From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

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

Prayer

We continue to pray for our children who will be receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday 13th March, at St Michael's Church, from 5.00-7.30pm (note the earlier start time)

Loving God,

You are our friend always.

We are good people but sometimes we hurt one another.

We are sorry for the uncaring things we do.

Thank you for loving us all the time even when we make one another unhappy.

Help us to be more caring and thoughtful towards each other.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord,

Amen

St Michael's School Tours - Prep 2025

Already we are inviting families in for school tours in preparation for Prep 2025. We have distributed fliers to local kinders and childcare centres in our area and we held our first Open Day for the year today! Any families who have a child starting in Prep in 2025, you are welcome to come and collect an enrolment form at the school office.  Why not also collect an Open Day flier at the same time and pass it on to a neighbour or friend?

We will make contact with families early next term to come in and meet with me; just to get to know you and your child a little. We will also hold the St Michael's Kinder Kids Reading Sessions throughout Terms 2 and 3 (Dates to be advised). Any 3 year old and 4 year old children are welcome to come along to these sessions with their parents, wether enrolling at St Michael's or elsewhere.

Well done Anna Rorke!!

We congratulate Anna Rorke (Year Five) who competed in last week’s Glen Iris District Swimming Event at the Monash Aquatic Centre. Anna qualified for two events, 50m Freestyle and 50m Backstroke. Anna was amazing in her calm approach to both events and it was an honour to be present to watch her swim. Anna finished a close 4th for 50m freestyle with 38.86 seconds and 5th for 50m backstroke with 46.22 seconds. Congratulations Anna on a Personal Best in the backstroke!! 

Additionally, Anna's swimming passion has seen her raise $620, swimming over 10km during the month of February as part of the Starlight Super Swim. A magnificent effort and a wonderful way to raise much needed funds for children who are unwell and need medical procedures and hospital stays. Go Anna!!

Year Six Public Speaking & Debating

Yesterday our Year Six students were invited to attend Salesian College, Chadstone, to take part in a Public Speaking & Debating Workshop, presented in partnership with Per Vocem Vita (Life Through Speech). The program was developed by a group of young students, passionate about delivering public speaking and debating, focusing on skills such as:

·         Debating etiquette

·         Presenting yourself 

·         Gesturing and movement

·         Utilisation of volume when speaking

·         Speech analyses

·         Rebuttal strategies

·         Basics of speechwriting

Our Year Five / Six students undertake a public speaking program every second year at St Michael's which helps to develop speaking and leadership skills. Yesterday's workshop complements the St Michael's program, providing further opportunities for skill development in this area.

Preps Full Time

We welcome our Preps to full time at school from next week! Monday is the Labour Day public holiday and Prep students will be here for four days next week, then every weekday after that. They have made an excellent start to the year and we congratulate the students, their parents and the classroom teachers on this positive start. 

Are you a Plasterer?

We are looking to see if anyone in our parent community is a plasterer? We need a few small jobs needed here at St Michael's and hoping to give the work to someone in our community. Please email me at aherbison@smashburton.catholic.edu.au

Operoo

Hopefully our new families are getting the hang of Operoo. I'm still learning myself so happy to always share knowledge when and if you need!!

A reminder to all our families that only one parent can actually register and be the main contact for this system. It means that you need to share the information with your partner / other parent so that they receive the information. This includes the notification sent out about the weekly newsletter. Should anyone wish to have their own access to the newsletter, you can subscribe to it separately with your current email address through this link: https://newsletters.naavi.com/p/75Zzp35/subscribe. Once it's published (weekly on Thursdays) you will be able to read it immediately.

Student personal devices

Recently many students have been coming to school with Smart Watches, a wonderful new device which we know the children are most excited about and will be so great to explore and learn new skills. 

As these devices have the capacity to connect to the internet, the same restrictions apply to these as mobile phones - Smart Watches may be worn to and from school, as determined by you (the parents), then will need to be placed in the student's school bag between 8.45-3.30pm. This will be the same procedure for all devices that connect to the internet. We understand that these devices can be placed on "school mode" however as there is still the possibility that this won't happen / someone forgets etc, we need to go with the safest option possible for everyone. 

