From the Principal

Dear St Michael’s School families,

Prayer

Loving God,

We give thanks for our children who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation this week.

Bless them with gentle hearts that are always open to your love and forgiveness.

May they continue to grow in kindness, honesty and compassion,

and learn to make choices that bring peace to themselves and others.

Guide them as they follow the example of Jesus—to say sorry when they have hurt someone, 

to forgive freely,

and to seek harmony in their friendships and families.

Be with their parents, teachers and all who support them,

so they may nurture these children with patience, wisdom and care.

We ask this in your holy name.

Amen.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

Congratulations to 25 children in our community who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time last night at St Michael's Church. This important moment in their faith journey offered them the opportunity to reflect, seek forgiveness, and experience God’s gentle mercy in a very personal way.

We are proud of the reverence and maturity the students showed in their preparation and reception of the Sacrament. Our gratitude also goes to their families and teachers for guiding and supporting them so thoughtfully throughout this process.

May the peace and grace they encountered in this sacrament continue to shape their hearts and help them grow in kindness, compassion, and a deeper understanding of God’s love.

THANK YOU CATRIONA!!

As we farewell Catriona O'Donoghue, we extend our deepest gratitude for the care, dedication and joy she has brought to our school community. Her gentle presence, professionalism and wholehearted commitment to our students have made a meaningful and lasting impact.

While we are saddened to see her leave, we are also grateful that she now returns to her home in Ireland. We hope she carries with her the knowledge that she has been deeply appreciated and that her work here has truly mattered.

Thank you, Catriona, for everything you have given our students, staff and families. Our prayers and warmest wishes go with you as you begin this next chapter back home. May it be filled with peace, joy and every blessing.

YEAR PREP / ONE / TWO STUDENTS LEARNING THROUGH CHALLENGE AND CREATIVITY

This week's Prep / One / Two incursion with Taskworks provided students with a vibrant and hands-on expereince of problem-solving, teamwork and creative thinking. The structured challenges at each station invited children to experiment, collaborate and persist as they worked towards shared goals.

Students engaged in tasks that required strategic planning, communication and resilience. Many discovered the value of testing ideas, adjusting their approach when needed and listening carefully to one another’s suggestions. It was a learning environment where mistakes were part of the process and every attempt brought new insight. Just as importantly, the children experienced the joy of working together—celebrating successes, supporting classmates and recognising that everyone contributes differently to a team. These skills are not only essential to learning but also to building strong, respectful relationships with peers.

We are grateful for the enthusiasm and positive attitude shown by all students throughout the experience. Their curiosity, cooperation and willingness to give every challenge a go made the day both enriching and memorable.

ART OF THE WEEK

Last minute Art of the Week entrants will need to be in first thing tomorrow morning.

PREP AND NEW FAMILIES WELCOME DRINKS

Our Prep and New Families Welcome Drinks event last Friday night was a truly enjoyable occasion, bringing together parents for a relaxed and welcoming start to the year. The atmosphere was warm, lively and full of conversation as families took the opportunity to connect, meet new people and strengthen the sense of community that makes our school so special.

A huge thank you goes to our Year 1 families, who provided the most fabulous nibbles for everyone to enjoy throughout the evening. Their generosity and effort added a wonderful touch and helped create such a hospitable environment.

It was fantastic to see people chatting, laughing and getting to know one another. Events like this remind us how important these moments of connection are as we work together to support our children and each other. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the night. We look forward to many more community gatherings throughout the year. Thank you Alice & Mick for sharing your beautiful home for the occasion.

CHILD SAFETY STANDARDS PAGE

This year we are introducing a Child Safety page to the newsletter. The Child Safe Standards are a set of 11 requirements that organisations must follow to create a culture and environment that is safe for children. These standards aim to prevent, respond to, and report child abuse by requiring organisations to implement policies, procedures, and practices that put children’s safety and well-being first. They were developed in response to inquiries and recommendations from Royal Commissions and aim to drive cultural change within organisations that provide services or facilities for children.

Each month, we will share one of the 11 standards in the newsletter to familiarise all the St Michael's community about what each standard stands for in detail. This month, Child Safe Standard 1 is Creating a Culturally Safe Environment for Aboriginal Children. See our Child Safety Page for details.

TEETH ON WHEELS SCHOOL VISIT

We’re excited to announce that Teeth On Wheels will be visiting our School on May 27th 2026!

Teeth On Wheels is all about making dental care fun and stress-free while teaching children the importance of oral health. They specialise in working with children, offering services such as check-ups, cleans, and more—right here at the School! The team is specially trained to provide compassionate and tailored care for neurodiverse patients, ensuring a respectful and supportive experience for everyone.

If eligible under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS), your child may even receive FREE dental care. 

To participate, simply complete the E-form by the cut-off date May 20th 2026.

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE YOUR FORM!  

ADVANCED PSYCHOLOGY BLOG

St Michael's School has partnered with Advanced Psychology with a psychologist working onsite weekly. This link takes you to a blog with podcasts / webinars that deal with a variety of topics which might be of interest to parents and teachers. 

https://www.advancedpsychology.net/blogs

We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we learn, play, pray, work and gather. 

We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and we honour the ongoing cultural, spiritual and educational contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.