Newsletter 28 February 2025

Principal's Message

Friday 28 February 2025- Term 1  Week 4

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope this newsletter finds you well as we settle into the school year. Below are some important updates and reminders for the coming weeks.

Ash Wednesday – 5 March
Next Wednesday, our entire school community will come together to observe Ash Wednesday with a special liturgy. During this time, all children and staff will receive ashes on their foreheads as a sign of reflection and preparation for the Lenten season. All welcome.

Swimming Program (Years 2 – 5)
Our Swimming Program for Years 2 to 5 begins next week. Please ensure that all swimming gear, including towels and swimwear, is clearly labelled to prevent any mix-ups. We wish all our students the best as they participate in this valuable program.

Risk Management and Green Zone Pickup Area
As part of our new company structure as part of the Diocesan Catholic Schools, we are implementing various risk management activities. One key measure is the establishment of a Green Zone for afternoon pick-up if you need to come onsite to collect your child at 3pm. The designated green zone is located on our astro turf. We kindly ask all parents to adhere to this space for student pick-up after school to ensure a safe and organised dismissal process. All other exits remain the same with no parent access points.

Parent-Teacher Meetings
Our Parent-Teacher Meetings begin next week. These meetings provide a valuable opportunity for you to discuss your child's progress, share insights about their learning needs, and receive feedback on how they have settled into the new school year. We encourage all parents to take advantage of this opportunity.

Homework Challenge (Years 3 – 6)
The Homework Challenge for Years 3 to 6 will commence on Monday, 3 March. This initiative is designed to support students in their learning, reinforcing key concepts and enhancing their knowledge. We encourage all students to participate, as it will greatly contribute to their academic progress.

Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the school office.

Grace and peace,

Peter Watts

Faith and Mission News

First Eucharist and First Reconciliation

For those parents who missed the Parent Information Evening for students preparing to receive the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, there will be an alternate meeting for you to attend  in the LARC on Wednesday 5 March at 3:30pm. If you have a meeting with your child’s teacher at that time, just call into the LARC afterwards for the information. Maria Woods will be there until 4:30pm. If your child has not yet been enrolled in the preparation program, please do so via the GOOGLE FORM. 

First Reconciliation  for those students preparing to receive First Eucharist later in the year will be held on Wednesday, 26 March between 4:30pm and 5:30pm in St Augustine’s church. It is suggested that Year 4 students arrive around 4:30pm and students in Years 5 and 6 arrive around 5pm so as to minimise waiting time. 

Confirmation

Although the students won’t begin preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation until next term, we ask that you fill in this GOOGLE FORM to enrol your child if you wish for them to receive the Sacrament this year.

Ash Wednesday 

The season of Lent begins on Wednesday 5 March. Our school community (Years 1-6) will receive the ashes during a liturgy held in the church at 12 noon. 

 The ashes are a reminder that we are invited to receive God’s forgiveness. 

Everyone is invited to attend the liturgy and receive the ashes regardless of whether they have been baptised or not. 

The Kindergarten students will have their own liturgy in the KR classroom at 9am. 

SAPS Mass

The St Augustine’s school community is responsible for all the ministries at the 9am Mass on Sunday 9 March (the 1st Sunday of Lent). At this Mass our 14 new altar servers will be commissioned into their special ministry. All families are welcome to attend. Children who attend and would like to help with the singing, please report to Mrs Woods and Mrs Machatsch before the Mass. 

2025: Jubilee Year of Hope

At our school assembly yesterday, the students were informed as to what the Jubilee Year is all about and prayed the special Jubilee Prayer for children.

God, our loving Father, 

In this Jubilee year,  

you remind us of our call to love creation. 

Help us to work together  

to replant, repair, and renew. 

Guide us on our journey as pilgrims of hope. 

Jesus, our light, 

In this Jubilee year, 

 you remind us of our call to love our neighbours  

and to set free those who suffer. 

Help us to treat everyone with dignity;  

to be fair, forgiving and kind. 

Guide us on our journey as pilgrims of hope. 

Holy Spirit, our inspiration, 

In this Jubilee year, you remind us of our call to grow in faith and love. 

Help us to hear you in scripture, to see Jesus in others,  

and to be united as God’s global family. 

Guide us on our journey as pilgrims of hope. 

Amen 

Jubilee Information for Families

Video - Jubilee Explained

Parish Luncheons

Last Wednesday 4B attended the Parish Luncheon and enjoyed the company of the many parishioners who were there. This event is held on the third Wednesday of every month and everyone is welcome. 

Naomi Loader - Assistant Principal Mission
Maria Woods - Leader of School Evangelisation

Pastoral Care

Big Banana Waterslide Fun Night - Friday, 7 March 2025

In conjunction with the Parent Forum, we will be holding a Big Banana Waterslide Fun Night at the Big Banana on Friday, 7 March 2025. Tickets will be $17 each (non-sliders free). Tickets can be purchased through Compass Tix via the link  here. 

Please note that children must be 3 years + and 1.2m or taller to ride on all slides. Children over the ages of 3 years but less than 1.2m are able to ride on the smaller rides/children's splash zone area.

Please note that children 0-3 years old are only permitted in the Children’s Wading Pool area and are free of charge.

We will have two sessions this year to allow more sliders to attend this great night. 

Session 1: 4.30 pm - 6.00 pm 
Session 2: 6.15 pm - 7.45 pm. 

Gates will open at 4:00 pm for the sliding for the first session to start at 4.30 pm. 

As a bonus, Friday night dinner will be sorted, with a BBQ available for purchase on the evening. If you can help out our Parent Forum by assisting with setting up, cooking, and/or serving on the BBQ, please add your name to a time slot here.  Cash and eftpos will be accepted.

