Nurturing personal and academic growth…

…a journey from Kindergarten to Year 6.

NEWSLETTER 3 15th February 2017 Alleluia Praise the Lord

PRINCIPAL’S COLUMN

Dear Parents and Carers,

What a lovely night we had last Wednesday evening at the Open House and BBQ. Thank you to all those who

attended. All of the teachers were really pleased to have the chance to make some initial contact with many

of you. Thank you again to the Parents and Friends for providing the free Sausage Sizzle and to all those who

helped set up, cook and pack up. Well done! A particular thank you to Dom and Libby Carbone, Dom’s Wood

Fired Gourmet Bread, who kindly donated the bread for the night.

Hot Weather

Thank you for the wonderful way the parent community have supported the school over the last two weeks

during the hot weather, particularly last Friday. The staff and children were very adaptive and inventive in the

way they dealt with the extreme weather not only last Friday but over the previous two weeks. The day was

made easier for the students thanks to ice blocks! Thank you to those parents who supplied ice blocks to

individual classes and to the parent who provided ice blocks for every student and staff member in the school!

They were greatly appreciated!

Parents and Friends Committee

On behalf of the wider school community I would like to take this opportunity to thank those parents who

were part of the 2016 Parents and Friends Committee. We are grateful for the time and dedication you gave

to your roles and in turn the school. Last night we held the Parents and Friends Committee AGM. The following

positions were vacated and filled:

President Lorne Thurgar

Vice President Edwina Betts

Secretary Dean Dalla Pozza

Treasurer Monica Morabito

Parent Rep Coordinator Belinda Daunt

Sport Coordinator Kylie Scott & Aaron Marshall

Clothing Pool Coordinator Barbra Cox

School Board Representative Dean Dalla Pozza & Mark Scott

Grounds Maintenance Committee Lorne Thurgar, Dean Dalla Pozza, Edwina Betts

Fundraising Committee Barbra Cox, Sonia Domitrak, Jessica Markham

Social Committee Kylie Cook, Tracy Kraljevic, Sonia Domitrak, Jessica Markham

Thank you to all of these people who have volunteered their time and energy to be an integral member of this

Parents and Friends Committee. The Parents and Friends Committee meetings are held on the Tuesday of

Weeks 3 and 7 each term and all parents are welcome to attend. Reminders will be through the Newsletter,

Skoolbag app and on the School Calendar on the website.

St Benedict’s Children Mass

This Sunday is the first of our St Benedict’s Children’s Masses, with Kinder and their Year 5 Buddies joining the

Kingdom Kids for this special occasion. Mass will begin at 9.00am and I look forward to seeing many of our

students there.

Morning Drop Off and Pick up

As mentioned in the First Day Bytes and last week’s general information school supervision begins at 8.30am

and students are not expected to be here before this time. If students consistently arrive before that time

parents will be referred to Before School Care, which is provided for such situations. Also just a gentle reminder

that students are not permitted to walk to cars by themselves at pick up time. Parents and Carers must come

to the gate to pick the students up and accompany them through the car park.

Renovated Classrooms and Playground

Over the holidays the two 3/4 classrooms received new paint, carpet and ortex. The refurbishment, financed

by the Catholic Education Office has refreshed these classrooms and helped to make them enticing learning

environments. It is through the Building Fund that parents pay in their school fees that such work is able to be

financed by the Catholic Education Office at no extra cost to the school.

The Catholic Education Office through extra funding have also been able to turn the previously unused area

outside the 3/4 classrooms into a small all abilities playground, featuring a trampoline, sandpit, climbing frame

and sensory panels. They have also added shade and a pergola to this area. This area should be finished shortly

and available for use by students. If you have not had an opportunity to see these two exciting initiatives, they

are well worth a visit.

God bless.

