School Newsletter Term 4, Week 10, 9th December 2022

Principals Letter

Dear St Augustine's families,

It was just so wonderful to see so many families join together at Mass and Graduation on Wednesday night to give thanks and celebrate the end of our school year and farewell our Year 6 students and leaving families.

I would like to congratulate each of our Year 6 students on their achievements across their Primary School years, they have truly grown into admirable young adults.

As a staff we have had the opportunity to witness this growth over the years and had the privilege of sharing in many experiences together.

I would like to share with you the School Captains reflection of their time at St Augustines and congratulate them on representing our school this year (as per below). 

Thank you to all those families who donated to our Fair Fun Day today. The children were so excited and had the most lovely time in; organising stalls, setting up and running stalls and then just enjoying going around and experiencing the range of activities. The school was buzzing with excitement today! 

Our Foundation/1 children coloured and decorated baubles for Tidyman Automotive's Christmas window display along with other schools in the area. The display looks great so make sure you check it out next time you drive by. 

'I’d like to thank all the boys and girls who coloured in some beautiful decorations to add to our Christmas display. The window looks amazing with all your colourful baubles and also some fairy lights to add to it at night time.' - Claire Milne

 ADVENT: WEEK 2 Candle of Peace

The theme for the second week of Advent is peace. Too often our understanding of the word “peace” is limited to worldly peace – the absence of war. But the word peace – as proclaimed by the angels to the shepherds at the birth of Jesus – has a much more spiritual significance.

'The peace of God allows us to look at others through heaven’s eyes and help guide the world to see God’s here and not-yet here kingdom. Peace from God, biblical peace, allows us to trust in God’s promises (Proverbs 3:5), through restful, tranquil faith, despite the dark, scary world around us.' 

Many Blessings,

Sonia Turner

Principal 

2022 Year 6 Graduation

Wednesday night we saw our 2022 Year 6 graduates celebrated at our End of Year & Graduation Mass. We were treated to a slide show with each students Prep & Year 6 photo, along with their career aspirations and a dance the students had prepared to the song 'Dynamite' by Taio Cruz.  Scholarships were also presented to the following students which we congratulate for their outstanding efforts!

Freemasons scholarship -  Georgina B

Trish Crameri Scholarship - Felicity C

Patricia Walsh Memorial Scholarship - Danika A

Gary Bench Memorial Scholarship - Harry M

Brigidine Sisters Barbara May Scholarship - Rylee H

Maryborough Education Centre Scholarship - Leila L

Hazel Hancock Parish Scholarship - Connor O

Hickey Family Memorial Scholarship - Ruby M

CARE Group Scholarship - Elijah T

St. Augustine's Parents & Friends scholarships - Mia S, Louella R & Amelia R

St. Augustine's Staff scholarships -Georgie A & Jayden H

We wish all our Year 6 graduates an amazing end to their primary school life and every success for their secondary chapter and beyond.

My New Gallery

Staff STAR

The attached is taken from the our Catholic Education Ballarat Weekly Newsletter featuring some of the amazing things being done at school by our Indonesian teacher, Robyn Typuszak. Awesome and well deserved recognition. Congratulations Robyn, and thank you for everything you do here. We are so lucky to have you!

Energy Break through Presentations

On Monday we held a special EBT assembly to acknowledge the dedication, teamwork and effort that everyone involved had contributed. We again thank all our volunteers, sponsors and staff who helped make this years EBT a huge success and to our students who showed us all how it's done!   Congratulations to all on another  terrific year of EBT!  

My New Gallery

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 11

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Happy Birthday to...

Oscar B- Year 4        Harry M- Year 6      Everly N- Year 1 

Angus B - Year 4      Brock L  - Year 5     Izayah M - Year 4     Ivy P - Year 1

Isabelle J - Year 3      Darcey W - Year 6      Molly A - Year 4      Archer C - Year       

Oliver C - Year 3       Brody H - Year 4      Jed C - Year 6      Emerald - Year 3

Vivian T - Foundation      Harley Ma - Year 1       

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

2023 RESOURCE FEES DUE EARLY TERM 1

School fees are billed at the beginning of Term 1 and it is an expectation that all Resource Fees are paid early Term 1.  The Resource Fee includes student book and stationary supplies, digital licences (such as Reading Eggs, Mathletics, Lexile etc) and device repayments (Year 3-6) for the year. Following is the scheduled Resource Fees for 2023;

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

Cyber Safety

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

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.

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.

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. 

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

Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop is now closed for 2022. Orders can still be placed over the holidays and will be filled and ready for pickup Monday 30th January 2023. Any orders not collected will be sent home with your child when they return to school. 

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.

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

Semester 2, 2022 student reports will be released to PAM Friday 16th December. Please ensure you download or view your child(ren)'s reports through December as there will be scheduled maintenance of PAM in January and you may experience access issues.

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

The last day for canteen will be Friday 16th December.

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. 

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.

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.

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

Parish News

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

Christmas Goodies

Advanced dates for your diary

Term 4, 2022

Whole School Transition Day Tuesday 13th December

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

Term 1, 2023

Students first day - Tuesday 31st January 2022

Community Notices