MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Families & Friends,
Digital Technologies is a core learning area in the Western Australian Curriculum, and enabling our students to be skilled in navigating a digital landscape is essential to their development as learners. However, as adults, we need to ensure that we are protecting students from harmful threats online and ensuring that our children are accessing apps, platforms and information that is suitable to their age and development.
Catholic Education WA has recently released guidelines for the use of AI in schools, which our staff are now required to follow, and I wanted to share two of these with you. As parents we are incredibly good at protecting our children in the real world such as ensuring they wear a helmet when bike riding or holding their hand when crossing the road. Unfortunately, we now need to model critical thinking for our children when it comes to what we allow children access to.
Do not upload photos of your children into AI Tools: Images can be stored, processed or even used to train external models. This poses serious privacy and consent concerns particularly for children. Images can be used inappropriately by AI tools or individuals, resulting in faces being placed on explicit or harmful content without consent, for example creation of ‘deep fakes’. This includes refraining from uploading children’s faces into seemingly innocent apps such as those that make a child’s face appear like a cartoon.
Always check the minimum age requirement and consent requirement for all AI Tools: Most AI platforms require users to be 16+ or may require parental consent
We also have an increasing number of children owning or bringing phones to school. In a recent discussion with a parent, I was introduced to Wait Mate. Wait Mate is a movement empowering parents to hit pause on smartphones, until at least high school. By registering, you will be able to see like minded families in our community who have also taken the pledge As a parent it can be hard to hear comments from your child such as ‘but everyone has one’, this is a simple way to support each other as parents to say ‘not yet’. If you are interested please click here.
Jut a reminder that on Monday 11 August at 5:45pm in the Library, prior to our P&F Meeting at 6:00pm, we will be holding a short introduction to Cyber Wardens. It is designed to help small business owners and their teams to build simple, practical cyber safety habits, with no technology skills required. If you are a small business owner and would like free information on how to build better cybersecurity please come along
May you all have a wonderful week ahead.
Michelle Christian Principal
FAITH FOR THE JOURNEY
Loving God,
We give thanks for our students who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion this weekend
May this be a time of joy, peace and deepening faith as they come to know Your presence in the Eucharist
Bless their families, teachers and parish community who have guided and supported them on their faith journey.
May their hearts be open to Your love and may they always walk in the light of Christ Amen.
2025 IMPORTANT DATES
First Holy Communion - 10:30am
The Cyber Warden’s Meeting - 5:45pm
P&F Meeting - 6:00pm
Kindy Cuddly Animal Farm Excursion
Catholic Book Fair
Years 3-6 Throws Day
Year 1 & 2 Throws Day
Year 1 Assumption Mass 9:00am
School Choir - Performing Arts Festival
Newsletter
Catholic Day - No School for Staff or Students
Staff Professional Development Day - No Students
Kindy - Year 6 School Photo Day (Including Netball)
Last Day of Term Three
Staff Professional Development Day - No Students
Students Commence
Last Day of Term Four
Evelyn
Leo
Alessia M & Shelly S.
Ziah L & Pemberton B.
ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS’ NEWS
First Holy Communion
This Sunday at 10:30am, our Year 4 students will receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion, a special and sacred step in their faith journey. We are so proud of their preparation and reverence as they get ready to receive Jesus for the first time. Please keep them and their families in your prayers for this meaningful celebration.
Performing Arts Festival
The school choir will also be performing at the Catholic Performing Arts Festival on Wednesday 20 August from 1:15–2:15pm. This special event will take place at St Benedict’s Parish in Applecross. We wish our talented choir members all the best as they represent St Michael’s School with pride and joy.
Catholic Book Fair
Catholic Book Fair is coming to administration on Wednesday 13 August to Friday 15 August. Visit anytime between 8:15am–3:45pm to browse a wonderful selection of Catholic books. Final purchases can be made on Monday 18 August before school. Payments can be made throughout the day using cash or card.
Pre-Kindy 2026
Interviews for Pre-Kindy 2026 will commence shortly. Please make sure your enrolment form is in to secure your spot.
Musical Instrument Tuition Program
Limited spaces have become available for Piano tuition (from Years 1-6) and Guitar tuition (from Years 3-6). If your child is interested in learning an instrument, please collect an enrolment form from administration, or email Mr Ostaszewskyj (steven.ostaszewskyj@cewa.edu.au) for more information. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to nurture your child’s musical talents!
Netball Fundraising Success – Thank You!
A heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful parents and students who supported our recent netball fundraising event. Thanks to your generosity, we raised $190.85 a fantastic effort that will go directly towards supporting our team.
We’d also like to extend special thanks to our generous sponsors:
The Maiolo Family – for their incredibly kind and generous donation.
Jester’s Bassendean – for supporting our school sports community and recognising outstanding players with a free pie certificate (a huge hit with the kids!).
