Newsletter 23 May 2025

Principal's Message

Friday 23 May 2025 - Term 2  Week 4

Dear Parents and Carers,

What a lot of rain we've had recently! There were moments I thought our wonderful school might just float away. We've experienced some manageable damage to the library and the music/OSHC area, but rest assured, it won't slow us down. I know this wet weather has been tricky for many of our children, limiting their time for outdoor play and exercise. Let's truly savour these next few days of sunshine and the great outdoors while we can!

Upcoming School Activities

The next two weeks are absolutely buzzing with activities! Please ensure you're regularly checking the school calendar to keep up-to-date. Here’s a little taste of what's coming: the Eisteddfod, our annual Book Fair, a special Year 2 excursion, the FUTSAL titles, a GLOW Gathering, Rugby 7’s, the Diocesan Cross Country, and even some fantastic author visits as part of the Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival.

I particularly want to draw your attention to Crazy Sock Day. This is a wonderful initiative where we raise funds for children in poorer countries who go without basic necessities every day. Your gold coin donation truly goes a long way in making a difference.

Homework Challenge Returns!

Get ready, Years 3 to 6! Our popular Homework Challenge is back and will be kicking off next week. This challenge will be in addition to normal homework and is designed to test recall of knowledge directly related to the syllabus. There will be a test each week, culminating in the Grand Final Test on Friday, June 20. To make it extra exciting, a random prize draw will be awarded to one student in each grade who scores ten out of ten. Good luck everyone!

A Note from the Principal

Finally, I wanted to let you know that I am very fortunate to be going on a sabbatical for six weeks, starting this coming Monday. During this time, Naomi Loader will be the acting Principal. I want to extend my sincere thanks to each and every one of you for your incredible support and partnership in building such a vibrant and positive school community. I look forward to reconnecting with you all upon my return.

Grace and peace,

Peter Watts

Faith and Mission News

First Eucharist 

The dates for First Eucharist are 21 and 22 June. Families will choose the Mass they would like to attend at the Passover evening on Wednesday 4 June at 6pm, held in the assembly area. This is an interactive, educational evening where connections are made between The Mass and the Passover and is an important part of your child’s preparation to receive the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist. Please make every effort to ensure that your child, accompanied by one or two parents, attends this evening.

Please note that the ‘Pray for Me’ cards for First Eucharist are due to the school office by Friday 30 May. 

Confirmation

The Confirmation Liturgies will be held at 5:30pm on Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 July. If you have not yet selected the liturgy your family will be attending, please complete the Google Form on Compass notification that was sent home to the families of candidates. 

Please note that the completed WHITE CARD  and the “Pray For Me’ card for Confirmation are due to the school office by Friday 30 May. Please ensure that the WHITE CARD is completed on BOTH sides.

Pentecost Sunday/Multicultural Mass

Pentecost Sunday falls on 8 June this year and our school, in conjunction with the St Augustine's Parish, will celebrate this day with a Multicultural Mass. At this Mass, families will celebrate all their different cultural backgrounds through hymns and prayers in different languages and processions featuring the flags of our cultural heritage. After the Mass, in the school grounds, there will be sharing of traditional foods, songs and dances. All are welcome to join us on this joyful day. If you have a song or dance that you would like to share at the gathering after Mass, please contact Maria Woods if you need any clarification. Wearing traditional dress or typical clothing from your culture is encouraged.

If your child/children would like to participate in the entrance procession and carry a flag of their cultural heritage, please fill in the Google Form so the school can print the flags for you. When your family arrives at the church, the children can go into the church with the adults to find out where their parents will be sitting, then return outside to collect their flag from the teacher and line up for the entrance procession. 

The Jubilee LOGO explained 

‘Pilgrims of Hope’

Many classes have begun their ‘pilgrimage’, working through the activities on the poster below. This pilgrimage will take almost all year to complete and we look forward to sharing some of the experiences that bring us closer to God.

One of the ways to be a ‘Pilgrim of Hope’ is to take action to support people in need. Next Friday, our school will hold Crazy Sock Day to support children in need across the world. See the flyer in this newsletter for details. 

As a result of Year 6’s work on how to ‘Walk Humbly with God’, a supporter of ‘Pete’s Place’ came to speak with the Year 6 students about how it helps vulnerable people in our community. For the next month, in cooperation with the Mini Vinnies team, our school community will be collecting donations for this local community venture.  Please see flyer attached.

Naomi Loader - Assistant Principal Mission
Maria Woods - Leader of School Evangelisation

Pastoral Care

K-2 Parent Storytelling 2025

Mother's Day Celebrations at St Augustine's

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 50

Next

Year 5 Harry Potter Day

'WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA!!'
Move over Hogwarts,
On Friday 16 May Year 5 made wands, attended Potions Class, created Ministry of Magic Identity Cards, tested their knowledge with a Potter Quiz and cast as many spells as they possibly could...

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 42

Next

Mini Vinnies

After Pete's Place employee Opal Harvey recently visited Year 6, our Mini Vinnies have decided to support our local community by running a drive to help them out with personal hygiene items.

Below is a list of items that we are asking our cohorts to be responsible for donating over the next 4 weeks. Please bring them to your classroom before Friday 20th June. Donations of all sizes will be gratefully received.

