Dear Parents and Carers,

At St Benedict’s we pride ourselves on the way we communicate with the parents and the wider community. We communicate with the community in a variety of ways, including newsletter, SZapp, notes home and Facebook. Today we live in a society where we are constantly inundated with information and news and we have come to expect that in our day to day life. At times there may be issues that arise that we as a school, due to privacy reasons, are not able to discuss or communicate to the wider community. As parents and carers, we understand that you want the best for your children, and I assure you the school wants the best for every child as well. The care and protection of all students is our priority. We communicate information to parents and carers that directly affects their child. It is not our practice, nor appropriate for the school to share information about other children or even ways that issues have been followed up and dealt with. We assure you that when dealing with issues and incidents the school thoroughly investigates and follows them up ensuring the children involved are the focus and their parents informed. Should the need arise we consult and work with Catholic Education and outside agencies. We ask you as parents and carers to trust in these procedures and processes. If at any time you have a concern please contact the school, your child’s classroom teacher or myself rather than discussing issues with other parents. Please refrain from listening to and being involved in carpark gossip.  Understandably if your child was involved, I am sure you would not like to have them discussed amongst parents in the wider community. We must always remember that every child is on a learning journey and has different needs that we need to support. As we teach the children, we need to remember that we are the face of Jesus for all we encounter.

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

God bless.

Rachel Smith
Principal

COVID-19
It seems that we are all getting used to a “COVID Normal” way of operating. We have been fortunate in the ACT, with only one new case recently. However, all schools, at the advice of Health and Education authorities, are continuing to take a risk-adverse approach to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

Though adults who are not staff are generally not on the school grounds, all school-based activities have recommenced as normal, as long as the following measures, as advised by Catholic Education, are observed:

• All visitors and external providers must adhere to relevant hygiene, distancing and safety protocols.
• Principals may continue to restrict, limit or prohibit activities, following current health advice.
• Non-essential adults are still not permitted on school grounds or at school events.

In the ACT, school assemblies, gatherings and performances are able to resume subject to meeting the COVID guidelines (limited group size, 1 person / 4m², 1.5m social distancing, recording of attendance etc.) and social distancing requirements. We are presently conducting risk-assessments and writing COVID safe plans for all end of year events. Our priority will be safety, but we hope to include as many family members as possible. We will keep you informed.

Absences From School
It is a legal requirement that all absences are explained. Please notify the school of your child’s absence by either: Using the  App (SZapp); Calling the Front Office; Emailing the Front Office at office.stbenedicts@cg.catholic.edu.au indicating your child’s name, class, reason for absence and date; or, sending a note to the classroom teacher indicating date and reason for absence.

Carpark
Please remember to be patient and considerate of others when driving in the car parks. School carparks are notoriously dangerous, and ALL PARENTS are asked to be patient and alert. If you are in a hurry, collect your children early, or wait until after 3.20pm when the carpark is less congested.

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 2021. 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.

2021 School and Term Dates
Please be aware the term dates will be as follows for next year;

• Term One 1 February       -            1 April
• Term Two 19 April            -           25 June
• Term Three 12 July           -          17 September
• Term Four 5 October        -           17 December

Community Meals Program: HELP NEEDED!

The Community Meals Program freezer is one way we can assist families who are experiencing hardship. We are seeking donations of frozen meals (homemade or store bought), frozen food and non-perishable food donations. If making homemade meals, please ensure that they are in a disposable container clearly labelled with the date made and ingredients. All 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.

 Thank so much to those who have made donations to this service. Your support is greatly appreciated!

 Benefits of Prayer for Children

1. Reduces stress
   
2. Develops self-control
3. Builds a grateful heart
4. Develops trust
5. Develops forgiveness
6. Strengthens faith
7. Encourages them to ‘see’ and engage with the world around them
8. Helps to build foundations for their moral compass

Prayer of Thanks Before Meals

“Thank you God for the world so sweet,
Thank you God for the food we eat,
Thank you God for the birds that sing,
Thank you God for everything!”

Bedtime Prayer

“Now I lay me down to sleep;
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
May God guard me through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.”

CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR CHILD
Having regular conversations with your child about their online life is so important. If you show an interest, then they are more likely to come to you if they have a problem. Here are a list of questions to start with:

• What games/apps are you playing?
• Can I play this game/app with you?
• Do you have any online friends?
• What would you do if you saw something upsetting online?
• Do you understand what private information is?

INSTAGRAM – Let’s keep it private!
Whilst you should be over 13 years of age to have an Instagram account, if you choose to allow your child to have an account, make sure their account is set to private. This means that only followers that your child knows and accepts will see what they post.

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.         

