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Dear Parents and Carers,
As adults we often seek feedback to ensure we are on the right track, doing a ‘good job’ or getting our message across. Children are no different. They seek feedback, and often reassurance, from their parents, extended family, peers and teachers. One way in which we as a school are working to provide feedback to the students is through our Student Learning Questions. These questions provide prompts for the students to talk about their learning and ‘dig deeper’ when developing their knowledge and understanding of the concept being taught. These questions that are often used at the end of a lesson, enable teachers to gain instant feedback from the students about how they feel about their learning and their level of understanding. This in turn directs the teacher for future teaching and learning.
The Student Learning Questions include;
- What are you learning?
- How are you doing?
- How do you know?
- How can you improve?
- Where do you go for help?
Just as conversations about learning and feedback from teachers is vital to a student’s future learning, so too are conversations at home about what learning is happening in the classroom. As parents you may have experienced the shrug of shoulders or a grunt or an ‘I don’t know’ when you ask your child what they did at school that day and this is a common occurrence in many households. Sometimes all it takes is changing the time when you ask the question or the way in which you phrase the question that makes a difference. Children have spent the whole day having to be ‘switched on’ and sometimes waiting until dinner to ask about their day can elicit more information. Dr Ian Lillico, international consultant in gender, boys’ education and middle schooling, believes children will open up more when they are sitting or standing beside you such as in the car or washing up at the sink. Standing side by side with less eye contact seems to relax children and encourages them to chat more. Likewise getting outside and kicking or throwing a ball also encourages conversation. You might like to also try some of the following conversation starters instead. Perhaps everyone in the family can answer some of them:
- What made you laugh today?
- What did you do that was friendly?
- What did you try hard at today?
- What was something that made you think hard today?
- What was something tricky that you figured out how to do better?
- What was something helpful you did for someone?
- What was a problem you had to solve today?
- What was something you were grateful for today?
- How did you bounce back from something that went wrong today?
- What was something you enjoyed in the classroom? Out of the classroom?
God bless.
Rachel Smith
Principal
Approaching Other Children
Parents are reminded that it is never appropriate to approach other children to confront them about issues between your child and the other student. Imagine how you would feel if another parent or carer approached your child and spoke to them. It is inevitable that there are social conflicts, misunderstandings, and unkind actions. At St Benedict’s we encourage students to develop skills that will assist them to deal with social situations, with teachers offering assistance and support. If you are concerned about how your child is coping socially please contact your child’s teacher.
Swimming Carnival Thanks
What a fantastic day we had last Thursday at our swimming carnival! The weather was perfect and the day ran like clockwork. It was so lovely to see the way the students supported and cheered each other on throughout the day. Thank you to the parents who helped on the day and those parents who came along to support the students. Thank you to all staff for their work on the day and in the lead up to the carnival. A particular mention to Mrs Amanda Basedow who was responsible for the organisation of the day and for ensuring it ran smoothly.
Swimming Assembly
Students will receive ribbons at next week’s Assembly, Friday 13th March. Ribbons will be given for those who placed 1st to 4th in the 50m, 100m and 200m events. Selections for the St Benedict’s team at the South Weston PSSA carnival will be announced shortly and are based on qualifying times and not place ribbons received.
Three Way Conferences Thanks
I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all the students, parents and teachers for making the Three Way Conferences such a success this week. Thank you to those parents and carers who embraced the online booking form. Effective communication with parents, especially in regard to children’s progress at school, is a high priority at St Benedict’s. At any time during the year parents are encouraged to request a meeting with class teachers to discuss their child’s progress. Teachers ensure that parents remain informed about any issues that arise in the school context. We believe that it is much better to address concerns, celebrate successes and for parents to feel reassured and confident in what is happening in the classroom when there are open channels of communication between home and school.
Our planned forms of communication this year include:
- Class program overviews sent home each term.
- Interim Reports sent home.
- Three Way Conferences offered at the start of the year.
- Semester Reports provided at the end of each semester.
- Learning Celebrations on a termly basis.
- Optional Parent-Teacher Interviews offered on a termly basis.
- General news through our emailed weekly School Newsletter, the school website, our School Calendar and our SZapp app.
Please do not hesitate to contact teachers as the need arises either in person or via email. All parents are encouraged to download the SZapp app, as messages and notes are often communicated this way.
