Dear Parents and Care Givers, This week is our last week of school prior to the Easter holidays. This week we celebrate Holy Week which began on Palm Sunday, with Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Later in the week we celebrate Holy Thursday where Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples, Good Friday commemorating the crucifixion of our Lord and Easter Sunday celebrating his resurrection. I would encourage all families to take the opportunity to attend Church services during Holy Week as a way of sharing these events with your children. Parents and Friends are welcome to join us for our Holy Week Play for Prep to Year 4 on Wednesday 1st April at 9am in the Church. Palm Sunday Mass Thank you so much to all the students, staff and parents who came along on Sunday to celebrate Palm Sunday with our parish. It was wonderful to see so many people present.

Prep 2016 We are now taking enrolments for Prep in 2016. I would ask all existing families to please collect an enrolment package as soon as possible as I will begin interviews in Term 2. If you know of any families looking at enrolling at St Michael’s,

please ask them to contact the office for an enrolment package. School Holidays

The Easter Vacation begins on Thursday 2nd April at 2.55pm School resumes on

Monday 20th April. P&F Social Function A huge thanks to Kylie Smith for her organization and coordination of the P&F Pool Party. Also thanks to all the helpers who assisted on the night. It was a great community building event. Holy Week Services at St Michael’s Parish Holy Thursday—7.30pm Good Friday—9.00am Stations of the Cross Service will be using posters made by the children. Come along and see the great work done by our students. 3.00pm Liturgy of the Passion of our Lord Easter Saturday Night—7.00pm Mass Easter Sunday Morning—8.00am Mass and 10.00am Papua New Guinea Mass at St Michael’s Church. Please give serious consideration to attending one of these services to honour the death and resurrection of Jesus.

From the Principal From the Principal From the Principal Term 1 Week 10Term 1 Week 10Term 1 Week 10

Prayer for the Week Prayer for Holy Week

Father,

This week we recall the last events

in the life of Your Son, leading up to his crucifixion and death.

Grant us the strength to perfectly follow his teachings,

and imitate his actions, So that we might serve him fully,

and share eternal life with all the saints. We pray in his name. Amen.

Thank you for your support,

Lea Martin

Email: principal.gordonvale@cns.catholic.edu.au

A/Hours 0427 118 522

Year 5/6 Camp Our senior students will be heading off to their annual camp at Lake Tinaroo from Tuesday 31st March to Thursday 2nd April. Thanks to the staff who will be giving up their time to attend camp with the students.

Date Claimer Parent Education Sessions on supporting your child in the area of Maths will be held on Tuesday 19

th May. Our presenter will be Dot

Shea who is a guru of the Cairns Diocese in the teaching and learning of maths. Please keep this date available.

Additional Yearly Levy St Michael’s School uses the PAT testing program which provides standardized testing for students. This information is essential to track and monitor student progress. PAT Resource Centre provides online support to teachers which gives information around intervention strategies to assist student learning and progress. The cost per student from Year 2-6 for this will be $7 which will be added to your Term 2 school fee account. The information provided will be invaluable in allowing teachers to individualise work for children.

Dance fever Next term all students will participate in the Dancefever program which fulfills our requirements in the area of Dance in the subject, the Arts. This program will run on Tuesdays throughout Term 2 and culminate in a performance for parents. A huge thanks to the P&F who subsidize the cost of this program for parents.

Michael Mangan Concert On Thursday 30th April at 1.40pm one of our favourite writers of religious music will present a concert for our students. This will be lots of fun and parents are welcome to come along and join in.

Mothers Day Stall

The donation day will be FRIDAY 1st May

and the Mothers Day Stall will be TUESDAY

5th May. A huge thanks to Ngaire Shelley

for her organization of this stall.

Bravehearts Presentation Our students will have a Bravehearts Presentation on Thursday 7th May at 10am. The aim of this is to promote child safety within our community. Parents are welcome to attend.

