St Benedict's Primary School - Narrabundah eNewsletter

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you enjoyed the long weekend and had the opportunity to spend a little more time with family or friends.

New Executive Director of Catholic Education

The Board of Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Education Limited has appointed Mr David de Carvalho as the new Executive Director of Catholic Education following a national and international search.

David brings extensive experience in education leadership, having served as Executive Dean at the University of Notre Dame Australia and held key roles at ACARA, NESA, and NCEC. His work has shaped national education policy, including the National Curriculum, NAPLAN modernisation, and HSC reform. He has also held senior government roles and governance positions in Catholic education.

David is eager to work with leaders, staff, and parish priests to continue delivering high-quality Catholic education, emphasising both academic excellence and a Christ-centred vision of learning.

Dr McArdle, Board Chair, welcomed David’s appointment, noting his strong leadership and commitment to Catholic identity in education. He will commence mid-year.

David and his wife, Andrea, share a strong connection with our Archdiocese. They are looking forward to returning to Canberra and David is very excited to be taking on this important leadership role.

Ash Wednesday and Lent

Last Wednesday we gathered as a school community to observe Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent. Lent is a season of reflection, prayer, and preparation leading to Easter. It is a time for us to consider our relationship with God and others, to practice self-discipline, and to focus on acts of kindness and generosity.

It was wonderful to join with the Parish community for this special Mass and to have staff receive so many comments from parishioners about how reflective and prayerful our students were. As we journey through Lent, let us encourage our children to think about how they can show love, kindness, and forgiveness in their daily lives.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

A number of our students are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. This will be a significant milestone in their faith journey, as they experience the grace of God's forgiveness and love. Reconciliation is a sacrament of healing, where we acknowledge our mistakes, seek forgiveness, and renew our commitment to living as followers of Christ.

Later this week Mrs Mitchell and Father Chris will work with these students as they participate in a Reconciliation Retreat Day. Thank you to Mrs Mitchell, Fr Chris and parents who have played an essential role in preparing our students for this important sacrament. Please keep these students in your prayers as they prepare for this significant step in their faith.

NAPLAN

All students in Years 3 and 5 will commence NAPLAN on Thursday. NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) is an annual assessment measuring students' reading, writing, language conventions, and numeracy skills. It provides valuable data for schools to track student progress and identify areas for improvement.

Students are encouraged not to stress or worry about NAPLAN. Our day to day learning prepares the students for the skills and knowledge that will be assessed. It is crucial that students arrive on time each day, are well-rested, hydrated, and have had a good breakfast. Best wishes to our Year 3 and Year 5 students!

School Community Council

Thank you to the parents and carers that nominated for our School Community Council (SCC). A strong partnership between school and home makes a real difference for our students, and your involvement is greatly appreciated.

Our Executive SCC positions have been filled as below:

Chair: Sally Veikkanen

Secretary: Mel Phillips

Treasurer: Olga Morabito

Staff Representative: Sarah Maple (and Alana Quirk and Karen Haines)

Our Executive roles are supported by our Working Groups, which assist the school in particular areas. Thank you to the parents and carers that put themselves forward to lead the work in these groups:

Working Groups:

Community Engagement and Fundraising: Donna Fitzgerald-Verrent, Cristal Tatterson, Leia Abeyaratne

Master Plan: Jennifer Hiscocks

It was wonderful to have one parent to our school nominate for the SCC but we would love to have involvement from more! To all our new families, please consider joining us. It is a great way to meet people, know what is happening in our school and help make our school a wonderful place of learning and community. If you would like to find out more about the work of the SCC, please chat with one of our members above. If you would like to join us, please contact Catherine Hemphill in the Front Office.

Catholic Principal’s Conference

Last Wednesday to Friday I attended the annual Principals’ Conference in Bowral, where I joined colleagues from across our Archdiocese. This conference provided a valuable opportunity for professional development, collaboration, and exploring ways to further enhance our school.

A significant component of the Wednesday was grounded in our theme for this year ‘We are Pilgrims of Hope’ and focused on listening and leading with hope. There was much open and robust discussion amongst the group as we identified our current strengths, challenges, aspirations and priorities for the future and shaping strategic priorities.

The following two days were facilitated by Clara Geoghegan (Executive Secretary for the Catholic Bishops Conference) and deeply explored the relationship between charisms and leadership. It was special for me to hear Benedictine values and charisms feature heavily in both Clara’s presentation and a homily given by Archbishop Christopher Prowse. Key aspects of Benedictine life - stability, anchorage in hope and obedience (or listening with the ‘ear of your heart’) all resonated with myself as I see them strongly reflected throughout our community. There was much from these two days that affirmed our work at St Benedict's as well as content that will help to guide our school as we begin to review and refine our school vision and mission later this year.

