School Newsletter Term 2, Week 4, 19th May 2023

Principals Letter

Dear St Augustine's families,

Mothers Day - I hope all of our Mums and special people enjoyed Mother's Day on Sunday.  A HUGE thanks again to Bianca Anderson for organising our Mother's Day stall and to all the volunteers for their help on the day.  It was lovely to see so many of our families at the Mother's Day liturgy and then enjoying a morning tea with their children.. 

Come & Try Night was hosted by our Year F/1 teachers on Monday 8th May and we had an overwhelming response with lots of potential 2024 Foundation children and their families attending. The F/1's had organised activities giving the children a taste of what Foundation may be like. This was an introduction to our Open Days. All these experiences help to familiarise the kinder students on what our school is like and also allows our Year 6 leadership students to speak on behalf of our school as they guide families on the tour.

Pizza day - On Wednesday, 3rd May we had our first pizza day organised by the Parents and Friends community. Thank you to Clair W for co-ordinating this opportunity and to Louise G for supplying the pizzas and to Rachael M, Stacey L and Rachael H, for assisting to sort into classroom orders. Thank you also to the student leadership group who delivered pizzas to classrooms. Stay tuned for the next Parents and Friends meeting to discuss future opportunities and events. 

Tar artwork - You may have noticed the artwork on the tar area that was completed in the holidays. This artwork was funded by the money raised by the parents and friends community over the last few years (COVID interrupted this fundraising). A big thank you to both the parents and friends committees and to all families who supported fund raising efforts over the last few years. 

Break time clubs - Some children do find it hard to know what to do at break times and can become bored so we have set up and provided a range of optional opportunities for all children to engage in.

Miss Mackenzie Gould has begun a gardening group and with the support of Bunnings who have donated herbs and vegetables our vegetable gardens are again, up and growing. Gardening club will be held on a Thursday second break time and the children will be responsible for these gardens. 

Bu Typuszak opens up the Indonesian room for Indo club where the children can play some Indonesian games and activities.

Mr Tim Hawkins opens up the library for coding club and children are encouraged to use ipads and chromebooks for coding.

Miss Emma Ryan runs a fitness club on a Friday.

Nicole and Janette (LSO) organise different play options such as cars, animals, painting, building and construction for junior social play. This has proven so successful that they now have set up senior social play. Senior activities include chess, board games, numerous craft activities and card making. Janette and Nicole were responsible for creating the beautiful Mothers Day mural (photo  

I thank all of these staff members for giving their time to provide these opportunities for the children. 

Instagram - you can now find our school on Instagram! Miss Gould is posting what's happening around our school so check it out @staugustinesm.

Catholic Education Week - “The 'Speak with Grace' theme aims to encourage students and school communities to use their words to build up others, to speak out against injustice, and to spread love and hope in the world. “

Next week we celebrate Catholic Education week. On Monday the children will be immersed in a Harmonica Incursion where each child will receive their own harmonica and can show you what they have learnt at home later on that evening.

On Tuesday and Wednesday morning we welcome our community into our school to have a look inside the classrooms and for future enrolments.

On Friday, the children will have a footy Colours Day and get to wear footy colours (no donation required, just for fun) and then we will celebrate together in a liturgy and have a shared lunchtime together as a school community.  

Loving God,

In this Catholic Education Week,

when we celebrate Catholic schools in the Ballarat Diocese,

we thank you for the teachers, students, families and administrators

who together create school communities of faith, hope and love.

We ask you to bless our schools

as they continue the mission of Catholic education.

May they always be places where young people

are formed and inspired by the light of Christ

and share the joy of the Gospel with all the world.

We ask this prayer through your son and our Teacher, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Many Blessings,

Mrs Sonia Turner

Principal

The Environment and Sustainability Group

The Environment and Sustainability Group have been hard at work. This term we have planted some new King's Park Special bottlebrush plants in the garden. We also made a slide show for the other grades to help them learn how important it is for the plants to be cared for. This means watering them and not running through the garden because this makes the soil too hard and the plant's roots can't grow well. We have also planted some vegetable seedlings. We planted ones that like to grow in the colder weather, this included pak choy, silverbeet and lettuce. We're looking forward to picking and eating them when they are ready.

Bunnings Visit

On Wednesday we were so lucky to have Shell from Bunnings Bendigo come to our school. Shell donated resources and equipment to help get our veggie garden up and running. Two students from each grade helped with the planting. We now have a herb patch and veggie patch. 
Miss Gould will be running a gardening club first break on Thursdays to continue the development of our veggie garden, along with the help of Mrs Upton Environment and Sustainability leadership group. 

My New Gallery

Happy Birthday to...

Ella M- Year 5        Sophia W - Year 3      Amelia T - Year 2

Shakira W - Year 4      James B  - Year 2    Holly C - Foundation     

Blade W - Year 6        

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.

Book Club Edition 4

 Orders for Edition 4 Bookclub are due in by Tuesday 6th June 2023.

Orders for Edition 3 are on their way.

All orders are to be placed online through LOOP.
Instructions below.

2023 School Fees & Levies

REMINDER - Resource Fees are now overdue and need to be paid ASAP. 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. 

EBT Cadbury Fundraiser

A reminder to please make payment ASAP for chocolate boxes preferably through CDFPay or cash can be brought to the school office in the envelopes provided.  Chocolates are 50 cents each, $60 per box.

School Approved Scrunchies

School approved Scrunchies are for sale in the school foyer for $5 each.

$1 from each scrunchie sold goes to our Energy Breakthrough Program.

We now also have coloured scrunchies for sale. These are 'not ok to be worn on a school day'. $1 from each scrunchie sold goes to our EBT program.

Lots of different patterns and colours available so come check them out!

Cyber Safety

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

Lunch box ideas

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. 

Beanie weather is upon us. Beanies are available from the front office and the uniform shop for $20.

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

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

New items on the canteen menu for Term 2!

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.

Advanced dates for your diary

School Closure Days

Monday 9th October - Staff PD, SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY

Friday 24th June - Last day of term 2, 2.30pm finish time

Term 2 School Holidays 25th June - 9th July

Monday 10th July - Staff PD Day, SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY

Tuesday 11th July - First day Term 3

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

Community Notices