College News

Public Holiday - 13th March

A reminder that next Monday, 13th March, is the Labour Day Public Holiday and students are not required at school.

Assistance to access Parent Access Module (PAM)

If you are having trouble accessing your PAM account please contact the College Office on 5851 3000.

Thank you Luca and Henry

The Partnerships for the Future Year 9 students have been taking part in welding and metal work this year. Last term, a challenge was put out to have them modify the high jump mat trolley to fit our two larger mats.  

Luca and Henry put a lot of hard work into adapting the trolley. After measuring, the boys found it was too short and not wide enough. They were required to cut and extend the metal and then weld it all back together. There were multiple problems encountered on the way but Henry and Luca were able to problem solve and work their way through these. 

The entire project took just under four weeks to complete. With a quick spray of paint, the trolley was as good as new. Great work boys!

Michael Hill

Sports Coordinator 

Catholic Education Sandhurst Student Leadership Day

On Thursday 2nd March, four of our outstanding student leaders gave up their time to attend the Catholic Education Sandhurst Student Leadership Day organised by our Deputy Principal - Student Learning & Professional Practice, Tim Campbell, and Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd (CESL) Secondary Education Consultant, Ms. Leonie Irwin. The day was designed and organised to allow student leaders from across the Sandhurst Diocese to meet, network, listen and interact with guest speakers and learn more about leadership and in particular, ethical and servant leadership. 

The students were welcomed on to Country by Troy Firebrace in a smoking ceremony, supported by Michael Chisholm (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education Leaders – CESL) in delivering an address about the importance and significance of a “Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country”. Other guest speakers on the day included the Director of Catholic Education Sandhurst LTD, Paul Desmond, who spoke of the importance of leadership, Maria Ford (CESL), who spoke of faith leadership, and Kate Wilde (The Human Development Workshop), whose interactive nature demonstrated how to be strong, inclusive leaders of today. 

The event was extremely positive with all students commenting on the skills and knowledge learnt. 

Well done to Sam Clydesdale, Lilliana Scoble, Ayden Shepherd and Sarah Colliver as well as Kasey Cooper for your participation and leadership shown on the day.

Easter Liturgy

Family and friends of the College are warmly invited to come along to our Easter Liturgy to be held at 10.00am on Holy Thursday (6th April) in our Brigidine Centre. 

SOLE Stars

Congratultions to our Weeks 5 and 6 SOLE Stars. A special mention to Graycen (Year 2), who received two nominations in Week 5 and Max (Year 5) who received two nominations in Week 6.

Week 5

Week 6

NAPLAN

NAPLAN is fast approaching and will run nationally from Wednesday 15th - Monday 27th March 2023. For those new to NAPLAN, these tests will be administered to all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 across all schools in Australia, testing their literacy and numeracy skills. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 in 2023 will sit assessments in:

• Writing
• Reading
• Conventions of Language (spelling, grammar and punctuation)
• Numeracy.

Test Schedule at St Augustine's College:

Wednesday 15th March - Writing  

Thursday 16th March - Reading  

Friday 17th March - Conventions of Language

Monday 20th March - Numeracy  

Tuesday 21st March - Catch up day

*All tests to begin at 9:15am.

NAPLAN is just one aspect of a child’s learning experience and assessment, but it can provide parents/carers and teachers with additional information about a child’s educational progress. The earlier NAPLAN testing period will coincide with earlier, simpler and clearer information about each child’s NAPLAN achievement based on new, more rigorous, national standards. New proficiency standards with four levels of achievement for each year level will replace the previous ten band structure. The new proficiency standards include a baseline benchmark to identify students who are likely to need additional support.

The four levels of achievement include:

• Exceeding
• Strong
• Developing
• Needs Additional Support

If a child is in the Strong or Exceeding category, it means they have demonstrated proficiency and that their literacy or numeracy skills are where they should be at this stage of their schooling. If a child has not yet met proficiency, then they will be in either the Developing or Needs Additional Support category. 

*Parents/guardians are asked to contact the College if you do not wish for your child to complete any of the NAPLAN tests.

Students/families in Years 3, 5 7 and 9 completing NAPLAN in 2023 are reminded to charge their devices at home, check the practice tests to see that their device works and please please please bring headphones from home for each test.

For more information please refer to the NAPLAN handout or contact Tim Campbell or Leanne Reed at the College.

Volunteers Opportunities

Are you a king or queen of organisation and storage? 

We have some materials we need sorted and stored neatly in our Brigidine Centre Storeroom. There is probably 1-2 hours work in this task. If you are an Inducted Volunteer at our College I would be very grateful to hear from you! kyliemorrissey@sakyabram.vic.edu.au

Many thanks, 

Kylie Morrissey 

Deputy Principal - Catholic Identity and Community

Wonder Women's Breakfast helpers needed - Calling all dads and special men!

Our Wonder Women's Breakfast will be held on Wednesday 10th May, prior to Mother's Day. We have lots of mums cook the Father's Day Breakfast later each year. We need some dad's and special men to help us prepare the Mother's Day Breakfast!

Helpers will need to complete a Volunteer Induction Process which takes approx (45mins) prior to the day.

The next Volunteer Induction Sessions are:

20th March at 8.30am

8th May at 9.00am

Please contact Nicole Elliott, our Volunteer Administrator to register your interest today! nicoleelliott@sakyabram.vic.edu.au  or Ph: 5851 3002.

Parent/Family Help with Religious Education

We are requiring some parent/family helpers to assist with organising our Godly Play resource which is used as part of our Religious Education teaching.

Helpers will need to have completed our Volunteer Induction Process.

Anyone interested should contact Kylie McGlade at the school by Thursday 16th March for more information.

New Volunteer Induction Sessions 

Are you interested in volunteering at our College?

We value partnering with parents, caregivers and friends of our College to support our learners and College events to come to life. 

If you think you would like to assist students reading before school, helping out (or even co-ordinating!) our Mother's Day and Father's Day Stalls and Beaut Blokes Breakfast, or are open to jumping on a rake at the Athletics Day, then please come along to one of our Volunteer Induction Sessions!

Sessions run for approximately 45 minute and are designed for new volunteers to our College.  Our next sessions are on:

• Monday 20th March at 8.30am
• 8th May 2023 at 9.00am

Please contact Nicole Elliott on 5851 3002 to indicate your attendance or to find out more.

School Photo Day - Friday 24th March

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF)

Bowls Club carpark closed

A reminder the Kyabram Bowls Club car park will remain closed until the end of Term 1, 2023.