Character Strengths
We were certainly blessed with some fabulous weather over the break, a wonderful reminder that we truly live in a beautiful part of the world. Speaking to several of the boys on Monday morning, it seems that many families holidayed in regional Australia while others enjoyed what the Northern Beaches has to offer. As parents, you should be very proud of your sons who greeted me with smiles and conversations asking my holiday whereabouts and were genuinely interested in my responses. Being very biased, we certainly have a wonderfully welcoming, friendly and positive group of boys at St Augustine’s College.
At our first Primary School Assembly on Monday morning, I quoted from one of the best minds the world has seen – Einstein (1879-1955) who says, ‘It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer’. This has been the message the boys have heard all year and supports the work of Carol Dweck regarding ‘mindsets’ which we have been learning about in Positive Education lessons.
The staff encourage the boys to adopt these important messages and continue, by their actions, to be young men of humility – letting others have their turn to shine; of integrity – doing the right thing when no one is watching; of perseverance – doing the things they don’t necessarily like doing until they are successfully completed and be young men of empathy – being aware and supportive of the feelings of others. These are the attitudes that support the College’s core values and ones we hope all boys transition from Year 6 having as core character strengths.
Orientation Days
The College has taken all precautions and acted on advice form NSW Health in preparation for the upcoming Year 5 and Year 7 Orientation Days. COVID-19 cleaning protocols continue to be observed and boys will be kept in grade cohorts throughout the day. Once again, if your son is suffering from any cold like symptoms, he will need to be kept at home with results from a COVID-19 test forwarded to the College.
Year 6
On Friday 23 October, the current Year 6 boys will have the first of two Orientation Days with the new Year 7 boys for 2021. The second day will occur later in the term on Friday 20 November (further details to follow).
On Friday 23 October, the boys will take part in English and Mathematics testing, as well as peer support and ‘getting to know each other’ activities. These tests provide the College with information to best place boys in the appropriate classes for next year. Please reassure your son that the work he has completed in class this year will hold him in good stead to achieve results to the best of his ability.
If you have further questions, please contact your son’s class teacher.
Year 5 2021 Orientation Day
This day will occur on Friday 30 October, where we welcome 112 new Year 5 boys to the College. During the day, boys will complete some English and Mathematics assessments, have a BBQ lunch, drink and chips and be the audience for drama, music and science shows. They will complete the day with some soccer, touch footy and basketball (very similar to what the current Year 5 boys experienced last year). If time permits our current Year 5 boys will meet their buddies for some question time.
New Stage 3 Teacher
With a reputation for providing a challenging, engaging and creative curriculum, the College was inundated with over 52 applicants for the new Stage 3 teacher for 2021. Already blessed with a wealth of talented teachers in the Primary School, we are pleased to announce that the successful candidate was decided last week. What a wonderful position to be in and a real testament to the positive reputation the College has in the community and wider, to have so many high-quality teachers apply for this position. I will formally announce our new Stage 3 teacher next week.
New Build
Planning has commenced for the new Year 6 classroom which will be located above the current Year 5P classroom. It is currently open terrace space and will be the ideal position to link all Year 6 classes together, further allowing for collaborative group work and flexible teaching purposes.
Parents on Campus
Please remember that parents should not be on the College campus unless they have a pre-arranged meeting with a teacher and have signed in at the Primary School Office. If you need to call into the Primary Office, please do so via the glass entry door located on Gulliver Street using the intercom system. These protocols are extremely important if contact tracing occurs and our records of attendance are required by NSW Health.
Early Arrivals
Boys are asked not to arrive at the College earlier than 8:00 am, at which time the College Library is open. In some instances, boys may have band, private music lessons or even sport training, which is fine. Lately we have boys arriving at 7.30 am, and with teachers not required for duty until 8.20 am, this leaves them unsupervised for 50 minutes.
Attollo Award
