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What a wonderful day we had at the St Benedict’s Catholic School, Shaw Year 3–6 Swimming Carnival, held at Long Tan Pool! The atmosphere was alive with cheering, encouragement, and house spirit as our students gave their very best in the pool.
A heartfelt thank you goes to our amazing staff for the time, effort, and organisation that made the day such a success. We are also so grateful to the many parents and family members who joined us. Your presence and support truly made the carnival a community celebration.
This event is such a special part of our school calendar, as it encourages participation, perseverance, and fun for all students, no matter their swimming ability. It was inspiring to see our children supporting one another, striving for personal goals, and celebrating every effort and achievement together.
In what was a close race between our four sporting teams, Gumoo (Blue House) won the swimming trophy for the house with the most points.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
Thank you to all parents and carers who made the time to meet with their child’s classroom teacher during this week’s parent–teacher interviews. These meetings are an important part of the strong partnership between home and school, providing the opportunity to share insights, celebrate progress, and discuss future learning goals.
At St Benedict’s, we greatly value the collaboration between parents and teachers, as together we play a vital role in supporting each child’s learning and wellbeing. Your commitment to this partnership ensures that our students continue to thrive both academically and personally.
Cricket Blast Success
Congratulations to our students who were selected to represent St Benedict’s at last week’s Cricket Blast. In the weeks leading up to the carnival, the team worked hard in their training sessions, and this effort was clearly reflected in some outstanding individual and team performances. We are especially proud to share that our Mixed Team won their division, a fantastic achievement!
A sincere thank you to our PE teachers, Mrs Kandis Huston and Mrs Stevie-Lee Rowe, along with other staff members who coordinated and supported the event. We also extend our gratitude to the many family members who came along to cheer on our students—their encouragement made the day even more special.
School Disco Thanks
A big thank you to the members of our St Benedict’s Catholic School Parents and Friends Association who volunteered their time before and during our recent school disco. Your efforts in organising, setting up, and supporting on the night helped make the event such a success.
The children had a wonderful time dancing, laughing, and enjoying the evening with their friends. This was made possible through the generosity and commitment of our volunteers and staff. We are truly blessed to have such a supportive school community.
Next Newsletter
Our next school newsletter will be sent home on Friday, 19th September. This edition will include a description of upcoming school events and key dates for Term 4
God in All of Life
Patrick Dempsey
Repeat - Final Reminder
Class Planning 2026
As we move towards the process of planning and preparing classes for 2026, to support smooth transitions, we extend an invitation to parents who have genuine concerns about the placement needs of their student for 2026 to send an email through for our school Leadership team to consider.
Please note, we DO NOT accept requests for teachers. Rather this is a time to raise concerns regarding peer connections and/or confidential matters for your child that may impact on their placement within a class in 2026. Please send your emails to myself at rbaumann@stbenedicts.catholic.edu.au or Mr Dempsey at pdempsey2@stbenedicts.catholic.edu.au
P&F News
Disco Success!!
A huge thanks to the P&F volunteers who coordinated last week’s disco. There were lots of smiles on the kids faces and fabulous outfits to match. It is always wonderful to bring the school community together for a fun night. We look forward to next term's event which will align with O’ Holy Night.
Welcome to the end of Week 9! With Pupil Free Days and Swimming Carnivals, we have had no assemblies over the last 2 weeks. Next Friday will see our last assembly for the term, presented by our Prep Koalas and Prep Platypus classes.
Eisteddfod 2025
Over the last number of years, St Benedict’s have had all classes participating at the Townsville Eisteddfod, competing in the Poetry Recitation sections. This year, the difficult decision was made to not participate due to a number of factors. The main reason being that up until recently, we had a number of classes without a full time teacher and didn’t think it was fair to put this pressure on these classes and the associated teachers. This does not mean that we will not be participating in the Eisteddfod moving forward. The leadership team will be consulting with staff in the lead up to next year so that some well considered decisions surrounding this event can be made.
Pax,
Nick
SPECIAL REPORT: Parenting Styles
There's no such thing as perfect parenting. But by understanding different parenting styles, we can better support our children in healthier and more effective ways.
Most of us parent as a blend of our own upbringing, lived experiences and external influences such as books, podcasts or parenting websites. And while parenting is always a challenge, it can become even more complex through divorce, separation, blended families, trauma or bereavement. Not to mention life's many other hurdles.
The concept of "parenting styles" was first introduced in the 1960s by Diana Baumrind, a clinical and developmental psychologist. She identified four main categories of parenting. Each style shapes a child's development in different ways and comes with both strengths and challenges.
Although well-intentioned, each parenting approach can have drawbacks in a child's development. Every child is unique, and their needs change as they grow. An authoritative style may suit younger children, but teenagers often require a greater balance of guidance and independence. The goal is to create a secure environment where children feel respected, heard, and supported.
By learning more about the different styles and how they influence children, you can make informed choices about the approach that best suits your family. And remember, styles are not fixed. They can evolve over time as your child grows and their needs change.
We invite you to watch this Special Report and complete the quiz to discover your own parenting style. You might also like to compare your results with your partner's and reflect together on the different approaches you each bring to parenting.
Here is the link to your Special Report https://stbenedicts.
