School Newsletter Term 2, Week 4, 20th May 2022

Principals Letter

Dear St. Augustine’s Families,

I hope all our mums and special people in our lives had an enjoyable and relaxing Mothers Day. This year the Mother's Day stall raised $2500! A big thank you to all those that organised, helped out, donated and purchased!

With the increasing number of winter colds and COVID positive cases, unwell children must stay home. We are wanting to stop the spread of any germs. Please notify us if your child is COVID positive and the date they received a COVID positive result. This can be phoned in, emailed to admin@samaryborough.catholic.edu.au or a Class Dojo sent to Amber in the office. Children who are close contacts can attend school as long as we have been notified that they are a close contact, they have no symptoms, wear a face mask indoors (mandatory for children 8 years old and over) and test 5 out of the 7 days since their contact with the COVID positive case and return negative results. 

All messages for students regarding drop off/pickup or absent days will need to be relayed to the office. Class teachers will often not see dojo messages during school times so please ring the office for messages during the school day.

I have sent out a link on Class Dojo earlier this week to gauge interest from St Augustine's families for children to access before and after school care at MEC. We are currently organising a bus to transport St Augustines' children to and from MEC. If this is something that your family would benefit from, please complete the survey through the link below.

Friday's school closure day afforded staff to attend day 2 of the ReLATE (Reframing Learning and Teaching Environments) professional development module. ReLATE promotes transformational relationships, not only for students, but equally for school leaders, teachers, and other staff who provide education and support services to children, young people and families. Over these two days staff looked at safety in all forms (physical, cultural, emotional, psychological, social, moral & ethical) and how to continue to ensure the culture of our school supports inclusion, improved well-being and enhanced teaching and learning. 

Well done to the children in Year 3 and 5 who completed their NAPLAN assessments recently. NAPLAN is designed to assess literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through their regular school curriculum. Students sit assessments in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. Questions assess content linked to the Australian Curriculum: English and Mathematics. A NAPLAN individual student report will be sent home later in the year.  Please be mindful to keep these results as secondary school applications often require a copy of both the year 3 and 5 NAPLAN results.

Our school gym will be open this Saturday 21st May as a voting centre.  Please note the remainder of the school will be closed. Children will not be able to play on the playground, turf area or access other areas of the school. Don't forget to vote!

Wishing all a lovely weekend.

Many blessings,

Mrs Sonia Turner

Principal

Baby News

Congratulations to the Raats family on the safe arrival of little Huxley Fox.  Little brother for Tia & Jalen.

Wishing your family a lifetime of happiness and love. May your greatest times be spent together. 

Happy Birthday to...

Ella M- Year 4       Sophie W - Year 2          Amelia T - Year 1

Shakira W- Year 3        James B -  Year 1      Blade W- Year 5      

Christopher C - Foundation            

Energy Breakthrough Cadbury Fundraiser

Yellow permission forms were sent home this week with all students for our Cadbury EBT Fundraiser. This is an opt in initiative with no pressure on families to participate. If you would like your child to bring a box home, please complete the form and send back or contact the school office.

Each box contains 60 chocolates, Giant Freddo & Giant Caramello Koalas, at the price of $1. Every box sold raises $21 for our EBT program.

Payment is preferred via CDFPay but cash in the envelope provided will also be accepted.

Term 2 RAT Testing

OPEN DAYS

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.

PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE

If you call the office and the phone is unattended or busy, please leave a message. Messages are checked regularly throughout the day. Often there is only one person in the office and they may be busy on another call or with a student or parent.  Alternatively you can email a message through to admin@samaryborough.catholic.edu.au or send a class dojo through to Ms O'Kearney.  Please try and avoid last minute end of day changes for students. We understand that things do come up and if a change needs to be urgently relayed to your child/ren, please call and speak with the office so we can make sure they get the message immediately.  

BOOK CLUB

Issue 4 catalogues coming out shortly. Currently available online to view and order. 

PAM - Parent Access Module

IMPORTANT

PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR PAM ACCOUNT AND CONFIRM/COMPLETE YOUR CHILDS MEDICAL PROFILE ASAP

We require ALL families to complete and update their child/ren’s medical details and contact information for 2022 through PAM and throughout the year 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 and to advise the school office.

