Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers,

Just a reminder that even though restrictions are beginning to ease, the Government mandate that all school children in grade three and above are required to wear masks indoors at school is still in place. We appreciate your ongoing support in providing your child with a mask each day.

Masks indoors at school will be strongly recommended but not compulsory for children in prep to grade two.  

If you need to enter the reception area of school during the day, masks will be required to be worn. They are not required when dropping off and picking up students in the school grounds.

We have also had some queries regarding children who have turned 12 and may not have been vaccinated yet attending school events such as excursions and graduation masses. The following has come through in regard to these queries:

Clarification has been provided by the Victorian Government regarding the participation of students aged between 12 and 15 who are not fully vaccinated in school activities held at external premises.

Students aged between 12 and 15 who are not fully vaccinated can attend if the premises is being operated only for the purpose of one school using the premises exclusively.

In addition, students aged between 12 and 15 who are not fully vaccinated will be able to attend camps, excursions, graduations and other school activities held at open premises that are also used by other schools or patrons from Tuesday 23 November 2021.

This exception to the current directions will apply only to school-organised activities when at least one teacher is present.

All adults, including parents, guardians and carers attending any school event or activity including, but not limited to assemblies, tours, graduations, transition days or whole school events are required to be fully vaccinated and show evidence of vaccination.

STAFFING NEWS

In staffing news Dani Berends has decided to pursue work as a Casual Relieving Teacher in 2022  so we wish her all the best. We will be welcoming Bethany Allen and Tija Dark to St Michael’s as classroom teachers next year. 

After much consultation over the past twelve months we have also decided to change the Specialist subjects we offer at St Michael’s for 2022 replacing Performing Arts with Physical Education to meet the changing needs of our school community.

2022/23 Positions Of Leadership:

• Religious Education Leader - Sue Rickwood
• Learning Adjustment Leader - Jenny Hanrahan
• Learning Intervention Leader - Bronwyn Power
• Foundation Learning Leader - Sharon Scholtes
• 1/2 Learning Leader - Louise Trewin
• 3/4 Learning Leader - Katrina McInnes
• 5/6 Learning Leader - Sue Shaw
• District Sports Leader - Shona Arber
• Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour Support leader - Michelle Coates

Congratulations to our First Communion candidates who celebrated this sacrament last Thursday and Friday: 

Estelle Archibald, Sienna Athanasiadis, Javier Borg, Indi Bowen, Brodie Burnett,  Ruby Darby, Quinlen Davidson, Rowan Dunne, Mia Francolino, Nicolas Gilham, Isla Hollands, Darcy Hourigan, Ekhai Imhagwe, Angelica Jurial, Kumen Konyi, Isabel Lavery, Dante Lourensz, Lewis Manzo, Miles Mathew, Rocco Moretti, Levi Palmer, Ashton Pavich, Xavier Pettie, James Poursanidis, Lily Quinlan, Ariana Riseley, Anika Roscoe, Mikealy Ross, Grace Seeber, Hudson Smith, Chloe Szkwarek, Lyla Tripodi, Jye Van Iwaarden,Oliver Wilson, Dustin Wood and Harper Wurlod. 

Thank you to the Parish Sacrament Team, the students' families, Mrs Rickwood and the 3/4 teachers for their support and guidance for our First Communicants during this special time. 

Kind regards

Jodie

Many in our school community continue to face financial impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to supporting families experiencing financial challenges through our School Fee Concession programs, and encourage any parent/carer/guardian experiencing difficulties to contact us regarding fee assistance.

Fee payers who have recently qualified for a Centrelink Concession Card should communicate with the school at their earliest convenience to determine eligibility for a Category One Centrelink Concession Card Concession. 

Term 4 fees were due on 29th October for those families paying per term. If you have not already made your term 4 payment please do so as soon as possible.

Please contact Maria Churton, School Finance Administration Officer via email, office@stmtraralgon.catholic.edu.au,  to explore confidential financial support arrangements or to obtain further information.

5/6 Fundraiser

Grade 6 2022 Memento Polo Shirt

A reminder to Grade 5 families to purchase a Grade 6 2022 memento polo shirt to celebrate your child’s final year at St Michael’s Primary School.

The shirt will have a list of all Grade 6 children and teachers on the back as well as the St Michael’s logo on the front and back of the shirt.

Shirts will cost $24 for short sleeve and $27 for long sleeve. They will be a red polo shirt that students can wear as part of their school uniform. The shirts are available to order as a uniform item on CDFpay.  All orders must be placed by 10pm on Sunday 28^th November 2021. Delivery is expected to be in week one of term 1 next year.

If you would like to purchase a shirt and wish to check the sizing there will be a size kit available in the Grade 5/6 area.  

Due to the differences in sizing between our normal school uniform and these shirts from a different supplier, we strongly recommend that you get your child to try on a shirt to determine the correct size. As this is a custom order it is not possible to offer any exchange or refunds.

When placing your order you will be asked to enter your child’s name as you wish it to appear on the shirt. E.g. Samuel Smith may be Sam Smith. This is very important as once ordered no changes will be able to be made.

Each week students from each class are awarded Student of the Week certificates. These children are nominated for the example they have been within the school based on the School Wide Expectation focus for that week. The weekly focus will be from Wednesday until Tuesday the following week. Awards will be presented to students on Friday in their classrooms.

In Week 7 the School Wide Expectation focus was Respect: 

Dear Parents,

School Sport Victoria will once again be offering the opportunity for gifted and talented students from school communities to register to trial for school sport Team Vic teams in 2022.
Registrations will open on 1st December 2021 for Australian Football, Netball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, and Boys Football (Soccer).
These trials are for emerging athletes who have reached a certain standard or level Eg. Played in a representative team. They are a process for selecting a Team Vic State Team going to School Sport Australia National Championships.
Each school is allowed a maximum of three (3) students per team mentioned above to attend these trials so it’s important that as a school, we acknowledge the capacity and ability of these nominated students to be able to participate well in these trials. It needs to be emphasised that these trials form part of School Sport Victoria’s Gifted and Talented program and are not ‘come and try’ opportunities.
Each child is trialing for a state team and as such we must attest to each child’s athleticism, skill level and school behaviour.

If you would like your child to be endorsed by the school can you please return the form below to school by Friday 26th November:

School Sport Victoria Application 2022

Thank you,
Sharon Scholtes
Sports Leader