Dear Parents and Carers,

A warm welcome to Term 3. These beautiful cold but sunny days are what are great about winter in Canberra. I am a person that doesn’t mind winter and loves nothing more than a sunny winter morning where the brisk air greets you as you walk out the door. As long as the sun is out winter in Canberra is enjoyable! Welcome to the new students and their families at St Benedict’s: Mackenzie in Kindergarten, Eli in Year 1, Tyler in Year 2 and Olivia in Year 4. Thank you to our existing students who have found a place for them in their classes and friendship groups. You’ve demonstrated great Be Welcoming behaviours.

Community
Community is very important to us at St Benedict’s. Visitors to our school often comment on the strong sense of community they felt when they visited and how welcomed and included that they felt during their visit. There are three distinct ways we express Community at St Benedict’s:

Welcoming
Our motto ‘All guests who enter shall be welcomed as Christ’ (words of St Benedict) points to the importance we place on accepting and loving new children and families when they begin their journey with us. Established students take new students under their wing in their own class and the buddy program. Teachers support and assist new teachers in learning how St Benedict’s ‘works’ and where to find what they need. Parent representatives contact new families and create opportunities to build connections and relationships with others.

Celebrating
We come together regularly to acknowledge who we are and what we value, especially in the way we celebrate Eucharist, gathering as a community to give thanks to God. During assemblies we acknowledge the achievements of our members and thank those who recently contributed to our ongoing work. Our Meet and Greet and Disco are two examples of times when families can relax and enjoy each other’s company.

Giving outwardly
What value does our community have if we cannot share and spread what we have with others? Through examples like our Winter Woollies day we create opportunities to give to others in need from the abundance we have. We look to participate in local community events and spread our joy. We build relationships with local community organisations. We celebrate important times such as Easter, St Benedict’s Day and First Friday Masses with our wider Parish.

We have a wonderful community that is always seeking the balance between welcoming in and giving beyond ourselves. An example of the wonderful giving nature of our community is the School Board. The School Board meets every second Tuesday of the month and works to support the school, the students, the families and the staff. Last night the School Board elected new office bearers. The School Board consists of:

• John Daunt – Chairperson
• Mark McCormack – Deputy Chairperson
• Vacant – Treasurer
• John Norgrove – Secretary
• Edwina Betts – P&F Representatives
• Antoinette Perry and Michael Wrathall – Parent Representatives
• Breena Walshe – Staff Representative
• Alana Quirk – Assistant Principal
• Rachel Smith – Principal
• Fr Dan Benedetti – Parish Priest

 I would like to thank Mrs Belinda Eidum and Mr Mark Scott who complete their terms on the Board, for their outstanding contribution. Their perspective and interests will have a lasting impact on the St Benedict’s school community. I thank them for their unfailing support for the work of myself, the staff and the students of the school and for being part of our collaborative journey.

God Bless.

Rachel Smith
Principal

Feast Day
This Friday we will be celebrating St Benedict's Feast day which occurred in the holidays.  We will be live streaming Mass, participating in activities and having a special lunch.  Don't forget to put in your child's lunch order for Friday.

School Calendar
As you are aware we sent out a school calendar at the beginning of the school year to all families. Unfortunately many of our planned events have had to be cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19. We are currently finalising an updated calendar for Term 3 which we will send home shortly. Please understand that as restrictions change in the ACT so may some of the calendar dates and events.

August is Hats ON again!
August is fast approaching, and although still cold, it is the month we start to witness a rise in UV levels in Canberra that warrants sensible sun protection during at least some periods of the day.

The beginning of August is Hats ON Again for all of us!
In Canberra average daily UV levels reach 3 and above for part or most of every day between August and May. When UV levels reach 3 and above, the Cancer Council recommends sun protection to reduce the potential risk of skin damage which lays the ground work for skin cancer later in life, including deadly melanoma.

From August through to the end of May each year St Benedict’s students will need to wear their hat as a form of sun protection. It may also be worth considering the use of sunscreen over the remaining winter and spring months.

