St. Michael's Primary School ~ Term 4 Week 6

IMPORTANT DATES

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

On Sunday, we had a wonderful celebration at our Sacramental Mass for our Confirmation and First Eucharist candidates. Macey, Luke, Tom and Ebony were confirmed by Fr John Paul and received their First Eucharist at St Michael’s Church. We congratulate these children on receiving these sacraments as St Michael's Faith Community Members. The children were very well prepared and supported by their families, sponsors, Mrs Moffat, Fr Andrew and Fr John Paul. 

We pray for Ebony, Tom, Luke and Macey.

Creator God,

May your Holy Spirit help them to grow in faith, hope and love and may they come to know you as the one true                and merciful God who loves them without limit. May their hearts welcome you gladly; May their ears hear your voice in the scriptures; May their eyes see you in all things; And may they share your love and live life in the service of others as they walk in the ways of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

We make this prayer in the name of your Son. Amen.

On November 11, we commemorated Remembrance Day at the Tallangatta Service. We paused to reflect on the sacrifices made by so many to protect the freedoms we enjoy today. This day was an important moment for all of us, especially here at St Michael’s, to remember those who have served in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping missions—both past and present.

We hold Remembrance Day close to our hearts as a time to honour the courage, resilience and spirit of all service men and women. It is an opportunity to unite as a community and reflect on the values of peace, compassion and service that we strive to uphold in our own lives.

As we remember those who gave so much for our country, let us also come together in prayer:

Loving God,
We come before You today with humble hearts,
Thankful for the lives we have and the freedoms we hold dear.
We remember all who have served in times of war,
And all who have given their lives in the pursuit of peace.
Grant them eternal rest,
And bring comfort to those who mourn.
We ask for Your guidance in making our world a place of peace,
Where justice and compassion reign.
Help us to honour their sacrifice
By living in service to others with love and respect.
We make this prayer through Jesus Christ your Son,  Amen.

Let us carry the spirit of Remembrance Day with us, striving to live lives of service, compassion and courage.

They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Lest we forget 

Peace and blessings,

Lisa Hitchcock 
Principal

Health Care Card 2025

St Michael’s and Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd (CESL) is pleased to inform our families who hold a valid Health Care Card (HCC) that you are eligible for a significant reduction in school fees for the upcoming year including all fees and levies. The discount will be automatically applied to your school fee account once you provide a copy of your HCC to the school office, complete a CSEF form, and set up a direct debit arrangement. If you've already submitted your HCC, completed the CSEF form, and have a direct debit in place, no further action is needed — the discount will be applied automatically.

We understand that many families have varying circumstances and in response to the rising cost of living expenses, we are committed to supporting those who need additional assistance.

Please be assured that this support is provided to ensure all students have the opportunity to thrive in our school community. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please contact the school office.

Semester 2 2024 Student Reports & Learning Conversations

Our teachers used their report writing day to make a sound start on your children/s reports for Semester 2. Once again the Class Term Newsletters, Student Reports and Learning Conversations make up our methods to report progress and achievements to families. Student reports will be released on Friday, 6 December. Learning Conversations will be held in Week 10 and can be booked on SIMON from Monday 2, December. 

I encourage you to utilise these Learning Conversations to speak with your child/ren's teacher about their student report and the year's achievement and growth. 

Term 4 PSG Meetings 

Families will be contacted soon with dates and times for the Term 4 PSG Meetings - Week 8: November 27 and 28 2024.

2025 Foundation Students Transition

We are very excited to welcome our 2025 Foundation students to St Michael's for their first transition day on Wednesday, 20 November. Parents are invited to have a cuppa in the staff room after drop-off. 

2025 Foundation Students Transition Dates & Times

• Morning block visit: Wednesday 20th November (9:00am – 11:00am) – Snack & Fruit
  Lunchtime visit:  Thursday 28th November (9:00am – 12:00pm) – Lunch & Fruit
  Morning and middle block visit: Thursday 5th December (9:00am – 1:45pm) – Lunch, Snack & Fruit
  Full Day Statewide Transition Day: Tuesday 10th December (9:00am – 3:00pm) – Lunch, Snack & Fruit
  

School Advisory Council 

We are looking for new members for our School Advisory Council to support our dedicated current members. This is a great opportunity to contribute to the St Michael’s Community. Please contact the school office if you are interested or would like more information. 

Thanksgiving & Graduation Mass 

Our Thanksgiving and Graduation Mass will be held on Friday, 13 December at 1pm in St Michael’s Catholic Church, Tallangatta. We invite all our families to join us as we celebrate the end of our school year and our Grade 6 Graduates.

Grade 6 Graduation Dinner

The Grade 6 Graduation Dinner is being held on Friday, 13 December. This was going to begin at 5:30pm, however, we will now ask for you to arrive at 5:15pm due to the Christmas Party and Carols being on the same night. This should allow our Grade 6 students to enjoy some of the Christmas Party and join in the performance of the Christmas Carol with our other students. 

