Dear Parents and Carers,

As a parent, you are the major provider of your child's education from birth through adolescence. You guide the development of their character and mental health and help form the foundation from which they will develop lifelong attitudes and interests. Your home is the primary environment in which your child's potential and personality will take shape, it's important to make sure that you create a positive, open atmosphere that will not only support what goes on in the classroom, but will also instill the desire to learn.

It is through your love and encouragement that your kids will become motivated — first to please you, and then to please themselves. This leads to self-confidence, curiosity, the enjoyment of mastering new tasks, and other healthy attitudes, all of which contribute to successful learning.

As you know you will not be the only one teaching your child science or geography and while it's true that all of the facts, skills, and concepts your children learn at school are influenced by what you do at home, your child's education is equally impacted by the relationships you form with their teachers. Building an effective relationship with the teacher is a critical task, and, like you, every teacher wants to achieve this goal. As with any relationship, mutual respect, the ability to listen, and lots of communication form the foundation.

When parents and teachers work well together, everyone benefits. Parents and teachers can provide each other with unique insight and different perspectives about the same child, culminating in a more complete understanding of that child, their abilities, strengths, and challenges. The teacher will know much more about the curriculum and the school culture, while you know more about your child's personality, tendencies, and family life. A successful parent-teacher partnership also shows a child that an entire team of adults is on their side. For parents and teachers alike, the goal is to play active roles in your child's life and to work towards forming a real bond. The child's best interest is always served when they have lots of people supporting them and all the pieces of their life fit together. A strong home-school connection will set the stage for a child who will grow up with a love for learning.

We look forward to meeting you next Monday, 15^th February at the Open House and BBQ. It is a wonderful opportunity for the students to show off their classrooms and learning environments to their parents. Teachers have information for you to take home and students have completed displays and some initial work to share with you.

The Open House will be from 5.00pm until 6.00pm and parents can drop into the classrooms with their children between these times. It is a less formal approach to touching base with parents at the beginning of the year. We find that many parents want either to come and get the information they need or meet the teacher or both. Our format of an Open House and drop-in approach means you can collect written information to refer to during the year as well as have a brief one-to-one chat with the teacher to begin that important collaborative relationship on a positive note.

Teachers enjoy meeting as many people as possible so they won’t be able to have any in depth conversations. Please feel free to email the teachers to book a time for the following week for those important conversations.

God bless.

Rachel Smith
Principal

Mobile Phones and SMART Watches
I would like to remind parents that SMART watches are treated the same as phones at school. Mobile phones, SMART watches, fitbits and similar devices with cellular, photographic and film capabilities are not permitted at school. The mobile nature of these devices poses a risk to student wellbeing and safety. When these technologies are misused by students, they can be very disruptive to students’ welfare, socialisation and in some cases cause various levels of harm.  We want to ensure that students are not being distracted from their learning. As a school, we also want to be able to guide and support students in being able to solve problems with the support of peers and school staff whilst on the premises. If your child does need to bring a mobile phone or a SMART watch to school, they must be turned off and handed in at the Front Office where they will be securely stored for the day.

Reading with Your Child
On Wednesday 24^th February, 5.30pm – 6.30pm 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.

P&F AGM and Meeting
The AGM of the P&F will take place next Tuesday 16^th February at 6.30pm. Following the AGM there will be a regular P&F meeting. Going home today is a P&F nomination form. Please consider being involved in the school through the role of P&F member. It is a wonderful way to be part of the school community. Please take the opportunity at the Open Evening to chat with current members of the P&F to find out what the role encompasses.

Beginning of the Year Reminders…..

