From the Principal

PRAYER

On Satruday 15th August we celebrate the Assumption of Mary Feast day. We remember this very special person who had a special place in God's plan.                                                 

Father in heaven,   

all creation rightly gives you praise,

for all life and all holiness come from you.

In the plan of your wisdom

she who bore the Christ in her womb

was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven.

May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness

and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Dear St Michael’s School families,

FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR THE PLAYGROUND ~ How can you help??

Our 80th Anniversary Gala committe is continuing to work hard the scenes to raise sponsorship and donations for our Gala Dinner for 17th October. Don't forget our Wine Wall! If you're able to donate some bottles for this cause, please check out the details on our 80th Anniversary Gala Event page. Check out our sponsors there too and please support them if you're if you need anything!

GRANDPARENTS AND SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY

What a marvellous day we had with our Grandparents and Special Friends last Friday!! We were blessed with a stunning; a good start!! It was so lovely to welcome our visitors with afternoon tea and a chat, before the children collected their special people on the way to the church for a liturgical celebration. Thank you Father Darien for stepping in to celebrate with us and lead the prayer. It was lovely to celebrate St Anne & Joachim, the grandparents of Jesus, who were a shining examples of the important role grandparents play in passing on faith, wisdom and love through the generations. It was a special delight to have some of our children and grandparents take an active role in parts of the prayer liturg, particularly Cath and Dan Place who have now been part of the St Michael's Parish and closely linked with the school for 50 years. What an amazing tradition they have been part of with us!!

Following this, we paraded back to our classrooms in our family groups to engage in some fun activities together for the afternoon. 

Thank you to all our guests for making the effort and time to be with the children on this special day!

Thank you to our parent helpers, ably led by Therese Molnar, in setting up, serving food and cleaning up the hub for this event. Thank you also to the generouse and delicious donations from so many families!!

Thank you Ray Hickey for preparing and leading the day. 

ART OF THE WEEK

Thank you to our Year Six Arts Leaders for making the arrangements each fortnight for our Art of the Week competition.

THEME: Disney Characters

ARTWORK DUE:  Thursday 20th August to be presented at assembly on Friday 21st August.

STAFFING UPDATE

This week we farewelled Miss Nyree Masterson, one of our Learning Support staff who has worked in many classes across the school over the last three years. Nyree has accepted an LSO position at Karoo Primary School, which is five minutes away from her home, saving travel time and allowing her more flexibility with her young family. It has been a pleasure to work with Nyree and wonderful to observe her skills in action and we wish her well in the next leg of her journey.

We have welcomed onboard Mr Matt Boccari as Nyree's replacement for the remainder of the school year. Matt has worked at St Michael's this year as a casual LSO across all classes and we are delighted he has been able to step in for this role. 

PLANNING FOR 2027

As we begin planning for the 2027 school year, it is important that we have the most up-to-date information regarding student enrolments for next year.  By gaining an indication of student numbers for the 2027 we can set overall class structures, forecast staffing allocations and negotiate with the school's finance partner our 2027 school year budget figures.

I therefore ask that you please email me at principal@smashburton.catholic.edu.au if your child will not be returning to St Michael’s School in 2027.  Parents are also welcome to make time to meet with me in the coming weeks.  

Thank you for your assistance in helping us plan effectively for the year ahead.

NAPLAN 2026

We are exceptionally pleased with our 2026 NAPLAN results in both Years Three and Five. A review of our Five Year Trend data indicates strong growth in Year Three READING and SPELLING, particularly in the top 50% of students, and significant growth in Year Three NUMERACY outcomes at all levels between 2024 and 2026. We also note significant growth in Year Five SPELLING outcomes in top 75th and 90th percentiles of students between 2025 and 2026 and significant growth in Year Five NUMERACY outcomes,  particularly in the top 50% of students between 2024 and 2026.

We believe these strong testing results can be attributed, in part, to the consistent use of explicit teaching practices. By clearly modelling concepts, providing guided and independent practice, giving timely feedback, and systematically revisiting previously taught content, teachers support students to develop secure foundational knowledge and skills. This structured approach increases students’ confidence and ability to apply their learning independently, which can contribute to improved performance in national assessments.

AFL 9S GIRLS GALA

Our girls represented St Michael’s with pride at last week's AFL9s Gala Day. They played with enthusiasm and determination throughout the tournament, giving their best in every game and demonstrating great teamwork and sportsmanship.

It was wonderful to see the girls show respect and encouragement towards the other teams while also embracing the opportunity to compete, learn and, most importantly, enjoy the experience. The girls finished 8th overall in the tournament—a valiant effort and a result they can be proud of. Congratulations to all the girls for their commitment, positive attitude and excellent representation of St Michael’s. Well done!

GRADUATION PIZZA LUNCH FUNDRAISER - FRIDAY 28TH AUGUST

If you would like to order a pizza lunch for your child on Friday 28th August, please see the flier below and book through the Humanitix link.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR HELPERS

Our much-loved annual School Book Fair is just around the corner, running after school each afternoon from Friday 21st August - Wednesday 26th August inclusive, and we are looking for some enthusiastic volunteers to help make it a wonderful experience for our students and families.

Volunteers will assist with welcoming visitors, helping students browse and purchase books, tidying displays, and creating a fun and inviting atmosphere throughout the event.

The Book Fair is always a highlight on our school calendar, inspiring a love of reading and helping to raise valuable funds for new library resources and classroom books. It simply wouldn't be possible without the support of our amazing school community.

If you are available to help, please register your interest via  volunteersignup.org/FCAAH  No prior experience is needed—just a friendly smile and a willingness to lend a hand!  Toddlers and small babies are welcome while you help - most nights we only need about 30 - 40 minutes assistance at pick up.

ST MICHAEL'S VEGGIE GARDEN

Thank you Five/Six R and Mr Hickey for your work in harvesting the baby carrots this week! We've all been keeping a keen eye on these and have been excited to watch these grow, waiting for them to be ready! It was wonderful to see families purchasing the little bunches of these at the end of the day yesterday! Carrots are healthy for us in so many ways!! They help you have healthy eyes, support your immune system and promote a healthy heart and digestion.

LOMBARD BOOK WEEK COSTUME SCHOOL FUNDRAISER

Planning to purchase a costume for this year's Book Week?

If you shop at Lombard between 6 July and 6 September 2026, simply mention St Michael's Primary School, Ashburton at checkout, and 5% of eligible sales will be donated back to our school library.

It's a simple way to support our library while purchasing your child's Book Week costume.

We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we learn, play, pray, work and gather. 

We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and we honour the ongoing cultural, spiritual and educational contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.