Prospectus

At St Michael’s, powerful, transformative learning happens when creative, inquiring minds are learning FROM, WITH and FOR the world.

FOR WITH FROM

Welcome to St Michael’s Grammar School

Welcome to St Michael’s Grammar School, where our students demonstrate daily the power of confident, forthright individuals, working in synergy to solve the challenges of today and tomorrow. For more than 125 years we have provided an expansive, holistic education to generations of children and young people in vibrant, inner-city Melbourne. Year on year, our students, staff and parents create anew our School – it is their curiosity, energy and dynamism that infuse a day, a week and a year at St Michael’s with variety and meaning.

Our students are at the heart of a learning ecosystem designed to cultivate strong foundations in key areas of creative and flexible problem-solving, independent thinking, effective collaboration and collective wellbeing.

Students at St Michael’s perform, exhibit, play sport and learn in some of Melbourne’s most iconic, creative and professional spaces.

In addition, our carefully sequenced set of outdoor learning programs that comprise the Exodus program from Years 3-11, see our students immersed in the beautiful and rugged natural environments of Victoria and beyond.

St Michael’s has evolved a holistic approach to education underpinned by a commitment to being inclusive.

Learning from an expert and passionate community of adults, the rapport between students and staff at St Michael’s is grounded in deep care and compassion, mutual respect, the lively exchange of ideas and an appreciation for the unique talents of each individual.

At the core of our strong, cohesive community are four values: dignity, respect, care and compassion. As a Lead Respectful Relationships School we aim to make decisions and live in accordance with these values as expressed in our Responsible and Respectful Community Code of Conduct. Engaging with, and respecting, a diverse range of perspectives is a central principle of our inclusive community and a vital component of our approach to teaching and learning.

The enduring benefits of a St Michael’s education are expressed in the diversity, creativity and community spirit of our graduates who leave with the determination to follow their passions, the confidence to lead in their fields of endeavour, and the wisdom to live balanced and meaningful lives inspired by a commitment to making the world a better place.

Mr Gerard Houlihan Head of the School

A similar spirit to that instilled by the Community of the Sisters of the Church in 1895 still pervades the School. Among other things, our sense of community, the way we treat others, and rising to the challenge to be innovative and creative.

Father Kenyon McKie, Senior Chaplain

The golden threads of our School

St Michael’s Grammar School is a progressive, coeducational K–12 school respected for our exceptional education and wellbeing programs, and our deep commitment to innovative approaches to teaching, learning and caring. At St Michael's we empower our students to move into their lifelong learning journey with courage, confidence and a strong sense of social justice.

The golden threads that have shaped our School include the founding narrative of the Sisters of the Church, the values of dignity, respect, care and compassion, and our choice of patron, St Michael the Archangel –considered a protector, healer and model of bravery, service and love.

Challenging the status quo within and beyond the Anglican Church of the time, the Sisters of the Church drew courage from a deep commitment to a faith with inclusivity and healing at its heart.

Sisters of the Church Hannah, Rose, Irene, Bridget, Lucy, Phyllis and May arrived in Hobart in 1892 and founded seven Anglican girls schools in Australia and New Zealand. Six of the seven schools are still in operation today and continue to move from strength to strength. The schools, known as The Emily Group, share the same crest, patron saint and founding narrative, however, they all differ in significant ways, which enriches the group’s diversity.

St Michael’s is the sole coeducational school in the group and as such, has a special role to play. Today, the School demonstrates to the world how shared, purposeful endeavour should be achieved in a coeducational context and leads the way in preparing our students for a future built upon the principles of reciprocity and respect.

The values and traditions imbued by the Sisters of the Church continue to guide the School and our holistic approach to education.

A true K–12 approach to Teaching, Learning and Caring

At St Michael’s, our approach to teaching, learning and caring is built upon our strengths as a Kindergarten to Year 12 (K–12) school, situated on one campus in inner-city St Kilda.

Our K–12 structure provides flexibility for the design of learning experiences that support and extend our students’ learning as indicated by their readiness or interest. We offer students support, detailed guidance, and a diversity of opportunities.

