Newsletter 28 March 2025

Principal's Message

Friday 28 March 2025 - Term 1  Week 8

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope this newsletter finds you well and in good spirits despite the wet weather we have been experiencing. Thank you for your ongoing support in making our school a safe, welcoming, and productive environment for all our students.

Open Parent Forum Meeting Success
We had a very successful meeting on Wednesday night, where a broad range of important topics were discussed. These included homework, student reports, our behaviour system, tutoring opportunities, social media use, anti-bullying strategies, and the transition to Kindergarten and Year 7. The discussion provided valuable insights and feedback, particularly on how we communicate school policies in a practical and accessible way. We appreciate the engagement of all who attended and look forward to further collaboration.

Cross Country Champions
A huge congratulations to our dedicated cross-country runners who braved the wet weather and mud during our school event! Your resilience and perseverance were truly inspiring, and we are very proud of your efforts. Well done to all participants! Thanks to Mrs Butcher and Mrs George for their exceptional organisation. 

Road Safety Reminder
With the continued wet weather, we urge all families to take extra care when crossing the roads near the school. If you are driving, please reduce your speed, be mindful of children crossing, and exercise caution when reversing. We have supervision until 3.20pm so consider waiting until a bit later to pick up, when the rush is over. Let’s all work together to keep our students and community safe.

Homework Challenge Success
A big thank you to all the families supporting our Year 3-6 students in the Homework Challenge. It has been wonderful to see so many children studying diligently for the big test. If they continue at this pace, they will surely know more than us in no time! Keep up the great work, everyone!

Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in our school community. Wishing you a safe and blessed week ahead.

Grace and peace,

Peter Watts

Faith and Mission News

 First Reconciliation

The Sacrament Reconciliation will be received for the first time  by the candidates on Wednesday 9 April between 4:30pm and 5:30pm. We keep these students and their families in our prayers as they come to experience God’s forgiveness in this special way.

First Eucharist 

The preparation for First Eucharist will take place early in Term Two. The dates for First Eucharist are 21 and 22 June. Families will choose the Mass they would like to attend at the Passover evening on Wednesday 4 June at 6pm.

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.

LENT

Lent is a special time in the Christian calendar when people prepare for Easter by praying, fasting, and doing good deeds. It lasts for 40 days and helps us grow closer to God. During Lent, we remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert, where he prayed and made sacrifices. It’s a time for us to think about how we can be kind to others, help those in need, and improve ourselves. Many people give up something they enjoy or do something extra, like helping at home or being kind to others, to show love and thankfulness to God.

Holy Week and Easter

Families are invited to attend re-enactments of Holy Week and Easter at 

St Augustine’s school in the assembly area near the office.

Celebrating God’s Forgiveness

Next Wednesday, some of our senior students will receive the sacrament of Reconciliation in the church with Fr Joe and Fr Joy. Over 100 students have already received this healing sacrament in the past month. Understandably, some felt nervous in the lead up, but afterwards the smiles and sense of peace was almost palpable. What a beautiful sacrament!

Project Compassion Appeal 2025

The theme of Project Compassion 2025, "Unite Against Poverty," encourages everyone to work together to help those who are struggling with poverty. It reminds us that by showing kindness and caring, we can make a big difference in the lives of people who need help. When we unite, we can create a better world where everyone has a chance to live a happy and healthy life.

During Lent we encourage our students and families to come together in solidarity with the world's poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. Together, we can make a difference. 

Project Compassion boxes went home last week.
Please give generously and return the boxes to school by the end of term.

‘Pilgrims of Hope’

Many classes have begun their ‘pilgrimage’, working through the activities on the poster below. This pilgrimage will take almost all year to complete and we look forward to sharing some of the experiences that bring us closer to God.

'Prayer and Reflection Night'

During the year of Jubilee, we are challenged to make an extra effort to engage in something that enhances our journey as 'Pilgrims of Hope'. Everyone is invited to come and experience an evening of Lenten Taize music and prayers in conjunction with an hour of Eucharistic Adoration and opportunity to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday 9 April at 7pm in St Augustine's Catholic Church. Each of these on their own is a very special time.....put them together, and it should be a very prayerful experience.

Parish Luncheons

Last Wednesday 1G 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

Project Compassion

Currently, 292 million people walk for more than 30 minutes to collect clean water. So St Augustine’s school community is again showing compassion to these vulnerable people by raising funds to install a water tank near their homes. If you are able to help, return the water drop (decorated and /or with your name on it) with $5 to the school office. This water drop will be added to our display at school and the money collected will go towards buying a water tank for a needy community.

