St Michael's Lutheran School

St Michael's Lutheran Primary School ‘Providing students with a dynamic and innovative learning environment of wonder, challenge, exploration and discovery in a Christ Centred, inclusive school community.’ St Michael's is a community who believes in every student's capacity to learn. We value diversity and support students to meet their potential. Students are encouraged to wonder, explore and discover in an environment where challenge is a vital part of learning.

Set in historic Hahndorf, St Michael's superb facilities provide space for children to learn and play. With a strong emphasis on wellbeing, St Michael's students work together in flexible and natural learning spaces, to meet their potential. First established in 1839, St Michael’s is the oldest continuing Lutheran school in Australia. The German settlers, upon starting a new life in Hahndorf, founded the school so that their children would be taught the Lutheran faith and German heritage.

The school was closed by an Act of Parliament in 1917 at the height of the First World War and remained closed until its reopening in 1946. During the sixty years since its re-opening at the present site, several major building programs and refurbishments have been undertaken to ensure that the school community has the best educational facilities possible. Today, St Michael’s is a school for all residents of the Adelaide Hills community. Over the decades, St Michael’s has retained its core value of teaching the Christian faith. We pride ourselves on providing Christ-centred, quality education to our students.

We believe that God created each person with unique talents and we strive to provide opportunities for all students to reach their full potential. With spacious grounds, modern facilities and passionate staff, St Michael's is a beautiful mix of old and new. As the oldest Lutheran school in Australia, we appreciate our heritage and deep connection to our local community. However, we understand that the world is constantly changing and that our students need to be curious, creative thinkers who approach the future equipped with skills which enable them to be fully prepared for whatever lies ahead.

At St Michael's we embrace childhood; understanding that this is a precious and short period of life and we value play, nature and our environment. We nurture community and family, understanding that the better the support networks around a child, the more likely they will thrive. We educate the whole child, promoting and actively teaching students how to remain balanced and resilient through the ups and downs of life.