Denise's Message

Dear Families,

Road Safety

It continues to astound me that parents and families continue to make dangerous choices when dropping off or picking up their children. Why is it that parents can make right and safe choices when being watched by authorities and there is a threat of receiving a fine, but cannot do so when not being watched?

I would like to share with you a recent email received from a concerned parent.

"I wanted to bring to your attention an incident that occurred during school pickup this afternoon (06/06/2025 at 3:30 PM).

I was parked outside the school, parallel to the basketball court, when another parent parked their car on the road, partially blocking my vehicle. I assumed they were waiting for me to leave so they could take the parking spot I was occupying. As I proceeded to reverse to exit, students ran into the vacant space behind my car to get into their vehicle. I stopped in time, and another parent quickly intervened, calling the children back to the footpath.

I was quite concerned, as I did not anticipate children running behind my car and onto the road.

I wanted to highlight that when parents park on the road to pick up their children, it can create confusion, and children running onto the road to get into an unparked car poses a significant safety risk.

I felt terrible about the situation and wanted to share my concerns with you."

I am so very worried that if this unsafe behaviour continues, I will be calling or talking with families to inform them that their children have been involved in an accident,  so I ask each of you to please be safe when dropping off and picking up your child.

Staff News 

Ezza Ramsay will be finishing his time at St Michael’s at the end of Term 2. Throughout Semester 1, Ezza has worked closely with Hang Cao, sharing the teaching responsibilities for the Year 5/6EH class from Tuesday to Friday. Ezza has been a valued member of the St Michael’s community since December 2017, initially working alongside Susan Mooney in our OSHC program. In 2022 Ezza joined St Michael's staff beginning as an LSO, then a CRT. After completing his Masters in Education in 2023 Ezza took on the role of classroom teacher in Year 5/6.

During his time with us, Ezza has demonstrated unwavering commitment, warmth, and dedication to his students. His ability to foster strong relationships and his passion for helping every child reach their potential have made a lasting impact.

From the beginning of Semester 2, Abby Dionysiou will join Hang Cao as the newly named Year 5/6AH class teachers. The updated 5/6 teaching structure will be:

• Year 5/6N – Nathan Fitzgerald (Monday to Friday)
• Year 5/6AH – Abby Dionysiou (Monday to Friday) and Hang Cao (Monday and Tuesday)

Hang will also continue in her role as Catholic Mission and Identity Leader from Wednesday to Friday.

Ezza will be deeply missed by students, families, and staff alike. On behalf of our school community, we thank him for all he has contributed to St Michael’s and wish him every success and joy in his travels.

Exciting News – Our Building Works Have Begun!

We’re thrilled to share that construction has officially commenced at St Michael’s!

Thanks to a generous $3 million grant from the Victorian Government, we are undertaking significant renovations to enhance our learning spaces. This exciting project will include:

• Two brand-new classrooms
• A redesigned and modern library
• New meeting and planning areas
• Internal connecting hallways between our buildings
• A new staff lounge 

This investment is a strong vote of confidence in the wonderful work happening at our school, not just from our governing body, MACS, but also from the State Government. It’s something we can all take pride in as a school community.

Over the coming weeks, you’ll notice the building site taking shape, with the installation of site sheds, toilets, and safety barriers separating the construction area from the learning and play areas. We’ve also adjusted lunch, recess, and class sport sessions to ensure students continue to enjoy their time outside, despite the reduced play space.

I’ll be providing regular updates as the project progresses and I encourage you to ask your child about the changes they’re noticing - or feel free to come and have a chat with me anytime!

Together, we’re building an even better future for St Michael’s.

Parent, Child, Teacher Chats

Semester 1 Learning Conversations

We are looking forward to our upcoming Learning Conversations, which will be held on:

• Thursday 3rd July from 2:15pm – 5:30pm
• Friday 4th July from 8:45am – 1:30pm

You will receive information about how to book your appointment early next week. We ask all families to book a time as soon as possible - either for an in-person meeting or a Google Meet with your child's teacher, as well as their Specialist teachers. Please note that phone interviews will not be available this semester.

It is expected that every family meets with their child’s teacher to discuss learning progress, achievements from Semester 1, and goals for the remainder of the year. We also ask that students attend these conversations, as it is a wonderful opportunity for them to reflect on their learning and share their goals for Semester 2.

As part of our reporting process, families will receive a written report showing how each child is progressing against the Victorian Curriculum standards across all learning areas. In addition to the report, your child’s online portfolio includes samples of their work from Semester 1. Many classes also invite families to take part in classroom activities or observe learning in action.

We know that ongoing communication is key. Whether it’s through ClassDojo messages, catch-ups before or after school, or attending school events, these all contribute to a rich and accurate picture of your child’s learning.

When we work in partnership, our children thrive. Thank you for your continued support.

A reminder that you need to sign up for the report portal, as reports will not be sent home in hard copy this semester. Reports will only be accessible via the report portal. The link is below.

 https://portal.nforma.com.au/login

Vinnies collection

We all know that times are challenging, and the rising cost of living is affecting many families. In response, our Year 6 Social Justice Leaders are taking action to support those doing it tough by leading our school’s involvement in the Winter Appeal.

Each year level has been asked to contribute specific items to help make a difference in the lives of others. We’re inviting all families to support this initiative by simply picking up one or two extra items during your next supermarket shop and sending them along to your child’s classroom.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to put their faith into action and show compassion for others. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most.

Thank you for your generosity and support.

Kelly the Cow 

We celebrated the arrival of Kelly the Cow into our playground with a cheese toastie day on Wednesday. As you can see from the photo, Kelly is very settled in her new environment, and our children just loved their cheese toasties and glasses of milk. Special thanks to Hudson and Saxon's parents, Aileen and Andrew Brown for organising the toastie van and free milk and to our wonderful parent helpers for serving all the yummy food.

Punctuality Plus 

Thank you to all our families who are continuing to support their children in getting to school on time, as we have seen a significant decrease in the number of latecomers. Teaching our children that being punctual is an important life lesson. Congratulations to 1/2RF for being the Punctuality Champions last week, with fewer than four latecomers throughout the week. This week's winners are Prep D and 1/2G, each with 3 latecomers. A special mention to 3/4T who are most improved going from 22, to 13, to just 6 late arrivals over the last 3 weeks. Please assist your child and their class win this award by getting them to school in time to arrive at their classrooms and unpack by 8.50am.

Important Dates for Term Two

Thursday July 3 - End Term 2 at 2pm. Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews 2.15pm - 5.30pm

• after school care available from 2pm

Friday July 4 - Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews 8.45am - 1.30pm

• after school care available from 2pm

Have a great week of learning.

Denise Hussey

(Principal)

'The most simple thing I can do is to be good today but better tomorrow'

Catherine McAuley - Mercy Sisters Foundress

All students attending St Michael's Primary School have the right to feel safe. The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people is a fundamental responsibility of all within our school.