REMINDER: UPCOMING SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY S

MONDAY 3RD NOVEMBER - STAFF ASSESSMENT & REPORTING DAY (Vacation Care available)

TUESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER - MELBOURNE CUP PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Year 3/4 Safety Beach Camp

Our Year 3/4 students had the best time at the Don Bosco Doxa Camp in Safety Beach this week — as you can see from the photos and their huge smiles!

The first adventure was at The Enchanted Adventure Garden at the top of Arthur's Seat, where the students had the park all to themselves. They immersed themselves in a wonderland of mazes, beautifully themed gardens, Tube Slides, and so much more! It was the perfect way to start their camp experience.

They then travelled to the campsite, where they found their cabins and enjoyed the excellent facilities. That evening, they took part in a disco and a movie night complete with popcorn. It wasn’t long before most children were tucked up in their sleeping bags, fast asleep after such a big day! There were a few excited chatterboxes who needed a little extra encouragement to settle — but before long, they too were sound asleep.

The next day, the group enjoyed a trip to the beach. While it was far too cold for the staff to take a dip, the children eagerly rolled up their pants and dipped their toes in the water, having the best time playing on the sand. For one or two students, it was even their very first visit to the beach — and the joy on their faces said it all.

After returning to camp for more fun and play, everyone shared lunch before beginning the bus trip home — a very quiet trip indeed!

I would like to thank our students for their wonderful behaviour, enthusiasm, and willingness to try everything. Thank you also to our parents for trusting us with your children — it truly is a privilege.

A very special thank you to all the staff who organised and attended camp: our class teachers Claire, Susan, and Taliesha, as well as Fiona, Lyn, Lucinda (who kindly stepped in at the last minute for Susan), Michael, and Misty. Each of them made arrangements for their own families to be able to attend, and none were paid for the overtime hours they worked. Taking children away on camp is a huge responsibility and one we do not take lightly. Every possible arrangement was made to ensure the children had a fabulous time in a safe and nurturing environment. The staff also took great care to keep families updated throughout the camp.

A huge thank you and shout out to them all — please make sure to thank them personally when you see them!

Grandparents Day

REMINDER: Grandparents and Special Friends Day – Tuesday, 28 October, 9:30am

We’re excited to be celebrating Grandparents Day on Tuesday, 28 October!

Grandparents and special friends are warmly invited to spend time in the classroom with their grandchild, followed by a light morning tea.

This is always a wonderful time, and a special opportunity for our students to share their school experience with those they love.

All are welcome 😊, and we look forward to welcoming you into our school community.

All visitors are asked to enter via the school office and sign the attendance form before going into classrooms.

Important Update – School Communication App

Operoo is the current communication app used at our school; however, access to this app will cease before the end of 2025. This term, we will begin the process of transitioning to a new school communication tool.

To ensure a smooth changeover and successful transfer of information families will receive details next week about downloading and setting up the new App. It is important that you complete this task as soon as possible to avoid any interruptions in communication. This is also a good time to review and update your children's and family's information. If at any time you require assistance with this changeover, please contact our office staff, who will be happy to help.

Wearing Our Uniform with Pride

We wear our school uniform with pride and dignity, showing our community how proud we are to belong to St Michael’s.

A reminder that uniform pieces that are torn, frayed, or have holes are not acceptable. Families are encouraged to replace any worn items to help maintain our high standard of presentation. New uniform pieces are available through our uniform shop, and Susan also has a range of quality second-hand items in stock.

Emergency Management Drill

In the coming week, our school will participate in an Emergency Management Drill. As part of our Safety Compliance Program, we are required to conduct a practice drill once each term. These drills ensure that our students and staff know exactly what to do in the event of a real emergency.

This term, we will be conducting a Lockdown Drill. This type of drill simulates a response to an external situation — for example, a gas leak in the surrounding area — that is not an immediate threat to our school but requires everyone to remain safely indoors until the area is cleared.

During the drill, students will continue with their learning activities inside, but no one will be permitted to go outdoors.

You may wish to talk with your child about the importance of these safety drills and how they help keep everyone in our school community safe and prepared.

Building Update

Please find progress pictures of our building project below. Progress has fallen behind the expected schedule. It is a challenging build. We are so looking forward to using our spaces again and we know the wait will be worth it

Term 4 Dates

Term 4 is always full of many special events. Below are some that I ask you to please place in your calendar.

28/10 Grandparents' Morning
30/10 School Advisory Council Meeting
3/11 School Closure Day
4/11 Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
25/11 School Closure Day
7/12 Sacrament of Confirmation Yr 5/6
16/12 End of School Year

***PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF CLOSURE DAY

FROM FRIDAY 28TH NOVEMBER TO TUESDAY 25TH NOVEMBER.***

This change needed to be made due to a change in the availability of the venue for the staff professional learning day.

Have a wonderful week of GREATNESS

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.

Extracurricular Activities