TERM 1 ENDS WEDNESDAY, 1ST APRIL 3.25PM

Dear Families,

End of Term

A reminder to all families that Term 1 concludes on Wednesday, 1 April at 3:25pm.

TheirCare will be offering a full-day program on Thursday, 2 April for families requiring care on this day.

On Thursday, staff will be engaged in a significant relocation process to support the next phase of our building program. This includes:

Moving Year 1/2D into the new classroom in the library building and returning the library from the hall to its permanent space
Relocating Year 3/4T into the current Year 1/2D classroom
Moving Year 5/6KF into their new classroom
Clearing the former staffroom to allow for the development of a new music space
Transitioning into our new staff lounge

These changes will enable builders to commence work on our new Art room and Music room, and continue the enhancement of our learning environments. I sincerely thank our staff for their commitment to undertaking this complex move, which will result in significant cost savings and allow further investment into improving our school facilities.

Term 1 Reflection

As we reach the end of Term 1, it is clear that, despite being a longer term, it has passed quickly. We have welcomed many new families into our community, and it has been pleasing to see connections formed and a strong sense of belonging develop.

Our students have engaged in rich and meaningful learning experiences, both within and beyond the classroom. I extend my sincere thanks to our staff for their passion, commitment, and dedication to providing high-quality learning opportunities for all students.

I also acknowledge the ongoing partnership of our parents and families. When we work together, we strengthen our community and support each child to flourish. This reflects our core belief that St Michael’s is a place “Where I’m Known”, where every child is valued and supported.

Staff News

At the end of this term, we will farewell Hang Cao, our Catholic Identity and Mission Leader and Prep SH classroom teacher (Mondays), as she begins her maternity leave. We wish Hang and her husband, Stephen, every blessing as they prepare for the arrival of their first child in May.

Nathan Fitzgerald will step into the role of Catholic Identity and Mission Leader three days per week during this time, while continuing as the Year 1/2GN classroom teacher on the remaining two days.

We warmly welcome back Tahlia Bogg, who returns from maternity leave. Tahlia will teach Prep SH on Mondays and resume her role as Prep–Year 2 Discovery/Inquiry Leader on Tuesdays.

Congratulations to Tahlia and Tom on their recent wedding. We wish them every happiness as they begin this new chapter together.

We also wish our Year 3/4 Learning Support Officer, Oskar Faulkhead, all the best as he plays his first game for the Collingwood VFL team. This is a wonderful achievement and a proud moment for our community. It's a shame the stripes on his jumper are black and white and not royal blue and white!

Congratulations to our Year 1/2 Learning Support Officer, Isabelle Ye on gaining her Australian citizenship, an exciting milestone. The first thing she did afterwards was to apply for her Australian passport!

Catholic Education Week Creative Arts exhibition

Last Sunday, I had the privilege of attending the Catholic Education Week MACS Creative Arts Exhibition Awards Presentation with our Visual Arts teacher, Luisa Vivarelli. It was a proud moment to see our 2025 Year 5/6 students, Evie (Yr 6 2026), Jennifer, Chris, Lana, Hailey and Amelia (Yr 6 in 2025), receive the prestigious Executive Director’s Award for Excellence.

This achievement reflects both the creativity of our students and the guidance and expertise of Luisa. The award-winning artwork and trophy will be displayed in our front foyer from the beginning of Term 2.

Thank you to the families who supported their children’s participation on the day, and to Leanne Sali for attending and supporting both the students and Luisa.

We also congratulate all students whose artworks were selected for exhibition: Macklin O'Sullivan (Yr 3) on his self portrait, 'This Is Me', Saxon Brown (Yr 5) on his piece, 'Hoot!' and Evie Bawal (Yr 6) on her work 'In Flight'.

Evacuation Drill

As part of our Emergency Management procedures, we conduct practice drills each term. On Wednesday, we completed a Non-Discreet Lockdown drill.

This type of lockdown may occur in response to a nearby threat, such as a gas leak, smoke, or an external hazard. It requires all individuals on site to move indoors, secure windows and doors if necessary, and remain inside and continue learning activities until further notice.

I am pleased to report that the drill was conducted efficiently, with all procedures followed to ensure the safety of our community. The safety and wellbeing of all remains our highest priority.

Parents & Friends (Friends of St Michael's)

Thank you to the parents who attended the recent Parents & Friends meeting. The group has begun planning a number of exciting events for Term 2.

It is encouraging to see this group continuing to grow and take shape, and I invite all families to consider becoming involved or offering support to help ensure these initiatives are successful and enjoyable for our community. Further details will be shared soon.

Prep 2027 Enrolment

A reminder that enrolments for Prep 2027 are now open. Families with children due to commence Prep are encouraged to complete an enrolment form via the school website as soon as possible.

Helping Children Grow Through Challenge

A St Michael's staff member was recently asked to participate in a Parent and Child Transition presentation at her son's school. It made me pause and reflect on the challenges we face as parents/carers and educators in our current world, one that moves at a fast pace and presents us with daily decisions and challenges, especially regarding how we support our children when they face difficulties. I asked if I could share her words, and I found them to be full of wisdom and insight for both parents and educators. I share them below.

"My experience of my children's transitions have been a mix of emotions. There is always an underlying nervousness alongside a quiet hope that everything will go just right for them. For me, that usually translates into over-preparing every detail. If I can control the logistics; uniforms ironed with perfect creases, bag packed with matching stationery and school supplies, I feel like I can protect them from anything going wrong...the real growth for me as a parent however, has been in finding the balance between their independence and my control. I have always tried to instill confidence in them, yet I constantly wrestle with my own instinct to be overly-protective. so as to save them from any mishap or disappointment. I've had to learn that letting them explore and even make mistakes is more valuable than me manipulating every decision.

I remember my eldest's first Prep orientation, I was the one left standing alone with tears in my eyes as he just walked away without even a look back. In that moment it felt like he didn't need me anymore. It was a bittersweet reminder that our children's growth requires us to let go. It's not that they don't need us, it's that they need us to be their steady ground, not their shadow.

I believe that the most powerful way we can help our children through transition is by role modelling the resilience we want them to embody. As mentioned earlier, my natural instinct is to control every detail as a way to protect them from failure. I have had to realise though that if I am visibly frantic, or overly anxious they will pick up on, and mirror this.

Instead, I try to model how to manage my emotions and if something doesn't go to plan, how to problem solve. It is perfectly OK to be upset or disappointed, but it's important not to dwell or wallow in that negative space. By seeing me acknowledge a setback, pick myself up and move on, they learn that they can do that too. We can help our kids the most by showing them we trust them and letting them know that they can do hard things. If we express calm confidence (even if we are secretly nervous) we are telling them that they are capable.

I have tried to stop being a 'helicopter parent' who hovers and controls, instead I aim to be a 'lighthouse parent' providing the light and guidance they need but letting them navigate the way for themselves. "

At school, we are committed to nurturing resilient learners who are brave enough to try, to make mistakes, and to grow. Together, as a partnership between the home and school, we can help our children see challenges not as something to fear, but as opportunities to become stronger.

Stage 2 Building Program

We are pleased to mark the transition to the next phase of our building program, following the near completion of Stage 1. This significant milestone continues to enhance our learning environment and supports contemporary approaches to teaching and learning.

I thank our staff and students for their patience and adaptability throughout this period. In Term 2, work will continue with the development of our new Art and Music spaces, further strengthening the facilities available to our students.

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.

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