 3 point system (working towards the standard, working at the standard, working above the standard). More information will be sent to parents on Monday.

As restrictions continue to be eased, it was great to receive news that Priests are now allowed on school grounds. Fr Son will be thrilled to be able to see the students. He has mentioned in his messages on our virtual assemblies how much he is missing them. You can see this week’s assembly here.

Warm regards,

Ryan Powles
Acting Principal

principal@stmichaelsbass.wa.edu.au.