From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

Another eventful week has passed us here at St Michael's and we have been enjoying our SMASH weeks activities. More information about SMASH weeks here.

Many families have asked about the arrangements for Mrs Meredith's Bennett's funeral. These details have been released through a separate letter through Operoo today. We ask all families to please read the letter as it also includes information about the school day and the supervision of our children. Please feel free to see me regarding any concerns with this day.

Opening School Mass

Tomorrow, Friday 10th February, at 10am, we invite all families to come and celebrate the beginning of the school year with us at St Michael's Church. This is our first opportunity to gather as a community to celebrate the coming year. Please join with us at this time.

Parish and School Enhancement Session

Despite the inclement weather, we had a number of parents turn up to our Enhancement Session last Saturday.  Many parishioners also turned up to assist inside the church and in the gardens around the church. We were able to do a lot of clearing of overgrown bushes and garden beds. If you haven't seen the gardens behind the Year 5/6 classrooms on Morotai Ave, it's worth a look! Thank you to the parents who attended and supported the school in this venture.

Future Enhancement Sessions will be held on the following dates. Please note that these dates and times are subject to change, but we will attempt to give sufficient advanced notice:

Happy News

We are delighted to inform you that two of our staff will soon have new additions to their families! Mrs Lyn O'Brien and Mrs Josie Sproule-Carroll are both expecting a child in the next few months. Mrs O'Brien and Mrs Josie Sproule-Carroll will both take leave from St Michael's at the end of Term 1, which concludes on Thursday 6th April. We have been fortunate to have had their wealth of knowledge and experience in their teaching of our students and we wish them both every happiness with the next chapter in their family's lives.

We are currently advertising for a replacement teacher for two days per week in 5/6B to work with Mrs Katrina Balzat. We are also advertising for a Performing Arts teacher two days per week. We hope to notify parents and carers of replacement staff as soon as the process has been completed. New staff members will be inducted into the positions with the support of myself, Mrs Eloise Ellis and other leaders in the school. Mrs Sproule-Carroll will also work with our new Performing Arts teacher to hand over the program, and, most importantly, details about St Michael's school production which will be showcased later this year. 

Parents and Carers are welcome to make contact with me at any time should you have any questions or require any clarification about any changes in staffing.

Assemblies

It was wonderful last Friday to have so many parents at our first assembly for the year. The Year 6s introduced their Prep buddies and then Year 6s were presented with their Leadership badges and Rugby tops. A busy schedule for the Senior students last week! The following timetable is the dates of all our assemblies for 2023. These are held on Friday afternoons every second week, from 2.40pm. We look forward to seeing you there.

St Michael's Open Days 2023

It seems so early but prospective 2024 enrolments will be looking to visit very soon. St Michael's Open Day dates are as follows. If you know anyone looking for Prep 2024, please encourage them to visit St Michael's. Tours are available throughout the following dates, however please let your neighbours, family members, friends know that I am happy to take tours at an arranged time that is suitable for them and my diary! 

 Families and Buddy Families BBQ

We welcome all our Prep families to come to meet other families at our Prep and Buddy BBQ on Thursday 16th February, from 5.30pm. This is a chance to meet other Prep parents and get to know your buddy families as well. An Operoo notice about this event will be released shortly. Please RSVP via Operoo when available. 

Year 3-6 Swimming

From Monday 6th February, students in Years 3-6 commence swimming lessons at the Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre. Students will walk to and from the pool. Please see details for this on Operoo and ensure you have given your child permission to attend.

Timetable of lessons and class times: 

Prep Students' Rest Days

Prep parents please be aware that Prep Rest days will be held on the following Wednesdays: 

Wednesday 15th February 

Wednesday 22nd February

Wednesday 1st March

Wednesday 8th March

PARENT / TEACHER / CHILD CONVERSATIONS 

We hope you have had the opportunity to see the Timetable that has been loaded onto Operoo regarding Parent / Teacher / Child Conversations. These will be held on Wednesday 22nd February from 12.30-7.30pm. You can book your times through Operoo. In order that we can hold these, school will finish on that day at 12.00 noon for Conversations to commence from 12.30pm.

CSEF Eligibility

If you are eligible for the Camps, Sports, Excursions Fund (CSEF), please make contact with the school office at your convenience. If you receive a Carer Allowance on behalf of a child, or any other benefit or allowance not income tested, you may be eligible. If you are unsure, make contact to find out.

CHILD SAFE PRACTICES - Working with Children Checks 

St Michael’s School is committed to providing a child safe environment and takes active steps to ensure any person authorised to conduct ‘child connected works’ does not pose a risk to their safety or welfare. To achieve this, the school implements screening processes, including Working With Children Checks (WWCC), to assess and verify their suitability. 

St Michael’s School ensures that non-teaching staff, contractors, volunteers and visitors are of suitable character and do not have a relevant criminal record that poses an unjustifiable risk to children. 

Teaching Staff & Casual Relief Teachers who are registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) undergo criminal record checks via their annual registration.

Anaphylaxis at St Michael's 

Just a reminder to all our families that we ask you to be mindful when packing food for your child that you please avoid packing nuts themselves and foods which contain traces of nuts, for the safety of all our students with anaphylaxis. Of course, if foods are accidentally packed for students, we understand this can happen and will manage this accordingly on the day. St Michael's School Hours

For new parents and as a reminder to existing parents...