Dear Families,

I hope that you all enjoyed a healthy and happy holiday spending quality time with family and friends.

On the middle weekend of the holidays, we celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the most significant day in our Catholic faith. Our world is currently facing some extremely challenging times and this may lead us to sometimes feel lost or hopeless and not able to enact change and goodness in our world. The message of the Resurrection is that there is always hope and that when we all work together for good, it will always overcome evil.

ANZAC Day

The day before we returned to school was ANZAC Day, a significant day in the history of Australia and New Zealand. On this day we remember all the men and women who have lost their lives fighting in wars to protect Australians and people in many other countries and to maintain our freedoms in a peaceful and fair society.

On our return to school, the children took part in an ANZAC service. During this service, they showed great respect for all the people who have and continue to fight for our safety and freedoms.

Mother's Day

We wish all of our Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunties, Sisters, and special women in our lives a very happy Mother's Day this Sunday. We hope you are spoilt with love, hugs, and kisses and that you are shown the appreciation you deserve for being the wonderful mother that you are!

At this time we also think of those who have lost their mother or are unable to spend time with their mum on Sunday, may they enjoy the memories of good times had with them.

Yesterday we had a wonderful Mother's Day celebration. There were at least 100 people in our hall enjoying a cup of tea or coffee and a treat, it was great to see and feel the energy in the room. The morning culminated in the amazing performance of our St Michael's School Choir led by our Music teacher Stacey Cheeseman, once again the joy of their performance brought a tear to the eyes of many present.

A special thank you to Fiona, Sarah, and all the staff who assisted in making this morning happen.

A very special thank you to one of our parents, Jane Rocca. Jane donated at least 100 copies of her book, Ground-Breaking Fashion: 100 Iconic Moments. I know our mothers and special women who received one were very impressed, grateful, and happy.

Your child also had the opportunity to buy a little gift for their Mother or a special person from our Mother's day stall, thank you to the Mothers for assisting in purchasing these gifts and working on the stall. When we all work together and help out we can achieve amazing things so please consider putting your hand up to help out next time. It is a great opportunity to make new friends and helps us to build a strong, caring St Michael's School.

We welcome new children into our school, I know our children will help them settle in and create new friendships and our families will warmly welcome them into our St Michael's community,

Year 1 - Pola

Year 2 - Marta & Genya

Year 3 - Oslo (Arrived in term 2), Eldar

Year 4 - Parker, Polina, Ivan

Year 5 - Mark, Matvii, Reiku

Sadly we also say farewell to - Marcus Yr1 (moved to Queensland), Darren Yr1 (moved to a new house in a new suburb), and Eryn Yr 1 who leaves us next week to move to Malaysia. We will miss them but wish them well at their new schools.

After School Traffic

At the start of this week, I sent all families a letter regarding the dangerous driving and parking of cars and the way in which parents and children were crossing the road. I am pleased to say I have seen a marked improvement this week. I ask you all to continue to keep following all traffic rules and regulations so that our children remain safe.

It is important that you use the school crossing when crossing the road at all times.

I also remind you that if you are not following the traffic rules your registration number will be recorded and sent through to the authorities, the safety of our children is paramount, and selfish, unsafe pickup behaviour will not be tolerated.

COVID Update

Students who have tested positive for COVID-19, and have completed their 7-day isolation period, now do not need to undertake rapid antigen test (RAT) screening for 12 weeks after their release from isolation. This was previously 8 weeks.

Household contacts

Students who are household contacts of a COVID-19 case are not required to quarantine. They may return to school as long as they undertake rapid antigen tests (RAT) 5 times during their 7-day period. They are required to notify the school that they are a household contact.

Students aged 8 years and above who are household contacts are required to wear face masks when indoors at school unless they have a valid exemption.

If a student household contact returns a positive RAT result, they must isolate for 7 days.

Vaccination requirements for visitors to schools

Parents, carers, and other adult visitors are no longer required to show evidence of two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

RAT screening program reminder

RATs will continue to be supplied for the first 4 weeks of Term 2 to support the early detection of COVID-19 at St Michael's. You will receive your next box of RATs today, these are for Weeks 3 & 4 of Term 2.

School Uniform

It is now time for all children to be wearing their Winter School Uniform.

The uniform to be worn is:

Winter Uniform

Winter Tunic or Navy long pants

Long Sleeve Yellow polo shirt

Bomber Jacket

Navy socks or navy tights

Black school shoes

Sport Uniform

Navy tracksuit pants (navy sports shorts can still be worn)

Navy short sleeve sports polo

Sport Rugby top

White socks

Runners

A warm and cosy school beanie, as well as an excellent school jacket, are also available from the uniform shop.

A reminder that children whose hair is below shoulder length, or covering their face must have it tied back.

NAPLAN

The National Assessment Programme - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will commence next week. Children in grades 3 and 5 (and 7 and 9) will complete the tests on Tuesday, May 10, Wednesday, May 11, and Thursday, May 12. This year the Year 3 students will complete the tests online, except for the writing test, which will be completed on paper. The Year 5 students will complete all of their tests online. NAPLAN forms a single component of our very rigorous and extensive assessment schedule at St Michael's - if you have any questions or concerns around these tests please speak to your child's classroom teacher.

Birthday Treats

Many parents like to send a birthday treat to share with their child's class. Items need to be individually wrapped, do not require refrigeration or special care, and will be given out at the end of the school day.

Term 2 Events

Please keep a lookout for information regarding the following school events:

-School Photos

-Report Writing Day

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.

Denise's I Spy Great Learners