Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to school for Term 3. I hope you have enjoyed the rest from the school routine. Hasn’t the time just flown by? We have an exciting second half of the year ahead and we’re going to hit the ground running.

We are looking forward to an exciting term ahead with a variety of events planned.  These include our Whole School Performance, Grandparents and Grand Friends day, Confirmation for our Year 5 and Year 6 students, Science week, Book week, Fathers’ Day, Indigenous Literacy day and Mindfulness Day.

Why is reading so important?

Studies show that reading for pleasure makes a big difference to children’s educational performance. Evidence suggests that children who read for enjoyment every day not only perform better in reading tests than those who don’t, but also develop a broader vocabulary, increased general knowledge and a better understanding of other cultures. In fact, reading for pleasure is more likely to determine whether a child does well at school than their social or economic background.

You can make a huge difference! Parents are the most important educators in a child’s life – even more important than their teachers – and it’s never too late to start reading together.

Learning to read is about listening and understanding as well as working out what’s printed on the page. Through hearing stories, children are exposed to a wide range of words. This helps them build their own vocabulary and improve their understanding when they listen, which is vital as they start to read. It’s important for them to understand how stories work too. Even if your child doesn’t understand every word, they’ll hear new sounds, words and phrases which they can then try out, copying what they have heard.

As parents you play an important role in helping to keep your child interested in books. Find out what interests them, help them to find books that will be engaging and fun, and spend time reading the books they bring home from school together. It is vital that no matter what your child’s age that you are talking to them about reading, about books and hearing them read. This is not something that stops as they move from levelled readers to chapter books. All of our students should be reading every night!

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

God bless.

Rachel Smith
Principal

Athletics Carnival Cancelled
Unfortunately, we have had to make the decision to cancel our Athletics Carnival again. Over the next few weeks, the students will participate in the athletic events at the oval across the road. Their times and results will be recorded and from there the team will be selected to represent the school at the South Western Region Athletics Carnival.

Tuckshop Open Tomorrow
The Tuckshop will be open tomorrow, with the full menu in operation.

COMPASS Parent Portal
Thank you to all those families who have already signed up for the COMPASS Parent Portal. I hope that you will find it to be a worthwhile communication tool with the school. If you are having trouble accessing the Parent Portal, please do not hesitate to contact the Front Office.

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.

School Supervision
As we begin Winter I am concerned about the number of students who arrive at school well before 8:30am – some as early as 8:00am – and then need to sit and wait for the teacher who begins duty at 8:30am. If students are being dropped to school or making their own way they should not be on site prior to 8:30am. If your work commitments do not allow for a drop off after 8:30am you might like to consider accessing TeamKids before school care.

Approaching Other Children
Parents are reminded that it is never appropriate to approach other children to confront them about issues between your child and the other student. Imagine how you would feel if another parent or carer approached your child and spoke to them. It is inevitable that there are social conflicts, misunderstandings, and unkind actions. At St Benedict’s we encourage students to develop skills that will assist them to deal with social situations, with teachers offering assistance and support. If you are concerned about how your child is coping socially please contact your child’s teacher.

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. If your child needs medication at school, you are required to complete a “Request to Dispense Medication” form, which is available at the Front Office and on our website. A reminder that students are not to self-administer medication. Medication should not be kept in children’s bags but kept in the Front Office area and the Office staff will administer. All information is then noted in COMPASS. Teachers will not administer or supervise the taking of medication. Please ask your child to take medications to the Front Office upon arrival at school.

Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival
Every year the local schools in Boorowa host a Touch and Netball Carnival for teams from Years 2 to 6. St Benedict’s has been attending this carnival for the last couple of years and parents and students who have attended the day are always enthusiastic to attend the day again.

Shortly an Expression of Interest form will go home to students in Years 3 - 6 to assist us with planning for this event. Please return the Expression of Interest form to school as soon as possible.

School Fees
Thank you to the many families who have finalised their fees for last term. Term 3 School Fees will be sent out shortly via email for the families that have selected this option otherwise they will be sent home as per normal. If you have not yet finalised your Term 2 fees could you please attend to this as a matter of urgency. Should you be experiencing difficulty with the fees please come and make a time to speak with the school.

Uniform
As we return for the new term, I feel it is timely to remind our students and families about our school uniform policy. Below is an excert from the policy regarding student appearance. Please read through it and discuss it with your child.

Student Appearance

• All aspects of students appearance are gender inclusive i.e. apply to both girls and boys.
• Student’s hair should be clean and neat; fashionable extremes are not permitted. Shoulder length hair or longer must be tied back. Only natural, all-over hair colour is acceptable. The Principal or Assistant Principal will contact parents if other hair styles are of concern.
• Accessories are to match school colours (maroon, navy blue, yellow and white).
• No jewellery may be worn other than small, plain (silver or gold, no colour) ear studs, a watch or medical alert identification. Only one stud per ear (i.e. earlobe)
• Nail polish and make-up in any form are not part of the school uniform.
• Students out of uniform are required to bring a note from home on the day.
• If a student is out of uniform, parents may be contacted and requested to give a commitment to resolve the problem.