Recess and Lunch
We have noticed that many of our students prefer to eat earlier in the day than later. We will ensure that fruit break occurs at the beginning of each day and that at Recess students are encouraged to eat well. Parents are encouraged to consider ensuring that their child has substantial food for Recess and that the children understand that they can eat as much as they need earlier in the day, saving smaller portions for lunch time if they wish.
Parents & Friends Committee
As mentioned in last week’s newsletter we are seeking a person for the position of P&F Treasurer and would love someone to volunteer for that position for the 2020 school year. 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, Schoolzine app and on the School Calendar on the website. Children are most welcome to attend if childcare is a problem.
Sacraments
As a school community we pray for the children who will commence their First Reconciliation Program this week. We pray that they discover the greatness of God’s love and forgiveness over the coming weeks.
School Mass
This Friday, 6th March 10am, Year 3/4 Gold will be leading our school community in celebrating Mass. Families are warmly invited to join us for this celebration. Morning tea will be provided by the families of students in Years 3/4 Gold. Parents are invited to stay after Mass for morning tea with Staff in the Library.
Season of Lent
On the second Sunday of Lent, we move from Jesus' retreat to the desert and temptation by the devil to the glory shown in Jesus' Transfiguration. On the first Sunday of Lent, our Gospel always tells the story of Jesus' temptation in the desert. On the second Sunday, we always hear the story of Jesus' Transfiguration (Christ's appearance in radiant glory to three of his disciples.)
Lenten Prayer
Lord God, you call us out of the darkness. Fill us with your light. Amen. Abraham, holy man of the Scriptures, pray for us. Amen.
Mini Vinnies Hygiene Donation Station
The St Vincent de Paul Night Patrol is in need of mini toiletries (hotel size is perfect) to re-stock their hygiene packs to be distributed to the people who approach the van. We invite all families to make regular donations to the Mini Vinnies Hygiene Donation Station in the Front Office. This is one way our school community can help teach our children about human dignity and how we need to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to look after their body.
Items that can be donated are
- Shampoo/conditioner
- Moisturisers
- Combs/hair brushes
- Sunscreen
- Tissue packs
- Feminine hygiene products
- Soap/body wash
- Toothbrushes/toothpaste
- Mouth wash
- Lip balm
- Deodorant
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.
A few important dates to note for this term are:
4 Mar First Reconciliation Prayer Night, 6pm
6 Mar Year 3/4 Gold School Mass, 10am
9 Mar Canberra Day Public Holiday
10 Mar School Board Meeting, 6pm
13 Mar Olympic Athlete Visit Yrs 3-6, 12.30pm
15 Mar Family Parish Mass, 9.00am
17 Mar Parents & Friends Meeting, 6.30pm
19 Mar Choir visit to Mountain View
2 Apr Learning Showcase, 2pm
2 Apr South Western Region Swimming Carnival
3 Apr Year 3/4 Blue School Mass, 10am
3 Apr Ways of Being Award Ceremony, 2.30pm
4 Apr First Reconciliation and Mass, 4.30pm
5 Apr Palm Sunday
6 Apr Scientist Visit Years 5 and 6
7 Apr Years 1/2 and 5/6 Holy Week Liturgy, 9.30am
7 Apr School Board Meeting, 6pm
8 Apr Years 1/2 and 5/6 Holy Week Liturgy, 9.30am
9 Apr Outdoor Education day
9 Apr Term 1 concludes
The following notes have gone home this week and will be sent home via Schoolzine App. Please remember to check your childs bag daily, this is a important way to ensure you do not miss any information:
- Year 5 and 6 School Camp
Camp_2020_Letter.pdf - ANZAC Essay Competition - Defence Students
ANZAC_Essay_Competition_2020.pdf
Swimming Carnival
A huge thank you to all the parents who kindly volunteered their time at the swimming carnival last Friday. The day could not and would not have run without your amazing help! We were blessed with beautiful weather and wonderful behaviour from all students. We hope that everyone had a great day, tried their best and cheered on their peers and house members.
Ribbons, and the house points winning team will be awarded at assembly Friday 13th March at 2:30pm.
