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Plans for the return to school
Thankfully, we are welcoming all students back to school next week. We are super keen to see them all again. Please note that there are still restrictions in place regarding having parents on our school site. I continue to be reluctant to insist on all students being dropped at the drop off area (even with teachers meeting them there) as this doesn’t sit well with me in consideration of our student’s’ well being. Should children returning to school need to be walked into school, I continue to support this. I would however prefer if children were just being walked to the hall where we have teachers on duty from 8.00am. We are happy to support them from there. There is no need for students to take their bags to classrooms prior to 8.20am though I do support Prep families in doing this if needed. Please do not delay your exit though as the health concerns around Covid-19 are very clear about avoiding adult to adult contact. As always too, please do not gather around classrooms before 8.20am or before 3.00pm. Drop off and Hall pickups are preferred.
Children will stay in the hall (or at Run Club- weather permitting) until 8.20am where they will then be dismissed to their regular classrooms. With groups of children at OSHC (before school care), at Run Club and some spread out in the hall, we believe we can avoid a large gathering. We encourage those that can arrive after 8.20am to do so as well as these children can go straight to class upon arrival and help to alleviate pressure on the car park and drop off area. Students won’t be marked late until 8.40am.
We will not resume our morning assembly at all this term.
Please understand that I have heard your concerns around the number of cars that will be using the carpark and the drop off and while it can be challenging in wet weather, a little patience means that all cars are gone by 3.20pm in the afternoons. Mornings can be staggered as people can arrive from 8.00am through to 8.40am. Our staff will do their best to park in the areas that are generally more challenging to access once the pick up line has started. Please do not arrive before 3.00pm for the Pick Up line.
Uniforms
As this cooler weather has arrived, please ensure children are still wearing their uniform. School jackets are available at School Locker, Children can wear navy track pants or girls could wear navy tights. I suggest layering or having spare shorts/skorts as it quite often warms up through the day. Please check that children are not wearing jewellery to school - watches, signet rings or a necklace with a religious medallion is acceptable as a maximum. Hair bands need to be school colours only.
Enchanted Forest
Thank you for taking an interest in our ‘Enchanted Forest’ idea. We have had two families volunteer- one to do the sign and the painted stepping logs and one to start on some of the painted rocks. We are hoping we might have a skilled parent who could help out with putting some sort of frame up over our Musical playground space where we could add either some coloured or painted perspex panels (intermittently) and hang student-made chimes and musical or artistic pieces that inspire a sense of awe and wonder, hence giving that enchanted feeling. We can see this as a space where children can be very creative, using their imagination to engage in play and is also a space where we can make magical links to literature and therefore be used in our learning experiences too. So please email me if you have any skills or expertise that may be able to assist in bringing this project to life. We can provide all materials.
National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week
St Benedict’s will acknowledge National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week with class activities and prayer. This is a valuable time to deepen our understanding of the challenges our indigenous families have faced and how respectful relationships are key to moving forward.
On the 26th of May 1997 the landmark Bringing them Home report was tabled in Federal Parliament. Bringing them Home is the final report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families and was conducted by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (now called the Australian Human Rights Commission) between 1995 and 1997.
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
The dates for NRW remain the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.
Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Benny’s Babies
This week we have celebrated the arrival of two out of the six staff babies we are expecting this year. Congratulations to Trent and Tia Palmer (OSHC Coordinator) on the birth of your beautiful son, Kalyn Joseph Palmer and to Phil Angel and Tayla Bolton on the birth of your gorgeous daughter, Ivie Mae Angel. A bit of a wait for Mr Daniels (Yr 5 /6) and his lovely wife Ashley, Mrs Matthisen (Year 3 /4), Mrs Pease (Year 1) and Mrs Smith (Prep). What a year!
Have a fabulous week, can’t wait to see all the kids back on Monday.
Cheers
Penny Collins
Principal
This week is ‘Laudato Si Week’. If you haven’t heard of Laudato Si, it is a document written by Pope Francis calling for all of humankind to care for our common home. This year's theme was ‘Everything is Connected’, which perhaps takes on a different meaning this year. I look at our school and can’t help but think we are definitely doing our part to ‘care for our common home’ through the various environmental initiatives we have in place. I think it’s also a great time to reflect on what we are doing in our day-to-day lives and consider what we can do to lessen our impact on the environment. Laudato Si also aligns with our Benedictine Charism which calls us to Stewardship. We know that sustainability has become an important concept within modern society and we are fortunate to also have a faith connection with.
Contemplative Corner
Watch this youtube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFpxURmVVsE&feature=emb_logo
Because it is Laudato Si week, we’ve chosen this clip about Gratitude of Nature. It is a short, simple video by Byakko Shinko Kai that expresses gratitude to the earth and the environment.
What is your initial heart response to the video?
Watch it several more times.
What are you feeling? Are there insights for you? Are you drawn to a response in prayer and action? If possible, stand on the earth and express your gratitude in your own way. You might choose to use movement or art to express your gratitude.
Working Bee
We are having a working bee to get the path started for our Bush Tucker Trail. We’d love it if you could come on Sunday June 7 from 3:00pm - 5:00pm at the low oval. It is BYO wheelbarrows and shovels. Because of social distancing restrictions, we can only host 10 volunteers and ask that children be left at home. If you are able to come on the day, please email Mr Christie at nchristie2@stbenedicts.catholic.edu.au
Year 1 Possums returned back to school and quickly bounced back into their learning! In English, Possums have started to explore an Australian favourite 'Wombat Stew' and are busy creating a procedure for creating their own ‘Possum Stew’ using materials found around Benny’s Billabong. Additionally, students have been learning about Mother Mary and are beginning to make comparisons to their own mother figure. Students have enjoyed working collaboratively with their peers and social connections are blooming once again!
We are giving you and your family the opportunity to win 1 of 50 Nature Play Activity Packs over the next 5 weeks (until 31 May 2020) simply by getting out in your backyard, somewhere in your neighbourhood, or a local park. We are currently in week 4 of the competition. Simple download this week’s activity list (attached), take a photo getting involved in one or more of the activities and post to our Competition Entry Page. This week’s competition closes on Sunday evening.
The week 4 prize pack can be seen below:
Please visit the website for more details. The activity list for week 4 has also been attached. Get involved each week!
