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What a wonderful start to Term 2 we’ve had. With the weather now being at its best, the children have made a very successful start to the new school term.
It has been an exciting and productive two weeks, and I’d like to take a moment to highlight some of the key events and happenings within our school.
Anzac Day Liturgy and Anzac Day March
I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Mr Todd Daniels, Mrs Leza Triffit, Mrs Ros Baumann, and all our dedicated teachers, staff, and parents for their invaluable involvement and participation in our Anzac Day Liturgy last Thursday and the Anzac Day March on Friday. Your efforts and commitment made these events truly special and meaningful.
Our school’s participation in Anzac Day is not just a reflection of respect for the past, but also a vital opportunity for our students to understand the significance of this day in shaping our nation’s history. Through these ceremonies, we honour the brave men and women who served and sacrificed for our freedom, and it is a powerful reminder of the enduring values of courage, sacrifice, and service.
Anzac Day also holds a special place in our community, as we recognise the incredible contributions made by the families of our Defence Force members. The dedication, resilience, and selflessness of these families continue to inspire us all. We are incredibly proud to have Defence Force families as part of our St Benedict’s community, and we are grateful for the sacrifices they make to ensure our safety and security.
Thank you once again to everyone involved, and may we continue to remember and honour the spirit of Anzac, both on this day and every day.
Parent Teacher Interviews
Our recent Parent Teacher Interviews were a great success, providing an invaluable opportunity for parents and teachers to engage in meaningful conversations about the progress and development of our students. Thank you to everyone who participated. We truly appreciate the commitment and collaboration between our school and families to support the learning journey of our students.
Year 6 Camp at Magnetic Island
A special thanks to our dedicated teachers and staff who gave their time and energy to ensure our Year 6 students had an unforgettable experience at their camp on Magnetic Island last week. The children had a fantastic time and learned many valuable life skills. We are grateful for the support from our teaching staff and the care they provided to our students during this exciting adventure.
Welcoming 2026 Prep Families
This week, we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming our prospective 2026 Prep students and their families to St Benedict's. Our school leadership team has been conducting enrolment interviews, ensuring that we provide a warm and welcoming environment to all new families who may be joining our community. It’s always a joy to see the excitement and enthusiasm in our future students and their families!
Year 6 Senior Student Leaders – A Big Thank You!
A huge thank you to our Year 6 Senior Student Leaders, who played an instrumental role during our school open day. They took prospective families on tours of the school, showcasing everything that makes St Benedict's such a wonderful place to learn. We received many compliments from visiting parents about the leadership and maturity of our Year 6 students. You all did an outstanding job!
Student Free Day - Friday 2nd May
All Townsville Catholic Education Schools will have a student-free day today. This day provides a valuable opportunity for our teachers and staff to continue their professional learning journey and further enhance their teaching skills for the benefit of our students.
Federal Election and How Catholic Schools are funded
As we approach the upcoming Federal Election, it's important to stay informed about the key issues that impact our Catholic schools. One significant resource I encourage all parents and family members to explore is the National Catholic Commission's website.
https://ncec.catholic.edu.au/2025-federal-election/
This platform outlines the commitments from various political parties regarding Catholic education, including how our schools are funded and the ongoing challenges we face.
The website provides clear, factual information that aims to dispel common myths about Catholic education. It addresses the critical aspects of funding and highlights the important role Catholic schools play in nurturing students and supporting communities across Australia.
I strongly encourage you to take the time to read through the materials available on the site. By being well-informed, we can better advocate for the future of Catholic education and ensure that our voices are heard during this pivotal time.
Thank you for your continued support of Catholic education.
St Benedict’s as a Federal Election polling place
For this Federal election St Benedict’s will be used as a polling station. The Australian Electoral Commission will be setting up the polling station on Friday afternoon and will be operating onsite all day Saturday.
Parents and Friends Meeting
The P&F Meeting will be held next Tuesday 6th May at 6.30pm in the School Board room in the Administration Building. All are invited to attend.
St Benedict’s Fun Run
The fun run is next Friday 9th May. The Junior Carnival (P-2) starts at approximately 9.00am and the Senior Carnival (3-6) starts at approximately 10.00am. Please see additional information about the carnival later in this newsletter.