• Starting time is 8.55am sharp. Students arriving late will need to be signed in at the Front Office by their parent or carer.
• Supervision commences at 8.30am and no student should be at school before 8.30am. Students arriving before 8.30am are unsupervised. Please use before school care if necessary.
• A student’s hair should be cut off their face and, if longer than shoulder length, it must be tied back in an appropriate school coloured band. Hair should also be of natural colour and extreme haircuts are not permitted.
• No jewellery should be worn to school and only plain studs, small sleepers and watches are acceptable. No bracelets, bangles, sparkly ear rings, nail polish, make up, etc. are allowed.
• Correct School Uniform must be worn at all times. Students who continually wear incorrect uniform will receive a reminder note to be sent home to their parents.
• St Benedict’s has a NO HAT NO PLAY  Students without a correct school hat will be asked to sit in the shade.
• Black ‘jogger’ or canvas type school shoes are not part of the school uniform. The only school shoes allowed at St Benedict’s are the traditional or formal black leather school shoes.
• Students with Mobile Phones and SMART watches are asked to switch them off and leave them at the Front Office. If they are heard or sighted during school time they will be confiscated. The School takes no responsibility for lost or broken mobile phones and SMART watches.
• Students who are collected by their parents during the day for appointments must be signed out/in at the Front Office before and after the appointment.
• Parents visiting the school to assist are required to have a Working with Vulnerable People Card and are also asked to sign in at Front Office; this includes those who are volunteering in the Tuckshop.
• Please ensure the School always has up to date contact and emergency details for your children.
• Medical details must be updated and sent to the Front Office.
• St Benedict’s is a NUT FREE Please remember this when preparing recess and lunch, including peanut butter, Nutella, cakes with nuts, etc.
• Dogs and animals are not allowed on school premises.
• Afternoon messages regarding changes to the afternoon routine must be received by the Front Office by 2.30pm or we cannot guarantee your child/ren will receive the message.
• 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.
• 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
  • 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.
  • Sending a note to the classroom teacher indicating date and reason for absence.

Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is one of the most important holy days in the liturgical calendar, marking the beginning of the Season of Lent, a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday and comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head, which symbolise the dust from which God made us. Ashes also symbolise grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned and caused division from God.

How can we explain this to our children?

• Explain to them the seasonal significance of Lent. Lent is a time when we practice new ways of giving up sin and doing good so we can be closer to God.
• Prepare them for receiving the Ashes at Mass. Children are very literal and without explanation may think that we are simply wiping dirt on their heads!
• Continue the conversation. Talk about the traditional practices of Lent, drawn from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, are almsgiving (Matthew 6:2–4), prayer (Matthew 6:5–15), and fasting (Matthew 6:16–18).

Next week each family will receive a handout with Lenten activities for children. We encourage all families to engage in these throughout the Lenten season in preparation for Christ’s Resurrection.

Ash Wednesday Mass

Thank you to all our families that attended our Opening School Mass. It was lovely to be gathered as a school community once again.

Next Wednesday, 17^th February 12.30pm, Year 1/2 Blue will be leading the parish in Ash Wednesday Mass. All families are warmly invited to join us in this liturgical celebration. Please ensure that you sign in on arrival and adhere to appropriate hygiene and social distancing protocols.

Mini Vinnies
Our St Benedict’s Mini Vinnies K-6 Program will commence this term. Mini Vinnies is a social justice program of the St Vincent de Paul Society which exists in many primary schools. Mini Vinnies empowers primary school students to become advocates within their school and local community by putting their values into action. They meet regularly to learn about social justice issues, develop leadership skills and engage with the wider St Vincent de Paul Society. The Mini Vinnies model of “See, Think, Do” is a great way to get young people thinking and talking about their spirituality and to connect their faith with issues affecting their community through volunteering, advocacy and fundraising. Not only do the students in Mini Vinnies benefit from the experience but also the school and wider community.

A permission note for our St Benedict’s K-6 Mini Vinnies program was sent home last week. Thank you to those students who have already signed up to the program.

If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact:
Natalie Wright
Religious Education Coordinator
natalie.zarb@cg.catholic.edu.au

Important Mini Vinnies Dates:
Friday 19^th February 2.30pm
Our Mini Vinnies will be formally commissioned next week at our school assembly. All families are welcome to join us in supporting these students as they make their Mini Vinnies promise.

Thursday 11^th March 2.10-3.00pm.
Students will participate in a Social Justice Workshop at school run by our St Vincent de Paul Youth School Liaison Officer. This workshop will be an introduction to current social justice issues that face our local community through the lens of the Catholic Social Teaching.

