Dear Parents/Carers,

A HUGE welcome back to all our families and students and a special hello and welcome to our wonderful new families. 

As we begin a new year that presents its challenges, I wanted to share some thoughts with you.  On our school crest the rainbow is a symbol of hope and forgiveness and a sign that no matter what hardships we face, the sun will always come out.

At St Michael’s we are profoundly invested in the values of compassion, kindness and forgiveness.

As a community we live in harmony with each other when we truly enact these values. I have focused on Faith, Learning and Collaboration when chatting to staff and families. I highlight who we are (faith), what we are trying to do (learning) and the connections (collaboration) we will continue to nurture in 2022.

This week as well as continuing our Catalyst Professional learning journey, staff looked together at what we value most and how we can truly enact these qualities with each other, our students and families and the wider community. This year holds many possibilities with the introduction of 2 Kinder classes and further enrolments and some wonderful new families joining us.  

COVID has bought the element of crisis into our lives. After a crisis we can never be the same, we make choices that reveal who we are and the depth of our hearts. My hope is that we grow together through the challenges COVID presents, and that we come through the other side a more compassionate, more forgiving, and kinder community.

I focus on the concept of TRUST, as I profoundly believe that with faith, hope and trust our hearts open to the power of the Holy Spirit we will chart a steady course through 2022.

As Pope Francis says in; Let us Dream, the path to a better future.

“We are filled with hope that we might come out of this crisis better. But we have to see clearly, choose well and act right…let’s allow God’s words to Isaiah to speak to us

Come let us talk this over. Let us dare to dream…”

Blessings for 2022,

Judy Egan

Principal

Staff 2022

A warm welcome to the new staff joining us this year. Lynda Logan will be our new Office Manager and will be doing a handover with Lisa Monro later in February. Lisa’s last day will be March 4. We will let you know about a farewell for Lisa when arrangements are finalised.

We welcome Daniel Host, Shianne Sahariv and Victoria De Mattia to our teaching staff and Rhys Mooney, Maria Sanchez-Worsnop and Shahenie Burns to our Classroom Support team. Congratulations to Bridgette McCann as she takes on the Coordinator role this year in addition to her Classroom Support Teacher duties. We also welcome a new school Counsellor Soraya Fisher.

Staff 2022

The Leadership Team

Principal: Judy Egan

Assistant Principal: Damien Webb

Religious Education Coordinator: Meaghan Younger

Coordinator/Classroom Support Teacher: Bridgette McCann

Class Teachers

KD: Victoria De Mattia

KK: Natasha Kapantais

1/2B: Shannon Blakey

1/2H: Jessica Hallahan/Damien Webb

3/4F: Laura Frogley

3/4L: Jessica Lewis

5/6H: Daniel Host

5/6S: Shianne Sahariv

5/6Y: Meaghan Younger/Erin Hardwicke

Specialist Teachers

Library: Erin Hardwicke

Visual Arts: Jane McKeough

Indonesian: Jacqui Ramesh

Classroom Assistants

Kylie Arena

Shahenie Burns

Sharon Friend

Rhys Mooney

Melissa Morella

Maria Sanchez-Worsnop

Unnati Shah

Sonja Vocisano

Administrative Officers

Office Manager: Lisa Monro (till 4 March) / Lynda Logan (from 24 February)

IT/Office Support: Maria Papasidero

Welfare Officer

Shahenie Burns

CatholicCare Counsellor

Soraya Fisher

Maintenance Officer

Kim Kennedy

A Covid Safe Return to school/COMPASS

Information was provided via COMPASS last week about how we are returning safely to school including pick-up arrangements. We will attach these to the newsletter. It is crucial for families to download the COMPASS parent portal via the App as all our communication will come through this point. This includes a daily update regarding cases in your child’s class. ACT Health is providing RAT tests to our families and staff 2, tests per week. We will send these home in the eldest child’s school bag this afternoon. I want to thank staff for coming in to school last Sunday to ensure our families received their tests. Please know that we are doing everything possible to ensure we support families and ensure school is a happy, social and wonderful learning environment. A letter and will come home this afternoon with further COVID information.