Sick Students
If your child is ill please keep them at home for their own benefit but also so as not to spread it to other students and staff. Please make sure that your emergency contacts are up-to-date so that we can contact you quickly if your child becomes ill or is injured at school. If your child needs medication at school, you are required to complete a “Request to Dispense Mediation” form which is available at the Front Office or on our website. A reminder that students are not to self-administer medication. Medication should not be kept in children’s bags but kept in the Front Office area and Front Office staff will administer. All information is then noted in a medication book. Teachers will not administer or supervise the taking of medication. Please ask your child to take medications to the Front Office upon arrival at school.

Student Absences
Parents, please note that even if you have made a phone call informing the school that your child is away (and for one day this is not necessary, longer absences we do appreciate a phone call), we still need a written note or email upon their return explaining the absence, otherwise your child will be marked as ABSENT WITHOUT REASON in the Class Roll. If a child arrives at school after 9.00am they need to be signed in at the front office. St Benedict’s Primary School is regularly audited by the Education Department re - Student Absences. If you know in advance that you will need to pick your child up early from school, please notify your child’s teacher ahead of time via a note or email.

Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival
Every year the local schools in Boorowa host a Touch and Netball Carnival for teams from Years 2 to 6. St Benedict’s has been attending this carnival for the last couple of years and parents and students who have attended the day are always enthusiastic to attend the day again.

An Expression of Interest form will be sent home shortly to students in Years 3 - 6 to assist us with planning for this event. Please return the Expression of Interest form as soon as possible. Please note that at this stage this event is going ahead, however may be cancelled in accordance with health advice.

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 2021. Naturally Year 6 parents need not respond to this request.

St Benedict’s Feast Day Celebrations

Our school will celebrate St Benedict’s Feast Day this Friday, 24^th July. Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, Catholic Education has advised that parents, carers and visitors will not be permitted to attend school Masses. Some children will lead the Mass with Ms Wright in the church while classes participate online from their classrooms. All students will then participate in a range of activities based on the life and mission of St Benedict. Don’t forget to place your special ‘Feast Day’ lunch order!

 St Benedict’s School Sleepout Term 3 Week 2 POSTPONED

The current directive from Catholic Education, based on current government health advice and restrictions, is that all Sleep Out events be postponed until further notice. Although this is sad news, it is in the best interests for the health and safety of all students and staff. When a new date is confirmed, a new set of permission and medical forms will be sent home. We encourage all students who signed up for the sleep out to continue to seek sponsorship for the St Vincent de Paul Street to Home Program. Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support.

Mini Vinnies Winter Woollies Day Term 3 Week 2
Our Mini Vinnies are beginning to organise our annual Winter Woollies Day (whole school event) which will be held next Friday 31^st July 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 monetary 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 about this wonderful product that provides thousands of people with a dignified sleep across Australia please visit:

https://backpackbed.org/au/

Cardboard Boxes Needed
In preparation for Winter Woollies Day activities we are seeking medium sized cardboard boxes. If you have any at home that you can donate, please bring these to the Front Office. Thank you.

We have tried to keep as many of our usual school events as possible. Please understand that in the current environment these events may be cancelled or the style in which they are held may change.         

24 Jul St Benedict’s Feast Day Celebrations
31 Jul National Schools Tree Day
31 Jul Mini Vinnies Winter Woollies Day 
4 Aug Parents & Friends Meeting, 6.30pm
7 Aug Feast of St Mary MacKillop, Mass
8 Aug Feast of St Mary MacKillop
11 Aug Walk to School Day
11 Aug School Board Meeting
14 Aug Feast of the Assumption, Mass
15 Aug Feast of the Assumption
17 Aug Science Week begins
21 Aug Mass to celebrate Grandparents
21 Aug   DTT Session (Doing Things Together - Buddy Program)
1 Sep Parents & Friends Meeting, 6.30pm
4 Sep Fathers’ Day, Mass
6 Sep Fathers’ Day
8 Sep School Board Meeting
11 Sep DTT Session
16 Sep School Family Mass, 9am
16 Sep St Benedict’s Spring Fair
17 Sep Learning Showcase
18 Sep Ways of Being Award Ceremony
20 Sep First Holy Communion, 9am Mass
21 Sep International Day of Peace
23 Sep School Photos
25 Sep  Mindfulness Day
25 Sep Last day of Term 3

The following notes have gone home this week.

