School Newsletter Term 4, Week 4, 28th October 2022

Principals Letter

Dear St Augustine's families,

We have had a really busy fortnight here at school.

Sleepover- The Year 2 children had their camp experience of sleeping over at school in readiness to go away next year to Creswick for two nights. The children were very well behaved and had such a great time. Thank you to Miss Carey and Mrs Hooper for organising the experience and Mr Berry for sleeping over. The children were very tired from such an action packed time and I'm sure were all in bed very early on the Friday night.......I know the teachers were!! 

Science Dome - We had the Science Discovery Dome visit our school. The aim of this incursion was to provide students with a fun, immersive and educational experience.  All year levels were able to view the wonders of the night sky within the huge portable dome with 360 degree digital projections.  Children learnt a lot about what we can find up in our sky. 

Skateboarding -Mr Tanis organised a skateboarding incursion for the Year 2-6 students.  All children were able to have a go and practice some skateboarding moves. Mitch the instructor  is a very experienced skateboarder and has currently gone 'Pro' and is receiving sponsorship. All equipment was supplied. Children learnt how to do an 'Ollie' and a kick turn as well as ride and balance on a skate board. It was great to see all children participating and having a go.  I'm sure there will be lots of requests for skateboards on Christmas lists!

Grandparents Day - Foundation and Year 1 students invited Grandparents to school to celebrate Grandparents Day and thank these special people for all they do. Thank you to all who were able to come along and thank you to the Foundation /1 teachers for providing this opportunity.

5/6's EBT & wellbeing excursion - The 5/6's are in full swing with their EBT training and preparations of presentations. The children are preparing for the November event with training sessions during school and after school. Practicing steering, agility, endurance and how to work as a team. The 5/6's also went on their wellbeing excursion to Ballarat Thursday where they enjoyed mini golf, badminton and  some time at Victoria Park. A great opportunity to have some fun and spend time with their friends, teachers and the whole 5/6 cohort.

Melbourne Cup Holiday - Next Tuesday 1st November is the Melbourne Cup public holiday so there will be no school that day. 

First Eucharist - We continue to pray for the students who are preparing for First Eucharist. Eucharist is the sacrament that completes the process of initiation and is when one can fully participate in the Eucharist by receiving Holy Communion.

Christ be with me. Christ be beside me. Christ be before me. Christ be behind me. Christ at my right hand. Christ at my left hand. Christ be with me everywhere I go. Christ be my friend, for ever and ever. Amen 

Many Blessings,

Sonia Turner

Principal 

My New Gallery

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Bella C - Year 1       Thomas J - Year 6       Cody J - Year 5     Lila R - Year 2    

Social Play

Enjoying social play (when it’s not raining) during playtime. Some lovely messages from our students!

My New Gallery

**UPDATED** COVID Guidelines

Changes to Pandemic Orders

The Victorian Government has announced the end of the pandemic declaration and associated pandemic orders. New settings apply from 11.59 pm on Wednesday 12 October 2022. 

Changes to COVID-19 isolation requirements.

It is strongly recommended that students: 

• Who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for five days.
• Should not attend school after five days if still symptomatic.
• Who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school.

Where students become symptomatic at school, they should: 

• Be collected by their parents/carers.
• Undergo testing for COVID-19. 

COVID-19 reporting requirements.

The Department of Health recommends that a person who tests positive for COVID-19 should inform those with whom they have recently been in contact, including their workplace, school and household. 

Face masks.

Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask will be supported to do so.  Face masks are available for staff, students and visitors. 

The Department of Health recommends that masks should be worn by a person who is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 when leaving home. 

Additionally, the department recommends that masks should be worn by a person who has COVID-19 for 10 days after a positive test when they need to leave home. 

Further information to follow on Class Dojo.

Energy Break through Sponsorship

This years Energy Breakthrough Sponsorship 

At St. Augustine’s School we focus on the attainment and honing of leadership skills. Students are encouraged with support, to take control of their own skill acquisition and development. One of the ways we help our students’ facilitate this is through our participation in the Energy Breakthrough Program, which this year takes place 16th -20th November, in our school’s home town of Maryborough. This is our town’s biggest annual event and here at St. Augustine’s, we throw our full support behind this amazing opportunity for our students and our town.

The Energy Breakthrough website is worth a look to find out more about this remarkable program.
The Energy Breakthrough provides opportunities for students, teachers, parents and local industries to work together to design and construct a vehicle that represents an ‘Energy Breakthrough’. Students then compete in a series of races. This event aims to provide an opportunity for females to participate in what has traditionally been ‘male’ dominated areas of the curriculum. The EB program promotes leadership and encourages participants to examine
and use the latest technology while considering its impact on the environment.

In 2022, St. Augustine’s School will be in its twenty-ninth year of participation. This year we have entered two Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) teams, two Try-Athlon teams and four Pushcart teams. Our school is unique with our Energy Breakthrough Program in that every Year 5/6 student participates in the event, not just ‘the fastest’ or ‘the fittest’.

We are once again looking for significant community support from local businesses and families as we look to build our Energy Breakthrough Program. Through your very generous support, we will be able to offer our students a program to gain the full benefit of their hard work and dedication.

If you would like to be part of this exciting EBT program we would welcome your contribution. Attached are our sponsorship options, for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Emma Ryan
Sports Coordinator
St. Augustine’s Primary School
e: eryan@samaryborough.catholic.edu.au 
ph: 03 5460 4440

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.  

PAM - Parent Access Module

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.

Canteen

All orders must be placed through CDFPay prior to 9.00am Fridays.   Please ensure you complete all orders on CDFPay and proceed through payment screen to the green receipt screen.

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

Canteen will be closed Friday 18th November due to EBT

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

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.

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.

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. 

Supervision of Students Information for Parents

School Fees and Payment Information

REMINDER: All fees to be paid prior to the end of November 2022 

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

2022 school fee structure as per 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

Term 4 - Bucket Hats are compulsory when outdoors at school.

Bucket Hats are available for purchase through CDFPay or cash purchases from the school office in Term 4 for $10 each.

The uniform shop will continue to fill CDFPay online orders once a week and send them home with your child/ren. Please understand that there may be times that orders are not filled within the week and will be filled the following week.

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.

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 4, 2022

Melbourne Cup Public Holiday - Tuesday 1st November. No students come to school on this day.

Last day of Term 4 - Friday 16th December, 3.15pm finish

Community Notices