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Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope that all our mums and those special ladies that are like mums, had a special Mothers’ Day last Sunday. I hope the day was a relaxing one for family and full of precious moments together.
Reporting - Semester 1 2021
Our teachers have begun the process of creating each child’s Semester 1 2021 report.
A team at Catholic Education, Canberra Goulburn have been working over the past year to develop our reporting system and there are major and welcome changes being introduced this year.
In Semester 1:
For Kindergarten students:
Achievement in each subject will be reported using a four-point scale (Well Above Expectations, Above Expectations, Meeting Expectations and Working Towards Expectations).
For Year 1 to Year 6 students:
Academic grades for each subject using a five-point scale from A-E will be reported using the Australian Curriculum Achievement Standards.
For all students:
Strand Achievement will be reported in English, Mathematics, Humanities and Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education, and The Arts using a five-point scale (Excellent, High, Sound, Basic, Elementary).
Engagement with Learning statements, which are taken directly from the Australian Curriculum, will provide specific information about your child’s Critical and Creative Thinking, and Personal and Social Responsibility, using a three-point scale (Beginning, Developing, Consistently).
Individual student comments will not be used in the Semester 1 Reports.
Dialogue is an important feature of reporting. At the half way point of Term 1 we had our Interim Reports sent home followed by Three Way Conferences. We also held our Learning Showcase at the end of Term 1. The Semester Report in this format encourages the continuation of parent engagement and conversation about student learning. Parents are always welcome to make a time to meet with teachers where we can engage in genuine conversation about your child’s strengths, challenges, effort and areas for growth. We will also invite parents to do this in Week 10 after reports have gone home should you want to discuss any aspect of your child’s report.
The new approach to Academic Reporting is a developing process. Further work will be undertaken in the coming months to determine how progress and achievement is best reported, based on what we know to be important information about a student’s learning and progress.
God bless.
Rachel Smith
Principal
Warm Clothing
As we hit the Winter months, Canberra does become very cold. We are seeing quite a number of children coming to school without warm clothing. Please ensure that your child has a jumper on before they leave home. We do many activities outside and it can be quite unpleasant for children who are not appropriately dressed. Children may also wear navy blue coats and navy blue or maroon beanies, scarves and gloves during the colder months.
Enrolments Close on 21st May
We have a great school, with wonderful kids, dedicated staff and supportive families. Please spread the word amongst family and friends, reminding those with pre-schoolers that enrolments close on Friday 21st May.
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. Panadol will not be administered to your children, unless provided by the parents. The school does not hold children’s Panadol.
Day Away
Teachers, due to the nature of their job working with so many children, are often exposed to a range of colds and bugs. This can result in teachers being away sick. Every attempt is made to organise a relief teacher to cover the class for the day.
However, at times, it is difficult to get suitable relief teachers, even after 10-20 phone calls! At St Benedict’s, we have a Day Away system established if a relief teacher is unobtainable. Students are split across classes within their grade level in the first instance. Thank you in anticipation of your support with this matter.
Long Hair
If a child’s hair is long enough to touch the shoulders, it needs to be tied back. This is to prevent the spread of head lice and to keep hair out of eyes as well as to ensure a neat and tidy appearance. A reminder that head lice season is upon us. Please keep a look out in your child’s hair.
Lost Property
We have been receiving a lot of queries about lost property at school. Clearly labelled items including jumpers, jackets and hats are missing and cannot be located. If your child comes home with an item of uniform that does not belong to them, please return it to school so it can be returned to the right student. Please ensure your child's clothing is clearly labelled so that it can be returned easily if found. Items with no name will be donated to the clothing pool.
Mothers’ Day Stall
Special thanks to Hannah Norgrove and Barbra Cox and the many volunteers (parents and grandparents) who assisted with our Mother’s Day Stall last Friday. It was another very successful event with over 180 presents provided.
As always, if you would like to share some feedback about an event, please contact us at school via email, telephone or a face-to-face meeting.
Sacraments
This evening our First Holy Communion candidates will gather to pray with their family and peers, and to explore their developing relationship with Jesus on their sacramental journey. Please continue to pray for these students as they prepare to receive First Holy Communion.
Mother’s Day Mass- Thank you!
Thank you to our Kindergarten and 3/4 Blue classes for leading our Mother’s Day Mass last Friday. It was a joyful celebration of the significant women in our lives who nurture us in so many ways. A special thank you to our spirited choir for their singing, and to the families who provided a delicious morning tea.
Mini Vinnies Bringing Cheer to the Mother’s at Mountain View Aged Care Centre
Last week Mini Vinnies made over 100 tissue paper flowers with a heartfelt quote to brighten the day of all the mothers at Mountain View Aged Care Centre. These were distributed to the residents at their special Mother’s Day lunch. Thank you Mini Vinnies, for taking care of those in our community.
Religious Education in the Classroom: Year 3/4 Gold
Hunter:
In 3/4 we have been talking about Holy Communion and what it means. We have discussed that Holy Communion is about thanksgiving and we completed an artwork about what Holy Communion means to us. My picture is about being thankful for nature.
Vivienne:
We have been learning about Holy Communion and the importance of giving thanks to God. My Artwork is a dove in the middle of a flower and rosemary around it.
Frederick:
Holy Communion focuses on giving thanks after we receive the bread and wine. My artwork represents thanking God for the animals we have around us.