Staff Changes for Term 2
At the end of Term 1, our Year 6 Taipan teacher, Mrs Fran Luyt, moved on from St Benedict’s. Due to the ongoing teacher shortages affecting regional Queensland, we were unable to fill the position in time for the start of the new term. Mrs Kandis Huston has offered to step into the Year 6 role to ensure continuity for our students. As a result, she will be stepping away from her PE teaching duties for the time being but will continue to support the sports management and coordination at St Benedict’s.
God in All of Life
Patrick Dempsey
A big thank you to those parents who have already completed our schools 'ECSI Surveys' (Enhancing Catholic School Identity).
We are still short of the required number to make this data from parents relevant, and as such, we have had the due date for completion of these surveys extended! If you are able, we would appreciate if families could please complete the 5 Surveys around our schools Catholic identity. This data is then used in planning for future years, and so is greatly valued! Please remember, it is not just for Catholic families either, all members from our community are invited to complete the surveys, as recognising the diversity of our families only enriches this data!
Please find attached the note below outlining how to complete these surveys. Again, many thanks in anticipation of those families who are able to complete the surveys, your time is greatly appreciated!
Kind regards,
St Benedict's Leadership Team
To access the surveys go to the following website: https://www.ecsi.
Enter our schools password: Ghj654
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General Sports Updates Cross Country / Fun Run: Please ensure you read all the important event information on the next page to help your child prepare for the day. Interschool Swimming Carnival: We are still awaiting confirmation of the rescheduled date for the Interschool Swimming Carnival. As soon as we receive this information, we will communicate it to families. St Benedict’s Swimming Carnival - Our postponed school swimming carnival has been rescheduled for Term 3. New Date: Friday, 12th September 2025 Bill Nettle / Netball Cup: We are currently waiting for confirmation regarding a new date for this event and whether we will be able to attend. We’ll provide an update as soon as possible. Athletics Program (Years 5 and 6): Beginning in Week 4, I (Mrs Huston) will be running a Friday afternoon training program to give students in Years 5 and 6 extra experience in the following events: Long Jump, Shot Put, Sprints, and High Jump (for selected students only). |
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Congratulations to Our Sporting Stars! ⚽ Futsal: A huge congratulations to our 5 St Benedict’s Futsal teams for their fantastic performance! We’re incredibly proud to share that many of our students have been selected for the Northern Futsal Team, which will travel to Brisbane later this year to compete! Rugby League: Well done to Brooklyn Tamou on being selected for the North Queensland Rugby League team! We’re so proud of your hard work and dedication. ⚽ Soccer: A big shoutout to Romeo Abdul Rahman for making the Townsville Soccer team. As well as Marcus Harvey for making it through to the call-back selections and Coner Kersh for trialing! |
St Benedict’s Cross Country/ Fun run Carnival – Event Information
Date: 9th May
⏰ Junior (Prep–Year 2): 9:00 AM (Approx.)
⏰ Senior (Years 3–6): 10:00 AM (Approx.)
We are looking forward to a fun and exciting day of fitness, school spirit, and cheering on our classmates at this year’s Cross Country Carnival!
Below is an outline of the different tracks for each age group. To help students stay on course, each track has been clearly marked with spray paint along the route.
Coloured Paper Bracelets - Each student will receive a coloured paper bracelet in their classroom before the event begins.
- The colour of the bracelet corresponds to the year your child was born.
- This helps staff and officials easily identify age groups for each race.
Spectator Information
- Parents and carers are warmly invited to attend and cheer on the students!
- Spectators are encouraged to sit on the grass hill which offers a clear view of the carnival.
- Please note that the students will remain under their house tents on the oval when not racing.
After the Race : The first 5 students will receive a ribbon according to their place, additionally, all students will receive a refreshing icy pole.
Inter-School Cross Country Selection: 20th of May: Bicentennial Park
- For students aged 10, 11, and 12 years, the top 5 boys and top 5 girls in each age group will be selected to represent St Benedict’s at the Inter-School Cross Country Carnival.
- More information about this event will be provided to selected students and their families following the carnival.
Please see attached a flyer for an upcoming screening of Seen The Film at Citylibraries Riverway. This is Townsville’s only free screening of the film.
Bookings are essential. We would love to see you there!