School Newsletter Term 2, Week 6, May 27th 2021

Principals Letter

Dear St Augustine's families,
This week we celebrated 200 years of Catholic Education within Australia. The first Australian Catholic School was in Parramatta and the first Catholic school in the Ballarat Diocese was in Port Fairy. In the Ballarat Diocese we now have 64 Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools who all provide distinctive Catholic education from the Murray to the Sea. Catholic schools enable every student to flourish and every student, staff member and family to experience the presence of the risen Christ.

This year, DOBCEL took over the governance authority of our 56 parish schools. This is an historic undertaking shifting the governance authority from parish priests, who have had this role in parish schools in the Ballarat Diocese since our first parish school was established in 1849. 

On Monday, the Year 1/2 students led us in a beautiful prayer and liturgy celebrating Cathoic Education Week. We opened up our classrooms on Tuesday and Wednesday to new and prospective families. 

We still have spaces available for 2022 so if you know of anyone who is not enrolled or wanting a tour let them know to give us a call.

    As partners in Catholic Education,
    open to God’s presence,
    we pursue fullness of life for all.

With every blessing,

Mrs Sonia Turner

Principal

Congratulations

Congratulations to Emily and Daniel on the arrival of little Mabel, sister for Carter in Foundation Wood. Many blessings for a lifetime of happiness.

Lightning Premiership

Football

After 2020 saw many school events cancelled, the students were incredibly excited to be participating in Football at the Lightning Premiership Sports Carnival. The atmosphere amongst the students was electric as they relished the opportunity to play with their friends and peers. The students' performance matched their high levels of enthusiasm as they managed to win through to the Grand Final against Carisbrook. Unfortunately, we didn't achieve the ultimate success but the students fought it out right until the end. Fighting through the fatigue from School Camp, the students still had an amazing day doing themselves and their school extremely proud. 

Tee-Ball

We had three very determined and excited teams competing in the Tee-Ball Lightning Premiership day last Friday. Each team played six games against some strong schools. Team 1 (James M, Jaxon, Tyson, Georgina, Olivia, Aidan, Kadyn and Ray) finished the day in third position, winning 4/6 matches. Team 2 (Blade, William, Keira, Stella, Felicity, Ed, Cody and Brock), won 3/6 games. Team 3, made up of Year 4 boys (Alex, Harry, Fateh, Jedd, Liam, Clayton, Thomas, Chad and Charlie), made the grand final and unfortunately lost to a really strong Avoca team. All students should be really proud of themselves for demonstrating fantastic sportsmanship and encouragement towards their teammates and opposition. 

Netball

On Friday the 21st of May, 29 students ventured to the Maryborough Netball Complex to compete against other local schools. We had one team participate in the A Division and two teams participate in the B Division. 
Our Division A team (coached by Sharelle Martin) went through the day undefeated, using their speed and agility to overcome a significant height deficit. The girls moved the ball swiftly and shot with extreme accuracy, wasting very few of their chances at goal. The final was a tight contest, with Saints narrowly defeating MEC (5 goals to 2). 
Our two Division B teams also managed to have a lot of success. Split into different pools, both Saints 1 (coached by Ruby Adams) and Saints 2 (coached by Mark Tanis) made the knockout semi finals, with Saints 1 going on to win the championship against Carisbrook (11-2). Saints 1 were undefeated for the afternoon, thanks in large part to their exceptional defense and ability to intercept opposition passes. Saints 2, which consisted entirely of Grade 4's, battled and defeated much older competitors through sheer determination and attitude. Well done to all students who represented St. Augustine's Primary School. As always, they made us extremely proud!
St. Augustine's would also like to thank our coaches and referees (Lacey Broad, Ruby Adams and Matilda Allan) for their contributions to such an exciting day.

Lawn Bowls

All students who participated in lawn bowls had a fun, rewarding day. All teams were supported and coached by volunteers from the Highland Society's Lawn Bowls Club.We thank them for their generous help. Over the day, it was great to see all students improving their bowling skills and participating in a positive way. Congratulations to Jack Mason and Connor O'Halloran for their success in winning the final of their section.

