Newsletter 6 December 2024
Principal's Message
Introducing our School Leaders for 2025!
Christmas Carols at St Josephs
Friday 6 December 2024- Term 4 Week 8
Dear Parents and Carers,
As we approach the final weeks of the school year, we reflect on what a wonderful journey this year has been, filled with learning, growth, and memorable moments. There’s still plenty happening in the coming days, and we’d love for you to join us in celebrating the end of this fantastic year.
Parish BBQ and Fun Day
We warmly invite you and your families to our Parish BBQ and Fun Day on Sunday, 8 December, starting at 10:30am. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together as a community, enjoy some delicious food, and share in the fun!
Annual Awards Day
Mark your calendars for our Annual Awards Day on Monday, 16 December, beginning at 9:15am. This special event recognises the achievements of our students and celebrates their hard work throughout the year. Everyone is welcome to attend!
‘Step Up’ Session
On the same day, Monday, 16 December, our students will have the opportunity to participate in the ‘Step Up’ session. Starting after lunch, students will meet their new class and teachers for next year. This session is always a highlight as it helps students transition smoothly into their new year group.
Nativity Celebration
We’re excited to share the joy of the season with our Nativity Celebration on Tuesday, 17 December, beginning at 9:15am. Students will retell the Christmas story through song and drama, spreading the message of hope and love. We’d love to see you there!
Annual Student Reports
Yearly student reports will be published to COMPASS for you to view on Friday, 13 December. These reports provide a comprehensive summary of your child's progress and achievements throughout the year. Please take the time to review them and celebrate the growth your child has made.
Thank You
Thank you for your support throughout the year. Your involvement has been invaluable in creating a nurturing environment where our students thrive.
As this is the last newsletter of the year I’d like to wish you and your family a safe, joyous, and holy Christmas. May this special time bring peace, happiness, and cherished moments with loved ones.
Grace and peace,
Peter Watts
Faith and Mission News
Advent
Last Sunday saw the start of the season of Advent. During this church season, we prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus; this Christmas as we have done in the past and when He comes again as He promised. The document linked HERE has ideas and prayers to help your family prepare for His coming this Advent.
Parish Luncheons
On the 3rd Wednesday of each month, a class attends the Parish Luncheon, where they meet some parishioners and enjoy each other's company. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Our next class to attend will be K Red on 18 December where there will be plenty of fun to be had with Christmas craft and carolling.
Parish BBQ/ Fun Day
Bring the family along for a whole lot of fun. Games, Karaoke, face painting, trying to bowl Fr Joy out! A sausage sizzle will be provided and please bring a plate to share.
Parish Carols
On 13 December at 5:30pm, join the parish in a special evening of carols, followed by food and fun for the whole family in the Curran Centre.
Naomi Loader - Assistant Principal Mission
Maria Woods - Leader of School Evangelisation
NATIVITY LITURGY - SAVE THE DATE
St Augustine’s School Nativity
At 9am on Tuesday 17 December, the nativity story will be celebrated by the whole school community. Our Year 4 choir students have special roles to help share the story of the first Christmas. Everyone is welcome to join us.
Mini Vinnies Annual Christmas Appeal
Mini Vinnies is organising our school's support for the SVDP Christmas Giving Appeal, aiming to assist less fortunate families in our local community.
Each class is collecting monetary donations to purchase a gift for a designated child. Please send any contributions to your child's class teacher by Friday, December 13.
We appreciate the ongoing support for this appeal and thank everyone who can contribute..
K-2 Parent Storytelling 2024
2024 Little Archies - 'Future Me'
Proudly presenting our Little Archies Winners, Runners-Up and Highly Commended artworks for 2024.
It is wonderful to see the effort that all our students put into their portraits and how their skill levels have continued to grow each year. Many thanks go to Ms Perkins and Mrs Day for starting the Archies back in 2018 and to our teaching staff for fostering this program. Thanks also to the judges (whose task gets harder every year) and particularly Mr O'Connell and Mr Hollister for selecting the Packing Room Prize.
