Keep St Michael's Mittagong open and preserve its legacy
The issue
I have a deep connection to St Michael’s Mittagong, having been a student myself and now sending my own children there. It’s not just a school; it’s a 120-year-old institution that has been a cornerstone of our community for generations. The decision to close St Michael’s and merge it with St Thomas Aquinas in Bowral is more than just a logistical change; it's a disruption to our kids’ education and our community’s heritage.
Many of St Michael’s 190 students live in Mittagong or north of Mittagong. Closing the school means uprooting these children’s daily routines and forcing them to travel further, potentially leading to longer commutes and increased fatigue. This change will also impose significant logistical and financial strains on families, not to mention the environmental impact of more vehicles on the road.
Moreover, the closure will put immense pressure on already overburdened public schools in the Mittagong area. Not all families will be able to make the move to Bowral, and our local schools are not equipped to absorb this influx of students without their resources being stretched thin.
St Michael’s is not just another school; it’s a small, one-stream, country school that offers a unique educational environment different from larger schools. It’s known for its close-knit community, where students receive more personalized attention and form lifelong friendships. This environment fosters not only academic success but also personal growth, something that is hard to replicate in larger settings.
We understand that change is sometimes necessary, but there are alternative solutions that do not diminish our community’s legacy. We propose that the local parish reconsider this decision and explore other avenues to maintain St Michael’s, such as infrastructure improvements or resource sharing initiatives.
We urge the parish and the catholic education office authorities to recognize the value St Michael’s brings to Mittagong and to preserve an institution that has been a proud part of our heritage for over a century. Let us work together to find a viable solution that upholds our community’s spirit and ensures our children can continue to thrive in a nurturing environment.
Please sign this petition to keep St Michael’s Mittagong open and preserve its legacy for future generations.
657
The issue
I have a deep connection to St Michael’s Mittagong, having been a student myself and now sending my own children there. It’s not just a school; it’s a 120-year-old institution that has been a cornerstone of our community for generations. The decision to close St Michael’s and merge it with St Thomas Aquinas in Bowral is more than just a logistical change; it's a disruption to our kids’ education and our community’s heritage.
Many of St Michael’s 190 students live in Mittagong or north of Mittagong. Closing the school means uprooting these children’s daily routines and forcing them to travel further, potentially leading to longer commutes and increased fatigue. This change will also impose significant logistical and financial strains on families, not to mention the environmental impact of more vehicles on the road.
Moreover, the closure will put immense pressure on already overburdened public schools in the Mittagong area. Not all families will be able to make the move to Bowral, and our local schools are not equipped to absorb this influx of students without their resources being stretched thin.
St Michael’s is not just another school; it’s a small, one-stream, country school that offers a unique educational environment different from larger schools. It’s known for its close-knit community, where students receive more personalized attention and form lifelong friendships. This environment fosters not only academic success but also personal growth, something that is hard to replicate in larger settings.
We understand that change is sometimes necessary, but there are alternative solutions that do not diminish our community’s legacy. We propose that the local parish reconsider this decision and explore other avenues to maintain St Michael’s, such as infrastructure improvements or resource sharing initiatives.
We urge the parish and the catholic education office authorities to recognize the value St Michael’s brings to Mittagong and to preserve an institution that has been a proud part of our heritage for over a century. Let us work together to find a viable solution that upholds our community’s spirit and ensures our children can continue to thrive in a nurturing environment.
Please sign this petition to keep St Michael’s Mittagong open and preserve its legacy for future generations.
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Petition created on 29 October 2026