It’s the end of Week 3 and we’re really starting to get into the swing of the term.  I’ve been away from school at the end of this week with Mr Dempsey attending an Enhancing Catholic School Identity Professional Development.  Working with our peers, we have been designing strategies to grow our schools' Catholic Identities, and we look forward to taking this back to school.

Next week we see the beginning of the Catholic season of Lent, which is of great importance in the Catholic calendar.

Shrove Tuesday

On Tuesday, 13th February it is Shrove Tuesday (often referred to as Pancake Tuesday), which marks the day BEFORE the season of Lent begins.  This celebration came about with the custom of using up all of the fattening ingredients people had in the house before lent, so they can fast during the season of lent -  Our St Benedict’s P&F have organised the delivery of pancakes to classrooms on the morning of Shrove Tuesday - a big thank you to the P&F and Mrs Baumann for ensuring this tradition continues.  This year, we are asking families, if they can, to bring in a gold coin donation, with the proceeds going towards Project Compassion, our diocesan fundraiser during the season of Lent.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday this year is on Wednesday 14th February.  We will be breaking into 2 groups, Prep - Year 2 and Year 3- Year 6 to take part in Ash Wednesday liturgies at around 2:00pm.  Members of the leadership team will be partaking in each of these different liturgies.  This important celebration marks the beginning of the Catholic season of Lent.  During this celebration, students will have crosses marked on their forehead with ashes (from last year's palms of Palm Sunday). Students will be learning more about Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent in Religious Education classes throughout the week.

DATE CLAIMER

Our assemblies this year will remain on a Friday at 8:45am in the Hall.  These will begin in Week 5, Friday 23rd Feb.  Our Beginning Year Liturgy will be taking place on Friday 16th Feb at 9:00am in the Hall - our entire school community are invited to attend this event.  I would particularly like to extend a welcome to our parents of Year 6 children, as we will be recognising them as leaders in front of the school for 2024.

Assembly Timetable - Term 1 ***Please not there is a change between Year 6 Scorpions and Year 6 Crocodiles assembly times.

Pax,

Nick