St. Michael's Primary School ~ Term 1 Week 8

IMPORTANT DATES

Principal's Message

Dear St Michael’s School Family,

As we move through our Lenten season and approach the end of term, I find myself reflecting deeply on the blessings of this community and the incredible journey we’ve shared together. Lent offers us a time to pause, reflect, and renew our commitment to living with compassion, gratitude and purpose. During this season, I encourage each of us to take a moment to reflect on the gifts we have in our lives—especially the gift of this vibrant and growing school community. It’s through our shared experiences, our collective efforts and our commitment to growth that we continue to build something truly special here.

As we head toward the conclusion of this term, I am filled with immense pride in all the wonderful learning that has taken place. Our students have shown tremendous growth, not just academically but in their character, their curiosity and their care for one another. The sense of community here is something truly unique, and I am so grateful to have been a part of it.

This chapter of my journey at  is coming to a close, and while it is bittersweet, I will leave with a heart full of gratitude. The memories, the friendships, and the shared moments of joy will stay with me forever. I am deeply blessed to have been part of such an extraordinary place. Thank you for welcoming me into your lives and for allowing me to be part of your children’s educational experiences.

Let’s finish this term strong, continuing to support each other, celebrate our accomplishments and look forward to the blessings that await us in the seasons ahead.

With heartfelt gratitude and blessings,

Lisa Hitchcock 

Principal 

March 17 was St Patrick's Feast Day - a day to celebrate 

Born in the late fourth century A.D. in Roman Britain, the legend is that St Patrick drove all snakes out of Ireland. Although, there have never been snakes in Ireland. This legend likely arose from St Patrick’s evangelising mission of spreading Christianity in Ireland; he is known as the great “Apostle of Ireland.” 

St Patrick was supposedly kidnapped when he was 16 by raiders from Ireland in his homeland and taken to Ireland where he was enslaved for several years. According to tradition, he spent six years in the Slemish Mountain region in Northern Ireland as a shepherd of pigs and sheep. He eventually escaped and journeyed back to his homeland as a stowaway across the North Channel. 

Upon returning, he studied Christianity and became a deacon and, ultimately, a bishop. After a vision, St. Patrick returned to Ireland to evangelise and spread Christ's message to all the Irish people. 

St Patrick's Breastplate

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through a belief in the Threeness,

Through confession of the Oneness

Of the Creator of creation.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,

Christ in the eye that sees me,

Christ in the ear that hears me.

School Fee Accounts 

School fee accounts have been sent to all families. Please notify the school if you did not receive your account.

The following payment frequencies are available for your convenience:
● Fortnightly / Weekly – Direct deposit via bank account
● Monthly – from February to December
● Triannual – Due in March, June and September (3 payments)
● Annual – 31  March (1 payment)

Please note fee due dates above. If you have any questions about your school fees or would like to discuss school fee relief please contact Mrs Hitchcock. 

Thank you to all the families that have paid or are paying their school fee accounts. 

Student Pick-up Arrangements

Please phone the school if your child/ren are not going to be on the bus or have changed pick up arrangements. This is a part of our daily process and our commitment to Child Safety at St Michael's.

Please update ongoing changes when they begin or conclude e.g. sport training or guides. 

Emergency Management Planning - Evacuation Drill 
We will hold our second whole school emergency evacuation drill on Thursday 27 March at 1:30pm. Our teachers explain to all children about what is required of them before the emergency procedure occurs. They will also state that it is a practice – this should help alleviate any student concerns.

Please note that we will hold at least one emergency drill each term. The type of practices will alternate depending on the proposed emergency scenario.

Term 1 2025 Holiday Period
Term 1 ends on Friday 4 April at 2.30pm. Term 2 resumes on Monday 28 April as we have Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd. Professional Learning Days on 22, 23 & 24 April. 

School Advisory Council and Parent Representative Group 

We are looking for new members!

If you would like to take the opportunity to nominate for our School Advisory Council or join our PRG we would certainly appreciate new members. They are both great ways to connect with other families and support your child/ren's education and make our school even better. 

If you have any questions about the council or PRG please contact the school. 

St Michael's Parish Sacramental Program

St Michael's will once again be supporting the Parish Sacramental Program. Please contact Mrs Moffat if you would like your child to participate in the preparation program for Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Eucharist, or if you are interested in Baptism for your child/ren or Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC) to prepare children over 6 years of age for Baptism. 

2025 Pupil Free Days

Term 1: 28-29 January Staff Professional Learning Days and 1 April -Behaviour Curriculum Professional Learning

Term 2: 22-24 April Staff Professional Learning Days (The Neuroscience of Learning)

Term 3: 13  August CESL Staff Spirituality Day

Term 4: 20 October Dan Petro Behaviour Analyst Professional Learning, 28 November 2026 Planning day and  17 - 19 December Staff Professional Learning Day and Magnify Sandhurst Days

STUDENT ILLNESS & ABSENCES

A reminder that if your child has gastroenteritis or fever please notify the school and record on your child's absence notification. This will help keep our school safe and our students healthy.

Gastroenteritis exclusion from school - 48 hours from last symptom of vomiting and/or diarrhoea.  

St. Michael’s Primary School is committed to child safety and the inclusion of all children.

Birthday celebrations to the following students: Cooper, Indi, Laine and Jye. 

