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- Important Dates & Events to Remember!
- Acting Principal's Page - Bridgette McCann
- Happy Birthday
- Harmony Awards
- Religious Education News - Emily O'Rourke
- Sport News - Erin Hardwicke
- Children’s Week Celebration – Wednesday 22 October!
- The Merchants Feast's Lunch Order Day - Thursday 30 October!
- Canteen Recess- Friday 14 Nov AND 5 Dec!
- Lowes Sale!
- Positive Partnerships autism workshop: 30-31 October, Dickson ACT
- UC Health Clinics Service!
Wed 22/10 Children’s Day - Teddy Bears Picnic
Fri 24/10 - Boorowa Carnival
Tue 28/10 - Raiders Gala Day
Thurs 30/10 - Canteen Lunch with Merchant’s Feast
Fri 31/10 - Grandparents Day Liturgy and activities
Fri 7/11 - 3/4 Excursion - National Botanic Gardens
Tues 11/11 - Remembrance Day Liturgy
Fri 14/11 - Canteen Recess Day @ 11am
Tues 25/11 - Visit from David de Carvahlo (new CEO)
Fri 28/11 - Advent Liturgy
Thurs 4/12 - Thanksgiving Mass and Rainbow Awards
5/12 - Canteen Recess Day @ 11am
8 & 9/12 - Parent interviews (Optional)
Thurs 11/12 - Christmas Celebration (TBC)
Mon 15/12 - Graduation Liturgy and Dinner
Wed 17/12 - Candle Ceremony and Meet the Teacher
Thur 18/12 - Year 6 Breakfast and Fun Day
Thurs 18/12 - Last Day of School for Students
Monday 2 February 2026 - First Day of School for Students
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
Special wishes to those children who will celebrate their birthdays:
Xavier K, 3/4G, Selena V, 1B, Rafael M, 5/6P.
Congratulations to the following students who achieved a Harmony Award this week.
Well done!!
| K Yellow | Alexander E |
| 1 Blue | Brianna H |
| 2 Red | Layla M |
| 3/4 Green | Jonadab M |
| 3/4 Orange | Rigdzin N |
| 5/6 Indigo | Leo K |
| 5/6 Pink | Thomas W |
St Michael’s Feast Day
Last term we celebrated the Feast Day of St Michael. Our school is blessed to be named after such a special saint who is seen as a protector of the Church. We celebrated with a Parish Mass and then students participated in activities to deepen their understanding of St Michael our patron saint. One of the highlights of the day was the afternoon disco, where students came together to celebrate with music, dancing, and lots of fun! It was a wonderful way to end a special day filled with faith and learning.
Term 4 Whole School Focus
This year at St Michael’s, our Whole School Focus theme is “Walking Together in Friendship.” This theme reflects our school’s vision to live and learn in harmony with one another. Guided by Jesus’ teachings in the parables from Luke’s Gospel, we are learning what it means to be a caring and compassionate friend.
Last term, we focused on walking together with kindness and compassion. This term, our focus shifts to walking together with open and forgiving hearts. Students will explore the importance of having an open and forgiving heart and how that helps create a safe environment. It allows us to accept our own mistakes, understand the mistakes of others and let go of hurt and grow. These friendship values will be embraced in classrooms and recognised through our Harmony Awards.
October: The Month of the Holy Rosary
October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary, one of the most cherished and well-known Catholic devotions. Praying the Rosary is a beautiful way to honour Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and to reflect on key moments in the life of Christ.
The word Rosary comes from the Latin rosaria, meaning "a crown of roses" or "a garden of roses." The devotion took shape in the 14th century and is traditionally attributed to St Dominic. It consists of a sequence of prayers that guide us through the mysteries of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
St John Paul II called the Rosary “a compendium of the Gospel.” It is not just a repetition of prayers but an invitation to meditate deeply on the central mysteries of our faith. Through this meditation, we grow closer to Christ and come to better understand our identity as His followers.
If you would like to learn how to pray the Rosary or explore Rosary-related activities, visit this helpful website:
? The Religion Teacher - Rosary Activities
Our Parish community also gathers to pray the Rosary every Sunday at 5:00 pm at St Michael’s Church. Additional prayer times and information are available on the parish website:
? St Michael’s Parish – Belconnen North
Socktober
On Friday 17th October, our school will be participating in Socktober, a Catholic Mission initiative that engages students in fun and meaningful fundraising to support global mission work. We invite all students to wear their craziest socks and bring in a gold coin donation on the day. All funds raised will go directly to Catholic Mission.
This year, Socktober is shining a light on the needs of communities in Zambia, helping to provide vital access to food and education for children. Your support will help give these children the opportunity to build a brighter future.
By taking part in Socktober, students are not only having fun, but also making a real difference in the lives of others. Thank you for your generosity and support!
Congratulations!
On Friday 12 September, Zara C, (5/6 Pink) competed in the Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation (AASCF) NSW/ACT State Championships. Zara’s team ‘Pearls’ from Sirens Cheerleaders became State Champions placing 1st in the Youth Novice division. Zara also competed for Sirens Cheerleaders team ‘Captains’ who placed second in the Youth Level 1 division. Zara will now compete in these two teams in the AASCF National Championships in Melbourne in November.
We are excited to be celebrating Children’s Week on Wednesday 22 October!
Children’s Week is a wonderful opportunity to recognise and celebrate the rights, talents and achievements of all children. Throughout the day, students will take part in classroom activities to learn more about children’s rights and what they mean for them.
To mark the occasion, we will also be holding a Teddy Bears Picnic at recess. Students are invited to bring along their favourite teddy or soft toy to join in the fun!
At recess, each child will receive a tub of frozen yoghurt, generously funded through a government grant. If your child has a dietary allergy, an alternate treat will be provided to ensure everyone can enjoy the celebration safely.
We look forward to a joyful day celebrating the importance of childhood and the rights of every child.
Positive Partnerships is a government funded program that offers free neuro-affirming workshops to families of autistic young people, including those on the pathway to identification.
A two day workshop is coming up in Canberra. Go to the Positive Partnerships website for more details and to register:
Two day workshop, 30-31 October, DICKSON ACT:
https://www.positivepartnerships.com.au/workshop/?eventtemplate=166-2-day-parent-carer-workshop-act&event=2191
More info about workshop content:
https://www.positivepartnerships.com.au/workshops-online-learning/workshops