From the Principal

Dear St Michael’s School families, 

Prayer

Please join with us in classrooms tomorrow morning to pray together!

PROJECT COMPASSION - WATER QUIZ

Thank you to Ray Hickey for leading us in last week's Big Water Walk and Quiz! Photos and details about the walk are in our Religious Education News.

Project Compassion's 2025 theme is Unite Against Poverty this Lent. Read more about it in our Religious Education News and how St Michael's is raising awareness and vital funds to support Caritas this year.

HARMONY DAY

Tomorrow is National Harmony Day, a day when we celebrate Australia's amazing cultural diversity.  The focus for this day is on inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for all Australians, from the traditional custodians of the land to those who have come from many countries around the world.  

At St Michael's we will commence the day with a special Harmony prayer in all classrooms - all welcome to pray with us. We invite all children, if they wish, to share something about their own culture with the peers in their class. Some ideas are: a song, a sport, recipes, dances, stories, rituals, anything that is specific to your background and culture.

PREP PARENTS' ANNUAL SOCIAL GATHERING

What a fabulous night was had last Friday at the annual Prep parents' social event. With a lovely warm night and an inviting home to enjoy, our Prep parents enjoyed a social catch up where they had the chance to meet new parents and learn about some other Prep children who began their learning journeys at St Michael's School this year.

Thank you to Prim and TK for opening your lovely home for us all to gather. Thank you also to Caitlin O'Donnell and Adriana Corso for dropping in for a visit. 

Thank you also to the Year 1 families for your delicious and very generous donations for the evening and to the parents present parents who helped the hosts get organised, heated food, served food and drinks and mingled with everyone all evening.

PREPS AND FIRE SAFETY

This week, our Prep students had an exciting visit from career firefighters as part of the Fire Rescue Victoria Fire Ed program. They loved learning about fire safety, including good and bad fires, crawling low in smoke, finding a safe meeting place, and when to call 000. Before the end of term, the firefighters will be back for another visit, this time with their fire truck! Prep students also have a special activity to complete at home with their families to help them be fire-ready. Keep an eye out for it and enjoy learning together! 

WINTER UNIFORM

It's hard to believe that Winter will be coming at all this year with the beautiful warm weather we are continuing to enjoy. Now is a good time, however, to check what uniform pieces you have that still fit and what you might be needing as we head into the cooler terms. Check out our online shop here https://smashburtonuniform.myshopify.com/

On Monday 24th March, from 8.30-9.15am, the St Michael's Uniform Shop will be open for your fitting and purchasing needs. 

CORRECTION TO ASSEMBLY ROSTER - TERM 2

A reminder to please check your child's class assembly as we made some corrections to these last week.

ST MICHAEL'S VEGGIE GARDEN

This week Three/Four B and Three/Four G had the opportunity to plant seeds into our smaller garden beds. They planted coriander and spring onion and we're looking forward to them growing into seedlings in the next few weeks. They will then be transplanted to the larger garden beds, hopefully early next term.

On Wednesdays 26 March and 2 April, our Year One/Two classes will undertake the next lot of planting. Keep an eye out for the operoo which will ask for permission and also ask your child to bring gardening gloves if you have them.

Year Five / Six and Prep classes will start their garden journey as the new term commences. Get ready in the coming weeks with your gardening gloves!

OPEN DAYS

On Tuesday we welcomed more families to St Michael's School for a visit and a tour. We are continuing to get inquiries and people requesting tours. If you know of anyone who is keen to take a tour but is not able to attend on one of our open days, please ask them to phone the school office and we can make alternative times for tours.

YEAR FIVE/SIX ANNUAL CAMP

Our annual Year Five/Six camp is coming upon us very soon! This year the students will attend Sovereign Hill in Ballarat for their camp, staying in their accommodation for two nights, from Wednesday 7th May to Friday 9th May. This camp provides a structured three day program linked to the learning outcomes of our Australian History Inquiry Unit from the Victorian Curriculum. Details about camp have been sent through Operoo to all Year Five/Six families. Please make sure you give permission no later than Friday 4th April (final day of Term 1) and also complete any dietary and medical information.

On Monday 31st March, parents are invited to attend an online information session about Sovereign Hill camp from 6.30-7.30pm. A link will be sent to you in due course.

EASTER EGG RAFFLE

It's that time of year again and a wonderful display of baskets have been set up on display in the office for everyone to check out! More details about the raffle in our St Michael's PFA News section.

SENSORY QUIET TIMES AT MONASH AQUATIC CENTRES

Link Health and Community are seeking input about arranging sensory quiet hours at Monash Aquatic Centres. If you are interested and would like to find out more, see their flier on our Community News page.