Rachel Smith

Principal (Acting)

CATHOLIC COMMUNITY LIFE

Sacraments

At the Meet and Greet Parish enrolment forms were handed out for all families

wishing their children to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist or

Confirmation in 2017. It is the Parish practice that Catholic children in Year

Three prepare for First Reconciliation and Eucharist and students in Year Six prepare for Confirmation. More

information about preparation is with the enrolment forms.

Parish Masses

In an effort to continue to build the community connection between school and parish life this year each class

will be invited to help prepare and celebrate one Sunday parish Mass. We understand that some families

celebrate Mass in other parishes most weeks but are asking people to make a special effort to attend our

school’s parish Mass on these dates. Our first classes to do this will be Kindergarten and their Year Five

Buddies. I look forward to seeing families in these classes come together at St Benedict’s Church this Sunday,

19th February, at the 9:00am Mass. There will be morning tea provided after Mass. Special invitations have

come home this week.

Planned class/parish Masses will all be the 9:00am Sunday Mass on the following dates:

Class Date

Kindergarten & Year 5

Sunday 19th February

Year 3 Sunday 19th March (First Reconciliation after Mass for candidates)

Year 4 Sunday 21st May

Year 6 Sunday 20th August (part of Confirmation preparation)

Years 1 & 2 Sunday 15th October

Ash Wednesday

Our school community will join with the parish at the 12:30pm Mass on Wednesday 1st of March to begin our

Lenten journey. Families are most welcome to be a part of this special liturgical year celebration.

First Friday Mass

Years 5 & 6 will be preparing the First Friday Mass for March which will be on Friday 3rd March. Mass is held

in the St Benedict’s Church from 10:00am. Families are warmly invited to join us for this liturgical celebration.

Morning tea will be provided by the families of students in Years 5 & 6. Parents are invited to stay after Mass

and have a cuppa and a chat with Staff in the Library.

Meaghan Younger Religious Education Coordinator

The Saturday afternoon Brainwaves Clubs is offered in Canberra at Red Hill. Under the general Brainwaves umbrella, clubs are offered in books and writing, science, technology, computing, invention and the legal system. Members take out a semester or annual membership in their area of passion. Meetings are very much hands-on and interactive, and they give children an opportunity to forge friendships with like-minded peers. As well as the specific club program, there are cross age activities and an awards system. Children are awarded points and can earn badges to affix to their Brainwaves Club t-shirt. 2017 program outlines and enrolment information are now up on the G.A.T.E.WAYS website.

K-2 Parent Reading Information Sessions

How can I help my child learn to read?

How is reading taught in school?

These are questions often asked by parents. To help answer these questions, we are holding a reading

information evening for parents of children in K-2.

When? Thursday 23rd February

There will be 2 sessions available: 3:30- 4:30 pm OR

6:15 – 7:15pm

Where? School Library

Teaching staff will present at the information sessions and will be available to answer any questions

you may have. There will be a handout on the night.

Supervision (in a K-2 classroom with a teacher) will be available for your children whilst parents join in

the information session.

If attending, please complete the slip below and return to your child’s class teacher on or before

Monday February 20th (Week 4).

We look forward to seeing you at one of the sessions.

_________________________________________________________________

K-2 Reading Workshops – Thursday February 23rd

Name of child:________________________ Class_________________

I would like to attend the Reading Workshop:

_____ 3:30 – 4:30pm OR

_____ 6:15 – 7:15pm

I will require supervision for _______ child/ children.

Signed ______________________

Tucker-talk with Salacious Crumb

Dear Families and Friends,

Thank you so much for the welcome to St Benedict’s. I feel very blessed to be part of the school community.

So far the new menu has been well received by the students. I appreciate there will be an adjustment phase

as students get used to the food now on offer. I do hope they are enjoying the food. The small number of

volunteers and I have worked tirelessly to ensure lunches are ready in a timely manner.

Speaking of volunteers, if you are able to spare some time each week, or even once a fortnight, to help in the

Tuckshop, your assistance would be greatly appreciated. To find out how you can become involved please

email me on cara.cook@cg.catholic.edu.au I look forward to hearing from you all causing my in-box to

overflow!

