Principal's Report 

Dear St A’s Community,

Wow!  This is the last newsletter for 2023!  What a year it has been. I think we made it; the end of the School Year! There’s definite excitement and exhaustion in the air (adults as well as children!). I am incredibly proud of the achievements that each and every one of our students have achieved this year and can not believe that we are at the end of yet another school year.

Every year at this time, I reflect upon the beautiful community that is St A’s Primary School; we are so blessed to have such a generous community who give selflessly of their time, effort and talent. The final week of school provides an opportunity to reflect upon all that has been, thank everyone and farewell others. It’s also a time of celebration and so many fun activities have been taking place too!  We certainly have finished off the year with fun!

Graduation

Last night we celebrated the success and graduation of our Grade 6 students. It was a fabulous celebration, sending off our Grade 6 students in style. We celebrated with a lovely mass, followed by presentations, a parent and family dinner and then the Grade 6’s had their very last St A’s disco. They have made their parents and teachers proud and we look forward to hearing about their next part of their educational journey.  

I am sure that many memorable friendships have been made during their time spent in primary school and we want our students to leave us with a sense of belonging, knowing that they will always be part of the St A’s community. It is my hope that links with the school, parish and one another will continue. On behalf of the school community, I thank the graduating students for their wonderful contribution to our school over the years. They will remain forever in our thoughts and prayers. I am confident, as I see them leave school as students for the last time, that each will continue to make themselves, their families and St A ’s, proud. A big congratulations to all of our graduating students!

We also farewell those families whose last child at our school now graduates. On behalf of all our school, I thank each of them for their support in so many differing aspects of our parish school community. Our great appreciation goes to the following families whose Grade 6 children are the last to leave our school:

Artico, White, Chilvers, Han, Howden, McAnearney, O'Rourke, Russo-Coleman, Thorn, De Pietro, Green, Herbert, Renfrey, Turnball, Bourke, Coulson, De Pietro, McCraith, Allan, Cagney, Cameron, Dooley, Ivison and Pendlebury.

To our school captains Ava M and Logan D, a big thankyou on behalf of our school and community for the outstanding roles that you both have played.  You both have led the school with confidence and have continued to show empathy, compassion, concern and initiative.  Congratulations on fulfilling this challenging role - we are so proud of the leaders that you have become.

Thankyou

There are many other people to thank for their contributions this year. To the children, thank you for your enthusiastic participation in school life this year. Each of you has contributed in your own wonderful way to help make St A’s the happy, warm and respectful place it is. I love coming to school each day to work with such a delightful group of children (Congratulations parents!). To all our parents, thank you for your ongoing support and for the multitude of ways in which you contribute to our school. Thank you to everyone who has supported our fundraising, school events and activities. Thank you to each one of you who take the time to join us for assemblies and masses. A huge thank you also to our amazing Parents and Friends, volunteers and parent helpers. 

Thank you to our dedicated staff for all the hard work they have put in this year. They are a fabulous team and together, work for the good of all children. A lot of time and effort goes into ensuring that the learning activities are engaging, targeted and challenging. Our staff dedicate many hours to arranging the many extracurricular activities offered throughout the year. We are very blessed to have a staff who genuinely want the best for each and every child. Thanks to Fr. Chinua  who has supported the students, staff and families in many ways this year.

Colour Fun Run

Today there was colour everywhere as our students finished off the year with a fun fun colour run!!  A big thank you to everyone that helped with this event!  The students certainly had a great time, being splashed with colour and so did the staff! What an amazing way to end the school year!  So much fun!!!

Staff leaving

Signora Castello has decided to leave St A’s and work closer to home. Signora has been traveling to St A’s from Camberwell over the past 2 years and her commitment to our school has been incredible.  We will miss Signora Castello, her kind smile and wish her all the best.

Mrs Dee Mellor has been at St Augustine’s for 23 years!  This is a very long time to stay in a school, so bravely Dee has taken the plunge and accepted a position closer to her home at St Catherine’s in Berwick.  We thank Dee for her long service to St Augustine’s and wish her great success as she takes on the challenges of Grade 6.

Mrs Felicity Wallace is moving onto St Kevins in Hampton Park.  This will be a big change for Mrs Wallace as she will experience a new community and school dynamic.  Felicity will be teaching Grade 6 and we wish her all the best as tackles this new challenge.

Mrs Anna Bolton, one of our wonderful office ladies, sadly is leaving St Augustine’s.  Anna along with her boys Gus and Eddie (and husband David) are off on an adventure as they move interstate and begin a new chapter in their lives in Port Macquarie.  An exciting adventure awaits the Bolton family.  We will miss the Bolton’s and hope that they have an amazing time interstate and begin their new journey.

2024 staffing

Please see the staff list for 2024

Wishing you all a very blessed Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Show Grace, Be the Joy for others, and God Bless.

Carrie Rodda

Principal