Important Dates Term 2 20 April—School resumes 21 April—Dancefever begins—every Tuesday for the term 25 April—Anzac Day 30 April—Michael Mangan Concert 1 May—Mothers Day Stall Donation Day 5 May—Mothers Day Stall 7th May—Bravehearts Presentation at 10am 10 May—Mothers Day 11 May—St Monica’s & St Augustine’s visit at 8.45am 12-14 May—NAPLAN Testing 18 May—Prep & Year 1 Puppet Show—Healthy Eating 19 May—Parent Education Sessions on Maths with Dot Shea 22 May— Pentecost Whole School Mass 27 May—National Simultaneous Storytime Day 29 May—Yr 3-6 Trial Day @ Johnson Park 3 June—Student Principal for a Day 8 June—Queens Birthday Holiday 12 June—School Disco & P-2 Athletics Carnival 19 June—Yr 3-6 Athletics Carnival @ Johnson Park 23 June—Confirmation 26 June—Last day of term

Principal Awards James Pike—helped packed up after cross country Brodie Ferguson and Rhys Quirk - caring for new student Gaige Vella and Hayden Clarke —always offering to help and assist adults

Community Prayers We continue to pray for my cousin Peter who is battling cancer. If anyone has anything which they would like mentioned in our community prayers, please let me know.

Thank you for your support,

Lea Martin

Email: principal.gordonvale@cns.catholic.edu.au

From the Principal cont’From the Principal cont’From the Principal cont’

APRE NEWS

PALM SUNDAY: Many thanks to the

families who came to celebrate Palm

Sunday. It was lovely to see the children

dressed up and joining in the procession.

The choir sang beautifully- thanks to Mrs

Kylie Schmerl for her assistance.

HOLY WEEK: With the senior students on camp next

week, the Preps-Grade 4s will be putting on a Holy Week

play. We would love parents, carers and family members to

join us.

Wednesday at 9:00am.

HAPPY EASTER: I hope that you all

have a wonderful Easter break together as a

family and create priceless memories

together.

Happy Easter,

Lyndal Rick

Chess Calling All Parents

The Chess Club will recommence in

Term 2. Any parents interested in

helping with coaching the students

to improve their skills please contact

Elizabeth Wyatt, Learning Support, at

the school. The club will meet weekly

and hopes to participate in an

interschool competition through the

term

Email ewyatt1@cns.catholic.edu.au

Thank you for your support,

Lea Martin

Email: principal.gordonvale@cns.catholic.edu.au

A/Hours 0427 118 522

Administration News

WoooooHoooooo!!! Guess who won the best

energy saver this week, oh yeh!! The

Administration Office. Sparky and I have had

a little chat and he is wanting to come on

camp with the Year 5/6 students, this week.

We will send photos daily to Mrs Gawley for

all to see Sparky and the Children learning the St Michael’s

way! Have a wonderful Easter Break, looking forward to a visit

from the Easter Bunny and reflecting on Holy Week this week.

School Fees must be finalized before the 2nd April. Families

who are on direct debit hopefully will not receive the first and

second reminder next term. I will be doing a bit of twigging

over the holidays. Please contact the office if you are

experiencing any financial hardship.

Absent/Late Children/Specialists/Visitors and Volunteers

MUST be reported to the Administration Office at all times

This is a legal requirement for Health and Safety. Please be

mindful when emailing or phoning in sick children to note your

child/children’s class number eg 3A, 5B, Prep A etc.

Please update your email, phone numbers or change of address

constantly with Dorina or Justine for correspondence. Emailing

or phoning this information is perfect.

Enrolments for 2016 Dorina has started to ring families for an

interview for Prep 2016. Please ensure that you have your

enrolment package completed and to the office to arrange an

appointment. They are taking place next term. Don’t miss out!

SCHOOL PHOTOS ran smoothly last Thursday, thank you

for your help with this. We are expecting to have them return

to the school for distribution in week 5 of Term 2.

Have a wonderful week!

Fletcher Thomas sporting a

medallion for the Futsal

“Firecrackers” at the PCYC

Edmonton Under 7’s., they

made the semi-finals but were

defeated

8-1. Archie & Charlie

Dunstone are members of the

team too. Well done boys!

