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Dear Parents and Carers,
Normally at this time of year I am writing about how busy the end of Term 1 one was and how we have a busy term ahead planned. This has certainly been a different experience to our normal school routine and has had all of us on a steep learning curve. I could not be more proud of our students and families for the way they adapted first to online learning and then to remote learning, and always with such a positive outlook. Both the staff and I have been inundated with emails of thanks and positive comments from parents. The students are responding well, although missing school. The staff have done an amazing job to provide remote learning to all students, despite the uncertainty of the direction we were headed in. I thank the staff for all they have done and for the many hours (including school holidays) they have spent preparing the remote learning. I thank the students and families for their flexibility, understanding and efforts with remote learning.
Students Return to School
At this stage Catholic Education, and in turn St Benedict’s, are planning for a return to face to face learning in the near future based on health and government advice. We expect the timetable for this will be clear by early next week. National cabinet are meeting on this and other issues on Friday. Information from this and other government advice will inform further decisions made by Catholic Education.
Mr Ross Fox, Director of Catholic Education, is hopeful that the Chief Health Officer of the ACT, or her nominee, will be available to brief Principals on the health advice covering our return to school. It is Catholic Education’s intention to return to face to face teaching as soon as it is safe and reasonable to do so for students and staff in their local context. Whilst amazing work has been done by all staff in schools to provide a remote learning program that can be accessed at school and home, we believe that face to face teaching offers the best learning experience for students, academically and pastorally. Feedback from parents suggests that as we are able to offer face to face teaching and learning more parents will be attracted to send their children to school.
In developing plans for a return to face to face learning and high attendance levels it is also possible that circumstances, for example the community transmission context, may change at short notice and we will need to adapt our plans accordingly. School community members are also reminded that social distancing regimes need to continue for adults. More information will follow about changes to school routines to accommodate social distancing regimes.
The school is currently putting in place routines to ensure the ongoing care for students and staff. Consideration is being given to hygiene, routine care, physical distancing, environmental cleaning and the potential management of suspected and confirmed cases.
God bless.
Rachel Smith
Principal
Mothers’ Day Art
In preparation for Mothers’ Day we invite each child to send through a photo of a drawing or painting they have done of their Mum. These pictures will then be collated for a special photostory honouring our mothers, to be shared via SZapp. Please send these pictures (labeled with your child’s first name and class) via email to Rachel.Smith@cg.catholic.edu.au
Pictures need to be emailed before 4pm on Friday 8th May to ensure they are included. Looking forward to lots of lovely pictures.
Unwell Teachers
As you are aware from last year there is a shortage of relief teachers in Canberra. Unfortunately at the moment this has been made worse by the coronavirus, with many relief teachers opting not to provide relief at this time. I thank you in advance for your understanding when whole class meetings and small group conferencing calls are cancelled due to illness.
Enrolment period
Enrolment period began this week and continues until the 22nd May. This is the time to enrol children for high school, primary school and preschool. If you would like to enrol a sibling into Kinder next year please send an email to the Front Office. At this stage there will be no Open days or Open evenings occurring in schools, but I do encourage you to make contact with your prospective schools via email.
Winter Uniform
Just a reminder that when school returns students will be wearing full winter uniform. Please contact the Front Office should you need items from the second hand uniform shops. Attached is copy of the School Uniform Policy.
Month of May
The month of May is known as ‘Mary’s Month’. During this month special devotions are performed in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary responded yes to becoming the Mother of God and so she is our first model of discipleship and our model of grace and trust in God. Because of the devotion to her many people also ask her for help in the most difficult moments of their life, as any child does with his mother. Praying the Rosary with our children is one way that we can help them nurture a relationship with Mary.
See the article link below for creative ideas of how to pray the Rosary with your children: https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2016/10/creative-ways-to-pray-the-rosary/
Children’s ANZAC Liturgy
Last Thursday evening, our school community gathered online for a Children’s ANZAC Liturgy, celebrated and lead by Fr Dan and our Defence families. It was a special evening, each family lighting a candle decorated with rosemary as a symbol of remembrance and unity. The Commemorative Address was delivered by Captain Michael Sander (Royal Australian Navy) and his son, Matthew Sander, and the Ode was recited by Lieutenant Colonel John Daunt (Australian Army) and his daughter, Claire Daunt. The invitation for children to participate in these significant customs was a very meaningful symbol of tradition and honour. We thank Fr Dan and all the children and their families for their preparation and participation in the liturgy.
