School Newsletter Term 1, Week 2, 6th February 2025

Principals Letter

Dear St Augustine's families,

A very, warm welcome to all our new students and families to our school. It has been and continues to be a hot start back to school this year.
Last week, we sent home a paper copy of the term dates for your fridge, a copy is also attached to this newsletter as there are lots of dates to keep track of. This newsletter will be shared on Dojo every second Thursday with reminders, celebrations and news about our school.

BEGINNING OF THE YEAR MASS Next Tuesday, 11th February at 6pm in the church will be our Beginning of the Year celebration whole school Mass. All families are invited to Mass. Our Year 6 students will lead our Foundation students in and welcome them to our St Augustine's school family. Students will sit in their year levels and wear school uniforms. Our school leaders will also be presented and acknowledged at this Mass. There will be an icey pole available for all after Mass and will be distributed from the tar area. 

TENNIS We have our first sporting event for this year tomorrow with 5 students representing St Augustine's at tennis. Good luck to these students. Emmie, Reef, Hugo, Manny and Patrick. 

School Entry & Exit - The school gates will be opened by 8.30am & 3.05pm daily for the safety of our students. Please use the tar gate and bus gate entries. The school office now has a door into the school that will be opened at 3.05pm daily. Please limit entry & exit through the office unless you need to see office staff.  Classes start at 8.55am. Children arriving after this time must come to the school office to be signed in. Parent access into the school is limited during classtime to avoid interuption to childrens learning time.  

Meet & Greets - On Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th February we will be providing some 1-1 time with your child's classroom teacher for Meet and Greets. This valuable time is an opportunity for you to meet the teacher and share any information about your child.
For example: generally anxious about change, moving house in a month (this has a big impact on children which flows to school) does not like going to a different toilet, different people will be picking up etc.

I encourage all families to book a time and take up this opportunity as working in a partnership together has a successful outcome for all. These appointment times can be booked through PAM. Link:

https://pam.samaryborough.catholic.edu.au

SUBWAY Thursdays - This term we will continue to have optional SUBWAY lunch on Thursdays. Orders must be placed through CDFPay before 1pm Mondays. Our first SUBWAY lunch day will be next Thursday 13th Feb, orders close Monday 10th Feb at 1pm. Orders are delivered to the school for second break lunch at 1.30pm.

STRUCTURED LITERACY This year, we are teaching literacy through a synthetic and structured phonics program. This is a change for our school, teachers and students. As you would have heard in the media, the Government has mandated that all Government schools teach literacy this way in Years F-2 and the Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education (DOBCEL) have been trialling this approach to literacy learning over the past 5 years and are seeing a huge improvement in student learning. Our Foundation teachers trialled this last year and we have seen phenomenal results first hand. Last year we engaged in a lot of professional learning and our teachers were afforded the opportunity of visiting a school to see it in action. We will continue our learning this year but we will be teaching this way in our classrooms. There is 10 years of global research based evidence around this structured approach and we are very excited to see the outcomes for our students here at St Augustine's. We will share more about this as we go along but know that your children may come home saying how different our literacy learning time is. In our Diocese this approach is known as the Flare Primary Literacy Strategy but at St Augustines you may hear us talk about Structured Literacy. DOBCEL and La Trobe University have joined in research partnership and we are one of the schools in our Diocese that data will be collected from. The Literacy assessment data will be used to track the efficacy of the Flare Primary Literacy Strategy. It is important for you to know that all student information that is shared with La Trobe is deidentified using a code system. Attached with this newsletter is a letter of explanation and the opportunity for you to opt out of the data collection if you wish. This will be sent home as a paper copy today as well. I look forward to sharing more about this and our outcomes with you as we go along.

We give you praise, O God, for everything that is new and beautiful, for everything which holds promise and brings us joy. Bless us as we start this new year with our friends and teachers.  Help us to make the most of every chance we have to start afresh.

Many blessings,

Mrs Sonia Turner

Principal

FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICE

2025 School Fees & Levies - below is the 2025 School Fees & Levies information.

Fees will be billed next week and statements will be sent home with students.

