School Newsletter Term 1, Week 2, 1st May 2025

Principals Letter

Dear St Augustine's families,

Welcome back to Term 2, I hope you all had a restful break from the school routine and an Easter spent with friends and family.

As we begin this term, we join the global Catholic community in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. On Easter Monday,  Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 after a period of illness. His death marks the end of a papacy known for compassion, humility, and a deep commitment to social justice. Pope Francis was the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas, leading the Catholic Church with a focus on inclusivity and care for the marginalized. He had a deep commitment to a simple life and often refused the traditional  He will inspire us with his legacy for a long time to come and we now pray that the Cardinals will elect the right person to lead the Catholic community forward. 

Last Friday, Australians and New Zealanders commemorated the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing with solemn dawn services and marches across the nation. It was humbling to see a number of families gather for the ANZAC Day march in Maryborough. Hardy lay a wreath on behalf of our school community in remembrance of those fallen in the wars. 

UNIFORM - At St Augustine's we promote the expected behaviour through STAR actions: taking pride in our school, uniform and self is a focus blitz at the moment. Thank you for your support in this area by ensuring the correct uniform is worn.If there is a problem with the uniform please let your classroom teacher know with a note via dojo.We acknowledge that there are a number of winter uniform items on backorder so a dojo post to the teacher is all that is required. Hats are not required after this week but are optional if children still want to wear them. There is no rule that children have to wear a winter uniform or summer uniform from a set date, it is a choice all year round. 

MOTHERS DAY Next week, the Parents and Friends will have a Mothers Day stall set up in the hall and all classes will have the opportunity to visit the stall and make a special purchase for Mum or someone special. Goods range from $1 - $10. Huge thanks to our P&F especially Sarah and Jacinta for organising the stall.
Friday, 9th May we will celebrate Mothers Day with our school community and have a liturgy in the church at 12:30pm. There will be a 'high tea' on offer in the Marian Centre after the liturgy and we invite everyone to come and collect a small treat plate and head to your youngest childs classroom to have lunch with them. Older siblings are invited to join you there. 
Thank you to all those families who have donated to the Mothers Day stall and anyone who can donate a small plate for the 'high tea' can do so by dropping goods to the Marian Centre from next Friday morning onwards. 

As we move forward into Term 2, let us carry the lessons of compassion, service, and remembrance into our daily lives. We encourage families to discuss the significance of these events with their children, fostering a sense of global citizenship and respect for history.

Wishing you all a wonderful start to the term.

 Loving God,
We thank You for the gift of a new term and the chance to learn, grow, and care for one another.
We remember those who have served and sacrificed for our freedom.
May their courage inspire us to live with gratitude and peace.

We pray for the soul of Pope Francis.
Thank You for his example of kindness, humility, and love for all people.
Help us to follow his way of compassion and care for the world around us.

Teach us to serve others with joy,
to be generous with our hearts and hands,
and to never forget the power of love and unity.

May we be gentle in our words, strong in our actions,
and faithful in our hope.

Amen.

Many blessings,

Mrs Sonia Turner

Principal

Happy Birthday to...

Ollie B  - Foundation      Lily E - Year 3      Charleigh L - Year 6      Connor M - Year 6        

     Rory S  - Year 1     Arlington S - Year 4      Sarvah K - Year 1     

Dakoda K - Year 4    Noah T - Year 6

BOOK CLUB

Book Club Issue 3 catalogues were sent home this week with students. Orders close .

Wednesday 13th May 2025.

Term Overviews

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.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR WEEK 2 STARS! WELL DONE!

Parents & Friends News

Next P & F Meeting is Friday 2nd May at 2.30pm in the Marian Centre. All welcome!

See below flyer for details around this years Mother's Day stall.

Lunch box ideas

SchoolTV

Because parenting doesn’t come with instructions, SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource that can support you in the challenges relating to modern-day parenting.

This award-winning resource helps build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers to navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It can assist in starting conversations on topics that are sometimes awkward or difficult to tackle.

2025 School Fees & Levies

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

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 holder claimants of the government Camp Sports Excursion Fund (CSEF) will have this credit and the School Saving Bonus amount now applied to fee accounts. Updated statements will be sent home soon to reflect these credits as well as a form to complete to apply for the Catholic Education Office offers additional Family Fee Assistance.  and the . Forms are available for new claimants. 

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.

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

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 Leach, at the Maryborough Education Centre on 5461 7900 or via email to Heather.Leach2@education.vic.gov.au. 

A PTV form must be completed and approved prior to any bus travel.

For one off or seasonal travel, parents of the student/s must organise a bus pass through MEC at least two days prior to travel. Students cannot travel on the country buses without a pass.

The town bus is currently full so no additional travellers are being accepted. The town bus 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 Leach at MEC, Heather.Leach2@education.vic.gov.au. It is important that this form is completed as these details will be used in the event of an emergency.

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

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

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 have discontined the lemon polo's due to the large delay in delivery times. We are out of stock of short sleeved lemon polo's in most sizes now. Long sleeve lemon polos are still available in some sizes while stocks last. Send a dojo to Amber is you would like to purchase.

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! 

ALL ORDERS TO BE PLACED THROUGH THE NEW CDFPAY APP. INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACCOUNT SETUP ATTACHED.

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

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

Community Notices