From The Principal

Dear parents, students, families and friends,

Welcome to the 2024 school year!!

To our new Prep students and parents, welcome to the 1st year of school. Your journey is just beginning. May this be an exciting and rewarding year for you, full of new experiences, lots of fun times and heaps of learning.

To our Year 6 students and parents, welcome to the last year of primary school. Your journey is nearly finished. May this be a special year full of growth and learning. May it also provide you with some wonderful experiences and lifelong memories from your time here at St. Augustine’s.

To all our new students and parents joining from other schools, states and countries, welcome to St. Augustine’s. May you feel welcomed, connected and supported. May your experiences be positive and rewarding.

 On Thursday we gathered as a school community to celebrate our Beginning of the School Year Mass. It was good to see parents and grandparents join us. Falmilies are always welcome to join us at school and class mass. Following is an extract from my welcome address highlighting the importance of the Mass and therefore the Eucharist in the life of a Catholic Primary School:

"As we embark on this new academic year, our collective hope is for a year marked by profound learning, compassion towards others, genuine friendships, and mutual respect shown by all – all while walking in the footsteps of Jesus.

We express gratitude for the safe return of all our school community members, eager and prepared for a year of growth and love. A special welcome is extended to the new students and their families who are joining our school and parish community. We aspire to make their time at St. Augustine’s joyful and memorable.

Given our identity as a Catholic School, the Mass, and particularly the Eucharist, holds great significance in the life of our school. Throughout the year, we will come together as a school community to partake in Mass, engage with the word of God, offer prayers to the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Mary our Mother, and all the Saints, with a special mention of St. Augustine and St. Mary MacKillop. We will also partake in the Eucharist, reinforcing the spiritual foundation of our community."

Last night we continued with our start of year tradition of welcoming new parents to the school community at the Prep Parent Wine and Cheese Night. This evening allowed new and existing parents to meet and connect over some cold drinks and some delicious nibblies. The prep teachers and school leaders were on hand to serve food and drinks, introduce themselves to our new families. In a few weeks time we will gather as a school community for the Family Picnic. All who attended would agree that it was a fantastic, relaxed night. Thank you to Mrs Dina Mazzeo, Miss Jess Brennan, Mrs Michele Witchell, Ms Loretta LeBeouf, Miss Natalie Librizzi and Miss Natalina Paglianiti for their support. Thank you also to our Parent Committee representatives Kate, Neroli and Karen for helping our staff to set up, serve food and drinks and welcome the new parents.

This coming Wednesday we will gather again at mass to celebrate Ash Wednesday and begin the season of Lent. I invite and encourage as many families as possible to join with us as we begin Lent and prepare for our joureny towards Easter.

I have often spoken about what a wonderful, supportive community we have here at St. Augustine's. One of our parents, Rachel English was diagnosed with cancer last year. Rachel is again preparing to begin 9 weeks of weekly doses of Chemotherapy. Mark her husband is working full time, caring for Rachel and the family and running the household. We are seeking some volunteers to cook some meals so that they can go into their freezer.

If you are able to assist you can either contact Kate on 0438 771 612 or email Cath - csantillo@sayarraville.catholic.edu.au.

I will go over a few organisational matters and reminders:

Assemblies:

Assemblies will be held fortnightly  on a Friday afternoon at 2.30pm. Family mebers are invited to attend. A class or level will be responsible for leading and presenting the assembly. On the alternating weeks the students will gather in their Sports House Colours to compete in a variety of sports, games and activities. Below is the Assembly and Colour House Sports schedule for 2024. Please note that these dates may be subject to change.

Sports Uniform

All students are to wear their sports uniform twice per week; on the day they have Physical Education lessons (Tuesday or Wednesday) and Friday. On Fridays they can wear their Colour House T-Shirt. This is to be a plain t-shirt in their house colour (Blue, Green, Red or Yellow). These t-shirts can be purchased from K-mart, Big W, Best and Less etc.

On Physical Education days, excursions or interschool sports days they are to wear the royal blue sports polo.

On special House Colour events such as Cross Country Carnival, Athletics Carnival and Swimming Carnival, students are to also wear their House Colour T-shirts.

No Food Sharing Policy

Due to a number of students with varying levels of allergies to a variety of foods we have a strict No Food Sharing Policy here at St. Augustine's. This means that students cannot share any food from their lunchboxes with other students. It also means that students cannot bring lolly bags, lollipops, cakes etc to share with their class to celebrate their birthday. Teachers cannot give food as rewards or incentives. Any activities that involve the cooking and eating of food must be communicated to families and permission given for the students to take part in that activity. On camps we ensure that meals prepared by the camps do not contain traces of allergens. Students eating foods that contain allergens for other students are supported to maintain a safe distance and to wash their hands after eating. Teachers sanitise surfaces after the students have eaten.

Items of interest on other pages:

• School and Class Mass Roster 2024 in Faith News
• Chess Club Letter in Classroom and Curriculum News

We are looking forward to yet another very busy, exciting and rewarding year. Until the next newsletter, have an enjoyable two weeks.

Happy New Year to all our families who will be celebrating Lunar New Year this weekend. May this Year of the dragon bring you luck and success.

Kind regards,

Matthew Stead