The standard of portraiture is amazing - please visit the LARC windows to view the 'winners' in person - and drop into your child's classroom... we know you will love the portraits (and the insights into their future 'selves') as much as we do.
Winners
Runners-up
Highly Commended
2024 Winning artworks
2024 Runners-up
Highly Commended
2024 Smart City STEAM EXPO
This week saw the culmination of the 2024 Smart City STEAM Projects for our Year 3-6 HPL students. Each year group tackled a unique challenge with Y3 designing Smart Homes to enhance efficiency and comfort; Y4 building Smart Cities for sustainable, connected living; Y5 developing Smart Agriculture to address food production challenges; Y6 innovating in Smart Health for improved well-being.The students have explored how technology can address real-world problems by designing innovative solutions to improve everyday lives. This work has encouraged critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration with a strong focus on developing skills in design and computational thinking.
Monday's activities included setting up their final projects, sharing explanations (and troubleshooting) with Matt from Sammat Education; working in mixed age groups on a 'chariot challenge'; and culminated in presenting their projects to families during an afternoon expo.
Matt presented St Augustine's with a trophy in recognition of our students' outstanding achievement in the Smart City Project for 2024.
NEWS FROM THE LARC
CALLING ALL LIBRARY BOOKS…..
The Larc Staff are planning to run a stocktake in week 9 and we need ALL of your books! Can you please have a look at home for any library books and return them to the LARC ASAP. There will be no borrowing in Week 9, but should students wish to borrow for the holidays they can do so in week 10.
All items on loan to Year 6 students need to be returned to the LARC before the end of the school year as other students would love to read these books next year.
Sport News
Lismore Diocesan Summer Sports Trials
(Basketball, Touch Football, Tennis)
Well done to all students who attended the Lismore Dicoesan Summer Sports Trials in Basketball, Touch Football and Tennis last week.
Congratulations to the following students who were selected to attend the Polding Summer Sports Trials:
Nate Butcher (Basketball)
Ariana Yaya (Basketball)
Rylee Cutler (Basketball)
Jade Causley (Basketball)
Riley O’Brien (Tennis)
Angus Morgan (Tennis)
Basketball NSW State Final
A big congratulations to our Senior Girls Basketball team who played a two day tournament at the Basketball NSW State Final in Penrith last week.
The girls came up against strong competition and on the first day were defeated in all games by the narrowest of margins but came back on the second day, winning two games from two with big margins. This gave our girls a placing of 3rd overall in NSW!!!
Thank you to Brent Roulstone and Lisa Rooney for coaching and managing the team.
St Augustine’s Representative Swimming Trials
Today our swimmers competed at the St Augustine’s Representative Swimming Trials. Well done to all students.
Congratulations to Finnley Johnson who broke the 100m Open Freestyle in a time of 1.12.90.
Congratulations to our Age Champions:
Junior Girl Age Champion - Evie Hunter
Junior Girl Runner Up - Keira Turner
Junior Boy Age Champion - Conor Kelly
Junior Boy Runner Up - Taj Schuhmann
11 Years Girl Age Champion - Hope Mengel
11 Years Girl Runner Up - Alahni Kirkaldy
11 Years Boy Age Champion - Benjamin Burton
11 Years Boy Runner Up - Louis Davis
Senior Girl Age Champion - Ariana Yaya
Senior Girl Runner Up - Orla McAfee
Senior Boy Age Champion - Finnley Johnson
Senior Boy Runner Up - Hugh Morgan
Multiclass Age Champion - Mary Davis
Multiclass Runner Up - Josephine Nealand
The list of students who have qualified for the Clarence Zone Swimming Trials will be announced in the coming weeks.
CANTEEN NEWS
Canteen Roster
Week beginning 9 December
- Monday - L Seccombe
- Tuesday - M & M Black
- Wednesday - S Rowan
- Thursday - J Ward
- Friday - W McLean, K Cochran, L Horne, Dinah
Week beginning 16 December
- Monday - M Mainey
- Tuesday - M & M Black
- Wednesday - C Jones
- Thursday - L Hardaker
- Friday - W McLean, K Cochran, C Williams
Notices
