Dear Parents and Carers,

Resilience … it’s a familiar word, isn’t it? But what does it really mean?

When we talk about resilience, we’re talking about a child’s ability to cope with ups and downs, and bounce back from the challenges they experience during childhood – for example moving home, changing schools, change to family dynamics or dealing with the death of a loved one. Building resilience helps children not only to deal with current difficulties that are a part of everyday life, but also to develop the basic skills and habits that will help them deal with challenges later in life, during adolescence and adulthood.

Resilience is important for children’s mental health. Children with greater resilience are better able to manage stress, which is a common response to difficult events. If children are stressed for long periods of time, stress hormones (particularly cortisol) can build up in their brain and interfere with their ability to learn and pay attention in school. Using healthy coping skills to deal with stress can help your child to pay attention, use higher level thinking skills and learn new facts and ideas.

So Where Does Resilience Come From?
Resilience is shaped partly by the individual characteristics we are born with (our genes, temperament and personality) and partly by the environment we grow up in — our family, community and the broader society. While there are some things we can’t change, such as our biological makeup, there are many things we can change. 

Resilience involves behaviours, thoughts and actions that can be learned over time. Latest research has found that there are five areas that offer the best chance for building resilience in children.  

As a parent, carer, or significant adult, you can help to develop essential skills, habits and attitudes for building resilience at home by helping your child to:

• build good relationships with others including adults and peers
• build their independence
• learn to identify, express and manage their emotions
• build their confidence by taking on personal challenges

There are some simple things you can do to build your child’s resilience in these areas and a quick Google search will provide many different resources for you to check out. Beyond Blue’s funded The Children’s Resilience Research Project has many wonderful resources on building resilience which are worth looking at.

https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/healthy-homes/building-resilience

Next week is Sabbath Week. It is typically Week 7 each term and is a week to pause, rest and be present to each day. The Sabbath is a traditionally Jewish custom where one day in seven was devoted to rest and worship. Many other cultures have similar cultural observances.

At St Benedict’s the Sabbath Week is specifically timed when energy levels begin to dip during the term giving us a small pause before completing the final weeks of the term. We do not send homework during that week, so as to provide families with a little respite from very busy home routines. We always encourage reading as a pleasurable activity so we provide readers for our younger students, not referring to this as homework.

I hope all families enjoy a restful long weekend.

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

God bless.

Rachel Smith
Principal

Rugging Up in the Cold
We encourage a lot of play outside and during winter it can be quite cold. We encourage all of our students to dress with plenty of layers. Our uniform lends itself very easily to this.

Singlets, thermals or other simple long sleeve underclothes are encouraged under the shirt to add that extra layer. Our uniform policy then outlines:

Maroon jumper: worn over the shirt and dress. As it’s harder to take off it can be used inside and outside to keep warm,

Blue polar fleece jacket: to be worn when going outside over the maroon jumper and generally taken off in the classroom while the heater is operating,

Beanies/Scarves/Mittens: are very acceptable and preferably navy blue.

Sport uniform: If an extra layer is required then a simple navy blue top underneath the polo short is acceptable.

Signing In or Signing Out
Thank you to everyone for remembering to sign your children in or out at the front office when needed. Just a reminder that in accordance with our visitor policy all parents and care givers must sign in if they intend walking through the school grounds or visiting a classroom. If you need to pick up a student during the day or drop something off the front office staff are happy to help.

Leaving St Benedict’s
If you anticipate that your child will leave St Benedict’s at the end of this year, could you please notify the Front Office where they a heading to. We need to begin planning for staffing and class configurations for 2019. Thank you to those who have let us know already, this is very much appreciated. Naturally Year 6 parents need not respond to this request.

Pentecost

The season of Easter this Sunday’s celebration, the feast of Pentecost. The story of Pentecost is found in the Acts of the Apostles. On Pentecost we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem; this event marks the beginning of the Church.  God the Father and Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help and guide the Church. The event of Pentecost changed the world and gave rise to today’s Church. The Holy Spirit is still with us today.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
And you will renew the face of the earth. 

Sacraments

First Friday Mass
Year 1/2 Blue will be leading our school community in Mass this Friday 7^th June. Mass is held in the St Benedict’s Church from 10am. Families are warmly invited to join us for this liturgical celebration. Morning tea will be provided by the families of students in Years 1/2 Blue. Parents are invited to stay after Mass for morning tea and a chat with other parents and staff in the Library. Parents of the hosting class are also welcome to bring their child along to the morning tea.

