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With the warmer weather returning to Townsville, we are taking extra care to ensure our students stay safe and comfortable throughout the school day. Staff will be reminding students to take regular drink breaks and to take regular breaks when playing outdoors to rest and cool down.
Remembrance Day Liturgy
Today, our school community came together in a spirit of gratitude and respect to mark Remembrance Day. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our students from Defence Force families who led and hosted our Remembrance Day Liturgy with such reverence and care. Your contribution reminded us of the significance of this day and the deep connections within our community.
We also acknowledge and thank our Defence Force families for their service and sacrifice. Your courage, resilience, and commitment to our nation are deeply appreciated, and we are proud to have you as part of our school family.
Thank you to all students and parents who supported the day by purchasing poppies. Your generosity helps ensure the ongoing support of veterans and their families through the important work of the RSL.
As we pause to remember those who have served and those who continue to serve, we are reminded of the importance of striving for peace, within our own lives, in our relationships, and in the wider world. May we each play our part in building a future shaped by understanding, compassion, and hope.
Lest we forget.
Congratulations – Year 6 White Ribbon Touch Gala
Congratulations to our Year 6 St Benedict’s students who participated in the Northern Schools White Ribbon Touch Gala on Wednesday. Our students represented the school with great enthusiasm, teamwork, and sportsmanship. We are proud to share that they won the Tier 2 competition.
A heartfelt thank you to Mrs Houston and Ms Garbutt for their support and coordination of the team, and to all the parents and family members who came along to cheer on our students. Your encouragement and presence helped make the day such a success.
Supervision at drop off in the morning and pick up in the afternoon reminders
Parents, carers and family members are reminded that supervision at St Benedict’s commences at 8:00am in the school hall. The Mary Mackillop Outside Hours Care are licensed to use the school hall up until 8:00am.
I remind all families of the importance of following our school procedures, for example, students should only be dropped off from 8:00am onwards. By working together and following these guidelines, we can ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children in our care.
As communicated at the start of the school year, the students are supervised from 2:50pm until 3:20pm. Parents, carers and family members are asked to please arrange for their children to be collected by 3:20pm
God in All of Life
Patrick Dempsey
We are getting into the “busy end” of the term! We only have 2 class assemblies left for the year, with 1 Possums presenting in Week 6 and 4 Butterflies presenting in Week 7. We then move into our End of Year Mass in Week 8. On Monday in Week 9 at 8:45am, we will also be having a special ‘Nativity Assembly’, being led by the 2 Curlews. All members of our community are welcome to attend this special assembly, which is a beautiful way to start the last week of school for 2025.
I have also attached below flyers for some of the other End of Year Events, including Mass, ‘O Holy Night’ and our ‘Step Up Orientation Day. Again, all members of our school community are invited to attend the Mass and O Holy night and we look forward to celebrating these occasions with you! Our students will look forward to Step Up Orientation Day, with all students enrolled to attend St Benedict’s in 2026 moving into their spaces for next year for that morning.
St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal
We are again proud to support the St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal. From next week, classes will have boxes to collect donations so that our parish chapter can put together hampers to support members of our community who need it most this Christmas season. There are suggestions in the flyer around what each year level might be able to bring in. If you were able to support in any way, we know it is always appreciated, with over 100 families being supported in our region by this initiative. St Benedict’s items will be collected on Tuesday December 2, so ask all items to be brought to school by this date. Finally we ask that this be largely non-perishable items, and also items that cannot melt (ie no chocolate).
Pax,
Nick
Transitions
This year we will be implementing a different approach for our transition to new year levels. As a whole school, we will be engaging in some planned activities including visiting and eating lunches in new year level blocks, and in-class activities. This approach is aimed at normalising transition as a regular part of growth and development, whilst easing uncertainty or anxiety about the new chapter. This transition process is being supported by our Guidance Counsellor and our Inclusive Practice Teachers. Keep an ear out about what your student is doing during weeks 7 & 8.
Save the Date - Step Up Day
As tradition holds, we will host our Step Up Day on the Tuesday of the last week of term - Tuesday 2nd December from 9.00 - 10.30am. We also extend a Save the Date for our incoming Prep Parents to attend the Information Night starting at 5.30pm.
We are looking forward to this exciting time as we prepare to celebrate our success this year and start our new chapter in 2026.
Blessings
Ros Baumann
During Term 3 the school sent out information asking parents to let us know if families were returning for 2026. Thankyou to all families who completed this. We are asking if your circumstances have changed to please advise the school ASAP to assist with final preparations.