Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

What an incredible NAIDOC Day we had. Our recent celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples was a resounding success and I want to extend my sincere congratulations and gratitude to our entire school and wider community for making it so special.

The spirit of unity and respect was truly evident throughout the day, from the moving Liturgy that began the proceedings to the vibrant and engaging activities that followed. We were particularly honoured to host the beautiful girls' dance group from McCarthy Catholic College Tamworth, whose performance was a captivating highlight and deeply resonated with everyone present. Their talent and cultural expression added such a profound and memorable dimension to our celebrations.

A very special thank you must go to our dedicated staff members, Ashlen Rae, Renae Catlett and Breanna Todd who worked tirelessly to organise such a wonderful day. Their commitment and passion ensured a diverse and meaningful program of events, allowing us all to learn, reflect and celebrate the rich history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Your hard work did not go unnoticed and truly made a difference.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Manilla Preschool and Manilla Early Learning for joining us for our NAIDOC celebrations. It was an absolute delight to have your students and staff participate in such a meaningful day. It was especially wonderful to see so many of our Mini Michael's students, who will be commencing school at St Michael's in 2026, amongst our guests. Their presence added an extra layer of excitement and connection to the day and it was a joy to share this significant cultural event with them as they begin their journey with our school community. Your enthusiasm and participation truly enriched our NAIDOC Day and we hope everyone enjoyed the activities and learning experiences. We look forward to many more opportunities for our communities to come together.

Thank you again to everyone who participated and contributed. Your enthusiasm and engagement are what make our community so strong and vibrant. We look forward to continuing our journey of reconciliation and appreciation for Indigenous cultures.

To begin the term, our staff development days were buzzing with energy and collaboration as our teachers engaged in comprehensive planning and preparation sessions across Key Learning Areas. With the new syllabus documents for Creative Arts, Science, PDHPE (Personal Development, Health and Physical Education), and HSIE (Human Society and Its Environment - History and Geography) released in 2024 for gradual implementation, these days were crucial for ensuring our curriculum remains at the forefront of educational excellence. 

Our dedicated educators delved into the intricacies of the new syllabi, collaborating to design engaging and effective learning experiences that align with the latest educational standards. This proactive approach ensures a smooth transition and equips our teachers with the strategies and resources needed to deliver high-quality, future-focused education. This Semester, we're excited to be trialling integrated units across our stages, a strategic approach designed to maximise both time and resources. This initiative ensures comprehensive coverage of learning outcomes across Key Learning Areas, fostering a more cohesive and impactful educational experience for our students.

A massive thank you to Leah Summerell for her exceptional coordination and leadership in bringing this integrative approach to fruition. Her dedication is instrumental in shaping this exciting new chapter in our curriculum delivery. We're incredibly proud of our staff's commitment to continuous learning and their dedication to providing the best possible educational outcomes for our students. 

We want to extend a huge thank you to all our parents and carers who took the time to attend our recent Parent/Teacher conferences. Your engagement and partnership are invaluable to your child's learning journey and we truly appreciate you making the effort to connect with our teachers. These discussions are so important for celebrating successes and identifying areas where we can all work together to support student growth.

If you haven't already, we strongly encourage you to share your child's Semester OneReport with them. This is a fantastic opportunity to discuss their achievements, reflect on their progress and set goals for the coming Semester. Celebrating their hard work and discussing their learning journey together can be incredibly motivating for students.

Thanks again for your ongoing support – it makes a real difference!

Today, our learning and play spaces were filled with capes, masks and heroic poses as we celebrated Superhero Week! Everyone embraced their inner superhero alter ego to support a truly worthy cause, Bear Cottage.

Bear Cottage is an incredible organisation and the only children's hospice in NSW. It provides essential respite and end-of-life care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.  As we put on our capes and channelled our courage, we especially remembered the Coombes family and their connection to Bear Cottage. 

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to this wonderful day. Your superhero efforts are a testament to our community's compassion and generosity.

This Sunday, August 3, we're all invited to lace up our walking shoes and support a fantastic cause at the March for Max fundraising event. The festivities kick off at 10:00a.m. at the Manilla RSL with a leisurely walk around Manilla. After the walk, everyone is welcome back to the RSL for a delicious BBQ lunch and some family fun.

Max, one of our wonderful Year 2 students, has set an inspiring personal fundraising goal of $7,000. Let's show him our support and help him have a fabulous day on Sunday. We wish him all the best!

Wishing everyone a fabulous weekend,

Bronwyn