Reconciliation Action Plan Launch

This week we launched our Reconciliation Action Plan on National Sorry Day. It was a lovely afternoon full of storytelling and a genuine sense of gratitude to be able to embrace some culture in our community. This Reconciliation Action Plan has been four years in the making and I am very grateful to all involved in bringing it to this point. I’d particularly like to acknowledge Lizzie Christie and Jess Smitt who have led this whole process with such passion and commitment. 

Reconciliation Week

We have such a wealth of knowledge and opportunities within our school community to engage with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. Through these families we can build our understanding through stories and interactions that are meaningful for all our students and staff. 

‘When we heal ourselves, we heal our ancestors from wounds that run deep in our family. When we heal our ancestors, we heal the world from wounds that run deep in humanity’ Miriam-Rose

Communication and Complaints

Please understand that we have processes in place for effective communication and procedures for making complaints. If you need to communicate and/ or have questions or concerns about your child’s learning or behaviour within the classroom or playground incidents, please direct these to your class teachers. If you have questions or concerns regarding administrative matters, please direct them to our office staff. If you have questions or concerns about staff, other parents or school matters, please direct them to a member of our leadership team. If you have any issues with other students please discuss them with a staff member and allow them to address it. Please do not address other parents about their children if the issues are school related. Emails and phone calls are preferred.

While our Parent FB page is a great point for communication,especially between parents,  it is not the place to lodge complaints. I’m happy for you to vent frustration there if done fairly and in line with community expectations but if you want to do more than vent, please follow the above communication channels for actual responses. 

Have a fabulous week. Good luck to the Cowboys tonight!

Cheers

Penny

Welcome to the end of Week 6! Our Year 1 Echidnas lead us beautifully in assembly today on the theme of Reconciliation Week.  The prayer asked for God’s strength and grace to welcome, accept and include all people of this land.  They also prayed that the spirit of reconciliation fill our hearts, our minds and our deeds.

On Thursday afternoon some of our St Benedict’s staff and Indigenous families gathered to launch our Reconciliation Action Plan.  We were especially blessed to have Warrant Officer Uncle Dave Boye from the 3rd Brigade attend and share some insights into why ‘Sorry Day’ matters and the connection between the Australian Defence Force and Indigenous Australians.  It was particularly moving when Uncle Dave welcomed ancestors to be with us in our school in language.

It was wonderful to gather as a community and recognise the work of our Indigenous Education Committee, who have worked hard over the last few years to get it  to the point of launch.  It’s certainly fitting that we are now able to launch this document during Reconciliation Week, and something worth celebrating.  In doing so, it also marks a commitment from our school to show the wider community what reconciliation means to us, and the actions we plan on doing to enact this.  I thought it would be fitting to share a part of our Vision for Reconciliation below:

We aim to continually develop shared understandings of the value and respect that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights, histories, cultures and contributions deserve. 

Our Benedictine values of Love, Community, Learning and Stewardship call us:

• To nurture the wellbeing of others

• To lead with an openness of heart and mind

• To listen to one another with consideration

• To promote awareness that we are a part of a larger world

We are committed to building deep interpersonal relationships and partnerships in order to enact varied actions of reconciliation within our community. 

We aim to see God in All of Life. 

Some of the goals within the the action plan include:

• Providing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and children to engage in activities that celebrate their cultural heritage and identities 

• Provide opportunities for staff to build and extend knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures

• Build relationships with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community that are founded on mutual respect, trust and inclusiveness

• Provide opportunities for students and children to extend their knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures

• Ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures are incorporated in curriculum planning, development and evaluation process

Pax

Nick

P&F news

Tuesday 31st May at 7.30pm is the next meeting.  This will be offered in a face to face format at the school, along with an online option for those that cannot make the session but would like to tune in to hear what is discussed.  The P&F is made up of families from our community.  Without those who offer their time and input, the amazing events and opportunities we have would not be possible.  All are welcome to attend and share their ideas.  It is not about being “stuck with a job” or having to take on duties.  We would love to welcome as many members of our community as possible.

National Reconciliation Week

Today we started the week with a wonderful visit from members of the 3rd Brigade Headquarters.  Led by Warrant Officer Uncle Dave Boye, the students were visited by soldiers who were able to outline what it is that 3rd Brigade is doing for Reconciliation Week, their journey in the army thus far and discuss what the students can do in their own context to support reconciliation.  We thank them for their time and all they offer our community.  Our thanks also to Mrs Christie for organising this wonderful visit and bringing life to our values of Community and Stewardship.

Defence School Mentor

Have you met Ms Leza yet?  Not only is she an amazing school officer in Year 1, she is also our Defence School Mentor.  In partnership with Defence Family and Member Support, Ms Leza is here to support defence students with a range of areas including during deployments, training exercises, or any other absences.  Ms Leza is always happy to chat and is also available via email : ltriffitt@stbenedicts.catholic.edu.au  Please feel free to reach out.

Robotics Competition 

This coming Wednesday Mrs Pemberton is taking a group of students to St Anthony’s for a Robotics Competition. Our Year 5/6 students have learnt to use the Lego Spike Prime robotics in Technologies and they are excited to take their learning to the next level and compete against other schools! Extra-curricular activities, such as code club and this robotics competition, allow students to explore interests and create broader perspectives. Recent research also suggests that they may increase students’ sense of engagement or connection with their school, and help to develop students’ critical thinking, social skills, and problem solving skills. We wish our students going to the Robotics Competition best of luck! 

Planning Days

It’s that time of the Term again when teachers are collaborating and working with me on Planning Day! Planning Days are usually on a Friday and all the year level teachers will be released from class on the same day. Planning Days are such a valuable time where cohort teachers can spend time collaboratively reflecting, debriefing, evaluating, and planning to meet our students' needs. 

Yours in Learning, 

Aleesha Rockemer 

(Learning and Teaching Adviser) 

Year 3 Kookaburras have been enjoying their Pastoral Care time with the Prep Koalas every fortnight. This week we participated in National Simultaneous Storytime, created family trees and listened to our buddies read. We can’t wait to share our learning with them soon too.