Filter Content
Peace Focus: “First Time Everytime!”
At St Benedict’s, we are proud to nurture a learning environment grounded in our Way of PEACE, a core aspect of our school values. Every fortnight, our students and staff gather together to reflect on and reinforce these shared values, creating a strong, united school culture.
Our first gathering for the term centred on the importance of respect, supporting learning, and ensuring everyone’s safety. With this in mind, we introduced the theme "First Time Every Time"—a simple yet powerful message that reminds all students to follow teacher and staff instructions promptly and respectfully the first time they are given.
This theme isn’t just discussed during our gatherings—it is actively reinforced throughout our classrooms, during outside play, and at whole school events. It's a consistent expectation that helps create a calm, safe, and focused orderly environment for everyone.
We kindly ask parents and carers to partner with us in reinforcing these expectations at home. Please take a moment to speak with your child about what "First Time Every Time" means in practice and how it contributes to our St Benedict’s Way of PEACE (Persistence, Empathy, Accountable, Caring for Community and Engaged).
Together, we can continue to build a community where respect, safety, and learning are at the heart of all we do.
Recent Snake sightings at St Benedict’s
I would like to inform you about recent snake sightings on the grounds of St Benedict’s Catholic School Shaw and the proactive steps we are taking to ensure the continued safety of all students and staff.
Recently we have had sightings of a Lesser Whip Snake. Last year we had an Eastern Brown Snake on our school grounds.
Please rest assured that the safety of our school community remains our highest priority, and we have well-established protocols in place for such situations.
Our response procedures include:
- Immediate isolation of the area where the snake is sighted, to prevent any access by students, staff, parents and visitors.
- Prompt contact with a licensed snake catcher, who is called to attend the school and safely remove the snake.
- Daily inspections of the school grounds, including playgrounds, fields, and garden areas, to identify and address any potential risks before students arrive.
Your child’s safety is always at the heart of everything we do. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and maintain these precautionary measures throughout the school year.
Please contact me if you have any concerns or questions regarding this matter.
Representing St Benedict’s
Congratulations to our students who last week represented St Benedict’s at the Townsville Interschool Cross Country and the Southern Cross Catholic College Speech Makers Competition.
Thank you to Mrs Huston for coordinating the Interschool Cross Country Team and to Mrs Pugh for coordinating the Speech Makers Team. Thank you to all teachers, staff and parents for supporting our students in these competitions.
God in All of Life
Patrick Dempsey
Welcome to the end of Week 6 - it’s been lovely to have some cooler weather this morning!
Last week at the assembly, the Year 1 Echidnas presented an assembly on the Feast of Mary Help of Christians (who our neighbours are named after). Mary is the Patron saint of Australia, as well as in our Diocese here in Townsville, so is an important figure in the landscape of the Catholic Church in Australia.
Year 4 Dragonflies did a wonderful job of presenting assembly today on the theme of ‘Reconciliation Week’. They did a wonderful job of reflecting and reminding us that God’s dream for humanity is one of justice, equality, compassion and understanding, of forgiveness and mercy. They prayed that we may all walk together with our First Nations people of Australia in a spirit of reconciliation and unity.
Classes have been doing age appropriate activities around ‘Sorry Day’ and Reconciliation week to further reflect on this message. Please see some of the images below.
Benny’s Got Talent
It’s back for another year! As a part of our Feast Day celebrations (Friday Term 3, Week1), we have our ‘St Benny’s Got Talent’. Mrs Pugh spoke to the children on assembly this morning about upcoming auditions. They will perform auditions in class first, with classes asked to submit a maximum of 2 registrations to Mrs Pugh by Friday in Week 9. Final auditions will then take place in the final week of this term, and successful acts notified period to the holidays. It’s always a wonderful occasion, and I would encourage students thinking about it, whether they can act, sing, dance, tell jokes, sword juggle, etc, to step out of their comfort and put their name down to audition!
Pax
Nick
Life Education Visit
Life Education are visiting Prep - Year 6 classes towards the end of this term. Each year level will be focusing on:
Prep – Harold’s Friend Ship;
Year 1 – Ready Steady Go;
Year 2 – Growing Good Friends;
Year 3 – The Inside Story;
Year 4 – Friends and Feelings;
Year 5 – Relate Respect Connect;
Year 6 – Take a Breath
Report Cards
Our teachers are currently working very diligently preparing Report Cards for the end of this semester. The reports will be available from Monday in Week 10 (17th June).
Why Do We Have Report Cards?
Report cards provide a clear summary of your child’s progress and achievement across key learning areas. They help you understand how your child is tracking against the expected year-level standards and support meaningful conversations about their learning and development.
How Do Teachers Write Report Cards?
Teachers use a range of assessments, observations, and classroom work to understand how each student is progressing. They compare this evidence to the Australian Curriculum standards to make informed decisions about achievement. Report card comments reflect what students have learned, how they’re developing, and their next steps for growth.
Has my child gone backwards?
Your child may receive a different grade to last year, or they may be achieving below the year level expectations; this does not automatically mean they have regressed in their learning. Each new year students are assessed against a new Achievement Standard from the Australian Curriculum. Therefore, students can progress in their learning, but it may not necessarily be reflected in their ‘academic grade.’ It is best to talk to your child's teacher if you are concerned about your child's progress in their learning.
Focus on Effort over Grades
Your child's 'Application to Learning' mark is by far one of the most important aspects of every child's report card! It is the aspect of their schooling that they have the most direct control over. If your child is focused on trying their best and feels that their efforts are seen and valued, they are going to be much more resilient learners. Resilient learners enjoy learning, continue to challenge themselves and are more comfortable making mistakes, regardless of their grade.
Know your child
All of us understand our own children’s strengths and weaknesses, the things that make them unique, their special interests and their attitudes. Please remember that the Semester Report Card is one form of feedback about your child’s achievement and progress at school.
Changes to Report Cards
Please note that Townsville Catholic Education schools have made some changes to report cards based on surveys conducted last year. Please read the attached letter below to find out about these changes.
Yours in Learning,
Aleesha Rockemer
Assistant Principal Pedagogy and Learning (APPL)
The existence of a Board can help create a sense of continuity in a school's life despite changes of principal and staff and the normal comings and goings of families in the school community.
In the reflective, respectful atmosphere of the monthly Board meeting, the principal can seek the Board's advice on matters of school policy and on "big picture" matters affecting the school's present life and its future.
