Newsletter 4 November 2022
- Principal's Message
- 2022 Upcoming Events
- Faith and Mission News
- Learning and Teaching
- LARC NEWS
- 2023 Tuition Fee Assistance
- Grandparent's Day - Save the Date - 7 Nov
- School Socials go '80s NEON!
- Sport News & Sport Calendar
- Year 5 on Camp
- 2023 Kindergarten Preschool Borrowing Program
- Canteen Menu for 2022
- Canteen Roster
- Lunchtime Clubs 2022
Principal's Message
Year 5 Conquer Camp
Netball NSW Schools Cup State Finalists!
Friday 4 November 2022 - Term 4 Week 4
Dear Parents and Carers,
Congratulations to our talented Netball team who recently competed in the NSW Netball School's Cup, where St Augustine's once again performed at a high level. Out of every primary school in the state - public, independent and Catholic - our team was placed 5th which is amazing. Go girls!
Students today also competed in another competition called the ‘Rocket League’. This is a Diocesan wide event where students go up against other children to find out who are the esports champions. Esports have a huge following, with some events watched by over 300 million people and prize pools in the tens of millions. The school based competition allows children with skills in this area to play in a supervised and structured way. Congratulations to our team who achieved an excellent result today, placing 2nd (just pipped in the grand final) out of the 34 primary schools in the Diocese. Go team!
Thanks to the teachers and students who came out for the Neon-socials this week. A big shout out to our very own ‘DJ Duck’ (Dustin Kerr) who got everyone dancing and provided great entertainment. It’s great to have these back after a 2 year break and to have parents and teachers once again dancing with their kids.
Next Monday we will celebrate Grandparent’s Day at school, acknowledging the wonderful contribution they make to the students in our care. The genuine and deep love for their grandchildren is shown in all sorts of ways, even if they live away from here. Monday is a celebration and thanks for the contribution of the extended family - it takes a village.
Orientation days for Kindergarten 2023 have started and it was wonderful to see our newest students making the transition to ‘big school’. One of the points I’m emphasising with new families is the need to read at home every night, 7 nights a week. I especially want to encourage parents to assist in the transition from reading with them to independent reading, as this is when it can drop off. At school we teach children how to read and comprehend texts, so independent reading at home is a high value task that increases fluency. As word level meaning becomes automatic it gradually becomes easier to read, and consequently children have more brain space to comprehend and infer meaning. Practice makes perfect.
As we move into warmer, longer days, our students are becoming a bit tired and weary. As we all know, this can bring out behaviours that are less than ideal. We’re encouraging children to bring their best-self to school and this can be supported at home by ensuring good routines, early bedtimes, avoiding late evenings and limiting night screen time, especially on weeknights. Your support is appreciated and will set up your children for success for the school day.
Grace and peace,
Peter Watts
Principal
Welcome to our 2023 Kinders!
2022 Upcoming Events
November 2022
| 7 | Grandparent's Day |
| 9 | 2023 Kindergarten Orientation Day 2 - 9:00am-12:00 noon |
| 15 | Sausage Sizzle Day - Year 3 & 4 (Canteen) |
| 16 | 2023 Kindergarten Orientation Day 3 - 9:00am-12:00 noon |
| 18 | School Assembly 2pm |
| 28-30 | Year 6 Camp |
| 29 | Sausage Sizzle Day - Year K- 2 ( Canteen) |
December 2022
| 1 | Year 6 Fun Day |
| 2 | School Fete |
| 5 | Swimming Rep Trials |
| 9 | Parent Story telling K-2 |
| 9 | School Assembly 2pm |
| 13 | Nativity |
| 14 | Awards Presentation |
| 14 | Year 6 Graduation |
Faith and Mission News
Grandparents’ Day
We look forward to celebrating Grandparents’ Day with our school and wider community on Monday 7 November. Celebrations will begin with a Liturgy at 9am, followed by a number of activities in classrooms and outside that grandparents can enjoy with their grandchildren.
Christmas Carols near the Nativity (outside the church)
In Weeks 9 and 10, anyone from the school or parish community, individually or as a group, will have the opportunity to sing/perform religious Christmans carols out the front of the church near the Nativity that will be set up in the window of the Pius Goods shop in 10 minute time slots. These performances will happen as people pass for school drop offs and pick ups. Keep an eye out for further information and the online ‘Sign in’ sheet that will be shared in Week 7 but in the meantime, have a think about how you or your family might like to contribute to enhance the Christmas spirit.
SAPS Mass - 13 November 9am
At the 9am Mass on Sunday 13 November, the St Augustine’s School community are providing the ministries. About 20 children were practising singing the hymns last Wednesday during lunchtime in preparation. During this mass, the children who attend Children’s liturgy will be making crowns in preparation for the following weekend when our church celebrates the feast of ‘Christ the King’. At that Mass on Sunday 20 November, the children will wear the crowns they made in the entrance procession with Father.
All families are welcome to join us in celebrating the mass and then join us afterwards for a cuppa.
RE Spotlight: Year 1
This term Year 1 have been learning about how the Church comes together as a community to celebrate the Mass. Students have explored the four parts of the Mass, recognising how we gather, listen, give thanks and go forth to spread the good news through our words and actions. Students have role played parts of the Mass and had the opportunity to meet with Fr Joy to explore the sacredness of the Eucahrist and its significance in the Mass. Fr Joy even showed students what some of the special symbols are that are used throughout the Mass and found in the Church. The students have used their learning to create booklets that explain what happens in each part of the Mass.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS - SAVE THE DATE
St Augustine’s Catholic Community warmly invites the parish and school communities to come together for an evening of Christmas Carols as we prepare for the birth of Jesus!
