As our year draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our school families and staff for all of your efforts to continue building our sense of community and building the school we aspire to be. We feel we have had many successes throughout the year with the Verification part of our School Renewal Process providing us with lots of valued feedback. 

Next week we look forward to our End of Year Mass and Rite of Passage for our departing Year 6 students on Monday morning at 9.00am. All families are welcome to attend. On Tuesday morning we will welcome all new students enrolled for St Benedict’s in 2022 including our new Prep students for Step Up Day. All students across the school will move to their new classroom, with their new class group to spend the morning session with their new class teacher. Each student will receive a bag tag that details their 2022 class name and class teacher so parents also know (if your child is likely to forget). Step Up Day movements will start at 9.00am and be completed by 10.30am.

On Wednesday we have been looking forward to our much anticipated O”Holy Night. With weather forecasts looking the way they currently are, it may turn out too wet to host the event. Wet weather not only affects the location of the event but the capacity for us to have enough car parking with our much needed dirt areas becoming too soggy. We are holding off making a final call until Monday but if it is too wet, we will have the students perform their songs during the day on Wednesday and share each class group video to Facebook therefore cancelling the wednesday night event.

This will be our last newsletter for the year. I would like to wish everyone a very happy, holy and safe Christmas break. 

Have a fabulous week. 

Cheers

Penny Collins

It’s the end of Week 8 and we are down to 1 week to go!  Year 2 Curlews presented assembly today, and what a beautiful job they did in presenting the story of the birth of Christ, the reason for Christmas, today.  They were all dressed in wonderful costumes and truly presented in the spirit of the Christmas season, so congratulations to Miss Masatto and the Year 2 Curlews for a beautiful assembly! 

Next week is the last week to take in donations to school for the St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal as these boxes will be collected on Friday.  It’s great to see people's generosity with some boxes filling very quickly! 

There is still plenty on next week, and we’ve got our fingers and toes crossed for some good weather so that our ‘O Holy Night’ event can still go ahead.  We are also looking forward to Monday’s End of Year Mass / Year 6 Rite of Passage, where all families are invited to attend.

The parish has asked if there are any students from our parish schools who would be interested in singing at the Christmas Eve Vigil Mass or the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass.  If your child sings in the choir and would be interested in participating, please let myself know via email at nchristie2@stbenedicts.catholic.edu.au and I could forward your details to the organisers.

Finally, thanks for another big year at St Benedict’s in 2021, I feel like I’m in a privileged position getting to watch our school grow, and as a community I think we can be proud of what we’ve achieved this year.  From my family to yours, I wish you a very merry christmas - enjoy your break and we will see you in 2022!

Pax,

Nick

Step Up Day

We are looking forward to a morning of excitement and activity on Tuesday morning as our students have the opportunity to meet their new teachers and fellow classmates for 2022.  This is often a time of mixed emotions - nerves and anticipation.  These are normal feelings, and are often shared by the classroom teachers, who are eager to meet their new little cherubs and embark on the new journey with parents also.  Tuesday is a time to just meet and have some familiarity ready for next year.  2022 will be the time for the deeper level relationships to be built as we move through the year together.  Please rest assured however, that our teachers work as a team and the support needs for your students will be well communicated, planned for and be implemented as seamlessly as possible.  Until then, let's celebrate the year that has been, embrace the new opportunities and reflect on the journey so far.

End Of Year

With the end of the year upon us, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your engagement with the learning your students have embarked on this year - socially and academically.  As we come to the end of a year, it is a great time to look back at where the journey started.  By knowing where we have been, we can better prepare for where we are going.  This journey cannot take place without our parents supporting their students along the way.  

Blessings to you all for a Happy and Holy Christmas, filled with love and joy.  For those moving on to new horizons, we wish you well and thank you for walking part of your journey with us at St Benny’s.  For all others, and our new families, I look forward to welcoming you all back in 2022.  As you prepare to spend time together this festive season, may the blessing of your children fill your hearts and renew your spirit. “For none is so precious a gift as the life we care for and nurture.  Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him” Psalm 127: 3.

Blessings

Ros

We have provided some instructions on how you can access your child's Semester Two Report using the Compass Parent Portal. Reports will be available on Monday 29 November. If you require any assistance please contact the school office.      

How to Access Your Child’s Semester Report

Please be aware the tuckshop will only be open on Wednesday 1 December with limited menu selection

Closed Thursday and Friday 2 and 3 December 2021

Smart Money Tips for the Silly Season  

With Christmas just around the corner, you may be wondering how to squeeze more from your budget and make the holiday special without going overboard. Here are some useful tips and strategies to help you create a magical Christmas for less:

• Plan: Set your budget for presents, food, decorating, and miscellaneous (like wrapping paper and cards).
• There’s a fantastic free Christmas budget planner at www.mybudget.com.au/christmas-budget-calculator.
• Track: Keep track of what you’re spending so the dollars don’t feel like they’re slipping through your fingers.
• The free Australian app GoodBudget is really helpful for this, and easy to use.
• Presents: Think outside the box for meaningful gifts that don’t cost the earth.
• What can you make yourself? Personalised hampers, candles or soaps, jars of lollies/chocolates, baked goods or treats
• What skill can you share by gifting them personal lessons with you? E.g. teach to play guitar, teach how to knit
• Sentimental gifts can be free/low-cost but priceless in value. E.g. put together a family history, create a photobook or family recipe book, frame an important quote, create a music playlist, fill a jar with notes of memories/inspirational quotes/things you love about the person.
• Find extra cash: If your budget needs a boost, consider:
• Decluttering your home and selling any items in good condition that you no longer want or need
• Pausing, cancelling or downgrading subscriptions temporarily (or permanently) – think gym membership, TV or music streaming services.
• Using loyalty points and old gift cards
• Final tips:
• Avoid the credit trap if you can. Your Christmas Day will feel more special if you’re not worried about how you’ll be able to pay it all off in the future. Budget for what you can afford and give yourself a stress-free Christmas!
• Remember, “It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving” (Mother Teresa). Gifts don’t need to be expensive to be valuable to the recipient. Be thoughtful and get creative to fit in with your budget.
• After school returns in the New Year, start saving for next Christmas! $12.50 put aside each week from early February to early December will add up to $550 for your next Christmas budget!

Saver Plus is a program offering free money training and matched savings for eligible families or individuals to put towards their educational needs. You can find more information at https://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/programs/financial/saver-plus. Saver Plus has helped 50,000 participants nationally to save over $26 million for educational goals in the past 18 years. Enquire through our website if you feel we can also help you.

Jodie Coey-Braddon
Saver Plus Coordinator - Townsville
Mobile: 0418 201 533

Jodie.Coey-Braddon@thesmithfamily.com.au