Congratulations to all students who represented our school in the Inter-school Swimming Carnival on Monday where we proudly took home both the Most Improved Trophy and the Overall Winners Trophy. It was wonderful to not only hear about how well the students swam in their races but also how supportive they were of each other throughout the afternoon.

Next week, we are looking forward to our Fun Run where each student will participate in running around a course within the school grounds. Each class has been practising during their PE lessons over the last couple of weeks. Parents are welcome to watch from the designated areas.

National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence

Today, each class has engaged in activities to acknowledge National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. This Awareness Day is a valuable opportunity each year for our school community to reflect on the values and expectations we have regarding the way we treat each other and what we can do to respond to situations that may happen to ourselves or to our peers. 

Bullying is never okay and our children are reminded constantly about how hurtful and offensive words can be and about the long lasting impact you can have on others when being repeatedly nasty. We encourage children to stand up for each other and to call out unacceptable behaviour. Our Way of PEACE also highlights expectations around being empathetic, caring for our community (including each other) and about being accountable for our words and actions. Bullying and violence is a significant issue currently being highlighted throughout many media platforms from all forms of society including bullying and violence within our government. Please be aware of the heightened interest or concern this may create for your child.

Burgers by the Billabong

Next Saturday, March 27 we invite all families to come and enjoy Burgers by the Billabong. We are gathering at school in our Early Years Play area (our big kids love this space too) for an afternoon of play with our friends and our family where we can also enjoy a burger prepared by our P&F. Please BYO drinks, chairs or blankets and water bottles. This is not a staff supervised event, so please don’t just drop your children off, it is a family event where we can all meet and socialise. 4.30pm till 6.30pm, see you there!

Do you have a child ready for Prep in 2022? Have you got your enrolment application in for Prep in 2022? Siblings can only be prioritised if their enrolment is in by Thursday April 1 (last day of Term 1)

Have a fabulous weekend. See you all next week.

Cheers

Penny Collins

Thank you to Year 1 Echidnas who presented assembly this week about Harmony Day.  Their liturgy recognised the many and varied cultures we have all come from and the importance of valuing and learning from the gifts which we all bring.  We are so lucky in our school and country to have a beautiful mix of cultures and I believe that we can truly enrich our lives if we are willing to celebrate and learn from one another. 

Fun Run

Next Friday will see all of our students participating in our annual school Fun Run.  All of our students are catered for throughout the event; from our most competitive runners, who are encouraged to go through the course as fast as they can, to those competitors or would rather take it a bit easy, with fun and enjoyable obstacles set up for them along the course.  Students are invited to wear a house coloured t-shirt over their sports shorts or their sports uniform.  We would like to welcome those parents who are able to attend to come and watch the races.  There will be areas allocated for our spectators to allow for the smooth running of the event.  For more information, please see the poster attached below.  

ECSI Project - REPEAT

A big thank you to those families who have already been able to complete our schools ECSI surveys.  A reminder that these surveys remain open until Thursday April 1 (last day of term).  We look forward to seeing the responses from our school community, regardless of your own faith practices or beliefs.  Please see the note attached in the newsletter for information about how to access.  Your assistance is greatly appreciated and will help St Benedict’s to further develop its Catholic Identity.

Project Compassion

Each week, Project Compassion has a video to show how they are supporting people and communities around the world.  Please see the link below to see one of the many projects around the world and to see where your donations might be spent.  This week's story takes us to Indonesia and is about a man named Arsad.  A reminder that each class has a Project Compassion box to receive donations, as well as boxes being available for collection in our office for your students to take home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dqWclbMCF0

Pax

Nick 

As we come to the end of week 8, it is noticeable how many tired little people there are at present. 

This is the time of the term that students, teachers and parents alike all feel the weight of the term. 

Our students are likely working though assessment items that require a consolidation of the learning

undertaken so far.  Teachers are providing feedback and preparing the next phase of the learning for

Term 2.  Patience becomes a little thinner, small things feel a little bigger and our capacity to cope

with these is often reduced.  Hold on tight, the end is in sight.  It is normal for these feelings to pop

up at this time of the term. Be gentle with each other and remember to breathe.

Today we have had our sensory signs installed in our early years precinct.  As you are probably aware, our playground spaces have been specially designed to meet the full range of our needs - the 5 common senses as well as our Vestibular sense (how our body responds to movement) and our Proprioception sense (how we position our body in space).  Next time you or your student visit the playspaces why not go on a sensory walk and check out all 7 senses!

In Prep Platypus, we have been blessed to observe caterpillars progress through their lifecycle to become beautiful Monarch Butterflies. We have been making scientific observations of our butterflies, discussing their different body parts and physical characteristics. Our Prep’s have been discussing the needs of living and non-living things, discovering that butterflies need a food source, water and oxygen. In Religion we have been exploring God’s Creation and the different ways we care for it to keep the earth and all living things happy and healthy.