Dear families,

Staff News

This time of year can at times be a sad one when we say goodbye to much-valued and loved staff members.

Gabby Paul: Gabby left us at the end of 2024 but returned this year to take on the Physical Education teaching position while Sarah was on parental leave. She has done an excellent job maintaining the high standard of our PE program, and the children have certainly enjoyed working with her. As Gabby now sets off to pursue further studies, we thank her for her hard work, enthusiasm, and commitment to our students, and we wish her every success in the next chapter of her journey.

Rebecca McMenamin

Rebecca joined us at the start of Term 2 this year to take the place of Steph as the co-teacher of one of our Year 1/2 classes. Rebecca quickly developed a strong relationship with the children in her class, her co-teacher, Fiona and her colleagues. She took great care to ensure the changeover of teaching staff was a seamless one and gave deep consideration for the wellbeing of each child in her care. Rebecca will now pursue teaching positions closer to her home. We wish her well and thank her for all she has shared with our community.

Sol Musk: Sol joined us as a Learning Support Officer in 2024 with a focus on working with our First Nations children. Sol has worked across our middle and senior school during her time with us and has shown great care, compassion, and warmth to all of our children. She will be pursuing further studies as well as continuing in her work at the Victorian Museum. We are grateful for her hard work, warmth, and the energy she brought to our students, and we wish her every success and happiness in the exciting chapter ahead.

Misty Hall: Misty joined us as a Learning Support officer in 2024. While at the same time completing her teaching degree. She has worked across our middle and senior school and has developed strong, meaningful relationships with the children in her care. Misty has completed her degree and gained her teaching qualification; she is now seeking a teaching position. We thank her for her dedication, professionalism, and positive impact on our students, and we extend our very best wishes for the next chapter of her journey.

2026 Class Groups

The structure for class groupings for 2026 will be:

Prep - 2 classes

Year 1/2 - 3 classes

Year 3/4 - 3 classes

Year 5/6 - 3 classes

St Michael's 2026 staff and teaching positions will be announced in the next school newsletter.

School Closure Day

The final school closure Day for 2025 is TUESDAY 25TH NOVEMBER.

At this professional learning day, our staff will look to our 2025 School Review recommendations and the results of our 2025 MACSSIS survey to plan and set our Annual Action Plan for 2026

Sports Day

Congratulations to the McAULEY team for winning the 2026 St Michael's School Sports Carnival. Unfortunately, I have been unwell with the flu this week and was unable to attend the day. However, from all accounts it was a fabulous event with many excited winners among our students.

Days such as these provide an excellent opportunity for our children to participate in a competitive environment that is safe, supportive, and encouraging. These occasions also give our children the chance to be part of a team and to work together towards a common goal. They encourage our students to support and cheer for their peers, and to celebrate—as well as console—their teammates.

Congratulations also to the PATRICK team for receiving the Team Spirit Award.

This award is just as important as the overall sports result. Teaching our children to be gracious in defeat and humble in victory is a lifelong skill, and one we value deeply at St Michael’s.

A special thank you to our PE teacher, Gabby Paul, for preparing our children so well for this day and, alongside Sarah Nichol, for the organisation of the event. This is an enormous undertaking that requires many hours of preparation and coordination. To see the day run so smoothly is a credit to both of them.

Thank you also to our dedicated staff for their commitment to ensuring every child participated and enjoyed the day. And to our families who generously volunteered their time- your support is truly appreciated. Without your help, days like this simply do not happen.

2026 Prep Orientation

Our 2026 Prep children and families joined us for their first orientation day this week, and it was a joy to see their excited, although a little nervous, faces as they met their 2026 teachers.

This program continues over the next couple of weeks. We do have positions avaialble in Prep so if you know any families still looking for a school for their child in 2026, please send them our way.

Confirmation

Our Year 5/6 children have begun their preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation, which they will receive on Sunday, 7th December at St Patrick's Cathedral. This is such a special time for each of them and their families and I ask you to keep each of them in your prayers over the coming weeks.

ABC News Breakfast

The ABC News Breakfast Show is coming to St Michael's on Friday 5th December. Their weatherman, Nate Byrne, will be onsite to do the weather crosses. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase our school and share the great things we do with the wider viewing community.

We are currently organising what the weather crosses will look like, so stay tuned. It will be fantastic to have as many children and their families involved as possible.

2026 School Fees & Levies

Please see below the 2026 School Fees and Levies. We have aimed to keep increases to a reasonable level; however, some adjustments have been necessary due to rising operational and program costs across the school.

A reminder that school fees are charged per family, while levies are calculated per child.

We have also had to increase Camp fees to reflect the rising cost of camps and bus transport. In addition, we will be introducing a Year 6 Graduation Levy. In previous years, the school has worked to absorb the costs of the Graduation program and celebrations, but this is no longer sustainable.

We appreciate your understanding as we work to ensure that our school continues to offer our children a rich and high-quality learning experience.

Please remember, if you are experiencing financial difficulty, I encourage you to make a time to meet with me. Together we can arrange a suitable payment plan that supports your family.

Important Update – School Communication App

Operoo is the current communication app used at our school; however, access to this App will cease before the end of 2025. This term, we will begin the process of transitioning to nForma - which we currently use for Attendance and Reporting. nForma will replace Operoo as our new school communication tool. Please use the QR code below or click here if using your phone to complete a profile for your child/ren by Monday 1st December. All families who have their profile/s completed on time will go in the draw to win a $50 Wish gift-card!

Building Update

Please find progress pictures of our building project below. We are certainly 'levelling up' at St Michael's. The corridor connecting the new and old building is taking shape. When this part of the build if finished, the entire school will be accessible.

Term 4 Dates

Term 4 is always full of many special events. Below are some that I ask you to please place in your calendar.

26/11, 3/12, 9/12 - Prep 2026 Orientation sessions
25/11 - School Closure Day
3/12 - Christmas Carols
4/12 - Volunteers' Celebration
7/12 - Sacrament of Confirmation Yr 5/6
8/12 - Student Achievement Awards Ceremony
9/12 - Step Up Day
11/12 - Yr 6 Graduation
16/12 - End of School Year

***PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF CLOSURE DAY

FROM FRIDAY 28TH NOVEMBER TO TUESDAY 25TH NOVEMBER.***

This change needed to be made due to a change in the availability of the venue for the staff professional learning day.

Have a wonderful week of GREATNESS

Denise Hussey

Principal

'The most simple thing I can do is to be good today but better tomorrow'

Catherine McAuley - Mercy Sisters Foundress

All students attending St Michael's Primary School have the right to feel safe. The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people is a fundamental responsibility of all within our school.

St Michael's Primary School Newsletter

"Where I'm Known"

Issue 18 · 21 Nov 2025

In this issue