Ms Smith and Mrs Basedow
Swimming Carnival Reflections from our Sports Leaders
What I enjoyed about the swimming carnival was that everyone contributed! Everyone gets a chance to swim- Kindergarten to Year One can do across the pool. It was so great to see everyone join in doing the cheers and swimming and bringing in mascots! Amelia C
The best bit about the swimming carnival was that every helped with the cheers and supported their team while they were racing. We also all had an opportunity to go to the water park play area instead of just the younger grades. I think that this swimming carnival was a great start to this year! Mila M
The swimming carnival was a great event because everybody got a chance to get wet by participating in the races, novelty events and free play area. A good thing was everybody behaved and nobody misbehaved! Matthew S
We all had an amazing lunch that Mr Nobel made- it was a sausage sizzle and a freddo frog. There was also a cheer off- All 3 houses picked a cheer and they tried to beat the other teams. We also had lots of fun doing the races and cheering for our houses. Rose G
At the swimming carnival, it was good because only a few people had lost some things (if anyone is missing anything, the lost property is near the office). I also know that most people had a good time. Sam F
The swimming carnival was a great, successful day. Everyone did a great job and it was great to see most people getting into it. The sausage sizzle was awesome. The house cheers pushes people to do their best. The team mascot competition was a great thing to do and a lot of people brought them in. The water park was awesome and lots of people got to play on it. Sarah D
Happy birthday to the children who celebrate their special day this week: Saanvi G.
Kinder: Lorenzo F and Ace H
Year 1/2B: Charlie W, Summah M and Hector V
Year 1/2G: Alexander H and Sebastian M
Year 3/4B: Rafael K and Daria F
Year 3/4G: Emily D, Finn M and Hunter R
Year 5/6B: Lucia M and Jade C
Year 5/6G: Michael T and Marissa M
Kinder: Lachlan W and Zoe N
Year 1/2B: Saanvi G
Year 1/2G: Mitchell S
Year 3/4B: Vivienne K
Year 5/6B: Joshua L
Year 5/6G: Arabella S
St Benedict's is registered again for one of our yearly fundraiser - The Entertainment Book. If you are interested please go to the website www.entertainment.com.au and get a digital copy early.
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.
PLEASE ENSURE YOUR CHILD/REN'S CLOTHING IS LABELLED WITH THEIR NAME.
The Lost Property Box is located in the canteen area. Please take some time to go through the box on a weekly basis as it is Week 3 and the lost property box is overflowing and we will now randomly clean it out. All items will be washed are donated to the clothing pool or to St Vincent de Paul.
Please check the lost property box as there were a number of items returned to school from the swimming carnival last week.
Tales from the TUCKSHOP
"If it starts with a T - It's Tuckshop day!
The St Benedict's Tuckshop is now running at full swing. The new range of ice creams have been a hit with the kids. Thanks to all those parents who have offered to help or introduced themselves. Our wonderful volunteers make all the difference!
- Slinky volunteers: The apple slinky volunteers have been hard at work already. Starting at 9am, the kids come and have their apples slinkied. We have 3 slinky machines and about 50 apples to get through. Volunteers leave at 9.50am suitably caffeinated. A great opportunity to see what's going on in the Tuckshop.
- Revenge of the mutant nuggets: This week we have introduced our 'mutant' chicken nuggets. Made in house using real breast chicken and our own secret recipe.
- QKR! Is the easiest way to order your lunch. Download the app today! If you already use QKR! please update your child's class from last year. The QKR! menu is being finely tuned and will be perfect soon.
- If you'd like to volunteer, please leave a name and phone number with Mrs McRae at the Front Office.
Dave Noble
King of the Tuckshop
St Benedict's Parish
Office Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9am to 12noon
Phone: 62957879
Email: narrabundah@cg.org.au
Parish Team:
Fr Dan Benedetti MGL
Fr Rembert Fernando MGL
Fr Baiju Thomas MGL
Monica Nulley-Valdes (Parish Secretary)
Weekend Mass Times:
Saturday 6.00pm
Sunday 9.00am
Youth Mass 6.00pm (last Sunday of every month)
Charismatic Mass 6.00pm every Sunday
Sacraments narrabundah@cg.org.au
Baptisms By Appointment
Thanks
Fr Dan Benedetti MGL PP
Parish Priest
St Benedict's Catholic Community Narrabundah ACT