19 -23 Oct Book Week
27 Oct Parents & Friends Meeting, 6.30pm
30 Oct Day for Daniel
1 Nov Feast of All Saints
2 Nov Feast of All Souls
3 Nov Melbourne Cup
4 Nov Year 5 & 6 Zoo Excursion
4 Nov Kinder Orientation 1, 9.00—11.00am 
6 Nov 1/2 Blue Mass
10 Nov School Board Meeting, 6.00pm
11 Nov Remembrance Day
11 Nov Remembrance Day Liturgy, 10.30am 3/4 Blue
13 Nov DTT Session
16 –20 Nov Year 5 &6 Activities Week
17 Nov Year 5 & 6 Mini Golf Excursion
18 Nov Kinder Orientation 2, 9.00—11.00am 
20 Nov Year 5 & 6 Galleries Excursion
24 Nov Parents & Friends Meeting, 6.30pm
3 Dec Learning Showcase, 2pm
4 Dec Mini Vinnies Giving Mass
4 Dec DTT Session
8 Dec School Board Meeting, 6.00pm
9 Dec Kinder & Years 3 & 4 Advent Liturgy
11 Dec Ways of Being Assembly
11 Dec Semester 2 Reports sent home
14 Dec Optional Parent Teacher Interviews
15 Dec Optional Parent Teacher Interviews
16 Dec End of Year /Graduation Mass, 10.00am
16 Dec Year 6 Graduation Dinner, 6pm
17 Dec Whole School Fun Day
17 Dec Year 6 Big Splash Day
18 Dec Christmas Concert, 12.30pm (Tentative)
18 Dec Last Day of Term 4

The following note was sent home this week.

Crazy Camel Fundraising

Crazy Camel Fundraiser

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

Book Week Celebrations
Thank you to all the students who dressed up today as their favourite character and to the staff who joined in on the fun too.

   

 Miya H - The Australian Ballet School

Miya auditioned and was successful in gaining entry to The Australian Ballet School’s Interstate Training Program for 2021.

As a 2021 ITP student, Miya’s enrolment will allow her to access Specialised Coaching Classes, an Intensive Training Session and Personal Visit opportunities throughout the year at The Australian Ballet School in Melbourne.

Congratulations Miya and good luck from all the St Benedict's community.

Student Banking

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

Outside Education Day
Toward the end of year we may be having an outside education day.

Mrs Tomadini is collecting any unused CD's and reels of fishing line.

Please send all unused CD's to school and place them in the box that is outside the Kinder classroom.

Thank you.

Happy birthday to the following children who celebrate their special day this week:  Elvira H, Sarah R,  Sophia M, Roseleen K, Uma J and Oliver J

Kinder:        Henri RK and Duke I

Year 1/2B:  Samson M and Lydia P

Year 1/2G:  Antonio T, Alessandra B and Sebastian M

Year 3/4B:  Finn D

Year 5/6B:  Matthew S, Miya H and Violetta B

Year 1/2B:  Selina H

Year 1/2G:  Noah W

Year 3/4B:  Mia T

Year 5/6B:  Mila M

Crazy Camel Fundraiser

Celebrate your child's creativity by ordering keepsakes you'll treasure forever!

An order form was sent home with your child earlier this week. 

Orders close on Friday 23rd October 2020.

Summer uniform is to be worn now.

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.

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

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

If you require any summer uniform please email the front  office. office.stbenedicts@cg.catholic.edu.au

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,

See below our links for booking our Saturday 6pm Mass and Sunday 9am Mass. Please remember that 9am Mass is being streamed live and the 10am live streamed Mass has finished.

These bookings close at 11.30am this Friday. Please feel free to come if you fail to book as these numbers just give us an indication.

Saturday 24 October: https://www.trybooking.com/BMEBH

Sunday 25 October:  https://www.trybooking.com/BMEBK

Those who wish to attend the Friday Healing Mass and the Sunday 6.00pm Charismatic Mass still need to contact Carmel Henry on 0409777743 or email  carmelhenry2@gmail.com

Please book for the Weekend Masses by 11:30am this Friday:

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

School Travel for 2021

2021 school travel applications are now open
Applications for student travel in 2021 opened from Monday 12 October 2020.

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass for 2021 can now apply online. A new application should be submitted if a student is applying for a school travel pass for the first time or requesting an additional pass as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g. joint custody).

Students who have changed school/campus, changed address, repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should re-apply or update their details.

*Applications must be completed by the student's parent or legal guardian if the student is aged under 16 years. Students 16 years and over must complete the application form themselves.

Where there is a change of distance eligibility based on a student’s grade, the system will automatically update a student’s entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, they will receive an expiry notification via email.

Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition which is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.

Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.

If a student needs to update their information or re-apply, they should go online to
https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/updateDetails 

Applications need to be submitted before 31 December 2020 to ensure that current student entitlements are updated and their current entitlement/card remains valid. If their application is submitted after 31 December 2020, the system will automatically cancel an entitlement/card and a new one will need to be issued.

Students in the Opal network applying for a SSTS or Term Bus Pass entitlement for the first time will receive their card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2021.

Students residing in Rural and Regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the commencement of the new school year from their nominated operator, this may be distributed via the school or sent direct to their address. Note: some R&R operators do not issue travel passes. Students/Parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

New Concession Entitlement Cards
Transport for NSW will be replacing the below cards with Transport Concession Entitlement Cards (TCEC) from October 2020:  Senior Secondary Student Concession Card (16 years and over) – also used by Mature Secondary Students (18 years and over), Distance Education Students and Home School Students  Proof of Age card (when a student under 16 years of age looks older)  Boarder Rail Pass. All previous cards will be valid until they expire. Students who require a Transport Concession Entitlement Card should speak with their school administration staff.

Enquiries regarding school student travel can be submitted to Transport for NSW at:
https://transportnsw.info/contact-us/feedback/passes-concessions-feedback