Term 4, Week 8: Thursday 26th November, 2020

From the Principal's Desk

Lord Jesus,

Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.

We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day,

We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.

We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.

We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.

We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.

To you, we say, "Come Lord Jesus!'

Amen.

- Henri J.M. Nouwen -

Advent begins in our Church on 29th November.  This is the beginning of our Church's liturgical year and a special time when we prepare for the birth of Jesus.  Each week we light a new candle on the Advent wreath.

Fundraising 2020!

2020 is a year we would rather forget for many reasons, but there has been a positive feature woven within. With the aid of your fundraising levy contribution, we have managed to complete THREE major projects. Project ONE, saw the completion of the shade sails project with monies added to the project to ensure the shade sail is now waterproof. Project TWO, saw the complete upgrade of all of the blinds in the school to enable classrooms to have a filtered and functional light source.  The THIRD project was to complete the renovation of the Mary MacKillop Centre.  All of these projects will have a significant impact on the day to day experiences of your children, as they continue their education here at St Augustine's Creswick.  We once again thank Fr Gary Jones for his generosity in allowing the school to take over all of the space that was occupied by the St Augustine's Presbytery. It will become the Year 5 and Year 6 Learning Hub in 2021. The library and Visual Artspace will be moved to the current Year 6 classroom.  A special thank you to Andy Preston for coordinating the renovation project of the presbytery and the Year 6 area.

A REMINDER!!

In line with our updated uniform policy, if you are purchasing school shoes for your child(ren) in the next few months, please remember to purchase black leather shoes  NOT  black runners!

2021 School Fees

With increasing costs a reality in all sectors, particularly education, it has been decided by our Canonical Administrator - Fr. Gary Jones and our School Advisory Council, on advice received through the Catholic Education Ballarat Finance Department, that the school fees will need to rise in 2021.

Therefore, the Family Fee will now be $1,140 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.  Thank you.

Moving-Up Day!

Wednesday 2nd December is 'Moving-Up Day.' Between 9.30 am and 11 am, the students will spend time with their classmates and teacher for 2021, and will complete activities in preparation for next year.

NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee.  The NAIDOC website shares the following information…….

Always Was, Always Will Be

'Always Was, Always Will Be', recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years.    We are spiritually and culturally connected to this Country.

This Country was crisscrossed by generations of brilliant Nations.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were Australia's first explorers, first navigators, first engineers, first farmers, first botanists, first scientists, first diplomats, first astronomers and first artists.

Australia has the world's oldest oral stories. The First Peoples engraved the world's first maps, made the earliest paintings of ceremony and invented unique technologies. We built and engineered structures - structures on Earth - predating well-known sites such as the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge.

Our adaptation and intimate knowledge of Country enabled us to endure climate change, catastrophic droughts and rising sea levels.

Always Was, Always Will Be acknowledges that hundreds of Nations and our cultures covered this continent. All were managing the land - the biggest estate on earth - to sustainably provide for their future.

Through ingenious land management systems like fire stick farming we transformed the harshest habitable continent into a land of bounty.

NAIDOC Week 2020 acknowledges and celebrates that our nation's story didn't begin with documented European contact whether in 1770 or 1606 - with the arrival of the Dutch on the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula.

The very first footprints on this continent were those belonging to First Nations peoples.

Our coastal Nations watched and interacted with at least 36 contacts made by Europeans prior to 1770. Many of them resulting in the charting of the northern, western and southern coastlines – of our lands and our waters.

For us, this nation's story began at the dawn of time.

NAIDOC 2020 invites all Australians to embrace the true history of this Country – a history which dates back thousands of generations.

It's about seeing, hearing and learning the First Nations' 65,000+ year history of this Country - which is Australian history. We want all Australians to celebrate that we have the oldest continuing cultures on the planet and to recognise that our sovereignty was never ceded.  

Always Was, Always Will Be.

The display below was created by Mrs Csorba and Year 5 students to celebrate NAIDOC Week

End of Year School Performance

This year due to Covid 19, we unfortunately will not be able to have our normal end of year performance.  Instead, each class has been practising a song and dance in Performing Arts, which will be recorded and sent home for you to enjoy.  Recording will take place on Wednesday 9^th December.  

It would be greatly appreciated, if your child/ren could bring into school the following items for their performance:  

Foundation Class:  plain t-shirt in either red or green, black pants, black socks and school shoes

Yr 1/2 Class:  red t-shirt, black pants, black socks and school shoes

Yr 2/3 Class:  plain red or green t-shirt, black pants, black socks and school shoes

Yr 4 Class:  plain red or green t-shirt, black pants, black socks and school shoes

Yr 5 Class:  plain red or green t-shirt, black pants, black socks and school shoes

Yr 6 Class:  plain black t-shirt, black pants, black socks, school shoes and dark coloured sunglasses

* Black pants can be leggings, skins, tracksuit pants, jeans, etc.  (NO shorts please)

Could children please bring their items into school, named and in a plastic bag and put them in the tub in their classroom by Friday 4^th December.  School shoes are to be worn or brought into school on the day.  If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me at school.