Carols will be held in the church on Saturday 10th December at 6.30pm (following 5.30 Mass)
After the Carols conclude (approx 7.15pm) everyone is invited to stay for supper outside the Curran Centre - please bring a plate to share.
Junior Youth Group
Parish Junior Youth Group is back on this term.
Anyone between the ages of 9 and 12 (Grades 4-6) is invited to join in good food, good fun and good conversation centered around our faith.
The remaining date for this term is Sunday 4th December at 4pm @ The Curran Centre.
Parish Playgroup is back
9am Tuesdays (during school term) at the Curran Centre (Parish Office), 12 Gordon Street, Coffs Harbour.
We warmly invite families with babies, toddlers, pre-school age children/grandchildren to join our parish playgroup. If you are interested in becoming a Playgroup helper, to offer assistance with set-up or leading a craft or music activity, please contact the parish office on 6651 0000.
Naomi Loader- Assistant Principal Mission
Dominique Montford - Leader of School Catechesis
Maria Woods - Leader of School Evangelisation
Learning and Teaching
The Coffee Van is back!!! K-2 families are invited for coffee/tea in the Gardens area on Dec 9 from 7:45 am. You are welcome to then stay for the K-2 Parent Christmas Storytelling from 9 am - 9:30 am.
The theme for the storytelling is ‘Christmas stories to celebrate the season’. We look forward to seeing you there
LARC NEWS
Year 6 Borrowing
Year 6 will finish borrowing in week 7, they will need to ensure they have returned all their books by the end of week 7, before they go to camp.
Jump into Reading Challenge
Even though we haven’t quite hit the 1 Million Mr Watts still wants to jump into or off something in Week 5. This week students were asked to vote for what Mr Watts will wear when he jumps next week.
We are very close to 400 000 minutes.
We have over 390 000 minutes logged!
Diocesan Wide Rocket League Competition Term 4
The Diocese of Lismore eSports Championship continued this term with the 3rd round - Rocket League. Our team of 4 students, James Weber, Leo Opitz, Ricki Broadhurst and Declan Smith competed against 10 teams from Primary schools in our diocese.
The competition was tough with all schools competing in several matches throughout the day. Our team made it to the finals after being undefeated all day. The final game was played against St Joseph’s Port Macquarie with St Joseph’s scoring the final match point to take out first place with our team coming second.
2023 Tuition Fee Assistance
Grandparent's Day - Save the Date - 7 Nov
School Socials go '80s NEON!
Sport News & Sport Calendar
NETBALL NSW SCHOOLS CUP - STATE FINAL
Our talented U12 Netball team took on the best at the Netball NSW Schools Cup State Finals in Sydney. The girls worked hard and found themselves in a nail biting play off for 5th/6th. The girls came away from their last game in the tournament with a win finishing up with 5th in the state. Congratulations girls! An incredible achievement! Thank you to Miss Maddie Batey for her outstanding coaching.
LISMORE DIOCESAN SUMMER SPORTS TRIALS - 25 November 2022
TOUCH FOOTBALL
Congratulations to Frankie Selmes and Thomas Joyce who have been selected to attend the Lismore Diocese Summer Sports Trials in Touch Football.
BASKETBALL
Good luck to our students who are also attending the Diocesan Summer Sports Trials in Basketball - Grace Davis, Grace Duede, Blair Hofman, London Lacey, Aisha Murphy, Alexandru Radulescu, Harley Ritchie, Archie Shannon and Cohen Straw.
CRICKET
Good luck to our students who are attending the Diocesan Summer Sports Trials in Cricket - Alexander Greenwood and Eric Greenwood.
November 2022
| 23 | Lismore Diocesan Summer Sports Trials - Tennis (Lismore) |
| 24 | Newcastle Permanent Soccer Gala Day (Coffs Hbr) |
| 25 | Lismore Diocesan Summer Sports Trials- Cricket, Touch, Basketball (Lismore) |
December 2022
| 5 | SAPS Representative Swimming Trials |
Year 5 on Camp
2023 Kindergarten Preschool Borrowing Program
Canteen Menu for 2022
- SUSHI WEDNESDAYS
A reminder that we cannot accept sushi orders on Wednesdays - please order by the Tuesday prior - by 2pm for a paper bag order or 8pm for an online order. Thank you. - CANTEEN VOLUNTEERS
We really need help with our SPECIAL LUNCH DAYS which fall on alternate Tuesdays and the last day of every term. Helping in the canteen is a great way to meet other parents, support your child and our school. Please contact the school if you can spare a few hours on these busy days. Thank you. - CANCELLATION OF CANTEEN ORDERS
If your child is away or sick please call the office to cancel your canteen order prior to 8.30am on the day. Thank you - Alicia and Rosa
Canteen Roster
Canteen News
Canteen helpers are always required, especially on Wednesdays as this is our sushi day, and on Fridays. Help is needed for three hours from 9:00 am until 12:00 noon once every four weeks. Grandparents are very welcome also. If you are able to help in the Canteen on any day please call us on 6652 1204.
Alicia Betland & Rosa Thomas - Canteen Managers
Week beginning 7 November
- Monday - V Wall
- Tuesday - J Ward
- Wednesday - P Duffy, B Symons
- Thursday - C Williams - Help Needed !
- Friday - G Dodd, L Knight, W McLean - Help Needed !
Week beginning 14 November
- Monday - L Seccombe
- Tuesday - C Williams
- Wednesday - J Martin, N Flintoff
- Thursday - S Crawford, M Van Den Boom
- Friday - P Duffy, W McLean, K Cochran
Lunchtime Clubs 2022
