Dear Parents and Carers,

It’s National Science Week and a key aim of the annual celebration is to increase engagement and interest in Science. Science is a part of our daily life.  Everything we do and deal within life is science from cooking, playing ball, growing a garden and understanding how technologies work to watching a rainstorm. Understanding science helps kids appreciate and relate to the world around them. Science education teaches children more than just the basics of geology, biology, physics and chemistry.  Science teaches children to make observations, collect information and to use logical thinking to draw a conclusion.  These skills are important for every part of our lives.

Scientists are an important part of our current and future world.  You would have to be oblivious to the world around you not to realise the vital role scientists are playing during COVID-19. Without scientists we would not be able to predict the weather or earthquakes, understand global warming, cure illnesses and take care of the sick, or have many of the products that enhance our lifestyles today.

Science education provides children with an understanding of how things work, such as chemical reactions and nutritional needs, which will help them to stay safe and build healthy environments for future generations. Children are naturally curious. Science education fuels that curiosity and provides children with valuable ideas, skills, and potential future career choices.  Science education gives children the opportunity to experiment and work in teams.  These activities enhance communication, research, reporting, and collaboration skills. Children who have a basic understanding of science are more receptive to new technologies and ideas in the future that can stimulate research, development and businesses.

At St Benedict’s we strive to instill a sense of wonder in our children by showing them how fascinating science and our world is!

God Bless.

Rachel Smith
Principal

ACT Election – Saturday 17^th October
There are 7 weeks until the ACT Election and I am sure you are seeing candidates from all parties at shopping centres (or even receiving phone calls from them). I encourage you to approach candidates at the shopping centres and mention or discuss the value of ACT Catholic Schools and quiz them on their party’s support for ACT Catholic Schools. 

In the ACT, there are 29 systemic Catholic Schools who educate 15 000 students. In Canberra, Catholic schools are very similar to public schools, with our schools having almost exactly the same average ICSEA score (1077-1076). Our schools are inclusive, support families from all backgrounds, and operate on a modest budget.

Did you know that when you compare the total funding that Catholic schools in each state/territory receive, the ACT are the second lowest funded Catholic schools in the country? This is particularly impacted by the ACT Government’s low funding of Catholic schools.

Have a chat to the candidates and mention that you are a parent in an ACT Catholic School and funding of Catholic Schools is an important issue for you.

2020 Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival
Unfortunately due to the ongoing circumstances and with advice from regulating Educational authorities the Carnival Committee have had to cancel the 2020 Touch Football & Netball Carnival scheduled for October this year.

With the ongoing uncertainty and potential health risks associated with such a big event, it was felt that the cancellation was the safest thing to do for all participants and the community. The decision was made in line with the regulations and advice of the Catholic Education Office and the Department of Education NSW.

Lunchtime Clubs
During the colder weather our students have some great opportunities to pursue personal interests and hobbies through the lunchtime clubs this term, generously organised and supervised during lunch by staff and/or student leaders.  This term they include:

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 School Sleepout Sponsorship
Students who have already collected sponsorship money for our St Benedict’s School Sleepout are welcome to hand this into the Front Office. We will let you know when a new date is set for the sleepout.

Grandfriends and Grand Friends Day Mass

This Friday Kindergarten will be leading our school in celebrating our Grandparents and Grand Friends Mass. As our grandparents and grand friends won’t be able to attend this Mass, our students will be writing letters to their grandparents and grand friends to be posted. Students will also be creating a piece of art for our grand friends at Mountain View Aged Care Centre. 

Frist Holy Communion Sacramental Program
All First Holy Communion candidates received an important note last Tuesday. All notes were due back at the beginning of this week (17^th August). To assist with planning, we urge all candidates to return their notes to school ASAP. All First Holy Communion candidates will attend a First Holy Communion Prayer Night next Wednesday 26^th August.

Prayer for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Almighty and everlasting God,
You have taken up body and soul
into the heavenly glory the Immaculate Virgin Mary,
Mother of Your Son: Grant, we beseech You,
that, ever intent upon heavenly things,
we may be worthy to be partakers of her glory.
Through Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
One God, forever and ever.
Amen.

Global School Partners Update

Dear St Benedict's Primary School,
Thank you for your support of Mr Onduso (Gesore Preparatory Principal). In light of Kenyan schools now being closed until 2021, the GSP Board recently made the unprecedented decision to provide funds directly to the families of scholarship students to assist them to buy food. Your support is helping them immensely through this Corona Virus Pandemic, thank you!

Your continued support in these hard times is having a positive impact on not only your child, but also their family and their community.

Kind regards,

Global School Partners

Whether we like it or not, technology and the Internet are firmly fixed in our children’s lives. Use of the Internet can be a wonderful thing, opening up new worlds and supporting children’s learning and development in many ways. It can also be a fun way to relax and keep in touch with friends. We are all aware however, of the pitfalls and dangers of the online community. It is important that we are both informed about how best to protect our children and that we also talk regularly with them about their online use and behaviour.

