St Benedict's Primary School - Narrabundah eNewsletter

Dear Parents and Carers,

It is the end of term and end of Semester and we know that everyone is tired and looking forward to a break. Thank you to all of our parents for your ongoing support for your child’s learning this term. We have had quite a number of Learning Showcases, Masses, liturgies, carnivals, events and assemblies. It is always wonderful to have your support in recognising students’ achievements. The children really appreciate your interest and support.

Something to Revisit in the Holidays
Children find sitting and concentrating for long periods of time quite challenging. Teachers have a lot of strategies up their sleeve for keeping students focussed and switched on. GoNoodle is a free website our teachers are using to channel classroom energy with short interactive brain breaks. It includes a series of desk-side activities that help children achieve more by keeping them engaged and motivated throughout the day.

Using exercise, science and cutting-edge research, all of GoNoodle’s brain break activities are designed to be healthy for the body, engaging for the attention, and beneficial to the brain in specific ways. The activities encourage the transformation of the classroom from listless to engaged in five minutes. GoNoodle makes earning minutes of healthy activity a game that a class can play together or an individual can play at home. It motivates children to set goals for minutes of activity and rewards them for being diligent.

Children can use GoNoodle at home by setting up their own accounts under the supervision of their parents at www.GoNoodle.com. There is no expectation that they do as teachers use their own accounts for the classroom.

I hope every family has a truly restful time over the school holidays and the opportunity to relax a little with the break in routine.

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

God bless.

Rachel Smith
Principal

Staffing News
Mrs Lina Christian, one of our wonderful Learning Support Assistants, has secured a new position at Catholic Education as part of the Wellbeing and Diversity Team. She will be greatly missed and we wish her well with her new role.

Following interviews I am very pleased to announce that Mrs Tracey Trewhella will be joining our staff as a Learning Support Assistant and Mrs Barbra Cox will be increasing her hours. Congratulations Mrs Cox and congratulations and welcome to Mrs Trewhella.

Mrs Linda de Salis will be joining us for an extra day a week for the remainder of the year to work with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Thank you Mrs de Salis for taking on this new role.

Mini Vinnies Sleepout
Last Friday night 21 of our students from Years 4, 5 and 6 participated in the Mini Vinnies sleep out. This meant staying overnight in the Library in a sleeping bag, with only a piece of cardboard to sleep on. The students participated in a variety of activities to learn more about homelessness in Australia. Thank you to Nat Wright for her organisation of the event, and to Alana Quirk, Breena Walshe and Sue Anderson who helped out on the night. Thank you to Josh Mackenzie for cooking breakfast the next morning. Well done to all involved.

School Reports and Three Way Conferences
I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the teachers who have spent many weeks assessing and writing reports about their students. It takes countless hours to collect the valuable data to make professional judgements about student progress. While it is an ongoing practice of teachers to assess how students are achieving it also takes a great deal of time and energy to collate, moderate and then communicate this to parents succinctly and effectively.

Our Learning Showcase was a great success last week. Thank you to all the students, parents and teachers for making it so. It was great to hear laughter, joy and enthusiasm as people talked together about the students’ engagement and learning.

Rostrum
Congratulations to Riley in Year 6 who, after our own Year 6 competition, was selected to represent the school at the Rostrum Quarter Finals last night. Well done! The feedback for all participants on the night was very affirming.

Uniform
Most children are coming to school every day wearing the correct school uniform. There is, though, an increasing number of children wearing non-uniform school shoes and/or non-uniform beanies and coats. Please remember that our policy is for black leather school shoes to be worn with the school uniform.

I ask that all families use the holiday period to ensure all children have all they need to wear the correct uniform to school when we resume on Monday 22 July.

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 2019. 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.

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.

