Week 4, Term 3 2024
Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
This term we have welcomed 3 new students (Dominique, Patrice and Danika) and their families to our school. We hope these families feel the special welcome of our school community.
Liturgical Calendar Events
Last Thursday 8 August, we celebrated the Feast of Saint Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first canonised saint, with a beautiful mass lead by Year 5/6 Blue. Saint Mary MacKillop founded the Sisters of St Joseph and dedicated her life to the education and care of the poor and needy. Her legacy of compassion, resilience, and unwavering faith continues to inspire us. Mary’s words, "Never see a need without doing something about it” can inspire us daily. May we all strive to follow her example, fostering a spirit of service and kindness within our school and broader community.
Tomorrow is the Feast of the Assumption, a significant event in the liturgical calendar. This feast commemorates the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven, reminding us of her purity and devotion.
Science Week
National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology. The 2024 school theme is Species Survival – More Than Just Sustainability. This week students will celebrate all things Science by completing a range of activities within their classrooms.
Bullying No Way! Week
It is also Bullying No Way! Week. At St Benedict’s, we are proud to consistently take a proactive stance against bullying. Although we will celebrate Bullying No Way Week over this week and next, we realise that this message needs constant emphasis and teaching as we are committed to creating a school environment where everyone feels safe and a sense of belonging. Over the next couple of weeks, students will engage in various activities to promote kindness, respect, and inclusion.
TELL THEM FROM ME (TTFM) SURVEY
You should have received information via Compass about our school survey for Yr 4-6 students, teachers, and parents. The surveys are an essential part of our school evaluation and planning process and allow people to provide feedback about our school across a variety of areas.
We invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. We highly value the role of parents and carers within our school community and would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to improve further student learning and well-being at St Benedict’s Primary School.
The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Responses are due by 23 August. You can access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using the URL below:
http://tellthemfromme.com/8rnpz
Yours in partnership,
Alana Quirk
Principal
Principal's Reminders
Book Week Celebrations
Next week we celebrate the magic marvel that is reading, and the wonders that evolve from sharing great stories and building lifelong habits of finding time with a brilliant book in our youngest readers. On Wednesday 21 August, we invite all students to dress up as their favourite book character! We will have a school parade straight after our morning assembly and then students will rotate around a series of activities to explore and celebrate the books that make up this year’s CBCA Book of the Year Award Winners and Honours lists.
Father’s Day Celebrations
We're excited to honour that special person in our lives on Father's Day—whether it's Dad, Grandfather, Pop, Uncle, brother, or a friend. Here's how you can join in our celebrations:
- Donuts for Dads – Come along and enjoy a donut and tea or coffee before school on Thursday 29 August 8:00 – 8:55am.
- Father’s Day Mass – will be held on Thursday 29 August at 10am, in the St Benedict’s Church.
- Father's Day Stall – will be held on Friday 30 August. During the day classes will visit the stall to select a gift for their Dad or special person. We ask students to bring along $5 on the day, to purchase a gift. We also ask families to donate a small gift for the stall.
We are seeking volunteers to help run the stall on the day. If you are available to assist, please contact the front office – any time you have available is greatly appreciated!
From the Assistant Principal
World of Maths Hands On Maths Workshops tomorrow Thursday 15 August
A reminder that all families are invited and encouraged to attend the Maths Incursion tomorrow, either during the day with your child's class, or after school from 5:30pm. Please see below for class session times.
School Photos
Tomorrow the school photographers will return to take the Year 6 Leadership photos and catch up any students who were absent for photos last week. Even though it is sports day,
- all students being photographed are to wear full Winter Uniform.
- Year 6 students are to bring their sports uniform in their bags, including their Leadership shirts.
Please ensure your child is at school on time, to avoid missing their photo. Students remember to bring your best smiles!
Spotlight on Religious Education
First Holy Communion Retreat Day
Our First Holy Communion Retreat was a wonderful experience of prayer and connection for our children. The children reflected on how they belong to their family and the family of the Church and God’s family- recalling special memories, celebrations and traditions that nurture and grow these relationships.
Students then shared in a special Gospel reflection of the Last Supper, using Godly Play and images to bring the scripture to life and to deepen their understanding of the Sacrament of First Holy Communion.
We were very blessed to have a visit from the Missionaries of God’s Love Sisters who shared with the candidates their precious memories of their own First Holy Communion and what it means to them and their relationship with Jesus, each and every time they receive the Blessed Sacrament. The Sisters then prayed with the children. Fr Chris then joined us with this travel Mass kit, and led the students in a stop-start explanation of the Eucharistic Prayer.
Students finished the day with Christian meditation on the Last Supper and reflected on the blessing that they will gain from receiving the Sacrament of First Holy Communion.
We pray for the children who will soon receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion.
May they continue to practise their Catholic faith in every aspect of their lives, grow to know the peace of Jesus and the light of His love. Amen
The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Father in heaven,
all creation rightly gives you praise,
for all life and all holiness come from you.
In the plan of your wisdom
she who bore the Christ in her womb
was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven.
May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness
and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
On this day we celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. Mary reminds us and teaches us that we should resemble Christ in everything that we do.
The feast of the Assumption commemorates the glorification of Mary, chosen by God, to be the mother of Jesus the Christ. The feast acquired a special status as a feast of Mary when Pius XII in 1950 defined the assumption as a dogma of faith.
On this feast we are encouraged to affirm our humanity and work to enhance the dignity of people as daughters and sons of God.
We have a mother in Heaven. And the Mother of God, the Mother of the Son of God, is our Mother. He himself has said so. He made her our Mother when he said to the disciple and to all of us: “Behold, your Mother!”. We have a Mother in Heaven. Heaven is open, Heaven has a heart.
– Pope Benedict XVI
Charisms Of Jesus
To deepen our students' understanding of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, each week this term our classes have been praying on one of the charisms of Jesus. So far we have prayed on the charisms of Love, Hope and Compassion. These prayers invite students to reflect deeply on the scripture that illustrates this charism of Jesus and then apply this to their own contexts.
Dates to Remember
Out and About at St Benny's
Grandparents and Grandfriends Day
Week 2 Assembly
Fire and Rescue Visit
Kindergarten were very excited yesterday,13th August, as we had a visit from the Fire and Rescue unit in Phillip.
Kindergarten learnt what a good and bad fire look like. We had fun learning what to do in case of a fire and they could recite... "Get Down Low and Go,Go,Go"
The most exciting part of the visit was when the children got into the fire truck and then heard the siren as the fire truck left the school.
The take home message to the children was they need to know where the safe area to evacuate to if there is a fire at home. They need to know their phone number and address in case of an emergency.
Benny's News
Counsellor's Corner
Happy Birthday
Merit Awards
Team Kids
Community News
