From Brad Downie

Term 4 is moving along at a rapid pace, and the students and staff of St Augustine’s have continued to tick off many accomplishments in the classroom.

The VCE Units 3/4 Final Exams for our Year 12 (and some Year 11) students are under way. Our students are to be commended on how well they have used their study time leading into the exams, with the Tolle Lege busy with many Year 12s revising, writing and seeking feedback from their teachers. The exam period began with the English exam and has continued with exams in General Maths, Psychology and Agriculture and Horticultural Studies in the first week. The exams will continue over the next two weeks, with St Augustine’s students completing their studies across 19 different subjects. The final exams for our students will be in the subjects of Food Studies, Foundation Maths and VET Engineering on 19th November.

After that, staff will be able join with the students and their families in a well-deserved celebration at their Graduation Mass and Dinner on 20th November.

This is a very busy time of year and staff and students across all year levels have been engaging in lessons and assessments that will be extending and consolidating students’ skills and knowledge. The assessments and work through this period will allow staff to provide valuable feedback and insight into our students’ progress as they prepare to write end of year reports.

Staff have already begun planning for 2026 and there have been many opportunities provided to staff to enhance their knowledge and skills in delivering the exciting and innovative curriculum programs that will continue to be delivered through the Magnify Sandhurst initiative. As we approach the end of the first year of Magnify, there have been many positive steps forward in the teaching and learning programs of the school and we can look forward to making even greater strides in 2026.

As we look ahead, we have a number of significant events coming up.

Students in Years 10 and 11 will undertake their end of year exams in Week 7, 17-21 November. These exams provide a valuable experience in readying our students for the rigours of VCE.

Following on from the exams, 2026 VCE students will take part in the VCE Early Commencement Program (ECP) in Weeks 8-10, November 24th – December 12th.

Students currently in Years 9-11 will also have received the details of the 2026 Booklist. We ask that families complete their booklist orders by Friday 14th November to assist in preparing students with the necessary textbooks for the ECP.

The Statewide Orientation Day will be held on 9th December. On this day, students in all year levels will have a day of step-up into their new year levels and will have the opportunity to meet their teachers for 2026.

Brad Downie

Deputy Principal 

Student Learning and Professional Practice