Principal's Notes
This week our Catholic Education Director, Ross Fox, announced that I would be continuing in the role of Acting Principal for the remainder of this year. The position of Assistant Principal (Acting) will be now be advertised.
I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to continue working alongside our community. I am greatly looking forward to a time when our community can gather together again and celebrate our students and the wonderful things that have been happening this year at St Benedict’s.
Staff Professional Learning
Yesterday we were fortunate to have Andrew Pirie (staff coach – CogLearn) visit our school and work with classroom teachers on their use of high impact teaching strategies. Andrew visited most classes and watched staff teach using Daily Review, before debriefing with them and providing feedback. Staff also viewed demonstration lessons (using Daily Review) presented by Andrew in both an upper primary and junior primary class. The day was a celebration of the wonderful work our staff are doing in classrooms with high impact teaching practice. It was fantastic to hear from Andrew that many other CE schools would be jealous of the expertise, collaboration and collective commitment shown by our staff as we work to refine our practice and strive to provide the best education we can to all our students.
Working Bee
Our gardens are in need of a little love and attention, especially in the lead up to Catholic Schools Week and enrolment period early next term. We will be holding two working bees in the near future; one on Friday 1st April @ 3:30 – 4:30pm and the other on Friday 6th May @3:30 – 4:30pm. We have a large pile of mulch to be spread onto garden beds and some general garden tidying to be done. Any time you or your family can contribute would be greatly appreciated. Please bring along a wheelbarrow, garden fork, rake or shovel if you have one!
Tuck Day
We will be holding a Tuck Day on the last day of term. A note will go home soon regarding this special lunch.
COVID Update
Thank you to our community for your commitment in adhering to COVID restrictions and procedures.
The ACT Government is making some changes to the way rapid antigen tests (RATs) are distributed to ACT school communities for the remainder of Term 1. RATs will continue to be available through our school but will be provided to staff and students on an as-needed basis - or in response to increased cases as necessary. If you require additional RATs please contact the Front Office.
You are reminded that staff and students cannot attend school if they are showing any symptoms of COVID-19. These include fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss of smell/taste, muscle/joint pains, diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting, extreme tiredness, unexplained chest pain or conjunctivitis (eye infection).
If symptoms occur at any time, you should not attend school and should undertake a Rapid Antigen Test. If a Rapid Antigen Test is positive, you/your child should isolate as someone who has tested positive to COVID-19. If you cannot access a Rapid Antigen Test, you can attend a PCR (nose and throat swab) testing clinic.
Please remember to inform the Front Office or myself if there are any positive cases, and a reminder that further information can be obtained from the ACT Health website.
Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher/s directly if you have any concerns or questions.
