From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

Thank you to our St Michael’s community for your support of today’s funeral for Meredith Bennett. Today all staff who knew and had worked with Meredith were able to attend the funeral due to the support you were able to give us. It was a beautiful ceremony in her memory and we are so glad to have been able to celebrate the time together with former staff, family and friends of Meredith. I am especially proud of our Year 6 students who bravely stood in the Guard of Honour after the prayer service as we exited the church. Such a fitting act for someone who loved her work with children so much. We welcome all students back tomorrow to school where our Year 3-6 Swimming program will continue and we will hold our first School Assembly, led by 3/4B. Please note, an indoor play timetable will be enacted due to the high temperature predicted for tomorrow.

We remind families that the Ashburton Festival is only a week and a bit away - Thursday 26th February, 12-7pm. Soon you will be sent your Cake Kit with details of when to bring your cake and how to package and label it. We are in need of volunteers please to SIGN UP TO THE CAKE STALL ROSTER HERE. If you are unable to access the roster through the link, please phone, text or email Trevor Jenkins at 0468 653 676 or gastronomicchefsolutions@gmail.com

Thank you to all who attended last Thursday night's PFA meeting. We have some wonderful and exciting events coming up this year, which is fabulous given the last few years of reduced community activities. We welcome anyone who is able to assist in any way, large or small, to please make contact with any of the PFA members via an email to:  pfa@smashburton.catholic.edu.au 

Next week we look forward to celebrating Pancake Tuesday with you. It's hard to believe that Lent is already beginning! Check out details for our Pancake Day in this week's Religious Education page!

School Photos

School Photo day is coming up on Thursday 2nd March. Students will need to be wearing their full school Summer uniform on this day; school shoes please, not runners. If your child has PE on this day, runners may be brought to school for the lesson.

At St Michael's photos are taken by Advanced Life Photogrpahy and photos are ordered by parents online. Please see the flier linked here to see how you would order. An email and phone number are listed at the bottom of the flier for any questions you may have about ordering.

St Michael's Swimming Carnival

On Monday this week we had an incredible time with our Year 3-6 students as they competed in the annual Swimming Carnival at Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre. Our students competed in their events capably and with great enthusiasm. It was a great pleasure to see the excitement and the cheering from the crowd as the students' peers swam their hearts out! Twenty Six students qualified for the Glen Iris District School Sports Association which will be held next Tuesday 21st February. Go St Michael's!

The following is a report written about the day from our Media and Communications Leaders, Zane F, Catlin A and Chloe M

The novelty race looked very fun. There were 4 teams, each team was made up of 2 people, 2 teams had a dumbbell and a noodle, on the teams with a dumbbell and a noodle 1 person had the noodle, one person had the dumbbell and the other 2 teams they had a floatable mat. The first team to get both people to the end won. The other races were the 50 and 25m freestyle, the 50m backstroke, the 50m breaststroke and the 50m butterfly. It seemed very fun. Congreatulations to those who got to district.

The spirit award was given to Green house.

The overall winner was Red house.

CONGRATULATIONS RED HOUSE!!

Annual Two Ball Knock Out Competition

Yesterday we held our Annual Two Ball Knock Out Competition. A competitor from each class took on the staff. Patrick Prior was our runner up and our overall winner was Ella Rooney. Congratulations to all our participants. 

Food for Birthday Celebrations

At St Michael's School we love to celebrate children's birthdays! If you wish to send in birthday food for your child to share with classmates, we ask please that it is in individual portions and sealed and these will be sent home with children at the end of the school day. Given the number of allergies children have, this is the safest method of sharing food and still allows us to celebrate birthdays. During the school day we will still sing happy birthday and allow children to share their birthday experiences. Thank you for your understanding with this.

Assembly Dates for 2023

PARENT / TEACHER / CHILD CONVERSATIONS 

We hope you have had the opportunity to see the Timetable that has been loaded onto Operoo regarding Parent / Teacher / Child Conversations. These will be held on Wednesday 22nd February from 12.30-7.30pm - NEXT WEEK. You can book your times through Operoo. In order that we can hold these, school will finish on that day at 12.00 noon for Conversations to commence from 12.30pm.

St Michael's Open Days 2023

We have had quite a few inquiries this week about our Open Days!

If you know anyone looking for Prep 2024, please encourage them to visit St Michael's. Tours are available throughout the following dates, however please let your neighbours, family members, friends know that I am happy to take tours at an arranged time that is suitable for them and my diary! 

Prep Students' Rest Days

Prep parents please be aware that Prep Rest days will be held on the following Wednesdays: 

Wednesday 22nd February

Wednesday 1st March

Wednesday 8th March

CSEF Eligibility

If you are eligible for the Camps, Sports, Excursions Fund (CSEF), please make contact with the school office at your convenience. If you receive a Carer Allowance on behalf of a child, or any other benefit or allowance not income tested, you may be eligible. If you are unsure, make contact to find out.

CHILD SAFE PRACTICES - Working with Children Checks 

St Michael’s School is committed to providing a child safe environment and takes active steps to ensure any person authorised to conduct ‘child connected works’ does not pose a risk to their safety or welfare. To achieve this, the school implements screening processes, including Working With Children Checks (WWCC), to assess and verify their suitability. 

St Michael’s School ensures that non-teaching staff, contractors, volunteers and visitors are of suitable character and do not have a relevant criminal record that poses an unjustifiable risk to children. 

Teaching Staff & Casual Relief Teachers who are registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) undergo criminal record checks via their annual registration.

Anaphylaxis at St Michael's 

Just a reminder to all our families that we ask you to be mindful when packing food for your child that you please avoid packing nuts themselves and foods which contain traces of nuts, for the safety of all our students with anaphylaxis. Of course, if foods are accidentally packed for students, we understand this can happen and will manage this accordingly on the day. St Michael's School Hours

For new parents and as a reminder to existing parents...

Classroom awards

Congratulations to the following students for their classroom awards. I am proud as the Acting Principal to see that so many of our students are showing the SMASH expectations in their everyday encounters, doing all they can to make St Michael's the best it can be. Well done and keep it up!!