Dear Parents and Caregivers

As our school year comes to a close today for all our students, I would like to thank you all for a wonderful 2020 school year. More than any other year, it was evident in 2020 how blessed we are to have a supportive and enthusiastic school community! I would like to thank each of you for the gifts you bring to our community and for the support you have shown in various ways. Thank you to our staff for the wonderful work that they do, not only educating our students, but caring for them also. My appreciation also goes to our hard-working Assistant Principals, Ryan and Jemima, for their dedication and support.

Farewell and thank you to our departing staff members: Miss Juliana Primo, Miss Julia Hodson and a special farewell to Mrs Del Murray. The standing ovation that Del received at the awards night was so touching and is indicative of how much she means to the St Michael’s community. Thank you Del for 34 years of dedicated service! We thank each of these three ladies for their valuable contributions to our school community and wish them all the very best for the future. You will be missed!

Next year we will welcome Mrs Nicole Smith to the new role of Office and Finance Manager. Nicole is a qualified accountant with many years of experience in the mining industry and recently worked as the Chief Financial Officer in an early learning corporation. Nicole brings with her a wealth of experience in both corporate and education fields and I know that the community will make her feel very welcome. Also, in Term 1, Mrs Robyn Imbrosciano will be on leave and will be replaced by Mrs Geraldine Nolan. Geraldine also works part-time at St. Brigid’s in Middle Swan. We will also welcome back Mrs Courtney Carr (currently on maternity leave) two days a week to replace Julia Hodson and Mrs Jane Cullen one day a week to cover Mr Caddy who will be taking Fridays off in 2021 on long service leave. Please see the staffing list below for more information.

We wish all of our outgoing students and families all the very best in the future. We hope you keep in touch and that you leave us with fond memories. May God watch over you always and bless your journey ahead.

 

Acknowledgements

Thank you to all parents and family members who have supported the various events this week. Thank you to Mr Ryan Powles, Mrs Katherine Turner, Mrs Rochelle Albert and all the staff who assisted with the preparations for the Awards Night and Edudance Concert. Thank you to Miss Katherine Riolo for co-ordinating the Graduation Mass (ably assisted by Ryan Powles, Marina Thompson and Lola Stewart).

 

Uniform Policy & Back to School Haircuts

Please be mindful of our uniform policy when getting your back-to-school haircuts in January. Our uniform policy requires a conservative and natural hairstyle and clearly states that ‘dyed hair and radical haircuts or hairstyles are not acceptable’. We have worked hard over the last few years to ensure all haircuts meet the policy. All students and parents should now be aware of our expectations and therefore, anyone arriving at school with a haircut or colour that does not meet requirements will be asked to return to the hairdresser to make immediate adjustments. We remind parents that acceptance of enrolment at St. Michael’s means that you agree to follow all school policies and procedures. Catholic secondary schools have a particularly tough stance on uniform and hair styles, hence as our senior students approach their secondary school years, it is important that they learn the importance of following uniform rules so we ask parents to support us with this. In particular, students should not come to school with hair that is shaved on the bottom and long on top, or with dyed hair. Mullets are not an acceptable hairstyle. Our uniform requirements can be found on our website: https://www.stmichaelsbass.wa.edu.au/uniforms.html

 

Before and After School Supervision

When parents are making family and work arrangements for 2021, we remind parents that our supervision of students commences at 8.20am and concludes at 3.10pm. Please ensure that you make arrangements that support these parameters, for example, please be mindful that our gates do not open until 8.20am and students should not be dropped off prior to this. A reminder that we have a partnership with OSHClub which operates out of the hall for parents who require out of school hours care (7am to 6pm). Please contact Wendy at OSHClub on 0427 945 406 for more information.

 

2021 Start Dates & Uniform Shop Opening Times

A reminder that students commence school on Monday 1st February for Kindy to Year 6 students (Kindy parents please refer to your staggered start timetable for your start time). The uniform shop will be open on Friday 29th Jan between 9am and 2pm for your 2021 uniform requirements.

