Dear Parents and Carers,

Over the last few weeks I have been conducting interviews for our prospective 2022 Kindergarten students. This is an exciting time of year as it allows me to welcome new families to the school community and connect with continuing families. One of the questions I ask during the interview of new families is what draws them to St Benedict’s. The overwhelming response is the sense of community people feel here at St Benedict’s. They value the welcome and support shown to all who visit and are part of our community. Continuing parents often mention the relationships their children have developed with students across the grades and how lovely it is to be out on the weekend and have other students come up and talk to their children. Parents speak highly of the quality of the teachers and staff at St Benedict’s and how the teachers reach out and show support to all students in the school, not just those students in their class. The parents appreciate the support and welcome given to them by the parent community and value the hard work of all those who volunteer for the different events and activities in the school. It is so lovely to hear what makes our school so wonderful and I want to take this opportunity to thank every member of our community, from students, to parents, to families and to staff thank you for all you do to contribute to making this community so special.

Tell Them From Me Survey
In the coming week students, teachers and parents will be able to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process. The survey is open from today and will close on Friday, 11 June. We would like to invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. As we value the role of parents and carers within our school community we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at St Benedict’s. The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. You are able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using the URL below:            

http://tellthemfromme.com/bgr8z

God bless.

Rachel Smith
Principal

Whole School Performance – All Around The World
Due to COVID restrictions we will be performing our whole school performance on three occasions over 2 days. Please save the date for the whole school performances; Tuesday 20^th July, 11.30am & 6pm, and Wednesday 21^st July, 6pm. More information will follow shortly. All students are participating in the performance and are busily practicing their class items.

Late Arrivals
We ask that all students arriving at school after 9am be signed in at the Front Office by a parent or appropriate caregiver. Thank you for your support with this.

Carpark Etiquette
We ask that all parents and carers using our carpark for pick up and drop off please do so with caution. With the increased use of the carpark we must all work together to ensure the safety of all our students. Please drive slowly through the carpark and park front in into a designated carpark. When reversing please be mindful of those around you and the flow of the traffic. The carpark space is limited and not designed for cars to turn around and go against the flow of the traffic. Thank you for your help with this.

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 2022. 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.

Winter Woollies Preparation  

In preparation for our upcoming Winter Woollies Day (Week 10) families are encouraged to start cleaning out their wardrobes ready to donate any unwanted winter woollies such as gloves, scarves,  jumpers, jackets, beanies, coats, blankets and sleeping bags. All donations must be adult sizes. Please keep your donations at home until Winter Woollies Day.

Reconciliation Liturgy 

Thank you to Year 1/2 Gold and Fr Baiju for leading our school in a special Reconciliation Liturgy. It was a beautiful occasion highlighting the importance of recognising Reconciliation Week and our ongoing commitment to a pathway towards healing. During the celebration our school’s Harmony Day artwork was blessed and presented to our school community. This artwork reflects the charism of St Benedict and that we are all one in the eyes of Christ. A special thank you to Shania Morgan and Sherrin Murphy for their time and talents in helping create this gift for our school community.

First Friday Mass

This Friday, 5/6 Gold will be leading our school community in celebrating Mass. All are welcome to attend. Parents and visitors are also welcome to join our staff in the library afterwards for morning tea.

A Lens On Learning

Year 5/6 Excursion – Jerrabomberra Wetlands

Last Friday the Year 5/6 students participated in an excursion to the Jerrabomberra Wetlands. This experience was designed to support their learning in their current Conceptual Inquiry unit based around biodiversity, sustainability and human impacts on the land.

The day began with a rotation of three experiences that focused on the function of a wetland system, ecology and human impacts on the area. We were supported by Education Officers in these activities.

After a leisurely lunch, the students then completed further investigation into specific sites around the wetlands. This information is then being used in the classroom as they conduct a variety of water testing experiments to determine variances in water quality and the reasons for this.

A great day was had by all and the children certainly learnt a lot! They were great ambassadors for our school, representing us in a fantastic way.

Qkr! app
If you would like a quick way to pay for your School Fees, Clothing Pool items or your child/rens Tuchshop Orders using your credit card this is an easy way while sitting at home.  Please have a look at the app via https://www.mastercard.com.au/en-au/about-mastercard/innovations/qkr.html and scroll down to select either the Apple or Android.

School Fees
Thank you to all the families that have already paid their school fees.  Term 2 fees were due on Friday 21st May.

If you have any concerns regarding paying your fees, particularly due to COVID-19, please do not hesitate to contact either Ms Rachel Smith or Mrs Belinda McRae at the Front Office.

Water Bottles

As winter is approaching all students still need to drink plenty of water. As the school bubblers are still closed please make sure your child/children bring their water bottle to school each day.  

Lunch Boxes
During the colder months we notice that more children are needing extra sandwiches made as they are eating all their food at recess.  Please take time to talk with your child/children about what is in their lunch box and how much food they might need.

Important dates to note for this term are:

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

The following notes are going home this week.

Australian Girls Choir
Aust._Girls_Choir_June_2021.pdf

Tuckshop - Recess Menu
Recess_Menu_June_2021.pdf

Tuckshop - Lunch Menu
Lunch_Order_Menu_2021.pdf

Happy Birthday to the following children who celebrate their special day this week: Nicholas M, Benjamin F, Niora P, Frederick H and Edith B.

Year 3/4B:   Taliyah M

Year 3/4G:  Cooper W

Year 5/6B:  Hubert K and Ruby S

Year 5/6G:   Sophia M

Kinder:        Rafaela H and Ellena C

Year 1/2B:  Mackenzie A and Nathaniel G

Year 1/2G:  Roseleen K and Mia-Rose S

Year 3/4B:   Huxley N and Alessandra B

Year 3/4G:   Bryce T and Saanvi G

Year 5/6B:   Lachlan H and William C

Year 5/6G:  Elizabeth K, Liam N and Joanna D

Each year to help with a little fundraising the P&F participates in the sale of Entertainment Books and this year as we are not able to travel overseas as freely they have a special offer that has now been extended until the 14th June.

We ask parents to check with their child/children to ensure they have checked and collected any missing items from the lost property box on a daily basis.  (It only takes 21 days to create a new habit).

Tuck Day Tuesday and Thursdays are back.

The new menu is now up on Qkr! ready for your Tuesday and Thursdays orders.  All orders for recess and lunch must be placed before 9.10am on the day it is required. The Qkr! app also gives you the ability to order in advance for a particular Tuesday and/or Thursday.

Apple slinky Tuesdays
We thank the wonderful parents that 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.  We understand that the mornings are getting cold, but the students are still having fruit break each day and a apple slinky is just another way to make fruit more appealing.

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
Cathy Schneider (Parish Secretary)

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.