Week 2, Term 3 2025
Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back everyone! I hope that families were able to spend some time together relaxing and rejuvenating. At the end of last term we had a large number of student absence due to sickness and so it has been good to see most students return for Term 3 in good health!
Staff Professional Learning – Pupil Free Day
Last Monday our staff spent the day in professional learning and planning. We came together to commence the review of our school’s vision and mission statements, so we can ensure they remain relevant, inspiring, and aligned with the school's goals and values. This process will help maintain a strong sense of purpose and guide decision-making across the school community. The review will also help ensure that the statements reflect the school's current context and bold aspirations for the future.
Teachers then participated in training for mCLASS; an online platform that from 2026 will support our student assessment and progress monitoring in literacy.
Teachers have continued their professional learning this week. They have been developing their expertise in 'responsive teaching', where one continuously checks student understanding as a lesson unfolds and pivots when they are struggling to achieve mastery or achieving it quicker than anticipated.
Our pupil free days are always used productively. We take every opportunity to ensure our staff have all the knowledge and skills they require to maximise the growth of our students.
Staffing
We welcome Mrs Michele Skvorc to our teaching team for the remainder of the year. We were fortunate in receiving some additional funding from Catholic Education to enable us to staff the Learning Support Teacher role 5 days a week (an increase of 3 days per week). Mrs Skvorc will support Mrs Jeanette Skaff in this role and which has allowed us to deliver further Literacy and EALD support programs for our students.
The Sacrament of Confirmation Preparation
We pray for the children in our school and parish who will soon commence their preparation to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in which they will celebrate, strengthen and confirm the gifts of the Holy Spirit that they received in Baptism.
Heavenly Father, God of power and of love.
We pray for all those who are preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
May your Holy Spirit help them to grow in faith, hope and love and may they come to know you as the one true God who loves them without limit.
May their hearts welcome you gladly;
May their ears hear your voice in the scriptures;
May their eyes see you in all things;
And may they proclaim your glory as they walk in the ways of Jesus Christ,
our Lord and Saviour.
Amen
NAIDOC Mass
Last Friday Mrs Haines and Mrs Mitchell supported some of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to attend the Catholic Education NAIDOC mass which was held at St Christopher’s Cathedral. This significant event celebrated and acknowledged the rich cultural heritage and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. It was a special gathering that included people’s faces being marked with ochre and started with a formal Welcome to Country by Aunty Selina. The 2025 NAIDOC theme of ‘Strength, Vision and Legacy’ featured throughout the mass.
We congratulate Savannah FG on receiving a ‘Deadly Encouragement Award’ at the NAIDOC Mass, in recognition for her commitment to learning and the strong progress she had shown. We also congratulate Willa E for her school nomination for the ‘Cultural Identity Award’. We are very proud of the efforts and achievements of these two girls.
Having fun with The Arts
In Music this term, students have been having fun and getting creative learning some different instruments and how to work together. Kinder is producing sweet sounds using homemade instruments, whilst Year 1 and 2 students have begun to learn the recorder and perform simple songs. Focused on percussion, Years 3-6 have been drumming, playing a whole range of instruments and creating some of their own compositions.
All classes are also enjoying working with our visiting artist, Caroline Deeble, to create a school mural to represent our 5 Ways of Being. It is beginning to take shape; this week stduents were focused on the background of the mural.
Yours in partnership,
Alana Quirk
Principal's Reminders
Sports Days
Students wear their sports uniform on Mondays and Fridays this term.
Term Dates
The last day of Term 3 for students is Thursday 25 September. Term 4 begins on Tuesday 14 October.
Community Council Meeting
Our next Community Council meeting will be held Tuesday August 5th at 6:00pm in the school Library. All are welcome to attend.
From the Assistant Principal
ICAS
We are excited to have many students from Years 2-6 enrol in the upcoming ICAS assessments. Enrolments have now closed and next week the assessment windows open. Our school has the following dates set aside for assessments. If your child is absent on a particular day, there will be an opportunity to sit the assessment on a different day. Please contact Karen Haines at school if there is a conflict of dates for your child.
Good luck students!
Date | Assessment |
Tuesday 7 August | Digital Technolgies |
Thursday 7 August | Writing |
Thursday 14 August | English |
Wednesday 20 August | Spelling Bee |
Wednesday 20 August | Science |
Wednesday 27 August | Mathematics |
70th Anniversary Artwork
At school students and teachers have been busy creating amazing artwork panels to celebrate our 70th anniversary.
Now it's your turn! You are invited to create a watercolour bee which will be incorporated into one of the panels, that each reflect our school ways of being.
Our artist in residence, Caroline Deeble, will be at school on Thursday 31st July and Thursday 1st August from 8:30am - 4:00pm. Come along on one of the days and join in the creative process. You are welcome to join classes, or come before or after school to create your bee, and have your presence in our community represented in this special way.
Looking forward to seeing many parents and carers join in the fun.
Spotlight on Religious Education
A Journey of Faith and Commitment
Confirmation is a significant milestone in the faith journey of our young people. It is a sacrament that deepens their relationship with God, strengthens their bond with the Church, and empowers them to live out their faith with courage and conviction. Through Confirmation, our students receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, helping them to grow in wisdom, understanding, and grace as they continue to walk in the footsteps of Christ.
At our school, we are committed to supporting families in preparing their children for this sacred sacrament. As part of this journey, we warmly invite all parents and children who wish to receive Confirmation this year to attend our Faith Formation and Information Evening.
Date: Wednesday, 6th August
Time: 5:30pm
Location: School Library
This evening is an essential part of the preparation process. It will provide families with valuable insights into the meaning of Confirmation, the expectations of the program, and the role of parents in nurturing their child’s faith. We are blessed to have Father Samson joining us to guide and support us through this important time.
Please note: Attendance is required for all families wishing for their child to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Both parent and child must be present.
We look forward to sharing this special journey with you and your child as we prepare to celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit in our community.
Dates to Remember
Benny's News
Out and About at Benny's
Congratulations to Millie R (Yr 6) who represented St Benedict’s at the Scott’s College annual snow race over the school holidays. Participants from all over the country participate in the event in preparation for the upcoming Interschools racing. Millie placed 3rd.
Numeracy Enrichment
Today our Year 5/6 Numeracy Enrichment students participated in their third 'Maths Games Junior' contest, facilitated by the Australasian Problem-Solving Mathematical Olympiads (APSMO) organisation. Today's problem-solving challenges focussed on the strategies of 'solving a simpler related problem' and 'eliminating all but one possibility'.
Students have been working hard practicing these strategies in their enrichment sessions late last term. We wish them well as they undertake this third challenge paper.
'Maths Games Junior Contest 4', the final paper for this year, will be held on Wednesday 10 September.
Happy Birthday
Merit Awards
Team Kids
Community News
