St Michael's Primary School Newsletter

Denise's Message

New School Building News

It is with great excitement that I inform you that our Building Grant has received full approval from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) and the LLOYD GROUP have been appointed as the construction company responsible for the building process. I had a brief meeting with our Architect Alan Cubbin from Crosier Scott Architects about the building today and we have organised a meeting with representatives of Lloyd Group for next week. At this meeting we will formalise the contract and discuss the start and completion dates as well the impact the building program will have on our day to day program. I will certainly share this information with you in the next newsletter. 

 

Reconciliation Week

Wednesday 26th May marks National Sorry day and the beginning of Reconciliation Week. Our Social Justice Leaders, Sam Walkley and Oscar Taggart led the school in an Assembly to mark this event on Wednesday morning. Both students put much effort into researching and preparing all the information they shared with us, some of this is written below.

"...National Sorry Day is the day that we acknowledge the suffering of indigenous people. It is the day before Reconciliation Week starts. This is a week where we commit to learning, valuing and walking with indigenous people on the path of Reconciliation, not only this week but always.

On the 13th of February 2008, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a formal apology to Australia’s Indigenous peoples, particularly to the Stolen Generations whose lives had been affected by past government policies of removing children from their families and insisting Indigenous children grow up in a European culture. 

The apology was important because past prime ministers did not choose to apologise and acknowledge the mistakes of the past.

Which is why when Kevin Rudd apologised to the nation it was an important step on the path of Reconciliation..." 

"... The theme this year is ‘Takes Action - more than a word’. 

So how can we take action and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities at St Michael’s? 

  1. Raise funds for indigenous communities. 
  2. Talk, research and learn about Indigenous history at school. Know your facts.
  3. Call out racism
  4. Continue to make the school a culturally safe and respectful place for our indigenous community.
  5. Challenge local leaders to take action on justice.
  6. Buy from indigenous business’.
  7. Learn local indigenous language and use it at school.
  8. Invite indigenous people to share their stories and knowledge into our community. 
  9. Attend local indigenous festivals in your community
  10. Listen to indigenous music and hear the stories of the Stolen Generation and indigenous communities..."

Thanks to Sam and Oscar for sharing this information with us and I look forward to seeing our community commit to some of the actions mentioned above

 

COVID Restrictions

COVID restrictions are now back in place so I ask you to stay aware of all these requirements and ensure you abide by them, especially when in the St Michael's community. As I have said many times in the past, if we all do the right things, following the restriction guidelines and staying home and getting tested when unwell we will enable our school community to stay as safe as possible.

Please take care of your families and stay safe during these concerning times.

 

 

Have  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.