From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back to Term 2!

We hope you all enjoyed a restful and prayerful Easter Triduum, followed by the wonder of Easter Sunday with your families and friends. We continue in the Easter Season now until the feast of Pentecost so our Sunday readings are filled with the joy of the resurrection and the astonishment of all those who encountered Jesus during this special time. 

Please note that weekly Parish mass times will now be located each week on our School Hours / Timetable page in our newsletter. 

Lord, 

We thank you Lord, for the courage and sacrifice of the ANZACS almost 100 years ago. As we remember those who have fallen in battle, we give thanks to you, gracious God, for their great sacrifices in conflict and in captivity. They gave their lives for peace and freedom.

St Michael's Enrolment Information Evening

We welcome all families who are enrolling their children at St Michael's School, and those wishing to enrol, to come to an information session next Wednesday evening in the school Hub. During this time, we will share our vision of St Michael's School and share some of our programs and plans for the future. If you know someone looking to enrol, neighbours, friends, whoever, please invite them to join us.

Kinder Kids Reading Time

Each year we welcome children from our local kindergartens to St Michael's to read with our Senior children. This is a fun, relaxed reading time where children from our local kindergartens are welcome to come and be a part of our community. This term, there will be two sessions: 

Tuesday 16th May, 8.50-9.45am 

Friday 16th June, 8.50-9.45am 

Parents are welcome to stay and enjoy a coffee / tea with some morning tea during this time. Three and Four Year Old Kinder Kids welcome!

Women's Brunch

Tickets to this fabulous annual event have been selling very quickly.  There are just a few seats still available, so please go to https://events.humanitix.com/st-michael-s-women-s-brunch-kms2yo81 now to secure your spot!

Easter raffle and Easter bunny visit

What a fabulous afternoon was had on the last day of term 1 with our annual Easter Hamper Raffle. It was amazing how Mrs Herbison won so many of the hampers!! 🤣😂 Many thanks to our Parents and Friends Association for organising and leading this event, one to which our children greatly look forward. We were so lucky to have a visit from the Easter Bunny before Easter Sunday. I guess it’s difficult to get around to everyone one day so we’re grateful we got to see the Easter Bunny that week.

Welcome Mr Paul Mitchell

As explained last term, Mr Paul Mitchell begins with us at St Michael’s this term in Five/Six B, with Mrs Katrina Balzat. Paul came for an induction day last term and met with the Five/Six team over the holidays for further education and planning. Paul also attended our Maths planning day on Monday of this week, again working alongside the Year Five/Six team. Paul comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience in teaching and we are delighted to have him onboard with us at St Michael’s School. Please join with me in making him feel welcome.

Hands On Music Program

Are you aware that your child can learn an instrument while at school? The Hands On Music program has trained teachers who teach a variety of instruments during the school day. Lessons can be taken during school hours, or, if parents prefer, during recess breaks or after school. See the flier for more details and the options of some FREE lessons here.

Media Arts and Music programs

We look forward this term to working with our students in the areas of Media Arts and Music and being able to share our learning with parents as the term progresses. As part of our History Inquiry during Term 2 we will investigate ways we can retell stories from our history with the use of modern technology. We look forward to making use of our Black Box theatre and the capabilities of the green screen and digital technologies to create visual representations of our learning. We will also be incorporating Music into our inquiry learning this term, responding and interpreting to music particularly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

Staff Retreat & Professional Learning - Closure Days Term 2 

Tuesday 13th June & Wednesday 14th June (after King's Birthday Long Weekend)

As you would no doubt be aware, Catholic Schools are given four days of the school year during which they undertake Professional Learning for the staff. These days are vital in that we are continually able to keep abreast of the latest research and developments in Education, in order that we can offer our students the best possible learning. 

Next term, St Michael's Staff will undertake two days of Spiritual Development and Professional Learning in the area of Religious Education. These days will be held on Tuesday 13th June & Wednesday 14th June.  We will be taking time to unpack some of the Gospels, delving deeper into how we can work with our students in making connections with these Gospels and our daily living. We will also take some time for our own spirituality, aligning our beliefs with the Eucharist, again making connections with this Sacred Sacrament and our daily lives. 

We hope that selecting the two days following the King's birthday this year, enables families to enjoy some time together over the long weekend and possibly have the chance to lengthen your long weekend if possible.

We have informed Extend of these dates and will inform parents about the availability for child minding onsite.

We thank you in anticipation of your support for the staff development programs along with your continued support for the St Michael's school community. 

Crossing High Street Safely

Last term I was notified that a number of families/children have been crossing High Street and not waiting for the whistle. As a number of cars on this day had continued through a red light we would like to remind our families of how dangerous this can be. We ask families to please remind children about crossing safety and to also set this example when we as adults cross with children. The reason for the whistle is to indicate that it's fully safe to cross the road.

Enhancing Catholic SchooI Identity (ECSI) surveys

Every four years our staff, parents and students are asked to complete surveys around how our Catholic identity is viewed in the community. As part of our School Improvement Review process, these surveys assist us in accomplishing the goal of understanding our current Catholic identity and where the school community might like to see itself in the future. Your thoughts in this area are essential in helping us understand what we are currently doing to promote our Catholic Identity at St Michael's and will support and guide us in our future actions. Can I please ask parents to consider completing the survey when you have the opportunity before Friday 28th April (after the school holidays). Thank you

Survey Access Code: v53S54 (case sensitive)

2024 Prep Enrolments

HAVE YOU ENROLLED YOUR CHILD FOR PREP 2024? If you have a child ready for Prep 2024, we encourage you to please put in an enrolment form as soon as you are able. This will help us with organisation purposes. To access an enrolment form:

• Drop into the school office to collect one
• Email office@smashburton.catholic.edu.au and ask for a form to be sent home
• Visit the Enrolment section of our school website and download a form

Open Days