We’re enrolling now for 2026! Applications are fee-free and can be made online. If your child is due to start Kindergarten next year, the best time to make your application is in Term 1 this year.  

Learn more about our school and the enrolment process here:

https://www.smtdow.catholic.edu.au/

Calendar overview 

Pupil Free Days

Naplan 2025

Students in Years 3 and 5 will sit NAPLAN between 12 and 24 March 2025. NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning at school. It is not a test that requires preparation, and students are not expected to study for it. NAPLAN forms part of a school’s assessment and reporting process but does not replace ongoing teacher assessments of student performance. Individual results can be a helpful resource for students and parents to discuss progress with teachers.

For more information, visit the Parents and Carers page on the NAP website and download the NAPLAN Information Brochure for Parents and Carers. You can also visit the Public Demonstration Site page to explore the test format.

Test Schedule

New Positive Behaviours Sequence

In response to data from students, parents and feedback from teachers, we have implemented a new classroom and playground positive behaviour sequence. This sequence has much of the same elements as our previous sequence with a few new changes that make learning visible and clear to students, allow for a consistent approach to positive behaviours with teachers and support for students and also allows for transparency between school and home and ensures parents are aware of their child’s behaviours at school in order to assist us in supporting them to be the best versions of themselves. We shared the rationale of this approach with you via compass last week and ran 2 workshops during this week to outline the sequence and provide an opportunity for feedback. Here is the communication we shared last week in case you missed it. New Positive Behaviour Sequences

National Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) for Students with a Disability

The NCCD for students with a disability has commenced for 2025. Students who currently have personalised plans (PPs) will have learning and/or wellbeing goals set by their teachers in consultation with students and parents and the first round of PP meetings will be held later this term. Please note that some students will only require ONE formal PP meeting with parents while others will require 2 meetings. We will inform you if there will be one or two formal meetings for your child at the first meeting. You are always welcome to contact the school to discuss your child’s progress with their teacher if you wish to and we also have the formal Term 2 parent/teacher conferences and optional conferences in Term 4 for an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress. Please find attached information on who is included in the NCCD and what it means.

 Fact sheet for parents, guardians and carers

Waste Free Wednesday commences next week 

Waste Free Wednesday is back and we encourage all students to bring PLASTIC FREE lunches to school every Wednesday. We encourage the use of bento boxes and compartment lunch boxes with fresh food in them. Please get your child to help organise their plastic free lunch boxes so that they take some responsibility for reducing plastic waste. There are class and individual incentives and rewards on offer for those who strive to be waste free each Wednesday. Thank you for helping to create a sustainable future for our students. Starting small is the way to go. Here are some ideas for waste free lunches https://health-promotion.nnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Lunchbox-sheet-4.pdf

Gotcha4life update and parent workshop

We are thrilled to begin our journey as a ‘mentally fit’ primary school this year, in partnership with the growing Gotcha4Life program. Through ongoing professional development, our staff will implement strategies in both the classroom and playground, offering students numerous opportunities to strengthen their ‘emotional muscle’.

These strategies will benefit not only the students but also the staff, families, and the wider community. We invite all parents and carers to join us for a Mental Health Fitness session on 20th February at 9:30am. 

During this session, ambassadors from the Gotcha4Life program will be presenting in the school hall to help build your knowledge and understanding of the key principles and foundations of mental fitness. As parents and carers, your role in reinforcing these principles and promoting wellbeing is essential in helping students thrive both inside and outside the classroom. We look forward to seeing you there as we build a mentally fit culture together.

For more information about Gotcha4Life and their vision, please visit: https://www.gotcha4life.org/ 

This week, our wonderful staff began their professional learning journey, engaging in their first session to build their knowledge and understanding of mental fitness.

Wellbeing Week

As part of our commitment to mental fitness and wellbeing, we have introduced a ‘Wellbeing Week’ each term for all students, staff, and parents/carers. This special week is designed to give everyone in our school community the opportunity to focus on their own mental fitness, ensuring that we all  feel happy, valued, and supported. 

Wellbeing Week will include:

• A stronger emphasis on wellbeing strategies and activities in both classrooms and on the playground
• A break from homework for students, allowing families to spend quality time together, strengthen bonds, and focus on emotional wellbeing
• No staff or parent meetings, ensuring that our team can fully focus on wellbeing without additional communications or commitments

This term, Wellbeing Week will be in Week 8, beginning the 17th March. 

We look forward to creating a positive experience for all during this important week!

Mrs Amy Sammut - Assistant Principal 

Improving Writing Update

This year, my role at St Michael’s will be working as an Instructional Coach, a third teacher in Years 5 and 6, and continuing to support our high potential and gifted students across the school.  

Our Annual Improvement Goal this year focuses on students demonstrating growth in writing and confidently identifying their next steps in learning. Please read the information below to develop an understanding of the strategies that will be used this year alongside the evidence that will be collected to ensure we are working to achieve our goal. 

In my role as Instructional Coach, I will work closely with our school leadership team to support teachers in enhancing their teaching practices and providing meaningful learning experiences for all students, aligned with our annual improvement goal focused on writing. I will continue to build on the incredible work achieved in 2024, further strengthening students' growth in writing and helping students to confidently identify their next steps in learning.

What’s coming up for staff 

This year, I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with all teachers to analyse data collected at the end of 2024. Together, we’ve begun developing plans to support teaching and learning across all grades, with a focus on using this data to meet the diverse needs of our students. This includes providing support for those who need support as well as creating extension opportunities for our high potential students.

Next week, teachers will have the chance to meet with Amy Sammut and myself to analyse current spelling data in more detail. We are fortunate to have Danielle Campbell teaching PE to all classes this year, which allows us to work collaboratively as Instructional Coaches with all teachers to better support them in delivering targeted, effective instruction.

During our upcoming sessions next week, teachers will examine spelling errors closely to identify clear starting points for instruction. Using assessment data, teachers will focus on one student group at a time, guided by the NSW Department of Education’s K-2 Grapheme-Phoneme Instructional Sequence and 3-6 Spelling Instructional Sequence to plan their next steps.

This collaborative effort will enable teachers to develop both whole-class and differentiated spelling strategies tailored to the needs of each student. We will track the impact of these strategies through student writing samples and dictation tests, ensuring that all students continue to grow and succeed.

We are excited to continue building a strong foundation in spelling and writing, supporting every student’s learning journey this year.

Mrs Chelsea McLeod - Instructional Coach