 We invite our Grade 6 Graduate and their parents to attend. Please ensure you have responded to the RSVP to help us with catering. 

Tallangatta Christmas Party & Carols 

The Christmas Party commences at 5pm.  Children collect their “party passport” and enjoy a free sausage sizzle, fun activities and giveaways all generously provided by our local businesses, schools and community groups.  Santa will be arriving at 6.45pm with lollies for the children and then the carols commence at 7.30pm.

St Michael’s students will be performing a Christmas Carol at the carols. All students are invited to attend and perform. 

Mrs Kennedy - Visual Art 

We have been very fortunate to have Mrs Kayla Kennedy teaching Visual Art for this term as a casual teacher. The children have been enjoying their art lessons with ‘Mrs K’. Thank you to Mrs Kennedy for joining the St Michael's School Community for Term 4 Visual Art!

Reminder Term 4 Pupil-free Day - Monday 25 November - 2025 Planning Day

2025 Pupil Free Days

Term 1: 28-29 January Staff Professional Learning Days

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

Term 3: 13  August CESL Staff Spirituality Day

Term 4: 17 - 19 December Staff Professional Learning Day & TIL Days

School Saving Bonus 2025

The following is information as provided by the Victorian Government as of 28/10/2024 and is subject to change.  

The School Saving Bonus is a one-off $400 support for non-government school students who are enrolled in Prep to Year 12 in 2025 as of 18 October 2024 and who are receiving the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) in 2024.

The School Saving Bonus is provided to help with the costs of uniforms, textbooks and school activities (including camps, excursions and incursions). The School Saving Bonus will be provided to schools and families in late Term 4, 2024. The payment date has yet to be confirmed.

School Saving Bonus eligibility

Non-government school students receiving a payment from the means-tested Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) in 2024 are eligible for additional support through the School Saving Bonus. There is no application required for non-government school students to receive the bonus.

Non-government schools will receive funding based on the number of families eligible for the CSEF in November 2024 and are responsible for managing the distribution of funds to eligible students to assist with 2025 education costs. Refer to Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund for further information on eligibility criteria and the application process for access to the CSEF.

Actions for parents and carers: Ensure your contact information is up to date with your school. Please email or see the office with any changes as soon as possible. 

More information: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/school-saving-bonus/policy

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

School Wide Positive Behaviour

Waste Free Lunch 

Next year, we are excited to launch our Waste-Free Lunch initiative! In our commitment to sustainability, we're encouraging all students and families to reduce waste by packing reusable containers, minimising single-use plastics and choosing waste-free options for lunch.

To support this effort, any rubbish from lunchboxes will be sent back home, helping everyone become more aware of waste production and mindful of recycling. The only bins available during eating times will be for green waste, allowing us to compost fruit and vegetable scraps directly.

Grade F-2 Camp

Grade 1 & 2 - Ms Bianca Kennedy

This term has been full of fun and learning! The children have been enjoying their weekly cricket sessions with Ebony, where they’re building their skills and confidence on the field. It’s been wonderful to see their enthusiasm grow with each practice!

We’ve had some special animal visitors in the classroom, which has delighted everyone. The Mercieca family shared an adorable litter of golden retriever puppies, Levi brought in his guinea pig and we’re looking forward to a few more animal guests soon. These visits have been a highlight, allowing the students to learn about different animals up close.

In literacy, we’ve been focusing on persuasive writing and the children have created some amazing pieces. One student was even inspired to write an extra piece at home, trying to persuade us to have a movie afternoon—with snacks, of course! Their creativity and enthusiasm shine through as they develop their writing skills.

In maths, we’ve been working with calendars and seasons, while also reviewing and strengthening key skills from the year, such as number lines, place value, and addition/subtraction strategies.

Across all subjects, we have been conducting our end of year testing. The children have been very resilient in persisting with the testing schedule. I am so blown away by the students' progression this year and look forward to seeing the remainder of the year out! 

We’ve been very fortunate to have Minoli, a volunteer from our local community who has recently immigrated from Sri Lanka, assisting in the classroom as well. Minoli was a teacher in Sri Lanka, and her experience has been incredibly helpful as she supports the children with their work and helps them build their confidence. We look forward to welcoming her back! 

We have had a little bit of a shuffle in the classroom, getting rid of the sitting dots and group desks, and replacing them with tables of two. The children have taken on the responsibility of choosing sitting places sensibly, making the choice to do what is best for their learning. They are really stepping up with their behaviour, showing they are able to make sensible choices.

Looking ahead, we have lots of exciting events planned, including a class excursion at the end of the month, our end-of-year pool party, and other fun celebrations. It’s shaping up to be a memorable end to a fantastic year!  

Wodonga Catholic Parish News

Please find the link for our bulletin below.  I have also attached a PDF for your convenience…. Happy days to all and don't forget to give your smile away! 

