School Newsletter Term 1, Week 5, 24th February 2023

Principals Letter

Dear St Augustine's families,

Meet and greets - Thank you to all families who were able to meet with your child's classroom teacher last week. These are invaluable meetings to gain an insight into things, that we as educators need to be aware of about your child to assist in their learning. I will reiterate that if you need to meet with your child's teacher please do not hesistate to make and appointment at a convenient time for both parties. Your child's educational journey is one that requires a partnership between home and school for the best outcomes to be reached.  

Lent and Easter - This week as Christians we have observed Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday signifying the beginning of Lent.  Lent is a period of 40 days during which Christians remember the events leading up to and including the death of Jesus Christ, whose life and teachings are the foundation of Christianity. The 40-day period is called Lent after an old English word meaning 'lengthen'. We observe the practice of fasting, serving others and almsgiving. The children all made a promise to think about others and do something for someone else. These promises were burnt on Tuesday with palm leaves from Palm Sunday last year. These will now be the ashes that will be used to bless the children with on Thursday night.

Lent is not only, or even mostly, about giving up things. It invites many other kinds of giving. Like Ramadan for Muslims, Lent is also a time for simple giving. It encourages us to give food to the poor through Project Compassion. It invites us to provide more time for our family than we usually do and to give space to prayer. It also allows us to notice the world around us and to respond to it. We notice homeless people in the streets, the colour and texture of gardens, and the feelings there to see on faces in the street.

Beginning of the Year Mass - Tonight, we celebrate the beginning of our school year together with a Mass. It will be great to see as many families attending tonight Children are to wear their uniform to this Mass. We will be presenting our School Captains and House Leaders with their respective leadership badges and the Year 6 buddies will welcome our Foundation children to our school family by leading them into Mass.

Let us pray

Creator God, Help us to
Fast from judging others;
Feast on God’s image dwelling in them.
Fast from fear of illness;
Feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that hurt;
Feast on speech that purifies.
Fast from discontent;
Feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger;
Feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism;
Feast on hope.
Fast from negatives;
Feast on encouragement.
Fast from bitterness;
Feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern;
Feast on compassion.
Fast from suspicion;
Feast on truth.
Fast from gossip;
Feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm;
Feast on prayer that sustains.
Fast from anxiety;
Feast on faith.
We ask this through Jesus our brother

Amen.  

Many Blessings,

Mrs Sonia Turner

Principal

Happy Birthday to...

Riley H- Foundation        Isla L- Year 6      Isla C - Year 4

Mia P  - Year 5      George W  - Foundation    Sarah C - Year 6      Hugo R - Year 3   

  Charles B - Year 1      Ayla R - Foundation      Leonard Y - Year 2       Oliver R - Year 6     

  Connor  B - Year 5      Tia R- Year 2     Chad C - Year 6     

Bastian F - Foundation     Otto M - Year 1     

2023 School Fees & Levies

REMINDER - Resource Fees are now overdue and need to be paid ASAP (if not done so already). Payment can be made via EFTPOS or cash at the school office, credit card over the phone or direct deposit to our account. 

For approved Concession Card holders the CSEF discount will be applied by the end of term 2. 

What's happening in our classrooms, Term 3

Social Play

Welcome to Senior Social Time

This year we have introduced an exciting new opportunity for our students in years 3 to 6.

1st Break each day our courtyard will become a social space for students to form positive relationships, encourage conversation, play games, do craft and develop their social and emotional skills.

Students so far have enjoyed making friendship bracelets, gods eyes, playing cluedo, chess, guess who and successfully putting together a  jigsaw.  Stay tuned for what they get up to next.

Junior Social Play (Foundation to grade 2)

We are continuing our Junior Social Play again this year. There will be a rotation of mat activities set up each first break on our tar area. All these activities are selected to encourage the juniors to share, interact with each other, have conversations, and develop basic social skills. They include construction, pretend play, trains, chalk drawing, and crafts.

My New Gallery

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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.

Cyber Safety

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

COVID Guidelines

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. 

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 Medical Information

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

All orders are to be placed through CDFPay Orders will continue to be filled once a week and sent home with your child(ren). 

We are still experiencing delays with our suppliers. If you have items on backorder these will be filled and sent home as soon as we can. 

If you have any queries or items to be exchanged, please come to the school office. 

Bucket hats will be available for sale from the school office but we are currently waiting on stock to arrive.

Note: 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

PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR PAM ACCOUNT AND CONFIRM/COMPLETE YOUR CHILDS MEDICAL PROFILE. THIS INFORMATION IS MANDATORY FOR ALL STUDENTS. 

We require ALL families to complete and update their child/ren’s medical details and contact information for 2023 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. 

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, Heather Jennings, 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 Heather Jennings at MEC, Heather.Jennings@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.

Lunch box ideas

Advanced dates for your diary

School Closure Days

Tuesday 14th March - Staff PD

Monday 24th April - Staff PD

Monday 9th October - Staff PD

Please see the link to the school calendar below for all other important dates.

Community Notices