From the Principal

Dear St Michael’s School families, 

We wish all of our families a happy new year and hope that you are enjoying a restful break together. We are greatly looking forward to your return next week and wanted to give you a a few reminders:

NEXT WEEK

Monday 27 January - Australia Day Public Holiday - No school.

Tuesday 28th January - Term 1 commences (Staff only, no students)

Wednesday 29th January - Professional Learning Day - Staff & Student Wellbeing focus (Staff only, no students)

Thursday 30th & Friday 31st January - Years Prep to Six - Student Assessment Days - see Operoo for details.

Monday 3rd February - Year Prep to Year Six Classes commence, 8.50am

Beginning of School Year Morning Tea for all families available from 8.45am. Free Coffee Cart onsite. ALL welcome!

SCHOOL PHOTO DAY - Correction

Please note, there was an error in the calendar sent in December, stating that Photo Day was on 4th February. This was incorrect, it will be held on Tuesday 5th March. Students will need to wear their full school uniform to school on this day. More details and ordering information will follow.

BEGINNING OF YEAR SCHOOL MASS

We welcome all our families to our Beginning of Year School mass on Wednesday 12th February at 10am at St Michael's Church. We will welcome in the new school year and would love for you to join us.

ASSESSMENT DAYS

All students are required to attend one of the four assessment sessions held over the two assessment days - Thursday 30th and Friday 31st January. Details about bookings came through Operoo. Students can wear casual clothes to the Assessment Day and bring a snack and water bottle with them.  No school bags are required on these testing days. Stationery and materials will be provided. If you have not been able to book a time for testing and you are unable to due to lack of time slots, please do not be concerned, we will undertake testing for your child in the first full week of school.

Class requisites (tissues, headphones etc) may be brought to the classroom on this day or on Monday 3rd February.

New families - If you have not yet set up a profile in Operoo, please do so as soon as possible and book your time in on one of these days. An email will have been sent to you about setting up your profile.

INFORM & EMPOWER PARENT EVENING SESSIONS (YEARS THREE TO SIX)

On Wednesday 5th February 2025, St Michael’s has again invited Marty McGauran, the founder of Inform & Empower, to host ‘Raising Kids in a Digital World’ to present to our families. This is a vitally important session for our school community so that we can work together as partners, to find out more about the ever-changing digital landscape. Please note that NEW INFORMATION is presented at this session each year, so even if you have attended in the past, it is important that you attend again. Perhaps a parent who has not yet attended could be present. 

The presentation will begin at 7pm and finish at approximately 8.30pm and will be located in the Hub.

Please respond to the Operoo form accordingly if you haven't already done so. If both parents are unable to attend Jordan Lo Ricco will contact you via email to provide you with a short online module to complete. If parents are unable to provide any other care for their children in the evening, the school will be providing supervision to students during the session. Students will meet with some of the staff in the school library during the parent session.

STUDENT DEVICES - YEARS THREE TO SIX

Chromebooks for Year Three Students and new students to St Michael's (Yr3-6) will be made available from Monday 3rd February in classrooms.

Students receiving a new device are requested to collect their device on their testing days. All student devices should be brought into school starting from the first full day of classes (Monday, 3rd February). Devices will not be required during testing days. Devices will continue to go home each night and must be fully charged before returning to school the following day.

UNIFORM

In Term 1 children are to wear their full summer uniform. Runners are only to be worn on days when children are required to wear sports uniform, black leather shoes must be worn at all other times. Teachers will advise as to when sports lessons will be held.  We also remind parents that during Term 1, students who do not have a hat are required to play in AREA 1 in the shade, to ensure their safety during the warmer months. This will commence from Monday 3rd February so please ensure you dig out your hats and have them ready to go! Hats are highly encouraged and optional during terms 2 and 3. 

YEAR THREE TO SIX SWIMMING PROGRAM

A reminder that our Swimming Program for Years three to six students commences on Monday 3rd February, the first full day of school. A few of the dates for this have changed, as per the dates listed below:

Week 2 - FEBRUARY 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th & 7th AND

Week 3 - FEBRUARY 10th, 11th, 14th (Water Safety Day)

Parents wishing to volunteer, please see notice and details through the Operoo.

The swimming carnival will run on Wednesday 12th February, which means there will be no lessons on this day. Any families or friends who are available to support this event would be greatly appreciated.

PREP PARENTS WELCOME DRINKS

We look forward to celebrating the Prep Parents Welcome Drinks on the evening of Friday 14th March. Please save this date in your calendars and organise baby sitters. More details to follow!

ASHBURTON'S GOT TALENT

This year's Ashburton Community Festival is again holding "Ashburton's Got Talent" which had two St Michael's students perform in 2024. If your child is interested in performing again this year, please follow the details listed below. Our famous St Michael's Cake Stall will feature again at the Festival, so please start thinking about what you'll be baking for it!

Ashburton's Got Talent happening this year as part of the Ashburton Community Festival 11am - 4pm in a closed off High St, Ashburton on Sunday 23rd February 2025. Your students may like to consider entering.  Enter "Ashburton's Got Talent" this year’s Ashburton Community Festival on Sunday 23rd February in a closed off High St Ashburton and let your talent earn you some $$!  Proudly supported by the Ashburton Community Bank Inner East there is a $2000 prize pool to share in!  To register, follow this linkhttps://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AshGotTal25

Please see here for the final newsletter of 2023 which gives information you may need.

ST MICHAEL'S SCHOOL HOURS

St Michael's School hours remain the same as they were in 2024. Please see below:

School hours 8:50am – 3:30pm (Monday 3:15pm)

Looking forward to seeing you next week

Warmest regards,

Annie