MINI VINNIES EASTER COMPETITIONS

MINI VINNIES EASTER COMPETITIONS

Mini Vinnies are pleased to announce their Easter fundraising competitions!
Easter Egg Guessing Competition- Guesses are $1 each or 3 guesses for $2- Students can view the jar of eggs and register their guess outside the canteen before school, at lunch and recess.- The winner will be announced after recess on Thursday 10 April (last day of term)
Easter Colouring Competition- A gold coin to enter- Take your completed entry to the office with your name and class on the back- Entries close Wed 9 April- A winner & runner-up for each cohort - The winners will be announced after recess on Thursday 10 April (last day of term)
All funds raised will go to Caritas for Project Compassion.

CANTEEN SPECIALS

2025 MOTHER'S DAY - Friday 9 May 2025

We look forward to celebrating our mothers on Friday 9 May. The celebrations will begin with breakfast at 7:30am, followed by a liturgy in the assembly area at 9am. After the liturgy visitors are welcome to visit classrooms and, if they wish, to stay for a picnic lunch. See the flyer attached to this newsletter or the Compass notification for more information.

Families are also invited to come along to the 9am Mass on Sunday 11 May where mother’s will receive a special blessing.

Pastoral Care

Seasons For Growth 2025

Everyone is affected by change and loss at some point in their lives. At St Augustine’s, we recognise that when changes occur, such as separation, divorce, death, school transitions, and natural disasters, young people may benefit from learning the skills to manage these changes effectively. We are, therefore, offering an education program called Seasons for Growth, which will commence in Term 2. Members of the Pastoral Care Team, including our Student Wellbeing Officer, Miss Amber Scanes, will run the program.  

This program is facilitated in small groups of up to 7 participants and is based on research highlighting the importance of social support and the need to practise new skills to cope effectively with change and loss. The program focuses on building skills such as managing feelings, problem-solving, decision-making, effective communication and developing peer support networks.

Participation in the program can promote improved self-esteem and self-confidence and give young people the opportunity to find their own voice amid change.

If you think your child or children would enjoy joining the Seasons for Growth program, we encourage you to talk to them about it. We are pleased to offer this successful program and are confident that it will be a valuable learning experience for those involved. 

If you feel the Seasons Program would suit your child/ren, please register them by emailing the school at cofhp@lism.catholic.edu.au or by completing the Google form HERE.

Please note that depending on the number of students nominated, not all applications may be placed in a group in Term 2, but we will continue to run the groups in Term 3 and beyond.

Happy Families School Membership

Please click on each page to view

K-2 Parent Storytelling 2025

FIREFLY Arts Festival - Wed June 25

SAVE the DATE!

News from the LARC

Sora is a free reading platform (app and website) that you can use to access eBooks and audiobooks.

All students have access to free ebooks and audiobooks through our school subscription of Sora. There are some video guides available here. Students need to know their school username and login. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Regards

Chantal Warnes

St Augustine's Cross Country

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Sport News

Results from Clarence Zone Rugby Union Trials 

Well done to our students who trialled at the Clarence Zone Rugby Union Trials last week. Congratulations to the following students who were selected to attend the Diocesan Rugby Union Trials:  Nate Butcher, Louis Harrigan, Finnley Johnson, Kobe Lindsay, Max McCarthy, Hugh Morgan, Parker Murphy-Moore, Riley O’Brien, Lachlan Speirs, Jack Tyler.

Waratah Fergus Lee-Warner Visit

Our Year 5 & 6 Rugby players were keen to participate in a Q&A with Fergus Lee-Warner, backrower for NSW Rugby Waratahs.  There was lots of questions about training regimes and the toughest teams to beat.

Dio Winter Sports Trials (Netball)

Well done to Poppy Warren, Hope Mengel and Prabpreet Kahlon who represented Clarence Zone at the Diocesan Winter Sports Trials in Netball yesterday. A special mention to Poppy and Hope who made possibles and probables.

St Augustine’s Cross Country

Our runners blitzed the course at our Cross Country this week! 

Well done to all students on their big efforts.  A big thank you to our parent volunteers who gave their time today.

Congratulations to our place winners and age champions:

Netball NSW Gala Day

Our students enjoyed a big day of netball at the Netball NSW Gala Day this week.  

Well done to everyone on their exceptional behaviour and sportsmanship.

Congratulations to the All Stars who came away with the win and will progress to the regional finals in Port Macquarie later in the year.

CANTEEN NEWS

Canteen Roster

Week beginning 31 March 

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

Week beginning  7 April 

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

Notices