Hawaiian Bassendean – for their generous contribution towards our brand-new netball uniforms. We’re so excited to see our players take the court in fresh new gear next year!
Your support means so much and plays a vital role in building strong, spirited netball teams at our school. We truly appreciate it!
Warm regards,
Mrs Jo Borg & Mr Michael Sheridan
SCIENCE WEEK
Last week, students across the school celebrated Science Week with hands-on activities that sparked curiosity and excitement. Highlights included a worm farm incursion, balloon rocket launches, helicopter drops, and thrilling volcanic eruptions! A big thank you to Mrs Carr for organising the week and to our special guest, Mr Coughlan, for joining in the scientific fun
SCIENCE WEEK
Students in Years 3–6 teamed up with their younger buddies from Pre-Primary to Year 2 to create mini worm farms as part of our Science Week celebrations. They explored how worms help recycle food scraps and enrich the soil, making real-world connections to sustainability. It was a wonderful display of teamwork, curiosity and care for the environment.
100 DAYS OF SCHOOL
Our Year 1 students had a fabulous time celebrating 100 days of school by dressing up as 100-year-olds, complete with grey wigs, walking sticks and cardigans! It was a joyful celebration of learning, counting, growth and fun!
BABY CHICKENS
Our Pre-Kindy and Kindy students were full of wonder and excitement as they watched baby chicks hatch from eggs. The children carefully observed the eggs each day, learning about the life cycle of a chicken Their faces lit up with joy as they gently held the fluffy newborn chicks for the first time.
KINDY CHICKEN INCURSION
The Kindy students were treated to an incursion with ‘The Good Farmer’ who shared their amazing knowledge about egg farming, chickens and life on the farm. The children loved watching videos from their farms, meeting two hens and even witnessing one lay an egg in their classroom!
SCHOOL ENROLMENTS
2025, 2026 & BEYOND
Limited places remain in our Pre-Kindy program for 2025 and Kindy 2026 is now full.
We are now accepting enrolments for Pre-Kindy 2026, and Kindergarten 2027 and beyond. Don’t delay… spaces are filling quickly!
SOCIAL MEDIA
Stay up to date with what is happening at St Michael’s School. Please follow us and share with friends and family at: https://www.facebook.com/stmichaelsbass https://www.instagram.com/stmichaelsbassendean
PARENTS AND FRIENDS NEWS
COMMUNITY NEWS
The inclusion of any community advertising does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation thereof by St. Michael’s School.
St. Michael’s does not accept any responsibility or liability for the conduct or content of these advertisements, sites and the offerings made by the third parties.
Catholic Network Australia has partnered with Cyber Safety Project to offer a specialised webinar for Catholic school parents. This session explores how families can actively contribute to creating safer digital environments. Parents will discover practical strategies for extending classroom digital citizenship into the home, creating a unified approach to safer technology usage. Learn more about the webinar and sign-up here.
COMMUNITY NEWS
The inclusion of any community advertising does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation thereof by St. Michael’s School.
St. Michael’s does not accept any responsibility or liability for the conduct or content of these advertisements, sites and the offerings made by the third parties.
COMMUNITY NEWS
The inclusion of any community advertising does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation thereof by St. Michael’s School.
St. Michael’s does not accept any responsibility or liability for the conduct or content of these advertisements, sites and the offerings made by the third parties.
COMMUNITY NEWS
The inclusion of any community advertising does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation thereof by St. Michael’s School.
St. Michael’s does not accept any responsibility or liability for the conduct or content of these advertisements, sites and the offerings made by the third parties.
COMMUNITY NEWS
The inclusion of any community advertising does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation thereof by St. Michael’s School.
St. Michael’s does not accept any responsibility or liability for the conduct or content of these advertisements, sites and the offerings made by the third parties.
MIDVALE PARENTING HUB
Offers programs and workshops each term in which parents and carers attend.
Topics include Protective Behaviours, ADHD, Parenting Toddlers, Supporting Emotional Development, Raising Children in a Digital World and Emotion Coaching. For more information, visit their website.
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE
Every year Dental Health Services offers parents and carers the chance to register their kids for free dental care at the School Dental Service. The offer is open to every student from the year they turn 5 until their 17th birthday and includes check-ups, fillings and simple extractions.
If you would like further information on DHS services and the SDS please visit our website.
COMMUNITY NEWS
The inclusion of any community advertising does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation thereof by St. Michael’s School.
St. Michael’s does not accept any responsibility or liability for the conduct or content of these advertisements, sites and the offerings made by the third parties.
COMMUNITY NEWS
The inclusion of any community advertising does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation thereof by St. Michael’s School.
St. Michael’s does not accept any responsibility or liability for the conduct or content of these advertisements, sites and the offerings made by the third parties.
