From Alison Dietrich

As hard as it is to believe, Semester One is already drawing to a close. The end of Term 2 can be a challenging time for many students - the days are colder and shorter, final assessments are due and energy levels can dip. It’s a time that calls for resilience, support and encouragement. The good news? A well-deserved break is just around the corner, with school holidays fast approaching!

Routines That Make a Difference

At St Augustine’s, our commitment to student wellbeing remains a top priority, particularly during high-pressure times like this. This term, we have continued our whole-school implementation of Classroom Mastery, a framework developed by The Knowledge Society that supports the creation of safe, predictable and calm classrooms.

Classroom Mastery focuses on:

• Explicitly teaching routines

• Setting high expectations

• Creating clarity for both students and staff

We know that students thrive when they know:

• What to expect

• What is expected of them

This term, we’ve continued embedding school-wide routines designed to support a calm and productive learning environment:

• Cue-to-Start Routine A consistent signal that learning is about to begin. It helps students settle and refocus quickly and respectfully.

• Entry and Exit Routines These structured transitions into and out of class encourage readiness to learn and a sense of closure at the end of lessons. These routines are designed to support students in safely entering and exiting classroom spaces.

• Student Late to Class Routine A new addition this term, this routine offers a respectful and consistent way for students to re-integrate into class if they arrive late. It reinforces our classroom norms and promotes student responsibility.

While these routines may seem small, their consistent use builds trust, structure and focus. Most importantly, they help us respond to behaviour proactively, rather than reactively.

We’re already seeing the impact. This year’s Resilient Youth Australia survey results have provided encouraging insights into student wellbeing. Between 2024 and 2025, we saw a 9% increase in the number of students reporting that they feel “ready to learn” at the start of the day. We also saw a reduction in the number of students reporting anxiety or disengagement - an area we’ve been targeting through improved routines and connections.

This student voice data gives us:

• Confidence that our wellbeing strategies are working

• Guidance on how to further refine our support systems

We'll continue to use this feedback to shape our classroom practices that support ongoing engagement and wellbeing.

As we head into the final weeks of the term, let’s continue to support one another (staff, students, and families) and keep our eyes on the finish line. The holidays are near, and a time to rest and recharge is well-deserved for all.

Important Reminders for Our Community

Driveway Pick-up

To support the safety of our students and staff, we kindly ask all families using the driveway for pick-up to turn left when entering and exiting. 

Thank you for helping us to keep our school community safe and traffic flowing smoothly.

Attendance Matters

To support accurate attendance tracking and encourage punctuality, please note that the school gates close at 8.50am each morning. Students arriving after this time must sign in through the front office.

Being on time matters - it ensures students begin the day with structure and focus and it allows us to collect accurate data to best support student attendance and engagement. Thank you for your continued support in reinforcing this message at home.

Alison Dietrich

Deputy Principal 

Wellbeing