Great students

I have been delighted with the Year 5 boys’ transition into their new school this semester. They are fine young men who represent the College and their families with pride, good manners, persistence, tenacity and integrity. Not to be outdone, the Year 6 boys continue to be excellent role models and their leadership in promoting the core values of Truth, Love and Community is recognised by the many new parents who have visited the Primary School for enrolment interviews. The College looks forward to the positive contributions and relationships that will continue to develop over the course of this year and the years to come.  

Holidays

I would like to wish all members of the Primary School community a very safe and enjoyable break from the routine of lunches, homework and the washing of school uniforms. I encourage all boys to continue with their positive reading habits by reading every night and committing to complete 10 hours of voluntary service as part of their SEA programme.  Term 3 commences on Tuesday 23 July.  

Community (Communitas)

The purpose of an Augustinian education is creating an experience where we can put a human face to our core values of Truth, Love and Community. This human face is best identified in the positive relationships we enjoy and celebrate with all members of our College community. In fact, this experience of community is one of the many factors that parents’ value and its visible presence is one of the real strengths of an Augustinian education. I hope that you have had the opportunity to feel this sense of welcome this semester.  

Growing our talents

All students have natural talent, abilities and intelligence in various areas, however that is not the end of the story. These are not fixed traits. Some may have a gift for story writing, art, maths or sport, but it needs to be grown. Some may not be good at science, history or working with others…YET! The reality is that natural talent, abilities and intelligence are developed over time, through effort, persistence, practice and focused attention. It is easy to make the mistake of telling the boys that they are smart, gifted, talented, bright, and clever or a ‘natural’. This might ‘pump up their tyres’ and make them feel good for a moment but it doesn’t help them in growing their abilities.  

Over the past fifteen years, we have come to realise that the brain is a highly adaptive organ – it changes like a muscle through a process called neuroplasticity. The malleable brain is the most interesting, meaningful discovery in recent times and has huge impact on the education of young people. In fact, much of the learning and teaching at St Augustine’s College is informed by this growth mindset approach, which values the process, more than the performance. As parents and teachers, we should encourage in the boys, behaviour that we want to see the most, praise effort, persistence and the way they tackle challenges.  

Every skill we can perform has been acquired through applying ourselves to it: reading, walking, talking, swimming, riding a bike. The messages we want all boys to hear is, ‘smart is not something you are, it’s something you get; fit is not something you are, it’s something you get.’ As a College, we want the boys to ‘work hard’ at growing their talent, abilities and intelligence and respond to the challenges of learning with grit and optimism through persistence and effort.      

Year 6 Merits

Year 5 Merits

Attollo Awards

Quote for the Week . . .

Bruce Springsteen

Terry Walsh
Head of Primary School