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Dear Parents and Carers,
The Season of Lent
Next Wednesday, Catholics around the world will mark the beginning of the Lenten journey with Ash Wednesday. Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Lent is marked by fasting, both from food and festivities. Lent is a time of preparation for the gift of new life that we receive at Easter. During this time, we are called to reflect upon our need for God and to address those things in our lives that distract us from the wholeness that only God can bring.
The St Benedict’s School Community will be celebrating Ash Wednesday mass next Wednesday. This mass will be led by Year 5/6, whilst other classes will participate in their classrooms via MicroSoft Teams.
Parents & Friends Committee
Last Tuesday the Parents & Friends Committee held their Annual General Meeting and first P&F meeting for the year. On behalf of the wider school community I would like to take this opportunity to thank those parents who were part of the 2021 Parents and Friends Committee.
At the Parents and Friends Committee AGM the following positions were vacated and filled:
President – Tim Smith
Vice President – Sally Veikennan
Secretary – Shae Haylen
Treasurers – Olga Morabito and Gunesh Haragli
Parent Rep Coordinator – Hannah Norgrove
Clothing Pool Coordinator - Barbra Cox
School Board Representative - Edwina Betts (until the School Board AGM)
Grounds Maintenance Coordinator - Sally Veikkanen Fundraising
Social and Fundraising Coordinator - volunteer required
Thank you to all of these people who have volunteered their time and energy to be an integral member of this year’s Parents and Friends Committee. We are still looking to fill the position of Social and Fundraising Coordinator and find someone to support Barbra Cox in her work for the Clothing Pool.
Every Parents and Friends Committee meeting is open to all parents to attend. They are held on the Tuesday of Weeks 3 and 7 each term. Reminders will be through the Newsletter and Compass and they are marked on the School Calendar on the website. This term all meeting will be held online via MicroSoft Teams.
God bless.
Alana Quirk
Principal (Acting)
COVID-19 Update
Thank you for continuing to monitor and test for COVID. We are continuing with our COVID safe practices within the school and have luckily had very few cases to date. Please remember to keep your child/ren home if they display any symptoms. We will continue to inform the community of cases as they arise. As announced by the ACT Government recently, the Rapid Antigen Tests will continue to be supplied to schools for distribution until the end of Week 8.
Interim Reports
Students will bring home their interim reports this Friday, 25th February. These reports indicate how students are settling into classroom routines and utilising learning behaviours.
School Fees
School fees were emailed out to all families last Friday. You should also have received a letter on Monday via Compass, explaining the fees and providing you with options for payment. School fees are due for payment by the end of Week 6. Please don’t hesitate to contact the Front Office if you have any questions or would like to set up a payment plan.
Lockdown and Evacuation Procedures
Over the next three weeks the school will be practicing our lockdown and evacuation procedures with the students. It is a government requirement of all schools that they practice both the lockdown and evacuation procedures each term.
Morning Drop Off and Pick up
As mentioned in the First Day Bytes, school supervision begins at 8.30am and students are not expected to be here before this time. If students consistently arrive before that time parents will be referred to Before School Care, which is provided for such situations. Also just a gentle reminder that students are not permitted to walk to cars by themselves at pick up time. Student safety is always our first priority and so parents and carers must come to the gate to pick the students up and accompany them through the car park.
All relevant communication and information is sent via Compass.
Please contact the office at office.stbenedicts@cg.catholic.edu.au if you require access to Compass.
The following notes have been sent home this week:
2022 Collection notice for parents
Happy Birthday to the following children who celebrated their special day this week: Zachary H
Kinder: Ethan T, Benjamin M and Charlie B
Yr 1/2 B: Airlie M and Henri R
Yr 1/2 G: Alex N and Rafaela H
Yr 3/4 G: Selina H and Fergus K
Yr 5/6 B: Joel S and Alec C
Yr 5/6 G: Isabelle G and Hunter R
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 tuckshop is open every 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 masks 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.