Event

Date & time

Venue

Participants

Confirmation Retreat, afternoon tea, followed by Vigil Mass

Saturday

17th August

3.30-7pm

St Benedict’s Parish Centre and Church

Candidates and at least one parent/carer

St Vincent de Paul School Sleepout

Congratulations to the 21 students who paticipated in the our school St Vicnent de Paul Sleep Out. The students completed a number of activities to help them deepen their understanding of the issue of homelessness including an outside reflection. We are very proud of these students and hope that they will encourage their friends to take-up the challenge next year. The money raised from their sponsorship will go towards purchasing much needed winter items for the Night Patrol Van.

“I learnt that there is more than a 150 people in Narrabundah that are experiencing types of homelessness” Rose

“I realised that it was so hard to sleep. Someone who is homeless must be so tired and just want to sleep but can’t find somewhere safe and stable” Sarah

“We played a game called 'Mindfield'. It showed me that everyone needs help when they are going through tough times and that there are many different reasons for homelessness” Michael.

Mini Vinnies Winter Woolies Day

Our Winter Woollies Day was a huge success with families raising over $450 and the Night Patrol van was filled to the brim with donations of winter woollies! The Night Patrol van arrived to find the school fence lined with posters encouraging people to be a part of the change to end homelessness. Students then assisted in packing the van with donations and then Fr Dan lead the school in blessing the donations. On behalf

of the St Vincent de Paul Streets Programs we would like to thank the St Benedicts school community for their generous donations.

ABC Breakfast Radio Guests: Brigid N and David T

Congratulations to Brigid and David who were interviewed by Dan Bourchier on the ABC Breaskfast Radio show about our school sleep out and the very serious issue of homelessness in our Canberra community.They spoke compassionately and eloquently, reflecting their deep understanding of the issue of homelessness as well as their faith. As a school community we are incredibly proud of them. To listen to the interview please visit the Catholic Education Facebook page.

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.

4 Jul    Naidoc Dance - 9.40am - All welcome
5 Jul    St Benedict’s Feast Day Mass, 10.00am
5 Jul Term 2 concludes
6 to 21 July School Holiday - Enjoy
22 Jul    Term 3 Starts - Full Winter Uniform

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

Optional Interviews
NAIDOC - Mass (selected students)
Year 1/2 Blue - Class imformation

Poetry

Homeless
Did you have a shower last night?
The homeless only have a shower when it rains.
Did you sleep in a bed last night?
The homeless can’t afford a bed, home, or even food.
Do you consider yourself lucky when you get an award at school?
The homeless consider themseleves lucky when they get the tiniest piece of food that day.
Help the homeless!

Written by Isadora N

Happy Birthday to the children who celebrate their special day this week: Edith A, Elizabeth K, Keira M and Geordie B.

Year 1/2 Blue: Bryce T and Summah M

Year 1/2 Gold: Zayn S and Kate S

Year 3/4 Blue: Nobel S, Ruby S, Santino E and Hubert K

Year 3/4 Gold: Grace R, Annabell W and Edith Q

Year 5/6 Blue: Fionn L and Gabriella S

Year 5/6 Gold: Jade C and David T

Year 1/2 Blue: Sarah R

Year 1/2 Gold: Laura K and Maria C

Year 3/4 Blue: Emily D

Year 5/6 Blue: Michael T and Maxima S

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.

Earn and Learn

Thank you to all the wonderful families that have been shopping at Woolworths over the past weeks. The school had 7860 stickers dropped at front reception and we look forward to informing you of our final total and the items that the school receives.

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

The Lost Property box has been emptied and all named items have been returned to students via their class note bags. All unmaned items will be taken home, washed and returned to the Clothing Pool ready for Term 3.

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 and cash that has 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.

Canteen Winter Menu 2019

Recess – Counter Sales only

Cheese Melts (can be GF and LF) $0.20c per triangle

Pizza Pinwheels $0.70

Nachos (can be LF) $2.00

Muffins of the Day $1.00 ea

Seasonal Stewed Fruit and Custard (LF & GF) $1.00

Corn Cob $0.50

Frozen Yoghurt $2.50

Jelly $0.50

Lunch – Bag Orders

Pasta Bolognese (GF and can be LF) $5.50