From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

What a full week it's been at St Michael's this week!! Thank you for your participation in all the events in our week and we look forward to lots more happening as the term progresses.

Staff Changes

We inform parents of a few staff changes that are happening in the coming weeks and months.

Kelly from Extend leaves us at the end of this week to take up a full time director's position at Caulfield Grammar school. Kelly has been with St Michael's a little over two years and whilst we're so sorry to see her go, we wish her every happiness in her new venture. Extend is currently recruiting to fill her position and expect to have a replacement shortly.

Mrs Rana Ghopur, who works three days in our school office, also finishes at St Michael's in two weeks time. Rana has accepted an Office Administration position at Holy Family School in Mt Waverley with greater responsibilities. Rana has been with St Michael's since September of 2022 and we wish her every happiness in her new role at Holy Family. 

We are very happy to announce that Mrs Emma Quinless, our Learning Diversity Leader, is expecting an addition to her family in August. Emma will remain in the role until the end of Term 2 this year. We have been blessed to have Emma’s skill and knowledge in this role over the past 8 months and we wish her and her husband, Mik, all the very best with the arrival of their second child. 

St Michael’s School is currently advertising for a replacement in our School office and will make arrangements for a replacement in the Learning Diversity position in due course. Parents and Carers are welcome to make contact with me at any time should you have any questions or require any clarification about changes in staffing.

Basketball Courts - Victory Boulevard

I have noticed in recent weeks that some people are parking on the basketball courts on Victory Boulevard when running late to drop off children. Whilst we acknowledge when you are in a rush this seems like a good choice, I ask that you please do not do this as students access this entrance to come into school. It is vital that we do everything we can to ensure the safety of all our children and families on the St Michael’s site so please seek alternative parking spaces if you are running late.

Level Newsletters

Hopefully you had the chance to read the Year Level newsletters which were sent out last Friday via Operoo. These newsletters are designed to give you more detailed information about what is happening in your child’s class / level and to assist you with daily organisation, such as nightly reading and home learning tasks. You will also find information about what Inquiry Learning is happening in your child’s class and you can support this learning through discussions at home and external experiences you may have the opportunity to engage in together.

Ashburton Festival Cake Stall

We remind families that the Ashburton Festival is this Sunday, 26th February from 12-5pm. 

CAKE DROP OFF:

Sat 25th Feb, 1-3pm: 69 Liston St, Glen Iris

Sun 26th Feb : 8.30 - 11am: TBJ Law Office (down the Ashburton Arcade near Baker's Delight) 3/182 High St, Ashburton 

Thank you to all who signed up to the cake stall roster since it was last sent out! You can still SIGN UP TO THE CAKE STALL ROSTER HERE. More helpers please! 

If you are unable to access the roster through the link, please phone, text or email Trevor Jenkins at 0468 653 676 or gastronomicchefsolutions@gmail.com

Come have fun and Eat Cake!

Student Council Representatives

Congratulations to all students who were selected by their peers in classrooms as Student Council Representatives. This is a great honour that students are elected by fellow members of their class to act on their behalf with the role of SRC. The council takes on the responsibility of gathering and sharing the information and views about various aspects of school life and the grounds and classrooms to help make decisions about what improvements can be made. This is one way in which students can express their thoughts about our school and share their ideas about actions that can be taken. I greatly look forward to working with our SRC team personally and hearing about positive actions they have in mind.

Prep - Metaxia K and Oliver B

Year one/two - Billy D, Rose D, Freddie S, Max D, Elise D, Addie K

Year three/four - Oli D, Brayden F, Rafferty, H, Luke H, Luca S, Will R

Year five/six - Alyssa S, Bettina T, Dina B, Thenuk W, Ariane C, Lara D

Shrove Tuesday

We had a veritable feast on the morning of Shrove Tuesday this week, with more pancakes that we could imagine. With families getting ready to arrive by 7.45am, the St Michael’s staff team were on the case early, with batter making the night before then BBQ and topping preparation from 7am. An enjoyable breakfast was had by all. Thank you for making it a great morning.

Ash Wednesday

Yesterday St Michael’s students attended the Parish mass for Ash Wednesday where we were reminded about this special time of the year in our Catholic church. We are marked with ashes with the sign of the cross on Ash Wednesday as a way of remembering what our faith is about and stopping to think about what we can do to live the best lives we can in following Jesus. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season in which we take stock, slow down and take time to consider what a life of faith means to us. It is a time of prayer and reflection about how we can be enlightened and teach other about God's love and how through serving others we can grow closer to him. Take time together this week to pray a Lenten prayer together as a family.

LENTEN PRAYER

God, Father and Creator,

we thank You for all the gifts you have given us,

Especially the gift of Your Son.

During this holy season of Lent,

help us to change and grow and become the kind of people

You created us to be.

Fill our hearts with love for You and love for all people,

For we are all created in Your image.

Show us how to use the gifts You have given us

To help others in Your name.

As we journey together toward the light of Easter,

We know You are with us in all that we do.  Amen.

See our Religious Education page for details about Caritas Fridays and information about the Reconciliation events.

Parent / Teacher / Child Conversations

Thank you for your attendance at this week’s P/T/C Conversations. The idea of these meetings was to give you as parents a chance to meet your child’s teacher and for the teacher to gain further insight into your child, their interests, what can motivate them and how they learn. Please make direct contact with your child’s teacher should you wish to have conversations specific to their learning as the year progresses. Next term, all children will be provided with an academic report and parents will attend another interview in term three, where your child will present their learning and goals.

Classroom awards

Congratulations to the following students for their classroom awards. I am proud as the Acting Principal to see that so many of our students are showing the SMASH expectations in their everyday encounters, doing all they can to make St Michael's the best it can be. Well done and keep it up!!

Congratulations to the following students for being acknowledged at last week's assembly for showing our SMASH values ~ Inaya, Amy, Laila, Rafferty, Leonardo, Hannah, Addie, Zach, Freddie, Madison, Julian, Sara, Charles, Amelia, Alex, Mali, Haonan.

Glen Iris District Swimming

Congratulations to our Year Three to Six students who qualified and competed in our Glen Iris District Swimming Carnival. We started the day off on a high with our first two races qualifying to the Divisional round. A special congratulations to our 12/13 Girls Medley Relay team - Zoe Lorenz, Olivia Stravato, Kristin Hountis, Lara Dordevice and Anna Rorke in the 50m Freestyle race for qualifying into the Divisional Swimming Carnival. The Divisional Swimming Carnival will be held on 8th March at the Monash Aquatic & Recreation Centre (MARC). The remainder of the day was terrific with our students competing and cheering for all of our races. Our students placed 2nd for the Glen Iris District Swimming Aggregate Award. This award is given to swimmers who earned the most points per student in the school.

School Photos

School Photo day is coming up on Thursday 2nd March. Students will need to be wearing their full school Summer uniform on this day; school shoes please, not runners. If your child has PE on this day, runners may be brought to school for the lesson.

At St Michael's photos are taken by Advanced Life Photogrpahy and photos are ordered by parents online. Please see the flier linked here to see how you would order. An email and phone number are listed at the bottom of the flier for any questions you may have about ordering.

Assemblies

Assembly dates for 2023:

St Michael's Open Days 2023

We have had quite a few inquiries this week about our Open Days!

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! 

Fliers below will be made available at the Ashburton festival cake stall this coming Sunday. If you would like to take one to a friend, relative or neighbour, please drop into the school office and collect a few or email me at principal@smashburton.catholic.edu.au and I will send some home for you!

Prep Students' Rest Days

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

Wednesday 1st March

Wednesday 8th March