Classroom & Curriculum News
Through Learning We Discover God
District swimming
A selection of students made their way to MAC for the District level swimming against extraordinarily leveled swimmers from all of the nearby local schools. Competition was fierce and our small school did their very best and never gave up!! Well done to all our wonderful swimmers. A highlight was getting to sit on the top level of the double decker bus.
A big shout out to Tom who received 3rd place in the Butterfly event which is no easy stroke to partake in.
The best part was watching how excited all the kids got watching the race screaming over the other schools to get Tom over the line.
Great effort Tom !!
1/2 Showing their understanding of 'Place Value' in mathematics.
Year 1/2 have moved concepts in Mathematics from tally marks to place value. Developing a strong understanding of place value supports children comparing, ordering, and solving problems with two-digit numbers. This is important as it provides the foundation for future addition, subtraction, and higher-level number concepts. Our 1/2 students are involved currently in a range of activities that has them working through various strategies that will aid strenghtening their skills and understandings.
Cyber Safety and Digital Wellbeing for 1/2
1/2RS enjoyed their Cyber Safety and Digital Wellbeing session. We considered all the devices we use in our homes and school, and what it means to be connected. To finalise the activity we all drew a digital device we have at home and then connected them. This visualisation activity really supported students considering how connected we are to others - often when we don't realise it.
We have also enjoyed our first session of Inform and Empower. Year 1/2 students loved participating in the live stream alongside many other Year 1/2 classes across Australia.
Students were introduced to the idea of identifying their “High Five” — five safe people they can go to when they have questions, worries, or need support. We also explored how our bodies can give us signals when something does not feel right when online, such as butterflies in the tummy, feeling teary, or an icky sense of being scared.
Please ask your child about their “High Five” safe people and what they learned about listening to their body’s warning signs. Please head over to the Digital Technology: Click Smart, Think Sharp: Stay Safe page of the newsletter to read more!
40 days - Lent
1/2RS have been learning about Lent and reflecting on what God means to each of us. Students spent time thinking about what they could give up for the 40 days of Lent and how they could instead spend more time with God through prayer and kindness towards others. Some Year 5 students who were visiting our classroom also joined in this meaningful reflection.
Each student recorded their Lenten promise on a leaf cut-out, and together we created a beautiful class flower to represent our shared commitment.
The impact of this experience has been very special. A week later, students are still discussing how they are managing their choices, missing things such as KFC, McDonald’s, or playing with Lego, while focusing more on thinking of others and doing or saying something kind.
Notably more students have been asking to pray together as a class, showing a growing understanding of the meaning of Lent.
We are also proud of our new Class Captains for Semester 1 - Ellie McDowall and Nathaniel O'Connor. Voting were very clear about how much we value them both. Congratulations Ellie and Nathaniel.
Lunar New Year in 1/2M
In Week 4, our class had the opportunity to learn about Lunar New Year and explore it through the experiences of students in our classroom. Lennon kindly brought in a traditional lion dance head, which gave us a wonderful hands-on way to learn about this important celebration.
We also read a range of books and had great discussions about how Lunar New Year is celebrated. Several students shared their own experiences of attending celebrations, helping us learn about the traditions, colours and joy that come with the festival.
It was a fantastic opportunity to learn from one another and celebrate the diverse experiences within our classroom.
Year 3/4 Continue to keep the Kitchen Garden thriving
Year 3/4 have been thoroughly enjoying the final beautiful summer days in the garden. A strong focus has been on tool safety, ensuring students learn how to use a range of garden tools correctly while working safely alongside others.
Wheelbarrow training has been a memorable part of each session. Students have explored what it takes to move a wheelbarrow effectively — sometimes with some creative approaches, including multiple helpers taking on the role at once.
Overall, the garden is looking fantastic. Students have been harvesting seeds that are beginning to dry and were excited to discover some of our home-grown garlic.
3/4 in the kitchen
With homemade butter in the fridge from the previous week’s kitchen lesson, the menu for week 3 was thoughtfully planned to make use of our hard work. Savoury scones were the perfect choice, paired with herbal tea made from our garden harvest.
Although scones are simple to make, they can easily go wrong if overworked. Students listened carefully to instructions, watched the demonstration, and then set to work rubbing their homemade butter into the flour before adding milk, dried mustard, chopped fresh parsley, and grated cheese.
All eight batches of scones turned out beautifully. Enjoyed alongside our homemade herbal tea, they were a wonderful reward after our hard work in the garden.
Hot weather called for homemade ice cream with a choc-top topping.
With the weather warm and sunny in week 4, the menu was adjusted so students could make their own creamy vanilla ice cream along with a healthier choc-top topping.
As part of our focus this term on the science of food, combining ice and salt provided an exciting and investigative way to freeze our vanilla mixture. Students rolled and tossed their sealed bags until the mixture thickened and transformed into ice cream.
