Dear Parent and Carers,

I am sure that if I was to ask you, you could easily detail the negative effects of the recent lockdown. The positive list may not be as long! One positive effect for you that may have come about because of the lockdown is better sleep habits. As life returns to normal, we need to continue to ensure we are getting quality sleep every night. We need to ensure our children are doing the same! Sleep is a very important part of your child’s mental and physical health because it allows your child’s mind and body to rest and recover. There are many things you can do to help your child or teen get good quality sleep as often as possible.

Benefits of sleep for mental health
Your child’s brain needs sleep to restore resources that were used up during the day. A well-rested brain can solve problems, learn new information and enjoy the day a lot more than a tired brain. Some areas of your child’s brain are even more active while they sleep.

Children who consistently get a good night’s sleep:

• are more creative
• can concentrate on tasks for longer
• have better problem-solving abilities
• are better able to make positive decisions
• are more able to learn and remember new things
• have more energy during the day
• can create and maintain good relations with others.

What are the signs and symptoms of lack of sleep?
Not getting enough sleep each night can have negative consequences for your child. These cannot always be erased with extra sleep the next night. Over time, not getting enough quality sleep each night can produce a range of behavioural, cognitive (mental) and emotional symptoms.

Physical symptoms

• Finding it difficult to wake up in the morning
• Falling asleep after being woken up and needs you to wake them again or repeatedly
• Yawning frequently during the day
• Complaining of feeling tired or wanting to nap during the day
• Preferring to lie down during the day, even if it means missing activities with friends or family
• Falling asleep or seeming drowsy at school or at home
• Wanting to consume unhealthy stimulants, such as caffeine or sugar, regularly
• Reduced immune system function, so they may be sick more often

Cognitive (mental) symptoms

• Lacking interest, motivation, and attention for everyday tasks
• Increased forgetfulness
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty learning new information

Emotional symptoms

• Increased moodiness and irritability
• Increased impulsivity
• Increased stress throughout the day

When your child owes their mind and body sleep, this is called sleep debt. A large sleep debt (not getting enough sleep for many nights in a row) can result in your child feeling mentally exhausted. It can also worsen the symptoms of any existing behaviour, anxiety and mood disorders such as depression.

How much sleep does my child need?
Your child’s circadian rhythm (also called their “body clock”) is a 24-hour cycle that tells your child’s body when to sleep. The body clock is influenced by your child’s age; children need less sleep as they get older.

Here is a general guide to the amount of sleep young children need over a 24-hour period, including naps.

The recommended amount of sleep is simply a guideline, as each child is different. In addition, sometimes your child might need a little more sleep than what is recommended and other times they may feel fine with a little less. Talk to your child and adjust their sleep schedule to find out how much sleep per night works best.

Stay safe and healthy.

God bless.

Rachel Smith
Principal

Thank you
Thankyou to all those families who joined us last Thursday night for our Virtual Disco Party. It was wonderful to see so many students involved and that so many families had gone to the extra trouble of adding lights, decorating, and dressing up. Thank you to Hannah Norgrove who organised and coordinated this wonderful event.

TV: Keeping Watch!
TV and kids—it’s a combination that’s hard to avoid sometimes! It is also something that can cause concern for many parents and carers. Are you aware of what your child is watching?  Walking through the playground and chatting with our students it is very evident that some of our students are watching TV shows and movies that are well beyond their age, with content far too advanced for them. Studies show that kids who watch educational and non-violent children’s shows do better on reading and math tests than children who do not watch these programs. Try to encourage your child to choose educational programs over pure entertainment shows, and to avoid violent shows altogether. TV program classifications can assist you to choose shows that are most suitable for your child, but it can also help to preview programs before your child watches them, or you could try watching them together. You can often watch just the first few minutes of a show to see whether it is educational and appropriate for your child. Another great way to limit TV watching is to keep TVs and internet connections out of bedrooms.

Library Stocktake
A reminder that all library books must be returned at the end of the year. Please ensure your child’s library books are returned next week for the upcoming Library stock take. This week is the final week for borrowing.

Home Reader
Please check at home for any misplaced home readers and return them to school. All families are encouraged to maintain a reading regime during the holidays - it is amazing how much progress can be lost if reading is abandoned during the long Christmas break. Don’t forget to read in front of your children - this is a very powerful message.

Tuck Day
Don’t forget the tuckshop will be running a special Tuckday on Wednesday 8^th December. Orders can be placed through Qkr!

Working Bee
Thursday 9^th December the P&F will be holding a Working Bee, from 3.30pm – 4.30pm. Many hands make light work, so please try to come along, and lend a hand.

School Hats
A reminder that school hats must be worn before school, at Recess, Lunch, sport times and after school. We ask for your support in ensuring that the students have school hats with names labelled very clearly.