Important dates to note for this term are:
3-28 May Enrolment Period to Friday 28th May
12-21 May Naplan Yrs 3 and 5 students
12 May First Communion Prayer Night, 6.00pm—7.30pm
14 May Walk Safely to School Day
19 May National Simultaneous Storytime
21 May Whole School Assembly 2.30pm
23 May Pentecost Sunday
24 May Feast of Mary Help of Christians
26 May National Sorry Day
28 May Yr5/6 Excursion To Jerrabomberra Wetlands
31 May Reconciliation Day (Public Holiday)
1 Jun Reconciliation Day Liturgy, 10.30am
Parents & Friends Meeting, 6.30pm
4 Jun First Friday Mass, 10.00am
Whole School Assembly, 2.30pm
8 Jun School Board Meeting, 6.00pm
11 Jun World of Maths Visit
14 Jun Queen's Birthday (Public Holiday)
17 Jun Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge
Ambassador visit
Yr5/6 Silence is Deadly visit
Learning Showcase, 2.00pm
18 Jun Semester reports sent home
Whole School Assembly, 2.30pm
20 Jun First Communion Mass, 9.00am
21 Jun Parent—Teacher Interviews (Optional)
22 Jun Parent—Teacher Interviews (Optional)
23 Jun Mini Vinnies Winter Woolies Day
24 Jun Athletics Carnival (Whole School) - NEW DATE
25 Jun St Benedict’s Feast Day Mass, 10.00am
Ways of Being Award Assembly, 2.15pm
Term 2 concludes
This Friday 14th May 2021, is National Walk Safely to School Day. Any students/parents or carers who would like to walk to school from the Narrabundah shops with some staff are most welcome to. We will be meeting at the Narrabundah shops at 8.15am and leave to walk to school at 8.20am.
We would love to see our St Benedict's students join us!
A lens on Learning
This week we have continued our Rugby Union coaching sessions. Every class has been enjoying some expert assistance to develop their use of field space and passing skills. Our warm up activities have engaged everyone, helped sharpen our reflexes and emphasized the importance of communication amongst the team. We then have moved into skills activities and modified games that use some of these skills. We are looking forward to our next visit by the Brumbies coaches.
Yesterday our Year 3 and Year 5 students commenced their NAPLAN testing. We have been so proud of the relaxed and positive manner in which the students have approached these tests. On Tuesday they completed the writing test and today was Reading. Tomorrow we will complete the Conventions of Language Test and then finish with Maths on Friday. All students have put in maximum effort and it has been great to see them feel confident in their ability to access the tasks. Well done Year 3 and 5!
Happy Birthday to the following child who celebrates their special day this week: Noah W and Nyx H.
Kindergarten: Jackson K, Hugo S and Tristan G
Year 1/2B: Beau F, Lorenzo F, Sandile N, Mackenzie A and Julian W
Year 1/2G: Anthony F, Eli A, Noah W, Alishia W and Naite H
Year 3/4B: Ryana O and Kate S
Year 3/4G: Summah M and Benjamin F
Year 5/6B: Petar B and Marrissa M
Year 5/6G: Sophia M, Elvira H and Tia I
Year 1/2B: Beau F, Nicolas C
Year 1/2G: Naite H
Year 3/4B: Geordie B
Year 3/4G: Maria C and Nicholas B
Year 5/6B: Annabell W
Year 5/6G: Amelia J
Front reception has received a number of phone calls regarding missing clothing. Please check that your child/ren are bringing their uniform home as it is an easy mistake to pick up someone else's uniform. Please place the incorrect uniform in the lost property box or return it to the student or front office.
PLEASE ENSURE YOUR CHILD/REN'S CLOTHING, LUNCH BOX AND DRINK BOTTLES ARE LABELLED WITH THEIR NAME.
In our transition out of the COVID-19 restrictions we ask for your support in social distancing, logging onto the CBR App and signing in at the front office. Until we are able to confirm the new clothing pool arrangements we ask that you please email the school office.stbenedicts@cg.catholic.edu.auor contact Mrs McRae with a list of items required. We will endeavour to fill your order and reply to you as soon as possible.
School Hats
The new school hats have finally arrived and available for purchasing at the front office. The cost of new school hats are $12.
School Ties
As we have had a number of parents inform us that they were unable to purchase school ties, we have sourced 10 new school ties from Savvy's. These ties are now available for purchase from the clothing pool for $25 each. Unfortunately, these are the only ties we have available as all donated ties have now been sold.
Our school tuckshop is still currently closed.
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.
Apple slinky Tuesdays
We would like to thank the wonderful parents that have offered to come and do slinky apples for students each Tuesday morning. There is no cost, we just ask that students bring their own apple to be slinkied for fruit break.
St Benedict's Parish
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 Rembert Fernando MGL
Fr Baiju Thomas MGL
Monica Nulley-Valdes and Cathy Schneider (Parish Secretaries)
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.
One Day Retreat in Canberra
With Fr Roni George and Fr Joby George, VC on Saturday 22 May (9.30am—4.30pm at St Benedict’s Catholic Church. Admission is free BYO lunch. A boxed lunch is available at nominal cost, RSVP by 19 May to pl.rebello@gmail.com For inquires please contact: Parveen 0439 642 571; Winnie 0451 015 527; Prakash 0406 381 446; Shan 0412 310 364; Tom 0434 689 957
Parish Secretary Vacancy
St Benedict’s is advertising for a new permanent part time Secretary to work the current office hours of Tuesday to Friday, 9am-12 noon. If anyone is interested, please contact Father Rembert or the Parish Office for more information. Start date is from mid May.
St Benedict's Youth Sacramental Coordinator
St Benedict’s are looking for someone to take on this youth ministry within the Parish. For more information please contact the Parish Office.