 

Security Cameras 2021

Due to an increase in out of hours trespassers on school grounds, including a recent break in, the School Advisory Council (previously the School Board) has approved a quote for security cameras to be installed. This will occur next week. These cameras will be monitoring the outdoor areas of the school grounds only and the appropriate signage will be displayed as per legislation requirements. Hence, please be aware that from 2021, all outdoor areas on the school grounds will be under video surveillance 24 hours a day. The footage will be securely stored and the only people with access to the footage will be the members of the school leadership team.

 

Advent Giving – Wheelchairs for Kids

St. Michael’s was thrilled to be able to make a donation to Wheelchairs for Kids from our recent gold coin donation fundraiser. If you are looking for ideas for advent giving as a family to ensure that your Christmas gift giving includes some charitable support to those less fortunate, perhaps consider donating a wheelchair to a child in an under-developed nation. For these children, receiving a wheelchair is life changing. It not only allows them the freedom of mobility but allows them to go to school for the first time and allows their caregiver to seek employment to better support the family. $200 provides a wheelchair to a child, however, if this isn’t within your budget, Wheelchairs for Kids grateful accepts donations of any amount. Brother Olly and his team of volunteers ensures that all monies donated go to those who need it. If you would like to change the life of a child for Christmas through a private donation, please  go to: https://wheelchairsforkids.org/donate/

 

2021 Parent Information Night

Please make a note in your 2021 diaries that Parent Information Night will be held on Monday 8 February 2021.

Have a wonderful break and I wish you all a very happy and holy Christmas and all of life’s blessings in the new year. We look forward to welcoming you back to school on Monday 1 February 2021.

 

God bless

Dr Siobhan Galos
Principal

principal@stmichaelsbass.wa.edu.au.

 

2021 Staff List

Mrs Siobhan Galos	Principal
Mrs Jemima Saunders	Assistant Principal/ Year 3 Teacher (Mon/Tues/Fri)
Mr Ryan Powles	Assistant Principal/ Year 5 Teacher (Mon/Thurs/Fri)
Mrs Nicole Smith	Office and Finance Manager
Mrs Robyn Imbrosciano (Term 1 – Geraldine Nolan)	Administration Officer
Mrs Neala Welch	Kindergarten Teacher
Mrs Nicola Gallagher	Kindergarten EA
Mrs Joanne Richards	Kindergarten EA
Miss Meadhbh Glasgow -Collins	Pre-primary Teacher
Ms Christine Venosi	Pre-primary EA
Miss Nat Pin	Year 1 Teacher
Mrs Rosemary Mumme	Year 1 EA & Minilit
Ms Laura Marzo	Year 2 Teacher
Mrs Lesley Schnell	Year 2 EA & Macqlit
Mrs Marina Thompson	SJC Co-ordinator/Year 3 Teacher (Wed/Thurs)
Mrs Katherine Turner	Year 4 Teacher
Mrs Courtney Carr	Year 5 Teacher (Tues/ Wed)
Mr David Caddy	Year 6 Teacher (Mon – Thurs) (Long Service Leave every Friday)
Mrs Jane Cullen	Year 6 Teacher (Fri)
Mrs Lola Stewart	SWD EA
Mrs Lisa Grazia	SWD EA / Principal’s Secretary
Ms Pauline Lochowicz	Reading Recovery Teacher
Mr Rob Coughlan	Science Teacher
Miss Natalie Brescacin	PE Teacher
Mrs Rochelle Albert	Music  Teacher
Mrs Renee Vassiliou	Art  Teacher
Mrs Maria Famiano	LOTE  Teacher (Italian)
Mrs Lisa Mueller	Social Worker
Mrs Linda Ford	Canteen Co-ordinator
Mrs Vicki Stenning	Library Technician
Mrs Tania Falappi	Uniform Shop Co-ordinator