Drink Bottles
Each student is to bring a water bottle to school with them each day. At the moment the school bubblers are locked and not accessible by students, so students need to provide their own water bottles each day. Thank you for your support with this.

2022 School and Term Dates
Please be aware the term dates will be as follows for next year.

• Term One 31 January       -           8 April
• Term Two 27 April            -           1 July
• Term Three 19 July             -           23 September
• Term Four 10 October      -           16 December

2022 Term One Dates

• Tuesday, 25 January Staff Planning Day
• Thursday, 27 January Staff Planning Day
• Friday, 28 January Staff Planning Day
• Monday, 31 January Students Return
• Wednesday, 2 February Kinder Rest Day
• Wednesday, 9 February Kinder Rest Day
• Wednesday, 2 March Ash Wednesday
• Monday, 14 March Canberra Day Public Holiday
• Friday, 8 April End of Term 1
• Thursday, 14 April Holy Thursday
• Friday, 15 April Good Friday
• Sunday, 17 April East Sunday

Important dates to note for this term are:

3rd December -   Reports Available after 3.30pm

                           - Mini Vinnies Giving Mass 10.00am -11.00am

6th December   - Optional Parent/Teacher Interview (Online)

                            - School Board (virtual) 6.00pm-7.00pm

10th December  - Ways of Being Awards Assembly  2.15pm-3.10pm

15th December  - End of Year and Graduation Mass - Year 5/6Blue & 5/6 Gold                                      10.00am-11.00am

16th December -  Year 6 Graduation  6.00pm-9.00pm

17th December   - Last Day of Term 4 

All relevant communication and information have been sent via Compass and SZapp. 

Please log into the relevant Portal or App to view them.  

The following notes have been sent home this week

K - 3 Term 4 2021 Learning Showcase invite

3-6 Learning Showcase invite 2021

Happy Birthday to the following children who celebrate their special day this week: Lucia M, Nathanael M, Sandy W and Anna N.

Year 1/2G:  Hassem A and Andrew K

Virtual Disco

On Thursday 18^thNovember St Benedict’s P&F hosted its first ever virtual disco. The students wore fantastic outfits and some living rooms were decorated with lights for a festive atmosphere.  DJ Kit Kat live streamed the song requests from the Northern Beaches in Sydney. It was a fun event with everyone getting into the disco spirit. Hopefully next year we will be able to have a disco in person.

Stuck on You

Dear Families,

We are raising funds for our St Benedict’s Primary School community through Stuck

on You. There are many lovely things to purchase at the Stuck on You website including Christmas gifts, name labels, drink bottles, bag tags, lunch bags and shoe labels.

Please use our school code: STB when you make a purchase.

1. Create your own account and place your order online
2. Enter our fundraising name (STB) at the checkout to transfer points to our fundraiser

When you order from Stuck on You, St Benedict’s P&F earn up to 20 per cent commission on all orders received with our school code. The P&F are awarded points for every order made.  These points are then converted to money for our school.  It is important to create your own account, if you order as a guest your points will not transfer to our fundraiser. Family and friends can also use our code to help fundraise for us.

Please use the below link to go directly to our fundraising page.

https://www.stuckonyou.com.au/affiliate/fundraiser/STB

If you require uniform items please email the school:

office.stbenedicts@cg.catholic.edu.au   

with attention Mrs Hemphill or Mrs Cox with the list of items required.  Please include either your telephone number or email address.

We will endeavour to fill your order and reply to you as soon as possilble.

The lost property box is overflowing with numerous clothing articles.  Could parents please ask your child/children to check the lost property box ASAP as it will be cleaned out by Wednesday 8th December, Week 10.  Named clothing will be returned to the student and all other items will be donated to the Clothing Pool.

Thank you.

The tuckshop is open and will continue operating each Tuesday and Thursday.

Cash sales at recess and all other orders online via QKR App.

Remember to bring your own apple to have it slinkied at the Tuckshop!

St Benedict's Parish

Office Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9am to 12noon
Phone: 62957879
Email: narrabundah@cg.org.au
Web:  website: http://cg.org.au/narrabundah/Home.aspx

Parish Team:
Fr Rembert Fernando MGL
Fr Baiju Thomas MGL
Onela Iruthayaraj (Parish Secretary)

Masses have recommenced at the usual times. 170 people are able to attend each Mass in person. Please follow social distancing and sanitise before entry. Face mask are no longer mandatory, but encouraged for those 12 years and above. Parishioners are not required to produce evidence of vaccination. Upon entry please sign in using the CBR app, if you are unable to do so please use the sign in sheets that are available. If you are unwell due to immunity issues it is better to stay home.