Please note that weekly Parish mass times will now be located each week on our School Hours / Timetable page in our newsletter.
Prayer of Gratitude
This prayer was scripted by one of our staff groups on our retreat this week.
St Michael's School Production
We are pleased to release the date of our School Production for 2023. More details about the location of the production and booking will be released early in term 3. Please keep the date free!
Staff Retreat
It has been a great pleasure these past 2 days to have worked together with our staff during our retreat. The focus of our retreat was to develop a deeper understanding of the various elements of our Holy Eucharist and make connections between life and faith, within this sacred ceremony. We began by looking at our personal traditions in our own families and what made these special. We delved into all aspects of our gatherings and at our family and friend meal times. We also examined three different texts from a wider perspective and made connections with biblical scriptures which are shared during our Eucharist.
As we unpacked a scripture reading together we examined the historical and cultural contexts of the era in which the scripture was written and for whom it was written. We examined what the scripture was about and looked at ways we might retell a scripture piece to the children in our classrooms. We also considered how we would recontextualise the scripture reading with the children, rendering the message more meaningful to daily life.
We also looked at different ways that we can pray, both as adults and with our children at school. We explored the various prayers which are shared during the Eucharist and came to a deeper understanding of these prayers and why we pray them during the mass. We explored ways in which we can use the prayer styles from our Sunday liturgy and pray with our children daily in our classrooms.
Time was also spent in personal prayer, meditation and reflection and we took opportunities to prepare prayers for various times we gathered throughout the two days.
I wish to thank Deacon Malcolm Lock and Stephen Nash from the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic schools who lead us in this professional development. They spent many hours preparing materials and considering our needs in this work. I also thank Rachel Lo Ricco, our Religious Education Leader, who worked closely with Malcolm and Stephen over these past few months to prepare and organise the two days. Thank you to our staff for their participation and engagement in this learning.
Staffing for Term 3
As our first semester comes to a close, we inform our families of some changes that are happening in second semester with our staff. We have already farewelled two of our lovely staff this year as they have left for maternity leave. Next term, Mrs Emma Quinless also departs for maternity leave. We wish her every happiness with welcoming her second child into the world and look forward to when she is able to return. Miss Samantha Isaacson will be taking on the Learning Diversity role for the remainder of 2023. Sam has worked closely with Emma over the past 12 months, and particularly in this first semester, attending Program and Support Group meetings and assisting staff with programs to support student learning. We are fortunate to have Sam's knowledge and skills with us at St Michael's.
Sam has been working in the Student Wellbeing leadership role at St Michael's for the past 12 months and from Semester 2 this year, we welcome back Mrs Charlotte Allan from maternity leave, who takes up this leadership role again. Charlotte was leading St Michael's in Student wellbeing before she departed for maternity leave in term 3, 2022.
Ms Ann Lagreca also departs St Michael's staff in Semester 2 as she takes off to travel and spend time with her family for the next six months. Ann has been working in the specialist area of Science in first semester, for which the children have been showing great passion and enjoyment. We are most grateful to have had Ann share her love and knowledge of Science with our children this year. Mrs Charlotte Allan will be taking on the role of Science specialist for Semester 2. We look forward to Ann's return in 2024.
Miss Alex Terzakis in One/Two R will be leaving St Michael's School at the end of this term as she has accepted a position at Ashburton Primary School for second semester. I am currently in the process of advertising for a replacement teacher for the second semester for One/Two R and will inform parents of her replacement as soon as it is finalised.
Mrs Lily Luo (Mandarin) has been travelling and spending time with her family in China over the past six months of this year and is due to return to teach Manadrin from the beginning of Term 3. Mrs Maryna Tsikhanenka has been with us in Mandarin lessons for Terms 1 and 2 and we thank Maryna for her work with the children over this time and wish her well as she moves on to further replacement teaching positions.
Some of our staff will be taking leave for short periods of time over the next few months, taking advantage of opportunities for travel and to be with family. School families of the following staff have been notified about their leave through individual letters. We wish them well in their travels and look forward to their safe and speedy return.
Miss Ally Panas - Departing 10th June, returning Monday 10th July
Miss Caitlin O'Donnell - Departing 24th June, returning Monday 17th July
Mrs Louise Hedley - Departing 24th June, returning Wednesday 26th July
Term 3 - Change to School Start Time
Just a reminder to all our families that, whilst gates will be open from 8.30am, classrooms will remain closed until 8.45am, upon our return from these Term 2 holidays. Two teachers will be on supervision duty from 8.30am; one in the quadrangle and one near the tennis courts. Classroom teachers will then meet students at their line up spaces from 8.45am. Next week, we will show children where their bags will be placed upon arrival at school and inform you through the newsletter. Once again, thank you for your understanding and support in these changing times.
Parent / Teacher / Student Conversations
Thursday 22nd June (NEXT WEEK)
1/2R Alex Terzakis P/T/S Conversations (All classes will continue until 3.30pm)
Thursday 13th July (NEXT TERM)
ALL classes will finish at 12.00 noon on this day to enable Parent / Teacher / Student Conversations to go ahead in the Hub
Thursday 20th July (NEXT TERM)
Three/Four B Mrs Des Harding & Miss Sam Isaacson in the library (All classes will continue until 3.30pm)
One/Two B Miss Caitlin O'Donnell in the library (All classes will continue until 3.30pm)
Currently, our students and their teachers are developing individual goals as a focus for future learning. These goals will be based on information and data collected about the students' learning progression over these first two terms of the school year. Students will present their goals to parents at our upcoming Conversations and include ways that they will help themselves to move forward and what you can do to help too! Please see further information about goal setting in last week's newsletter.
Times for interviews will be made available for parents to book via Operoo.
Student Semester 1 Reports
Student reports will be made available to parents through the Nforma Portal on Tuesday 20th June, next week. We ask that parents please ensure you have read the letter about student reports which went home to you this week to ensure you have everything you need ready.
I take this opportunity to thank all the staff for their amazing work and the time and effort that has gone into these reports. All efforts have been made to give you a detailed and accurate picture of how your child is progressing, within the confines of this reporting system. As noted in the Report Parent Letter, the information provided in these Semester 1 reports should be considered alongside or in conjunction with discussions with your child's classroom teacher. Together, you can provide the best learning outcomes for your child.
Covid News
It seems like so long ago that we were talking "Covid" but it's still in our midst. A few of our community have had covid over these last few weeks. Thank you for being so mindful and keeping your children home if they are sick. For your information, if your child is symptomatic, we ask that you test them to ensure it is not covid. If they test positive, the recommendation is to isolate for a minimum of five days. Close contacts no longer need to isolate, as was happening last year.
Biggest Morning Tea at St Michael's
St Michael's School will be holding the Biggest Morning Tea to raise funds for the Cancer Council. Please note, there will be a COFFEE cart in the morning after drop off. Gold coin donation to the Cancer Council).
Click here the in the Community News section to find out more.
End of Term events
Have you seen what's happening in your child's year level at the end of this term? If not, check it out, socials for both students and parents, in Community News section of our newsletter.