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.

Bell times

5 minutes prior to classes commencing there is music played. This signals to the children it is time to start moving to class. This is the time children need to have a drink, go to the toilet etc. so they are lined up and ready to start class when the bell goes. 

8:30am - Yard Care Supervision begins

8:40am  -  Classroom teacher in classroom - meet & greet

8:55pm - School classes begin

9am-11am - 2 hour learning session

11am-11:40am -  First break

11:40am-1:40pm - 2 hour learning session

1:40pm-2:20pm - Second break

2:20pm-3:15pm - 55 minute learning session

3:10pm - Fiscalini & Flanagan dismissal

3:15pm - Arundell & Scanlan, Bus students dismissal

Canteen

All orders must be placed through CDFPay prior to 9.00am Fridays. Please make sure you complete your order and get to the green screen where your receipt is displayed. We have had a number of children saying they should have a lunch order and don't.

Please contact the office if you are having any issues with your CDFPay account. 

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.

Parking behind the church & tennis courts is STAFF ONLY parking. Please do not use these areas to park or pickup your children. Vehicle movement in and out of these areas means you are driving over footpaths/walkways which both our students and Highview students are using. This creates a potential safety hazard.

Follow road safety regulations, keep driveways clear, check carefully before reversing and avoid letting your children exit or enter a car whilst on the road or stopped at the crossings. Please do not double park. We all want to keep our families safe so your co-operation is appreciated.

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.

COVID Guidelines

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.

Cyber Safety

Each fortnight we will post helpful eSafety information for students and families here. 

eSafety - Be Secure

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

School Fees and Payment Information

REMINDER: Camp Fees to be paid prior to camp.

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

Camps Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) 

Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. $125 per year is paid for eligible primary school students, with $225 per year paid for eligible secondary school students. Payments are made directly to the school and are tied to the student. Eligibility: Families holding an eligible Centrelink Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Veterans Affairs Gold Card on the first day of Term 1 or first day of Term 2 or be a temporary foster parent will be eligible to apply.

The CSEF will be credited to your fee account once government funds have been received by the end of term 2.

Family Fee Assistance Scheme 

In all Ballarat Diocesan Catholic Primary Schools, tuition fee discounts are available to families eligible for a means tested Centrelink or Veteran Affairs concession card. The scheme offers tuition fee discounts to both Catholic and non-Catholic families, to new and current students. If you are eligible for the above concession card and require further information regarding this scheme, please contact the school office for more information.

Family Fee assistance forms will  automatically be sent to eligible families who have received CSEF. Family Fee Assistance for 2022 is $600.

2022 school fee structure as per below.

Conveyance Allowance

The conveyance allowance is a form of financial assistance to help families in rural and regional Victoria with the cost of transporting their children to their nearest appropriate school/campus.  The conveyance allowance is available to eligible students travelling by public transport, private car and private bus.  The conveyance allowance is also available to eligible students whose nearest school is not serviced by a free school bus.

Students attending a non-government school must:

• attend their nearest non-government school/campus appropriate to their year level at which admission is permissible
• reside 4.8km or more by the shortest practicable route from that school/campus attended
• be of school age (5 to 18 years old at time of application) and reside in Victoria

For further information, please go to the link below.

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 Ben Stewart 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.

Uniform Shop

The uniform shop will continue to fill CDFPay online orders once a week and send them home with your child/ren. 

Note: As per 2021 announcement, there is no longer 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 and bucket hats are to be worn in Term 1 and 4.

Dont forget to grab a beanie as part of our EBT fundraising!

Beanies are available through CDFPay and in the school office for $20.

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. 

Lunch Box Ideas

Parish News

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

Advanced dates for your diary

Term 2, 2022

Tuesday 31st May - Open Day 9.15am -11.00am

Thursday 2nd June - Open Day 9.15am - 11.00am

Monday 13th June - Queens Birthday Public Holiday (students do not come to school on this day)

Term 3, 2022

Thursday 21st July - SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY, Staff PD Day-Visible Learning

Community Notices