As we finish Week 6 of Term 1, we reflect upon a busy past few weeks and look forward to an equally busy second half of the term. The students and staff of the 9-12 Community continue to work hard and have fun, with lots of curricular and extracurricular activities taking place.

Week 5 also saw our Year 12 and Foundation students gather together and share in lots of fun activities in Tolle Lege. It was a wonderful opportunity for our most senior students to meet their buddies and have a fun time with our youngest students. Below is a reflection from Lara in Year 12.

Last Friday, our Year 12 cohort was filled with enthusiasm for sixth period because we finally got to meet our buddies. We headed over to the foundation classroom to meet and pick up our little buddies. After that, we walked back to our area, known as "The Tolle." We had a bunch of activities to choose from, like drawing, colouring and Just Dance. These fun activities really helped our buddies feel more at ease. The purpose of having our little buddies is to get to know our buddies and make them feel comfortable and welcome members of the St Augustine’s Community.

Our Units 1&2 Outdoor and Environmental Studies class spent a wonderful few days away down on the Coast for their first excursion. Camping at the Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park allowed the students to explore Victoria’s Surf Coast. The students investigated the reasons why people engaged in outdoor environments, their motivations and how people use the outdoor environment as a resource, study site or recreation. On the first day, the students learned about the rich surfing history of the area when they visited the Surf Museum.

On Wednesday, everyone woke up at 5am to head to Queenscliff to experience swimming with dolphins and seals in the Port Phillip Bay Marine Park. The students later explored Point Addis and engaged in an Indigenous Education session, learning about the Wadawurrung people and the way they engage with the outdoor environment.

On Thursday, the students headed down the Great Ocean Road to Lorne for the day, exploring the shore, pier and natural environments. Later, they headed up to Erskine Falls, then finished the day with a surfing lesson with Go Ride a Wave. The students were up for the challenge of surfing, showing resilience to keep practising their skills with everyone being able to stand up and surf a wave.

Year 12 Retreat

An important part of the education journey for St Augustine’s students is the Year 12 Retreat. This year, the Retreat was again held at Palotti College, a beautiful venue nestled in the foothills of Mt Donna Buang, overlooking the valley and surrounding mountains, in a peaceful rural environment. Retreat is a chance for the students to put aside their studies for a few days to allow them to reflect upon their lives, to this point, and the experiences and journeys that lay ahead of them. The purpose of a retreat is to afford students the time and space to stop and reflect on their lives so far, in addition to looking toward their future. Retreat activities were designed to open students to the spiritual dimension of their lives as well as fostering a sense of community and a heightened awareness of their own giftedness and that of others. Using the metaphor of ‘Harvest’, the students progressed through a range of activities, from ‘preparing the soil’, ‘planting and watering the seeds’ and ‘keeping the pests out’ as a way to explore the ways in which they can navigate the challenges of life, and this year, as they nurture themselves and each other. The cohesion and support that the students showed towards each other was truly gratifying. Thank you to Mrs Chapman, Tess, Mr Dmytriw, Peter Fawcett and Mrs Shannon for giving up their time to make this a memorable experience for our students.

Shrove Tuesday

Our student leaders from across the three communities moved smoothly into their roles when they assisted staff in cooking and sharing hundreds of pancakes to students and families on Shrove Tuesday, supporting Caritas. The ways in which the leaders conducted themselves, leading by example and working together for the benefit of others was a great way for them to begin their year of service and leadership.

9/10 Outdoor Education Canoe Trip

Last week the Years 9/10 Outdoor Education students travelled down to Majors Creek for a day canoeing on the water. The 10 students were greeted with perfect conditions for paddling and quickly learnt how to control their boats to navigate their way down Majors Creek and into the Goulburn River, stopping just short of Lake Nagambie.

The House Swimming Sports being held today will no doubt be a great success. There were many excited students in TA dressed in their house colours, full of energy and enthusiasm and ready to compete. Today is a great day for our passionate House Leaders to step up and fulfil their roles. We look forward to celebrating the winning house later on today.

Next week, our Year 9 students commence the NAPLAN tests. Information has been sent home to parents via OPEROO. The information that has been sent contains details of the testing days, along with links to practice tests that students may wish to complete to help prepare them for the week ahead. Please ensure that you communicate with your child’s TA’s or the College Office if your child will be absent on one of the testing days.

The NAPLAN process allows for ‘catch-up’ days if required. Results for the NAPLAN will be available in Term 2.

On 28th March, we will have our College Photo Day. Students have received the information and payment envelopes and are reminded to complete the details for ordering and paying for photos as per the instructions provided. Students are reminded of the need to wear their full, academic uniform for photo day.

Overall, students are looking impressive in their school uniforms, with most students wearing their uniform - neat, clean and complete - with pride.

We continue to seek the support of families in helping us reinforce the importance of every student wearing all parts of our uniform correctly, every day. Students taking pride in the way they wear their uniform is an aspect of education that extends beyond the classroom.

Michelle Downie Katelyn McIntyre

9-12 Community Leader 9-12 Community Leader

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