Benny’s next building project

At the beginning of this week I went to Brisbane with the Townsville Catholic Education Facilities Administrator, Tom Eldridge to pitch QCEC for our next building project due to happen next year. We expect to be building another block of four classrooms next to Yellow Block, completing Orange Block with two more classrooms and some toilets and creating another multipurpose space between Orange Block.  The new classroom block will be where music will move to along with some smaller spaces for Instrumental music lessons and some more spaces for visiting specialists like Occupational Therapists and Speech Pathologists. This will be our final building project to meet our Master Plan, giving us space to grow to a primary school for 700 students. Our presentation went really well and I feel relatively confident that we will be successful. We will occupy these new spaces in 2024.

Report Cards

Best wishes to our teachers who have worked so professionally over the last few weeks preparing Semester 1 report cards. Reports will be released to parents on Monday 20 June through Compass. 

Ecofest and Athletics Carnival

During the last week of school this term, we will be hosting our annual Ecofest on Wednesday 22 June from 11.30am -12.30pm. This event is always well supported by the wider community and each year the event offers something different so if you can come along, please do. Our Athletics carnival will be held on the last day of term from 9.00am til about 1.00pm. Again, all families are welcome. 

This coming week I am away again for a Qld Catholic Primary Principals Association Conference in Yeppoon from Wednesday to Friday. I am particularly looking forward to hearing from Adam Voight from Real Schools who is one of the keynote speakers. 

Have a fabulous week. 

Cheers

Penny

Welcome to the end of Week 8! 5/6 Jellyfish presented assembly on the theme of Pentecost, with last Friday being the Catholic Churches celebration of Pentecost.  Pentecost celebrates the day that the Holy Spirit came to the apostles and was then able to speak through the apostles, helping them to guide people as Jesus did.  We believe that the Spirit filled them with the gifts they needed to spread Jesus’ message.  Our Jellyfishes prayer asked that these gifts, including wisdom, courage and understanding, might fill our hearts so that through our words and deeds we may be shining examples of Jesus’ love, bringing hope to the world.  

ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

Our Athletics carnival is fast approaching and students have been working hard to practice some of our new field events that we are offering this year, including high jump and long jump.  Next week, our students born in 2013-2010 will be taking part in some “pre-events” for the athletics carnival on Thursday and Friday afternoon.

On the last Friday of the term, June 24, we are holding our annual athletics carnival, which ALL students (including our friends from Kindy) will be attending.  Parents are invited to bring a chair and enjoy the races from the mound on Athletics carnival day.  I’ve added to my section this week an outline on when the sprints will be occurring throughout the day - please note, these are a guide, and exact times may change on the day.

Please be note that parents/carers are very welcome to take their students home with them prior to the end of the day, however, are required to be signed out through Mrs Swanson who will be set up on the oval.

Pax

Nick

End of Term Activities

As we head into the last 2 weeks of our first half of the year (can you believe it) there are lots of things happening.

In Week 9 we have another class assembly and open classroom showcase with Prep Koalas on assembly and 3 Kookaburras opening their doors.

In week 10 we have the EcoFest on Wednesday 22nd and then the Athletics Carnival on Friday 24th June.

Sausage Sizzles

The P&F will be supporting both these events with a Sausage Sizzle.  Purchase and Payment will be through the FlexiSchools App (Link Here).

EcoFest is just a Sausage in Bread ($2)

Athletics Carnival is a Sausage in Bread and a Popper ($4)

Any helpers to flip sausages on both days are welcomed.  Please just approach the BBQ and offer to lend a hand.  Even just 10minutes makes the load easier.

P&F Raffle - Get your entry in the draw now!!  Drawn when all tickets are sold.  

Let’s aim for before the end of Term 2.  Don’t miss out!! https://townsvilletickets.com.au/event/15974

Report Cards - available Monday 20th June

At St Benedict’s, student achievement is recognised and celebrated in many ways throughout the school year; at informal meetings, parent/teacher interviews, through class work, and through written reports.

Semester One Student Reports will be available via the Compass Portal on Monday 20th June. We will also have parent/teacher interviews again towards the end of next term. Interviews are a great opportunity to meet with teachers to have further discussion about your child’s progress. More information about interviews will come next term.

Written report cards are one source of feedback about student progress and achievement, attitude, behaviour, and effort. These reports reflect your child’s current progress on their journey towards the Achievement Standard in the Australian Curriculum.

The Federal Government mandates that all Year 1 to 10 report cards must give an overall grade on a five point scale. Prep and Year 1 are reported using the following grades: ‘Applying (AP), Making Connections (MC), Working With (WW), Exploring (EX), or Becoming Aware (BA). Year 2 to 10 are reported using the grades A, B, C, D or E. The second page of the report card will have further information and explain what each grade means. Please note, that a ‘WW’ shows the child can work with the relevant year level curriculum, and a ‘C’ shows that a student’s work typically demonstrates a sound level of knowledge and understanding of concepts, facts and procedures, and application of processes. Essentially, A ‘WW’ or ‘C’ shows that they have achieved the relevant year level curriculum that is being assessed - this means the student’s have achieved well for their year level. An ‘EX’ or ‘BA’ and a ‘D’ or ‘E’ indicates students are demonstrating some or limited understanding of the required knowledge for the relevant year level curriculum that is being assessed. A ‘MC’ or ‘AP’ and a ‘B’ or ‘A’ shows they are working at a higher and deeper level with the relevant year level curriculum that is being assessed.

Along with a grade, students will be reported on their ‘Personal Effort’ for each Learning Area. You will be told if your child ‘applies commitment to learning’ rarely, sometimes, usually or consistently. This demonstrates the amount of effort your child has put into each Learning Area and if they have tried their absolute best. As parents and teachers, we need to know that if a student is working to the best of their ability with a ‘Usually’ or a ‘Consistently’ then we should be proud of them regardless of the Achievement grade on their report card. If they have received a ‘Rarely’ or ‘Sometimes’ then they need to put more effort into their work, participation levels, and/or behaviour within that specific Learning Area.

All of us understand our own children’s strengths and weaknesses, the things that make them unique, their special interests and their attitudes. Please remember that the Semester Report Card is one form of feedback about your child’s achievement and progress at school.

As always, if you have any further questions or concerns about Semester Report cards please see your classroom teacher.

Yours in Learning, 

Aleesha Rockemer

(Learning and Teaching Adviser)

Compass - Parent Portal - Semester One Reports

We have provided some instructions on how you can access your child's Semester One Report using the Compass Parent Portal. Reports will be available on Monday 20th June. If you require any assistance please contact the school office.      

How to Access Your Child’s Semester Report