Kind regards

Sonni 

What's On

Neighbourhood House - Tallangatta

What’s new?

Spring Sizzle – Lunch for a Cause

You are invited to join us for a very special Spring Sizzle Lunch at the House. This community lunch is extra special, as it supports a cause close to our hearts.  Many people in our community are currently battling breast cancer, and we’ve been inspired by the courage of those facing this challenge.  Tallangatta local, Kylie Berg, is on a mission to raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. She has gathered food and raffle donations and, with the help of TNH volunteers, will be serving up a delicious BBQ lunch and dessert.  The cost is only $15 for lunch and feel free to bring a little extra for the raffle, which will be drawn during the event.   Our pop-up lunches are all about bringing the community together to make new connections. Come along for great food, great company, and the chance to support an incredible cause!  

**To book your seat at the table please phone the House on 0408 573 474, reply to this email or drop in and see us. 

#stuff4teens – Gaming Console Night

It’s Game On at the House! Teens can kickstart their weekend with Friday night fun, free pizza and power-ups.  It will be an epic gaming marathon featuring Mario Kart, Nintendo, Sega Classics, Xbox 360, Just Dance and Kinect games to get teens moving.  Ready, set, book your spot to play!  For teens 13-17. Fully supervised by adult TNH volunteers. This is a FREE event, but you still need to book your spot.  See How to Book below. 

Don’t forget! 

• Big Sing – Tomorrow! Sat 9 Nov 1pm @ the Memorial Hall ! It’s not too late to join us! Online sales close 5pm Friday or get your tickets at the door (cash only).
• Know Your Gizmo – Wed 13 Nov 10am - FREE help with your digital devices – bookings required!
• Hume Riverina Community Legal Service – FREE monthly legal advice at the House Thu 14 Nov.  Call 6055 8090 to book your appointment.
• Mosaics – Sat 16 Nov 10am – only ONE spot left! Create a gorgeous Australian natives mosaic led by Kylie from Art Starts Here.
• First Aid & CPR – Mon 18 Nov – Full First Aid (includes CPR) 9am or CPR only 1pm – last chance to book!!
• CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION – Friday 13 Dec – save the date for our annual Christmas Party, Santa visit & Carols!  More info soon!

 HOW TO BOOK!

Book in for all Neighbourhood House activities on Eventbrite https://tallangattaneighbourhoodhouse.eventbrite.com.au.  For help with bookings or more information: reply to this email, call us on 0408 573 474 or visit us at 5a Banool Rd from Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 2.30pm. 

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Remembrance Day

A community Remembrance Day service will be held in the Tallangatta Triangles on Monday 11 November.  Please arrive from 10.30am for a 10.45am start.  If you would like to lay a wreath as an individual or on behalf of an organisation please let Rick Smith know on 0437 187 305.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  (If the weather is inclement the service will be relocated to the Memorial Hall.)

Tallangatta Parkrun

This world-wide event has over 400 Parkrun locations in Australia, and it is held in Tallangatta every Saturday morning at 8am.  Did you know you don’t have to run? Whilst some runners like to try and improve on their time each week, the event is equally as popular with walkers who simply appreciate the motivation to get out of bed and meet their friends for a stroll.   It is a wonderful opportunity to connect socially with your community whilst exercising in a non-competitive environment.  The 5km run or walk starts from Womaatong St, Tallangatta.  To register and find out more visit https://www.parkrun.com.au/tallangattastation/ .

Playgroup

Did you know Towong Shire Council hosts a supported Playgroup every Tuesday morning here at Neighbourhood House?  If you are new in town or looking to connect with other families, Playgroup is the perfect way to do it!  The session runs from 10am to 12pm and you can stay for as little or as long as you like.  No need to book, just come along or if you would like more information contact Family Support Officer, Isabella Ozolins on 0477 139 943.

 Dungeons & Dragons (D&D)

Neighbourhood House is the home of the Tallangatta D&D group.  Sessions are held every Thursday from 5pm. D&D is a tabletop role-playing game, played with multiple players, with a Game Master who facilitates the game describing the world and scenarios everyone is playing in through their Characters. These worlds often fit into the Medieval Fantasy genre inspired by works such as 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Narnia'.  In short, D&D is a game where everyone comes together, with the guidance of rules and dice, to tell a story, have an adventure and have fun!   The group would love to welcome more players to the game which is suitable for adults and high school students.  If you are interested in joining in or finding out more, please phone Naomi Fisher on 0456 610 777.

Promote your Community group or event

As your Neighbourhood House we see it as our role to share information about all activities happening in Tallangatta that might be of interest or benefit to our community.  If you are involved in a local community group or organisation and want to let your community know about your groups regular activities or upcoming event, please email us the information.  There are currently around 650 individual subscribers receiving this email and we have 1.2k followers on Facebook, so it is a great way to spread the word!

  Katherine