Dear Student, Parent and Teachers,

Congratulations on getting to the end of Term 2! As I look around and talk to people I see and hear tiredness, but I also see and hear joy and laughter and I am thankful for our community. I am grateful for the way our community has come together to support each other this semester through what has been a very challenging time. Each of you has played an important role in making the best of this situation and I thank you.

At the end of every term I want to say ‘what a big term it has been’, but really it is always like that for schools. Sometimes friends and family members poke fun about “what an easy life it is to be a teacher with all of those holidays”.

I know that many of you see that for 10 weeks at a time the school day never really ends, the weekend is spent preparing for the week ahead and that holidays are used to plan and prepare for the coming term because if you don’t, you will never really catch up once the first day of term starts. Normally we are like middle distance runners rather than marathon runners. Schools ‘go hard’ for ten weeks at a time and then slow the pace right down for two weeks in between terms to recoup. However this year the experience for everyone has been very different and has often felt like an extremely long distance marathon with the end now insight.  I’m sure families are feeling the same way!

Thank you to all of our parents for your ongoing support for your child’s learning both last term and this term. It has been wonderful to have your support with your child’s changing learning from face to face, to online, to remote learning, to blended learning and then back to face to face learning. The children and staff appreciated all that you did to support and help them.

As we journey through the last week of this term I wish you all a well-rested and well-deserved school holidays full of extra sleep and less rushing around.

God Bless.

Rachel Smith
Principal

School Calendar
As you are aware we sent out a school calendar at the beginning of the school year to all families. Unfortunately many of our planned events have had to be cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19. We are currently finalising an updated calendar for Term 3 which we will send home at the beginning of the term. Please understand that as restrictions change in the ACT so may some of the calendar dates and events.

Late Arrivals
We ask that all students arriving at school after 9am be signed in at the Front Office by a parent or appropriate caregiver. Thank you for your support with this.

COVID-19 UPDATE
Be assured the safety and care of students, staff and parents, along with our responsibility to the community, remains our highest priority. We will continue to adhere to government advice in the safe management of this pandemic while also taking into consideration local conditions. We are so grateful for the magnificent support parents have provided teachers during the online learning journey.

In the case where your child is displaying flu-like symptoms, it is advised that your child and any siblings at St Benedict’s, remain at home until the student seeks medical clearance. Once the student has been cleared and if necessary, tested and cleared of COVID, they can return to school. Until then, the student and siblings are not to return to 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 where they a heading to. We need to begin planning for staffing and class configurations for 2021. Naturally Year 6 parents need not respond to this request.

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 20 July.

Sacrament of First Reconciliation
Congratulations to our students who made the Sacrament of First Reconciliation on Saturday. It was a lovely celebration of personal healing, discovering of peace and embracing community. Thank you to Ms Slocomb and Ms O’Callaghan and the candidate’s families for preparing the children for this special milestone in their faith journey.

St Benedict’s Feast Day Celebrations (date change)

Our school will celebrate St Benedict’s Feast Day Term 3 Week 1 Friday 24^th July. Sadly, due to current COVID-19 number restrictions, parents, carers and visitors will not be permitted to attend Mass. Classes will celebrate Mass in the hall and participate in a range of activities based on the life and mission of St Benedict. Students will also have the option of a special ‘Feast Day’ lunch order (more information to come).

St Vincent de Paul School Sleepout Term 3 Week 2

This year students in Years 4-6 have the opportunity to participate in our annual St Benedict’s School Sleep Out in the library to raise awareness and money for the St Vincent de Paul Street to Home program. The St Vincent de Paul School Sleep Out will be held from Friday 31^st July to Saturday 1^st August. Students who returned their expression of interest note (by this Thursday) will receive their Permission notes and Sponsorship booklet this Friday.

Mini Vinnies Winter Woollies Day Term 3 Week 2
Our Mini Vinnies are beginning to organise our annual Winter Woollies Day (whole school event) which will be held Friday 31^st July to raise awareness about the issue of homelessness in Canberra as well as donations for the St Vincent de Paul Night Patrol Van. In preparation for this we ask that all families begin collecting adult size winter clothing, as well as blankets and sleeping bags. Donations can be second-hand or new. Please store these at home until Winter Woollies Day, 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 able this wonderful product that provides thousands of people with a dignified sleep across Australia please visit:

https://backpackbed.org/au/

A few important dates to note for this term and early next term are:

Hats off for June and July
3 July       Wellbeing Day 5/6 only
3 July       End of  Term  2
20 July     Commencement  of Term  3 - Full Winter Uniform
24 July     St Benedict Feast Day activities
31 July     Winter Woolles Day - Uniform Free
31 July     St Vincent de Paul Sleepout  commences (Yrs 4,5,6 only)
Mondays Wk 2, 3 and 4 Footsteps Dance 
1 Aug       St Vincent de Paul Sleepout finishes

Morning assemblies continue for students only.  We will let you know as soon as restrictions lift and parents and carers can attend once more.

