Dear Parents and Carers,

This Friday students will bring home their Semester 1 School Reports. These reports are written for and addressed to parents, not students. There are many ways that students receive feedback about their academic progress through the day/week from teachers. This report is a way of summarising student progress to date against the Australian Curriculum and in line with Australian Government expectations on reporting to parents.

I encourage you to read it before your child does and then choose to share those aspects that are relevant with them. When you look at your child’s report the first section to focus on is the Personal and Social Capabilities. To me these are what make a person successful in life: the ability to collaborate with others, to respect oneself and others, to accept responsibility, to persevere and to manage one’s time are all skills and attitudes that one can learn and apply to every area of life. Learnt during the childhood years these can shape one’s life far more than receiving A’s in each subject.

I suggest also talking to your child/ren about their strengths. Strengths are not always necessarily what a person is very good at with hard work. Strengths are the areas in life that one is good at and comes a little easier to them and they feel energised doing! It is good to keep telling children to keep putting their effort and love into their strengths and then find a way to use these to help them in areas that are more challenging. For example your child maybe musical so may find it easier to remember their times tables in a musical way, thus making it a more enjoyable learning experience.

I encourage you to celebrate all that your child/ren have achieved in the academic and non-academic areas. Optional interviews are offered at this time. There will be a letter coming home with your child’s report on Friday if you would like to request a time to meet with your child’s teacher or if there is a particular aspect of the report you wish to discuss.

Thank you for your ongoing care and partnership in your child’s learning.

God bless.

Rachel Smith
Principal

Learning Showcase
Just a reminder that tomorrow, Thursday, 27th June between 2pm and 4pm we will have the second of our Learning Showcases for the year. The Learning Showcases provide an opportunity for you to visit your child’s classroom and look at the great work they have been doing. It will also provide you with the opportunity to sit with your child and revisit the goals they set at the end of last term and work towards setting new goals for Term 3. It is also the perfect time to remember that your child thrives on praise from you. When you recognise the effort your child has put into their school work it boosts their self-confidence, which can result in better academic performance.

NAIDOC Dance Performance
Over the last two weeks the students have been participating in Aboriginal Dance Workshops with a specialist teacher. The students will be performing these dances at a special presentation on Thursday 4^th July at 9.40am. We would love it if you were able to attend.

Staff Absences
As winter has begun we are at that time of the year where there is a lot of sickness around. We have had a number of staff away this week due to professional development and illness, unfortunately there are times when we are unable to provide relief teachers due to demand or relief teachers being sick. In these times, we do our utmost to cover the class with other staff members, however there may be situations where your child may be placed in another class for the day with set work.

School Fees
Just a reminder that school fees are now overdue. The Building Fund is currently a voluntary contribution and tax deductible. This fund is managed directly by the CEO to be used to pay for the upkeep of our schools. Under the current arrangement, should St Benedict’s require a plumber to fix leaking toilets or an electrician to fix the heating or have a broken window fixed, we simply contact the CEO and they send the relevant tradesmen. The cost for this is paid by the CEO through the CCSBF money (i.e. the building fund). Some of the funds each year are also used to support schools in small projects that they cannot fully fund at school level (eg. internal lighting repairs, internal lighting upgrade, plumbing repairs, toilet door replacements, classroom door repairs, heater repairs for us in 2019). Should all our families elect not to pay this fund, then the CCSBF will no longer be viable and the CEO will no longer be able to provide these services. Should that occur, each school would have to introduce an additional levy to fund this specialised maintenance, and I fear this would be an expensive exercise for the school and the families and would not be tax deductible. I encourage our families to support this initiative in order to maintain the condition of our school. Thank you for your efforts in this aspect of our partnership.

Sick Students
If your child is ill please keep them at home for their own benefit but also so as not to spread it to other students and staff. Please make sure that your emergency contacts are up-to-date so that we can contact you quickly if your child becomes ill or is injured at school. If your child needs medication at school, you are required to complete a “Request to Dispense Mediation” form which is available at the Front Office or on our website. A reminder that students are not to self-administer medication. Medication should not be kept in children’s bags but kept in the Front Office area and Belinda will administer. All information is then noted in a medication book. Teachers will not administer or supervise the taking of medication. Please ask your child to take medications to the Front Office upon arrival at school.