Please be advised again that any personal items which students bring to school, are done so at the risk of the owner. The school cannot take responsibility for these devices. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.

Upcoming School Closure Day - Wednesday 20th March

Just a reminder to all our families that we will be having a school closure on this date so that the staff can focus their learning on Restorative Practices to use in the everyday classroom. We have invited an expert in this area, Glen Pearsall from Classroom Dynamics to speak with us on this day. Glen has a wealth of knowledge and experience in this area and will share practical ideas and strategies for our staff.

Please note, EXTEND is available on this date. Please see attached for booking.

SCHOOL FEES & LEVIES – 2024

Thank you to all those families who have paid their school account, or who have commenced their 2024 payment plan. The Annual Fee & Levy invoice for 2024 has been sent out to all families via the office baskets with your eldest child. (Please contact the Kathy via email - kathym@smashburton.catholic.edu.au,  if you have not received your copy). Your payment options include fortnightly, monthly, 4 x term payments or payment in full by 28th March 2024.  

If you have not done so already, please return the completed Payment Commitment Options form to the office as soon as possible.  Please contact Kathy Muhllechner if you would like to arrange an alternative payment plan.

CAMPS, SPORTS & EXCURSION FUND (CSEF)

Families who hold a current Centrelink Card may be entitled to the CSEF payment of $150 per child per annum.  Please contact the school office asap for a current CSEF form.  We will need a copy your current card for our records.

MACS CONCESSIONAL FEE DISCOUNT

Families may apply for a MACS Concessional Fee Discount if they hold a current eligible Healthcare Card or a DVA Gold Card.  Families must apply for this discount using the MACS School Fee Concession Application form.  You must bring your valid Healthcare Card/DVA Gold Card into the office to be eligible for this discount.  

Families can only obtain this discount if a Direct Debit Plan is established.

Student Representative Council ~ S.R.C.

At St Michael's we are fortunate to have an active S.R.C. who focuses on the daily needs of fellow students. Each member is elected by their classmates for the term of one semester and they represent the student body in school decision-making and organise ways for students to participate in and enjoy school life. This council gives students in our school a voice in matters pertaining to students. Some examples of this are:

• safety matters among students
• ways of enhancing the school environment
• school rules
• input into play equipment and new buildings
• lunchtime activities, and so much more!

Congratulations to the first group of S.R.C. members! You can see who they are in the Wellbeing News section of this newsletter.

 Boroondara Photograph Competition 2024

This exciting exhibition is taking place again in 2024. Students are encouraged to submit photos that celebrate people, places, spaces, and the natural environment in Boroondara. All young people who are of school age (up to age 18 on 1 January 2024) are eligible to enter if their photos are taken in Boroondara.  You may recall one of our Year 6 students from last year, Jasmine Place, entered this competition and was awarded "Highly Commended" for her photo, 'Guinea Pig Picnic'. To see Jasmine's entry and to find out how to enter, go to https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/boroondara-arts/whats/online-exhibitions/2023-exhibitions/celebrate-boroondara-online-exhibition Best of luck!

2024 Family Contact Lists

The 2024 Family Contact Lists were emailed to all who gave their consent for their details to be shared. If you were missed off the list accidentally, please let us know in the office and we will add to the list and re-send it to your class contacts. 

School Photo Day - 19th March

Just a reminder to all families that our school photo day is only a few weeks away. Classes are taken one by one so there are no set times for class or individual photos. We ask that you please ensure your children are dressed in their full Summer uniform on this day, with proper school shoes and long hair tied back. If your children have PE on this day, they may bring their runners to school for their lesson. There will be no running club held on this day. Please see attached below for online order instructions.

School Dates

Please check the Term Dates page as more dates for Term 2 have been added

PLEASE NOTE: Five/Six G and One/Two B - Assembly dates have swapped since last week. Please see changes here and make this change in your home calendars.

Hands on Music

Hands On Music is a company St Michael's has been using for some time.  If you wish for your child to learn an instrument this year, please make contact with Jen Capon via email: handsonmusic.j@gmail.com or phone: 0402 910 330