From the Principal

Dear St Michael’s School families,

HOLY WEEK

This week, our school community gathered for a beautiful prayer liturgy reflecting on Jesus'journey through Holy Week. We recalled His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, welcomed joyfully with palm branches, and then reflected on the Last Supper He shared with His Apostles. The liturgy led us gently into the solemn moments that followed — Jesus’ suffering on the cross and His body laid in the tomb — helping our students understand the deep love and sacrifice at the heart of the Easter story.

To further support students' understanding of the events of this most important time in the church's year, we invite families to try to make it to the services at St Michael's Parish church listed here.

Wishing everyone a happy and holy Easter season and a much needed, restful break!

Holy Week - Please see our Religious Education section of this newsletter for information about Holy Week. 

PREP 2027

Do you have a child starting Prep in 2027?? NOW is the time to be sending in their Enrolment Foms. If you haven't already submitted it, please use our QR code (link) to complete the application and submit it as soon as possible.

MOTHER'S DAY

As you'll be aware, Mother's Day is coming up early in term 2. We warmly invite our Mums or carers to come along and join us for a light breakfast on Friday 1st May, from 8.15am. Children can join Mums or carers for breakfast before starting school. We look forward to enjoying a lovely morning together to celebrate our special people. Keep the morning free and more details will come early in the term.

Mother's Day Stall ~  Our annual Mother's Day stall will be held on Friday 8th May. Details about payment for gifts will be made available when we return from holidays.

These dates have now been added to our School Calendar page.

PREP TO YEAR SIX SWIMMING PROGRAM

Yesterday, our Year Three to Year Six students concluded their 2026 Swimming Program with a Water Safety Day at Aspendale Beach — and what a splendid day it was! Today our Year Prep to Two cohort attended their beach day. This year, we extended the program to include safety instruction in open-water conditions, giving students valuable experience in understanding different aquatic environments and the strategies required to stay safe in each. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with the lifeguards leading the sessions with expertise, enthusiasm, and a wonderful sense of fun.

INFORM & EMPOWER PARENT SESSION

Thank you to the families who attended last night's Inform and Empower Parent Information Session with Marty and Carley McGuaran. Once again it was helpful as an educator to be reminded of some of the latest games and apps that students are accessing and to hear about ways we can help build and support their Digital Wellbeing. St Michael's students will take part in activities and a webinar from Inform & Empower each term as part of their Digital Technologies program.

STUDENT LEARNING PORTFOLIOS

Today you will receive your child’s 2026 Learning Portfolio with one sample of work from this term. This hard-copy portfolio replaces the use of the online platform, Seesaw, for the time being. This is one of the changes made directly in response to the feedback sought from parents by the School Advisory Council in 2025.

In this first portfolio, you will find one writing sample from your child, accompanied by an assessment rubric aligned with the Writing Curriculum for their Year Level. Further pieces of student work from different areas of the curriculum will follow as the year progresses.

We ask parents to take time to look over the work sample and rubric when you have some time, have discussions with your child about their writing progress and what they can do to keep improving. Please be sure to read the letter contained at the beginning of the folder.

80TH ANNIVERSARY GALA DINNER - Saturday 17th October, 2026

Let's get ready for our next big 80th celebration event, our Gala Dinner, coming up on 17th October, 2026. Get in early to get your tickets!

This event is open to all past and present community members and only has limited capacity.

EASTER EGG RAFFLE

This week you will have received your raffle tickets for the annual St Michael's Easter Egg Raffle. Please find some time to sell these over the break. They are due to be returned to the office no later than Wednesday 22nd April  (there are extra raffle tickets available in the office if needed!) and the raffle will be drawn on FRIDAY 24TH APRIL, 2.30PM. We can't wait to see the Easter Bunny!

GARDENING

Thank you to Five / Six G and Miss Taylor this week for harvesting the beautiful basil and silverbeet. Over the last two weeks these vegetables have flourished in our garden with the rain and sunshine. Lucky those who brought their change and could pick up a bargain at the gate!!

ADVANCED PSYCHOLOGY BLOG

St Michael's School has partnered with Advanced Psychology with a psychologist working onsite weekly. This link takes you to a blog with podcasts / webinars that deal with a variety of topics which might be of interest to parents and teachers. 

https://www.advancedpsychology.net/blogs

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.