Leaving St Benedict’s
If you anticipate that your child will leave St Benedict’s at the end of this year, could you please notify the Front Office. We need to begin planning for staffing and class configurations for 2020. Thank you to those who have let us know already, this is very much appreciated. Naturally Year 6 parents need not respond to this request.

Sacraments

Congratulations to our students who made the Sacrament of Baptism and First

Holy Communion last Sunday. It was a vibrant community celebration. We pray that these students will  always know the peace of Jesus, the light of His love, and the joy of His life within them.

   

IMPORTANT: DATE CHANGE
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the date for the Confirmation Retreat has been changed. The Confirmation Retreat will now be held on Saturday 17^th August NOT 24^th August. Thank you.

Mountain View
Last Thursday Year 1/2 visited Mountain View Aged Care Centre to participate in a healing liturgy. Students sat with the residents as they were anointed. The residents were overjoyed with the presence of the children. It was a beautiful celebration.

St Benedict’s Feast Day Mass
On Friday 5th July we will be celebrating St Benedict’s Feast Day beginning with a

whole school Mass at 10:00am. Students from different classes will be leading the Mass. Families are warmly invited to join us for this liturgical celebration. Parents and guests are invited to stay after Mass for morning tea with their children and staff in the Library.

St Vincent de Paul School Sleepout

This Friday we have 22 students in Years 4-6 who will be participating in our school St Vincent de Paul Sleep Out. We are very proud of these students! Please keep these students in your prayers as they prepare to undertake this challenging experience. If you would like to sponsor them please contact Nat Wright natalie.zarb@cg.catholic.edu.au .

WANTED: Medium and Large Cardboard Boxes

At the Sleep Out students will require cardboard boxes. If you have any unwanted medium and/or large cardboard boxes please bring them into the Front Office by Friday. Thank you.

Mini Vinnies Winter Woolies Day

Our Winter Woollies Day will be held this Friday 28^th June to raise awareness about the issue of homelessness in Canberra as well as donations for the St Vincent de Paul Night Patrol Van. All classes will have been discussing the issue of homelessness in our Canberra community. Please take the time to also have these discussions at home. The main understanding we want our students to have is that we are working as a school to protect the human dignity of the vulnerable in our community. Students will wear free-uniform for a donation of either a blanket, sleeping bag, scarf, gloves, socks, beanie or gold coin donation. Donations can be second-hand or new, but all must be adult sizes. Please store these at home until Friday, as we do not have the capacity to store these at school.

For more information about the Canberra Night Patrol Van, please visit

https://www.vinnies.org.au/page/Find_Help/ACT/Food/Night_Patrol/

Families who wish to make a money donation might consider purchasing an incredible ‘Backpack Bed’- Backpack with storage that rolls out into an all-weather protected bed. These are an extremely ‘precious’ item that is handed out from the Night Patrol Van to those who are ‘sleeping rough’. For more information about this wonderful product that provides thousands of people with a dignified sleep across Australia please visit:

https://backpackbed.org/au/

Community Meals Program

The Community Meals freezer is one way we can assist families who are experiencing hardship. If you are able to cook a meal, please use disposable containers and label with ingredients and date. All meal donations can be brought to the Front Office. If your family requires temporary meal assistance, you can speak in confidence to any of our staff members.

27 Jun       Learning Showcase, 2.00pm
28 Jun       Semester reports sent home
28 Jun       Winter Woollies Day - Uniform Free Day
28 Jun       St Vincent de Paul School Sleepout
1 Jul          Parent—Teacher Interviews (Optional)
2 Jul          Parent—Teacher Interviews (Optional)
4 Jul          Naidoc Dance - 9.40am - All welcome
5 Jul          St Benedict’s Feast Day Mass, 10.00am
5 Jul          Term 2 concludes

The following notes have gone home this week and will be sent home via Schoolzine App:

• NAIDOC - Dance Presentation
• Learning Showcase - Thursday 27th June 2-4pm

Mugga Lane Resource Centre

By Lucia M

On Monday 17th of June 2019, 3/4 Blue and Gold went to the Mugga Lane Resource Centre. We went on the bus at 9:30 and left school. I sat at the back of the bus with Rafael, Marissa and Edi. 

When we got to the centre our 3/4 classes split into groups, 3/4 Blue and 3/4 Gold. First 3/4 Blue went inside to play some games. Ms Ellison did virtual reality. When she did virtual reality she tried doing some of  the jobs that they had at the resource centre. After we finished with the games and virtual reality 3/4 Blue went on a bus trip around the resource centre and landfill. 

