Hello Families,

Staffing

I am very excited to announce that Erika Tokich will remain as our Acting Religious Education Coordinator for 2024 as Meaghan Younger has taken an Acting REC position at St Thomas Aquinas and will not be returning to St Michael’s in 2024. Erika has established strong connections with staff, students, parents and the Parish community and we are delighted that she will continue working at St Michael’s.

We would like to farewell and thank Natasha Kapantais for her commitment to St Michael’s school community. We greatly appreciate Natasha’s generosity and dedication in taking on many roles during her time teaching. She has held the positions of classroom teacher across K-6, Acting Religious Education Coordinator, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Contact Teacher, Child Safe Advocate and Teacher Representative for the Community Council.  She is a wonderful mentor to those around her and a passionate teacher who promotes strong relationships with both staff and students. We wish her all the best as she transfers to St Peter and Paul Primary School Garran.

A huge thanks to Mia Pennay, who happily took on a teaching position with us late in the year, initially part-time and then full-time whilst finishing her fourth-year teaching degree, on a permit to teach. She has been flexible, adaptable, a quick learner and a passionate educator. Mia has been an asset to our school, and we wish her well as she has been appointed a permanent teaching position at Evatt Primary for 2024.

We also thank and farewell two of our amazing Classroom Support Assistants, James White and Hannah Rosser as they continue to pursue further study and exciting opportunities. Thank you to Madison Mills our wonderful Welfare Officer who has supported many of our students across the year. She is also pursuing further study and we wish her every success in her pursuits.

Judy Egan will not return in weeks 9 & 10 as she is recovering from recent illness. She would like to thank all staff, students and families for a wonderful 2023 and wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday. Judy also thanks all members of our Community Council for their time, energy, leadership and support on behalf of our parents and community. She is looking forward to catching up with everyone in 2024 when school returns.

I am very pleased to announce our staffing for 2024:

Executive

Principal: Judy Egan

Assistant Principal: Bridgette McCann

Religious Education Coordinator: Erika Tokich

Front Office

Front Office Manager: Lynda Logan

Front Office/Admin: Maria Papasidero

Grounds person: Kim Kennedy

Classroom Teachers

Kindergarten: Emily O’Rourke

Year 1/2: Erika Tokich 4 days and Cherie Kelly 1 day

Year 1/2: Jessica Hallahan 4 days and Erin Hardwicke 1 day

Year 3/4: Shannon Blakey

Year 3/4: Victoria De Mattia

Year 5/6: Shianne Sahariv

Year 5/6: Danielle Madsen 4 days and Erin Hardwicke 1 day

Specialist Teachers

Art Teacher: Jane McKeough

Library Teacher: Erin Hardwicke

Indonesian Teacher: Jacqueline Ramesh

Welfare Officer: TBA

Classroom Support/Inclusion Team

Classroom Support Teacher: Robyn O’Rourke

Classroom Support Assistants:

Kylie Arena

Sonja Vocisano

Sharon Friend

Unnati Shah

Madeleine Widdeson

Maria Sanchez-Worsnop

Maggie Davenport

Michelle Stuckey

Heather Qail

Melissa Morella

Reports & Interviews

On Monday you would have received your child’s Semester Two report for 2023. Please take the time to celebrate your child’s learning and discuss their strengths and challenges. A huge thanks to our teachers for the time and effort that goes into the learning and assessment cycle, for writing reports and making time available for optional interviews. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the report you are still able to book an optional interview with your child’s teacher through the Compass portal which close on Friday. Thank you to all our parents and families for supporting your child’s education and our teachers. This positive partnership between home and school is what makes St Michael’s such a special place to learn.

Giving Mass & Rainbow Awards

Tomorrow, Thursday 7 December we will be holding our Giving Mass & Rainbow Awards in the church. We will also farewell Miss Kapantais, Miss Pennay, Mr White, Miss Rosser and Miss Mills. We will start with a Mass in the church at 9:30 am followed by Rainbow Awards for Term 4. Students are encouraged to come dressed in Christmas t-shirts, Christmas coloured clothes and accessories. All parents are welcome to attend.

Kinder Nativity

The Kinder Nativity will be held in the Church 11 December at 9:15. The Kinders have been practising their parts and the Nativity will involve all our classes as each class has a song that they have learnt. All families are welcome to attend!

Year 6 End of Year Events

11 December

Graduation Liturgy - Year 6 Awards at the Church @ 5:00 followed by Dinner

12 December

Candle Ceremony – Passing on the Leadership light from Year 6 to Year 5 at the Church @ 2:20

14 December

Year 6 Fun Day @ 8:20 – 3:00

Year 6 Breakfast in the Calm Space – enter via back gate from 8:20

Meet the Teacher

Students will visit their classes and meet their teachers for 2024 on Tuesday 12 December at 12:30 for introductions and eating time together.

2024 School Fees

Many blessings,