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
• Hand sanitizer
• Masks

A few important dates to note for this term are:

15 Feb    Yr 5 and new Yr 6 Students BYOD Mtg, 4.15pm

              Open House BBQ for families & teachers, 5pm

16 Feb     Shrove Tuesday

               Yr 5 and new Yr 6 Students BYOD Mtg, 8.15am

               Parents & Friends Meeting and AGM, 6.30pm

17 Feb     Yr 1/2 Blue Ash Wednesday Mass, 12.30pm

18 Feb     Swimming Carnival, K-6

19 Feb     Whole School Assembly, 2.30pm

23 Feb     School Photos - (Full school uniform to be warn)

26 Feb     Interim Reports sent home

1 Mar      Three Way Conferences

2 Mar      Three Way Conferences

5 Mar      Yr 5/6 Blue School Mass, 10am

              Whole School Assembly, 2.30pm

8 Mar      Canberra Day Public Holiday

9 Mar      School Board Meeting, 6pm

11 Mar    Yr 5/6 Excursion

16 Mar    Parents & Friends Meeting ,6.30pm

19 Mar    Whole School Assembly, 2.30pm

25 Mar    Learning Showcase

26 Mar    Yr 5/6 Blue Palm Sunday Liturgy, 10.30am

              Ways of Being Award Ceremony, 2.15pm

28 Mar    Palm Sunday

1 Apr      Holy Thursday

               1/2 Gold, 3/4 Blue and 5/6 Gold

               Holy Week Liturgy, 10.00am

               Outdoor Education day

               Term 1 concludes

The following notes are going home this week.

Student acceptable use of computer facilities and external networks policy.
Student_Acceptable_Use_of_Computer_Facilities_and_Networks_Policy.pdf

Student acceptable use of Digital Devices, Application and Network Agreement.
Student_Acceptable_Use_Agreement.pdf

School Fees Letter
School_Fees_Letter_2021.pdf

BYOD Parent Information Session
BYOD_Parent_Meeting_Note.pdf

Year 3/4 Book Covering (this will be going home on Friday with the books)
Book_covering_note_Year_3_4_2021.pdf

Parents & Friends Association Annual General Meeting
P_F_AGM_announcement.pdf

Parents & Friends Association Nomination 2021
P_FNomination2021.pdf

Australian Girls Choir
Performing_Arts_Open_Day_20_Feb.JPG

Team Kids Invite
Team_Kids_Special_Event_22_Feb_pg1.JPG

Team_Kids_Special_Event_22_Feb_pg_2.JPG

Happy Birthday to the following children who celebrate their special day this week: Nobel S, Cooper W, Alexander H and Bryce T. 

Kinder:        All Kindergarten students

Year 1/2B:  Beau F and Mya R

Year 1/2G:  Zoe N and Mia-Rose S

Year 3/4B:  Tyler A-H and Mia F

Year 3/4G:  Maria C

Year 5/6B:  Raphael D and Annabell W

Year 5/6 G: Sophia M and Millie R

Year 1/2B:  Julian W

Year 1/2G:  Noah W and Nyx H

Year 3/4B:   Finn M

Year 3/4G:   Nathan W

Year 5/6B:  Marissa M

Our school tuckshop will be closed for the first couple of weeks. We will let you

know as soon as it is open and students are able to order from the tuckshop.

A reminder that when the tuckshop opens counter sales only occur at Recess time and lunch orders must be ordered in the morning. Don’t forget to use the Qkr! App to place your child’s order. Volunteers are always welcome. No amount of time is too small.

Office Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9am to 12noon
Phone: 62957879
Email: narrabundah@cg.org.au
Web:  website: http://cg.org.au/narrabundah/Home.aspx

Parish Team:
Fr Dan Benedetti MGL
Fr Rembert Fernando MGL
Fr Baiju Thomas MGL
Monica Nulley-Valdes (Parish Secretary)
Anjalie Upasena  (Parish Youth Minister)

Mass Times:
Saturday Vigil - 6pm
Sunday - 9am
            - 6pm Charismatic Mass
Youth Mass every 4th Sunday (6pm)

Baptisms: 11.00am, 2nd and 4th Sundays of the Month.