Newsletter 24 May 2024
Principal's Message
Eisteddfod Rehearsals
Year 4 Accendere Retreat
Friday 24 May 2024- Term 2 Week 4
Dear Parents and Carers,
When should children have a phone? What sites are dodgy? How can I keep my child connected but reduce the risk of harm? How much screen time? These are some of the questions addressed by our brilliant, international speaker, Kirra Pendergast, who is coming to speak at St Augustines on Tuesday evening (28 May). It’s difficult for parents to get out after a long day but this one is worth the effort and will help you assist kids navigate the online world safely. Child care is available, details further on in the newsletter.
The brilliant sunshine and run of dry weather has enabled us to prepare for the Athletics Carnivals, which will be coming soon. The Year 3-6 event will be held at the Stadium on Tuesday 4 June and is always a great day. The K-2 Carnival will be held at school on 28 June, so a while to wait, but if you visit, even for a short while, your child would love it.
Enrolment for Kindergarten 2025 has closed today. If you have a child wanting to come to school next year, please make urgent contact or you will miss out on enrolment. Siblings do get a preference but if we don’t know about them, offers will go to other families so please be quick.
The Sacramental journey of our students, facilitated by the school, continues next week with the First Eucharist Family Preparation night (Passover celebration) next week and the following week the Confirmation parent evening. These events are important milestones in faith development for children, and I encourage families involved to make it a priority.
We have 2 choirs in the Eisteddfod next week, Yr 5 & 6 Tuesday and 3 & 4 on Wednesday. Many thanks to Mrs O’Sullivan and Mrs Woods for their excellent work and professionalism in bringing this opportunity to the students.
We have been able to secure 2 children’s authors to visit as part of the Bellingen Writers Festival, to speak about their books, how they were created and how to become excellent writers. This will happen on 4 & 5 June during school time and there is no cost as it will be covered by your school fees.
Finally, on Thursday 30 May (next week) the school will be closed as all staff will be required to attend a spiritual development day called ‘Proclaim’. This day is mandated by the Catholic School’s Office and involves all school staff from across the Diocese from Port Macquarie to Tweed Heads getting together, so children will not be able to attend school that day.
Grace and peace,
Peter Watts
Principal
Faith and Mission News
Accendere Retreat
Today the Year 4 students participated in a special retreat at the Curran Centre with the theme ‘Friendship’. The songs, games, activities and prayers all helped the students to deepen their understanding of what it means to be a good friend and how Jesus is their greatest friend, no matter what is going on in their lives.
RE Spotlight from Kindergarten
As May is the month of Mary, Kindergarten have been learning how to follow Jesus through Mary’s great example and also learning to pray the Hail Mary. Through this prayer, we ask Mary to ‘intercede’ for us (talk to Jesus for us).
Sacraments in 2024 - Overview
First Eucharist- For baptised students in Years 4, 5 and 6
Wednesday 29 May
First Eucharist Family Preparation Evening (celebration of the Passover) @6:30pm (Top Assembly Area)
Friday 14 June
First Eucharist Retreat for students at St Augustine’s School and Curran Centre
Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 June
Sacrament of First Eucharist celebrated at ONE of the Parish Masses
Please return the ‘Pray For Me’ card as soon as possible as they will be displayed in the Church early next week.
First Communion Gifts - If you are looking for a First Communion gift, the Pious Gift Shop (located near the front of St Augustine's Church) has a selection for you to choose from. The gift shop is open after Mass on Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
Confirmation - For baptised students in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6
Wednsday 5 June
Confirmation Information Night @ 6:30pm
Sunday 4 August (TBC) and Monday 5 August
Sacrament of Confirmation (time and day to be advised)
WORLD CHILDREN’S DAY
This weekend 25 -26 May 2024 the Catholic Church around the world will mark its first ever World Children’s Day. Pope Francis has written a letter to all the children of the world. Click HERE to access it. You might like to take the time to read this special letter with your children.
Pentecost Sunday/Multicultural Mass
Last Sunday, our school, in conjunction with the St Augustine's parish, celebrated the feast of Pentecost with a Multicultural Mass. It was wonderful to witness the cultural diversty of our parish and pray together in so many different languages. Singing, dancing, food and traditional costumes from many cultures contributed to a wonderful celebration of the Holy Spirit at work in our parish.
CSYMI Lunch Club - Update
Our CSYMI (Catholic Schools Youth Ministry International) lunch club is providing fun, faith forming activities every Thursday. Our Youth Leaders, Ashlinn and Joey weren’t able to join us today, but the students had a great time exploring the theme of ‘kindness’. They made these beautiful flowers and wrote acts of kindness on the petals. Any students from Years 3-6 are welcome to attend each Thursday at lunch time in the hall.
Naomi Loader - Assistant Principal Mission
Maria Woods - Leader of School Evangelisation
Pastoral Care & Wellbeing
Staff PD on Anxiety
On Tuesday 21 May, Rob Immeson, the Pastoral Care Officer from the Catholic Schools Office, led an engaging and informative staff meeting focused on Student Well-being. The session provided staff with practical strategies for connecting with students and emphasised their vital role in helping students develop essential skills such as empathy, resilience, decision-making, and leadership.