Cairns Penny Term Award

Ava Horsfall

CALENDAR 2015

Term 1 30th St Michael’s Angels Finals @ Bentley Park, 4.30pm game players need to be there at 4pm 31st School Camp Year 5 & 6 Compulsory Curriculum April 1st Holy week P-4 Church @ 9.00am 2nd Last Day Term 1 Year 5/6 School Camp Returns before 3pm 3rd Good Friday 3rd Stations of the Cross @ 9.00am Church Mass Liturgy of the Passion of our Lord @ 3.00pm Church Mass 4th Easter Saturday Night Mass @ 7.00pm Church Mass 5th Easter Sunday Morning Mass @ 8am Papua New Guinea Mass @ 10am

Church Mass. 6th Easter Monday Term 2 Dance Fever Program Begins 2016 Prep Enrolments Begin April 20th School Resumes 25th Anzac Day March starts outside front GSS 9am 28th P&F Meeting @ 5.30pm 30th Michael Mangan Concert May 10th Mother’s Day 11th St Monica’s School Visit 8.45am 12/13/14th NAPLAN TESTING 19th P&F Meeting @ 5.30pm 22nd Pentecost Mass Whole School 25th National Simultaneous Storytime Day 29th Trial Day 3-6 Athletics Johnson Park June 8th Queens Birthday Public Holiday 12th P-2 Athletics Carnival St Michael’s School 12th Report Cards sent home—Fees must be finalized P&F Social Disco 16th P&F Meeting @ 5.30pm 19th 3-6 Athletics Carnival Johnson Park 23rd Confirmation 26th Last Day Term 2 Term 3 July 13th School Resumes 16th CTJ Day Pupil Free Day 17th Cairns Show Holiday Public Holiday 21st P&F Meeting @ 5.30pm 27th Catholic Education Week Aug 7th Fowlers Netta Carnival 8-10year old 14th Assumption Mass Whole School 24th Book Fair/Book Week 28th Fowlers Cup 12/U Sept 4th Ballgames Carnival Year 1-6 6th Father’s Day 11th Gala Day Carnival Yr4-6 13th First Eucharist

18th Jim Graham & Mary Mill Cup Last Day of Term 3

1st Apr Odin D’Orchimont

Seth Real Cook

Averie Snoad

4th Apr Billie Dean

Braydon Hutchins

Syndia Thao

5th Apr Sam Grauf

Jordi Stowers

6th Apr Coby Cream

8th Apr Talisha Steinberg

9th Apr Regina Thao

10th Apr Rylee Whitby

12th Apr Jasmin Maggs

Mati Rollason

15th Apr Tiggy Crockford

Tia Molony

16th Apr Maddilyn Allan

Flynn Way

18th Nakoda Schaible

19th Kasey Schmerl

Piper Schmerl

Prep A Talan Clarke

For persistently doing his best! He is a

happy and enthusiastic learner at school.

Talan is a Champ!

Prep B Phoebe Bloomfield

For her fantastic getting along skills and

having the ability to make everyone happy

Aiden Stroud

For his persistent approach to all learning

tasks in the classroom

Year 1A Zac Northage

For showing excellent persistence and

trying your best in all that you do

Kristina Jabien-Stone

For always following the St Michael's Way

and setting a good example for your peers

Year 1B Stevie Spilstead

For following the St Michael’s Way,

getting along and trying hard. Well done!

Year 2A Rylan Dennis

For working really hard on your writing and

neatness, fantastic Rylan. Keep up the

hard work

Year 3A Amali Hillman

For always striving to do your best with

your work. You are a hard worker!

Year 3B Zoe Van Drie

For wonderful writing this week. I really

enjoyed reading your work!

Year 4A Corey De Gregorio

Making a big effort in making new

friendships

Sophie Worsnop

Emily Sues

Taking the initiative and helping a class

member complete their work

Year 5A Rickell Andrews

For her focus on her work. You have been

a star this week!

Year 5B Kelly Carter

For your excellent efforts in all learning

areas throughout the term

Danielle Worsnop

For displaying an organised, conscientious

approach to all learning activities

Year 6A Darcy Henderson

For your persistence in completing all your

assessment tasks on time and with great

effort!

Year 6B Cordeau Jackson Singleton

Settling into St Michael’s with confidence

and shoeing excellent organisation!

Prep A Rabea Watters

Reads with confidence! Reads with “zing

and gusto” A keen reader

Prep B Lyla Penrigh

Wow! What a great reader—so so

confident

Year 1A Tino Madero

For reading with confidence. You are

reading every night! Well done!

Year 2A Kia Greenwood

For being a keen and enthusiastic reader.

Keep up the great reading Kai!

Year 2B Ryan Hanselmann

For your great effort in guided reading.

Well done!

Year 3A Mason Walsh

For consistently reading every night. Great

effort!

Year 3B Caitlin Hudson

For reading consistently every night. Well

done!

