School pupils, their families

and staff said goodbye to

principal Stephen Haintz

and long-time teacher

Michelle Johns last Sunday.

Next year Mr Haintz will

take the position of princi

pal at St Augustine's Pri

mary School in Marybor

ough after clocking up six

years at St Michael's.

"It will be a different chal

lenge," Mr Haintz said.

He said he enjoyed watch

ing pupils graduate and hear

ing about their success later

on in life.

"The most enjoyable part

has been the kids and the

exciting things they've done

including the arts night, the

school play and community

events," Mr Haintz said.

"I will remember the

assemblies we have every

week because we celebrate

the achievements of the

kids."

Mr Haintz will be replaced

by David Baxter from St

Patrick's College in Balla

rat.

"I hope David continues to

support the community and

staff in their work," Mr

Haintz said.

Mrs Johns resigned from

St Michael's and has plans to

visit her daughter in London

and travel to Kununurra in

Western Australia to see her

husband.

She has a long history

associated with St Michael's

having gone to school there

in grade six, her mother

taught there and her chil

dren went there.

She said St Michael's was

like a family school.

"You get to know the kids

well," she said.

"It's more personal. I en

joyed that aspect and watch

ing the kids grow."

Mrs Johns said there were

some things that she

wouldn't regret leaving be

hind but would miss the

"people side" of things.

"It's sad times but I've got

other things to look forward

to," she said.

Mr Haintz and Mrs Johns

were farewelled with a mass

and luncheon at St Michael's

Primary School.