Once ready, the ice cream was scooped into serving cups and topped with our choc-top topping. Students observed how the coconut oil based choc topping quickly hardened when it touched the cold ice cream, linking directly to our learning about changes in food.
The room was silent for the first time that day, quickly followed by many excited “oohs” and “aahs” as everyone enjoyed the results.
Piklets with fresh whipped cream and homemade jam
Students prepared lovely batches of piklets during kitchen classes in Week 5. Measuring the ingredients accurately was important to create the best batter for fluffy, light piklets. While our batter rested, we whipped fresh cream and cooked raspberries to make our homemade jam. After cleaning up, we prepared the table, said Grace and enjoyed our delicious piklets — yum! The garden is continually thriving with the mix of sun and rain. We are starting to collect seeds that we will utilise later in the year. Some baby carrots accidently were pulled out but students enjoyed them anyway!
5/6 Update :)
What a busy and exciting few weeks we’ve had in 5/6!
Our students have been diving into historical creative writing; from the perspective of arriving in Australia in the 1700s. They absolutely loved using cursive handwriting and trying out old-timey language to make their pieces sound authentic.
The best part was being able to scrunch rip and tea-dip their papers to create a cool aged effect. We are very proud of the creativity and effort shown.
We recently participated in a fantastic Digital Technologies incursion run by Inform and Empower. Students explored important topics including the age of digital consent, password safety, and responsible online behaviour.
There was extra excitement when we spotted Isaac taking part in the filmed Acknowledgement of Country, what a special moment! We were also thrilled to discover that Mr Lucas, who often CRTs at St Augustine's, is one of the facilitators running these sessions across Australia. Hearing him give St Augustine’s a personal shout-out during the program delivered to hundreds of other Grade 5/6 classes across Australia caused exciting chaos in our class. Please head over to the Digital Technology: Click Smart, Think Sharp: Stay Safe page of the newsletter to read more!
Lastly a huge congratulations to our Grade 6 students who have worked incredibly hard over the past few weeks crafting and delivering beautifully written speeches. Their confidence, preparation and presentation skills have truly impressed us. We are so proud of the heart and soul they have put into their speeches. You are all going to be amazing leaders, we look forward to seeing you embrace your roles with responsibility, enthusiasm and kindness.
5/6 Jm Assembly News Reel
Check out this link below to see our 5/6 reporters in action !!!!
Italian – Term 1 Overview
Benvenuti to Italian for Term 1! This term students will be developing their speaking and listening skills through engaging, interactive activities focused on greetings, feelings, and Italian culture.
Year 5/6 – Carnevale
Our senior students will explore the rich cultural tradition of Carnevale. They will learn about:
- The history and origins of Carnevale
- Traditional masks such as Colombina and Arlecchino
- Italian cultural celebrations and comparisons to Australian traditions
Students will have the opportunity to design their own Carnevale masks or float and use descriptive Italian language to present their creations.
We look forward to an exciting and engaging term of Italian learning filled with language, culture and creativity!
Prep: “Ciao Pinocchio”
Our Prep students will begin their Italian journey by learning basic greetings through stories, songs and play. Using the much-loved character Pinocchio, students will practise:
- Saying ciao and arrivederci
- Introducing themselves (Mi chiamo…)
- Expressing simple feelings such as sto bene, sto male
Learning will be hands-on, movement-based and full of music to build confidence and enjoyment in speaking Italian.
Year 1/2 – “Saluti” (Greetings & Feelings)
Students will focus on everyday greetings and polite expressions. They will learn to:
- Ask and answer Come stai?
- Respond with Bene, Così così, Non molto bene
- Use formal and informal greetings appropriately
Through role-plays, games and partner conversations, students will build fluency and confidence in conversational Italian.
Year 3/4 – “Saluti / Come stai?” (Greetings & Feelings)
Students will extend their understanding of greetings by:
- Using formal (Buongiorno, Arrivederci ) language
- Asking and responding with more detailed feelings
- Creating short dialogues and performing conversations
There will be a strong focus on pronunciation, expression and conversational flow to support speaking fluency.
Milano Cortina Winter Olympics – Did You Pick Up Some Italian?
Now that the Winter Olympics Milano Cortina 2026 have come to an end, we’d love to know…
Did you pick up any Italian along the way?
Perhaps you heard the names Milano or Cortina d'Ampezzo, or maybe you found yourself saying:
- Forza Italia!
- Che bello!
- Bravissimo!
Events like the Olympics are a wonderful way for families to hear authentic Italian language in a real-world context. Even small moments of listening and repeating new words help build confidence and curiosity.
Language learning continues beyond the classroom and every little bit counts!