The Amber Day is fast approaching and will be on Friday 24th February. Alongside the regular menu, the

offering at $9.50 for the day will be:

Lunch

Crumbed Chicken fillet, Lettuce and Mayo Sandwich

Juice Box

Dixie Cup (Ice-cream Bucket)

Recess

Cinnamon Sweet and Salty Popcorn

Milo Snack Bar

Should you wish to have a more inexpensive option, omit the recess component and get lunch at $7.50 I have

no doubt that orders will be popular and I anticipate to be very busy. To assist the small team in the Tuckshop,

I kindly request that orders be in by Thursday 23rd February to ensure there is enough to go around with no

one missing out. Once again, if you are free and can spare some time between recess and lunch on Friday 24th

February in particular, the Tuckshop would be very grateful.

Finally, what is in season? Tomatoes!!!! The humble tomato is so versatile but sadly not always loved by

everyone, especially children. Yet they love the stuff in a squeeze bottle on pies etc. Personally I’ve found the

best way to introduce kiddies to tomatoes is to grow them. They are like a little jewelled lolly in the garden.

Bite down and they explode between your teeth, squirting yumminess across the palette. Although used in

so many recipes, my favorite way to eat the culinary vegetable is on a sandwich sliced with cheese, lashings of

butter and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Little effort for a taste of summer.

Bon Appetite

Yours in Peas and Carrots

Cara

The following notes have gone home this week and are currently on the website.

School Fees – due Friday 24th Feb

School Photo Order Forms

THURSDAY, 16 FEB 9.00am – 11.30am Ruth Joyce Hannah Norgrove HELPERS REQUIRED 11.30am – 2.00pm Ruth Joyce Sally Cotsell

FRIDAY, 17 FEB 9.00am – 11.30am

HELPERS REQUIRED HELPERS REQUIRED 11.30am – 2.00pm Sally Cotsell HELPERS REQUIRED Cara Cook, Canteen Manager

KINDERGARTEN Achol A and Benjamin S 1/2Blue Ragsajan R and Lucia M 1/2Gold Edith Q and Ari B 3/4Blue Jade C and Josephine L 3/4Gold Arabella S and Riley W 5/6Blue Gabriella S 5/6Gold Sophia M, Tomas C and Charlotte G

19th February – Kindergarten & Year 5 Parish Mass, 9.00am (all welcome)

21st February – Swimming Carnival, Kindy – 6 24th February – Amber Tuck Day – orders due

by 23rd Feb. 27thth Feb to 3rd March – Individual Learning

Plan Meetings 1st March – Ash Wednesday, Mass 12.30pm

(all welcome) 3rd March – First Friday Mass 10.00am 7th March – School Photos

School Photos Tuesday 7th March. All students will need to be in full summer school uniform. School photos will take place during the morning sessions before lunch. Sibling photos will be taken at Recess 11.00am. The sibling photo request form can be collected from the Front Office. All school photo order forms must be returned on or before Tuesday 7th March (Photo Day). Any students who are absent on the Tuesday, a makeup individual photo will be taken on the Wednesday 23rd March. You can also find a copy of the order form on the school website. If you do complete an order online you will still need to forward the order form to the Front Office.

Happy Birthday to

the children at St Benedict’s who celebrate their special day this week: Finn W, Joshua W, Attharva T, Michael T.

COMMUNITY NOTICES Parish News Parish Office Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 9.00am to 3.00pm Weekend Mass Times Saturday 6.00pm Sunday 9.00am Youth Mass 7.00pm Charismatic Mass 7.00pm (last Sunday of the Month) Baptisms: 11.00am, 2nd and 4th Sundays of the Month

Tennis Coaching for Years K-6 - South Canberra & City Clubs

Old Parliament House Gardens Tennis Club - Monday

Reid Tennis Club - Wednesday

Barton Tennis Club - Thursday *See specific times on the academy timetable

Online Bookings: www.tenniscanberra.com.au/book-online

Email: play@tenniscanberra.com.au

Mobile: 0416 186 121

Website: www.tenniscanberra.com.au

Dear Parents,

Our school is participating in Redgum Book Club this term. The catalogues will be sent home this week.

