GRADUATION: 5.45pm Mass; 6.30pm Graduation Ceremony

Dear Parents and Carers

Please note that weekly Parish mass times will now be located each week on our School Hours / Timetable page in our newsletter.

Prayer

We wish all our St Michael's families a happy and blessed Christmas season. To those leaving our School community, we wish you happiness and joy in your new ventures.

To those returning, stay safe over this holiday period and we look forward to your return in 2024.

Parish Christmas mass times

Thank you

I wish to take this opportunity to thank every parent for your welcome and your amazing support this year! I have been blessed with the community of St Michael's and feel both fortunate and privileged to be in our School and Parish, working with and celebrating your children every day. Thank you for your trust and belief in me and for the support you have given the students, staff and me in all you have contributed. Whilst I will miss the students leaving in 2023, I look forward to the new year, seeing our families again and welcoming in the many new families who will be joining us. Be safe over the holiday period and enjoy a restful break!

I draw your attention to the 2024 Parent Handbook on the Quick Links page. Here you will find most necessary information about St Michael's and our procedures as well as term dates, for your convenience.

Congratulations 2024 Student Leaders

We wish to congratulate all our 2024 Year 6 Leaders for the leadership speeches they presented recently and for their support of each other in the selection process. Already they have shown great maturity and respect for each other and will lead St Michael's School community well in 2024.

Carols on the Green

A fabulous night had by all at our Christmas Carols event last Thursday. What fortune we had with the weather!! Thank you to Jess Fary for her work in getting the stage and sound organised and set up for us and to all the staff for their work with he children over thee past few weeks. Thank you to all the families who attended to make this event special for the children.

Year 6 Big Day Out!

A wonderful fun day was had by all on Tuesday 12th December when the Year Six students enjoyed celebrating the final days of their primary school journey. The students and their families raised funds at this year's Market Day and through selling Zooper Doopers each week this term to enable this day to happen. Amongst the many rides, the students also enjoyed the spectacular water park at Gumbuya World. A great finish to a fabulous year!

Hands On Music

Congratulations to all the St Michael's students who performed at last week's Hands On Music Concerts. It was wonderful to see an array of instruments being played and some talented singers perform as well. I was extremely impressed with confidence shown by the students and how well they were encouraged and supported by their music teachers. Thank you to Hands On Music for their continuing partnership with St Michael's School. Should you wish for your child to have instrumental or voice lessons in 2024, please make contact with Jen Capon, handsonmusic.j@gmail.com, Tel: 0402 910 330

Year Six Students Farewell Assembly

Thank you to the Year Six students for the sharing of their St Michael's memories at Monday afternoon's assembly. It's occasions such as these when we realise how many and varied the experiences are that students have at school in their seven years. Some students could recall events from their early years in the school and certainly their teachers. We then had the opportunity to see the Year Six dance, choreographed by Mrs Erica Cremer, which they have been practising most of this term. Well done to all and I'm looking forward to seeing it again at tonight's Graduation ceremony!

Class WhatsApp groups for 2024:

Following the Transition session for the children on Monday, several WhatsApp groups have started for next year's classes.

Please click on the links below to join your class.

Prep 2024: please contact Charlotte Jones on 0431.321.775 if you haven't already joined the group, which was advertised at the Prep information session.

Mrs Lampe's 1/2 class:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/HC9fTePBBKEGyPdOlJZACP

Miss O'Donnell's 1/2 class:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/E7pQOXhpy9p2p2YzYb26Pg

Mr Stent's 1/2 class:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/DE0t0uIB5z137onLOIRyNp

Ms Balzat and Miss Anne's 3/4 class:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/FMT6mFh2YQ9LICwzQG19PG

Mrs Harding and Mrs Hedley's 3/4 class:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/F97XrdW3XSM53uTpoVzpoy

Mrs Imbriano's 3/4 class:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/GiszikWr8fSDjt8gehl0Qa

Mr Hickey's 5/6 class:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/I3HbW5rsiRYJESo21NXYCK

Miss Casey's 5/6 class:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/LdDY5mMkLQ1IR5BDxSnm6s

Class Reps for 2024:

Thank you to those who have already offered to be a class rep next year. We are still looking for one or two Class Reps for most classes. Please contact Therese Molnar on either 0417.014.772 or Therese.molnar@gmail.com if you are able to take on this important role for your class.

Diary alert!

On Friday, 2nd February, there will be a morning tea provided for all parents in the Hub / on the basketball court (weather permitting). Our fabulous coffee cart will be there serving up delicious coffees, hot chocolates and teas for the very best start to the school year! Please put some time aside to join us once you have your children settled in their new classroom.

Parents and Friends Association

I wish to acknowledge and thank all the members of our PFA who have worked so hard this year to help build community, bring people together and help raise funds for programs in our school. It is only through fundraising that we are able to maintain and improve many of the amenities and resources the students use on a daily basis. Within the last two years, with the support of the parent community, the PFA has facilitated essential projects such as purchasing technology, purchasing and maintaining Maths and Literacy resources, purchasing a projector and screen for the hall and furniture for classrooms, provided funds for our school therapy dog, and covering the cost of our online safety platform for students, which continues into 2024.

St Michael's Cake Stall

THANK YOU to the parents who have come forward to create a committee to lead next year's Cake Stall at the Ashy Festival! How fabulous!

On this day, we will need quite a number of volunteers to assist with selling cakes and snow cones. We ask that you please SAVE THE DATE (Sunday 25th February) and a roster will be organised early in the new year.

Any queries about this date / event please contact Therese Molnar on 0417.014.772.

Some important 2024 dates

To assist you in your planning for 2024, we release some of our term dates here for your home calendars.

Term 1	Friday 26th January - Australia Day Monday 29 January - Term 1 commences (Staff only, no students) Tuesday 30th January - Whole school closure - Staff Professional Learning day Wednesday 31st Jan & Thursday 1st Feb - Years Prep to Six - Student Assessment Days - Program for these days to be confirmed Friday 2nd February - Year Prep to Year Six Classes commence ‘Prep Rest Days’ Wed 7th, Wed 14th, Wed 21st, Wed 28th February & Wed 6th March Wednesday 20th March - SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY - Staff Professional Learning day Thursday 28th March - Final Day of Term 1 (Holy Thursday) Easter - Friday 29th March - Monday 1 April (In school holidays)
Term 2	Monday 15 April – Friday 28 June
Term 3	Monday 15 July – Friday 20 September
Term 4	Monday 7 October – Wednesday 18th December - Students conclude (To be confirmed) Friday 20 December - Staff conclude

St Michael's School Open Days 2024

The St Michael's Open Days have now been published! Please tell your neighbours, friends and families, if they have a child who is ready for Prep in 2025, to come to an open day or to phone the office and arrange a tour at a time that suits them. Tours run from 9.30am each Open Day for approximately 1 hour.

St Michael's Online Safety Hub

We want to share a brand new Digital Wellbeing resource with you - a timely opportunity for our parents while your children are home for the extended Summer holiday break, where kids will inevitably spend more time online than usual. Our school's brand new Online Safety Hub is full of helpful, easy to follow tips, tools and advice to help you keep your children safe online and to steer them towards confident, safe and responsible technology use.We encourage you to take a look at the online content and open conversations with your children about this important topic!

https://stmichaelsashburton.onlinesafetyhub.com.au/

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