St Benedict's Catholic School Shaw eNewsletter

Term 4 is certainly flying by as we make our way into Week 6. Students have been busy with assessment and the teachers are starting the end of year reporting process.

StemMad Winners

At the assembly last week we congratulated Mrs Pemberton and Mrs Lucey and the Year 5 and 6 students on their StemMad entry - Junior Bushrangers. It is very clear that they have all worked incredibly hard to showcase the MAD - Making a Difference in the world by acting for justice and the common good.

This is the very first entry to STEM MAD National and it is exceptionally innovative and creative. We look forward to their work being presented at the national competition event in November and we will now liaise with the STEM MAD coordinators to work towards the students attending the showcase in 2024 in Brisbane.

Cooper Stokes

We celebrate Year 3 student Cooper Stokes as Cooper and his Dad are in Shepparton for Cooper to race in the Australian Championships for BMX, which will then determine if he qualifies for the world championship in America next year. His race in Shepparton is on Friday 3 November. We wish you all the best Cooper. The St Benny’s community is behind you!

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal Launch

On Wednesday, I was privileged to accompany two of our Year 6 students, Maddy N and Emily R to St Joseph’s the Strand for the annual St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal Launch.

St Joeys hosted a lovely liturgy, with Bishop Tim and Fr Rod Ward presiding.

The launch signals the start of our good works at St Benedict’s towards helping many families in the wider community to experience the joy of Christmas.

It is always a lovely occasion and an excellent reminder to us that we are all responsible for doing what we can to make the world a better place.

Building and Roadworks update

The building and roadworks plans are progressing well and we are now heading into the final stages.The roadworks are planned to be completed at the end of our schooling year and we should be able to have some extra parking made available for O Holy Night while this final stage of the process happens.

D Block is planned to be ready for our Step Up Day on Tuesday 28 November.

Furniture has been ordered and is currently being stored and will be ready for our rooms once they are ready. It has been a smooth process and we are grateful to Simon Bell constructions for their excellent work. The whole build process will hopefully be completed around Christmas time.

We are very keen to see the end product and to use these wonderful new spaces.

Blessings.

We’re at the end of Week 5, and now more than half way through the term! Last Week, our Year 1 Wallabies presented their assembly on World Teachers’ day, and presented beautifully about the gifts that their teachers have brought to them. Today the Prep Koalas presented their assembly on ‘All Saint’s Day. Many people in the last week may have celebrated Halloween. All Saints day, a Catholic celebration, pre-dates Halloween, and is the tradition where families would remember all the people who are no longer with us, and remember how their lives have made a positive influence on those who have followed. Many of us would have heard of famous saints (e.g. St Benedict), but this feast also reminds us that we are all saints, and that we can be saint-like by striving each day to make a difference to our world.

Remembrance Day Assembly

At next week's assembly, our liturgy will be on ‘Remembrance Day’. Students from our defence families will be leading us in prayer. ALL members of our school community are invited to attend, in the Hall at 8:45am. Please note that Miss Leza will also be selling merchandise each morning in the Hall for Remembrance Day

A note from the parish - Altar Servers

Our parish is seeking interest for students who would like to assist the Parish by becoming Altar Servers during weekend masses. This opportunity is open for those students who have already received the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Communion and Confirmation. If your child might be interested in becoming an Altar Server, please contact me on nchristie2@stbenedicts.catholic.edu.au and I will be able to support this further.

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

We will again be supporting the St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal this year. There will be baskets placed in each pod, as well as in the office for collection. We will then organise collection by our local chapter, who will then create and deliver hampers to families in our community who have called upon Vinnies for a hand-up over this time of the year. The Vincentians and the families who receive these hampers are grateful for the support. A reminder, to uphold the dignity of those receiving the hamper, please ensure that all food items are not due to expire for at least 6 months and are non-perishable and undamaged.

End of Year Events

Please see some posters below with further details surrounding some of our End of Year events.

Pax,

Nick

Parish_term4wk5.pdf

Planning Days - Using Data to Inform Instruction

During the next few weeks, our teachers are taking part in planning days to ensure we have the best possible start in 2024. During this time, our teachers collaborate with each other, myself, and our Inclusive Education Officer (Laura King), to gather school wide data, select the best teaching strategies, and plan for engaging and student-centered learning experiences according to the Australian Curriculum. Having school wide data collected and shared among our staff, enables us to begin to know our students from day 1 and set them up for learning success.

Yours in Learning,

Aleesha Rockemer

Learning and Teaching Adviser

Year 1 Echidna's have been exploring poetry in English. They particularly enjoyed writing acrostic poems. Below is a picture of the students with the acrostic poem that they wrote using the letters in their name.