Many thanks,  Sarah Prendergast

sprendergast@sacreswick.catholic.edu.au

New Numbers & Process for attending Mass

Hello everyone, well we have good news and not so good news. The Victorian Government announced that Indoor religious gatherings and ceremonies now have a cap of 150 people, (the good news) with a density quotient of 1 person per 4 square metres (the not so good news).  The rule applies to venues and facilities with indoor and outdoor spaces that are accessible to the public, which includes Churches.

What this means, is that after measuring the width and length of the areas that are accessible to the public to sit in, we are capped at 57 people for mass.

 You do not need to call and register with the office.  There will be a record sheet at the entrance of each church, that each person must fill in with your name (in block letters) and phone number.    

Once the 57 has been filled, then the church will be closed.  We also ask that once mass has finished, to please exit as soon as possible, to enable the volunteers to clean the church to COVID standards.   Thanks for your help and understanding.

Second Hand Uniform Shop

Hello all, it is with great pleasure that I announce that Bernadette Ellul has volunteered her time to operate the 2^nd Hand Uniform Shop in 2021, so that we can continue to offer this wonderful service to the families of St Augustine’s.  I’d like to thank Bernadette and wish her all the very best.

From today, Bernadette will be your contact for anything 2^nd Hand Uniform Shop related.  If you wish to buy or sell uniform please contact Bernadette via email:  bellul85@yahoo.com

It is also worth noting that the 2^nd Hand Uniform Shop will be moving towards using the new cashless payment system CDF pay next year.   Please refer to the details included in this newsletter, on how to download and use this App.

We are still after smaller sized uniform for our new Foundation Students, but are also very low on jumpers (both V neck and Sports) of all sizes.  If you wish to sell or donate uniform can you please ensure that all items are clean and that a 2^nd Hand Uniform slip (available in the office) is completed for each item.

The 2^nd Hand Uniform Shop continues to operate under safety protocols to comply with COVID restrictions.  Uniform can be viewed by appointment.  If you would like to make a time to view and purchase uniform, please contact Bernadette to arrange a suitable time.

Thanks to everyone for the support over the past couple of years.  It has been lovely meeting you all!  

Best wishes, Narelle Barrett.

FINAL REMINDER - Graduation Bear/Balls

Graduation bears/balls (football or soccer) can now be ordered.  Large Bears $13.60 each (height seated 31 cm / height standing 45cm) OR small Bears (height seated 23cm) $9.50 each.  Balls are $9.50 each.  All items come with a quality permanent marker.  Note that we are currently setting up a new payment system called CDFPay, please refer to details regarding the new payment system within this newsletter to order and pay for these items or call Mandy ASAP as orders for these items close on Tuesday 1st December!!

CDF Pay - a NEW Payment System!

We have been investigating ways to streamline administrative processes, eliminate cash management and provide our school community with the convenience and security of a one-stop shop for all areas needing payment to be managed - other than school fees.  In doing so, we have decided to run with a new payment system called CDF pay.  Our aim is to have this system fully implemented for the 2021 school year, as it will allow for payments to be made for other aspects of school such as: Tuck Shop, Uniform Shop, special events/days held at school, ordering of graduation bears/balls, etc.  Note that Qkr has now been scrapped, so you can delete this App, as Tuck Shop will not run for the remainder of 2020 and CDF pay will be used for Tuck Shop in 2021.  Please refer to the flyer with regards to uploading this App.  Note that not many functions will be available until 2021.  We will keep you informed as more functions within CDF pay become available to use.  If you have any questions, please contact Mandy.

TERM 4 DATES:

NOVEMBER:

Wednesday 25th - Friday 27th:  Year 6 Camp

DECEMBER:

Tuesday 1st:  Orientation Day (SESSION ONE: 9:15 - 10 am & SESSION TWO: 10:15 to 11 am)

Wednesday 2nd:  Moving-Up Day

Thursday 3rd - Friday 4th:  Year 4 Camp

Friday 11th:  Year 6 Fun Day

Monday 14th:  Last day for students

Tuesday 15th & Wednesday 16th:  Numeracy Testing days for students - Bookings via PAM!

Thursday 17th:  Staff Planning Day

Friday 18th: Last day for Staff

NOTE 2021 DATES:

Wednesday 27th January:    Staff first day - planning, etc.

Thursday 28th January:  Students commence

(NOTE: as closure days for testing can no longer take place, students will return to school on Thursday 28th January, 2021.   Testing will now occur while students are at school).  

Kelly Sports - Holiday Programs

DECEMBER SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM    (excluding weekends and public holiday)

Thursday 10th of December to Wednesday 23rd of December, 2020

Eastwood Leisure Centre, Ballarat.  Time:  8am to 5pm each day - Pre-School to Grade 6, boys & girls

$45 per day ($40 per day for 5+ days)  Enrol online www.kellysports.com.au/greater-ballarat 

Any queries call Dominic on 0417 967 621 or Paul on 0423 335 616

OR

JANUARY SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM   (excluding weekends and public holiday)

Monday 4th of January  to  Friday 29th of January, 2021

Eastwood Leisure Centre, Ballarat.  Time:  8am to 5pm each day - Pre-School to Grade 6, boys & girls

$45 per day ($40 per day for 5+ days)   Enrol online www.kellysports.com.au/greater-ballarat 

Any queries call Dominic on 0417 967 621 or Paul on 0423 335 616