School Newsletter Term 4, Week 6, 11th November 2021

Principals Letter

Dear St Augustine's families,

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY FOR TEACHERS NEXT WEDNESDAY 17th NOVEMBER HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
CHILDREN WILL ATTEND SCHOOL AS NORMAL

Next Wednesday we were to attend a professional learning day, this has now been cancelled and school will operate as normal. All children will come to school.

Last week, the Year 2 children had their camp experience with  a sleepover at school. All the children were so well behaved and everyone had such a wonderful time. Thank you to the Year 2 teachers, Miss Pickthall and Mr Hawkins for helping out at the sleepover.

The Year 3/4 children also had a great day in Ballarat at Bounce and Ten Pin bowling. These excursions are single school only so it adds to the fun of the day when you are the only school in the whole place and get full use of venue. The Year 3/4 teachers also made comment on how well behaved the children were and were such a pleasure to take away for the day. 

Tonight and tomorrow night we are finally able to have the last two groups of Confirmation candidates complete this Sacrament. This has really been a drawn out event and I thank the children and families for their patience. I would also like to acknowledge and thank Miss Shanahan for her persistence in enabling this to happen for the children and constantly working to shifting COVID guidelines.  We pray for these children and families and wish them all a very special evening. 

Just a reminder that anyone visiting inside the school building must QR code and check in. This includes picking up and dropping off children. 

We wish Miss Bethany VanRossum and her 'husband to be', Jesse a very happy and special wedding day this weekend.

Our students observed Remembrance Day today with a prayer and a minutes silence. We give our thanks to the countless people who have made incredible sacrifices in service to our country.

Book Week - Monday 22nd Nov to Friday 26th Nov. The book parade will be held on Thursday 25th November. On this day children can come dressed as their favourite book character or in a costume of their choice. More details on the Book Fair below.

Year 6 Fair - Friday  26th November. This is a student only event. All children will need to bring a bag on the day for their goodies. We welcome donations for the fair as per the post below. More details will follow on Class Dojo in the leadup to the fair.

Foundation Transition Days - Monday 22nd November & Wednesday 1st Dec: 9.15am - 10.45am
(Children will need to bring a drink bottle, piece of fruit and a hat)
After drop off, parents are invited to the Parish Hall (entrance via Burns St) for an information session.

Whole School Transition Day - Tuesday 7th December: 9.15am - 1.15am
Foundation children will need to bring a drink bottle, a hat, a piece of fruit for fruit break and a small snack for play lunch. Children will then be home for lunch. No parent meeting on this day.

All other year levels will move into their 2022 classroom. 

Many blessings,

Mrs Sonia Turner

Principal

DONATIONS PLEASE!

On Friday the 26th November the Year 6 children will run a Fair for the rest of the school to enjoy. Outlined below is a list of items that we need donations of. These donations will be used as either prizes or goods to run the different stalls/activites that the Year 6's have organised. Your donations are greatly appreciated!

• Face paints
• Face painting stencils
• Packets of face wipes
• Cans coloured hairspray
• Lollies (ones without a packet) e.g. bag of Smarties.
• 2 big jars and 2 small jars.
• Silver Tinsel 
• Balloons
• Ribbons
• Lollies - individually wrapped
• Popcorn
• Ping pong balls
• Pool noodles
• bags of Freddo Frogs 
• Cotton balls
• Lemons 
• Bags of small chocolate bars 
• Bags of individually wrapped lollies/chocolates etc
• Paper cups (not plastic)
• Stamp pads
• Christmas stencils

Donations can be sent with your child to school or dropped into the school office. Many thanks in advance.

BOOK WEEK 22ND - 25TH November

BOOK CLUB

Issue 8 of Book Club is the final issue for the year.

Paper copies of the catalogue are not available from Scholastic for this issue but all the details are available on line. All parents orders need to be finalised on loop by Friday 3rd December and the link for the catalogue is listed below.  Late orders cannot be guaranteed for delivery by the end of the school year. 

Thank you to all the families who have supported the school with purchases from book club this year. Many children have been enriched by a variety of books both purchased and also adding to our vast catalogue of books in the library. 

Students with underlying conditions

Recent and most up to date information for children in schools:

Students with underlying conditions (such as hay fever or asthma)

If a student has persistent symptoms due to an underlying condition such as hay fever or asthma, the student should still be tested for COVID-19 if they develop symptoms that are different to or worse than their usual symptoms. Students whose symptoms are clearly typical for their underlying condition can continue to attend school.

