It’s the end of Week 3 and we’re really starting to get into the swing of the term.  I’ve been away from school at the end of this week with Mr Dempsey attending an Enhancing Catholic School Identity Professional Development.  Working with our peers, we have been designing strategies to grow our schools' Catholic Identities, and we look forward to taking this back to school.

Next week we see the beginning of the Catholic season of Lent, which is of great importance in the Catholic calendar.

Shrove Tuesday

On Tuesday, 13th February it is Shrove Tuesday (often referred to as Pancake Tuesday), which marks the day BEFORE the season of Lent begins.  This celebration came about with the custom of using up all of the fattening ingredients people had in the house before lent, so they can fast during the season of lent -  Our St Benedict’s P&F have organised the delivery of pancakes to classrooms on the morning of Shrove Tuesday - a big thank you to the P&F and Mrs Baumann for ensuring this tradition continues.  This year, we are asking families, if they can, to bring in a gold coin donation, with the proceeds going towards Project Compassion, our diocesan fundraiser during the season of Lent.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday this year is on Wednesday 14th February.  We will be breaking into 2 groups, Prep - Year 2 and Year 3- Year 6 to take part in Ash Wednesday liturgies at around 2:00pm.  Members of the leadership team will be partaking in each of these different liturgies.  This important celebration marks the beginning of the Catholic season of Lent.  During this celebration, students will have crosses marked on their forehead with ashes (from last year's palms of Palm Sunday). Students will be learning more about Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent in Religious Education classes throughout the week.

DATE CLAIMER

Our assemblies this year will remain on a Friday at 8:45am in the Hall.  These will begin in Week 5, Friday 23rd Feb.  Our Beginning Year Liturgy will be taking place on Friday 16th Feb at 9:00am in the Hall - our entire school community are invited to attend this event.  I would particularly like to extend a welcome to our parents of Year 6 children, as we will be recognising them as leaders in front of the school for 2024.

Assembly Timetable - Term 1 ***Please not there is a change between Year 6 Scorpions and Year 6 Crocodiles assembly times.

Pax,

Nick 

Staff Professional Development

Over the past 3 weeks, whilst supporting the students to settle into class and routines, our teachers have also been working hard in the background.  

Our Year 4 teachers have attended the Gumburu Education Training centre preparing for Camp later in the year.  This is a two day training over a Friday and a Saturday.  Thanks to our teachers for giving up their family time to attend.

Our Early Career Teachers have attended a conference to provide support to continue to do their amazing work with our students.

Our Prep - Year 2 Teachers have been engaging in the Early Years Screening tests to assist with gathering vital information that helps guide the learning and teaching for each student.

Ms Leza Triffitt, our Defence Support Mentor will also attend the DSM Networking and professional development day in the coming weeks.

The whole staff have also engaged in Student Protection Training with members of the Townsville Catholic Education Office Student Protection Team.

P&F News

Shrove Tuesday

Our P&F will be making pancakes again this year as for Shrove Tuesday.  There will be a cooking session on Monday afternoon from 3.00pm til around 4.30pm.  Volunteers are invited to attend and assist for as long or short a time they can manage.

Pancakes will be delivered to classrooms on Tuesday.  

Families are invited to bring in a Gold Coin Donation for 

Project Compassion to assist others who are in need.

Year Level Meet and Greets

As a way to build community and help parents get to know each other, we will be hosting some Year level get togethers.  This will be a relaxed way to bring the kids and a plate of food to share whilst having some time to chat with other parents from your child’s year level.

More information about dates and times will follow soon.

Disco

We are planning a Disco for the end of term 1.  The proposed date is Wednesday 27th March.

There will be 2 locations operating at the same time - The Hall and the new Undercover area near the Performing Arts Rooms.  We will split the year levels from Prep - 2 and then 3-6 between the 2 locations.  A sausage sizzle will be available on the night - volunteers welcomed.  

Entry is $5 per family.  These events are parent supervised.  Siblings only if attending the Kindy.

Mother’s Day

After taking on parent feedback, this year we are trialling a ‘stall’ of sorts.  We will have silk flowers available for purchase at a cost of $2.50 each.  There will be a limited number of flowers for purchase before school in the week leading up to Mother’s Day.  Students will still make their handmade gifts in class to bring home also.  Plans for a community gathering such as the Wine and Cheese Night or similar are underway.  Details will come closer to the date.

Homework and Reading

“Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or a duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift.” (Carl Sagan)

As you know, we do not have homework at St Benedict’s, however we DO expect all of our students to be reading (or read to) at home every day - this is not considered homework, but an action that is integral to learning and life skills.

Year 1 - Year 2 students have started to take home decodable books and authentic texts to read or be read to. Prep students will start taking decodable books home from Term 2. Decodable home reading books, and other authentic texts (good books), are sent home each week during Library time. Please help your child to remember to bring back their library books/bag every week. 

Year 3 - Year 6 students are asked to read ANY book that is of interest to them. Choosing books and developing a love for reading is a skill that needs to be nourished. At home, you can help your child find books/texts to read by: 

• Helping your child to remember to bring back their library books every week (unless it’s a novel they are still reading)
• Know your child’s library day, and show them how interested you are when they bring a new book home
• Model reading at home
• Do you have texts around your house? (Magazines, newspapers, books, catalogs etc)? In a digital world, children are seeing less and less adults reading. How can you change this? 
• Go to your city library (Riverway, Townsville City, or Aitkenvale)

Reading at home is one of the most important things you can be doing for your child’s education. In the words of Dr Seuss “You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.”

Yours in Learning, 

Aleesha Rockemer 

APPL

Townsville Catholic Education Office has approved an additional professional development day in 2024.  The date will be Friday 26th April, 2024 and will be a pupil free day. This day follows on from the ANZAC day public holiday on Thursday 25th April. The reason for granting this additional professional development day is to provide the time and opportunity for all teachers to prepare for the implementation of V9.0 of the Australian Curriculum at the commencement of 2025. This planning day will focus on supporting teachers to have a deep understanding of the changes to content and assessment from the current Australian Curriculum to the newly revised curriculum.  There is much planning already occurring in all schools to ensure all teachers are well placed to provide rich learning experiences for their students.  This additional professional development day (pupil free day) will only occur in 2024.

Information about Compass Kiosk in the Office for parents.

If your child is LATE, after 8.30am it is a requirement that a parent or guardian must sign the child in via the Compass Kiosk, which is located at the front counter of the Administration Office.  A late slip will be issued to the student to take to the teacher.

EARLY DEPARTURE If you are signing your child out early a parent or guardian will need to sign the student out via the Compass Kiosk.