Soccer

This year we had two teams of Grade 4's, 5's and 6's, one team in Division 1 and one in Division 2.  Either of our teams didn't make finals but we all tried our best and had the best day!

Lightning Premiership

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Term 2 Class Captains & Student Voice

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Parents & Friends

Supervision of Students Information for Parents

ENROLMENT

We are currently taking enrolment applications for 2022. If you have another child or know of someone who has a school age child for 2022, please contact the school.

An 'Application for Enrolment' form, as per link below, needs to be completed and emailed to admin@samaryborough.catholic.edu.au.

Alternatively, forms are also available in the school office.

We will be contacting families in Term 3 when we commence the enrolment interview process. 

Happy Birthday to...

                             Oakely - Year 6    Blade - Year 4    George - Year Foundation   

                                Louella - Year 5  Lily - Year 3    Mahtab - Year Foundation 

                Sarah - Year 3    Hudson - Year 3   Brock - Year 5   Peyton-Rose - Year 2

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

Canteen

Canteen will be open every Friday. All orders must be placed through CDFPay by 9.30am each Friday. No cash is accepted.  Please see link below and instructions for setup.

Helpers

We will continue to put a call out for helpers for canteen every Monday on Class Dojo. If you are able to assist, could you please contact Nicole Brittnell on 0429440696. We need a volunteer for the 10am timeslot and a volunteer for the 12.30pm timeslot each Friday. If you can help out it would be greatly appreciated.

All helpers will need to have a Volunteer or Employee Working With Children card. Volunteer cards are free. Click on the link below for applications.

Uniform Shop

All children must be in full winter uniform now. Pictures below show what is expected to be worn for Winter uniform.

Please make all uniform purchases through the CDFPay portal.

All orders will continue to be filled once a week and sent home with your child. If you have any uniform enquiries, please contact the school office. We do exchange uniform. Bring the uniform item to the office and the uniform shop will exchange it on the day they come to fill orders.

Parish News

Please see link below for the latest Parish Bulletin.

PAM - Parent Access Module

We require families to complete and update their child/ren’s medical details and contact information through PAM 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.

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.

COVID Guidlines

**IMPORTANT UPDATE**

The Victorian Government announced new directions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). From 11:59pm Thursday 27/5/21, Victoria will enter a 7-day circuit breaker lockdown.

As a result, in line with the directions issued from Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, all Victorian schools will move to a period of remote and flexible provision from Monday 31 May to Thursday 3 June inclusive.

From Monday 31st May , school will continue to provide on-site learning for students in the following categories:

*Children whose parents are considered essential workers as listed, cannot work from home and where no other supervision arrangements can be made.

*Vulnerable children, including children in out-of-home care, children deemed by Child Protection and/or Family Services to be at risk of harm and children identified by the school as vulnerable (including via referral from a family violence agency, homelessness or youth justice service or mental health or other health service).

If you require your child/ren to be on-site, please email admin@samaryborough.catholic.edu.au.

CONFIRMATION - POSTPONED

We will advise of a new date for this Sacrament to occur. Children will still get a preparation day when we know of the revised date.

3/4 CAMP - POSTPONED

Sadly the Year 3/4 camp will be postponed. We will advise of a new information and details at a later date.

NO CANTEEN

All canteen orders that have already been placed will be carried over to the next lunch order day. Hopefully this will be Friday 4th June.

Thank you for your co-operation and understanding as we all continue to work together to keep our community safe.

Updates will continue to come through as we receive them through the Catholic Education office.

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 & Diarrhea

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. 

Book Club

 Book Club orders for Issue 4 will close 4th June 2021.

Community Notices

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. 

Thank you for your co-operation.

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.

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 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.

Advanced dates for your diary

School Closure Days 

Monday 16th August - Religious Education, Staff Personal Development Day

Tuesday 17th August - Literacy, Staff Personal Development Day 1

Monday 4th October - Visible Learning, Staff Curriculum Day

Wednesday  17th November - Literacy, Staff Personal Development Day 2

Monday 31st January - Visible Learning, Staff Curriculum Day

Children do not attend school on these days.