Assembly Apology

This morning we held our first school assembly for 2021. We apologise for the technical difficulties experienced this morning that prevented us from live-streaming the assembly.

The video has now been uploaded to the College Facebook page and website and is available for families to view.

Years 5-12 House Swimming Carnival - Monday 8th February

School Crossings - Keep us all safe

It's really important that we all use the school crossings on Tulloh Street and on Church Street to cross the road in the morning and in the afternoon. Des and Thelma are our wonderful lollypop people who help to keep us safe. Be sure to say a friendly 'hello' as well!

Welcome Back Samuel

We were really pleased to welcome back Samuel Hauser late last year for some school visits. Samuel was excited to return to the College after being away for most of 2020.

Samuel, with the help of his mum Lucy, penned this letter as a way of helping all in our school community understand more about his experience.

We are so proud of Samuel and the progress he is making!

Carolyn Goode

Deputy Principal - Wellbeing

A letter from Samuel Hauser

Hi everyone, I am very excited to be coming back to St Augustine’s this year. I have missed you all so much! As most of you know I was away for most of 2020 as I was having treatment and surgery for a nasty lump growing in my leg. My family and I named the lump Bad Boy Bruce. Bad Boy Bruce made me very sick, so sick that the doctors had to take my leg away to get rid of Bad Boy Bruce. Since my operation in October last year I have been getting better and stronger each day. Sometimes what happened to me makes people worry that it might happen to them but don’t worry I was just very unlucky. I don’t really like talking about what happened to my leg much and sometimes when people ask what happened to my leg I like to say that a shark bit it off or I didn’t eat my vegetables when I was little and my leg dropped off.

When you see me you will notice that one of my legs looks a bit different to yours. I now wear a special leg called a prosthesis so that I can walk, run and climb just like you. My little leg is nicknamed Professor Leo after the clever doctor who operated on my leg. As I’m still only learning to walk on my new leg I might be a bit slow and wobbly because my leg muscles in my little leg are very weak from not being able to walk for so long. Learning to walk on the prosthesis is tiring and sometimes I have to take it off and have a rest in my wheelchair. As I get stronger I will be able to do most things just like you. My leg is really cool, especially because its covered in Star Wars light sabers. When you see it you will think so too, but it’s not a toy so please don’t touch it as I don’t want your fingers to get caught in it!

There’s a whole lot more to me other than my leg. I LOVE doing Lego and have a massive collection, I like watching Lego Masters, Ninja Warrior, Star Wars, reading, playing roblox, playing outside with my brother and sister and dog Molly, going to the beach and most importantly barracking for my team Richmond.

I have a great sense of humour and love having fun and being cheeky. I look forward to seeing you all at school.

From Samuel

Sports Court Project Update

Next Monday, 8th February, construction will commence for our Sports Court and COLA cover.

During construction, a large part of the school oval will not be accessible. The Kyabram Recreation Reserve is currently available for students from Years 5-12 to use each lunchtime. Students are to meet at the 1/2 gate and supervising staff will walk the students to the Recreation Reserve at 1.00pm, returning at 1.35pm

Tutoring Program 2021

Victorian schools are engaging approximately 4100 teaching professionals to work as tutors in 2021 to support students to catch up on learning they may have missed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. St Augustine’s College will be participating in this initiative to support students to have additional and targeted support, where this is deemed necessary.

As a College, we will be engaging the services of teachers, who are not currently employed in a full time capacity, to support students through this program. We will seek expressions of interest from members of the community who are suitably qualified and hold a current VIT registration – such as, a teacher on leave, a teacher working part-time who is looking for more hours, a recently retired teacher or a casual relief teacher. Prior to the commencement of the tutoring program and working with students one on one and in small groups, there will be an induction completed, including a Child Safe induction.

Any one who may be interested in being involved in this program is invited to contact Mel Key at the College or email melissakey@sakyabram.vic.edu.au

Opening School Mass

On Thursday 11th February, our staff and students will come together for an outdoor Opening Mass at 9.15am. Unfortunately we cannot have parents or parishioners on site on this occasion but we will endeavour to Facebook LiveStream this event so that our parents and caregivers can join in from home.

Welcome BBQ

Whilst we had very much hoped to host our annual Welcome BBQ this term, current operational guidelines are still impacting on our ability to have parents and caregivers on site. With respect to the guidelines, our Welcome BBQ cannot go ahead at this time. We appreciate your understanding around this and look forward to making new families feel welcome in other ways and as best we can!

No Pick Up or Drop Off in McCormick Road Please

A reminder to families that for safety reasons, children are not to be picked up or dropped off in McCormick Road. McCormick Road is to be used only by students travelling on school buses.

Students can be dropped off and picked up in the Church Street driveway or alternatively, parking is available in the Croquet Club and Lawn Bowls car parks. Please encourage your children to use the school crossings in Church and Tulloh Streets.

Thank you for keeping members of our college community safe.

CSEF - Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund

Applications for the Victorian Government's Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) are now open.

CSEF provides payments for eligible students to attend activities such as:

school camps or trips
swimming and school-organised sport programs
outdoor education programs
excursions and incursions

Payment amounts for 2021 are:

$125 per year for eligible primary school students
$225 per year for eligible secondary school students.
For ungraded students, the rate is determined by Date of Birth

Payments are made directly to the school and are tied to the student.

from March onwards each year where the parent/carer’s concession card is assessed as valid on the first day of Term 1; and
during Term 2 where the parent/carer’s concession card is assessed as valid on the first day of Term 2.

Who can apply

Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. A Special Consideration category also exists.

Further information about eligibility can be found at https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx

Submitting an application

Applications must be submitted to the College Office before the last day of Term 2 - 25th June, 2021.

An application form submission is only required in the following circumstances:

the parent/carer is applying for the CSEF payment for the first time – i.e. an application form was not lodged with the school in the previous year; or
circumstances have changed – e.g. there has been a change in the care arrangement of the student, a change of name or CRN, or a new sibling has commenced at the school and the parent/carer wishes to apply for the CSEF payment for the new sibling.

Are you a Sheep Farmer?

St Augustine’s is very excited to be running an Agriculture and Horticulture subject for our Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 students in 2021.

To assist us in the delivery of the subject, we are on the hunt for some poddy lambs. If you are lambing in late summer or autumn and happen to end up with some unfortunate lambs that need hand rearing, please contact Steph Challis at the school or by email: stephaniechallis@sakyabram.vic.edu.au

Italian Week in Il Globo

In last week's edition of "Il Globo", the Italian language newspaper in Victoria, our College appeared in two articles as a result of Italian teacher, Melissa Milani, being interviewed by the newspaper late last year.

The first article included a detailed overview of our 2020 Italian Week, with some beautiful pictures from the dress-up day. The second article showcased the wonderful CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) program that combines PBL and Italian for our students in Years 7 and 8. This methodology allows students to explore some subjects (like Humanities, Science and Health) in a foreign language, helping them to build intercultural knowledge, understanding and communication skills, while deepening their awareness of both their mother tongue and target language.

Congratulations to our LOTE Team on their fabulous work.

F-4 Community News

Welcome to Our Foundation Students