Parents/carers should also consider getting a medical certificate from the child’s treating GP to confirm that it is safe for them to attend school with persistent symptoms that may overlap with some of the symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough or runny nose.

Young children with persistent mild symptoms

For younger children (in Prep to Year 2) who have had a negative COVID-19 test that was taken after they developed symptoms, the decision about return to school should be made in conjunction with the child’s treating GP. If the GP is satisfied the child has recovered from their acute illness, is otherwise well and does not need a repeat COVID-19 test, the child can return even if they are not completely free of symptoms. Any worsening of symptoms will require review and repeat COVID-19 testing, if considered appropriate by the doctor.

Students with a negative COVID-19 test whose symptoms have completely resolved do not need a medical certificate to return to school.

Happy Birthday to...

Angus B - Year 3      Charlie P - Year 3       Danika A - Year 5   

Alexah T - Year 3      

COVID Guidelines

Cyber Safety

Each fortnight we will post helpful eSafety Information for Students and Families here. 

eSafety Guide - Time Online. How much is too much?

Child Safety

St. Augustine's Primary School Maryborough demonstrates a strong commitment to the care, safety and wellbeing of all students at our school.

Each fortnight we will be sharing information around child safety and the obligations that we have as a school, staff and community.  All of our Child Safe policies and procedures are accessible on our website at samaryborough.catholic.edu.au.

Supervision of Students Information for Parents

ENROLMENT

If your family is not returning to St. Augustine's next year please advise us via email to admin@samaryborough.catholic.edu.au.

Likewise, if you have another child or know of someone who has a school age child for 2022 or beyond, please contact the school asap.

An 'Application for Enrolment' form, as per link below, needs to be completed and emailed to admin@samaryborough.catholic.edu.au.

Alternatively, forms are also available in the school office.

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.

Canteen

 Canteen will continue to run on Friday this term.  All volunteers to the school will need to have a Working With Childrens check and show evidence of full COVID Vaccination.

Lunch Box Ideas

Parish News

Please see link below for the latest Parish Bulletin & readings.

School Fees and Payment Information

As per school policy and enrolment agreements school fees are to be paid in full by the end of November 2021 or unless other arrangements have been made.

Fees can be paid via direct credit into the school bank account or at the school office.

St. Augustine's Primary School

BSB: 083-532        ACC: 754337515    

Reference: Your surname and/or account number

An appointment can be made with Sonia Turner if required by contacting the school office.

Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop is currently closed until further notice. Orders can continue to be placed through CDFPay and filled once a week.

There will no longer be a designated period for summer or winter uniform. Students can choose what they would like to wear in any season. The only exception is that sports uniform must be worn on designated sports days.

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.

Parking & Road Safety

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. 

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. Please do not double park. 

 Thank you for your co-operation.

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 & Diarrhoea

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. 

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, Benedict Stewart, 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.

IMPORTANT

All bus travel requires parents/guardians to complete a Public Transport Victoria (PTV) Application for Permission to Travel form prior to any bus travel. This form can be emailed direct to Stephen Broad at MEC, Benedict.Stewart@education.vic.gov.au. It is important that this form is completed as these details will be used in the event of an emergency.

Bushfire Season

As we head toward the summer months it is important that we plan and prepare for the possibility of bushfires. Follow the link below for helpful information on how to stay safe.

Advanced dates for your diary

Thursday 16th December - Last Day of Term 4 for Students, 3.15pm finish

2022  Dates - Term 1 

Friday Jan 28th – Staff Day. STUDENTS DO NOT COME TO SCHOOL.

Mon Jan 31st - School Closure Day – Staff PD, Visible Learning. STUDENTS DO NOT COME TO SCHOOL.

Tuesday Feb 1st - Classes commence for all students 

Wednesday Feb 2nd - Foundation rest day

Wednesday Feb 9th - Foundation rest day

Wednesday Feb 16th - Foundation rest day

Wednesday Feb 23rd - Foundation rest day

Wednesday March 2nd - Foundation rest day

Wednesday March 9th - Foundation rest day

Monday  March 14th - Labour Day Public Holiday. STUDENTS DO NOT COME TO SCHOOL.

WEDNESDAY 16^TH MARCH - NO REST DAY DUE TO THE HOLIDAY FOR LABOUR DAY. All students attend school.

Wednesday March 23rd - Foundation rest day

Wednesday March 30th - Foundation rest day

Wednesday April 6th - Foundation rest day

Friday 8^th April – Last day of Term 1, 2.30pm finish

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