Happy Birthday!! 

Foundation - Mrs Marsha Ardern

Foundation Reading: A Guide for ParentsWe are excited to begin our reading journey with your child! As they start learning to read, they will be bringing home decodable books. These books are carefully designed to help them develop early reading skills through phonics. Here’s how you can support them at home:How to Help Your Child Read Decodable Books

• Sounding Out Words: Encourage your child to sound out each word rather than guessing. Help them blend the sounds together to form words.
• Blending: At first, they may need help blending sounds together. With practice, they will learn to blend independently.
• One Book Per Week: To begin, your child will take home one book per week. As their confidence grows, this will increase to two books.
• Repeated Reading for Fluency:
• The first time they read the book, it’s about learning the letter-sound relationships (decoding).
• By the third or fourth time, they should be able to read it fluently with minimal sounding out.
• Encourage them to correct their own mistakes and read smoothly.

Tips for Effective Reading Practice

• Focus on Letters, Not Pictures: While pictures can be helpful, they may lead to guessing. Encourage your child to rely on letter sounds to decode words.
• Practice Sound Cards: We will send home sound cards to reinforce phonics learning. Use these to help build words from the reader.
• Be Patient and Encouraging: Learning to read is a process. Celebrate their efforts and progress, no matter how small!

Thank you for supporting your child’s reading journey. Your encouragement at home makes a huge difference!

Happy Reading!

Grade 1 - Ms Bianca Kennedy

We are excited to share what our wonderful Year 2 students have been up to recently. It's been a busy and fun-filled time in our classroom, and we are thrilled to see the progress everyone is making.

Grammar and Writing:
Our students have been working hard on their grammar skills. We've been learning about nouns, pronouns, proper nouns, and common nouns. The children are discovering how these word types work together to construct super sentences. It's amazing to see their writing skills improve as they practice using these elements in their stories and sentences.

Spelling: 
In spelling, we've been reviewing our sounds, digraphs, and trigraphs. The students are becoming more confident in their spelling abilities and are enjoying the challenge of learning new words each week.Math: Math has been particularly exciting as we learn to tell time and understand fractions. The children are mastering 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 4/4 turns in both clockwise and anticlockwise directions. It's wonderful to see them apply these concepts in various activities and games.

Religion: 
During our Religion lessons, we have been learning all about Lent. The students are gaining a deeper understanding of this important time and are engaging in meaningful discussions and activities related to the season.

Show and Tell: 
One of the highlights of our day is the daily focus child show and tell. We've had all sorts of interesting items shared, including whips, special toys, special rocks, and even a special visit from a bubby rabbit. It's a fantastic opportunity for the children to practice their speaking and listening skills while sharing something special with their classmates.

We are so proud of all the hard work and enthusiasm our Year 2 students are showing.

Keep up the great work, everyone!

Grade 1 - Ms Kaycee Frew

In Year One, we’ve been busy sprouting seeds and getting our garden ready for the autumn and winter months! As you can see in the photos, the children have been hard at work, digging, watering, and caring for our seedlings.

They’re learning not just how plants grow, but also the importance of patience and responsibility in tending to the garden. Gardening is an excellent way for children to develop a wide range of skills. It encourages physical activity, supports fine motor development, and enhances their understanding of nature and the environment. Gardening also fosters a sense of responsibility, as children watch their hard work result in the growth of the plants. Additionally, it boosts creativity, patience, and problem-solving skills as they observe changes in their garden and adjust their care accordingly.

We’re so proud of how much our Year Ones have learned and can’t wait to see how our garden flourishes over the coming months!

Beyond the garden, the Year Ones are progressing wonderfully in every aspect of the curriculum. Whether it’s in literacy, numeracy, or creative arts, they continue to develop their skills and show great enthusiasm for learning. We are excited to watch them grow academically, socially, and personally throughout the year!

Wodonga Catholic Parish News

Hello everyone,

• please find the link and pdf attached to our Bulletin for this weekend. Please note changes to the Holy Week and Easter Mass times. 

On the front cover of this weeks Bulletin, through Project Compassion, we learn a little about Lam a 27 year old, who grew up in a small town in Vietnam.

I have also attached the link & Pdf to the prayers for the third weekend of Lent. If you prefer a hard copy they are available in the foyer of your church.

Happy days to all. keep sharing your smile to a stranger or a friend.

Kind regards

Sonni 🌻
Try not to let the rain camouflage the beautiful colours in your world.  

What's On

Off-Grid Living Festival 

The festival will be staged for the second time at the old Chiltern Racecourse, and this year [April 12-13] it will for the first time include a special feature called 'Future Thinkers'.

In Future Thinkers, students will channel their creativity and STEM skills into their artwork with 2D drawings that envision a better tomorrow with unique solutions for a sustainable future such as: eco-friendly gadgets, green city designs, edible urban environments, new electric transport, or imaginative energy solutions. Refer to attached flier and https://www.offgridevent.com.au/futurethinkerscompgeared on our Off-Grid website for further detail. NB Competitions are still open for student entries.

On the same STEM theme our BREE group will also be running  Model Solar Car Construction workshops to challenge the skills and interest of our young festival goers, in solar technologies [Refer to attached poster]. Participants numbers will be limited ‘to first come, best dressed’, for this activity.

Neighbourhood House - Tallangatta