Dear Parents and Carers,

It’s been wonderful welcoming all our new and returning families to St Michael’s for the 2023 school year. I hope that you were able to spend some happy times together during the school break. Thank you so much for the way you have prepared your children for the start of this year. New beginnings can be challenging and I’m really proud of the way your children show courage and resilience in dealing with change and starting anew.

On behalf of our community, I extend a warm welcome to Father Mick MacAndrew, our new Parish Priest. Father Mick has already visited staff and students and has asked that we include some information from him for this newsletter. Also included in this newsletter is a thank you to our community from Vinnies, we have a proud and generous tradition supporting others and I know this will continue into the future.

Welcome also to new and returning staff at St Michael’s, Danielle Madsen (5/6M), Emily O’Rourke (3/4O), Robyn O’Rourke (Classroom Support Teacher) Cherie Kelly and Michael Washington (Teacher release). As you would be aware in communications sent via COMPASS on January 24^th 2023, we are currently advertising for the REC position and Year 1/2 Classroom Teacher as Ms Meaghan Younger has accepted the Religious Education Coordinator Position at St Monica’s Evatt for 2023 (Temporary).

Our new Catholiccare Counsellor is Jo Samprathi (Some information is attached).

Teaching Staff List for 2023

KD    Victoria De Mattia

1/2K Natasha Kapantais/Cherie Kelly

1/2Y Robyn O'Rourke/Michael Washington

3/4B Shannon Blakey

3/4O Emily O'Rourke

5/6H Jessica Hallahan/ Erin Hardwicke

5/6M Danielle Madsen/ Erin Hardwicke

5/6S Shianne Sahariv

Visual Art Teacher Jane McKeogh

Library Teacher Erin Hardwicke

Indonesian Teacher Jacqui Ramesh

Class Support Teacher Robyn O'Rourke

Classroom Support Assistants

Kylie Arena, Maria Sanchez-Worsnop, Rhys Mooney, Melissa Morella, Sharon Friend,

Sonja Vocisano, Unnati Shah, Victoria Davidson. 

This year our school theme is “Live in Harmony”. I’m looking forward to a year where we truly embrace the example of Jesus to be people of harmony in our interactions and in our relationships. It's great to feel that we are finally moving forward after a difficult few years, and I know that there is an air of excitement, enthusiasm and hope for a wonderful 2023. I’m looking forward to meeting many parents at the Parent Information Evening and encourage everyone in our community to build strong partnerships, keep in touch and get involved.

Many Blessings,

Judy Egan

Principal

Term 1 Important Events

Thursday 9 February

• Opening School Mass 9:30am, presentation of leadership badges for Year 6

St Michael’s Church (All Welcome)

• Parent Information night 5:30pm

Wednesday 1 March, Thursday 2 March

• St Michael’s School Registration

Monday 20- Friday 24 March (Information for parents included in this newsletter)

Friday 24 March

• School Photos 

St Michael’s Vinnies Conference thanks the St Michael’s, Kaleen, School Community

In November 2022, the St Michael’s Kaleen Vinnies Conference asked the school to show its support for the less well off in our community in a new way: we asked each class to contribute food and festive items from a list. The school responded most generously. The school classes filled 8 large baskets with the parish and Vinnies members filling 6 more. On the Wednesday before Christmas, the families, which Vinnies supports, each received one of these baskets. The Conference would particularly like to acknowledge the very effective support provided by the school staff, particularly Ms Natasha Kapantais. The generosity of the school community made a material difference to families for Christmas and the New Year. The response demonstrates the children’s commitment to the work of Mini Vinnies and work for social justice. The St Michael’s Vinnies Conference thanks the school for its Christian response to the needs of the Poor. With such a positive response, Vinnies will conduct a similar appeal for Christmas 2023.