Year 5A Marlgun Wagner

For his great home reading

Year 5B Alister Maltby

For being an entertaining reader

Year 6B Jessica Giddens

For taking an extra challenge during a

reading assessment

This term in Year 3A for Geography the students have been learning all about the states, territories and capital cities in Australia. The students have also looked at the different landforms in Australia. The students have learnt about Uluru, the Twelve Apostles, The Great Australian Bight, The Great Dividing Range and many more. The students made a large map of Australia and they also learnt how to add map elements such as a border, compass, legend, title and scale. The maps have turned out great and the students had so much fun creating them.

This term, Miss Evans (3A) and Mrs Drew (4A) have

been running an Inside Friendly Club during first break on

Mondays. This is open to all students from Year 2 to Year

6 to participate. We have had a great response, with many

students across the 5 year levels coming along and being

involved in the different activities on offer each week.

The students are getting to know each other across year

levels and are learning to build relationships. So far the

students have completed activities such as drawing and

paper craft. For our last session this term, the students

have finished off their Easter baskets that they had started

last week. The students were also lucky enough to

receive a little Easter surprise for the end of term! We will

continue to offer the Inside Friendly Club again in Term

2.

The Arts News

Tickets are now on sale for ANZAC Reflections in St Monica’s Cathedral on Tuesday 21st April and Wednesday 22nd April. See the attached add for more details. This is a celebration of the 100 year commemoration for ANZAC day in which students from our Catholic schools throughout Cairns have combined to present a show of singing and music. Five of St Michael’s students are involved with Mrs Schmerl in these shows. They are Chloe Davison, Caitlin Richards, Kasey Smith, Lydia Taylor and Lydia Ziegler. They have been involved in rehearsals at St Andrew’s and will have more before we perform at St Andrew’s and St Monica’s Cathedral. These students have a great opportunity to meet other Catholic school students from around Cairns and be involved in a music performance that will be a poignant yet spectacular reminder of what the ANZACS have done for all of us. Please purchase tickets to one of the three performances and be part of the 100 year commemoration of our ANZACS. You will also get to see an ANZAC song which will be making it’s debut at these performances.

James Pike

Brodie Ferguson

Rhys Quirk

Gaige Vella

Hayden Clarke

St Michael’s Church Parish No: 40561187

Office No: 40563313

For all enquiries regarding Baptism for children or adults. Please contact Fr Jude on 40561187

Email : stmichaelsparish@cairns.catholic.org.au

TYC Awesome Autumn Drama School 5yrs - 13yrs

Spin along to TYC for our Awesome Autumn Drama

School (5yrs - 13yrs) Holiday Programs. Get your training gear

on for Program 1: Quidditch Cup: Let the Games Begin (7/4

– 10/4, 9am – 3pm, Cairns City) with special guest costume artist

Hayley Gillespie. Search through the live source code

with Program 2: Minecraft: Return of Herobrine (13/4 –

16/4, 9am – 3pm, Cairns City). Explore acting, costumes,

lighting, sound and multimedia elements, finishing with a

creative performance on the final afternoon. Learn the essen-

tials of stage performance through improvisation, role-play

and characterization activities and then perform in front of a

live audience with costumes, sets, props, sound effects, live

projections and theatrical lighting!! For more information

phone 40414066, email info@theyoungcompany.com.au or

visit our website www.theyoungcompany.com.au.

mailto:info@theyoungcompany.com.auhttp://www.theyoungcompany.com.au/

Get your family active and eating well

Local families can now sign up

the free healthy lifestyle

program called PEACH™ -

Parenting, Eating and Activity

for Child Health. Registrations

are now open for a group to

commence in Cairns in term 2,

2015.

The program is fun for kids and helps parents and carers make

healthy eating and activity a part of every-day life. It is available to

families with a child aged between 5-11 years who is above a

healthy weight their age.

It consists of 10 group sessions that run for 90 minutes each in

Edge Hill Primary School. The first 9 sessions are held weekly

within the school term. Ongoing individualised family support is

offered through the second half of the program ending with one

final group session.

Some of the topics covered include nutrition skills, relationships

with food and eating, changing family lifestyle behaviours

and making healthy eating affordable. While the parent

sessions are taking place, children enjoy active play with a

trained child physical activity facilitator.

The program is funded by the Queensland government and

being delivered by the Queensland University of

Technology.

If you would like more information about the PEACH™

program or to register please contact free call 1800 263 519

or visit www.peachqld.com.au

http://www.peachqld.com.au