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.

Confirmation Parish Preparation

Grandparents and Grand Friend Day Mass
On Friday 6th August Kindergarten will lead our school community in celebrating our Grandparent and Grand friend Day Mass. Mass is held in the St Benedict’s Church from 10:00am. Families are warmly invited to join us for this liturgical celebration. Morning tea will be provided by the families of students in Kindergarten. Parents and guests are invited to stay after Mass for morning tea in the Library. Parents of the hosting class are welcome to bring their child along to the morning tea. As part of the Mass, we would like to display photos of students with their grandparents/grand friends. All are welcome to submit photos. Please email these by 30^st July to Mrs Fran Tomadini fran.tomadini@cg.catholic.edu.au

Mini Vinnies

Thank you very much to all who collected toiletries over the school holidays and donated them to the Mini Vinnies Hygiene Donation Station in our school Front Office.  These will be packed into hygiene kits and distributed on the St Vincent de Paul Night Patrol.  Having access to hygiene products to take care of our body is vital to our human dignity.

Important dates to note for this term are:

15 July     Athletics Carnival
16 July     CE NAIDOC Mass
20 July     Whole School Performance, 11.30am & 6pm
21 July     Whole School Performance, 6pm
22 July     Yrs 4-6 Olympic Athlete Visit, 11.30am
26 July     Footsteps Dance Workshop
27 July     Parents & Friends Meeting, 6.30pm
28 July     Confirmation Prayer Night
29 July     Yr5/6 Merici Visit for Matilda
30 July     Whole School Assembly, 2.30pm
31 July     National Schools Tree Day
2 Aug       Footsteps Dance Workshop
6 Aug       Grandparents' Day & Mass, 10am
8 Aug       Feast of St Mary MacKillop
9 Aug       Footsteps Dance Workshop
10 Aug     School Board Meeting, 6pm
13 Aug     Whole School Assembly, 2.30pm
15 Aug     Feast of the Assumption
16 Aug     Feast of the Assumption Mass, 10am
16 Aug     Science Week begins
20 Aug     Science Week Activities
24 Aug     Parents & Friends Meeting, 6.30pm
27 Aug     Whole School Assembly, 2.30pm
1 Sep       Indigenous Literacy Day
3 Sep       Fathers' Day Mass, 10am
5 Sep       Fathers' Day
9 Sep       Learning Showcase, 2pm to 4pm
9 Sep       Kinder Health Screeening
10 Sep     Whole School Assembly, 2.30pm
11 Sep     Sacrament of Confirmation, 3pm
14 Sep     School Board Meeting, 6pm
15 Sep     Yr5/6 School Camp
16 Sep     Yr5/6 School Camp
17 Sep     Yr5/6 School Camp
17 Sep     Ways of Being Award Ceremony, 2.30pm
17 Sep     Last day of Term3

Please see below all notes that have gone home at the end on Term 2 and this week via Compass Parent Portal:

Term 3
First Day Byte!
First_Day_Byte_Term_3_2021.pdf

School Covid-19 Requirements
Term_3_COVID_19_Requirements_for_ACT_Staff_Parents_Carers_and_Visitors.pdf

Cancellation of Athletics Carnival 2021
Cancellation_of_the_Athletics_Carnival_2021.pdf

Whole School Performance
Whole_School_Performance_Note.pdf

Term 2
Athletics Carnival - Change of Date 2
Change_of_date_2_Athletics_Carnival_2021.pdf

Year 5/6 Camp
Year_5.6_Camp_2021_Letter.pdf

Welcome to the Compass Parent Portal
Parent_Portal_Visual_Guide_230221.pdf

Extra curriculum music lessons are provided at the school by the following businesses.  If you are interest please contact them directly.

Happy Birthday to the following children who celebrate their special day this week: William C, Angus C, Keisha L, Nathaniel G, Selina H, Lalia D and Laura K.

Kindergarten: Rafaela H and Henry M

Year 1/2B: Fergus K and Aimee O

Year 1/2G:  Reuben W and Mia-Rose S

Year 3/4B:  Mia F and Mitchell S

Year 3/4G: Vivienne K and Bryce T

Year 5/6B:  Lucia M and Alec C

Year 5/6G: Edith B and Clancy B

Welcome back to Term 3 and we have hit the road running.  The lost property box has already got a number of items in it and this is only day two.  With the cold weather here please ensure your child / children bring their items home each day.  

Please remember, if you require uniform items please email the school office.stbenedicts@cg.catholic.edu.au or contact Mrs McRae with the list of items.  We will endeavour to fill your order and reply to you as soon as possilble.

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.

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.