On the trip we saw a solar panel farm and poles that collected methane to make electricity. We also saw ponds which had leachate, it was really gross.

On this trip I learnt about what goes in the recycling bin and why it goes in the recycling bin. Because of this excursion I have learnt the values of recycling and I will try to recycle now and hopefully in the future.

Happy Birthday to the children who celebrate their special day this week: Emily S, Tessa P, Mya R, Kidada C, Savannah L and Mia-Rose S.

Kindergarten: Selina H, Lydia P, Eva S and Savannah L

Year 1/2 Blue: Vivienne  K, Rocky-James  B,  Nicolas  B, Nathen  W and Niamh B

Year 1/2 Gold: Jayden L and Claire L

Year 3/4 Blue: Alannah C and Zack W

Year 3/4 Gold: Oliver J, Elvira H and Tessa P

Year 5/6 Blue: Natalija M and Aylah H

Year 5/6 Gold: Brigid N and Riley W

Kindergarten: Noah W

Year 3/4 Blue: Sophia R

Year 5/6 Gold: Rose G

This term we will be selling the new 2019-2020 Entertainment Book Membership for $60. You will receive hundreds of valuable offers for shopping, dining and accommodation.  $12 of every membership sold will go towards our school. A sample copy is available for viewing at the Front Office.

Please make sure you buy a book through St Benedict’s School, and tell your family and friends about it too!

Entertainment           Book           using           the           link: https://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/orderbooks/23231n Then pickup your book from Belinda at the Front Office. 

Thank you to all the wonderful families that have shopped at Woolworths over the past weeks.  The Earn and Learn for 2019 has now finished.  If you still have any stickers at home could you please bring them into school tomorrow or Friday as we will need to tally the stickers and submit the totals on Monday 1st July.

The Clothing Pool will be open each Tuesday and Thursday between 2.50pm to 3.15pm by appointment. 

Please let Mrs McRae know at the Front Office if you need something from the Clothing Pool, even if you are unable to make the opening times.  Where possible we will always help.

The Lost Property Box is located in the  canteen area.  Please take some time to go through the box on a weekly basis as the lost property box is overflowing with jumpers and jackets.  These are going to be essential items of your child/rens uniform as the days get colder.

PLEASE ENSURE YOUR CHILD/REN'S CLOTHING IS LABELLED WITH THEIR NAME.

Extra Lost Items
There are a number of personal items that have been handed into the office during the term.  If you are missing any jewellery or accessories please call in and see Mrs McRae at the Front Office.

Hello everyone,

Just a little note about the tuckshop/canteen menu. A large proportion of the food sold through the canteen is made on site. This affords me with flexibility with ingredients, where I endeavour to ensure all students are catered for with respect to any dietary requirements. If your child has a dietary requirement, please refer to the canteen menu which I have updated to include information regarding Gluten Free (GF) or Lactose Free (LF).  Much of the menu can be altered to accommodate these requirements.  Therefore if your child has been unsure if they can have any food from the menu, I can assure you, some items can be changed. I believe food is a wonderful opportunity for children to share common ground amongst their friends. It can also be divisive for many reasons, including dietary requirements.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

I endeavour to ensure the prices are kept to $2 and below per item.

Please remember counter sales only occur at Recess time and lunch orders must be ordered in classroom tubs first up of a morning.

As most of the food is made fresh in the canteen volunteers are needed for the peak times for this to continue. If you have any spare time, please consider dropping in and helping as volunteers are always welcome. No amount of time is too small.

FRIDAY 28th June

9am to 11.30am - Helpers Required - Over counter sales only

11.30am to 2pm - Helpers Required

TUESDAY 2nd July

9am to 11.30am - Helpers Required - Over counter sales only

11.30am to 2pm - Helpers Required

If you would like to touch base about volunteering please either drop in or contact me on Cara.Cook@cg.catholic.edu.au.

Yours in tongs,

Cara Cook, Canteen Manager

Weekend Mass Times

Saturday          6.00pm

Sunday            9.00am

Youth Mass      6.00pm

Charismatic Mass    6.00pm (last Sunday of the Month)

Baptisms: 11.00am, 2nd and 4th Sundays of the Month