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Dear Parents and Carers,
Next Wednesday, 26th February Catholics around the world will mark the beginning of the Lenten journey with Ash Wednesday. Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Lent is marked by fasting, both from food and festivities. Lent is a time of preparation for the gift of new life that we receive at Easter. During this time, we are called to reflect upon our need for God and to address those things in our lives that distract us from the wholeness that only God can bring. The Lenten theme for 2020 is “Renewed by the Spirit” – taken from Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation, Gaudete et Exsultate – Rejoice and Exult. This theme reminds us of the call to encounter God and allow God to guide us, giving us the strength to live out our journey of faith and invite others to join us on our way. We are encouraged to reflect on our lives and turn our lives to the only true source of happiness and peace – we are called to turn our.
The St Benedict’s School Community will be joining with the Parish Community to celebrate Ash Wednesday mass next Wednesday 26th February at 12.30pm. We invite all Parents and Family members to join us for this sacred occasion.
God bless.
Rachel Smith
Principal
Parent Meet & Greet Open House Night
What a lovely night we had last Thursday evening at the Open House and BBQ. Thank you to all those who attended. All of the teachers were really pleased to have the chance to make some initial contact with many of you. Thank you again to the Parents and Friends for providing the free Sausage Sizzle and to all those who helped set up, cook and pack up. Well done!
Reading with Your Child
Next Monday 24th February at 5.30pm there will be a workshop held for parents on ‘Reading with your child’. It is designed to assist parents in understanding how to read with children at home in ways that support them as a developing reader. They are designed for Kindergarten to Year 2 students. Other parents are also welcome. The session will be held in the school library from 5.30pm – 6.30pm.
Interim Reports and Three Way Conferences
Students will bring home their interim reports on Friday, 28th February, with Three Way Conferences taking place on Monday 2nd March and Tuesday 3rd March. Optional Parent/Teacher Interviews will be offered at the end of each term, in addition to the semester reports being sent home at the end of Term 2 and Term 4. A note regarding booking a time for Three Way Conferences will be sent home next week. Accompanying that note will be a survey for parents to complete on their child’s strengths, interests and areas for development. We ask that parents complete the parent survey and bring it with them to their child’s Three Way Conference.
Lockdown and Evacuation Procedures
Over the next two weeks the school will be practicing our lockdown and evacuation procedures with the students. It is a government requirement of all schools that they practice both the lockdown and evacuation procedures each term. A reminder that as part of a review of our lockdown and evacuation policy in recent years, we made the decision to lock the gate next to the carpark during the school day and ask that all parents and visitors access the school through the front of the school and the Front Office between 9am – 3pm. This is to ensure that the only access to our school is via the Front Office and that all visitors to our school sign in at the Front Office and any student is signed in or out. The gate will be locked at 9am and opened again at 3pm. Thank you for your continued support with this.
Tuckshop
Dave Noble our tuckshop manager has done a wonderful job of supplying our students with fresh, healthy and yummy food. Unfortunately this is not something that he alone can maintain. The tuckshop needs volunteers from the school community to help in order for it to continue to run in its current format. Without volunteers and continued patronage our tuckshop cannot run. If you are able to offer any time on a Tuesday or Thursday, even just an hour or two, it would be appreciated. If you are unable to commit to a regular timeslot incidental drop ins are also welcomed. Don’t forget orders can be placed via the Qkr! app.
Swimming Carnival
Just a reminder that our school swimming carnival is on next Thursday 27th February at Queanbeyan Pool. Please ensure that your child comes to school wearing their (labeled) sports uniform with their swimmers underneath. They will also need a towel, a plastic bag for wet items, school hat and sunscreen. Students will also need to bring their own lunch and recess, etc in their school bag. Please ensure the children have plenty to eat and drink. There will be no access to the pool kiosk.
