Dear parents and carers

So winter is definitely here and don’t we know it! The glorious weather it brings has given us opportunities to enjoy our beautiful outdoors again! Although a bit chilly, the mornings have been a joy as students bounce into school clad in their warmest winter woolies. If you are struggling to find maroon woolies for your child, check out our office as we have a few second hand items that may help you out.

As we wind down towards the mid year break, the whole school community is enjoying some of our favourite annual community events. The last few weeks of term are packed with sporting activities, class liturgies and early years fun days. 

Junior Sports Carnival

I just have a few reminders and heartfelt thanks to share - starting with a huge shout out to our incredible Prep School Officer, Adrienne Marino. Adrienne did a wonderful job coordinating our Junior Sports Carnival, and her efforts truly made the day special. A special thank you to our new PE teacher Mrs Jago who came out for the day to assist with the activities. Our Early Years teachers got well into the spirit of the day, dressing up for the occasion. I don’t think I’ve laughed so much in ages! And what a race that was!

The real stars of the day were the students who gave every activity their very best. They cheered on their teammates, encouraged others and generally had a wonderful day. Our senior leaders are also to be commended for their outstanding dedication to helping out on the day, setting up, entertaining the little ones and helping out during the races - we are so very proud of you!

I received so many lovely comments from parents who appreciated the event’s ‘wholesome’, ‘country school’ and ‘family vibe’. A huge thank you also goes out to all the staff, students and volunteer parents who pitched in to help everything run smoothly. It was clear to everyone that our younger students had an absolute blast!

Movie night

One of the absolute highlights at St Michael’s is our Family Movie Night - and the last one was a blast! We screened Despicable Me 4, and it was a hit with kids and grown-ups alike. Some of the little ones even came dressed as their favourite characters - so much fun!

A massive shout out to Jason Misfud, our tech wizard, who made sure everything ran like clockwork. Jason has been a legend at these events and we are so grateful for his ongoing support.

And of course, a huge thank you to the Innisfail PCYC for generously lending us the projector and sound system - your support helps bring the magic to life!

Our ticket sales for the evening raised $277.00 to go towards our Nature Playground.

Senior Sports Carnival

Recently, we gathered once again to celebrate the sporting prowess of our senior students at Johnson Park. The fabulous Deirdre Fedorov and our new PE teacher Kerrie Jago were busy for weeks, meticulously organising the event and it was certainly a wonderful two days!

These days don’t just happen, it takes a whole lot of effort and coordination to make things run smoothly and I would like to sincerely thank our parent volunteers, teachers, school officers for their efforts to make the day such a success.

Our students demonstrated the St Michael’s spirit throughout the event by cheering on their teammates, helping each other and generally showing outstanding sportsmanship. We are so very proud of you all!

Teddy Bears' Picnic

Also last week was the Early Years’ Teddy Bears' Picnic which traditionally happens when they have the school to themselves while the Senior Sports Carnival is on. Our younger students in Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 enjoyed a wonderful morning of stories, activities and plenty of fun.

St Michael’s joins the Sugar Solstice Fun!

For the very first time, St Michael’s jumped into the sweet celebration of the Gordonvale Sugar Solstice last weekend - and what a day it was! The fantastic community event marks the start of the cane crushing season, and the streets of Gordonvale came alive with colour, music and smiles to celebrate.

From Girl Guides to sports clubs, day care centres to local businesses, the whole town joined the parade - an St Michael’s families were out in full force! We marched proudly from our school, around Norman Park and into the heart of the action, led by a lively Scottish marching band.

Once we hit the park, the fun really kicked off with games, food vans, rides and loads of laughter, making it an afternoon to remember.

And what’s more - next year is extra special - it is the 130th anniversary of the Gordonvale Mill and we can’t wait to be part of the celebrations again. Stay tuned for how you can get involved in the fun!

Coffee, Chats and Community at St Michael’s

Got great ideas? Hidden talents? Want to connect with other parents and learn how to support your child’s learning at home?

Then come and join us for Coffee & Catch-Ups in the staff room every Week 2 and Week 8 of each term!

In Week 2, we brainstorm ways to make our amazing school even better - your voice matters! And in Week 8, we host special parent workshops led by our wonderful teaching staff.

This term, our Leader of Learning and Teaching, Kelly Evans, gave us a fantastic look into what Literacy Blocks look like at St Michael’s, and why they are so important for every age group.

So, whether you’re keen to volunteer, share your ideas, or just want to connect over a cuppa - we’d love to see you there!

Want to get involved? Here’s how…

And that’s it from me this week. Keep an eye out for more stories, celebrations and photos of your children learning, playing and enjoying life at St Michael’s on our Facebook page!

God bless