From the Principal
TOMORROW - Year 6 Farewell assembly, 2.30pm in the hub
Dear St Michael’s School families,
Prayer
Loving God,
As we gather on this Third Sunday of Advent,
we pause to remember the joy You bring into our lives.
We thank You for the light that grows brighter each week
as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus.
Help us to notice the goodness around us—in the kindness of others,
in the beauty of creation, and in the quiet hope that Advent brings.
Fill our school community with Your joy.
May it lift our spirits, guide our words, and inspire us to bring happiness to others, especially those who may be finding this season difficult.
Lord, as we light the pink candle of joy,
remind us that Your love is always with us
and that joy grows when we share it.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
We wish all our families a very merry Christmas and all the best for the upcoming holidays. This will be our final newsletter for the year and I take this opportunity to thank you you, our parent community, for your ongoing support of our staff and the work we do here at St Michael's School. We certainly couldn't achieve what we do here without the extra hands and amazing support you provide.
CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES FOR ST MICHAEL'S CHURCH
We invite all our families to attend one of our Parish Christmas masses. This is a fabulous way of cementing our children's understanding about the true meaning of Christmas.
2025 ST MICHAEL'S CHRISTMAS CAROLS
Thank you to all who made last week's Christmas carols in the church a reverent and very special occasion. Our students shone brightly at this celebration. Their joyful singing, confident performances, and beautiful harmonies filled the evening with the true spirit of Christmas. It was wonderful to see the children sharing their talents with such enthusiasm and pride.
A heartfelt well done to all our students for the effort they put into learning their songs and performing them so beautifully. Thank you also to our staff for their preparation and support, and to our families for joining us in this special celebration. It was a lovely way to come together as a community and welcome the season of Christmas.
EVENTS NEXT WEEK - Please ensure these dates and times are in your calendar
Monday 15 December - 8.50am Farewell assembly for P-5 students departing St Michael's
Tuesday 15 December - Final day for Year 6 students
- Year Three / Four Level excursion, ACMI
- 3.15pm Year 6 Final farewell through the quadrangle
- 5.45pm Graduation mass, followed by dinner in the hub
Wednesday 16 December - Final day for Year P-5 students, 3.30pm finish
2026 STUDENT LEADERS
We congratulate our student leaders for 2026, who were proudly presented at today's Leadership Ceremony during our end of year mass. After waiting for over a week our students were informed about the outcome of the votes yesterday. We are so proud of the incredible effort that our students put into their speeches, clearly showing the Public Speaking Skills they had learned in previous weeks. We know they will do an incredible job in all their efforts next year.
SCHOOL LEADERS Dominic Jones Hannah Slykerman James Adam Srinya Nuvvala
| ARTS LEADERS Quinn Wilkinson Mickey Greca Jiliane Macatimpag |
BLUE SPORTS LEADERS Rafferty Higgins Roberta Catanese
| MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS LEADERS Jacob Oei Jordan Ghosh Dominic Place Daniel McKiernan Leo Casse Luca Sonego |
GREEN SPORTS LEADERS Taylor Hermsen Anthony Farrugia
| WELLBEING & SOCIAL JUSTICE LEADERS Isobelle Glendinning Oscar Balgue Samara Ciancio Milla Klooster |
RED SPORTS LEADERS Srithan Nuvvala Salvador Hernandez-Illaramendi
| ENVIRONMENT LEADERS Antonia Kokkinos Sharon Koo
|
GOLD SPORTS LEADERS Madison Minter Zach Tudor |
2026 STAFF LIST
Please find here our staff list for 2026. This week we appointed a Year Three / Four teacher to replace Mrs Rachael Lo Ricco. Her name is Carolyn Wilson and she comes to St Michael's with a great deal of experience in teaching and leadership. We are greatly excited to have her onboard. Additionally, we welcome Jordan (Jordy) Pignolet to our team, who has been doing some casual Learning Support Work this year. Jordy will be with us for three days a week in 2026, working across the grade levels.