Morning Drop Off and Pick up
As mentioned in the First Day Bytes and last week’s general information school supervision begins at 8.30am and students are not expected to be here before this time. If students consistently arrive before that time parents will be referred to Before School Care, which is provided for such situations. Also just a gentle reminder that students are not permitted to walk to cars by themselves at pick up time. Parents and Carers must come to the gate to pick the students up and accompany them through the car park.
Sacraments
It is the Parish practice that Catholic children in Year 3 prepare for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. However, if your child is in Years 4-6 and you would like them to make the Sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation or First Eucharist please contact our St Benedict’s Parish Priest:
Fr Dan Benedetti MGL
Daniel.benedetti@cg.org.au
(02) 6295 7879
Mini Vinnies
Mini Vinnies will be commissioned during the Friday assembly, 21st February 2.30pm. Our new Canberra Goulburn Primary School Youth Liaison Officer Joshua Pokai will be presenting our Mini Vinnies with their badges and Fr Dan will lead the school in a special blessing. All are welcome to attend to support these students in making this commitment.
Season of Lent
St Benedict’s Parish Ash Wednesday Mass will be held on Wednesday 26th February 12.30pm. All classes will be attending this Mass and families are warmly invited to join us.
Mini Vinnies Hygiene Donation Station
The St Vincent de Paul Night Patrol is in need of mini toiletries (hotel size is perfect) to re-stock their hygiene packs to be distributed to the people who approach the van. We invite all families to make regular donations to the Mini Vinnies Hygiene Donation Station in the Front Office. This is one way our school community can help teach our children about human dignity and how we need to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to look after their body.
Items that can be donated are;
- Shampoo/conditioner
- Moisturisers
- Combs/hair brushes
- Sunscreen
- Tissue packs
- Feminine hygiene products
- Soap/body wash
- Toothbrushes/toothpaste
- Mouth wash
- Lip balm
- Deodorant
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.
A few important dates to note for this term are:
21 Feb Yr6 Leadership Badges Presentation, 2.30pm
24 Feb Reading Information Night, 5.30pm
26 Feb Ash Wednesday Mass, 12.30pm
27 Feb Swimming Carnival, K-6
28 Feb Interim Reports sent home
1 Mar Year 1/2 Gold School Mass, 10am
2 Mar Three Way Conferences
3 Mar Three Way Conferences
4 Mar First Reconciliation Prayer Night, 6pm
6 Mar Year 3/4 Gold School Mass, 10am
9 Mar Canberra Day Public Holiday
10 Mar School Board Meeting, 6pm
13 Mar Olympic Athlete Visit Yrs 3-6, 12.30pm
15 Mar Family Parish Mass, 9.00am
17 Mar Parents & Friends Meeting, 6.30pm
19 Mar Choir visit to Mountain View
2 Apr Learning Showcase, 2pm
South Western Region Swimming Carnival
3 Apr Year 3/4 Blue School Mass, 10am
Ways of Being Award Ceremony, 2.30pm
4 Apr First Reconciliation and Mass, 4.30pm
5 Apr Palm Sunday
6 Apr Scientist Visit Years 5 and 6
7 Apr Years 1/2 and 5/6 Holy Week Liturgy, 9.30am
School Board Meeting, 6pm
8 Apr Years 1/2 and 5/6 Holy Week Liturgy, 9.30am
9 Apr Outdoor Education day
Term 1 concludes
The following notes have gone home this week and will be sent home via Schoolzine App. Please remember to check your childs bag daily:
- Communication Guidelines for Staff
Communication_Guidelines_for_Staff.pdf - Sacraments 2020
Sacraments_2020_initial_letter.pdf - Reconciliation & First Eucharist Enrolment Form
Recon_Euch_Form_2020_1_.pdf
School Fees
Thank you to all the families that have asked about there school fees. School Fees will be sent home by Monday 24th February.
As per the CE Policy all fees must be paid by week 5 of each term, unless you have made other arrangements. All school fees must be paid by Monday 2nd March 2020.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Belinda in the Front Office.