This is always a fun night and an excellent opportunity for the kids to meet outside school and the adults to mix and mingle.

We hope to see you there!

SHROVE TUESDAY - Mini Vinnies Pancakes on Sale! Tuesday 4 March 2025

To mark Shrove Tuesday Mini Vinnies will be selling pancakes on Tuesday 4 March 2025. Pancakes will be on sale at Lunch for K-2 children and Recess for Years 3-6 children in the Wet Weather area outside the canteen. Pancakes will be 50c plain or $1 with a topping. We have asked our Mini Vinnies team members to help by cooking and donating pancakes to sell. Pancakes can be brought to Mrs Bamford's room (6 Yellow) or the school office, before school on Tuesday morning. Thanks in advance for your help. All money raised will go to Project Compassion. It is going to be a great year helping those in need!

The Mini Vinnies Team

Mini Vinnies Committee Members

Our 2025 Mini Vinnies Committee was announced on Assembly yesterday. Never before have we had so many Year 6 children nominate, which made the decision difficult for the children voting. Listed below are our leaders for 2025 who will support our school in striving to help others in need. We look forward to what the year will bring for Mini Vinnies. Congratulations to our committee and welcome all members who will be part of our team.

President: Hope Mengel

Vice President: Poppy Greenaway 

Media: Rylee Cutler, Ivy Evans and Ariana Yaya

Treasurer: Prabpreet Kahlon and Isabel Siriwongwhathanakit

Secretary: Peggy Robinson and Harroop Bahia

Prayer: Iggy Dworjanyn and Jack Weber

K-2 Parent Storytelling 2025

Kinder meet their Year 6 Buddies!

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News from the LARC

Overdue notices will be sent home in the next two weeks as a friendly reminder to find any books that need to be returned. Books don’t need to be paid for unless they are lost and can’t be returned.

Thanks,

The LARC Team

Sport News

Clarence Zone Winter Sports Trials 

Last week students attended the Clarence Zone Winter Sports Trials in Netball and Football. 

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to attend the Lismore Diocesan Winter Sports Trials:

Ariana Yaya (Girls Football)

Darby Wall, Vinnie Ambrosini, Jack Tyler (Boys Football)

Hope Mengel, Prabpreet Kahlon, Poppy Warren (Netball)

We also wish Sonny Dent (Hockey) and Ollie Chiswell, Vinnie Fensom, Cannon Glover, Luke Goddard, Kobe Lindsay and Lachlan Speirs (Rugby League) good luck at the trials.

Lismore Diocesan AFL Trials 

Well done to Lachlan Crawford and Matthew Welsh who attended the Diocesan AFL Trials last week. Congratulations to Matthew who has been selected for the Polding AFL Trials!  

Clarence Zone Swimming Trials

It was a big day in the pool for the St Augustine’s Swim Team at the Clarence Zone Swimming Trials in Maclean this week coming home with the school shield.

Well done to all our swimmers on their results and great sportsmanship.  Congratulations to our age champions recipients:

Josie Nealand - Multiclass Age Champion

Conor Kelly - Junior Boy Age Champion

Hope Mengel - 11 Year Girl Age Champion

Ariana Yaya - Senior Girl Runner Up Age Champion

Finnley Johnson - Senior Boy Age Champion

Hugh Morgan - Senior Boy Runner Up Age Champion

Congratulations also to our individual place getters and relay team members who will be representing Clarence Zone at the Lismore Diocese Swimming Trials next week:

Stella Dobson, Max Farr, Levi Finlayson, Tahlia Harkin, Mason Kidd, Alahni Kirkaldy, Arley Lassau, Henley Lassau, Orla McAfee, Liam Murphy, Riley O’Brien, Halle Timms, Billie Turner, Keira Turner, Poppy Warren, Lacie Warren and Ben Wilson.

Rugby Union 

Training starts next week, Thursday 6 March! All players must be registered ASAP (See flyer below). Please make sure your child has a mouthguard, drink bottle, change of clothes and boots for training. All rugby players will be directed to line up with teachers at the end of the day and will then walk down to the field. They will then have time to change ready for training. Mrs Butcher will be waiting on the field to supervise this process. 

U8’s Coach position available!!

This year we are on the lookout for some new coaches/managers for our U8’s side. (Players turning either 7 or 8 this year). Coaches are well supported with optional coach training available. All training gear is provided for you, so all you have to do is focus on the team! Please contact Candy Butcher on 0438427670 if you would like to join our team of coaches.

SAPS Rugby What’s App Groups 

If you are new to rugby this year (any age) please contact the coach/manager for your team before registering to have your name and number added to the team What’s App group. 

U8’s (Players turning 7 or 8) Candy Butcher (Temporary) 0438 427 670

U9’s (Players turning 9) Heath Murphy  0428 638 763

U10’s (Players turning 10) Graeme Doyle 0412 452 927

U11’s (Players turning 11) Dan Burbridge 0449 594 140 

U12’s (Players turning 12) Paul Butcher 0488 650 129 

Free Cricket Clinic for Girls 

Registrations are still open for the free Cricket Clinic for Girls.  This is a very exciting opportunity for our girls starting in Week 5, especially after a very successful campaign of our Australian Women’s side over England! Simply use the QR code below to register. 

CANTEEN NEWS

Canteen Roster

Week beginning 3 March 

• Monday - C. Williams  
• Tuesday -   M & M Black  & K Humm
• Wednesday - C Jones 
• Thursday - J Murphy & D Kelly 
• Friday -  W McLean, H Webber, L Horne, Dinah 

Week beginning  10 March

• Monday - C Skewes
• Tuesday - M & M Black
• Wednesday - C Jones  
• Thursday - L Hardaker 
• Friday - W McLean,  C Williams, L Lawler, B McClurg

Notices