Diversity is not only a vital component of our teaching and learning focus, but also a central principle of our inclusive community. Diversity

is embodied in the School’s coeducational philosophy, academic excellence, programs, culture and community. By learning as equals, all students develop a deep appreciation of inclusivity and acceptance. Our commitment to student gender balance at St Michael's is underpinned by our vision of creating diversity and equality in education.

Our St Kilda location provides a vast array of opportunities to learn with and from the creative, academic, not-for-profit organisations and businesses that call this vibrant city of Melbourne home.

An individual learning journey for every student

Our comprehensive educational program engages students intellectually, physically and socially, providing valuable critical thinking opportunities and encouraging autonomous and collaborative learning. The rich and diverse curriculum and co-curricular programs challenge students while enabling them to reflect on their individual growth.

Our holistic focus begins in the early years, where the Reggio Emilia Educational Project’s principles of inquiry and exploration inspire thinking, collaboration and challenge. This focus continues throughout Kindergarten to Year 12, with a strong focus on combining academic studies with exceptional wellbeing programs and co-curricular opportunities.

We strive for excellence in all learning areas, providing students with clear expectations and skilled instruction while inspiring their curiosity, motivation and self-confidence.

St Michael’s students have ample opportunities to apply their knowledge, and regular detailed feedback encourages students to develop a lifelong love of learning.

From the early years, a St Michael’s education provides choice, breadth and depth. Our educators observe, listen and research alongside the children, encouraging them

to wonder and pose questions with many opportunities for critical, analytical, creative and reflective thinking. Students gain a detailed understanding of each discipline through active learning and deep engagement, within spaces that are responsive to their learning needs.

Students in Prep to Year 6 research and evaluate their learning within the context of a rich Transdisciplinary Learning framework. Our diverse P to 6 curriculum includes English, Mathematics, Wellbeing, Spirituality (Anam Cara Learning), Music, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Physical Education and Sport, Languages (Chinese, Japanese and French), Literature and Research Skills, and Outdoor Education. In addition, we offer a range of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) programs in Kindergarten to Year 6, including Digital Technologies and Literacies, and basic programming concepts.

The range of choices broadens further in Years 7 and 8, with a selection of learning areas available including English, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Humanities, Visual Arts and Design, Performing Arts, Personal Wellbeing, Anam

Cara Learning and Languages. Students have the option of taking French (beginning or continuing), Italian (beginning), Japanese (beginning or continuing) or Mandarin (continuing). The School’s interactive Languages program is directed towards the central goal of effective language learning, supporting students’ path to fluency.

Electives are introduced in Year 8 and expand in Year 10, where students select a major proportion of their personal academic program. Subject choices increase significantly during this crucial year.

The St Michael’s VCE program features a comprehensive range of around 40 subjects, including all major Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Psychology) and the full complement of Humanities including Accounting, Business Management, Economics, Geography, History, Legal Studies and Global Politics.

At St Michael’s, our vision of academic excellence encompasses the entire range of students’ capacities. While grades are important, it is equally important to develop the whole child.

Pastoral care and Wellbeing

At St Michael’s, pastoral care is a shared responsibility with staff and students involved in fostering a community that encourages the personal growth of each individual in their physical, academic, creative, social, emotional and spiritual dimensions. Our unique Pastoral Care triage process ensures that each student receives the support they need from the most relevant pastoral staff and health and wellbeing services.

Further to our supportive and caring ethos, there are many opportunities embedded within the St Michael’s experience that collectively aim to develop students’ resilience, academic achievement, health

and wellbeing. These opportunities, such as events, activities, positions and programs, alongside effective pastoral care, enable students to identify their strengths, talents and passions, and to have the confidence to apply these as contributing citizens in the wider community.

St Michael’s reputation for fostering students’ wellbeing is widely acknowledged. As a student journeys through St Michael’s, they will develop their understanding of a positive approach to wellbeing. They will learn skills necessary to demonstrate self-awareness, regulation and personal efficacy, as well as how to connect

with others and identify opportunities to engage meaningfully with society.