To view the current catalogue, please open the link Redgum Book Club Term 1 2017 You will find many more great

titles on their website that you can order this term, with books starting from $2.00.

The catalogue is now open and closes on 6th March. Ordered books will be delivered free to the school week

commencing 20th March. Every book order will earn resources and books for our school.

Redgum Book Club newly released books for term 1:

Lion: A Long Way Home (Young Readers Edition) - A true story of survival and triumph against incredible odds, now a major motion Australian film starring Nicole Kidman

Alice Miranda Holds the Key - From Australian best-selling and multi-award winning author, Jacqueline Harvey

Red Dog: True Blue - A charming story of a young boy and his dog adventuring through the outback

Middle School: Word of Mouse - James Patterson's newest illustrated story follows the illuminating journey of a very special mouse

There's a Snake in my School: From Number One bestselling author David Walliams, comes this spectacularly funny picture book

Mr Romanov's Garden in the Sky - Heartfelt, evocative and compelling – another masterpiece from the award-winning Australian Robert Newton

How to place an order:

Order and pay online by credit card or PayPal at www.redgumbookclub.com.au

Email your order with your credit card details to: orders@redgumbookclub.com.au

Fill out the order form on the back of the catalogue and post it with a cheque. If you have any questions about Redgum Book Club orders, please contact Lesley at schools@redgumbookclub.com.au

REGISTRATIONS CLOSE 28 FEBRUARY. SEASON STARTS SATURDAY, 30 APRIL.

2016 MONARO PANTHERS SELF REGISTRATION GUIDE Please follow the following instructions to register online for our club:

1. Login: a) Go to the MyFootballClub website: www.myfootballclub.com.au

b) Click on “Register Now”

c) Select “Player Registration”

d) Follow the prompts to proceed to login pages, find your FFA number and/or reset your password

e) Login using your FFA number and password: FFA Number: Password:

2. Start Registration a) Once logged in, select “Make a Registration” or “Register Now”

b) Update contact details if necessary.

c) On the next screen, enter the club name Monaro Panthers

NB: If you get a message saying there are no packages then click OK and check the club name d) Select the Registration role as: “Player”

NB: If this is the first time you have registered to play football in Australia you will need to

confirm whether you played in another country e) Select the correct Registration Package that applies for your registration.

Package Fee

U10-U17 – Junior League

$210.00 This includes:

socks, shorts and Monaro Panthers jersey (to be returned to the Club at the end of the season)

training sessions season games end of season Presentation and Gala day.

f) Click the “Add” button.

g) Click the Next button at the bottom of the screen.

h) Read and acknowledge the Terms and Conditions then click Next.

i) Click on “Pay Now” to pay online with a credit card (VISA or MasterCard),

NB: Payment must be made before a registration can be activated. j) Answer the questions on the final page and click the “Save All Answers” button.

Your registration has now been submitted.

3. Where do I go if I need help with my registration? If you have any trouble with your registration you can use the following resources to help you.

Visit the FAQ’s page on the MyFootballClub website. View the Player Registration guides and videos which are on the Resources page of the MyFootballClub website. Call FFA Support Centre (02) 8020 4199 if you are having problems with your password to login

Queanbeyan Basketball is one of a number of local sporting clubs currently registering players for 2013.

NETBALL

Who: Queanbeyan Netball Association

What: QNA runs a junior and senior netball competition throughout the winter months with most games

held at the Queanbeyan Netball Courts on Thornton Road.

QNA also fields a number of junior representative sides, as well as teams in the ACT State League

competition.

