Principal's Message
TERM 1 ENDS WEDNESDAY, 1ST APRIL 3.25PM
Dear Families,
Date Change for the End of Term 2
All families should have received a notice from me (sent through the nForma for Parents app on Wednesday, March 11) informing you that Term 1 will end on Wednesday, 1st April, rather than Thursday, 2nd April. As explained, this is due to the completion of stage 1 of our current Building Program and the need to clear learning areas in preparation for stage 2. If we don't take this day to move all equipment, furniture, and resources, it will delay the move into the new learning areas until after the holiday period. This, in turn, would have further delayed the building program. We are very excited to finally have access back to our library, our new learning spaces, access between the two buildings, and, of course, our new Staff Lounge. Our staff have been very patient, as they have not had a staffroom/lounge since before COVID. During all this time, they have had to share the hall space with the OSHC, the library and class groups.
MACS Graduate Teachers Mass and Celebration
Today I had the privilege of attending the MACS Graduate Teachers' Mass and Celebration alongside our Graduate Teachers, Alessia Chamberlain, Kade Mimmo and Misty Hall. Catholic Schools in Melbourne have employed over 200 Graduate teachers in 2026. We know they will teach their students with passion, understanding and care and we wish them every success in their first year as teachers, a most fulfilling profession.
RE Closure Day
On Tuesday, staff gathered for a professional learning session focused on Faith Education. The purpose of this time was to reflect on the deeper purpose of our work at St Michael’s and to consider the “why” that guides our school community.
We were privileged to be joined by members of the Mercy Order, Sr Mary Lewis, former Principal of St Michael’s, and Sr Carmel McCormick. They shared their personal stories of living out the mission of Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, and spoke about the importance of responding to others' needs through service, compassion, and faith. Their reflections helped us revisit how the Mercy charism and the Gospel message continue to shape our school's identity and purpose.
As part of this learning, staff reviewed our current School Vision. A clear and meaningful vision statement is essential for any school, as it articulates our purpose, guides decision-making, and shapes our community's culture. Our reflection highlighted the opportunity to refine our vision to be concise and to clearly reflect our Catholic faith, the Mercy tradition, and our commitment to high-quality education.
Feedback from our Year 5/6 students about why families choose St Michael’s also provided valuable insight into what makes our school community special. These perspectives will help inform the development of a renewed vision that genuinely reflects the experiences and hopes of our community.
Over the coming weeks, we will invite students and families to share their thoughts on what makes St Michael’s a special place for learning and why they chose our school. We will also work with Fr Nicholas to ensure that our parish and school communities come together to shape this vision.
Families will soon receive a link to a short survey, and we warmly encourage you to share your thoughts. You are also welcome to send your reflections directly via email.
Our School Vision should be a statement that reflects our community's voice and inspires us to continue striving for excellence in faith, learning, and service at St Michael’s.
St Michael's Open Day
Wednesday, March 18, is our school's Open Day and the official opening of enrolments for Prep 2027. If you have a child ready for prep next year, please complete an enrolment form on our website. If you have friends or family with a child ready for school in 2027, please encourage them to register for our Open Day sessions.
Catholic Education Week
Catholic Education Week will be celebrated across Melbourne from Sunday, March 15 to Saturday, March 21. As part of these celebrations, a special Mass will be held at St Patrick’s Cathedral for all Catholic schools in Melbourne on Friday, March 20. Our School Leaders, both students and staff, will attend this Mass to proudly represent St Michael’s Primary School.
This week is a wonderful celebration of the important contribution Catholic education makes to our community. It also features an excellent Art Exhibition, where works created by St Michael’s students have been selected for display. A poster with further details about the exhibition is available on our school noticeboard, and additional information can be found on the Student News page of this newsletter.
During this week we also celebrate St Patrick’s Feast Day on March 17. St Patrick, honoured on this day, was a 5th-century British man who was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave. After escaping and later returning as a missionary, he helped spread Christianity throughout Ireland. St Patrick often used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity — Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Due to the large number of Irish Catholic settlers in Melbourne’s early history, he became the patron saint of Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral.
Parents & Friends (Friends of St Michael's)
When we speak of St Michael’s having a strong and vibrant community, it is vital that families are actively involved in the events our school hosts.
Last week, it was wonderful to see so many of our families attend the first Parents & Friends (P&F) meeting for the year. At this meeting, we discussed the purpose of the P&F and explored possible events that could help bring our community together while also raising funds to enhance our school’s facilities and resources.
Those in attendance were extremely enthusiastic, and I encourage all families to support their efforts as they work to strengthen and enrich our school community.
NAPLAN
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 and is conducted nationwide. It provides a snapshot of a child’s progress in Reading, Writing, Grammar & Punctuation, and Mathematics. The results should always be considered alongside the many other assessments completed throughout the school year.
Unfortunately, this year we experienced a significant technical issue when our Year 5 students attempted to begin the Writing Assessment. Across Australia, more than a million students were unable to access the digital test due to a system glitch.
I would like to commend our Year 5 staff and our Learning & Teaching Leader for the calm and professional manner in which they managed the situation. They quickly redirected students while the issue was resolved. Once the system was restored, our Year 5 students were able to complete their writing assessment in a calm and confident manner.
Stage 2 Building Program
As mentioned above, Stage 1 of our building program is progressing well and will be handed over to us in the final week of this term. At present, the focus is on installing all cabinetry, flooring - carpet and vinyl, and fitting out the new staff lounge. Stage 1 of our new play space should also be ready for the children to use next term. We can't wait for term 2 so we can enjoy 'our new school'!
Principal Pilgrimage
It is with disappointment that I share that my planned pilgrimage has been cancelled. MACS recently informed us that staff are not permitted to travel through the Middle East. Our itinerary had included travelling with Emirates via Dubai before continuing on to Athens.
Even before this announcement, I had already had lengthy discussions with my family and had decided to withdraw from the pilgrimage due to safety concerns.
While this is personally disappointing, it has also led me to reflect on those most affected by the conflict in Iran and the surrounding regions. My thoughts and prayers are with the innocent people, particularly families, women and children, who are living through unimaginable fear and uncertainty.
Let us keep them in our prayers and hope that peace and safety may soon be restored to their lives.
Kind regards,
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.