Dear Parents and Caregivers,

The annual St Michael’s Primary Athletics Carnival, held on Friday, May 9th at Sanctuary Point Oval proved to be a great success, and was an opportunity for students to showcase their athletic talents and participate in a day of fun and friendly competition. The event served the important purpose of identifying students to represent the school in track events at the upcoming Diocesan Athletics Carnival, offering both competitive races for aspiring athletes and inclusive non-competitive events for all to enjoy, alongside various other engaging activities throughout the day. The smooth running of the carnival was made possible through the dedicated efforts of numerous individuals, including Mrs. Bozikov for her meticulous line marking of the field, Mr. Allmark for his role as convenor, and the invaluable assistance provided by school staff and parents. Notably, the exemplary behaviour demonstrated by all students contributed significantly to the positive and enjoyable atmosphere of the day.

Last Monday 18 May 2025, Mrs Martine Mathieson, our Religious Education Coordinator (REC) participated in a review of her role. Two Catholic Education Office staff from Wollongong, Mrs Anna-Louise Jones and Mr Gary Quinn, joined me for this review. Through a self review, survey results and interviews, a number of strong themes emerged, acknowledging the effort and hard work that Mrs Mathieson has put into her REC role. At the completion of the review, Mrs Mathieson was given valuable feedback and thanked for the leadership she has shown in the role. Congratulations Mrs Mathieson. 

On Tuesday 19 May 2025, our school participated in The Australian Government Department of Education annual Post Enumeration (PE) Exercise for non-government schools. This process validated the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of student information provided in the annual August Census in 2024, ensuring the integrity of the count and measuring the accuracy of recurrent funding payments. Approximately 350 non-government schools across Australia, including ours, participated in the 2024 Census PE exercise as part of the Department's broader effort to gain assurance on non-government school census data.

During the review, a contractor compared school data with the original Census submission, sighting evidence for various student records such as ages, year levels, Indigenous status, disability, visa status, boarding, and distance education. I am pleased to report that St Michael's school passed the audit with no discrepancies, thanks to the huge efforts by Ms Emma-Kate Callaghan, Mrs Karen Delany, all classroom teachers and other staff. Well done all. 

On Monday, May 26th, all Australians will observe National Sorry Day, a significant day to acknowledge and remember the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, known as the Stolen Generations. This day provides an opportunity for all Australians to reflect on the past injustices and understand their lasting impact. There are a number of local events that some of our students and their families will participate in. We encourage all families to participate in activities that promote healing, reconciliation, and a deeper understanding of our shared history. Let us stand together in acknowledging the pain of the past and working towards a more equitable future for all Australians. 

During the last three days I have attended the NSW Catholic Conference for Principals which occurs every two years. The Association of Catholic School Principals (ACSP) in NSW provided this opportunity for Principals to attend keynote lectures related to the 2025 theme, "Living Waters: Leading with Hope, Inspiring Faith Communities,". The conference recognised the crucial role of Principals in nurturing the holistic wellbeing of students, staff and families. This biannual event offered a valuable professional learning opportunity specifically focused on faith, learning, and wellbeing. Thank you to Mrs Rutkowski for leading the school as Acting Principal during my absence, well supported by the school leadership team and staff. 

Due to the next Staff Development Day (Pupil Free Day) occurring on Tuesday 10 June 2025, the next Parents and Friends (P&F) meeting will be on Tuesday 17 June 2025, commencing at 6pm. 

Yours in faith & virtue

Christopher Paton

School Principal