The School's values focus on students treating themselves and others with dignity and respect, showing compassion, and caring for the environment and all in the community. These values are enacted everyday through positive and meaningful relationships between students, staff and parents.

Students are also encouraged to engage in a rich array of leadership opportunities that help them to gain confidence and give them valuable experience in taking responsibility and making a difference in the lives of others.

What has always struck me about St Michael’s is the way that the arts are respected as being pivotal to personal development and learning, and that they are not sidelined as a hobby activities only.

Vanessa Pigrum (OM 1983 and School Co-Captain) CEO of the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership

Connection and growth through Houses

St Michael’s strong House system enables students to learn about personal accountability, allegiance, loyalty and belonging. Central to the Wellbeing Program, the House system is interwoven with each student’s life at the School.

There are four Houses from 3 Year Old Kindergarten to Year 6, and five Houses from Years 7 to 12. Each student is supported by a close-knit House group, jointly representing their House in community events, performances, assemblies and sporting contests.

Students take great pride in their House affiliation, with friendly rivalry adding a sense of excitement to life at the School. Some students follow in their parents’ or grandparents’ footsteps by joining the same House. The House system guides students through their St Michael’s journeys, with a dedicated team of professional tutors, class teachers, Navigators and school psychologists who work in consultation with students, teachers and parents to holistically mentor each student and foster a supportive and encouraging culture.

Co-curricular and extracurricular activities

The Co-curricular Program at St Michael’s is designed to introduce students to a broad range of experiences in the areas of Outdoor Education, Performing Arts (Drama, Dance and Music), Sport (competitive and recreational), Public Speaking and Debating. Students also have the opportunity to participate in a number of coordinated clubs and extracurricular activities where they can discover new interests and build positive relationships with others. Clubs that meet regularly throughout the year include Community Action Group,

Book Club, Lego Club, Dungeons and Dragons, Mad About (Hobbies), Reconciliation Action Plan, Robotics, French, Japanese, Debating and Public Speaking, Chess, Snow Sports and Sailing.

The School’s Co-curricular Program and extracurricular activities ensure that students are given access to a wide variety of opportunities, and are given the freedom to extend themselves in areas of their choice or passion, while also building relationships with others.

The Geoffrey Ryan Cup was an opportunity to find our feet again. It was a grand celebration of football, it’s capacity to bring people together and the athletic talent and potential of the girls at St Michael’s.

Olivia and Mairead (OM 2022)

Development through Sport

The impressive St Michael’s Sports Program acknowledges sport as central to a child’s wellbeing and individual development.

We offer a wide range of sports including Football, Cricket, Basketball, Badminton, Hockey, Netball, Soccer, Futsal, Softball, Tennis, Table Tennis, Volleyball and Touch Football. The School also offers a Run Club and SMGS Aquatics, a swimming club for both St Michael’s students and the wider community.

Our SMGS Sports Academy gives St Michael’s students the opportunity and pathway to progress and develop their skills in their chosen sport. The Sports Academy is a sport specific training-based program that runs during each term.

In addition to the in-class Sports Program, students from across the School have the opportunity to take part in House sport. House sport events include Swimming, Athletics, Cross Country and Aerobics. Students in Kindergarten to Year 2 participate

in non-competitive events, which celebrate student learning and encourage the development of team spirit. Students from Years 3 to 12 represent their House at the three major House carnivals. As part of the interschool Sports Program, St Michael’s is a proud member of the Association of Co-educational Schools (ACS) for Years 7 to 12 and the Co-educational Independent Primary Schools Sports Association (CIPSSA) for Years 5 and 6. Weekly sport is compulsory for students in Years 5 to 11 for the Summer (Terms 1 and 4) and Winter (Terms 2 and 3) seasons, while those in Year 12 have the option of playing in one or both sporting seasons. Compulsory sport is held on weekdays so students have the opportunity to spend time with their family and establish connections with local community sporting teams on weekends.