Safe on Social Workshops - Don't miss out!
Dear Parents and Carers,
In collaboration with the school, St Augustine's Parent Forum invites you to an exceptional parent information session led by Kirra Pendergast from 'Safe on Social'. Kirra's previous visit to St Augustine's was highly praised by families who found her presentation incredibly useful, relevant, and forward-thinking. She equips parents with knowledge about both the innovative and amazing uses of technology our children use, as well as the necessary safety precautions to protect them online.
Kirra will also work with students and staff throughout the day. The attached flyer details the parent session.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Naomi Loader
Assistant Principal Mission
K-2 Parent Storytelling 2024
We are excited to continue our K-2 Parent Storytelling this term. This program offers a wonderful opportunity for parents to engage with our K-2 students and foster a love of reading.
Storytelling sessions will take place from 9 am to 9:30 am, with parents meeting at 8:55 am outside the front office. You are welcome to join by simply showing up with a blanket if you'd like to participate. Your involvement is truly appreciated!
A big thank you to all who support this initiative. Your efforts help build a strong reading culture within our school community. We look forward to seeing you there!
LARC NEWS
BOOK FAIR
Please note that the Book Fair is now closed!! All orders closed on Wednesday 22 May at 4.30pm. Any online orders placed after this time will not be available to process and you will need to contact Scholastic for a refund.
Thank you to all the students and families who supported this year's Book Fair. Your support provides the Library with new resources for all our students to enjoy.
Chantal Warnes
Teacher Librarian
2024 National Simultaneous Storytime
On Wednesday May 22 our school joined with over 2 million students Australia wide to listen to Aura Parker's Bowerbird Blues for the 2024 National Simultaneous Storytime.
National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. Now in its 24th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.
Canteen Specials for Term 2
School Musical News
Sport News
SPORT CALENDAR 2024
Week 5 | |
Mon 27 May | AFL Paul Kelly Cup - NEW DATE |
Tue 28 - Fri 31 May | NSW PSSA Basketball & Hockey Championships (Newcastle) |
Fri 31 May | Rugby 7’s State Final |
Week 6 | |
Tue 4 Jun | St Augustine’s Year 3-6 Athletics (CeX Coffs International Stadium) |
Wed 5 Jun | NSW CPS Cross Country |
Week 7 | |
Wed 12 Jun | Lismore Diocesan Rugby 10’s (Coffs Harbour) |
Fri 14 Jun | Polding Summer Sports Trials - Touch Football (Parkes) |
Week 9 | |
Tue 25 - Thu 27 Jun | NSW PSSA Rugby League 12’s |
Fri 28 Jun | K-2 Athletics Carnival (St Augustine’s) |
Week 10 | |
Mon 1 Jul | Polding Rugby Union Trials (Forbes) |
Lismore Diocesan Cross Country Trials
On Tuesday, 16 students from St Augustine’s attended the Lismore Diocesan Cross Country Trials. It was a tough and hilly course and all of our runners put on a great display of grit and determination.
We would like to especially congratulate Hugh Morgan (2nd) and Pippa Keshk (7th) who will now progress to the Polding Cross Country Championships held in Sydney on the 5th June!
Lismore Diocesan Rugby Union Trials
Last Friday, 10 St Augustine’s students represented the Clarence Zone at the Lismore Diocesan Rugby Union Trials. It was an incredible display of talent across all teams in the Diocese and all boys are to be commended on their outstanding ability and sportsmanship.
Congratulations to Mitchell McKenzie, Noah Keshk and Nate Butcher, who will now travel to Forbes to represent the Lismore Diocese at the Polding Rugby Union trials!
PSSA Tennis
Last week, our talented tennis superstar Riley O’Brien competed at the NSWPSSA tennis championships on the Central Coast. Riley played in the Polding team over a full week, competing against the best tennis players in NSW. This year the Polding team came 6th overall which is an outstanding achievement. A huge congratulations to Riley who has done so incredibly well to get this far in his tennis when he is only in Year 5.
We also received a glowing report from his Polding Manager!
This is just an update on how Riley O’Brien from St Augustine's Primary Coffs Harbour, played whilst representing Your school and community as part of the Polding Tennis Team at the NSWPSSA Tennis Championships held in Newcastle during Week 3 Term 2.
Riley is to be commended for the fantastic way that he played tennis, singles and doubles and the excellent sportsmanship he showed whilst playing his tennis as part of the Polding Tennis Team at the Championships.
Riley’s efforts helped the Polding Tennis team achieve the excellent result of 6th place overall out of 13 regional teams that were participating at the PSSA Championships. Thank you Riley for your excellent efforts and leadership whilst playing at the PSSA Championships, great work!
Adam Foley.
Polding Tennis Team Manager 2024.
CANTEEN NEWS
Canteen Roster
Week beginning 27 May
- Monday - L Seccombe
- Tuesday - M & M Black
- Wednesday -
- Thursday - J Ward
- Friday - W McLean, K Cochran, L Horne
Week beginning 3 June
- Monday - D Budden
- Tuesday - M & M Black
- Wednesday - J Hay, C Jones
- Thursday -
- Friday - W McLean, K Cochran, C Williams
TERM 2, 2024 Tuition Fees
Notices
