School Newsletter Term 4, Week 4, 31st October 2025

Principals Letter

Dear St Augustine's families,

Happy World Teachers’ Day to our incredible staff at St Augustine’s today. We celebrate the dedication, care, and inspiration you bring to our students and school community every single day. Your commitment to nurturing young minds reflects the true spirit of St Augustine’s — leading with faith, love, and learning. Thank you for the countless hours, patience, and passion you pour into everything you do. You make a lasting difference, and we are deeply grateful for all that you give.

What a fun and cozy morning it was for our Foundation students last Friday as they arrived at school in their comfiest pyjamas, ready for a special breakfast together! The excitement was contagious as everyone enjoyed sharing toast, fruit, pancakes, and juice with their friends and teachers — a perfect way to start the day with smiles and full tummies.

This wonderful event was more than just breakfast — it was about building friendships, celebrating the joy of learning, and creating a sense of belonging in our St Augustine’s community. The laughter around the tables and the colourful pyjamas made for a warm, welcoming atmosphere that truly reflected the spirit of our youngest learners.

A huge thank you to our amazing Foundation teachers and learning support staff for organising such a memorable morning, and to our families for helping the children arrive ready and excited. What a beautiful reminder that learning is always better when it begins with connection, comfort, and a little bit of fun!

The Trivia Night was a great evening of fun, laughter, and friendly competition as families, friends, and staff came together for a night of clever questions, creative team names, and plenty of good-natured rivalry. Thanks to Mark Healey for testing the trivia skills of all who attended. The energy in the room was contagious as everyone joined in the fun, proving that our school community knows how to celebrate together. 

Thanks to the Parents and Friends, volunteers, and all donations for making the night such a success. Your hard work, creativity, and generosity ensured a memorable evening for all. Events like this remind us of what makes St Augustine’s so special — a community built on connection, laughter, and shared experiences. We can’t wait to do it all again next year. 

Since the reopening of the new turf, it has been buzzing with activity. Students have loved running, playing games, and enjoying sports on the soft new surface during brain breaks, recess and PE lessons. We have also received new equipment from the Parents and Friends to use at our recess times, which is greatly appreciated by students and staff.  

This month, St Augustine’s is shining a light on the importance of mental health and wellbeing — for our students, staff, and families. Mental Health Month reminds us that looking after our minds is just as important as caring for our bodies, and that small actions every day can make a big difference.

Dear God,
Thank You for our minds and hearts.
Help us to care for them every day—
to rest when we’re tired,
to talk when we’re worried,
and to be kind to ourselves and others.

Please bless our friends, teachers, and families.
Give us patience, peace, and joy
so that our school can be a place of love and understanding.

Amen.

Warm regards,

Mrs Kate Balzan

Interim Principal

Happy Birthday to...

Banjo T - Year 4   Emily O - Year 5       Madison F - Year 1     Brodie L - Year 5     Loui H - Year 1     

Bella C - Year 4    Lilah R - Year 5     Taiya K - Year 6    Ava I - Year 2   

Energy Breakthrough Sponsorship Program

We invite families, businesses and individuals to please jump on board our sponsorship program that provides this invaluable experience for our students.  More information below. Please contact accounts@samaryborough.catholic.edu.au with your sponsorship amount and we will send out an invoice with payment details or phone the office if you have any questions. 

From Mrs Gardiner

From the Art room

This week, Year 3–4 students have been learning about Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, known for his bold use of colour, pattern, and line. Students explored Murakami’s playful “Superflat” style and created their own vibrant artworks inspired by his famous flower motifs. Through this unit, they experimented with repeating patterns, expressive outlines, and eye-catching colour combinations to bring their creations to life. 

My New Gallery

Parents & Friends News

Next P & F meeting 9am FRIDAY 14th November in the Marian Centre. All welcome!

CANTEEN

ALL CANTEEN ORDERS MUST BE PLACED THROUGH CDFPAY BY 3PM WEDNESDAYS. LUNCHES WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE CLASSROOMS FRIDAYS FROM 1PM. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!   If you can spare some time on a Friday it would be greatly appreciated! You can choose to help for 2 hours or 4 hours in the Canteen. The jobs are not difficult, stickers on bag, packing orders etc and Sinead is very organised and clear in her instructions. Please consider if you could spare one or two Friday mornings a term.

It is a requirement of our school and DOBCEL that everyone complete this food handling course. It takes about 15 mins.
https://dofoodsafely.health.vic.gov.au/index.php/en/
Certificates to be sent to the school office or emailed to admin@samaryborough.catholic.edu.au. 

You will also need to hold a current Working With Children card.  It is free for a volunteer card. Go to;

https://www.vic.gov.au/working-with-children-check

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.

Thunderstorm Asthma/Grass Pollen Season

What is 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 (typically between October and end December). It can result in people wheezing, feeling short of breath, and tight in the chest with coughing. This can be sudden, serious, and even life threatening.

Anyone can be affected, even if they don’t have a history of asthma.

People at increased risk include those with asthma (diagnosed or unrecognised), hay fever (especially seasonal allergic rhinitis), or grass pollen allergies. People experiencing asthma symptoms even if for the first time should not ignore it and should seek medical advice as soon as possible. An asthma flare-up can vary in severity and can be life threatening. If there are signs that a person’s condition is deteriorating, urgent care should be sought.  

More information on thunderstorm asthma can be accessed on the Asthma Australia website: https://asthma.org.au/about-asthma/triggers/thunderstorm-asthma 

The Thunderstorm Asthma forecast can be accessed at https://www.health.vic.gov.au/environmental-health/epidemic-thunderstorm-asthma-risk-forecast  

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. 

2025 School Fees & Levies

All fees are to be finalised by the end of November each year unless other arrangments are made with the school office. 

All credits have now been applied for valid concession card holder claimants of the government Camp Sports Excursion Fund (CSEF), School Saving Bonus & Family Fee Assistance.  

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.

Bus Travel & Conveyance Allowance

PTV forms are required to be updated and completed yearly by all families who have bus travellers. Forms have been sent home with all current bus travellers this week. 

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. All 

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 includes the town bus travellers. 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.

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

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 if you would like to purchase.

BUCKET HATS ARE  NOW MANDATORY FOR TERM 4.  $12 FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICE OR THROUGH CDFPAY

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. This can be paid through CDFPay under IOU uniform. 

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.

ALL ORDERS TO BE PLACED THROUGH CDFPAY 

PAM - Parent Access Module

To complete/update 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’.

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.

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

Up and coming whole school closure days and important dates

Whole school transition day - Tuesday 9th December

Graduation Mass - Wednesday 3rd December

Last day for students - Wednesday 17th December, 3.10/3.15pm finish

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

Community Notices