Students are continually provided with training options which enable them to participate in sport at their optimum level. Resources on campus include a large indoor gym, a dance/

aerobics room, a fully equipped weights room and a 25-metre indoor pool. St Michael’s also has access to world-class facilities such as the Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre (MSAC), Lakeside Stadium and other external venues for sporting events and carnivals.

In 2020, the School partnered with Port Melbourne Football Club. The partnership enables our students, coaches and staff to engage directly with the club's development programs and pathways. Through the partnership, our students and coaches work closely with the club to establish areas of collaboration in coaching, football services, elite training and playing opportunities, and commercial and community opportunities.

Our Physical Education staff and specialised sport coaches extend all students through specialist coaching and representation in competitions. Positive experiences are emphasised, leading students of all skill levels towards valuable participation in healthy physical activity.

The intensive Performing Arts Program at St Michael’s has allowed me to gain first hand experience of what it's like to perform in a professional environment.

Harry (OM

2020)

Flourishing on and off the stage in the Performing Arts

The award-winning Performing Arts program at St Michael’s continues the School’s tradition of nurturing creativity and individual expression. We believe that the performing arts play a vital role in assisting students to understand more about themselves, each other, and how the arts impact and shape our world.

St Michael’s offers a wide choice of productions for students wanting to engage in drama or dance, as well as a broad range of instrumental and choral ensembles, all of which foster a life-long passion for the Arts, and have been the beginning of many successful careers.

The music program offers tuition for a variety of instruments, coupled with frequent public performances of classical and

contemporary pieces. The bands, groups and orchestras available at St Michael’s include the Grigoryan Orchestra and Strings, the Harrison and Chamber Choirs, the Stage Band and Big Band, as well as a range of smaller Chamber ensembles.

In addition to performance, many students have the opportunity to be involved in other production elements such as lighting and sound operation, set construction and painting, stage management, and hair and make-up.

St Michael’s productions are performed within impressive venues, including the Malthouse Theatre, Gasworks, the National Theatre, Melbourne Recital Centre and our own Drama Studio.

The former St George’s Presbyterian Church has been a part of the St Michael’s campus since it was originally leased in 1987. In 1991 it was first used as a Music School and the precinct has subsequently become the home of the Performing Arts program at St Michael’s.

St George’s has been redeveloped to house state-of-the-art performance facilities, including a 400 seat auditorium and now forms our Performing Arts Centre at the School. The space is used for musicals, productions, music concerts and dance performances and provides our students the opportunity to perform in a highly advanced, professional facility.

Learning FROM the world

Kosi to Coast really brought out the best in each and every student and we formed so many friendships that will remain with us for life.

It was an incredible experience where we learnt so much about ourselves and how to push past our limits.

Layne (Year 12)

Learning from our people, our programs and the world beyond the School

By learning from an expert and passionate community of adults, St Michael’s students develop a strong knowledge of the disciplines, the connections between them and a curiosity to understand the world.

Our innovative, creative and rigorous academic programs motivate students to seek out new opportunities and ways of learning. St Michael’s students have many opportunities to extend their learning beyond the School gates and learn from the world around them. This is made possible through our Signature programs and our extensive co-curricular and extracurricular activities, outdoor education program and myriad trips, tours and exchanges, both interstate and overseas.

Signature Programs

In 2020, in response to our overarching goal of nurturing creative, inquiring minds learning from, with and for the world we introduced the concept of Signature Programs. These Programs provide students with deep learning opportunities that are unique to the School Community in which they live and learn.

They address a local real-world learning need and engage students by tapping into their passions and interests. Signature Programs extend beyond the classroom and utilise resources and networks from the community

to enhance engagement, and are aligned to the School’s values, culture and history. Grounded in principles of experiential learning, this involves students learning by doing, using their hearts, hands, and heads.

