Newsletter 15 October 2021
Principal's Message
Friday 15 October 2021 - Term 4 Week 2
Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome to our new newsletter format. We hope this works well for you and provides the important information in a friendly format. We will be updating our App in the next few weeks as well.
One of the frequent COVID changes currently in place concerns weekend Masses. In line with many retail businesses, the government has mandated that adults won’t be allowed into the church unless they are double vaccinated, with capacity limits also in place. Please pass this information onto family and friends.
The Parent Forum met this week to discuss school direction, parent issues and fundraising. One of the major fundraisers for the year is the Colourthon and I thank everyone for getting behind the fundraising, especially by sharing with family, friends and colleagues. All money raised will go towards the new outdoor area outside the hall near the drive through area. It will be an area for gathering, playing, performing and improved access to the hall and the pick-up area. Your support has been wonderful in the past and helps to add to the school facilities - the astroturf on the top shelter area is a great example.
Unfortunately the last 5 weeks of elective sports for years 3 -6 had to be cancelled. Consequently, family accounts have been credited for the 5 weeks students missed and this will be used for future events and elective sports. If your child is in Year 6, with no siblings or you would prefer a refund rather than a credit, please contact the school and we will provide a request for refund form.
It feels too soon to talk about Christmas but it’s time. Many highly organised families want to express their appreciation for the work of their child’s teacher and organise a gift from the class group. It’s a nice idea but it is a little problematic collecting money and ensuring equity. Without being the ‘Grinch’, can I ask that we stick to individual gifts if you would like to say thanks and assure everyone it is by no means an expectation for anyone to give.
Grace and peace
Peter Watts
Principal
Faith and Mission News
Creative Arts Virtual Gallery - 'Faith in the Future'
The Creative Arts Virtual Gallery has been released to mark 200 Years of Catholic Education in Australia for the Lismore Diocese.
The theme is Faith in the Future with entries received from staff, students, parents and parishioners from schools and parish communities across the diocese.
Students in 5P submitted a mixed media artwork that they collaboratively worked on, depicting what ‘Faith in the Future’ looks like for them. Please go to the link below to view the artwork.
SOCKtober
On Friday 22 October, our school will participate in ‘Socktober’ to support ‘Catholic Mission Australia’ in helping the needy in Thailand and around the world. The students will be invited to wear crazy socks to school on the day and bring in a gold coin donation to go towards this cause.
Socktober encourages our students to engage with mission by using our heads to enquire about the reality of the world around us, using our hearts to feel empathy for those in situations of great need, and using our hands to take action for them in whatever way we are able.
Let’s help sock it to poverty!
Naomi Loader- Assistant Principal Mission
Dominique Montford - Leader of School Catechesis
Maria Woods - Leader of School Evangelisation
2021 Upcoming Events
October 2021
| 19 | ICAS Science - Years 3-6 |
| 19 | ICAS Spelling Bee - Years 3-6 |
| 20 | ICAS English - Years 3-6 |
| 21 | ICAS Mathematics - Years 3-6 |
| 21 | Years K-2 Athletics Carnival - new date |
| 22 | Socktober |
| 22 | Years K-6 Assembly |
November 2021
| 5 | Colour-Thon |
| 5 | Sausage Sizzle Day - Whole School |
| 12 | Years K-6 Assembly |
| 26 | School Fete |
Canteen Roster
Week beginning 18 October
- Monday - L Seccombe
- Tuesday - C Williams, M Black
- Wednesday - J Martin, M Chau
- Thursday - S Crawford
- Friday - P Duffy, W McLean, C Rose, R Finlayson
Week beginning 25 October
- Monday - M Mainey
- Tuesday - M Black
- Wednesday - C Jones, A McCann
- Thursday - J Martin - Help Needed !!
- Friday - W McLean, G Franklin, C Evans, L Lawler, C Blackett
Week beginning 1 November
- Monday - C Williams
- Tuesday - M Black, M Mainey
- Wednesday - C Jones
- Thursday - C Hyde
- Friday - P Duffy, W McLean, C Rose, D McNeill
Week beginning 8 November
- Monday - C Hyde, V Wall
- Tuesday - M Black
- Wednesday - P Duffy, B Symons
- Thursday - L Rowthorne, K Allen
- Friday - G Dodd, W McLean, L Knight, E Sainsbury
Canteen News
Canteen helpers are always required, especially on Wednesdays as this is our sushi day, and on Fridays. Help is needed for three hours from 9:00 am until 12:00 noon once every four weeks. Grandparents are very welcome also. If you are able to help in the Canteen on any day please call us on 6652 1204.