It is an expectation that all Resource fees are paid by the end of February 2025. The Resource Fee covers all your childs books, stationary, digital licenses and classroom supplies.

Camp fees are to be paid prior to students attending the camp. 5/6 Camp is the 24-26th March and the 3/4 Camp is 19-21 May. All other fees are to be finalised by the end of November each year. 

Valid concession card holders will be eligible for the government Camp Sports Excursion Fund (CSEF), Family Fee Assistance and the School Saving Bonus. Forms have been sent home with all Foundation students and copies are available in the school office for any other new claimants. Existing claimants (anyone who has claimed CSEF in 2024 with our school) will be advised when payments have been received and applied to your fee accounts. if you have any questions please contact the school office.

CDFpay - CDFpay now has its own new App. Previous links to CDFPay will no longer work. Instructions on how to download are attached below.

PAM - We require ALL families to complete and update their child/ren’s medical profile and contact information for 2025 through PAM and throughout the year as changes occur. This information is mandatory and a requirement for enrolment. Link to PAM:

https://pam.samaryborough.catholic.edu.au/Login/Default.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f

School photo permissions are also to be completed through PAM for all students. If you are unsure of your PAM login details, please contact the school office.

Absences - Please let the school office know if your child is absent via a Parent Notified Absence through PAM, an email to admin@samaryborough.catholic.edu.au or via phone. If your child is arriving late to school or leaving school  early you will need to come into the office and sign them in/out using the kiosk located on the right of the reception desk. 

School Photo Day - is Thursday 29th May (Term 2). MSP Photography will be taking our school photo's this year. More information to follow.

Calendar - Please make sure to check the school calendar which is linked to this newsletter to keep up to date with events and school closure days. 

Class Dojo - All families should now be connected to Class Dojo. Class Dojo is a direct form of communication from the classroom and school wide to home. Please be aware that teachers may not be checking messages during the school day as they will be teaching so if there is any important /urgent information that we need to know please call the office. Please stay up to date with Class Dojo notifications and messages as this is where you will find the majority of important information. 

Happy Birthday to...

HOLIDAY BIRTHDAYS       

Maddison H- Year 2      Harriet B - Year 1    Willow Y - Foundation   Elizabeth B - Year 4    

Eddie R - Year 4    Neave K - Foundation    Penley G - Year 3     Olive D - Year 3     Ezekiel R- Foundation

Hannah L - Year 2     Jodie L - Foundation    Hazel L - Year 4     Selena B - Foundation     

Luna B - Foundation     Henry N - Foundation     Darcy M - Year 3     Amelia S - Year 5     Millee B - Year 1

WEEK 1 & 2

Shawn C - Year 4      Hailey D - Year 4      Theo W - Foundation      Isaac T - Foundation     

Memphis L - Foundation      Aisha M - Year 4      Reef M - Year 5      Nash T - Year 3

Finn W - Foundation      Harley M - Year 6     

2025 School Fees & Levies

2025 School Fees & Levies - below is the 2025 School Fees & Levies information.

Fees will be billed Week 3 and statements will be sent home with students.

It is an expectation that all Resource fees are paid by the end of February 2025. The Resource Fee covers all your childs books, stationary, digital licenses and classroom supplies.

Camp fees are to be paid prior to students attending the camp. 5/6 Camp is the 24-26th March and the 3/4 Camp is 19-21 May. All other fees are to be finalised by the end of November each year. 

Valid concession card holders will be eligible for the government Camp Sports Excursion Fund (CSEF), Family Fee Assistance and the School Saving Bonus. Forms will be available for new claimants in the new year and existing claimants will be advised when payments have been received and applied to your fee accounts. More info to follow in Term 1.

We welcome all students and their families who share or respect our Catholic faith, values and traditions. Catholic education is supported by State and Federal funding, with families contributing the balance of the cost of educating their children. At times, some families are unable to meet their commitment to the full costs of education. As a Catholic school system, we ensure fee relief mechanisms are available to support families in time of need. We encourage these discussions on enrolment or as these needs emerge.

