This week we have completed the final stage of our first five year renewal cycle with Validation on Monday. The panel were quite happy with what we had to present and we have met all the criteria to continue our registration with the Non-State Schools accreditation Board. I look forward to sharing the plans and goals for our next five years once we have received the final Validation Report.

Catholic Secondary College

Sadly I was recently informed by the Townsville Catholic Education Office that the planned opening in 2024 for the adjacent Catholic Secondary College has been postponed. Unfortunately, TCEO was unsuccessful in gaining a Capital Grant through Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) Block Grant Authority and therefore will have to make an application in next year's round of capital applications.

This news is disappointing but I can assure you that the Townsville Catholic Education Office is committed to opening a new Catholic  Secondary College  next door to St Benedict's hopefully in 2025. Our families with students in Year 5 are encouraged to seek a secondary place at any of our other secondary catholic schools where I know you will be welcomed with open arms. 

School fees

Please note that we are aware there are members of our community who are struggling financially and with current cost of living expenses rising, it is impacting families more and more. Please do not ignore school fees invoices and reminders. If you are genuinely struggling to pay fees, please make an appointment with me so you can set up a manageable payment plan before accounts accumulate. TCE has employed a specific person to follow up debts and I would prefer our families did not get to this stage. 

School Disco

Next Thursday, our P&F are hosting a School Disco and this time we are also having a BBQ with sausage sizzle and steak burgers available so bring the family. Please note that this is a parent supervised event, not a drop-off event.

Please have a lovely weekend.

Cheers

Penny

Welcome to the end of Week 4! Our assembly today was led by the 2 Kingfishers on the theme of the Transfiguration of Jesus.  Their prayer was centred around the time that Jesus and his disciples went up to a high mountain, which is a place that is associated with the presence of God.  They talked about how we can find God ourselves in many places if we can sit quietly and listen and open our hearts and minds.  Furthermore, they encouraged us to think about our own quiet and holy places.  

With that thought it mind, I thought I’d share a contemplative practice that you can do where ever you a sitting right now, all you have to do is look out a window:

Windowframe Contemplation

• Look out the nearest window as if it's a painting or photo of a landscape or cityscape.  

• What colors and patterns do you see?  

• If you were a painter or photographer, how would you choose to represent this image?  

• How does the image change when you move slightly forward and backward or take half a step to the right or left?

Eisteddfod

At the end of the term (Week 10), all of our classes will be participating in the Townsville Eisteddfod in the poetry recitation.  Please see the table below with when each class will be competing.  All sections will be at the Townsville Civic Theatre (Boundary Street), and parents and carers are most welcome to attend.  There is a small fee for attending each section. 

Pax,

Nick

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)

Today marks the Census date for the NCCD Process.  NCCD is the process by which data is collected and recorded for those students who are identified as having a disability.  For those students, we as an education provider are then mandated to make and provide appropriate adjustments to the teaching and learning process for students.  This process is undertaken in consultation and collaboration with parents.  Learning adjustments and goals are monitored and reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that the needs of the student are being met.  This process runs from August one year to July the next year.  We thank the parents of students who worked in collaboration with the school to ensure the best outcomes for their children.

Pastoral Care Team

This year, we are pleased to have introduced a Pastoral Care Team of classroom teachers working in collaboration with our school guidance counsellor and the leadership team. Our key focus is to support classroom teachers with continuous improvement of inclusive practices in the classroom, and support the pastoral wellbeing of all students at St Benedict’s. The team are also working on developing a new school wide Health curriculum that links Catholic Social Teachings, Zones of Regulation and our St Benedict’s Way of Peace. Stay tuned for more in 2023! 

P&F News

Term 3 Events: $5 entry per family - No Glow Products on Sale

Disco - Thursday 11th August 6.00 - 7.30pm

Sausage Sizzle & Steak Burgers on Sale

Benny Bake Sale will also be on offer

MS Readathon

August is here!! Let's get reading!! 

The stats so far are:

• 17 students registered!
• $754 out of the $1000 goal raised 
• 37 Books read so far 

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR CHILD OR CHILDREN TO READ and then join our school!

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cross Curriculum Priorities

The last few days I have had the privilege of attending a 'Walk on Country' spirituality retreat with other staff members of Catholic Education. We flew to Winton (Western QLD) and met with local elders of the Koa Country to learn more about ourselves, stories of aboriginal heritage, and a way to move forward in our world. I felt so grateful for the last few days, and I wanted to use this as an opportunity to discuss the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Culture Cross Curriculum Priorities (CCPs) with you. The CCPs are part of the Australian Curriculum and teachers work towards embedding them within their teaching and learning. 

“Through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures cross-curriculum priority, the Australian Curriculum …provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with the ability to see themselves, their identities and cultures reflected in the curriculum; and allows all students to engage in reconciliation, respect and recognition of the world’s oldest continuous living cultures.”

Some ways we at St Benedict’s integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures into our teaching and learning include:

• The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Flags are flown along with the Australian Flag
• Use of Aboriginal Language Maps
• Acknowledgment of Country (Wulgurukaba and Bindal Peoples)
• Celebration of culture
• Bush Tucker Trail
• Connection and Care for Country (links to our eProjects)
• Listening and learning from Aboriginal Eelders and Traditional Owners
• Finding connections between Indigenous Spirituality and Catholic Spirituality
• And many other ways within the classroom

If you have any ideas or connections to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures that you are willing to share, please email myself (arockemer1@stbenedicts.catholic.edu.au), or our Indigenous Education Teacher Lizzy Christie (echristie3@stbenedicts.catholic.edu.au). We would love to hear your stories. The biggest THANK YOU to parents and families who have already shared your knowledge and wisdom with our school community. 

Yours in Learning, 

Aleesha Rockemer

Brighter Lives - Book Donations

Brighter Lives is asking for second hand book donations.  There is a box in the office where you can drop off preloved books.  Please consider donating if you can. 

(Link for more info)

CSPA 2022 Parent Survey on Student Wellbeing and Learning

Have your say on what matters regarding the wellbeing and learning of your child.

For example, has COVID or your partnership with the school affected your child’s wellbeing and learning?

If you are a parent or carer with a child in a Catholic school, CSPA would love to hear from you.

Click on the survey link and share your feedback to assist CSPA in reporting to the Federal Government and Catholic education.

Your feedback will remain anonymous.

Click here for CSPA Parent Survey

Carmel Nash OAM

Executive Director

Catholic School Parents Queensland

Level 2, Penola Place
143 Edward Street, Brisbane Qld 4000
GPO Box 2410 Brisbane Qld 4001
Ph:(07) 3905 9735  Mob: 0421 633 915

www.cspq.catholic.edu.au     

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Hello,

We warmly welcome teachers, support staff, parents and carers to attend our disability networking event Ready-Set-Connect being held in Townsville on Wednesday 17 August from 10:00am – 12:30pm.  

Ready-Set-Connect is an informative (and fun!) event based on a speed dating format.  It connects teachers, support coordinators, parents and carers of people living with disability with NDIS disability service providers.

National and local service providers will be sharing information about their services and products. The event will help you keep in touch and up to date with services in your local community. In the space of a little over two hours, you will build your connections and get to meet and know a variety of providers servicing your region.

It's FREE for Attendees! Come and join us.  Let us know you are coming by registering as an Attendee.

Here are the event details. Click on the link below to register as an Attendee for the event:

Hope to see you there.

Regards,

I am available Monday - Thursday. On Fridays contact info@onecommunity.net.au

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