I am so excited to officially advise you that we have been successful in gaining funding for our final building project through Qld State Governments, Block Grant Authority. We received the official letter this week. Our final project will include two additional classrooms for Orange Block, a new block of four classrooms, next two Yellow Block which will be Sky Blue (referred to as Sky Block) and a multi-purpose block. 

The multi-purpose block will have two classrooms that will open up to an undercover area and will most likely be used as another Arts (Music, Dance, Drama) performance type space. The multi-purpose block will also have some small rooms for specialists like visiting OT’s and Speech Therapists to use as well as space for our Guidance Counsellors. On the other side behind the classrooms, we’ll have some spaces for instrumental music lessons and some storage. We also have a space for an event type canteen that can be used when using our undercover space for events like school discos or athletic carnivals on the oval. We have a walkthrough video we’ll share with you soon once we have added some audio to explain the different components.

In addition to the buildings for our final build for the masterplan, Townsville City Council has placed conditions on the development application to construct extensive road works which support community needs. I’m sure you will all be as relieved as I am that we are getting traffic lights at the Shaw Rd/ Bishop Putney Avenue. Shaw Rd will then have double lanes and turning lanes constructed as part of our project. We will be building a round-about at the entrance to our school which will also service the high school entrance when it is built. 

While this is all very exciting and well and truly needed, it is going to create an interesting year for us in 2023 as we navigate all the changes that need to be put in place to allow the roadworks and building construction to happen. I have included a letter from Townsville Catholic Education’s, Facilities Administrator, Tom Elderidge whom I will liaise with throughout the construction process-which will take place over most of at least the first half of 2023. There will be staging for managing traffic with the first stage being the construction of a temporary access road through the proposed secondary school ground from the Greater Ascot intersection and back out that way too. I will ensure to provide clear and regular communication regarding this much anticipated project.

Thank you to our community for your donations towards Catholic Mission from our Crazy Socktober. We want to ‘Sock it to Poverty!’

Please have a lovely weekend.

Cheers

Penny

It’s dark, wet and windy outside my office - no doubt the kids are all very excited to see a bit of rain and we’re probably in for a crazy sort of a day!  Year 1 Possums led us on assembly today on the theme of Mission Month.  It was a very special prayer today which focussed on caring for our global community.  This year, Catholic Mission Australia are focussing fundraising efforts on a community in Emdibir, Ethiopia, where money raised goes towards the purchase and care of goats within this community to ensure appropriate food and nutrition, especially for infants. The Possums prayed that God might fill our hearts with the Holy Spirit so that we will act justly to rid the world of all that harms our brothers and sisters.  

As a school we have raised around $400, which can go towards a caretaker on the farm for 6 months!

 I’ve linked a video below if you’d like to see more about the work that Catholic Mission Australia do.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8Vf7DfU1fg

Pax,

Nick

Before School Drop Off / After School Pick Up

As we come to the end of the year, we have noticed an increase in the number of students being dropped to school before 8am.  Please note, supervision of students does not commence until 8am.  No students should be dropped off and left unsupervised prior to 8am.

Similarly, supervision is provided until 3.25/ 3.30pm of an afternoon in the pick up zone.  Students would be collected by this time.  We do have an Outside School Hours Care Program that can be utilised for students who need additional supervision outside of these times.  The Upper Ross PCYC has indicated that should there be enough interest or numbers, then can offer a shuttle bus for pick up and drop off.

Prep Vision Screening

Thanks to all those families who registered for the screening.  This will take place on Wednesday and Thursday next week.  Check out “What is Prep Vision Screening?” from Children's Health Queensland on Vimeo.  The video is available for your viewing pleasure at https://vimeo.com/720842367

Seasons for Growth- (repeated information)

Change and loss are issues that affect all of us at some stage in our lives. At St Benedict’s Catholic School, we recognise that when

changes occur in families through death, separation, divorce or related circumstances, young people may benefit from learning how to manage these changes effectively. We offer a very successful education program called Seasons for Growth and will continue in 2023. This program is facilitated in small groups and is based on research that highlights the importance of social support and the need to practise new skills to cope effectively with change and loss. The program focuses on issues such as self-esteem, managing feelings, problem-solving, decision-making, effective communication and support networks. The Seasons for Growth Group is co-facilitated by Guidance Counsellor, Barbara Salisbury and Pastoral Care Coordinator Rhylie Mathiesen.  If you would like to know more information or request an expression of interest for your child to be involved in 2023 please contact Rhylie Mathiesen.  (rmathiesen1@stbenedicts.catholic.edu.au) 

Aussie Backyard Bird Count

Do you need something to do this weekend? Spend 20 minutes of your weekend participating in the ‘Aussie Bird Count!’ There is lots of learning involved here. Your children can be involved in observing nature (Science), counting and grouping birds (Maths and Science), reading and researching types of birds using the Bird Finder (English, Science, ICT skills). You might also like to keep the learning going with: 

• an Art activity using birds as inspiration (drawing, painting, clay/playdough)
• writing a story about birds (create a book using blank paper and a stapler)
• reading books about birds (visit your local library)
• watch a documentary about birds

Spark your child’s curiosity - will you still see birds if it is raining? Where do they go when it’s raining? 

If you choose to participate this weekend please email photos to me at arockemer1@stbenedicts.catholic.edu.au and I would love to put them in next week’s newsletter!