One of the first Signature Programs developed was ‘Penguin Squad’. Named by the inaugural student cohort who participated in the program, ‘Penguin Squad’ is an ongoing collaboration with Earthcare and the St Kilda penguins. The students investigate the breeding cycle of the St Kilda penguins and

engage in both class and site visit experiences to deepen their understanding. Through the Penguin Squad Program, students utilise the data collected from the cameras installed into the various nests to investigate, inquire and learn more about these fascinating birds, in particular the penguins’ life cycle.

Signature programs have now been introduced in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 and Programs are being developed for each of the year levels in the Senior School.

Year 6 camp was my best camp by far, from the sharing cabins with my friends to climbing massive rock walls. I loved all of the activities we did and I learned how to do so many new things. I got closer to my classmates and got to push my limits.

Alex (Year 6)

Learning from the world outdoors – Exodus

Incorporating the beauty and vastness of Australia into the holistic learning process, our Outdoor Education Program has been an important part of the educational journey at St Michael’s for more than 30 years.

Outdoor Education is compulsory for students in Years 3 to 11. The emphasis is on personal growth through outdoor experiences, focusing on three strands: self, others and the natural world. Each year level has a specific theme, such as ‘Friends and Foundation’ in Year 7 and ‘Action and Reflection’ in Year 8, building

sequentially on students’ experiences as they grow and develop new skills, leading to the pinnacle of the Program in Year 11 where students have the option of tackling the truly unique Kosi to Coast experience – a 20 day raft and hike expedition from Mount Kosciuszko all the way to Marlo on the Victorian coast.

Trips, tours and exchanges

Engaging with and respecting a diverse range of perspectives lies at the core of a St Michael’s education.

The range of day trips, interstate and international tours, and exchanges provides students with an opportunity to better understand the world around them and how they can contribute to making the world a better place.

Opportunities have included our long-standing exchange program with schools in France and Japan; the Houston Association for Space

and Science Education (HASSE) program in the United States; the European Choir Tour; and the New York and Los Angeles Performing Arts Tour, which provides a platform for students to engage in music, dance and drama on the world stage. In recent years the program has changed to reflect international travel restrictions but new programs are being developed.

In Year 10, all students participate in a 2 week Immersion Project. These projects are an exciting opportunity for students to

participate in learning experiences beyond the School. One example of an Immersion Project is the unique Great Barrier Reef project, in collaboration with James Cook University, where students complete Unit 1 Biology whilst studying the Reef first-hand. Another example is the Jabiru Project, where students travel to Kakadu National Park to work with Djidbidjidbi College and the Jabiru Area School to grow their understanding of Aboriginal culture, history and way of life.

The exchange was an incredible language and cultural experience that truly immersed me in the Japanese way of life.

Thomas (Year 11)

Learning WITH the world

Learning with the community, leading institutions and organisations

St Michael’s students learn with their peers, and a skilled community of staff, parents, Old Michaelians and representatives of the cultural, community and research institutions that surround the School in its inner-city location.

Through a focus on evidence-informed instructional practices, experiential learning and student agency, our young people are positioned as co-designers, co-researchers and co-creators. They are equipped to pose powerful questions, innovate through design and creation, and forge new pathways. Immersive learning experiences and technology unbind the learning of students in time and place and connect students to the world beyond the School.

Acting for our community

Helping to organise the Merry Month of May was so incredibly rewarding. It was amazing to be able to genuinely connect with different charities to better understand their goals, rather than just fundraise.

Sara Hassoun (OM 2019)

St Michael’s has a long and rich history of volunteering in the community. Our Community Action program runs throughout a student’s time at the School, informing, educating and empowering them to consciously choose to make a positive contribution to society.

The School has proud long-standing associations with many organisations that enrich and support the lives of others including the 14/32nd Battalion, the Pride Centre and Sacred Heart Mission, where

St Michael’s students, staff and family members volunteer.

From supporting charities locally in St Kilda, nationally and globally, our students have a deep, authentic understanding of why and how they can make a difference. Activities are student-led and involve the entire K–12 cohort, including staff, parents and the wider School community. The highlight every year is the Merry Month of May, a dedicated month of raising funds and awareness for a series of causes chosen by our students.

