Welcome back to term 2. I hope that everyone was able to enjoy some time off over the holidays and that you all enjoyed a happy, holy and safe Easter. It is lovely to have all the students back mostly feeling refreshed and re- energised. It has certainly been nice to ease back into the term with a short week.

ANZAC  Day Commemorations

Thank you to all the students, staff and families who joined our school to participate in the Thuringowa ANZAC Day march. We had a lovely turnout and the kids represented our community with pride and were very respectful of the occasion. Acknowledging and commemorating the men and women who have served our country in the defence forces is really important for our future generations to understand the sacrifices that have been made throughout time and continue to be made.

Our RAAF representative and St Benny’s parent, Flight Lieutenant, Katie Solari gave a very moving address for our school ANZAC Day Liturgy this morning that encouraged our school community to take on the spirit of the ANZACS by developing a strength of character that doesn’t give up when things get too difficult, working together as a team and looking out for each other.

Building Project Stage 2

Gabrielli Constructions have won the tender for our Stage 2 building project. They are scheduled to start on May 13. This project will include two new classroom blocks (one next to red block and one next to green block) with four classrooms in each plus additional toilets in each of the new blocks. Extensions to our bottom carpark will done towards the end of this term leading into the holidays to avoid as much disruption as possible and the extension to the carpark near the Kindy will be done towards the end of next term, again with the bulk or the work to occur over the September holidays. While the scope of works has been scheduled to work in with school routines, I am sure you can appreciate we will require some flexibility and understanding as disruptions occur. We can however feel very excited about what this project will add to our school facilities. The project is due for completion during Term 4.

Early Years Precinct

You may have noticed that much progress has been made on our Early Years Precinct over the holidays and it is due to be completed within the next month. Our mini golf course has been completed and we can see the mine shaft tunnel coming together as well. Our creek bed is starting to take shape as is our billabong and yarning circle. As sections of this are completed they will be released for the students to access. We all continue to be very excited about the completion of this project.

Senior playground

Our senior students have been exploring different components of playgrounds to collaboratively design one that suits their needs. They have met with a representative from Bigsplash to discuss their ideas this week and are now waiting on final designs and quotes. The students have been given a substantial budget they have to work within and they understand the need to include installations costs, a shade sail and softfall as well.

Life Education

Next week we have the Life Education van visiting to conduct lessons with all our classes around personal safety, food and nutrition basically designed to empower children to make safe and healthy lifestyle choices now and into their adult lives. Some of you may remember their mascot, Healthy Harold from your own school days.

Prep Open day & 2020 Enrolment process

Next week we commence our enrolment interviews for Prep 2020. Again we are well over subscribed (though well aware that many parents apply for enrolment in multiple schools) so I hope that all our Kindy and sibling applications are in as they only receive priority in the first round of offers. We are offering school tours at a Prep Open day on Friday 3 May between 9.30am - 10.30am lead by our student leaders and then for those families that can’t make that date, I am also doing school tours on Wednesday 8 & 15 May from 9.30am -10.30am and also on Thursday 9 & 16 May  4.30pm - 5.30pm. No bookings are required for these tours.

We will be making bookings for interviews at the Prep Open Day so if you can’t make it, please just call for an interview time. Please note that parents of children enrolling for Prep in 2020 who already have a sibling attending our school are not required to have an interview but are most welcome if you would like to. Please do however make sure your enrolment application is in by May 22 as we can only guarantee priority enrolment places in the first round of offers.

Sacramental Program

This weekend will see the final group of students complete the Sacramental Program with their First Holy Communion. Best wishes to the students and their families as they celebrate this special time together.

Cheers

Penny