From the Principal
Perhaps unbelievably for some, we are now well and truly on the homeward stretch - towards the end of this 2021 school year! In addition to induction and orientation gatherings for new staff and students, it was wonderful to witness the community’s welcome for the visit of new Principal, Jay Sutton.
He along with his family, were not only appreciative of the welcome offered by students and staff, but also were very impressed with St Augustine’s contemporary teaching spaces. Jay was in no doubt that the vibe here was positive as well as strongly focussed on students and learning.
Congratulations to Year 11 students Riley Wakenshaw and Jordan O’Neill whose research project ‘Energy Production From Uranium for Australia: IT’S a No Brainer!’ for the Science Talent Search Competition has been published in LABTALK, the Science Teachers’ Association of Victoria journal - as well as on the front page of The Kyabram Free Press! Inspired by their teacher Dilshan Fernando, we hope these students will continue to demonstrate productive research skills, innovative thinking and creative problem-solving.
Whether confused or misinformed, I have become aware over recent weeks of several parents seeking correct information as to how student levies contribute and fund school operations. Levies are calculated to meet recurrent costs for extra-curricular activities, a one-off and all-inclusive charge. This is different to the stand-alone Primary school where levies are based on individual grade level curriculum needs and events.
As an F-12 school, the College takes a long-term approach to ensure a range of off-site camps, excursions and on-site incursions for students across all year levels, and these are regularly reviewed to ensure they appropriately complement the formal curriculum program.
While levies are charged annually, costs are averaged across the years and variances are expensed from the total school budget. Although several off-site activities were cancelled due to lockdown restrictions, booking charges paid by the College have mostly been held, including $90k flight costs for Top End excursion. Families of students involved in this optional activity were given full credit for the $1800 charge.
Where possible, many of the cancelled activities have either been re-scheduled or an alternate end of year activity is being planned. Stay tuned to hear more about Aquamoves and other celebration events for our final week!
Similar to 2021, the College Advisory Council agreed that there will be no increase in family fees and only a small increase in student levies for the 2022 school year.
However, in response to parent feedback, we will review the final budget impact on 10 December and will provide a shared credit on all family fees, which at this stage is anticipated to be a minimum of 10% of the family fee.
I thank those who have made contact over these few weeks of my term at St Augustine’s. It is certainly a College learning community of which families, students and staff can rightly be very proud.
Mary Fitz-Gerald
Principal