College News
School Photos - Friday 9th October
Please note that this year's school photos have been rescheduled for Friday 9th October. Students are required to be in full school uniform on this day.
Birth Congratulations
We send our best wishes to Danny (staff member) and Eliza Dmytriw on the safe arrival of their first child, Ruby Jennifer Dmytriw.
Enrolment Information for Future Students
We are currently collating enrolment information as part of our regular school review processes. If you have a child/children due to commence schooling at St Augustine's in future years, please email nicoleelliott@sakyabram.vic.edu.au with your child's name, date of birth and year in which they will start school at St Augustine's.
Our Latest SOLE Stars
Congratulations to our Weeks 6 and 7 SOLE Stars!
A special congratulations to our parent awardees: Z Bartholomeusz and E Priday in Week 6 and M Williams, T Chaplin and R McCormack in Week 7.
Family Engagement Core Group
Legacy Week
The massive tree on the front cover of the Kyabram Legacy September newsletter represents more than a silent tribute to those soldiers lost during the famous battle at Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey over a century ago during WW1.
The 'Lone Pine' was a solitary tree which marked the site of the Battle of Lone Pine in 1915.
At St Augustine’s, it was planted as a seedling back in 1990 and a commemorative ceremony in conjunction with Kyabram Legacy has been held for the past 20 years. Unfortunately Covid-19 has intervened this year.
It is important to acknowledge the purpose of the ceremonies is not, and never has been, to glorify war. Rather to pay homage to our soldiers and those who gave their lives. In doing so, we ensure a recognition by younger generations that peace and freedom have always required a sacrifice in the past.
Also the Lone Pine Ceremony provides an opportunity for students to remember past family or extended family members who served.
The photo below under the Lone Pine tree was taken in 2017, featuring Alwyn Drysdale and legatee David Bell, along with students at rear, Blake McMeeken and Greta Sullivan and in front Ben Dickens and Stella Trezise.
“It was Alwyn’s husband, legatee Bob Drysdale, who had a contact in Canberra where a Lone Pine tree had been planted at the War Memorial in 1934 (from seeds collected on the 1915 battlefield). He sourced the seeds and that’s how it all started with Kyabram Legacy Group backing,” commented Legacy president Don Cook.
Bob Drysdale and David Bell were both returned servicemen (overseas during WW2) and good mates. Legacy is a uniquely Australian organisation with the Kyabram Group established in 1961. Its traditions were built around local returned servicemen who felt it was important to look after the widows of departed comrades.
Kyabram Legacy is looking forward to the 2021 Lone Pine ceremony and continuing our long-term involvement with St Augustine’s school.
“Lest we forget”
Sock It to the Can Thank You
Justice Matters
On Wednesday, 26 August I attended the 'Justice Matters' webinar in place of the Justice Matters camp run for students in Years 10 and 11 across the Sandhurst Diocese. I wanted to attend this event because I attended the camp last year and thoroughly enjoyed it!
The theme this year was the environment and how caring for it is linked with social justice. Throughout the day we listened to Clare Vernon, from Catholic Earthcare, talk about her experiences and what was expected to happen in the future surrounding rising sea levels and severe weather patterns. We were also given tips on how to engage our audience and how best to convey a message to them. We had discussions about using circles of influence to impact the circle of concern.
Overall I found the day informative and beneficial.
Owen Powles, Year 11