Dear Parents and Carers,

What a wonderful week of celebration we have enjoyed with the children as the 2024 academic year draws to a close. It all started on Thursday evening December 12 when our K-2 students performed the Christmas Pageant at the Manilla Town Hall. Congratulations to all the children as they sang their way to Bethlehem and back to Bondi. Last Friday, December 13, we held our final Mass for the year. Thank you to the parents and carers who were able to attend. We understand it can be difficult to attend when you have your own work and other commitments. During the Mass, we farewelled the children who are heading off in various directions next year, many due to families relocating to other areas for work and/or lifestyle choices. We wish everyone great success and happiness.

On Monday evening December 16, we held our annual presentation at Manilla Central Hall. It's always wonderful to celebrate the achievements of the children, not only academically, but socially and sporting as well. Major award winners on the night were:

Academic Excellence DUX: Molly Gallagher Year 6

Citizenship: Farrer Burke Year 6

Jereme Doust Memorial (tries hardest with the most enthusiasm): Patricia Towns Year 1

Cathy Vincent Memorial (Let Your Light Shine): Destiny Smith Year 6

Father Melville Memorial (Christian Values): Miller Burke Year 4

Chad Memorial (Consistently gives their best): Chelsea Holden Year 6

Manilla RSL Sub Branch Bursary: Farrer Burke Year 6

Manilla Services Club Bursary: Tobie Weekes Year 6

St Vincent de Paul Society Social Justice Award: Oliver Shorter

Academic Excellence in English: William (Billy) Agnew, Max Coombes, Alexander Pettit, Gwyneth Kelly, Alice Coombes, Michael Maughan, Molly Gallagher.

Academic Excellence in Mathematics: Mason Dowsett, Max Hyles, Oliver Maughan, Alice Coker, Alice Coombes, Tobie Weekes.

Commitment to Learning: Piper Browning, Rowan Eykamp, Poppy Long, Joseph Sullivan, Pippa Duff, Josie Duff, Chelsea Holden.

Christian Excellence: Eadie Armytage, Jack Sullivan, Oliver Holden, Arianah Stark, Miller Burke, Eloise Trotter, Farrer Burke.

Sportsperson of the Year

Junior Boy: Jedd Hall Year 4

Junior Girl: Georgia Abra Year 4

11 Yr Boy: Jack Kenafick Year 5

11 Yr Girl: Eloise Trotter Year 5

Senior Boy: Nulla Gilla Year 6 and Farrer Burke Year 6

Senior Girl: Susan Davidson Year 6

Armidale Catholic Schools Office Half Blue Award: Eloise Trotter

Dorris Budden from the CWA Namoi Group presented our School Captains with a donation in relation to our schools latest achievements in producing wonderful powerpoint presentations about the Country of Study, as part of the CWA's international studies on France.

Tuesday evening, December 17, we farewelled our Year 6 class of 2024. Congratulations to the students for completing their Primary School journey. We look forward to hearing great things as you progress through your secondary Education. The children are headed to various destinations in 2025:

Farrer Burke is enrolled at Farrer Agricultural High School Tamworth, Susan Davidson, Leah Kelly and Isaac Marshman are enrolled at Calrossy Anglican School Tamworth, Pauline Fleming will attend Scotts College Warwick, Molly Gallagher is headed to Kincoppal Rose Bay, Nulla Gillon, Thomas Taber, Owen Gardner and Chelsea Holden will attend McCarthy Catholic College Tamworth, Destiny Smith and Oliver Shorter will transition to Manilla Central High School and Tobie Weekes is heading to Yanco Agricultural High School Yanco.

We also farewell some families from St Michael's with their children completing their Year 6 studies. We would like to thank Amy and David Davidson, Lucy and Gerard Gallagher, Melisa and Russell Gardner, Michelle and Ian Paull, Fiona and John Kelly, Christie Hoffman and Jodie and Brad Weekes for your continued support or our school. We wish everyone a safe and happy future.

Year 6 Farwell/Graduation Evening

Staffing for 2025 is nearing finalisation. As you know, we are farewelling Anna Fraser, Nicolette Myers and Mitchell Beaumont. Teaching allocations for 2025 to date are:

Kindergarten: Mrs Emily Gall

Year 1: Miss Cassandra Lyall

Year 2: Miss Isabella Rasche

Year 3: Mrs Ellie Davis

Year 4: Ms Emma Martin

Year 5/6 and Assistant Principal: Mrs Cathy Shepherd

Religious Education Coordinator/Assistant Principal/RFF: Ms Jacquelene Cronin

Leader of Pedagogy/Mathematics Specialist Teacher: Miss Leah Summerell

Inclusion Support Teacher: Mrs Amanda McNair

School commences for students in 2025 on Monday February 3 for Years 1-6. Kindergarten will commence on Tuesday February 4. Staff return to work on Thursday December 30 and will participate in professional learning for Thursday and Friday of that week.

On behalf of the staff at St Michael's, I wish you all a safe and happy holiday. For families who are relocating during the break, we hope all goes smoothly and we wish your children all the best as they settle into their new school in 2025.

Merry Christmas

Bronwyn

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