Kindergarten Class Parish Mass
Kindergarten will be joining the parish Sunday 16^th June to celebrate Mass.  We ask that those who have children in Kindergarten to make a special effort to attend the school’s Parish Mass. The parish choir will be at this Mass and warmly welcome anyone to join in singing. If you are planning to attend Mass on Sunday and would like your child (or any family member) to have a formal role such as a reading, bringing forth the offertory or the Gospel procession, please email: Fran Tomadini: Fran.Tomadini@cg.catholic.edu.au

St Vincent de Paul School Sleepout
This year students in Years 4-6 have the opportunity to participate in a Sleep Out in the school library to raise awareness and money for the St Vincent de Paul Street to Home program. The St Vincent de Paul School Sleep Out will be held from Friday 28th June to Saturday 29th June. An expression of interest note has been sent home today.

Mini Vinnies Winter Woolies Day
Our Mini Vinnies are beginning to organise our annual Winter Woollies Day (whole school event) which will be held Friday 28^th June to raise awareness about the issue of homelessness in Canberra as well as donations for the St Vincent de Paul Night Patrol Van. In preparation for this we ask that all families begin collecting adult size winter clothing, as well as blankets and sleeping bags. Donations can be second-hand or new. Please store these at home until Winter Woollies Day, as we do not have the capacity to store these at school.

For more information about the Canberra Night Patrol Van, please visit https://www.vinnies.org.au/page/Find_Help/ACT/Food/Night_Patrol/

Families who wish to make a money donation might consider purchasing an incredible ‘Backpack Bed’- Backpack with storage that rolls out into an all-weather protected bed. These are an extremely ‘precious’ item that is handed out from the Night Patrol Van to those who are ‘sleeping rough’. For more information able this wonderful product that provides thousands of people with a dignified sleep across Australia please visit: https://backpackbed.org/au/

Community Meals Program
The Community Meals freezer is one way we can assist families who are experiencing hardship. If you are able to cook a meal, please use disposable containers and label with ingredients and date. All meal donations can be brought to the Front Office. If your family requires temporary meal assistance, you can speak in confidence to any of our staff members.

7 Jun         First Friday Mass, 10.00am
7 Jun         Year 5/6 Jerrabomberra Wetlands Excursion
9  Jun        Pentecost Sunday
10  Jun      Queen's Birthday (Public Holiday)
11 Jun       Joint School Board and P&F Meeting, 6.30pm
14 Jun       Year 6 Leader Photos - 9.15am
16 Jun       Parish Mass Year Kinder Families, 9.00am
17 Jun       Year 3/4 Mugga Lane Resource Excursion
20 Jun       Year 1/2 Mountain View visit
23 Jun       First Holy Communion, 9.00am
27 Jun       Learning Showcase, 2.00pm
28 Jun       Semester reports sent home
28 Jun       Winter Woollies Day
28 Jun       St Vincent de Paul School Sleepout
1 Jul          Parent—Teacher Interviews (Optional)
2 Jul          Parent—Teacher Interviews (Optional)
5 Jul          St Benedict’s Feast Day Mass, 10.00am
5 Jul          Term 2 concludes

The following notes have gone home this week and will be sent home via Schoolzine App:

• School Choir and First Holy Communion - Due by 5th June
• ICAS Testing - Due by 24th June
• Year 5/6 Jerrabomberra Wet Lands Excursion - Due by 5th June
• Year 3/4 Magga Lane Resource Excursion - Due by 13th June
• St Vincent de Paul School Sleepout - Years 4 to 6 - Due by 11th June
• Year 1/2 Mountain View Excursion - Due by 11th June

School Fees
Thank you to all the families that have paid their school fees so far.

On Monday 20th May a family paid their school fees using BPay to the value of $638.00.  Could you please contact Belinda at the Front Office as she is unsure which family to apply the funds too.

Defence News
You (Defence Families) may find these phone numbers helpful for your enquiries regarding defence community news, events and happenings, education assistance, playgroups and etc.