BOOK CLUB

Bookclub issue 1 is available to view and order online through LOOP. Catalogues to will be distributed by the end of the week.

Orders close Monday 17th February.

Lunch box ideas

SchoolTV

SchoolTV is a great reliable resource for parents & caregivers.

See below link for articles on Positive Parenting and many more important issues. 

Ambulance Cover

Emergency medical transport services are not free and not covered by Medicare. Become a genuine Ambulance Victoria member and be protected against the cost of transport and treatment by paramedics.

If your child required an ambulance at school we would not hesitate to call for one before speaking with parents. Without ambulance membership it can be a very costly trip! If your not already covered please consider!

Bus Travel & Conveyance Allowance

PTV forms are required to be updated and completed yearly by all families who have bus travellers.

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.

CONVEYANCE ALLOWANCE 

Eligibility

An application on behalf of a student may be submitted if the student is:

• a Victorian resident.
• school aged and enrolled (3) three or more days per week at a school; and
• attending a school/campus located outside the Melbourne metropolitan conveyance boundary

A student who meets the above requirements may be eligible if they:

• attend their nearest or designated neighbourhood government school/campus appropriate to their year level, at which admission is permissible, or
• attend their nearest appropriate non-government school/campus appropriate to their year level, at which admission is permissible, and
• reside 4.8km or more by the shortest practicable route from the campus attended

Medical Information

THUNDERSTORM ASTHMA INFORMATION

Grass pollen season brings an increase in asthma and hay fever. It also brings the chance of thunderstorm asthma. Thunderstorm asthma is thought to be triggered by a unique combination of high amounts of grass pollen in the air and a certain type of thunderstorm. For people who have asthma or hay fever this can trigger severe asthma symptoms. If you have current, past or undiagnosed asthma or seasonal hay fever you are at risk of thunderstorm asthma. Even if you don't think you have asthma or hay fever, don't ignore symptoms like wheezing or shortness of breath. Thunderstorm asthma can be sudden, serious and even life threatening.Know the risks. Get prepared. Stay safe. Learn more at https://www.bhs.org.au/services-and-clinics/grampians-public-health-unit/thunderstorm-asthma/

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.

All of our Child Safe policies and procedures are accessible on our website through the link below.

Uniform Shop

Uniforms will continue to be filled weekly and sent home with your child/ren.

We are discontinuing the lemon polo's due to the large delay in delivery times. We are out of stock of size 8 & 10 & 12 short sleeve polo's and are substituting for green polo's. Lemon polo's still available in all other sizes while stocks last.

Bucket Hats available from the uniform shop or school office for $12 each. Compulsory for Term 1 - NO HAT, NO PLAY!

Uniform orders will continue to be filled and sent home with your child(ren) weekly. If you would like to enquire about secondhand uniform, please send a message to Amber on Class Dojo with your required items and sizes and we will send home what we can supply, $5 per item.

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

Note: There is no 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 between August & April.

HATS 

Recent changes to sun protection regulations have deemed the UV rays as a predictor for the wearing of sun protection, such as hats. In the past we have mandated hats in Term 1 and 4 however now in Victoria, UV levels typically reach 3 or higher daily from mid-August to the end of April.

Daily sun protection times are forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology based on location. At levels above 3, sun protection is recommended for all skin types. No hat, no play! 

PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE

If you call the office and the phone is unattended or busy, please leave a message. and we will get back to you ASAP. Alternatively please 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.  

Please note the temporary office number to call is 0403029903. We will advise when our office phones are back online.  

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.

Parking & Road Safety

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.

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

8:45am  -  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

Tuesday 17th December - Last day for students, 3.15pm finish

2025 DATES

Wednesday 12th February - School Closure Day - Structured literacy 

Monday 24^th – Wed 26th March - Year 5/6 camp

Monday 19^th – 21st May - Year 3/4 camp 

Tuesday 22nd April - School Closure Days - Staff PD collaboration

Wednesday 23rd April - School Closure Days - Staff PD collaboration

Thursday 24th April - School Closure Day - School Review

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

Community Notices