A network of possibilities

A St Michael’s education is enriched through constructive partnerships and the collective expertise of our parents and alumni, and the broader community. Staff at St Michael’s are committed to creating opportunities to enrich our students’ learning and connect it with the real world.

After graduating from St Michael’s, our students are welcomed into the Old Michaelian community. Our online platform,

SMGS Generation, connects Old Michaelians to the School’s teaching and learning programs, and provides opportunities for them to help our students through the sharing of professional knowledge, skills and career experience. Through SMGS Generation, students benefit from an online support network of professionals that continues to exist long after Year 12.

Flexible and creative learning environments

At St Michael’s, engaging and contemporary spaces for learning are designed to reflect our values, spark curiosity and enhance student and staff wellbeing.

The campus features buildings from each period of our history, from the School’s original 1895 home, Marlton House, to The Gipson Commons situated in the heart of the School.

The Allan Pizzey Building offers students in Kindergarten to Year 6 many opportunities for seamless learning. Classes accommodate team teaching, and students can often move independently between areas, enabling teachers to observe and facilitate learning while students retain their sense of trust and autonomy. Breakout spaces are designed for students’ academic, social and recreational needs. Common areas, including computer facilities and communal spaces, are ideal for study and relaxation.

The Octavius Brown Kitchen Garden provides a hands-on experience of growing produce. Featuring citrus trees, vegetable beds and chickens, the Kitchen Garden enables students to trace their food’s path from plant to plate.

The Gipson Commons is a true Kindergarten to Year 12 environment, with a versatile

floorplan to accommodate a range of learning approaches. Features include flexible classrooms, quiet ‘pods’ for individual study, breakout spaces, and custom-designed Science areas.

A centre of research within this innovative new building, the Knowledge Commons, provides students with comprehensive access to educational resources, including an extensive physical collection and electronic research database, and the opportunity to explore the world through virtual reality.

The hub of the School, Dolly’s Café, is situated on the ground floor of The Gipson Commons, and is brought to life every day by students, staff and parents. It is complemented by an adjacent Food and Technology facility, which features industrial-grade equipment and fully flexible workspaces.

The Design and Technology Centre houses advanced equipment, construction materials, 3D printing capability and a CNC router for the fabrication of high-precision products showcased each year at the Design and Technology exhibition.

The Visual Arts Department benefits from the use of a number of distinctive creative spaces. The Allan Pizzey Building and Marlton House incorporate four studios where small groups are encouraged to think creatively, use design principles in art-making, document their learning, and collaborate on projects. As students progress into the senior years they are given the opportunity to create

within dedicated studios across the School, including a photography darkroom and a ceramics studio.

The Sports Centre comprises the gymnasium, a 25-metre indoor pool, the fully-equipped weights room and dance studio with a sprung floor. Students also train and compete within a range of off-campus facilities, including the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC), Lakeside Stadium and Fawkner Park. Proximity to world-class sporting grounds inspires students to excel and an impressive number of current and former St Michael’s students have achieved major sporting success at state, national, international and Olympic levels.

St Agnes House has been refurbished and is now known as the Centre for Inquiry and Innovation (CII) for our Junior School. The learning spaces support inquiry learning, integrating both research and design thinking. It is a place to discover and connect ideas –both independently and in collaboration with peers and expert adults.

The former St George's Church has been developed into a new performing arts facility. The Performing Arts Centre, St George's which houses a 400 seat auditorium, has state-ofthe-art sound and lighting and a sprung floor for dance and movement. The contemporary fittings have been sensitively installed to preserve the integrity of the heritage features such as the restored stained-glass windows and the impressive organ.

Learning FOR the world

Learning for their future and the betterment of the world

When students complete their education at St Michael’s, they leave the School confident in their ability to engage with the possibilities of the world around them.

For our graduates, the enduring purpose and benefits of a St Michael’s education are exemplified in their diversity, creativity, citizenship, and in their hearts. We instil in our students and alumni the confidence to lead in their fields of endeavour and conceive of new approaches, the determination to follow their passions and the wisdom to live balanced and meaningful lives inspired by a commitment to making the world a better place.