All Friday afternoon assemblies will be cancelled until further notice.

The following notes have gone home this week.

• Census Privacy Note
  2020 Census Privacy Notice
• Wellbeing Day (5/6 only)
  5. 6 Wellbeing Day Invitation                               
• Expression of Interest for St Vincent de Paul Sleep Out
  Mini Vinnies Sleep Out Expression of Interest Note
  
  
  Please remember to check the Schoolzine App (SZapp) for all the latest school information.  You are able to register via either:

Google Play - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pidigi.schoolzine&hl=en_AU

Happy birthday to the children who celebrate their special day this week and throughout the school holidays:  Edith Q, Elizabeth K, Lachlan W, Geordie B, Angus C, William C, Selina H, Nathaniel G, Anthony F, Lalia D, Laura K, and Mia F.

Kinder:        Sandy W and Jack K

Year 1/2B:  Selina H, Alisha W, Isla M

Year 1/2G:  Noah W, Elias S, Nate G and Mitchell S

Year 3/4B:  Ruby S and Joe R

Year 3/4G:  Taliyah M

Year 5/6B:  Lucia M, Ciru N, Gabriella S and Angus C

Year 5/6G:  Will C and Amiah G

Year 1/2B:  Nathan W

Year 1/2G:  Laura K

Year 3/4B:  Clancy B

Year 5/6B:  Natalija M

Year 5/6G:  Edith B

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our normal school clothing pool processes are not in place. If you need uniform, please email the school office.stbenedicts@cg.catholic.edu.au or contact Mrs McRae with a list of items required.  We will endeavour to fill your order and reply to you as soon as possible.

Due to current circumstances all clothes in lost property will be emptied and clothing will be washed and returned to the clothing pool. All other items will be cleaned and donated to St Vincent de Paul.

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

Please check your child/ren are bringing their uniform home.  If they have accidently picked up someone elses,  please return it to the front office so it can be returned to the correct child.

PLEASE REMIND YOUR CHILD/REN TO CHECK THE LOST PROPERTY BOX AS IT IS THE END OF TERM AND ALL CLOTHING WILL BE TAKEN ON FRIDAY 3RD JULY, WASHED AND RETURNED TO THE CLOTHING POOL.

The school Tuckshop is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Please order on QKR 

or by writing YOUR order on a paper bag with the correct money enclosed.

St Benedict's Parish
Office Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9am to 12noon
Phone: 62957879
Email: narrabundah@cg.org.au
Web:   www.cg.org.au/narrabundah

Parish Team:
Fr Dan Benedetti MGL
Fr Rembert Fernando MGL
Fr Baiju Thomas MGL
Monica Nulley-Valdes (Parish Secretary)
Anjalie Upasena  (Parish Youth Minister)

Dear St Benedict’s community,

St Benedict’s Live Stream Masses

Facebook Page: “St Benedict’s Church and Mission Centre Canberra” Sunday Mass continues to be streamed at 10am.  If you wish to attend in person, please contact Father Dan or the Parish.

All Normal Masses have recommenced.  Saturday 6pm, Sunday 9am and 6pm (Charismatic)

We ask that you use the following links for the following masses to give us an idea of numbers please.

Please see below for links for this weekend’s Masses.

Saturday 6pm booking link
https://www.trybooking.com/BKEUY

Sunday 9am booking link
https://www.trybooking.com/BKEVA

Daily Mass from the Archdiocese is available online at https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/mass-online/ .

If you would like to have email updates from St Benedict’s Parish, please contact narrabundah@cg.org.au . Be assured of our prayers for the whole St Benedict’s community at this time. Please keep safe and if anyone would like to contact Father Dan, he is available through the Parish or through the school.

St Benedict, pray for us.

God Bless

Fr Dan Benedetti MGL PP
Parish Priest
St Benedict's Catholic Community Narrabundah ACT

All bus and light rail services, including special needs transport, are operating as normal.

Just advising that the opening hours for Savvy Tuggeranong have changed to the following. The below changes to opening times will be taking effect on 24th June 2020.

Uniform will continue to be available online via https://www.savvyschoolwear.com.au/schoolwear/school.

Savvy Tuggeranong current opening hours: 

Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am to 3pm
Sunday 10am to 2.30pm

Thanking you and stay safe,

Charlene Muraotto
ACT/NSW Account Manager
P: 0499 056 234
E: Charlenemuraotto@lowes.com
Shop 37 Homeworld, Soward Way, Tuggeranong ACT 2900