Specialised Gardens

Before the end of this term, we are planning to have a couple of garden upgrades completed, one to better acknowledge our defence connections and one to acknowledge the indigenous families in our school. Where the current Defence Memorial is, we are adding a Benedictine Cross, a silhouette of a soldier and some children made from steel plates. We will also have some painted steel poppies amongst the memorial garden. The garden will be edged around the rock with the memorial plaque and we will plant out the garden with some rosemary (for remembrance) and dandelions that represent the resilience of children from defence families especially as they move from place to place.

Our Indigenous Education Staff Committee have liaised with Wulgurukaba Walkabouts to learn more about their language and totems. These will be represented in the garden with a Welcome sign in their aboriginal language and some steel sculptures of their totems, the serpent, the cockatoo and the brolga. Our Indigenous Education Teacher, Lizzy Christie has contacted our indigeonous families this week to see if they can share the totem for their people or country ie. the part of Australia that their family originates from. Each student's totem will be represented by artwork of the footprints of their totem.This garden will be located at the front entrance to our Administration building. Please get in touch with Nick Christie if you would like to contribute in any way to these specialised gardens or ask any questions. We are looking forward to these enhancements to our school community.

2021 classes

As discussed last week, plans are well underway with staffing allocations for 2021 mostly sorted, though we are seeking a new Music teacher. We will inform parents about which teachers will be in each year level through the newsletter in Week 8 with specific class groups for children being available on our Step Up Day in the last week of school ie. students will know which class group they are in and who they are with but lists won’t be shared as is our usual practice. 

As mentioned last week, our current class teachers are working together to draft class lists over the next few weeks which is why it is essential to get back to us confirming your continued enrolment at St Benedict’s. Each child in each class is very important and any potential movements can impact on other students. We do our best to ensure students have access to the social climate that best supports their learning.

Please note that we also have a number of limited spaces for enrolment available in each year level if you are aware of any families wanting to join our wonderful school. Please encourage them to get their applications in ASAP.

Book Fair

Please see the details provided in this newsletter regarding our Book Fair next week. I’m sure the kids will have quite the Wish Lists for you.

Please have a fabulous week.

Cheers

Penny Collins

Principal

We’ve now reached the end of Week 2, and our final term for 2020 is now in full swing.  A big thanks to Prep Bilbies who presented their assembly on the 10th Anniversary of the Canonization of Mary MacKillop.  St Mary MacKillop is our first Australian saint, and is well known for following the call from God, and to “never see a need without doing something about it”.  It’s wonderful watching our preps presenting in front of the school for the first time - it certainly takes courage for them to do that!  It was also exciting this week to welcome families back to our assemblies, it certainly makes our prayer celebrations all the more special!

Next week we are having our annual Mission Month Markets, which is a little mini fete run by our classes, with all proceeds going towards Catholic Mission Australia.  Students are allowed to bring in some money to participate in some of the games and activities going - small notes and gold coins are recommended.  Here is a link if you were interested in seeing some of the work that Catholic Mission Australia does:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aScO7dP87og&feature=emb_logo 

Pax,

Nick 

Curlews have settled back into Term 4 ready and enthusiastic to learn.  Our classroom pets Yoshi, Frankie and Hermit have also enjoyed having Curlews back, especially Frankie. 

FREE PARENT SESSIONS AVAILABLE:

As a member school of the QLD Sustainable School Network, we are pleased to be able to share events like this with our parent community. Due to COVID this summit 2020 will be hosted online and is very easy to register for and watch from home. 

Featuring keynote speakers Craig Reucassel, Holley Somerville Knott and Garrett Swearingen, and host schools Trinity Bay State High School and St Patrick's College Townsville.

Held online on 19 October 2020 from 11am until 1pm,  are the Parent information Sessions, then at 1:45pm-2:45pm the Schools Showcase.  You can check-in for part, or all of the day to suit your availability .Follow the link below and book a ticket (FREE). 

In 2019 2 of our students represented St Benedict’s at this event hosted in Townsville and we hope to proudly showcase our many environmental projects again in the coming years.  This year students in Grades 5 & 6 will be able to tune in for inspiration from the comfort of the classroom. 

Parent Sessions will be held from: 11am - 1pm

BOOK YOUR FREE TICKET HERE:

https://events.humanitix.com/connecting-regional-queensland-sustainable-schools-summit

Ryan Catholic College is currently accepting Year 7 enrolment applications for 2022 and 2023.  Please download an application from the College's website or phone 4773 0126 with any enquiries.