Here are some ideas which will support your primary school child’s safety and well-being online.

• Set up parental controls on your home internet and internet enabled devices that your child has access to.
• Password-protect all accounts.
• Choose the sites your child has access to on their account.
• Make sure your child is using child-safe search engines, such as Kids.Net.Au or Google Safe Search for Kids, and activate ‘safe search’ options on other search engines such as Google and Youtube.
• Switch devices to airplane mode when your child is playing online games. This will prevent them from accidentally making in-app purchases or contacting other players online.
• Pay close attention to the age ratings on games, apps and films to make sure they are suitable for your child. If you would not allow your child to watch a 15 certificate film, you should not let them play a game with the same rating.
• Set your homepage to a child-friendly one.
• Keep all devices your child will use, in a high-traffic communal area in your home, such as the kitchen or living room. Be with your child when they are online and talk about what they are doing.
• Set rules for screen time and stick to them.
• Investigate safe social media sites for children.
• Sometimes children find themselves bullying or being bullied online (also known as ‘cyberbullying’). Talk to your child about being a good friend online, and how our words and actions still hurt even if we can’t see a person’s reaction to them.
• Talk regularly about the importance of online safety, and about what your child is getting up to online. You’ll be grateful you did this, especially as your child gets older. Keeping those lines of communication open is a powerful way of letting your child know that you trust them but expect them to be honest.

Research shows that the age at which children are accessing smart devices and the Internet is getting younger and younger. It’s never too soon to start good eSafety habits with your child.

Here are some helpful links with more guidance for parents –

• Think U Know - https://www.thinkuknow.org.au/
• eSafety Commissioner - https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
• Screen Time Tips – see following

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.         

21 Aug Mass to celebrate Grandparents & Grand Friends
21 Aug DTT Session (Doing Things Together - Buddy Program)
26 Aug Music Viva Incursion
26 Aug First Holy Communion Prayer Night, 5.30pm
1 Sep   Parents & Friends Meeting, 6.30pm
2 Sep   Indigenous Literacy Day
4 Sep   Fathers’ Day, Mass
6 Sep   Fathers’ Day
8 Sep   School Board Meeting
9 Sep   First Holy Communion, 6pm
11 Sep DTT Session
16 Sep First Holy Communion, 6pm
18 Sep Ways of Being Award Ceremony
21 Sep International Day of Peace
23 Sep School Photos (Full Winter Uniform)
25 Sep  Mindfulness Day
25 Sep Last day of Term 3

There were no notes sent home this week.

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

School Fees
Thank you to all the families that have already paid their school fees.  School  Fees reminders will be sent home this week. If you have any concerns regarding paying your fees, particularly due to COVID-19,  please contact either Ms Rachel Smith or Mrs Belinda McRae at the Front Office.

School Photo day is Wednesday 23rd September 2020. (Week 10)

Full winter uniform will need to be worn.  Envelopes will be sent out today.  Please return prior to the day as no late payments can be made.  No envelope - no photo.

Sibling pre-payment envelopes are available from the front office.  Each child needs to return their own envelope, even if payment is enclosed in a sibling's envelope.

Tuggeranong Savvy is the only supplier now for St Benedict's school uniform.

Queanbeyan Savvy has no uniform stock for St Benedict's.

You can also order online via:  

https://www.savvyschoolwear.com.au/schoolwear/school

Lorenzo became a big brother again to a little sister (number 2) on Thursday 6th August.  Her name is Alessia Lisette and both Lorenzo and big sister Sienna are in love!

 

Commonwealth Student Banking is Wednesday.  Please ensure your bank book and money are sent to the Front Office via the class notebag.

Jolly Bots Science Show

Yesterday as part of our celebrations for Science Week, all classes attended the visiting Jolly Bots Science Show.

K-2 were entertained by Rusty the Robot and the Jolly Professor while they participated in the ‘Balloon Science’ show. Students experienced a range of fun experiments based around the humble balloon. Be sure to ask your children about the exploding hydrogen balloons, the spooky fog, dry ice experiments, liquid nitrogen activities and other things that popped and fizzed. Presented in a fun manner, students learnt about gases and gas pressure, air and air pressure, forces, friction, heat energy, chemical reactions, magnetism, states of matter and a lot of scientific literacy.

Some thoughts from our students:

Sebastian McC Benjamin F - Today we had a Science show come to our school called Jolly Bots. We learnt about gas and that it is possible to see air. We also learnt about dry ice. Dry ice can make fog and gas. Some of our favourite parts were when Rusty was being silly and he tried to freeze his bottom with dry ice and water. We also really liked when the balloon popped and there was a ball of fire.  

