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Assemblies are back
After cancelling all our assemblies for Term 1, to allow more teaching time due to the persistent impacts of Covid, we finally had our first assembly for the year this morning. Our Year 5 /6 Turtles were the first group and they did a fabulous job, showing such confidence in speaking, singing with actions and they also demonstrated some pride in their roles as school leaders. It was also so wonderful to see so many parents come along ready to participate in the Class Showcases after Assembly. Thank you to our Year 5 /6 Turtles parents and our Prep Platypus families for coming along to see some learning time. Each week, two classes will invite parents to participate in this so please keep up with reading your class newsletters so you don’t miss out.
Prep Enrolments 2023
This week we have been very busy with enrollment interviews for our incoming 2023 Prep students. We continue to be well oversubscribed with applications for the number of places we can offer. Please remember that while we do give priority to families with siblings coming in, that is based on having your application in before we send out the first round of offers which will be done in about two weeks time. So if you have a child you are expecting to come to Prep next year, please ensure your enrolment applications are received as soon as possible.
Year 4 Camp
We are so pleased our Year 4 students were all able to participate in camp at the Gumburu Environmental Centre at Paluma over the last two weeks especially after the first group had to postpone due to the crazy weather last Tuesday. School camps are such a wonderful experience for children and we really get to see them flourish in a new environment often challenging them outside their comfort zone. We are incredibly proud of our students for participating as well as they have. I am also ever so grateful to our staff; both teachers and school officers who give so much of their own time to make these experiences a reality.
NAPLAN
Next week our Year 3 and Year 5 students will participate in the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). This is an assessment that is done with most students in Years 3,5 7 & 9 across Australia. While it is an important test and we want to create the best opportunities for success, it is just a point in time assessment and we do not want our students to feel too pressured. We only ask that they take their time, read the questions carefully and do the best they can. Parents can support students at home with these same messages and ensuring a good night’s sleep each night and a hearty breakfast to fuel the brains. All the best to all of our students.
Hats and jumpers
Please have a check with your children’s hats as many of the name labels are difficult to read after lots of sweaty days and as we approach cooler weather, please ensure you have a school jacket.
Mother’s Day
Best wishes to all our mothers and special mother figures this weekend as we celebrate Mother’s Day. May God bless you all for the love, care and compassion you show to others.
Have a fabulous week.
Cheers
Penny
Welcome to the end of Week 3! Assemblies made a comeback for the first time at St Benedict’s in 2022 and it was great to have our 5/6 Turtles lead us so wonderfully in prayer on the theme of Easter - Jesus’ resurrection, which we celebrated a few weeks ago on Easter Sunday (many of us with chocolate eggs and bunnies!) The prayer today centred on Jesus sharing his new life with us, which should fill us with joy and hope, and how we can show God’s love through our words and actions towards others. We are still currently in the Church's liturgical season of Easter, which is marked as a time of joy and hope in the Church.
The start of assemblies also saw our PEACE showcases resume, and this week, the Turtles were focussing on Persistence. They talked about how sometimes they find this hard and this puts them in a bad mood, whether it be work or something else - but they focussed on the value of being able to be persistent by ‘shaking those bad vibes off’ - and how good this can make us feel when we really keep at it! Certainly a great message for our students (and us adults too!)
Before I go, a big Happy Mother’s Day to all those mums (and people performing the mum duties) out there - and to my own mum and my wife! Where would we be without our mums!
Pax
Nick
As we head into week 4 I wish our year 3 and 5 students, and their teachers, the very best of luck in NAPLAN. Our teachers have prepared the students well so they know what to expect, and without overwhelming them with NAPLAN talk day in and day out. All we hope from our year 3 and 5 students is that they are well rested, have a healthy breakfast, and try their very best each day (as we expect for any other Assessment). The St Benedict's community knows that our students shine in many ways, NAPLAN is just a one point in time Assessment.
At home, you can help your children prepare for NAPLAN by:
- Discussing NAPLAN as just a test that they have to do to help their teachers understand them better. The test will help their teachers know what the students already know and what they need to learn. You can also let them know that you will receive a report for the tests, but you just want to know that they have tried their absolute best.
- Helping them go to bed on time
- Helping them wake up on time and have a stress free morning routine
- Helping them prepare a healthy breakfast
- Packing a healthy brain break and lunch
Thank you for your continued support as we journey together to help each child learn to the best of their abilities.
Yours in Learning,
Aleesha Rockemer
(Learning and Teaching Adviser)
We invite you for feedback on the below link.
Parenting Ideas - A Mother's Day Message for Dads
https://www.parentingideas.com.au/schools/insight/a-mothers-day-message-for-dads/
North Australian Festival of Arts
Good Afternoon,
The North Australian Festival of Arts is almost here again! Running from 10 June – 10 July, 2022 we have an amazing line-up up of kids shows scheduled with spaces filling up quickly for school and vacation care groups.
Attached is our children’s show schedule. Shows in pink are during term and will be offered at an extra discounted rate of $10pp. All other shows are run during school holidays and will be $12.50pp for group bookings of 10 or more. We have limited spaces for our larger groups – so please reach out and secure your spot now. All shows are for the recommended age group of 3 – 10 years.
If you would like any further information on the shows – please feel free to reach out via Nafa@townsville.qld.gov.au. For expressions of interest and more information on bookings, please fill out the following - https://fs6.formsite.com/townsvillecc/jvprxb3c0v/index.html
Kind Regards,
ToniLee Luck
Head Partnerships & Hospitality
North Australia Festival of Arts
P 07) 44175055 M 0467677072 E tonilee.luck@townsville.qld.gov.au
Level 2, 143 Walker Street. Townsville QLD 4810
PO Box 1268, Townsville QLD 4810