| Principal | Annie Herbison |
| Deputy Principal | Eloise Ellis |
| Religious Education Leader | Ray Hickey |
Office Manager | Kathy Muhllechner (Mon, Tue, Fri) |
Administration | Louise Story (Tues, Wed, Thu, Fri) |
Classroom Teachers | |
| Prep | Caitlin O’Donnell |
| Year One / Two | Stephanie Drew (M, T, W & F) and Chloe Hickey (Thursday) |
| Year One / Two | Desiree Harding and Ann Lagreca |
| Year One / Two | Kylie Ashton |
| Year Three / Four | James McIlroy |
| Year Three / Four | Jessica Casey |
| Year Three / Four | Carolyn Wilson (M-W) / Laua Dzanovski (Th-F) |
| Year Five / Six | Ray Hickey / Elise Rimington (Thurs) |
| Year Five / Six | Shae Jesson |
| Year Five / Six | Rebecca Taylor |
Leadership | |
| Religious Education Leader | Ray Hickey |
| Learning & Teaching Leader | Eloise Ellis |
| Numeracy Leader | Chloe Hickey |
| Literacy Leader | Elise Rimington |
| Learning Diversity Leader | Emma Quinless |
| Student Wellbeing Leader | Chloe Hickey |
Specialist Teachers | |
| Physical Education & I.T. | Jordan Lo Ricco |
| Performing Arts | To be advised |
| Visual Arts | Jess Fary (Wed-Fri) |
| Mandarin | Lily Luo (Mon/Tues) |
| Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths | Jordan Lo Ricco (Prep to Year Two) To be advised (Years Three to Six) |
Learning Support Staff | |
| Giovanna Boccari | Louise Story |
| Zainab Baquari | Kate Borg |
| Nyree Masterson | Sue Carmichael |
| Jordyn (Jordy) Pignolet | |
ST MICHAEL'S FEES & LEVIES
A reminder that our 2026 School Fees and Levies notice went out in last week's newsletter.
I notify parents that there was a small error in last week's notice and the attached document is the correct one. Please see me if you have any queries or concerns about fees and levies.
2026 WHATSAPP PARENT LINKS
What a fabulous way to keep up with everything that's happening for your child. The PFA is so organised that they already have arranged for the links, so get onto it now!
1/2B (Ashton): https://chat.whatsapp.com/LMvP9sTHkRX5hA18zHTPey
1/2G (Drew / Hickey): https://chat.whatsapp.com/ICLA5wCBROhIY6U2KVlq4C
1/2R (Harding/Lagreca): https://chat.whatsapp.com/DsH0Lfl07Ac4xRrJWGbEVi
3/4B (Casey): https://chat.whatsapp.com/DZzgjZqzppf9yiOetdLdny
3/4G (McIlroy): https://chat.whatsapp.com/CMYiqF0Vys3I9kcXOL0t63
3/4R (Wilson / Dzanowski): https://chat.whatsapp.com/J9PluoFI8XoAQm7zqDMom4
5/6B (Jesson):https://chat.whatsapp.com/KI85BPK0Xh2Br8yrEHfUlI
5/6G (Taylor):https://chat.whatsapp.com/DXLe5bu96xE3IR6OfS8Ahh
5/6R (Hickey/Rimington):https://chat.whatsapp.com/ByAD9m2B1q2FVYFeIk19vC
SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to Jay Fida who was recently names in the Under 14 State Boys Hockey Squad and will be attending the Nationals in Goulburn in January. This is a huge achievement for someone of 12 years of age. Well done Jay!
Congratulations to Henley Higgins, named Junior Gymnast of the Year at her Gymnastics Club. Only one person is given an award in the Junior category and it recognises not only individual achievement but commitment, attitude and team spirit. Fabulous effort Henley!
EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS
Are your children interested in Drama School, Art sessions, Coding Club or Soccer clinics? Check out the fliers in our Community News section.
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.