Dear Parents and Carers,

Evidence Forum 2
Next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I will be in Melbourne participating in Evidence Forum Two. When the idea of the Evidence Forum was conceived, it was all about principals leading a system-wide move toward achieving greater pedagogical coherence. In that spirit I will be representing both our school and the system on this tour – our school as an instructional leader and the system as a representative of leader-led change. The tour group made up of Principals, Leadership Team Members, Catholic Education Staff and the Director will be given opportunities, tools and time to start answering some of the big questions about pedagogy that have been on the system radar for a while. This is the second gathering of this type, with the first Evidence Forum visiting high performing schools in Perth earlier in the year. It will be a very busy few days in Melbourne and hopefully extremely worthwhile.

Yes I can!
In preparation for the trip to Melbourne the participants have been doing a lot of study of research into pedagogy and what particularly it is that high performing schools are doing. One thing that keeps coming through in the evidence and research is the need for a Growth Mindset and a “Yes I can!” attitude to life.

As you are aware over the last few years we have been working with our students to develop a Growth Mindset and the same ‘Yes I can!’ attitude to their school work. A Growth Mindset is about seeing that we are growing and learning all the time and our failed attempts today lead us to successful achievement in the future. Our students have learnt to acknowledge their achievements and say ‘Yes I can!’ and, when they are struggling with learning something new, to say ‘I can’t…yet!’. May we together strive to grow optimistic, confident children who persevere and support others in their learning.

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

God bless.

Rachel Smith
Principal

St Benedict’s Colour Splash & Dash
The P&F Fundraising Committee are busily organising the first of our Colour Splash & Dash events. This will take place on Friday 20^th September beginning at 12.30pm with a sausage sizzle lunch and finishing with the colour run at 3pm. We are hoping for as much family involvement as possible, both as helpers on the day and participants in the colour run.

Whole School Performance – St Benedict’s ‘Disneyland’
The students and staff are also enthusiastically preparing for our whole school Disney performance on Wednesday 25^th September. We have had Mrs Jan Simpson, our dance teacher, working with individual teachers and classes, as well as the whole school dance finale. As in years past we are hoping that this is a wonderful community event.

School Calendar
All upcoming school events are listed on the calendar on our school website and on the SZapp message alert. The current term events are also listed in the school newsletter. We have also added the term and holiday dates for next year to the calendar on the school website and on SZapp. Hopefully this will help you with any future planning.

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. We need to begin planning for staffing and class configurations for 2020. 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.

Confirmation Preparation
This week our Confirmation candidates enjoyed spending some time with Fr Tony Percy discussing the seven sacraments and the significance of the Sacrament of Confirmation as they enter into an exciting and challenging time of adolescence. We continue to pray for these students as the Spirit is revealed and lit within them.

Confirmation Practice 2- (including Reconciliation, parents are not required to attend, but are welcome to attend if they wish)
Wednesday 18^th September 9-11am

A Prayer for Confirmation Candidates

Loving God,You are the giver of all we possess,
the source of all of our blessings.
We thank and praise you.

May your Holy Spirit help them to grow
in faith, hope, and love,
so they may know peace, truth, and goodness.

May their ears hear your voice.
May their eyes see your presence in all things.
May their lips proclaim your word.
May their hearts be your dwelling place.
May their hands do works of charity.
May their feet walk in the way of Jesus Christ,
your Son and our Lord.
Amen.

Father’s Day Mass

Thank you to Kindergarten who lead our school community in a special Father’s Day Mass last Friday. Fathers, uncles, grandfathers and brothers gathered to celebrate Mass with our school community and receive a special blessing. It was a joyous occasion!

Staff Spirituality Retreat

Please keep our St Benedict’s Staff in your prayers as they participate in a Spirituality Retreat this afternoon focused on the parable of the Mustard Seed. We pray that they are nourished spirituality to voice the truth and listen with an open heart, as they spend time in prayer and contemplation.

Year 5/6 Class Parish Mass

Year 5/6 will be joining the parish this Sunday (15^th September) to celebrate Mass.  We ask that those who have children in Year 5/6 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: Alana.quirk@cg.catholic.edu.au

Year 3/4 Mountain View

On Thursday 19^th September, all Year 3/4 students will be participating in a Healing Liturgy with Father Dan and the members of our community at the Mountain View Aged Care Centre.  We ask that you keep these students in your prayers as they nurture community spirit through their presence and participation in this special prayer celebration.

15 Sep Year 5/6 Family Mass, 9am
19 Sep Learning Showcase, 2pm
19 Sep Year 3/4 Mountain View visit
20 Sep Colour Run
22 Sep Sacrament of Confirmation, Mass, 9.00am
25 Sep School Performance, 6pm
26 Sep Mindfulness Day
27 Sep Last day of Term 3
27 Sep 5 Ways of Being Award Ceremony, 2.30pm
14 Oct First day of Term 4 - normal School Uniform

The following note has gone home this week and will be sent home via Schoolzine App:

• Summer Netball
• Mountain View Aged Care - Years 3 & 4
• Colour Splash 7 Dash - Order Form 
• Year 4 Overnight Excursion
• Scratch Coding Permission - Years 3 & 4

Happy Birthday to the children who celebrate their special day  this week: Rocky-James B, Maria C,  Amiah B and  Claudia K.