How to register: QNA will be holding two 2013 player registration days on Saturday, March 16 and

Saturday, March 23 from 1pm-2pm at the Queanbeyan Netball Courts.

Alternatively, players can register by contact their individual clubs directly. For more information on the

QNA, registration, applying for a manager’s position and for club links, go

to http://www.queanbeyan.netball.asn.au/

Extra: QNA is also on the lookout for junior representative team managers to assist with the

association's NSW State Age committments. To nominate for a representative manager’s position,

email qnanetball@hotmail.com before February 12.

BASKETBALL

Who: Queanbeyan Basketball

What: Queanbeyan Basketball runs junior and senior programs with games played at both Queanbeyan

Basketball Centre on Southbar Road and in Canberra as part of the ACT Basketball competition.

How to register: Queanbeyan Basketball will also be holding a registration evening for the club’s Kinder-

Year 4 sides at the QBS on Thursday, February 7 from 5-7.30pm.

The club’s registration evening for juniors Year 5 and older will be held the following night, Friday,

February 8 at the QBS from 5-7pm.

Trials for Queanbeyan Basketball’s Southern Junior League representative program meanwhile, are set to

get underway later this month.

Those interested in finding out more about registering for Queanbeyan Basketball this year can contact club

president Jan Browne at janandvern@optusnet.com.au or on 0403 290 503.

Extra: QUEANBEYAN Basketball will be holding a referees workshop on Wednesday, February 6 from 6-

7.30pm at the Queanbeyan Basketball Stadium on Southbar Road.

The workshop will be free and open to anyone interested in attending and is aimed at getting referees up to

speed with any recent changes to the sport’s rules and regulations.

HOCKEY

Who: Queanbeyan United Hockey Club

What: The Queanbeyan United Hockey Club fields teams in both ACT Hockey's senior and junior

competitions.

How to register: The club will also be holding two club registration days this weekend at Riverside Plaza

from 10am-4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, see the Queanbeyan United website at www.quhc.com.au or contact Claire

Beckmann on 0488 772 619.

Extra: QUHC will also be running its popular HookIn2Hockey program once again this year kicking off on

Saturday, February 9.

HookIn2Hockey serves as an introduction to the sport and teaches basic hockey skills through a series of

game-like activities that promote fun and participation.

The program is designed for boys and girls aged from 6-16 and starting February 9, will be held every

Saturday through to March 2 from 3pm-5.30pm at Steve Mauger Oval. The cost is $50.00 per participant

and includes a hockey stick, shin pads and a ball.

RUGBY UNION

Who: Queanbeyan Whites Rugby Club

What: The Queanbeyan Whites will be fielding sides in ACT Rugby Union's junior and senior competitions

in 2013.

How to register: The Whites will be holding two registration days in the coming weeks for both players and

coaches.

Anyone interested in joining the Mighty Whites for season 2013 can do so at Brumbies Headquarters,

Griffith on February 10 from 12pm-2pm or at Taylor Park, Queanbeyan on February 23 from 10am-2pm.

To learn more about the Queanbeyan Whites, check out the club’s website

at http://www.whitesrugby.org.au/ or contact Alan Morton on 0414 517 503.

RUGBY LEAGUE

Who: The Queanbeyan Blues

What: The Queanbeyan Blues will field junior and senior teams in the Canberra District Junior Rugby

League competition in 2013.

How to register: The Queanbeyan Blues will also be hosting two club registration days before the season

officially gets underway.

Juniors will be able to sign up at Seiffert Oval on Sunday, February 10 from 10am-12pm or on the following

Sunday at David Madew Oval, Jerrabomberra also from 10am-12pm.

Registration cost is $85 for a single player, $150 for two players from the same family and $200 for three

family members. All junior players receive club shorts, socks and a training shirt.

As well as competing in the CDRL’s regular junior competition, the Blues will also once again offer the

club’s popular Mighty Midgets program for players under 5 in 2013.

Registration for the club’s Mighty Midgets program is $30 per player.