WELCOME

Welcome to the 2020 school year! We trust you had a relaxing break over the holiday period and enjoyed time with the family.  A special welcome to our new staff members, Ms Claire Cole and Mrs Katrina O’Neill. We also welcome the Dutch, Fitzgerald and McCann families to our school this year.

Over the holiday period we saw unprecedented devastation with the fires across our East coast. I pray that you and any extended family were safe. In times of crisis it is humbling to see how communities come together to support each other. Whether it be through donations, fundraising or drop off zones the extent of immediate support is extraordinary. As a Catholic community we are working with the Catholic Education Office to have a coordinated approach to best meet the needs of communities. This may mean support much further down the track once it all settles. Please refer to the support materials that were sent home via compass for links to agencies and materials that may help you at home in talking about the fires and the impact it may have had on children.

I am excited to begin this year in partnership with you all as we work together to help our children grow and develop in their learning and in their faith. 

“Life is beautiful not because of the things we see or the things we do. Life is beautiful because of the people we meet.” Simon Sinek

COMPASS

Our school uses the Compass App to help communicate more effectively with our community. All families are expected to install the App so you don’t miss important information. This will also be used to book in parent teacher interviews and receive all permission notes. Please contact the school if you have any questions about the app.

OPENING SCHOOL MASS  Friday 28th February

Our Opening School Mass is on Friday 28th February at 9:30am in our Parish Church. This is an important occasion when we come together as a school and parish community to ask God’s blessings for the year ahead. It is a time to welcome our new students and staff to our community, as well as acknowledge our 2020 Year 6 leaders. At the Mass, Year 6 will be commissioned as senior leaders of our school. Fr Ken will bless the students and

present them with their badges. At the conclusion of Mass, Year 6 parents are asked to pin a leadership badge onto their child’s uniform in the courtyard beside the Church. All parents and grandparents are invited to come and share in celebrating Mass with us. 

Following the mass Fr Ken will bless the school’s new Sacred Space, which looks amazing in our playground.

PARENT ENGAGEMENT: MEET AND GREETS

At St Michael’s, our school vision, “Inspiring excellence in learning, leading and living the faith” calls us ‘to be the best we can be’. In taking up this challenge we commit to the promotion of authentic engagement in students’ learning with all stakeholders. In order for us ‘to be the best we can be’ a strong home-school partnership is vital. Parental engagement is an integral part of all aspects of students’ learning. Parents are invited to attend a “Meet and Greet” conversation with your child’s class teacher (NB students are not required to attend).  The purpose of the “Meet and Greet” is to: meet your child’s class teacher; visit your child’s classroom; and for you to share information with the teacher so they can get a holistic picture of where your child is at as they start a new year.  Meet and Greet conversations will be held during the week commencing Monday 17th February - Friday 21st February for all students K-6. This is your chance to value add to the teacher’s knowledge at the start of a new year. The Meet and Greet conversations are 10 minutes duration, so if necessary, please make an appointment for a longer chat at another time.  More information, including the online booking process through Compass, will be shared shortly.

P&F Meetings 2020

This year we are trialling P&F meetings in the evening. Please see below the dates and times for all P&F meetings for 2020. We look forward to seeing you there.

Term 1 - Week 4

Thursday 20/2/20

AGM & GM @ 7.00pm

Term 2 - Week 4

Thursday 21/5/20

GM @ 7.00pm

Term 3 - Week 4

Thursday 13/8/20

GM @ 7.00pm

Term 4 - Week 4

Thursday 5/11/20

GM @ 7.00pm

PARENT ENGAGEMENT : ASSEMBLIES

Assemblies at St Michael’s are an opportunity for our community to come together to acknowledge and celebrate the great learning and events that happen in our school. We welcome all parents and friends to our school assemblies.  The first assembly in Term 1 will be held on Friday 7 February at 2:40pm-3:15pm in the hall (McCarthy Centre).  Hope to see you there. 

UNIFORM

The students have returned to school looking smart in their summer uniform.  Thank you to parents for assisting in maintaining the high standard of uniform that exists in the school.  

Please see below a reminder of our School Uniform Policy:

The expectation is:

• That all students wear the summer sport uniform (sport shirt and sport shorts) on sport days. The culottes are not to be worn as a part of the sport uniform.
• Sport shoes may be modest in colour, preferably blue or white (No fluro or bright colours)
• Girls may wear either the current summer dress or the culotte and shirt.
• The culotte and shirt are optional not compulsory
• Black leather shoes are to be worn with the summer uniform

A reminder that hair needs to be neat and tidy and no added colour or highlights. There are some boys who have returned with longer hair styles. If the hair is shoulder length or falls into their eyes it must be tied back or cut short.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

A calendar for the term will be sent home with the next newsletter along with confirmed dates for the year.  Please see below key dates for the next fortnight:

Thursday 6th February - Kindergarten first day of school, 9am Tea and Tissues Morning Tea

Friday 7th February - 2:40pm School Assembly

Friday 14th February - School Swimming Carnival

Monday 17th February - Meet and Greet Week

Friday 21st February - Opening School Mass

2020 KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS

Kindergarten students will have their first day at school on Thursday 6th February.  Kinders will come to school on Thursday dressed in their summer school uniform.

TEA & TISSUES MORNING TEA

All parents, particularly new families and parents of Kindergarten students, are invited to attend a morning tea at 9am - 9:45am on Thursday 6th February in the parish hall organised by our wonderful Year 1 parents. 

CAR PICK UP REMINDER

Thank you to parents and carers who are following our afternoon pick up procedures so that students leave the school site in a safe manner. If you are new to afternoon pick up please see below a reminder of our school procedures to ensure a flow of traffic, consistency for all and above all the safety of students.  

Arrival to the car pick up zone is from 3.20pm 

Please do not arrive earlier than this time as you will be exceeding the 2 minute limit and it causes traffic congestion in Station Street and Lawrence Hargrave Drive.

Thank you for your support!  

SPORT UNIFORM UPDATE

Please find below the finalised days of PDHPE for all students, this will indicate the days they are to wear their sport uniform. 

Kindergarten: Wednesday and Friday 

Year 1: Tuesday and Friday

Year 2: Monday and Friday

Year 3: Monday and Friday

Year 4: Wednesday and Friday

Year 5: Wednesday and Friday

Year 6: Tuesday and Friday 

Mrs Belinda Hughes - Principal