A few important dates to note for this term are:
Enrolment Period - 27th April - 22nd May 2020
4 - 8 May Catholic Schools Week
10 May Mother's Day
12 May P&F Meeting 6.30pm (Zoom)
24 May Feast Day, Mary Help Of Christians
25 May Sorry Day
27 May Simultaneous Story Time 11.00am
1 June Reconciliation Day - Public Holiday
8 June Queens Birthday - Public Holiday
9 June School Board Meeting 6.00pm (Zoom)
9 June Combined School Board and P&F Meeting 6.30pm (Zoom)
9 June P&F Meeting 7.00pm (zoom)
27 June Semester 1 Reports sent home
2 July End of Term 2
20 July Commencement of Term 3
All Friday afternoon and morning assemblies will be cancelled until further notice.
There has been no notes sent home this week.
Please refer to Schoolzine (SZapp) for messages that have been forwarded this week.
Mothers' Day Art - 5/5/2020
Mini Lit and Multi Lit Lessons - 4/5/2020
A message for week 2 - 4/5/2020
Thank You - 30/4/2020
If you do not have the SZapp please see the information below:
Congratulations to the Leane family on the arrival of Isabella, born 17th April 2020. Savannah and Larrisa are both very excited to have a baby sister.
Happy birthday to the children who celebrate their special day this week: Sulove S, Obi O, Noah W and Emily D.
There will be a P&F Meeting on Tuesday 12 May at 6.30pm via ZOOM.
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.
Due to current circumstances all clothes in lost property will be emptied and clothing will be washed and returned to the clothing pool. All other items will be thrown out as charities are not accepting any donations at this time.
PLEASE ENSURE YOUR CHILD/REN'S CLOTHING IS LABELLED WITH THEIR NAME.
The Tuckshop will be closed for the foreseeable future. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. We will let you know when it will be re-opening.
Thank you for your understanding.
St Benedict's Parish
Office Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9am to 12noon
Phone: 62957879
Email: narrabundah@cg.org.au
Web: www.cg.org.au/narrabundah
Parish Team:
Fr Dan Benedetti MGL
Fr Rembert Fernando MGL
Fr Baiju Thomas MGL
Monica Nulley-Valdes (Parish Secretary)
Dear St Benedict’s community,
St Benedict’s Live Stream Masses
Facebook Page: “St Benedict’s Church and Mission Centre Canberra”
Tues, Wed, Thurs 5:30pm
Sat 8am
Sun 10am
Daily Mass from the Archdiocese is available online at https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/mass-online/ .
If you would like to have email updates from St Benedict’s Parish, please contact narrabundah@cg.org.au . Be assured of our prayers for the whole St Benedict’s community at this time. Please keep safe and if anyone would like to contact Father Dan, he is available through the Parish or through the school.
St Benedict, pray for us.
God Bless
Fr Dan Benedetti MGL PP
Parish Priest
St Benedict's Catholic Community Narrabundah ACT
As the ACT Government has just announced that ACT Government Schools will go pupil free from Tuesday 24/03/2020 due to COVID-19, Bellchambers Music School hasfore made the decision not to provide piano lessons at Schools tomorrow in order to allow the classroom teachers optimum time to prepare their class without disruption from music lessons.
We have informed all affected families, and will be in touch with each of them again in the next few days to arrange for the children to have their piano lessons online with their usual teacher and at the same day and time if possible, and their postponed lesson from tomorrow made-up.
This is a time of unprecedented and fast-moving changes any many unknowns for the near future. We at Bellchambers Music School want to assure you that whatever happens, we will be here making music with your school families. Our teachers are committed to providing music lessons to your children.
Depending on the situation with the schools, we will be continuing to offer our school families lessons in Term 2 in the school if they are open, or through the online environment, if they are closed. As with all small businesses, both the admin staff and the teachers at Bellchambers Music School are deeply concerned about the future. We want to be there for you and hope that you will continue to support us as we make music with your students in these very difficult times and into the future.
Many thanks,
Bronwen and Rachel
Bellchambers Music School
62816270
www.bellchambersmusicschool.com.au
Just advising that the opening hours for Savvy Tuggeranong have changed to the following. The below changes to opening times will be taking effect
week commencing 4 May 2020.
Uniform will continue to be available online via https://www.savvyschoolwear.com.au/schoolwear/school and is the preferred method of purchase.
We are still encouraging families to purchase online but would also like to encourage families to call ahead to ensure the store is open and availability of uniform.
Savvy Tuggeranong current opening hours
Monday 11am to 4pm
Tuesday 11am to 4pm
Friday 11am to 4pm
Saturday 10am to 2pm
Sunday Closed
Thanking you and stay safe,
Justin Newcombe
ACT/NSW Account Manager
P: 0499 056 234
E: justinnewcombe@lowessavvy.com.au
Shop 37 Homeworld, Soward Way, Tuggeranong ACT 2900