Alicia Betland & Rosa Thomas - Canteen Managers
LARC News
We have been busy in the LARC borrowing and cleaning books that are returned in compliance with the current Level 3 restrictions. We have nearly 200 books needing repairs and would like to ask parents to remind students to take care of the books they borrow by:
- Using a bookmark to mark reading a spot, as opposed to turning a page down.
- Ensuring books are kept in a library bag, protected from rain and spills.
- Not bending the spine of the book over when reading.
During borrowing time we are encouraging students to explore other books they might not normally read. Students are able to browse the school "Oliver Library Catalogue" on the LARC intranet page, see link below. Once logged in students can see which books we have in our library, which books are currently available and can place reservations to be picked up next time they are in the LARC. Oliver also shows which books are accessible through the SORA reading App.
Mrs Tracey Catling
LARC & Digital Technology
Parent Forum
Welcome back to Term 4! It’s great to be back at school and there is a lot to look forward to over the coming months. That being said, with new government restrictions coming into effect a lot of strong emotion and anxiety is being generated in our local community. So let’s pray for peacefulness and patience with each other as we all negotiate these complex times.
This week the Parent Forum had yet another zoom meeting (we hope to meet face to face in November!) and as always it was great to catch up and start to plan for school life beyond Covid. We have wonderful things to look forward to next year such as a rescheduled Firefly (term 2) the school musical (term 3), Parent trivia night (term 1) and the annual Big Banana fun night (term 1)! We also hope to initiate some coffee mornings at drop offs as well as informal cohort gatherings. Stay tuned!
We’re always happy to hear suggestions and welcome volunteers who would like to help with the organising of events. The Parent Forum can be contacted via email at sapsparentforum@outlook.com or if you haven’t already, join our Facebook page where you can get in touch as well as receive up to date information on events and other parent initiatives.
What an amazing start we’ve had to Colour-thon fundraising, only 2 weeks in and we’ve reached 75% of our goal! A big thank you to local families as well as family and friends from afar for giving so generously online. Next year the Forum plans to partner with the school to build an exciting outdoor, covered multi purpose space down near the Albany St entrance. The funds raised from this year’s Colour-thon and Fete will make a significant contribution to this 2022 project.
Wishing you all the best for the term ahead.
Take care and God bless
Fran Davis
Parent Forum President
Parent Facebook Community
We are pleased to welcome all parents of the school community to join the new St Augustine’s Parent Community on Facebook. This group, hosted by the Parent Forum, has been created to help strengthen parent connection with the school, and provide an informal space for parents across the school to connect, ask questions, share ideas, and come together. In this challenging time, we feel this connection and support is more important than ever.
So please, click on the link below and jump into the group – we’d love you all to be a part of it and look forward to some great connection and maybe even some fun!
Learning and Teaching
"School is my happy place"
Students are back in classrooms and back with their friends. I asked some of our students how they found getting back into school and learning.
I’m happy to be back at school and seeing my friends. Being with my friends puts me in a better mood which then helps me learn. Now I’m back at school I want to keep learning Maths.
Maddie Suokallio (Year 6)
Being back at school means I can go and play with anyone I want to. It was hard in lock down because I missed my friends. Being with your friends improves your social skills. I found it annoying at home last term with your siblings around when you were trying to work. Being back at school means I can focus. This term I hope to revisit everything we've done to get ready for high school. It will help me be a good student when I get there.
Jasper Franklin (Year 6)
Being back at school means I am getting more choice in my learning. I really like that. Seeing my friends has been so good. Facetime isn’t the same as being there with them. I’m really liking the unit of work on Space we have been doing. It's really exciting and impressive.
Layla Woodcock (Year 5)
The work suits me better at school. I’m happy to be back learning. Having friends with you at school makes learning more fun and helps me learn.
Dylan Kidd (Year 5)
I really like being back at school this term. I’m back with my friends. I understand the learning face to face more because our teachers explain things really well. Having friends and a happy classroom is really good for your well being, feeling you have other people other than your family that you can trust.
Arlo Dent (Year 4)
I like being back at school because our teachers really understand our work and how we work. Being social with your friends face to face is much better because you miss a lot of things when you’re at home. You get to catch up and play together. I’m really happy to be back at school and learning this term.
