St Benedict's Catholic School Shaw eNewsletter

This week you may have felt bombarded with news about the impact of student behaviour in Australian schools at the moment as the OECD ‘Education Policy Outlook in Australian Education’ Report was dissected in the media. There is no doubt that schools have become complex communities that bear the weight of any issues within society and especially over the last 10 years since the first policy profile. If you are interested, please see this link as I am sure this report will be something school sectors reflect on as we continue to address school improvement each year. I certainly recognise the behavioural concerns schools have that are impacting student engagement in learning, student success and teacher wellbeing. I do believe that consistent work and commitment amongst us all in a school community (students, parents and staff) can assist in creating a safe learning environment where we respect our school values of Love, Learning, Community and Stewardship.

At the end of Mass last week at the Ryan Community Centre, Fr Joseph concluded with the Recessional Hymn ‘You’ll know we are Christians by our Love’. This is one of my favourite hymns and is quite aspirational for how I would love to have people think about our school ie. I recognise that we are not all Christians (or men) but it is the sentiment of how our school community could be that inspires me. As we have already begun initial planning for 2024, I look forward to creating more opportunities for our community to work together to discern ways forward.

Lyrics

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord

And we pray that our unity will one day be restored

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love

Yeah they'll know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side

And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love

Yeah, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Peter Scholtes

They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love lyrics © O/B/O Apra Amcos

Today our teachers are all engaged in professional development regarding the latest version of the Australian Curriculum and our school officers are engaged in a professional learning experience with Timothy O’Donnell from the Townsville Hospital and Health Service regarding Complex Trauma and its impact in the classroom. While we appreciate the challenges of student free days for families, they are vital for the continued professional learning of our staff.

I would like to congratulate all our students who competed in the Festival of Sport yesterday with teams in Oz Tag, Soccer, Basketball and Netball representing our school in an inter-school competition. I would also like to wish all of our fathers and father figures a very Happy Father’s Day on Sunday. I hope you are all well looked after and enjoy the treasures your children have created for you this week.

Cheers

Penny

Carpark and Parking

Mendi are undertaking the bitumen seal works on Dalrymple Road and Bishop Putney Avenue on TUESDAY 5th September and they are worried about overspray on vehicles if they remain in their current parking location for the day as the wind picks up.

Mendi have proposed to block off the current teachers temporary car park on the afternoon of the 4th September and to ensure the carpark on the south of the access road is graded and set up with bollards / flagging etc. Teachers will access a temporary site on Tuesday on the left hand side as we enter the school car park.

Additionally the school’s Northern Carpark in front of the kindy will be closed from 4am til 7am to avoid overspray from Bishop Putney Avenue. There will be bollards in place for the period of the closure.

This is also a great opportunity to remind everyone about patience, courtesy and safety when using the school carpark. The allocated spaces we have are our full allocation. Some carpark have been closed due to the works and this is the reason that the staff are using the temporary carpark. Please ensure that you are not parking in areas that are blocked out our adjacent to the centre turning circle on the striped areas. The safety of our students is paramount. Please also consider coming a little later in the afternoon. We have Leadership Team staff on duty everyday till around 3.30pm. Often times by 3.20pm we are waiting for cars to arrive with no congestion. This makes using the Pick Up Zone quick and easy. We cannot get 550 students into cars and out the gate all at the same time.

Carpark_Etitquette_1_.pdf

Blessings

Ros

It’s crazy to think that we only have 2 weeks left on this term, I feel like this it’s really been a “blink and you’ll miss it” type of term!

Now that we are in September, we’ve moved into the Churches ‘Season of Creation’. In this season we look to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration and commitment together. We join with churches (beyond just the Catholic church) in prayer and action for our common home. The season is a month-long celebration where the world’s 2.2 billion Christians come together to care for our common home.

At St Benedict’s we use this season as an opportunity to make very clear links between the wonderful environmental initiatives that every year level has and our Catholic Identity. In particular we look at our Value of Stewardship, and how we have been called by God to be stewards of creation. Our initiatives are wonderful in their own right, but when we link them with our Catholic Identity, they can become even more powerful by showing our students how they can live their faith in caring for creation.

I have attached this week a way of praying in and for creation. It is a very simple form of prayer and one you can do almost anywhere - it might even be nice as a family to do whilst in the yard or at a park, or anywhere for that matter!

Pax,

Nick

Parent/Teacher Interviews this Week

A reminder that Parent-Teacher Interviews will be held this Tuesday 5th September and Wednesday 6th September in the Hall. Please check your compass app for the time you have booked.

Pupil Free Day - Reflective Practice

We hope your children had a fantastic pupil free day today. While they enjoyed their day off, our dedicated teachers were engaged in professional development activities, aimed at enhancing their knowledge of curriculum and teaching practices. They delved into the New Australian Curriculum and specifically focused on English, particularly Writing, in line with our School Improvement Plan.

In addition to this, our teachers had the opportunity to engage in professional conversations and networking with teachers from St Anthony's Catholic College, one of our neighbouring schools. This collaboration allows us to share insights and learn from each other's experiences, ultimately benefiting our students.

Yours in Learning,

Aleesha Rockemer

Learning and Teaching Adviser

In this edition of SchoolTV - NEURODIVERSITY

Neurodiversity emphasises the natural variation in how an individual's brain functions and how they perceive and interact with the world, leading to diverse ways of learning and communicating. While most young people are neurotypical, some exhibit variations in brain development, such as ADHD, autism or dyslexia, making them neurodivergent.

Embracing neurodiversity involves accepting, celebrating, and supporting neurodivergent children and adolescents without attempting to change or treat their differences. Using respectful language, challenging unhelpful attitudes, avoiding assumptions, and actively promoting inclusivity can help embrace neurodiversity effectively.

Acknowledging the unique ways neurodiverse young people do things and then adapting tasks and activities to ensure their full participation will encourage them to develop strategies that feel natural to them. It will help improve their mental health, wellbeing and sense of self. By recognising and nurturing their strengths, parents and caregivers can contribute to building an inclusive and compassionate society where all young people can thrive.

Learning more about neurodiversity, equips caregivers with insights into effective communication techniques, educational strategies, and parenting approaches tailored to the specific needs of their neurodivergent child.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the Neurodiversity edition of SchoolTV
https://stbenedicts.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/neurodiversity

Yours in Support

Rhylie Mathiesen

Pastoral Care Coordinator

2023_National_Child_Protection_Week.pdf