Welcome Back to Term 4!

We warmly welcome everyone back to school for Term 4! We hope you enjoyed a relaxing holiday break and had the chance to rest, recharge, and spend quality time with family and friends — or perhaps enjoy a little travel adventure.

It’s hard to believe we’ve reached the final term of the year. There’s much to look forward to over the coming weeks, with many exciting learning opportunities, celebrations, and community events ahead. We look forward to working together to make this a positive and memorable finish to the school year for all our students.

School Counsellor

A special welcome to Amanda Brideoake, our new School Counsellor from Marymead Catholic Care. Amanda will be working with us each Friday and brings a wealth of experience in supporting the wellbeing of children and families. We are delighted to have her join the St Michael’s community and look forward to the care and expertise she will bring to our school.

National Robocup Competition

A big congratulations to Ms Hallahan and our RoboCup Team for representing St Michael’s at the National Competition! We are so proud of our students for their perseverance, creativity, and impressive problem-solving throughout the competition. A huge thank you to Ms Hallahan for her time, dedication, and commitment in guiding the team, and to our parents for their ongoing support and collaboration — your encouragement makes achievements like this possible.

New Carpet

We’re also excited to share that new carpet has been installed in C Block over the holidays! It looks amazing and has made the learning spaces feel fresh and inviting. The students (and teachers!) have already commented on how comfortable it is to walk and sit on — a wonderful improvement to our learning environment.

Class Placements for 2026

At St Michael’s, we take great care when forming classes for the new school year. Our aim is always to create learning environments where every child feels supported, included, and able to thrive.

Class groupings are carefully considered by teachers and the Leadership Team, with input from specialist staff and our Classroom Support Teacher. In making decisions, we look at many factors including gender balance, learning needs, work habits, friendships, behaviour, and social–emotional development. We also consider health needs and, in sacramental years, religious balance across classes.

Each student will take part in our Friendship 5 activity, where they nominate five classmates they would like to be with. Every child is guaranteed to have at least one of these friends in their new class for 2026.

In Term 4, teachers will begin drafting class groupings, which are then reviewed by the Leadership Team. Prior to the end of the year, students will spend time with their new class and teacher, helping to ensure a smooth transition. Families of students with additional needs will also be offered the chance to meet with staff to support this process.

Teachers also take part in a detailed handover process, sharing important information to make sure each child’s learning and wellbeing are supported as they begin the new year.

We thank you for your trust as we work together to place every child in the best environment for their growth and success. If you would like more details about Class Allocation, please refer to the Class Allocation Statement of Practice on our school website.

Here’s to a wonderful Term 4 ahead, filled with learning, connection, and celebration across our St Michael’s community!

Kind regards,

Bridgette McCann

Acting Principal