St Augustine's Primary School Creswick eNewsletter

From the Principal's Desk

The Christmas story is very simple: it tells of a birth, the birth of a first child to poor parents with an uncertain future. So what is it about the story that holds such appeal, that has allowed so many other stories and traditions to grow up around it? Why does it have such a place in our hearts?

Perhaps it has to do with the way it taps into our deepest longings, those things we desire that can help us cope with just about anything: love and trust. There is much generous love in the story, and with it a sense of wonder that God could be so intimately involved with something so simple. Shepherds are amazed, wise men are humbled and a young woman treasures all these things in her heart.

In the midst of the love we are all invited, just like the people in the story to trust that God is here and cares deeply as each of us deals with the joys and sorrows, the hopes and disappointments of everyday. This story affirms that we all have a value and a unique dignity that lifts us up and empowers us to move beyond ourselves and to take the risk of reaching out to others, always trusting that God is present in the simple stuff.

“As the days grown longer and the nights become warmer

we look for signs of hope during this Advent Season.

There is hope in the trees that have shrugged off the cold.

There is hope in children’s hearts as they look forward to Christmas.

There is hope as more candles are lit on the Advent Wreath.

But the greatest hope is the promise: “You are to conceive

and bear a son and you are to name him Jesus.

He will be great and be called Son of the Most High.”

Staffing & Year Levels 2022

Fr. Justin Driscoll – Parish Priest

Terry Brennan – Principal

Mandy Simpson – Office Administrator

Celly Csorba – Year 6 teacher

Carlie Daley – Year 5 teacher

Angelique Greene – Year 4 teacher

Maria Grawich – Year 3 Teacher

Sarah Prendergast– Year 2 Teacher

Chris Schepis – Year 1 Teacher

Jessica Reynolds – Foundation Teacher & Assistant Principal

Louise Morris– Physical Education Teacher & Learning Diversity Teacher

Staci Jones– Japanese Teacher

Kate Snow - The Arts Teacher/Visual, Music and Drama

Nicolle Miller – Classroom Support

Ginny Crilly – Classroom Support

Carlyn Hall - Junior Classroom Volunteer

School Fees 2022

With increasing costs a reality in all sectors particularly education, it has been decided by DOBCEL and our School Council on advice received through CEB Finance Department that the school fees will need to rise in 2022.

Therefore, the Family Fee will now be $1,220 and Parents are reminded that school fees are a necessary part of Catholic Education and are a vital component of our budget which enables us to meet the recurrent needs of our school.

End of Year

As we draw to the end of another school year, I look back with admiration at the commitment and efforts of so many individuals who have collectively helped build our community here at St Augustine's. I begin by acknowledging our students, the very reason we are here, thank you for taking advantage of the learning opportunities that are put before you. Thank you for your determined efforts in so many aspects of school life and congratulations to you on your tremendous achievements. Despite the challenges of 2021, our students learning has progressed admirably, as reflected in their work output and assessment results. Teacher generated and standardised data indicate that the impact of COVID-19 has been limited and “learning gaps” minimal in most areas.

In 2021, each staff member at St Augustine’s adapted extremely well to teaching and learning in an educational world that changed almost every week. Their focus was on providing every student with learning experiences that was as close as possible to their daily classroom routine. At school, they adhered to new levels of hygiene and cleanliness. They maintained strong relationships with students, families and one another and they looked for opportunities to ensure wellbeing was high on the list of things to do.

I thank our St Augustine’s parents and caregivers for supporting your children and staff during the time when children were learning from home. While home learning was not without its challenges, you showed enormous commitment to working in partnership with staff to ensure our children continued to flourish. A special thank you to all of the families that are leaving our community at the end of the year, it has been a pleasure watching your children grow with most joining us in Foundation seven years ago.

We welcome two new staff member for 2022, Jess Reynolds and Kate Snow will join the St Augustine’s community and we welcome them as they begin a new chapter in their lives.

I especially want to acknowledge our School Admin Officer, Mandy Simpson, Assistant Principals, Emma Paterson and Chris Schepis. Their commitment and unwavering support of our community in 2021 has been truly remarkable. Our passage through 2021 has been made easier and smoother because of them.

As the year draws to a close, it is timely to say goodbye to our year six students. We thank them for all they have bought to our community, and we wish them well in their future endeavours!

Dakotah Baker, Angus Bullen, Arya Cameron-Lench,

Gurnoor Chahal, Grace Davis, James Donovan-Clancy,

Amelia Dubberley-McPhan, Paige Euvrard, Alexis Evans

Lily Evans, Bella Hocking, Fletcher Martin, Sonja Martin,

Annabella Miller, Declan O’Kelly, Callum Penhall,

Jack Petch, Abbigail Righetti, Paige Robinson & Jonty Thomas.

First Holy Communion

Congratulations to Datotah Baker who made her first Holy Communion on Sunday 28th November and a big thank you to Father Kevin!

Farewell to our Year 6 Students!

There is always HOPE..........

Sonja: “I hope one day to play in the woman’s NRL.”

Arya: “ I hope to I’ll be a mounted police officer.”

Millie: “ I hope to become a singer.”

Cal: “ I hope to go to Ireland.”

Paige E: “ I hope to be a lawyer.”

Dakotah: “ I hope to become a professional dancer.”

Annabella: “ I hope to become a farmer.”

Lily: “ I hope to be successful.”

Bella: “ I hope that I become a detective one day.”

Jonty: “ I hope to be tall one day. “

Declan: “ I hope me and my brother can become closer.”

Grace: “ I hope to be happy and successful.”

Abbi: “ I hope that I can play for The Diamonds in the Brisbane Olympics.”

Lexi: “ I hope to move to London and be an actress.”

Fletch: “I hope to land a good job one day!"

Angus: “ I dream to be a Kinder teacher.”

Gurnoor: “ I hope to be successful in the future.”

Jack: “ I hope to become an uncle someday.”

James: ” I hope I can be an AFL player ( for the Saint’s!)

Paige R: “I hope I can be a paramedic.”

Uniform Shop!

A reminder this coming Tuesday 14th December will be the last uniform shop day for the year. To give all parents the opportunity to drop off or buy items before school finishes on Wednesday, I will have the uniform shop open for 2 sessions, morning from 9am - 9:30am and again in the afternoon, from 3pm.

All items of uniform submitted to the Uniform shop should be clean, in good condition and must have attached a completed sales slip for each item. These slips are available in the office foyer.

If you have any queries please email me: bellul85@yahoo.com - including details of what you are looking for (including size, etc.) and I will respond to you as soon as I can.

Thanks, Bernie Ellul.