Year 1/2B:      Jack O, Maria C & Benjamin S

Year 1/2G:      Huxley N and Mia F

Year 3/4B:      Emily D, Erik E and Clancy B

Year 3/4G:      Michael R, Sophia M and Liz K

Year 5/6B :      Emerson C, Ayla H and Fionn L

Year 5/6G:       Emily S, Brigid N and Hamish M

Year 1/2B:      Arwyn S

Year 1/2G:       Claire D

Dear Family and Friends

The Colour Splash and Dash is being held next Friday 20 September to raise money for new IT equipment! It’s going to be a great afternoon with lots of music, bubbles and colour! Students are welcome to come dressed up for the day – lots of colour & lots of fun!

Thank you to all who have returned their order forms so far. Here are some things to note:

• A sausage sizzle lunch will be held at 12:30pm on the day. Vegetarian options can also be provided.  This sausage sizzle can be ordered through the Colour Run Pack order form that your child should have received by now.
• Students only need to order PACK 1- $5 as they will be given sunglasses on the day. Pack 2 - $10 is for additional siblings, family and friends who’d like to participate on the day. Additional sausages can also be ordered for $2.50. All of these packs can be ordered via the paper forms (spare copies are available at the front office), or can be ordered on the QKR app. Please note that if you are using the QKR app and would like to buy additional packages for family, please select any child in your profile to place the order electronically.
• For students and families who wish to stay after 3pm, we will light up the BBQ again and hold a sausage sizzle for parents who may wish to come after work.  We will also be selling drinks, treats and spare bags of colour at this time. Bags of colour will be sold for $2.50 should the students wish to party on.
• Prizes will also be awarded for the most money raised, the class who returns their fundraising money first and students will receive a raffle ticket for each $10 raised and go into a draw for other prizes.

 We look forward to sharing in this fun day with you all!

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

The Lost Property box will be emptied weekly and all named items will be returned to students via their class note bags.  All items without a name will be washed and donated to the Clothing Pool for repurchasing.

Please let Mrs McRae know at the Front Office if you need something from the Clothing Pool, even if you are unable to make the opening times.  Where possible we will always help.

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 continually overflowing. 

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

Extra Lost Items
There are still a number of expensive personal items that have been handed into the office. eg. glasses, fitbit, phones, usb sticks, jewellery, key rings and pursers.  If you are missing any items please call in and see Mrs McRae at the Front Office.

Hello parents and friends,
Canteen days are Mondays and Thursdays.

Qkr! is now operating for the canteen and it is a quick and convenient way to order your child's lunch if you have no spare change.  If you are using Qkr! please check that you have selected the correct day and date otherwise your child's order will not come through to the school correctly. 

Available during recess, available are:

gluten and lactose free savoury muffins $1
pumpkin soup $2
nachos $2
cheese and herb pastry twists 10c
pizza slices 50c
delicious muffins of the day $1
fresh fruit $1 ea (Bananas, Apples and Pears)
whole carrots 50c
jelly 50c
jelly and lactose free custard 50c
warm corn cobs 50c
seasonal fruit and custard $1

If your child forgets their morning munch and crunch, please see the front office.

THURSDAY 12th September
9am to 11.30am - Helpers Required - Over counter sales only
11.30am to 2pm - Helpers Required

MONDAY 16th September
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

Fr Dan and St Benedict's are running a Men Alive weekend Oct 12-13. A low key weekend to explore what it means to be a Christian man. Contact Fr Dan at Daniel.Benedetti@cg.org.au or check out the website: www.menalive.org.au

Interested in becoming a Catholic or learning more?
Contact Fr Dan at Daniel.Benedetti@cg.org.au for info about the RCIA program for adults.

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Tennis Canberra Holiday Camps @ Old Parliament House Tennis Club

 - Camp 1: September 30th, October 1st & 2nd

 - Camp 2: October 9th- 11th

 - Morning, Half & Full Day options available

Sign Up: www.tenniscanberra.com.au/holiday-program

 Free Trial - Term 3 - Give Tennis A Go!
We invite new players to our sport to a free trial before Term 4.  This is a great opportunity for all students to see if tennis is the sport for them.  Please e-mail play@tenniscanberra.com.au to request a free trial and our team will get back to you with the best options.

After-School & Weekend Coaching - Term 4
Run by Tennis Australia professional at a Tennis Canberra Club near you. Our coaches are excited to see many new players hit our courts in the Spring. Learn a sport they can play for life.

Sign up: www.tenniscanberra.com.au/junior-tennis

Email: play@tenniscanberra.com.au

Phone: 0416 186 121

Larissa Dann

PARENT EFFECTIVENESS TRAINING (P.E.T)

Supported by Parentline ACT

Tired of yelling? Looking to find a way to get out the door on time, while still liking each other? Learn respectful communication skills for a peaceful, gentle approach to parenting, without the use of punishment or reward. P.E.T helps children and parents develop resilience, emotional intelligence, confidence and consideration. The course is powerful, proven and practical, and will help you put peace back into your parenting.

 For more information visit our Parent Skills website; join the Parent Skills Facebook community; and read P.E.T. on a Page.

The 24 hour course consists of three-hour sessions, once per week, for eight weeks.  Booking is essential.

 Investment includes a workbook and textbook.

Course begins: Tuesday, 22nd October, 2019 (minimum number of participants required); Time: 6.30 pm to 9.45 pm; Place: Weston, ACT.

Enjoy P.E.T. with Larissa, accredited P.E. T. instructor. info@parentskills.com.au