Defence Community Organisation (DCO) - ph:62658777

Defence Family Helpline - ph:1800624608

Linda de Salis
Defence School Mentor

ICAS TESTING
ICAS is an independent, skills-based assessment program which recognises and rewards student achievement. ICAS provides a suite of academic assessments for primary (Years 3-6) and secondary school students but this testing is optional. These tests do not assess recall of curriculum content, but rather assess the higher order thinking and problem solving skills needed for success in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling and Digital Technologies.

This year the tests are being conducted in online according to the following testing schedule. If you would like your child to participate in any of these tests, please return the accompanying note and payment by Monday 24^th June.

I would like my child/ren ________________________ in class/es ______________ to participate in the nominated ICAS tests. I have included the required payment for each of these tests.

                                  (please mark)

Digital Technologies                        $14.40            Tuesday 3^rd September

Science                                          $14.40            Thursday 5^th September

Writing                                          $14.40             Tuesday 10^th September

Spelling                                         $14.40             Thursday 12^th September

English                                          $14.40             Tuesday 17^th September

Mathematics                                  $14.40             Thursday 19^th September

Total money included: $ ________________           Signed: __________________________

Parent/Carer Name: _________________________

x

Happy Birthday to the children who celebrate their special day this week: Frederick H, Edith B, Sarah D, Ruby S, Fionn L, Gabriella S and Arabella S.

Kindergarten: Beau F, Nyx H and Vincentia B

Year 1/2 Blue: Jack O, Benjamin S and Alana W

Year 1/2 Gold: Mackenzie J, Trinity M,

Year 3/4 Blue: Sophia R and Mia T

Year 3/4 Gold: Angus C, Alec C and Lalia D, 

Year 5/6 Blue: Matthew S, Adam AM and Sethmi L

Year 5/6 Gold: William F and Jade C

1/2 Blue: Niamh B

1/2 Gold: Geordie B

3/4 Gold: Finn W and Isadora N

5/6 Blue: Natalija M and Leila C

Entertainment Book

This term we will be selling the new 2019-2020 Entertainment Book Membership for $60. You will receive hundreds of valuable offers for shopping, dining and accommodation.  $12 of every membership sold will go towards our school. A sample copy is available for viewing at the Front Office.

Please make sure you buy a book through St Benedict’s School, and tell your family and friends about it too!

Entertainment           Book           using           the           link: https://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/orderbooks/23231n Then pickup your book from Belinda at the Front Office. 

The Clothing Pool will be open each Tuesday and Thursday between 2.50pm to 3.15pm by appointment. 

Please let Mrs McRae know at the Front Office if you need something from the Clothing Pool.

The Lost Property Box is located in the  canteen area.  Please take some time to go through the box on a weekly basis as the lost property box is overflowing with jumpers and jackets.  These are going to be essential items of your child/rens uniform as the days get colder.

PLEASE ENSURE YOUR CHILD/REN'S CLOTHING IS LABELLED WITH THEIR NAME.  

Hello everyone,

The Pizza Tuck Day orders close today - Wednesday 5th June, as the pizzas will be pre-ordered due to the long weekend.  If you have any time to spare on Tuesday 11th June, please feel free to come and spend some time in the canteen especially when packing the lunches. It would be much appreciated.

With the colder weather, I am endeavouring to ensure the children have some warm morsels for recess.  These include homemade soups, nachos, small servings of potato gems, fish bites, warm custard with either cupcakes or stewed fruit, pizza scrolls and so on. 

I endeavour to ensure the prices are kept to $2 and below per item.

Please remember counter sales only occur at Recess time and lunch orders must be ordered in classroom tubs first up of a morning.

As most of the food is made fresh in the canteen volunteers are needed for the peak times for this to continue. If you have any spare time, please consider dropping in and helping as volunteers are always welcome. No amount of time is too small.

FRIDAY 7th June

9am to 11.30am - Helpers Required

11.30am to 2pm - Helpers Required

TUESDAY 11th June - Pizza Tuckday - no other orders

9am to 11.30am - Helpers Required - Over counter sales only

11.30am to 2pm - Helpers Required

If you would like to touch base about volunteering please either drop in or contact me on Cara.Cook@cg.catholic.edu.au.

Yours in tongs,

Cara Cook, Canteen Manager

Weekend Mass Times

Saturday          6.00pm

Sunday            9.00am

Youth Mass      6.00pm

Charismatic Mass    6.00pm (last Sunday of the Month)

Baptisms: 11.00am, 2nd and 4th Sundays of the Month