School Newsletter Term 3, Week 4, 8th August 2024

Principals Letter

Dear St Augustines,

INSIGHT SRC SURVEY Every 5 years, schools in the Ballarat Diocese undergo a School Review and Validation process. This process asks all stakeholders; parents/carers, students and staff to have a say in the way the school has operated in the last 5 years and an input into the next 5 years.

All families have been sent home a letter titled Insight SRC Survey. This contains an online link and login password. I ask that all families please take the time to complete this survey as the more input we can get the better off our next 5 year direction will be. Please notify Amber if you cannot locate your letter.

Our School Review will take place in Term 3, 2025 but we begin collecting data now. Thank you in anticipation for your attention to this survey. 

OFFICE CLOSED MONDAY 12th August Please note the current office space will be closed next Monday 12th August due to jackhammering taking place all day. The office will be located in the Presbytery. Please let grandparents/carers know of this change next week if they need to come to the office. Please avoid late drop offs, early pickups and general enquiries on this day as communication will be impacted.

The Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 children will be offsite for the day competing in a Mini Olympics at the Maryborough Leisure Centre while this jackhammering is taking place. 

FEAST OF SAINT MARY MACKILLOP St. Mary MacKillop, also known as St. Mary of the Cross, was an Australian nun declared a saint by the Catholic Church. She was born in Melbourne, on January 15, 1842, as the eldest of their eight children.
Father Woods, concerned about the lack of Catholic education in South Australia, invited MacKillop and her sisters to open a Catholic school in Penola. Together, they successfully opened the school in a stable. 
Mary MacKillop and her sisters were joined by several other women. MacKillop, who now took on the religious name "Sister Mary of the Cross," began wearing simple religious habits. The group of women began calling themselves the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart and moved to a new house in Adelaide.
Their school was dedicated to the education of the children of the poor and underprivileged and became the first religious institute to be founded by an Australian.
The Josephites were very different to other Catholic church ministries. The sisters lived in a community rather than in convents.
St. Mary MacKillop is the patron saint of Australia, Archdiocese of Brisbane, and the Knights of the Southern Cross. Her feast day is celebrated on August 8.

Her most famous quote:"'Never see a need without doing something about it '

Many blessing, 

Mrs Sonia Turner

Principal

SCIENCE WEEK

Next week is National Science Week 

The school theme for National Science Week in 2024 is Species Survival - More than just sustainability. The theme aims to highlight the importance of science and innovation in ensuring the survival and thriving of different species in an ever-changing world.

Students will be involved in extra activities during 1st break- a colouring competition, making a bug and a scavenger hunt through the schoolyard. 

We are lucky to have Science as a specialist class this year where students this term are exploring: 

FOUNDATION:  PHYSICAL SCIENCES (PHYSICAL WORLD) MOVING OBJECTS Key Inquiry Question; What causes objects to move in different ways?

YEARS 1/2: PHYSICAL SCIENCES (PHYSICAL WORLD) FORCES AND ENERGY Key Inquiry Question; How are forces used for a purpose?

YEAR 3/4: PHYSICAL SCIENCES (PHYSICAL WORLD) HEAT ENERGY Key Inquiry Question; How does heat energy make things happen?

YEAR 5/6: PHYSICAL SCIENCES (PHYSICAL WORLD) SEEING THE LIGHT Key Inquiry Question; What are the characteristic behaviours of light energy?

BOOK WEEK 19th August - 23rd August

This years Book Week theme - 'Reading is Magic'

The Book Fair will be open from Mon 19/8 - Thurs 22/8 in the school gym. Children will be able to purchase books each morning from 8.30am - 8.55am & afternoons from 3.20pm- 4pm (with exception of Thursday afternoon). Cash sales only. 

The Book Parade will be held on MONDAY 19th Aug at 9:00am. Children can come dressed up in their favourite book character. ALL families are invited and welcome to attend our book parade. 

2025 Enrolment Applications & Interviews

 We are commencing our Enrolment Interviews for Foundation 2025 this week.k. An email has been sent to register and make a booking.

A reminder to make sure enrolment applications for 2025 are submitted this term. Please complete an Expression of Interest form through our school website (link below) if you have a child/ren starting school in 2025 or beyond. We will be conducting enrolment interviews soon for 2025 applicants. Likewise please let the school know if your child/ren will not be returning to our school in 2025.  

Happy Birthday to...

Lewis D - Year 1    Dusty S - Foundation      Manny S - Year 4

Stella B - Year 6      Archie M - Foundation   Harper S  - Year 5     

         Mason E - Foundation     Jack Q - Year 1

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.

Lunch box ideas

SchoolTV

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

St Augustine’s is very excited to introduce a new initiative to help support the wellbeing of your students and better resource key staff. After all, happy and well supported students are better equipped to learn and succeed.

Because parenting doesn’t come with instructions, SchoolTV is an online wellbeing resource that can support you in the challenges of 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 you in starting conversations on topics that are sometimes awkward or difficult to tackle. 

Parenting is a learning journey and SchoolTV supports families by providing credible information from trusted sources offering practical strategies with a focus to empower confidence when difficulties arise.

We invite you to visit our SchoolTV site and view the content. Discover a host of interesting topics featuring interviews with leading youth wellbeing experts and researchers from around the world offering hours of relevant and practical information. Additionally, each topic includes a compilation of related resources from key organisations providing a comprehensive stream of content. Resources include informative fact sheets, articles, apps, books, podcasts, websites, and other videos - all related to a single topic, in one place for easy access!

Start exploring SchoolTV today!

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 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.

PTV forms are now 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

2024 School Fees & Levies

Term 3 fee statements have been sent home with students this week. Please ensure your payments are up to date for term 3 as final payment of fees is due by the end of November 2024.  Please make contact with the school if you have any questions or concerns.   

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.

Medical Information

Concussion – Important information

If your child has experienced concussion, it is important that you follow recommended medical advice. Returning to school can be a graduated approach with the aim of increasing tolerance to a full day, the same situation could occur with sport. It is always important to check with your doctor and seek medical treatment after a child sustains a concussion.

It is important to inform the school if your child has sustained a concussion outside of the school setting so we can monitor for ongoing symptoms and adapt activities if required.

This factsheet link below from the Royal Children’s Hospital is valuable to read and understand.

https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Head_injury_return_to_school_and_sport/

There is also a great evidence-based app from the Murdoch children’s research institute that walks you through what to do in the result of a concussion.

https://www.headcheck.com.au/

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

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.

Winter beanies for sale in our uniform shop and in the school office $20 each. All profits go to our Energy Breakthrough program. 

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

Note: There is no longer a 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 in Term 1 and 4.

School hats are compulsory in Term 1, up until 30th April of Term 2  & Term 4. 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 with the temporary office relocation we only have one phone line!

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.

Canteen

THERE IS NO CANTEEN this term due to building works.

All orders must be placed through CDFPay prior to 9.00am Fridays.   Please ensure you complete all orders on CDFPay and proceed through payment screen to the green receipt screen.

Please contact the office if you are having any issues with your CDFPay account. 

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