Dear Parents, Carers and Guardians, 

From August 11 to August 15 we recognise Bullying No Way Week. 

Bullying No Way Week is Australia's key bullying prevention initiative for schools. It provides an opportunity for schools to create a shared understanding about bullying behaviours and share their bullying prevention policies and strategies.

The national week of action unites government, Catholic and independent schools and their communities across the country. Together, we can foster practical approaches to prevent bullying in Australian schools. 

The theme for 2025 is 'Be bold. Be kind. Speak up.' 

It takes courage to spark change. 

Bullying is everyone's responsibility. It takes a community to be brave and address bullying behaviours, within and beyond the school gate. Students can be bold, kind and take a stand to support others being bullied. While parents and teachers are there to support children and young people learn how to behave in a positive way.

In our community and in our school, we want a place where everyone can belong, a place that celebrates everyone, and where bullying is never accepted.

This Bullying No Way Week, we're asking students, schools, families and communities to be bold and say something, be kind and support someone, and be proud to take a stand against bullying.

Over the past few weeks, students have been receiving extra lessons on bullying. To further raise awareness, this Friday the students will have a Crazy Hair Day. Also on Friday, the students will participate in a multi age activity whereby they will rotate through a number of activities based on this year's theme - “Be Bold, Be Kind, Speak Up”. 

Library changes 

As part of our preparation for the building works that are soon to commence, we will be packing up our existing library to free up spare classrooms. These two classrooms will temporarily house the grade 3/4 grades whilst their part of the new build is occurring. We are working with Latrobe City Council who have offered for our students to use their library facility on a regular basis whilst our new school library is being built

Before we pack up the existing library, we will be having a huge tidy up. This includes going through and re-homing books that are deemed out of date. On Wednesday 27th August at 3.20pm, students and their parents can come to the library and choose up to 3 books in exchange for a gold coin donation. The monies raised will be donated to Catholic Mission. Any leftover books will be donated to a local charity. Thank you to Mrs Edward and Mrs Kamphuis for their organisation of this event. 

We anticipate the closure of the current school library will occur in Week 7 of this term. Further information will be provided when dates for construction have been confirmed. 

Exciting News - Before and After School Care update

We have been successful in securing a new Before and After School care provider. We welcome Their Care to the St. Michael’s community. Please save the date: Wednesday 20th August at 7pm for an online parent information session. We anticipate a seamless transition to Their Care during the Term Three school holidays. 

Last week we celebrated the Feast day of St Mary MacKillop of the Cross. Mary MacKillop was Australia's first saint. She was born in Victoria and dedicated her life to providing education to vulnerable children in many rural areas. Mary is known to live by the motto “ Never see a need, without doing something about it”, which emphasises the importance of actively responding to the needs of others, particularly those who are marginalised or vulnerable. This is exactly what some members of the Mini Vinnies team did last Thursday evening when they assisted the St Michael’s staff in providing a meal to members of our community at Mick’s Kitchen. Well done and thank you to Chad, Isla and Jordan. 

15th August - Crazy Hair Day 
19th August - Reconciliation Parent Workshop
20th August - Their Care Parent Information session online
22nd August - Junior School Athletics
25th August - Pyjama Day
29th August - Grade 1/2 Mass at 9:30am
4th September - Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod (Grade 1/2s, 3/4s and 5/6s)