• First Day Byte
  First Day Byte Term 3 2020
• Special Lunch Order
  Special Lunch Order                                
• Winter Woollies
  Winter Woollies Day 2020
  
  Please remember to check the Schoolzine App (SZapp) for all the latest school information.  You are able to register via either:

Google Play - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pidigi.schoolzine&hl=en_AU

Happy birthday to the children who celebrate their special day this week: Nathan W, Zayn S and Henry P.

Kinder:        Sandile N, Luciano C and Mackenzie AH

Year 1/2B:  Samson M and Tyler AH

Year 1/2G:   Lucy W, Eli A, Alexander H

Year 3/4B:  Alannah C

Year 3/4G:  Anna N

Year 5/6B:  Natalija M, Edith Q and Miya H

Year 5/6G:  Michael T and Edith B

Year 1/2B:  Alex N and Olivia D

Year 3/4G:  Erik E and Georgia W

Year 5/6B:  Edith Q and Ava de M

School Board
Last night the School Board elected new office bearers. The School Board consists of:

• John Daunt – Chairperson
• Mark McCormack – Deputy Chairperson
• Vacant – Treasurer
• John Norgrove – Secretary
• Edwina Betts – P&F Representatives
• Antoinette Perry and Michael Wrathall – Parent Representatives
• Breena Walshe – Staff Representative
• Alana Quirk – Assistant Principal
• Rachel Smith – Principal
• Fr Dan Benedetti – Parish Priest

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our normal school clothing pool processes are not in place. If you need uniform, please email the school office.stbenedicts@cg.catholic.edu.au or contact Mrs McRae with a list of items required.  We will endeavour to fill your order and reply to you as soon as possible.

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 cleaned and donated to St Vincent de Paul.

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

Please check your child/ren are bringing their uniform home.  If they have accidently picked up someone elses,  please return it to the front office so it can be returned to the correct child.

All items of clothing that were in the lost property box at the end of term 2 have been washed and either returned to their owner or given to the clothing pool.

The school Tuckshop is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Please order on QKR 

or by writing YOUR order on a paper bag with the correct money enclosed.

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)
Anjalie Upasena  (Parish Youth Minister)

Dear St Benedict’s community,

St Benedict’s Live Stream Masses

Facebook Page: “St Benedict’s Church and Mission Centre Canberra” Sunday Mass continues to be streamed at 10am.  If you wish to attend in person, please contact Father Dan or the Parish.

All Normal Masses have recommenced.  Saturday 6pm, Sunday 9am and 6pm (Charismatic)

We ask that you use the following links for the following masses to give us an idea of numbers please.

Please see below for links for this weekend’s Masses.

Saturday 6pm booking link
https://www.trybooking.com/BKEUY

Sunday 9am booking link
https://www.trybooking.com/BKEVA

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

All bus and light rail services, including special needs transport, are operating as normal.

Just advising that the opening hours for Savvy Tuggeranong have changed to the following. The below changes to opening times will be taking effect on 24th June 2020.

Uniform will continue to be available online via https://www.savvyschoolwear.com.au/schoolwear/school.

Savvy Tuggeranong current opening hours: 

Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am to 3pm
Sunday 10am to 2.30pm

Thanking you and stay safe,

Charlene Muraotto
ACT/NSW Account Manager
P: 0499 056 234
E: Charlenemuraotto@lowes.com
Shop 37 Homeworld, Soward Way, Tuggeranong ACT 2900