Week 10, Term 2 2025
Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
As the term comes to a close, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all our families for your collaboration and support. Your involvement in your child's education makes a significant, positive difference.
We are grateful for your ongoing partnership, whether it was through attending parent-teacher interviews, helping with school events, or simply providing encouragement at home. Your dedication to your child's learning journey is truly appreciated.
This term, we've seen some fantastic achievements, and we are so proud of all our students. We again have some exciting events planned for the coming term, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with you.
Keeping Our School Community Healthy
Over the last two weeks of term we experienced a high number of student absences due to illness, with many children needing to be sent home during the day with flu or gastro symptoms.
Next term, to help reduce the spread of illness and keep everyone safe, we kindly remind families to keep unwell children at home until they have fully recovered. As a general guideline:
- If your child requires Panadol or Nurofen for a fever, they should stay at home.
- If your child has a persistent cough, constant runny nose, sore throat, or swollen glands, they should not attend school.
- If your child is given medication in the morning just to "get through the day", they should stay home.
- If your child has had vomiting and/or diarrhoea, please keep them home for 48 hours after symptoms have completely resolved.
- If your child or someone in your household is awaiting the result of a COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test, please keep your child home until a negative result is confirmed.
Thank you for your understanding and support in helping limit the spread of illness throughout our school community.
Vinnies Winter Appeal
Thank you for all the donations for the Vinnies Winter Woolies Appeal on Wednesday. Our collection of socks, gloves, beanies, blankets and warm clothing will make a very big difference, bringing warmth and dignity to quite a number of our local Canberra community who will experience a form of homelessness this winter.
NAIDOC Week
Over the school holiday period we celebrate NAIDOC Week and as a school we will celebrate NAIDOC Week early in Term 2. Mrs Linda De Salis, our contact officer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education, works closely with students, families and staff to help First Nations culture be present wherever possible in our school life.
School Disco
It was fabulous to see so many families at our school disco last Friday night. A big thank you to our Community Council members for their organisation of this community event. Thank you also to the many other parents that helped out on the night, whether it was in the canteen, on the barbecue or selling glow sticks.
We wish you a restful and enjoyable holiday break over the next two weeks. We look forward to seeing you all again next term.
Yours in partnership,
Alana Quirk
Principal's Reminders
Term Dates
Just a reminder that students recommence school for Term 3 on Tuesday 22nd July.
From the Assistant Principal
Screen Time and Digital Technology
As we approach the school holidays, we continue our focus on e-safety.
Screen time and digital technology use can be part of a healthy lifestyle when they’re balanced with other activities that are good for your child’s development. These activities include physical play, outdoor play, creative play, reading and socialising with friends and family. Getting the right balance also includes making sure screen time doesn’t interfere with sleep.
The following tips can help you encourage your child to use digital technology in balanced and healthy ways.
1. Make rules about screen time and digital technology use. You can help your child balance screen time and digital technology use with other activities.
2. Aim for short screen time sessions. It’s good for your child to have short screen time sessions and take regular breaks.
3. Get your child moving, especially outside. It’s a good idea to encourage your child to play outside several times a day.
4. Imagine and create. Creative activities help your child learn how to experiment, think, learn and solve problems.
5. Encourage play and friendship with others. When children play face to face with others, they develop important life skills.
6. Avoid screen time and digital technology use before bed. School-age children need plenty of sleep – 9-11 hours a night.
7. Keep digital technology out of bedrooms at night. If you keep mobile phones and other devices out of your child’s bedroom at night, your child won’t be able to stay up late playing games or messaging friends.
The full article from raisingchildren.net.au can be found in the following link:
Spotlight on Religious Education
St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal
As the cold weather settles in, our community has once again proven that warmth doesn’t only come from blankets it comes from compassion.
Thanks to your incredible generosity, we collected an overwhelming number of clothing items, blankets, sleeping bags, tents, and essential toiletries. These donations are already making a difference in the lives of those doing it tough this winter.
A special thanks goes to Milly, Sharkie and Collette from The St Vincent de Paul Society, who brought the Night Patrol Van. Milly spoke movingly about how crucial this support is for Canberra's homeless, and Collette could already see items she plans to distribute. The impact was immediate and heartwarming.
We are so fortunate to belong to a kind and giving community. Your generosity is more than just items—it’s hope, dignity, and humanity delivered with love.
A massive shoutout to our incredible Mini Vinnies team, whose efforts helped raise awareness and rally support. Their compassion and drive are nothing short of inspiring.
Feast of St Benedict – Beacons of Hope
This week, we joyfully celebrate the Feast of St Benedict (officially 11 July), with a special day of reflection, service, and fun grounded in his charism of hospitality.
Students will move through a series of creative and faith-filled activities in their house groups, including:
Whole-School Mural – A collaborative reflection on how we can be beacons of hope through action.
Path of Hope – Painting stones with images of hope to form a symbolic journey together.
Hospitality Cards – Handmade messages as a heartfelt act of service for the local nursing homes.
Flower Biscuits – Decorated to represent growth in our faith journey.
We will begin the day with a celebratory Mass, grounding our activities in love and gratitude. This is more than a celebration, it’s a chance to live out St Benedict’s values, strengthen our sense of community, and share hope with the world.
Sacrament of Confirmation
We are pleased to share that the Sacrament of Confirmation for eligible students in Years 5 and 6, those who have already received their First Holy Communion, will take place next term on Saturday, 30 August.
This is a deeply significant step in our students’ faith journey, as they receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and affirm their commitment to living as disciples of Christ.
The prayer evening for all candidates and families to prepare our candidates spiritually and reflectively, will be held on Thursday, 31st July, 6:30pm – 7:30pm at the Parish Centre
This evening will be a time of quiet reflection, community prayer, and shared support as we walk this important path together.
Look out for more information early next term.
Dates to Remember
Benny's News
Out and About at Benny's
Jollybops Science Show
Happy Birthday
Merit Awards
Counsellor's Corner
Team Kids
TeamKids has another amazing Winter Holiday Program planned!
Ready to discover the TeamKids difference?
• Unique daily experiences
- Value-packed program
- Screen-free FUN!
- Delicious and nutritious morning & afternoon snacks
- CCS-approved care
📌 Check out what’s on at your school à https://downloads.teamkids.com.au/st-benedicts-primary.pdf
🔗 Book NOW à www.teamkids.com.au/venues
Community News
