Dear Families,

This is the last Newsletter for Term One and I would like to congratulate all in our community on the way we have returned to the routine of school. Although this has been difficult at times, our persistence and resilience have been amazing. This is the longest our children and staff have been at school for two years so they are getting tired as they do not have ‘school stamina’ at the moment. With just over a week to go before holidays, your child may need encouragement to come to school each day with a smile on their face. I hope you have a restful Easter break and you can enjoy time with your families. Stay safe and a reminder we return to school on Tuesday 26th April.

A reminder to all families that we finish school on Friday 8th April at 1pm

Holy Week

We have spent the last few weeks in the season of Lent and next week we turn our focus to the most sacred time in our Church's calendar, Holy Week.

The important days of Holy Week begin with Palm Sunday, the final day of Lent. On this day we recall when Jesus entered the Holy city of Jerusalem riding a donkey, the townspeople threw clothes, and palms or small branches, in front of him as a sign of praise. On Holy Thursday we commemorate the final Passover meal Jesus shared with his disciples in Jerusalem. This was the first celebration of the sacrament of Holy Communion. Good Friday is the commemoration of Jesus' crucifixion and death at Calvary.

Easter Sunday marks the resurrection of Jesus, three days after His death, it is the most important day in our Church year. Jesus' resurrection gives us hope and the belief that goodness will always conquer. I hope that the Resurrection of Our Lord, Jesus fills you with hope, peace and the belief that with His love and guidance, we can work together to make our world a better place to live in.

Enrolments 2023

We have received many enrolments for Prep 2023, a reminder to any families with children starting school in 2023 to make sure you lodge your child's enrolment form as soon as possible.

School Fees

Thank you to all families who have fulfilled their Term 1 School Fees and Levy commitment. If you have yet to do so can you please finalise these payments before the end of term. If you need to see me about your family's fee please contact the office to make an appointment to meet with me.

Term 2 Start and Finish Times

In Term 2 we will revert to our normal start and finish times as listed below.

8.30am: School gates open - all children can begin to arrive

8.45am: Children enter their classrooms

8.50am: School gates close, all children to enter through the office and collect a late pass

3.15pm: School gates open

3.30pm: All children dismissed

COVID Safe Practices

I thank you all for your commitment to keeping our community safe and know that as we continue working together into Term 2, our focus will continue to be on following COVID Safe Practices and keeping each other safe. Please find below information from MACS regarding your presence on the school site.

MACS COVID-19 Vaccinations – Parents and Carers on School Sites Guidelines

The purpose of these guidelines is to outline the required process for Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) education facilities to manage MACS’ vaccination requirements relating to parents, carers and other visitors not performing work on school sites. These guidelines commence with immediate effect and operate until further notice.

Vaccination requirements for parents, carers and other visitors not performing work:

All parents, carers and other visitors attending schools, including for drop-off and pick-up, must adhere to physical distancing, density limits and face mask requirements, and practise respiratory etiquette and good hand hygiene.
Schools must sight vaccination information of parents, carers and other adult visitors not performing work who enter school buildings
Schools do not need to collect, record or hold the information in these circumstances.
Parents, carers and other adult visitors who enter school buildings must have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid medical exception, with the following limited exceptions:
- when attending to administer medical treatment to their own child where the treatment cannot be administered by the school
- when attending to collect their child who is unwell and cannot leave the school building unaccompanied by their parent/carer when attending for a momentary period that does not involve any sustained contact with staff or students, for example, to collect a completed art project or similar.
Parents, carers and other adult visitors attending school sites for drop-off and pick-up who do not enter school buildings do not need to comply with vaccination requirements.
Parents, carers and other adult visitors attending a gathering at school, such as a fete, school play or other school ceremony, whether indoors or outdoors, need to show evidence of vaccination on arrival.
When parents and carers do not meet vaccination requirements, the school should hold meetings and other discussions (such as Student Support Group meetings) virtually.
Medically excepted persons In line with the Mandatory Vaccination Orders, parents, carers and visitors may be able to show that they are an ‘excepted person’.

Parents and carers who are considered excepted persons may enter school buildings. This is a very limited category and applies only if the person has obtained an Australian Immunisation Register immunisation medical exemption certificate from their medical practitioner stating that they are unable, due to a medical contraindication or an acute medical illness (including COVID-19), to receive a dose, or a further dose, of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Exceptional circumstances:

An unvaccinated parent, carer or visitor may be able to attend a school site to either:

respond to an emergency at the facility
provide urgent care due to an emergency situation or a critical unforeseen circumstance.

These exceptions only apply for the time required to respond to the exceptional circumstance, and the school should ensure that the unvaccinated parent, carer or visitor leaves the facility as soon as possible. Schools should exhaust all other options before calling on an unvaccinated person to respond to an emergency situation.

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.

Learning News

Prep O and Religious Education