Swimming Carnival

Our annual Swimming Carnival was held today and again it was great community day, filled with fun and sunshine.

Excitement filled the air, with students cheering each other on, showing wonderful sportsmanship, and giving their best in every race. It was wonderful to see so much school spirit, with students encouraging and supporting each other.

A huge thank you to the many parents who volunteered their time to help make the day run smoothly - your support is greatly appreciated as we could not run days such as this without your assistance.

A special thank you to the team of teachers that organised the day - it was a huge success! There will be many that sleep well tonight – students and staff!

Wishing you all a blessed and reflective Lenten season.

Yours in partnership,

Alana Quirk

Principal's Reminders

School Uniform

We are continuing to see some students come to school wearing jewellery or other adornment that is not uniform. Please remember that students are not to wear nail polish, loom band or beaded bracelets and hair accessories that are not school colours.

Students are also reminded not to being toys or special objects to school as these can be easily lost or damaged.

Car Park Safety

There have been recent incidents where cars are parking along the side of the hall. Please do not park here as it can be quite dangerous. Children moving around cars in this area are often hard to see and there have been cases where they have stepped out in front of incoming traffic. Cars parked in this area also interrupt the flow of traffic into our car park. The safety of children will always be our highest priority and so I ask for your cooperation in this matter.

From the Assistant Principal

Years 3 & 5 - NAPLAN Information

NAPLAN testing will occur in our school between 13 and 21 March 2025 for students in Years 3 and 5.

Online NAPLAN tests provide more precise results and are engaging for students. The tests are tailored (or adaptive), which means that each test presents questions that may be more or less difficult depending on a student’s responses. This helps students remain engaged with the assessment.

Tailored testing allows a wider range of student abilities to be assessed and measures student achievement more precisely. A student’s overall NAPLAN result is based on both the number and complexity of questions they answer correctly. Your child should not be concerned if they find questions challenging; they may be taking a more complex test pathway.

All Year 3 students will continue to complete the writing assessment on paper.

NAPLAN provides valuable information to schools and parents about literacy and numeracy achievement. It supports school improvement processes by enabling teachers to monitor student progress over time and to identify areas of strength and development.

Visit www.nap.edu.au to see interactive versions of the test and for more information.

naplan_information_brochure_for_parents_and_carers.pdf

Spotlight on Religious Education

A Blessed Ash Wednesday Celebration with Our Parish Community

This past Wednesday, our school community gathered for a very special Ash Wednesday Mass, joining together with members of our wider parish to mark the beginning of the Lenten season. It was a truly blessed occasion as students, staff, and parishioners were led by 5/6 Blue as we came together in prayer and reflection.

During the Mass, students received the mark of ashes on their foreheads, a powerful symbol of repentance and renewal. The ashes serve as a reminder of our human frailty and our need for God’s mercy. As we heard the words, "Turn to God and believe in the Gospel," we were invited to reflect on our lives and consider how we can grow closer to God during this sacred season.

The Meaning of Lent

Lent is a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—a period of preparation for the great celebration of Easter. It is an opportunity for us to pause, reflect, and make changes in our lives that bring us closer to Christ. Through acts of kindness, sacrifice, and spiritual growth, we walk with Jesus on His journey to the cross and resurrection.

Marking Lent at Home

As we journey through Lent, families can find meaningful ways to observe this holy season together. Here are some simple ideas to bring the spirit of Lent into your home:

Prayer: Set aside time each day for family prayer or reflection. Reading a passage from the Bible or praying the Rosary together can be a wonderful way to deepen your faith.
Fasting: Encourage children to give up a small treat or screen time as a way to practice self-discipline and grow in gratitude.
Acts of Kindness: Challenge family members to perform daily acts of kindness, whether at home, school, or in the community.
Lenten Promise Chart: Create a visual reminder of personal or family Lenten commitments, helping everyone stay focused on their spiritual goals.

Supporting Project Compassion

Lent is also a time for almsgiving, and our school is proud to support Project Compassion, an initiative by Caritas Australia. This program helps provide education, healthcare, and essential resources to communities in need throughout Australia and across the world. Through our contributions, we can make a real difference in the lives of others.

We encourage families to support Project Compassion by donating what they can in spare change. Every donation helps create a brighter future for those experiencing poverty and hardship.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Our Year 3 students have been preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. On Friday they will take part in a retreat day that will bring their home and school preparation together as they participate in prayer, reflection and faith formation. We ask that you continue to keep these students in your thoughts and pray for them as they take this exciting and important step in their faith journey.