I don’t think there is one kind of St Michael’s student. I think they really try and foster all of us being inhomogeneous and our own people, and feeling safe and at home as authentically as possible.

Lucy (Year 12)

Empowering student voice

During their time at St Michael’s, students are enriched, challenged and empowered for the benefit of their personal development and capacity to make a positive contribution to the lives of others.

Personal confidence and development is enriched in many ways to suit the needs of each student. Debating gives students the chance to exchange ideas and viewpoints in the public sphere, and the annual ‘Mock Election’, modelled closely on the Australian

political process, offers Year 8 students a platform to develop leadership and teamwork skills, and better understand a diverse range of views. Sport and the Performing Arts encourage students to extend themselves and build self-belief, and the many and varied student-run initiatives and clubs offer students the opportunity to follow passions or causes that they believe in.

At St Michael’s, we know and value all students, recognising and supporting their

individual strengths, voice and agency, and we prepare them to take the next step in their lives with a strong sense of self.

Undoubtedly one of our key achievements has been the further development of student voice and agency at the School. This was recognised with St Michael’s becoming one of only three finalists in the Student Voice School of the Year Award 2022.

Building a sustainable future for our world

As a leading educational institution and as a community, we strive to act responsibly and sustainably, make the best use of our resources and continue to work to minimise our environmental footprint.

Our ongoing commitments have seen St Michael’s staff and students work in partnership on several initiatives relating to environmental sustainability, which has led to both a positive impact on the environment and the social cohesion that is core to the School’s strong sense of community.

The School is committing to bold targets for the introduction of renewable energy sources and developing sustainability principles to guide decision making, educational programs and future facilities development. In 2021 the School switched to 100% renewable energy. Other recent projects have included a major printing overhaul, lighting replacements throughout the School, the installation of solar heating and rainwater tanks, the introduction of eco-friendly cleaning products, and a focus on reducing waste across the School.

Parallel to these projects, students from the Years 2 to 6 Environmental Action Group and Years 7 to 12 Environmental Defenders Group continue to lead the way to increase sustainable practices at St Michael’s.

Student-led initiatives have focused on reducing single-use plastic and the removal of plastic cutlery from Dolly’s Café, which was made possible by donations of stainless steel cutlery from the School community, as well as fundraising to develop a composting solution for the School.

I think St Michael’s has helped me become a more outgoing person who is more willing to take things on. I’ve learnt to juggle many activities in my schedule, and to feel comfortable speaking in front of large groups of people, a skill that I am sure will be useful throughout my life. I think most importantly, my education at St Michael’s has taught me the importance of balance, encouraging both academic and extra-curricular endeavours. I feel that I am a now well-rounded individual, largely thanks to my time at the school.

Thomas (OM 2021)

The enduring benefits of a St Michael’s education

Preparing our students for their future beyond St Michael’s is at the very heart of what we do. Throughout their time at St Michael’s, students are supported by our committed teaching staff, who recognise their personal and academic strengths, and empower them to tread their own path and excel in their areas of choice.

Our students are known for their diversity of interests and abilities, which is highlighted in the wide variety of post-school courses and pathways chosen.

In order to guide them toward successful career choices, St Michael’s ensures all students are well-informed about all the possibilities available to them, including tertiary education and career options. In their final years at the School, our Careers program plays an important role in helping our students plan for their future. Individual interviews, group sessions, an annual tertiary and careers night, and a wealth of resources and tools are utilised to enable students to approach career opportunities with confidence, courage and purpose.

Once a student completes their educational journey at St Michael’s Grammar School, they become part of the Old Michaelian Association, connecting past students with the School and each other. Students leave St Michael’s knowing they always have a place at their school, benefiting from an active and supportive alumni community that continues to exist long after Year 12.

St Michael’s Grammar School 25 Chapel Street, St Kilda

VIC 3182 Australia

Telephone: +61 3 8530 3310

community@stmichaels.vic.edu.au

stmichaels.vic.edu.au

CRICOS Provider 00345G