Lucy W: My favourite part was when we saw colour change with gas and water. It also started to bubble.  

 

The focus of the Years 3-6 show was ‘Natural Phenomena and Energy’. Dynamic demonstrations and interactive experiments helped students to learn about the composition of the atmosphere along with air pressure and its effects creating weather. Students also explored and exploded a variety of fuels (hydrogen & methane), used vacuum pumps to make big balloon heads and shaving cream soufflés, learnt about Boyle’s Law, watched a potato gun in action and air pressure crush cans and defied gravity with magnetism. Also popular were the dry ice experiments which demonstrated the freezing, shattering and exploding of a variety of items as they were placed under stress and strain from liquid nitrogen.

Some of our students shared their responses to the Science fun:

Maria C – I liked the science show a lot. I liked how you could see the air in the balloon from the liquid nitrogen and it was really funny. The best bit I liked about it was Rusty the Robot. He would wear nappies over his pants and he liked Mrs O a lot. He also played the guitar for Mrs O. Rusty was really funny and he was not listening to the Professor. I also liked the safety equipment.

 Olivia S – I really liked the Jolly Bots show because it was an overall fun learning experience, especially the unexpected experiments. I would like to see the show again.

 Year 5/6 – The Jolly Bots science show was VERY interesting. We looked at states of matter, natural phenomena and used liquid nitrogen and hydrogen. One of the particular experiments that we did was when Rusty (the robot assistant) tried to freshen a 3-week-old rose (to give to Mrs.O because he had a thing for her!)  Rusty put the rose in liquid nitrogen and froze it. It instantaneously crumpled in his hands, because the rose petals were mostly made of water. The show was really engaging and they asked for a lot of audience involvement and volunteers. Overall, we are really thankful to Mrs Quirk for organising the science show for us and we really enjoyed it.

 

Happy birthday to the following child who celebrates their special day this week: Clancy B.

Kinder:        Julian W and Catelin S

Year 1/2B:  Selina H, Nicolas B and Gordon S

Year 1/2G:  Penelope V, Noah W and Sebastian M

Year 3/4B:  Clancy B

Year 3/4G:  Georgia W

Year 5/6B:  Adam AM and Joshua L

Year 1/2B:  Nathan W

Year 1/2G:  Nathaniel G

Year 3/4B:  Liam N

Year 3/4G:  Benjamin S

Year 5/6B:  Matilda R

Parent Representatives 2020
This is a reminder of who our 2020 parent representatives are this year. Unfortunately we have not been able to operate as we have in previous years.  The parent representatives for each class help foster good communication in the school and to assist in the development of school community. It provides another means of uniting the school community and enhances the quality of relationships within the school between teachers, parents and the children.

Please note that parents/careers need to agree to have their personal information provided to the parent representative every year. If you have not received any information from the parent representative it may mean that you have not agreed to have your information released.

If you are unsure if you agreed to have your information released to the parent representatives, Please e-mail the P & F and I can arrange for your parent representative to contact you.

stbenedictspfa@gmail.com

The parent representatives for this year are:

Kindergarten (Fran Tomadini)
Caitlin Jacob
Michelle Bedson
Claire Stewart

1/2 Gold (Breena Walsh)
Heather Wrathall

1/2 Blue (Natalie Wright/ Anne White)
Mark McCormack

3/4 Gold (Samantha Slocomb)
Sally Jensen

3/4 Blue (Narelle O’Callaghan)
Nikki Baccon
Kellee Rollston -Francis

5/6 Gold (Emma Donaghue)
Sam Gill

5/6 Blue (Alana Quirk/ Amanda Basedow)
Katrina Power

Thank you
Hannah Norgrove
Parent Representative Co-ordinator

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

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.

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

Spring Tennis Canberra coaching registrations are open!
Tennis Canberra's professional coaches are running junior tennis coaching programs at both South & North Canberra clubs this Spring.  We welcome first time players and those who are ready to play competition tennis.

The 2020 Spring Season starts the week of August 24th however you are welcome to join at any time.

For more information and to book please visit www.tenniscanberra.com.au/junior-tennis or email play@tenniscanberra.com.au 

We are excited to offer the new Entertainment Apps.

Amazing 50% off and 2 for 1 deals across QLD & Canberra and Australia.

20% from each membership goes towards our fundraiser.

PLUS receive a bonus $10 or $20 Priceline eGift Card until 13^th of August.

Help support us and our local community!

https://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/orderbooks/23231n

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

The opening hours for Savvy Tuggeranong are as follows:

Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am to 3pm
Sunday Closed

Uniform is available at Savvy Tuggeranong, and also online via https://www.savvyschoolwear.com.au/schoolwear/school.

There is no St Benedict's uniform at Lowes Queanbeyan.

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