Forza Italia! ❄️
Forza Australia❄️
Italia
Australia
Italia
Australia
Shrove Tuesday
Catholics celebrated Shrove Tuesday also known as pancake day.
The date changes from year to year, however it is always the day before Ash Wednesday.
Traditionally during Lent, Christians would give up rich, tasty foods such as butter, eggs, sugar and fats. Shrove Tuesday was the last chance to eat them – and what better way to do so than with a delicious pancake!
The Year 6 students cooked and served hundred of Pancakes for the St Augustine's students on Tuesday 17th February.
It was for a wonderful cause, to support those less fortunate than us through Project Compassion.
As a school we raised $257. Thank you for your donations, what an amazing effort!!
Special visitor to the Prep M
So nice to have Ember and Alex visiting the Prep class to read and story and enjoy some cuddles and pats on Friday afternoon.
Year 3/4 news
What an amazing start to 2026 the students in Year 3/4 have had. As we move into Week 6 of Term 1, we cannot believe we are halfway through Term 1! In Religion, we have been learning about the Sacrament of Reconciliation in preparation for this upcoming Sacrament. We have been learning that it is a Sacrament of Healing and there are 4 stages/steps: 1) Confession – Admitting our mistakes to a priest. 2) Contrition – Truly being sorry. 3) Absolution – The priest, acting for Jesus, forgives sins. 4) Penance – Doing something (prayers, good deeds) to make up for sins. We have looked at the parable of The Prodigal Son and how the parable reminds us of the 4 stages of Reconciliation. We keep all the students who are making the Sacrament of Reconciliation in our prayers. In Literacy, we have been writing persuasive and narrative texts and ensuring our writing is entertaining and follows a set structure for each genre. Through modelled and collaborative writing, students were able to see how vocabulary is important for ‘the art of persuasion’ and ‘for storytelling’, and work towards putting this knowledge into practice in their own pieces of writing.
In Maths, we have been continuing our understanding of the place value system and knowledge for numbers up to four digits, even working with numbers to at least six digits! We have grasped a better understanding of the value of each digit in a number and how this relates to regrouping and renaming parts of the number. We revised our understanding of odd and even numbers, expanded notation and now we are building on our addition and subtraction skills; using blank number lines and concrete materials to support us. We have also learnt about other strategies such as fact families, partitioning, and using extended facts for addition and subtraction. With NAPLAN starting next week on Wednesday 11th March (yes it is photo day too!), we have had a particular focus over the last few weeks on understanding the language and format of NAPLAN in both Literacy & Maths.
Our first Inform & Empower interactive session was full of lots of information and definitely started a conversation about the importance of being safe online with passwords, comments, photos, likes and how all these actions create a digital footprint. Please head to the Digital Technology page of the newsletter for more information!
Physical Education and House Sports
P.E - BK's Gymnastics - Footscray:
Over the past three weeks of Physical Education at St Augustine's P.S, we have had coaches come into our school from BK's Gymnastics Footscray. They delivered lessons for all students in F-6 classes which were very fun and engaging. The students started their lessons with an interactive warm up followed by small group rotations which were the core of class. Students had the opportunity to further their skills through activities involving jumping, landing, balance, flexibility and coordination. Experiences were enjoyable for the students and we thank BK Gymnastics for their efforts including bringing some of their own equipment for students to use.
Please see information for further details if your child/children would like to further pursue their interest with BK's Gymnastics.
House Sports:
On Friday the 30/2, the first House Sports session kicked off for the year which was mainly run by the newly appointed House Captains. All students from F-6 came together in the hall for an interactive afternoon! The students all sat in their house colours and then had the opportunity to cheer for their respective colours to start off. Everyone danced to the ‘Wakka Wakka’ song which led by the captains!
This led well to a couple of beanbag relay races amongst all the students, where they balanced a beanbag on their head!
It was great to see everyone enjoy their afternoon.
Chicken Update 🐓
Our chickens have grown quickly and settled beautifully into their new home at Miss Mathewson’s family farm in Woodend.
Coco, Chicki Minaj, Penguin, Mr Chicken, Nugget, Yolkahontas, Boq, KFC, Dusty, Soda and Pop have all grown into confident young chickens and spend their days scratching around in their giant coop, now commonly known as the “Chook Mahal.”
Last week we celebrated an exciting milestone when Coco laid the flock’s very first egg.
Based on early signs, it looks like Mr Chicken, Nugget and Boq may be roosters, while the others appear to be hens. If that remains the case, having three roosters out of eleven chickens is a very good outcome.
Soda continues to be one of the most social birds and often hops onto Miss Mathewson’s lap whenever she sits down in the coop.
It has been wonderful to see how quickly the chickens have grown since hatching in our classroom, and they are clearly enjoying their new life on the farm.
