School Newsletter Term 3, Week 8, 11th September 2025

Principals Letter

Dear St Augustine's families,

As we come to the end of Term 3 we also welcome the spring and warmer weather. Next term, children must wear hats when out at play so the holiday break is a good time to find those hats and place in school bags ready for the start of Term 4.

Thursday 18th September will be the final day for students for Term 3 with a normal finish time of 3.10/3.15pm. To celebrate the end of Term 3 we will hold a casual clothes day & preordered pizza lunch for students. Orders must be placed through CDFPay before 2pm Monday 15th September. Students can come to school in their footy or team colours (or just casual clothes if preferred). 

Next Friday, 19th September is a pupil free day while staff engage in more learning around Structured Literacy. Thank you for your understanding of these days as they are invaluable for the staff to be learning all together at the one time. 
Monday 6th October, is also a pupil free day for staff to engage in RE learning. First day of Term 4 for students is Tuesday 7th October.

Fathers Day Thank you to all our Dads and special people who were able to come along and share in the Fathers Day liturgy that we had on Monday. The children enjoyed putting this together for everyone. A special thanks to Mrs Sardo for coordinating this special liturgy.

Celebration of learning Next Monday, 15th September, the classrooms will be open for families to come along and see the learnings that have taken place across the term. Children love sharing what they have done with their family members and it is a great opportunity to see what is happening on the inside of our school. Families can then follow up at home on what is happening and being talked about rather than wait until the end of semester reports. 

Year 1 camp and Year 2 sleepover & camp experience At St Augustines we have a developmental camping experience. Foundation children come to school in pyjamas for breakfast, Year 1 children go offsite for the day, return after all other children have left, have dinner and then go home at 7:30pm and Year 2 have a sleepover at school. Last week, staff and Year 1 and 2 students had a lovely time engaging in this experience. This then prepares the children for the future years when they attend camps for 2 nights away from Maryborough. We have found this camping experience sequence really prepares the children for camps in later years. 

Staffing update It is with mixed emotions that I share the news of Mrs Rebecca Picthall deciding to resign from her position at the end of the 2025 school year. Bec has been with us for 11 years and her dedication and commitment to our school and students has been unwavering. She will be greatly missed however I wish her every blessing for the future. There will be further opportunities at the end of the year to farwell Bec appropriately and with endearing thanks. 

R U OK Day R U OK? is a national suicide prevention charity and registered public health promotion that encourages people to stay connected and have conversations that can help others through difficult times.

Today, most staff and children turned up wearing a touch of yellow and had the opportunity to join in a number of fun activities to help them understand the importance of asking someone who looks sad if they are ok?

Ask R U OK? Any  Day of the year because a conversation could change a life.

God of grace and wisdom, You inspire us to be people who care for others. On R U OK? Day, we ask for your guidance to see the needs of those around us, and to respond with open and compassionate hearts. 

May we always remember the power of a simple smile, a listening ear, and a kind word. Help us to be courageous enough to have meaningful conversations, to listen without judgment, and to support one another through life's challenges. 

For those who are struggling, we pray for strength, for healing, and for peace of mind. Grant them comfort and remind them of their inherent value. 

May our communities grow in connection and care, and may everyone feel seen, heard, and supported.

This we pray, Amen

Many blessings,

Mrs Sonia Turner

Principal

Happy Birthday to...

Pearl G - Year 3     Archie D - Year 2     Elliot F - Foundation   Brandon V - Year 6     Sloane B - Year 5     

Ruby B  - Year 5     Jett A - Year 6      Tilly H - Year 6     Lucy M - Foundation

Quinn C - Foundation    Logan P - Year 5    Charlie H - Foundation    Gabriel T - Year 6

Violet T - Year 3     Maylah H - Year 2     Tyler D - Year 5    Henry B - Year 6     Evie M - Year 6     Samantha W - Year 4 

HOLIDAY BIRTHDAYS     

Charlie M - Year 4     Hugo R - Year 5     Maci B - Year 3     Elise M - Year 2     Ayla H - Year 4

Carter S - Year 4     Charlie C - Year 1     Ethan M - Year 4     Max P - Year 1     

Harry M - Year 3     Latisha E - Year 1     Elsie G - Year 2     April K - Year 4      

Energy Breakthrough Sponsorship Program

CADBURY FREDDO FUNDRAISER - boxes are available through Emma Ryan or the office. $60 box, 120 Freddo's at 50 cents each. Payment can be made via cash, eftpos or on CDFPay. 

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 the Art Room

Our Year 3–6 students had lots of fun creating tin foil people in art class. They shaped and moulded the foil into imaginative figures, adding movement and personality to each design. From athletes to dancers, every sculpture shows off their creativity and flair.

My New Gallery

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A message from Mrs Gardiner

Parents & Friends News

Next P & F meeting FRIDAY 10TH OCTOBER 9am in the Marian Centre

Tea Towel fundraiser raised $900! Thank you to all who purchased. Order arrival to be advised.  

Save the date - Our Trivia night will be held on Friday 17th October. Country and Western Theme. 7pm in the gym. Flat heels only, no heels. BYO drinks and nibblies. silent auctions, classroom art auctions, raffles, games & more! Tickets $20 each available through CDFPay. Tables 8-10 people. Organise your own table or join a mixed one on the night. Start shinin' ya boots partner, yee-haw!

Volunteers are required to help with planning and organising the trivia night so please contact a member of the P & F or the school office.  

CANTEEN

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

SPECIAL REPPORT - R U OK?

https://samaryborough.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-r-u-ok-day

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.

2025 School Fees & Levies

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

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.

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

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 if you would like to purchase.

Beanies are available in the school office for $20

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 THE NEW CDFPAY APP. INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACCOUNT SETUP ATTACHED.

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

Term 3 - Last Day for students Thursday 18th September 3.10/3.15pm finish

Friday Sept 19th - Literacy closure day, staff PD

Term 4 - Monday October 6th - RE closure day, staff PD

First Day of Term 4 for Students - Tuesday 7th October

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