Charlie Warren (Year 4)
I’m really happy to be at school. It’s a bit easier to learn. The teacher explains things better at school. Teachers are special. They are made to be teachers.
William Hughes (Year 3)
Getting back to school makes us smarter. Being back together is good because we haven’t seen each other for a while. School has lots of good playing areas and lots of really good teachers. They help us learn.
Jayden Van der Walt ( Year 3)
It’s nice being in the classroom and seeing other children learning. I’m excited to keep on reading The Land of Stories this term. It's so exciting.
Ellie Hazel Pickering (Year 2)
I like how we get to learn about new things being back at school. We get taught harder stuff. I like having breaks at school so I can play with my friends and do some fun stuff. I’m excited to read more of The Land of Stories and learn more Maths. It’s fun.
Nicholas Mackay(Year 2)
It's really good (being back at school) because we get to learn, write, play with our friends, do art, and more writing. My goal is to get a Principal's Award this term. I’m so close! I will try and be even more respectful.
Athea Mica (Year 1)
We get to be back with our friends. We get to play. I am looking forward to playing, doing more art and sport this term. I like Maths. My goal is to get better at my times tables.
Luke Goddard (Year 1)
I really like seeing my friends again and learning. Writing words and some silly sentences is fun too. I'm doing lots of writing. My friends help me write when I don’t know how. My teacher is funny and makes school happy for me.
Jack Wilson (Kindergarten)
Structured play is a lot of fun. I missed it when we were at home. I love being with my friends because they make me feel happy. It’s good to be happy. It helps me learn. My teacher helps me learn everything.
Hana Stevens (Kindergarten)
New English and Mathematics Syllabus
NESA is developing a new syllabus for K-2 Mathematics and English as part of a major curriculum reform K-12. The final documents are due to be released in this term and will be fully implemented by the end of 2023. The 3-6 Mathematics and English syllabus reform process will begin in 2022 with full implementation by 2024. Over the coming term and into 2022, teachers will undergo professional learning that will support the most effective implementation of the syllabus for our students. Please keep an eye out in upcoming newsletters for further information about the syllabus.
Why do we need a new syllabus?
Michelle Scott
Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching
Socktober - Friday 22 October
On Friday 22 October, our school will participate in ‘Socktober’ to support ‘Catholic Mission Australia’ in helping the needy in Thailand and around the world. The students will be invited to wear crazy socks to school on the day and bring in a gold coin donation to go towards this cause.
Socktober encourages our students to engage with mission by using our heads to enquire about the reality of the world around us, using our hearts to feel empathy for those in situations of great need, and using our hands to take action for them in whatever way we are able.
Let’s help sock it to poverty!
Colour-Thon - Friday 5 November
A huge thank you on behalf of the Parent Forum for the fantastic response to our 2021 Colour-Thon. We are thrilled with your amazing support and plan to allocate the funds to the Albany Street entrance project. A space for gathering, performing and playing.
Today our highest fundraising class to date has enjoyed a pizza lunch! What fun.
Next week’s prize is a REBEL pack for each student in the class who wins the Week 3 highest fundraising team. To clarify, we will tally the class that raises the most funds from 2pm today until 2pm next Thursday 21 October. The winning class will be announced on Thursday afternoon and awarded the prize on Friday.
Again, a massive THANK YOU to our school community near and far for your support and encouragement so far.
Amber Lockdown
Dear Parents and Carers
In the event that we have a positive COVID case at school, we have a plan for the immediate closing of the school, followed by deep cleaning, as directed by NSW Health. If we receive notice of any child or staff member testing positive we will place the school in an Amber Lockdown (Students will remain in their current classroom and will continue class until the safe and smooth exit of students takes place) and will ask you to come and pick up your child from school. This will be communicated via text message, Facebook and email. Staff will bring your child to your car as you line up, just like in the afternoons. The difference is that if your surname begins with A-K, you will be picked up at Gordon St drive-through and L-Z at Albany St drive-through. This will be indicated in the message sent at the time. If siblings have different surnames, go with the eldest. Similar to an evacuation drill we will also practice this at school next week (wet weather prevented the drill from happening yesterday) so that staff and students are aware of the procedure. The welfare and safety of your children are at the forefront of this planning process and although it is quite unlikely that it will happen, we need to be prepared.
Naomi Loader
Assistant Principal Mission
Parenting Ideas
Community Notices
Students who need a travel pass for 2022 can apply now. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for a school travel pass for the first time, or if they are requesting an additional travel entitlement as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g. joint custody). Please see below.