• Kindergarten - Shampoo

• Year 1 - Conditioner

• Year 2 - Deodorant (roll on only)

• Year 3 - Body wash and soap

• Year 4 - Toothbrushes and Toothpaste

• Year 5 - Combs and brushes

• Year 6 - Shaving cream

Thank you in advance, from the Mini Vinnies team.

FIREFLY Arts Festival - Wed June 25

TICKETS ON SALE via STICKY TICKETS

Click on the link below to purchase your tickets:

https://www.stickytickets.com.au/8oshn

PRE-PAY TODAY for FASTER ENTRY on the night!

CRAZY SOCK DAY

News from the LARC

Our Scholastic Book Fair has arrived!

All students will have the opportunity to view the book fair and complete a wish list with their class. Wish lists will start coming home from Thursday 16 May.

The Book Fair will open for sales from Monday 26 May at 8.30am. Please see times below. Cash and card sales will be accepted. 

Sales dates and times:
Monday 26 May
8.30-8.55am, lunchtime, 3-4pm

Tuesday 27 May
8.30-8:55am & lunchtime

National Simultaneous Storytime 

St Augustine’s students participated in the 25th annual National Simultaneous Storytime  on Wednesday. National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country.

Visiting Authors

As part of the Bellingen Writers Festival, Schools Program we have three authors visiting to share their expertise with students in Years 3, 4, 5 & 6.

On Tuesday 3 June Solli Raphael will be visiting Year 5 and Jaclyn Moriarty will be visiting Year 6.

On Thursday 5 June RA Spratt will be working with Years 3 & 4.

These authors will be doing a meet and greet and book signing at the Book Warehouse. 

Details below. 

World Environment Day

Join Us for World Environment Day – Take Action Against Plastic Pollution!

World Environment Day is coming up on Thursday 5th June, and this year the global call is clear: “Together, we can beat plastic pollution.” It's a day to reflect on how our everyday choices affect the environment—and more importantly, how we can take action to protect it.

Our Environment Club is leading the charge with a special initiative: a Plastic-Free Lunchbox Day for our whole school community! That means packing your lunch using reusable containers, beeswax wraps, and avoiding single-use plastics like cling film, snack wrappers, and disposable cutlery.

Why is this important?
Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental challenges we face today. Single-use plastics often end up in our oceans, harming wildlife and polluting the planet for hundreds of years. By making small changes—like going plastic-free for just one lunch—we can all be part of a much bigger solution.

What’s in it for you?
To encourage participation and celebrate your efforts, there will be a prize for one student in each year group who is seen making a conscious effort to pack a plastic-free lunchbox. Whether it’s using clever reusable alternatives or skipping plastic altogether, your choices could earn you a reward—alongside the satisfaction of helping the planet.

Let’s make Thursday 5th June a day of real impact. Whether you're a student, teacher, or parent, we all have a part to play. Let’s show our school's commitment to a cleaner, greener future—one lunchbox at a time.

Mrs Bennett, Mrs Brett and the Environment Club

Happy Families

Sport News

NSW PSSA Hockey Championships

Congratulations to Sonny who represented Polding at the NSW PSSA Hockey Championships in Newcastle this week. Polding played the final and came home with a SILVER medal! 

Sonny was also selected in the NSW U12s Boys Hockey team!   A huge achievement!  Well done Sonny. We look forward to seeing your results from Nationals!

NSW PSSA Basketball Championships

Congratulations to Nate Butcher who represented Polding at the NSW PSSA Basketball Championships in Sydney last week. Polding finished in 8th place out of 14 very competitive teams. Congratulations on a wonderful achievement Nate. 

Clarence Zone Cross Country

Well done to our runners who competed at the Clarence Zone Cross Country this week at Woolgoolga.  A fast course with fast times finished up with some great results from our students.  

Congratulations to the following students who placed and have qualified to represent Clarence Zone at the Lismore Diocesan Cross Country: 

1st - Hugh Morgan (12 Year Boys)

2nd - Angus Morgan (12 Year Boys)

2nd - Isabella Guthrie (8/9 Year Girls)

2nd - Frankie Zuevla (10 Year Girls)

2nd - Emma Sandes (11 Year Girls)

5th - Aria Grebert (8/9 Year Girls)

5th - Leo Tait (10 Year Boys)

6th - Ollie Chiswell (11 Year Boys)

6th - Jack Tyler (12 Year Boys)

7th - Hope Mengel (11 Year Girls)

8th - Kyden Partridge (12 Year Boys)

Term 3 Years 3-6 Elective Sports

Years 3-6 Elective Sports preferences have been received. Families will receive notification of their child’s allocated sport via a Compass event soon.

CANTEEN NEWS

Canteen Roster

Week beginning 26 May 

• Monday - C Williams   
• Tuesday -   M & M Black, K Hunn 
• Wednesday - S Rowan 
• Thursday - V Paul 
• Friday -  W McLean, C Rose, B Symons  

Week beginning   2 June 

• Monday - M Mainey 
• Tuesday -   M & M Black  
• Wednesday - S Rowan, Amy   
• Thursday - B Symons
• Friday -  W McLean, C Williams, R Felton 

Notices