St Benedict's Primary School - Narrabundah
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Cnr Tallara Parkway & Sturt Ave
Narrabundah ACT 2604
Subscribe: https://sbpsnarrabundah.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

Email: office.stbenedicts@cg.catholic.edu.au
Phone: 02 6295 8027

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

Last Friday Father Dan and I joined the other Priests, Principals and RECs from around our Archdiocese for a ‘RE Key Personnel Day’. These days are important in gathering together and discussing important issues that are affecting our Catholic schools and the local Church. A large focus of the day was on developing a deeper understanding of the Papal Exhortation “Christus Vivit” (2019). Christus vivit ('Christ is Alive') is a post-synodal apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis, released earlier this year and written in response to the Fifteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, on young people, faith and vocational discernment. It is addressed "to young people and to the entire people of God". At the RE Key Personnel Day we were given the opportunity to pose questions on the impact of the Exhortation on the Archdiocese and celebrate the successful initiatives currently engaging youth within our Archdiocese.

On the day I was reminded about how lucky we are at St Benedict’s that we grow students who act out their faith and their mission by seeing a need and doing something about it. I was thinking in particular about some of our Year Five students who recently organised and ran a very successful ‘Bake Da Cake’ stall. They saw a need to raise money for the homeless in our community and set about working out the best way to do that, all off their own volition and without parent or teacher direction. The students raised a massive $198.50 for the St Vincent de Paul society. Thank you for your generous financial contributions and support of this student led initiative. Thank you to Arthur, Hamish, Brigid and Adam for their amazing efforts in organising this day. Thank you to the Year Five  and Six students who helped run the food stall on the day and provided food, and thank you to the parents who also helped with the supplying of food on the day.

10 Ways For Parents To Help Teachers Help Their Children Learn

This crossed my desk this week and I thought it has great advice for all of us.

  1. Create a smooth take-off each day. Get organised the night before. Give your children a hug before they leave the house and your head to work. Tell them how proud you are of them. Your children’s self-confidence and sense of security will help them do well both in school and in life. A positive, happy start is the best foundation for the day at school.
  2. Prepare for a happy reunion at the end of the day. Create predictable rituals such as 10-20 minutes listening to your children talk about their day over an after-school-snack before you check phone messages, read the mail or begin dinner. This is truly a quality time when your children know your attention is focussed on them and they can count on you every day after school.
  3. Fill your child’s lunchbox with healthy snacks and lunches. Have dinner as a family, preferably around the table, at a reasonable hour. In the morning provide a healthy breakfast with whole grains, protein and fruit. A well-balanced diet maximises your children’s learning potential and helps them to stay alert throughout the day.
  4. Include peaceful times in your children’s afternoons and evenings.
  5. Remember it’s your children’s homework, not yours.
  6. Fill your home with books to read, books simply to look at, and books that provide answers to life’s many questions.
  7. Fill your children’s lives with a love of learning by showing them your own curiosity, respecting their questions, and encouraging their efforts.
  8. Be a partner with your child’s teacher. When you do need to speak to the teacher in reference to a specific issue with your child, do it privately, not in front of your child. Never criticise your child’s teacher in front of your child.
  9. Set up a system where routine items are easily located-such as school bags, shoes, signed notes.
  10. Become involved in school activities. This could be helping with reading, being on a committee, helping with a school event. Teachers appreciate the practical support of parents and children whose parents are involved do better at school.

(Reference: Principal’s Digest: Vol 14, No. 6)

Thank you for your ongoing care and partnership in your child’s learning.

God bless.

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Rachel Smith
Principal