The Principal's Desk

Dear parents, families and friends,

I'm back!!

They rebuilt me. Faster. Stronger. Smarter. (Well maybe not smarter!!)

The full hip replacement was a success. I am now pain free and gaining strength and flexibility day by day. There are still limitations to what I am allowed to do for the next 6 months. I have been advised that playing basketball and long distance running are to be avoided if I want to ensure long life of the new hip. I have already returned to walking and swimming enthusiastically. I should be able to recommence cycling in about 6 months

It is great being back and being able to move around the school easily and freely.

We are nearing the end of Holy Week and therefore Lent, with Easter Sunday only a few days away. Holy Week is the holiest time of the Catholic calendar and I hope that all families that are either Catholic or Christian are able to attend the masses and services of the Paschal Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil/Easter Sunday), commemorating and celebrating that Jesus loves us all so much that he was willing to suffer and die in order to proove that through the Resurrection, life continues after death. These liturgical celebrations and commemorations are some of the most beautiful and engaging that you can experience, full of signs and symbols that overwhelm the senses.

On the afternoons of Tuesday and Wednesday this week we gather as a school community to take part in two paraliturgies commemorating the events of Holy Week and Easter Sunday. The students from each level did an exceptional job in recounting and role playing the events of Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. I found each of these paraliturgies to be very reverent and reflective. Each one was simplistic in presentation, but not simple in the message being presented. Thank you to the teachers and students for the hard work involved in preparing for these paraliturgies over the past few weeks. It was also wonderful in seeing so many families joining us over these two days.

It is easy today for children and even us to be confused about the meaning of Easter with so many symbols and messages such bunnies delivering chocolate eggs. In the Northern Hemisphere Easter falls during Spring Time, a time of new life. That is why we have bunnies, chicks, butterflies, eggs and flowers as symbols of Easter. Chocolate eggs replaced real dyed eggs long ago, however Greek Orthodox still have red dyed hardboiled eggs as a key feature of their celebrations. Chocolate is also a symbol of the sweet food that was traditionally given up or abstained from during the fast of Lent. For all Christians, all over the world, Holy Week and Easter is a time of hope, joy and life. Hope that through the Resurrection we know that life is eternal. Joy in the fact that God loves us always and life because God has created us and given each one of us a life to live.

On the topic of Easter, thank you to everyone who donated eggs, eggs, eggs and more eggs for the Easter raffle. A big thank you to Simon from Cadbury for donating the impressive 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Hampers. Special thanks to Sally, Erin, Bec, Bili, Kate and Louise for wrapping all of the prizes, no small task! Thank you also to all parents who have volunteered their time sell raffle tickets each morning between 8.30am and 8.50am.

Staff News

There will be some slight changes to school staff during Term 2. Ms Kylie Jenkins will not be returning next term, taking up a part time teaching position. Kylie has be studying part time for a Masters of Education. We thank Kylie for her time here at St. Augustine's over the past 4 and a bit years. Kylie has provided wonderful support to all the students she has worked with, not to mention the support to staff!! We wish Kylie the best of luck with her teaching career and I know that she will be a great teacher.

Next term, Mrs Belinda Sposato, co-teacher of 3/4 WS will be taking leave for all of Term 2. She will be replaced by Miss Olivia Jones. To facilitate this, Mrs Michele Witchell will work Monday to Thursday and Olivia will work Thursday and Friday. We wish Mrs Sposato a restful and relaxing time with her family while on leave, and look forward to her returning to us at the start of Term 3.

Open Day

Our 2nd School Open Day was a great success. This year we had 42 families visit our school between 12pm and 3pm. About half of these were potential enrolments for 2024 and the other half potential enrolments for 2025. At this stage the Open Day has already generated 3 enrolments to our school community.

A big thank you to all students, parents and staff who generously gave their time to assist with welcoming visitors, leading tours, running activities and cooking sausages - Louise,

Sebastian, Daisy, Phil, Tess, Leo, Ian, Georgina, Jimmy, Rosie, Billy, Eva, Vittoria, Elizabeth, Mark, Kate, Hazel, Jen, Scarlett, Adam, Dayenne, Hayley, Marc, Rachel, Chris, Emily, Mick, Claire, Ed, Kathryn, Thomas, Rosie, Shane. Rachel, Stella, Dan, Sonia, Anthony, Evonne, Heidi, Kiera, Mark, Selina, Carrie, Esther, Fred, Bec, Gem, Karen, Steph, Jane, Oscar, Simone, Antonio, Annette, Daniel, Desi, Kiara, Michael, Sebastian, Biliana, Gisele, Adam, Neroli, Tegan, Jimmy, Harper, Patrick, Ruby, Gwen, Eilish and Jane.

As you can see it was a real community effort and we are blessed to have so many helpers.

Birmingham Street Park

The construction of the Birmingham Street Park is progressing well and nearing completion. At this point it is anticipated to be ready by early May. Thank you to all families for your patience and understanding during this time, especially when we haven't had access via the main gates and main entry to the office.

School Master Plan

For our new families this year and for existing families that may have forgotten, here is our School Master Plan for upgrading the school buildings and facilities to further support and enhance contemporary Learning and Teaching. We have submitted an application for capital Grant funding from the Federal Government. The application is for the refurbishment and upgrade of Building 2, the main classroom block. You can see the proposed works in the diagram below. We will find out towards the end of the year if we have been successful.

Toilet Block and Outdoor Learning Space Building Project

Planning is progression steadily for the redevelopment of the junior toilet block and the upstairs outdoor learning area (rooftop garden). The project also includes the provision of a lift shaft in preparation for the installation of a lift in a future building project.

Below is one part of our school Master Plan. The area in focus for this project is the left hand corner.

House Colour COMPETITION

The students participated in the second House Colour competition with this round all about relay races. Students had a great time running, skipping, kangaroo hopping and side stepping from one side of the basketball to the other. They cheered, clapped and brought fantastic house spirit to the day. 

Below are the results and new scores, great effort by all teams... VERY CLOSE BETWEEN RED AND BLUE.

2024 ENROLMENTS

We have started taking enrolment for the 2024 school year.  If you have a child that will begin Prep next year, please come and collect an enrolment from from the office.  If you know of any families in the area that are looking at schools for next year, please let them know about the wonderful community of St Augustine's.

SCHOOL ABSENCES

If you know that your child will be absent or has an appointment, please email your child's class teacher, as well as the office email:  office@sayarraville.catholic.edu.au

SCHOOL UNIFORM SHOP

The Uniform shop is open Fridays 8:30 am - 9:00 am.  All items are $5.00.

Bucket hats can now be ordered from Academy Uniforms $20 each

https://academyuniforms.com.au/

LUNCH ORDERS - Wednesday & Friday

Wednesday:  Classroom Cuisine

Friday:  Beaver's Tail

Senior Playground Garden Area

Possums are thriving on the senior yard. They are using the possum box in the gum tree and have also moved into the bird box as well. I think the dad possum has been kicked out into the doghouse, as the mum possum and the kids have taken over the main possum box.

A reminder that Term 2 commences on Monday 24th April.

Please read each page of the newsletter as each one contains important or interesting information and updates.

I wish all families a holy, happy and safe Easter. I wish all students an enjoyable and relaxing school holidays.

Kids, make sure your homes are neat and tidy for the Easter Bunny. If you can catch the Easter Bunny leaving eggs then the Easter Bunny has to give you a giant egg!!

Matthew Stead