School Newsletter Term 1, Week 8, 18th March 2021

Principals Letter

Dear St Augustine's families,

CANTEEN IS BACK - THURSDAY APRIL 1st !!!!!

With the slow increase of normality we are very excited to announce that the canteen will be returning with a COVID safe plan. On the last day of Term 1 we have a whole school Holy Week liturgy, draw our Easter raffle and have a symbolic fish and chip shared lunch. Eating fish on the Friday's in Lent is a tradition that many Catholics still follow. This year due to COVID restrictions around sharing food we cannot have our fish and chip shared lunch so canteen will begin on that day and all children will have the option of a lunch order and we will eat picnic style outside as a whole school. A canteen menu and details on how to order are included further in this newsletter. 
Canteen will then continue in Term 2 and be available every Friday from then on. 

Caritas is the International aid and development agency of the Australian Catholic Church. Caritas is driven by social justice and the dignity of every person. Caritas is the preferred Catholic agency that we support through our fundraising efforts during Lent. Across the 6 weeks of Lent, the children learn about families and communities from less fortunate countries and about poverty in our world. How we can 'be more' rather than have more. You can read about these stories of resilience and inspiration. https://lent.caritas.org.au/

The Catholic Identity Leadership group is selling raffle tickets for our Easter raffle and all funds raised will go directly to Caritas to then discern the best use of the money. Thank you to those families who have donated to the Easter raffle. This will be drawn after the Holy Week liturgy on the last day of the school term.

Working together for justice and dignity. Walking together in hope. Building together a thriving future for all. Walk with us towards a world of hope.

Many blessings,

Mrs Sonia Turner

Happy Birthday to...

Charlie – Year 3 

Elijah – Year 1  

Olivia – Year 3

Daniel – Year 4 

Reef – Foundation 

Millie – Year 4

Laker – Foundation 

Jai – Year 4 

Mac – Foundation   

STAR Students

At St Augustine's we are a SWPBIS school (School Wide Positive Behaviour in School) and we have a STAR culture. STAR stands for:

S  - stay safe

T  - take pride

A  - act justly

R  - respond positively

Just like children are explicitly taught academics, acceptable behaviour is also explicitly taught. STAR awards are given at Assembly each fortnight, exceptional STARs are sent a postcard which qualifies them to morning tea with the Principal at the end of the term.

STAR lessons are taught around a nominated behaviour blitz. Children are taught how to be a STAR in all places they go and what the acceptable behaviour looks like. Examples of a lessons: how to stay safe in class, in the library, the toilet, at the bus stop, on the playground or when walking to the swimming pool.

School Fees and Payment Information

Easter

Easter Raffle

The Catholic Identity Leadership Group are selling tickets for our Easter Raffle  every morning in front of the Library. Tickets are 50 cents each. We invite families to donate Easter goods which will be raffled off on the last day of term as part of our Holy Week celebrations. A basket for donations is located in the foyer.  All money raised will be donated to Caritas Project Compassion and is part of the tradition of almsgiving during Lent.

Canteen is back!

Canteen will reopen on Thursday the 1st of April 2021 for our end of term celebrations. All orders must be placed through CDFPay by 9.30am each Friday. No cash is accepted.  Please see link below and instructions for setup.

In Term 2 Canteen will continue on Fridays.

Uniform Shop

Summer uniform to be worn until the end of Term 1. Either Winter or Summer uniform to be worn at the beginning of Term 2. Winter uniform changeover date to be advised in Term 2.

Please make all uniform purchases through the CDFPay portal.

All orders will continue to be filled once a week and sent home with your child. If you have any uniform enquiries, please contact the school office.

Parish News

Please see link below for the latest Parish Bulletin.

PAM - Parent Access Module

We require families to complete and update their child/ren’s medical details and contact information through PAM as changes occur.  This information is mandatory and vital in the case of an emergency.   It is important that if you have any change to your contact numbers, including work place, mobile, home number, that these be updated through PAM.

To complete your child/rens medical profile including contact information, go to PAM, click on your child/rens name, go to 'Medical Profile' and click 'Edit Details'. Complete details then click in the box at the bottom of the page to confirm the details are correct and click ‘Update Details’.

If you have any questions or require your login details, please contact the school office.

COVID Guidlines

Student Illness & Absence

If your child is unwell please keep them at home.

This includes coughs, colds, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea and any other contagious illnesses.  

Coughs & Colds

Children can return to school once symptoms have eased and they are not actively coughing or blowing their nose.  

Vomitting & Diarrhea

Children can return to school 48 hours after the last episode.

We will send children home if they present with any of these symptoms whilst at school.

Notifying Absences

All absentee notifications should be recorded either through the Parent Access Module (PAM) or directly to the school office by phone or email to admin@samaryborough.catholic.edu.au prior to 9.30am on the day of the absence. Please do not send notes of absence through to classroom teachers on Class Dojo as they may be absent or unable to check messages prior to commencement of class. 

If a student is absent and we have not received any form of notification by 9.30am, a text message will be sent to parents asking them to call the office or send a reply text. 

Book Club

Issue 2 book club 

Parents are to order and pay online for your child’s Book Club order. Closing date for Issue 2 is today, Thursday 18th March.

Community Notices

Parking & Road Safety

Please observe road rules around our school for the safety of all of our children.

* Schools have 40km zone.

* Parking behind the church & tennis courts is STAFF ONLY parking.

* Please use the children's crossing on Burns, Kars St and Burke St.

* For safety purposes, please avoid letting your children exit or enter a car whilst on the road or stopped at the     crossings.

There are three minute parking bays in Burke Street outside the school entrance.  Your co-operation in only parking in this area for the specified time would be appreciated.  These parking bays are for quick pick up and drop off for students leaving early due to appointments and illness.

Likewise we also ask parents to respect the parking restriction on the disabled parking area. 

Thank you for your co-operation.

Bus Travel

Bus travel on the country buses is available for students at St Augustine’s School and arrangements are made through the bus co-ordinator at the Maryborough Education Centre on 5461 7900.  Parents of the student/s must organise the pass through MEC at least two days prior to travel. Students cannot travel on the country buses without a pass. The town bus does not require a pass but costs 50cents a trip, payable on the day of travel.  Please advise the office if your child will be travelling on any of the buses so we can update our bus rolls.

Calendar of Events