On Friday 21st February at the 2.30pm Assembly, all Year 6 students will be presented with their Leadership Badges.
Food for Students
As the Term progresses and the students are becoming more active during recess and lunch with the weather being warm one day and cooler the next please discuss with your child/ren what they are eating at school. We are finding a number of students eating all their food at recess and we need to keep them well nourished at school so they can continue to learn through out the day.
St Benedict’s Twilight Christmas Fair
This year our biannual fair is going to have a distinct Christmas flavour. It will be held on Friday evening, November 7th 2020, and will be upon us in no time.
Working Committee
As ‘many hands make light work’, we are looking for people interested in working on the committee to help organise the fair. If you are interested in being a part of this committee, we would love to hear from you. Please complete the attached slip at the end of the newsletter, or send an email to alana.quirk@cg.catholic.edu.au. Much closer to the event, we will also call for all people able to lend a hand on the day!
Free Clothes Day
As many items are needed for some of our stalls at the Christmas Fair, we are holding a free clothes day next Friday 28th February. Students are encouraged to wear comfortable (but appropriate) clothes to school that day and in response, each child is asked to donate a bag of wrapped lollies that will be used on the Tombola stall.
I would like to join the working committee for the organisation of the St Benedict’s Twilight Christmas Fair. I understand that as part of this role, I will need to be available to attend some evening committee meetings in the lead up to the event.
Name: ___________________________________________
Child/ren: ________________________________________
Class: ______________________
Contact details: (Phone and email): _______________________________________
Happy birthday to the children who celebrate their special day this week: Reuben W, Michael T, Lydia P and Samson M.
Year 1/2B: Zayn S and Gordon S
Year 1/2G: Mya R, Andrew K and Lucy W
Year 3/4B: Elizabeth K and Sarah R
Year 3/4G: Ava W
Year 5/6B: Natalija M, Alain K and Matilda R
Year 5/6G: Emily S and Santino E
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, even if you are unable to make the opening times. Where possible we will always help.
PLEASE ENSURE YOUR CHILD/REN'S CLOTHING IS LABELLED WITH THEIR NAME.
The Lost Property Box is located in the canteen area. Please take some time to go through the box on a weekly basis as it is Week 3 and the lost property box is overflowing and we will now randomly clean it out. All items will be washed are donated to the clothing pool or to St Vincent de Paul.
Tales from the TUCKSHOP
"If it starts with a T - It's Tuckshop day!
The St Benedict's Tuckshop is now running at full swing. The new range of ice creams have been a hit with the kids. Thanks to all those parents who have offered to help or introduced themselves. Our wonderful volunteers make all the difference!
- Slinky volunteers: The apple slinky volunteers have been hard at work already. Starting at 9am, the kids come and have their apples slinkied. We have 3 slinky machines and about 50 apples to get through. Volunteers leave at 9.50am suitably caffeinated. A great opportunity to see what's going on in the Tuckshop.
- Revenge of the mutant nuggets: this week we have introduced our 'mutant' chicken nuggets. Made in house using real breast chicken and our own secret recipe.
- QKR! Is the easiest way to order your lunch. Download the app today! If you already use QKR! please update your child's class from last year. The QKR! menu is being finely tuned and will be perfect soon.
- If you'd like to volunteer, please leave a name and phone number with Mrs McRae at the Front Office.
Dave Noble
King of the Tuckshop
St Benedict's Parish
Office Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9am to 12noon
Phone: 62957879
Email: Narrabundah@cg.org.au
Parish Team:
Fr Dan Benedetti MGL
Fr Rembert Fernando MGL
Fr Baiju Thomas MGL
Monica Nulley-Valdes (Parish Secretary)
Weekend Mass Times:
Saturday 6.00pm
Sunday 9.00am
Youth Mass 6.00pm (last Sunday of every month)
Charismatic Mass 6.00pm every Sunday
Baptisms: 11.00am, 2nd and 4th Sundays of the Month
